Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
"Where?Yourpeoplehavebeenonwatchforacoupleofhoursnow.Who’sseenone?"
"Well,outback.Inthe-"
"No,no,no,"Nortonsaid,shakinghishead."Thatgroundhasbeencoveredandcovered.We’regoingout-"
"No,"someonewhispered,anditechoedandspread,soundingliketherustleofdeadleavesatduskofanOctoberevening.No,no,no...
"Willyourestrainus?"ashrillvoiceasked.ThiswasoneofNorton’s"people,"tousehisword-anelderlyladywearingbifocals."Willyourestrainus?"
Thesoftbabbleofnegativesdiedaway.
"No,"Mikesaid."No,Idon’tthinkanyonewillrestrainyou.
IwhisperedinBilly’sear.Helookedatme,startledandquestioning."Goon,now,"Isaid."Bequick."
Hewent.
Nortonranhishandsthroughhishair,agestureascalculatedasanyevermadebyaBroadwayactor.Ihadlikedhimbetterpullingthecordofhischainsawfruitlessly,cussingandthinkinghimselfunobserved.Icouldnottellthenanddonotknowanybetternowifhebelievedinwhathewasdoingornot.Ithink,downdeep,thatheknewwhatwasgoingtohappen.Ithinkthatthelogichehadpaidlipservicetoallhislifeturnedonhimattheendlikeatigerthathasgonebadandmean.
Helookedaroundrestlessly,seemingtowishthattherewasmoretosay.Thenheledhisfourfollowersthroughoneofthecheckoutlanes.Inadditiontotheelderlywoman,therewasachubbyboyofabouttwelve,ayounggirl,andamaninbluejeanswearingagolfcaptippedbackonhishead.
