Мгла
The First Night.
Wehadheardsoundslikeitsincesometimesquitedistant-buthowfarwas"distant"throughthedampingeffectofthemist?Andsometimestheywerecloseenoughtoshakethebuildingandmakeitseemasiftheventriclesofyourhearthadsuddenlybeenloadedupwithicewater.
Billystartedinmylapandmoaned.Ibrushedhishairandhemoanedmoreloudly.Thenheseemedtofindsleep’slessdangerouswatersagain.MyowndozewasbrokenandIwasstaringwideawakeagain.Sincedark,Ihadonlymanagedtosleepaboutninetyminutes,andthathadbeendream-haunted.Inoneofthedreamfragments,ithadbeenthenightbeforeagain.BillyandSteffywerestandinginfrontofthepicturewindow,lookingoutattheblackandslate-graywaters,outatthesilverspinningwaterspoutthatheraldedthestorm.Itriedtogettothem,knowingthatastrongenoughwindcouldbreakthewindowandthrowdeadlyglassdartsallthewayacrossthelivingroom.ButnomatterhowIran,Iseemed,togetnoclosertothem.Andthenabirdroseoutofthewaterspout,agiganticscarletoiseaudemortwhoseprehistoricwingspandarkenedtheentirelakefromwesttoeast.Itsbeakopened,revealingamawthesizeoftheHollandTunnel.Andasthebirdcametogobbleupmywifeandson,alow,sinistervoicebegantowhisperoverandoveragain:TheArrowheadProject...theArrowheadProject...theArrowheadProject...
NotthatBillyandIweretheonlyonessleepingpoorly.Othersscreamedintheirsleep,andsomewentonscreamingaftertheywokeup.
