Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
Norton’seyescaughtmine,widenedalittle,andthenstartedtoswingaway.
"Brent,waitaminute,"Isaid.
"Idon’twanttodiscussitanyfurther.Certainlynotwithyou.
"Iknowyoudon’t.Ijustwanttoaskafavor."IlookedaroundandsawBillycomingbacktowardthecheckoutsatarun.
"What’sthat?"NortonaskedsuspiciouslyasBillycameupandhandedmeapackagedoneupincellophane.
"Clothesline,"Isaid.Iwasvaguelyawarethateveryoneinthemarketwaswatchingusnow,looselystrungoutontheothersideofthecashregistersandcheckoutlanes."It’sthebigpackage.Threehundredfeet."
"so?"
"Iwonderedifyou’dtieoneendaroundyourwaistbeforeyougoout.I’llletitout.Whenyoufeelitcomeuptight,justtieitaroundsomething.Itdoesn’tmatterwhat.Acardoorhandlewoulddo."
"WhatinGod’snamefor?"
"Itwilltellmeyougotatleastthreehundredfeet,"Isaid.
Somethinginhiseyesflickered...butonlymomentarily."No,"hesaid.
Ishrugged."Okay.Goodluck,anyhow."
Abruptlythemaninthegolfcapsaid,"I’lldoit,mister.Noreasonnotto."
Nortonswungonhim,asiftosaysomethingsharp,andthemaninthegolfcapstudiedhimcalmly.Therewasnothingflickeringinhiseyes.Hehadmadehisdecisionandtherewassimplynodoubtinhim.Nortonsawittooandsaidnothing.
"Thanks,"Isaid.
Islitthewrappingwithmypocketknifeandtheclotheslineaccordionedoutinstiffloops.IfoundonelooseendandtieditaroundGolfCap’swaistinaloosegranny.
