Сумерки

           "Thepeoplegatheredtheirpitchforksandtorches,ofcourse"-hisbrieflaughwasdarkernow-"andwaitedwhereCarlislehadseenthemonstersexitintothestreet.Eventuallyoneemerged."

           Hisvoicewasveryquiet;Istrainedtocatchthewords.

           "Hemusthavebeenancient,andweakwithhunger.CarlisleheardhimcalloutinLatintotheotherswhenhecaughtthescentofthemob.Heranthroughthestreets,andCarlisle-hewastwenty-threeandveryfast-wasintheleadofthepursuit.Thecreaturecouldhaveeasilyoutrunthem,butCarlislethinkshewastoohungry,soheturnedandattacked.HefellonCarlislefirst,buttheotherswereclosebehind,andheturnedtodefendhimself.Hekilledtwomen,andmadeoffwithathird,leavingCarlislebleedinginthestreet."

           Hepaused.Icouldsensehewaseditingsomething,keepingsomethingfromme.

           "Carlisleknewwhathisfatherwoulddo.Thebodieswouldbeburned-anythinginfectedbythemonstermustbedestroyed.Carlisleactedinstinctivelytosavehisownlife.Hecrawledawayfromthealleywhilethemobfollowedthefiendandhisvictim.Hehidinacellar,buriedhimselfinrottingpotatoesforthreedays.It’samiraclehewasabletokeepsilent,tostayundiscovered.

           "Itwasoverthen,andherealizedwhathehadbecome."

           I’mnotsurewhatmyfacewasrevealing,buthesuddenlybrokeoff.

           "Howareyoufeeling?"heasked.

           "I’mfine,"Iassuredhim.And,thoughIbitmylipinhesitation,hemusthaveseenthecuriosityburninginmyeyes.

           Hesmiled."Iexpectyouhaveafewmorequestionsforme"