Мгла
The First Night.
PeoplehadseenthethingroostingonSmalley’sback,somethingnooneintheworldhadseenbefore.Itdarteditsheadforwardataquestingangle,andtoreachunkofmeatfromthebackofSmalley’sneck.
Iwasgettingreadytousethetorchasabludgeonwhenthecloth-wrappedheadofitsuddenlyblazedalight.DanMillerwasthere,holdingaZippolighterwithaMarineemblemonit.Hisfacewasasharshasarockwithhorrorandfury.
"Killit,"hesaidhoarsely."Killitifyoucan."StandingbesidehimwasOllie.HehadMrs.Dumfries’.38inhishand,buthehadnoclearshot.
Thethingspreaditswingsandflappedthemonce-apparentlynottoflyawaybuttosecureabetterholdonitsprey-andthenitsleathery-white,membranouswingsenfoldedpoorSmalley’sentireupperbody.Thenthesoundscame-mortaltearingsoundsthatIcannotbeartodescribeinanydetail.
Allofthishappenedinbareseconds.ThenIthrustmytorchatthething.Therewasthesensationofstrikingsomethingwithnomorerealsubstancethanaboxkite.Thenextmomenttheentirecreaturewasblazing.Itmadeascreechingsoundanditswingsspread;itsheadjerkedanditsreddisheyesrolledwithwhatImostsincerelyhopewasgreatagony.Ittookoffwithasoundlikelinenbedsheetsflappingonaclotheslineinastiffspringbreeze.Itutteredthatrustyshriekingsoundagain.
Headsturnedtofollowitsflaming,dyingcourse.
