Темная башня: Стрелок

           Herskinwascreamy,unmarked,lovely.Hethoughtthatshemusttopthreehundredpounds.Hefeltasuddenredlustforherthatmadehimfeelshaky,andheturnedhisheadandlookedaway.

           "Shallwegatherattheriver,

           Thebeautiful,thebeautiful,

           Theriiiiver,

           Shallwegatherattheriver,

           ThatflowsbytheKingdomofGod."

           Thelastnoteofthelastchorusfadedoff,andtherewasamomentofshufflingandcoughing.

           Shewaited.Whentheyweresettled,shespreadherhandsoverthem,asifinbenediction.Itwasanevocativegesture.

           "MydearlittlebrothersandsistersinChrist."

           Itwasahauntingline.Foramomentthegunslingerfeltmixedfeelingsofnostalgiaandfear,stitchedinwithaneeriefeelingofdejavu-hethought:Idreamedthis.When?Heshookitoff.Theaudience-perhapstwenty-fivealltold-hadbecomedeadsilent.

           "ThesubjectofourmeditationtonightisTheInterloper."Hervoicewassweet,melodious,thespeakingvoiceofawell-trainedsoprano.

           "Alittlerustleranthroughtheaudience.

           "Ifeel,"SylviaPittstonsaidreflectively,"IfeelthatIknoweveryoneinTheBookpersonally.InthelastfiveyearsIhavewornoutfiveBibles,anduncountablenumbersbeforethat.Ilovethestory,andIlovetheplayersinthatstory.Ihavewalkedarminarminthelion’sdenwithDaniel.IstoodwithDavidwhenhewastemptedbyBathshebaasshebathedatthepool.IhavebeeninthefieryfurnacewithShadrach,Meshach,andAbednego.IslewtwothousandwithSamsonandwasblindedwithSt.PaulontheroadtoDamascus.