Темная башня: Стрелок

           ShebwasplayingMethodisthymnsragtime,andthegrizzledlayaboutswhohadcomeinearlytoavoidthestormandtoattendNort’swakehadsungthemselveshoarse.Sheb,drunknearlytothepointofsenselessness,intoxicatedandhornywithhisowncontinuedexistence,playedwithhectic,shuttlecockspeed,fingersflyinglikelooms.

           Voicesscreechedandhollered,neverovercomingthewindbutsometimesseemingtochallengeit.InthecornerZacharyhadthrownAmyFeldon’sskirtsoverherheadandwaspaintingzodiacsignsonherknees.Afewotherwomencirculated.Afervidglowseemedtobeonallofthem.Thedullstormglowthatfilteredthroughthebatwingsseemedtomockthem,however.

           Northadbeenlaidoutontwotablesinthecenteroftheroom.HisbootsmadeamysticalV.Hismouthhungopeninaslackgrin,althoughsomeonehadclosedhiseyesandputslugsonthem.Hishandshadbeenfoldedonhischestwithasprigofdevil-grassinthem.Hesmelledlikepoison.

           Themaninblackpushedbackhishoodandcametothebar.Alicewatchedhim,feelingtrepidationmixedwiththefamiliarwantthathidwithinher.Therewasnoreligioussymbolonhim,althoughthatmeantnothingbyitself.

           "Whiskey,"hesaid.Hisvoicewassoftandpleasant."Goodwhiskey."

           ShereachedunderthecounterandbroughtoutabottleofStar.Shecouldhavepalmedoffthelocalpopskullonhimasherbest,butdidnot.Shepoured,andthemaninblackwatchedher.Hiseyeswerelarge,luminous.Theshadowsweretoothicktodeterminetheircolorexactly.Herneedintensified.