Темная башня: Стрелок

           "Ialmostgotkilledthere,"thegunslingersaidabruptly.

           "Thatso?"

           "IkilledamanthatwastouchedbyGod,"thegunslingersaid."Onlyitwasn’tGod.Itwasthemaninblack."

           "Helaidyouatrap."

           "Yes."

           Thelookedateachotheracrosstheshadows,themomenttakingonovertonesoffinality.

           -Nowthequestionswillcome.

           ButBrownhadnothingtosay.Hissmokewasasmolderingroach,butwhenthegunslingertappedhispoke,Brownshookhishead.

           Zoltanshiftedrestlessly,seemedabouttospeak,subsided.

           "MayItellyouaboutit?"thegunslingerasked.

           "Sure."

           Thegunslingersearchedforwordstobeginandfoundnone."Ihavetoflow,"hesaid.

           Brownnodded."Thewaterdoesthat.Thecorn,please?"

           "Sure."

           Hewentupthestairsandoutintothedark.Thestarsglitteredoverheadinamadsplash.Thewindpulsedsteadily.Hisurinearchedoutoverthepowderycornfieldinawaveringstream.Themaninblackhadsenthimhere.Brownmightevenbethemaninblackhimself.Itmightbe-Heshutthethoughtsaway.Theonlycontingencyhehadnotlearnedhowtobearwasthepossibilityofhisownmadness.Hewentbackinside.

           "HaveyoudecidedifI’manenchantmentyet?"Brownasked,amused.

           Thegunslingerpausedonthetinylanding,startled.Thenhecamedownslowlyandsat

           "IstartedtotellyouaboutTull."

           "Isitgrowing?"

           "It’sdead,"thegunslingersaid,andthewordshungintheair.

           Brownnodded."Thedesert.Ithinkitmaystrangleeverythingeventually.Didyouknowthattherewasonceacoachroadacrossthedesert?"

           Thegunslingerclosedhiseyes