Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
Irememberedlookingatthebruiseandthinking,Whenshegotthat,shewasstillStephanieStepanek,andfeelingsomethinglikewonder.Thenwehadmadelove,andoutsideitwasspittingsnowfromadullgrayDecembersky.
Billywascrying.
"Shh,Billy,shh,"Isaid,rockinghisheadagainstme,buthewentoncrying.Itwasthesortofcryingthatonlymothersknowhowtofixright.
PrematurenightcameinsidetheFederalFoods.MillerandHadenandBudBrownhandedoutflashlights,thewholestock,abouttwenty.Nortonclamouredloudlyforthemonbehalfofhisgroup,andreceivedtwo.Thelightsbobbedhereandthereintheaisleslikeuneasyphantoms.
IheldBillyagainstmeandlookedoutthroughtheloophole.Themilky,translucentqualityofthelightouttherehadn’tchangedmuch;itwasputtingupthebagsthathadmadethemarketsodark.SeveraltimesIthoughtIsawsomething,butitwasonlyjumpiness.Oneoftheothersraisedahesitantfalsealarm.
BillysawMrs.Turmanagain,andwenttohereagerly,eventhoughshehadn’tbeenovertositforhimallsummer.Shehadoneoftheflashlightsandhandeditovertohimamiablyenough.Soonhewastryingtowritehisnameinlightontheblankglassfacesofthefrozen-foodcases.Sheseemedashappytoseehimashewastoseeher,andinalittlewhiletheycameover.HattieTurmanwasatall,thinwomanwithlovelyredhairjustbeginningtostreakgray.Apairofglasseshungfromanornamentalchain-thesort,Ibelieve,itisillegalforanyoneexceptmiddle-agedwomentowear-onherbreast.
