Темная башня: Стрелок

           "I’mnotanditdoesn’t."Heknockedthewhiskeybackneatlyanddidnotgrimace."Oncemore,please."

           "I’llhavetoseethecolorofyourcoinfirst.I’msorry."

           "Noneedtobe."

           Heputaroughsilvercoinonthecounter,thickononeedge,thinontheother,andshesaidasshewouldsaylater:

           "Idon’thavechangeforthis."

           Heshookhishead,dismissingit,andwatchedabsentlyashepouredagain.

           "Areyouonlypassingthrough?"sheasked.

           Hedidnotreplyforalongtime,andshewasabouttorepeatwhenheshookhisheadimpatiently."Don’ttalktrivialities.You’reherewithdeath."

           Sherecoiled,hurtandamazed,herfirstthoughtbeingthathehadliedabouthisholinesstotesther.

           "Youcaredforhim,"hesaidflatly."Isn’tthattrue?"

           "Who?Nort?"Shelaughed,affectingannoyancetocoverherconfusion."Ithinkyoubetter-"

           "You’resoft-heartedandalittleafraid,"hewenton,"andhewasontheweed,lookingouthell’sbackdoor.Andthereheis,andthey’veevenslammedthedoornow,andyoudon’tthinkthey’llopenituntilit’stimeforyoutowalkthrough,isn’titso?"

           "Whatareyou,drunk?"

           "MistuhNorton,hedead,"themaninblackintonedsardonically."Deadasanybody.Deadasyouoranybody."

           "Getoutofmyplace."Shefeltatremblingloathingspringupinher,butthewarmthstillradiatedfromherbelly.

           "It’sallright,"hesaidsoftly."It’sallright.Wait.Justwait."

           Theeyeswereblue.Shefeltsuddenlyeasyinhermind,asifshehadtakenadrug.

           "See?"heaskedher.