Темная башня: Стрелок

           ZoltanlaunchedhimselffromBrown’sheadandlanded,flittering,onthegunslinger’sshoulder.

           "Aftertheotherone,Iguess."

           "Yes."Theinevitablequestionformedinhismouth:

           "Howlongsincehepassedby?"

           Brownshrugged."Idon’tknow.Time’sfunnyouthere.Morethantwoweeks.Lessthantwomonths.Thebeanman’sbeentwicesincehepassed.I’dguesssixweeks.That’sprobablywrong."

           "Themoreyoueat,themoreyoutoot,"Zoltansaid.

           "Didhestopoff?"thegunslingerasked.

           Brownnodded."Hestayedsupper,sameasyouwill,Iguess.Wepassedthetime."

           Thegunslingerstoodupandthebirdflewbacktotheroof,squawking.Hefeltanodd,tremblingeagerness."Whatdidhetalkabout?"

           Browncockedaneyebrowathim."Notmuch.DiditeverrainandwhendidIcomehereandhadIburiedmywife.Ididmostofthetalking,whichain’tusual."Hepaused.andtheonlysoundwasthestarkwind."He’sasorcerer,ain’the?"

           "Yes."

           Brownnoddedslowly."Iknew.Areyou?"

           "I’mjustaman."

           "You’llnevercatchhim."

           "I’llcatchhim."

           Theylookedateachother,asuddendepthoffeelingbetweenthem,thedwelleruponhisdust-puff-dryground,thegunslingeronthehardpanthatshelveddowntothedesert.Hereachedforhisflint.

           "Here."Brownproducedasulfur-headedmatchandstruckitwithagrimednail.Thegunslingerpushedthetipofhissmokeintotheflameanddrew.

           "Thanks."

           "You’llwanttofillyourskins,"thedwellersaid,turningaway."Spring’sundertheeavesinback.I’llstartdinner."