Мгла
The First Night.
Thebeerwasdisappearingfromthecooleratagreatrate.BuddyEagletonhadrestockeditoncefromoutbackwithnocomment.MikeHatlentoldmetheSominexwasgone.Notdepletedbuttotallywipedout.Heguessedthatsomepeoplemighthavetakensixoreightbottles.
"There’ssomeNytolleft,"hesaid."Youwantabottle,David?"Ishookmyheadandthankedhim.
AndinthelastaisledownbyRegister5,wehadourwinos.Therewereaboutsevenofthem,allout-of-staters,exceptforLouTattinger,whoranthePineTreeCarWash.Loudidn’tneedanyexcusetosniffthecork,asthesayingwas.Thewinobrigadewasprettywellanesthetized.
Ohyes-therewerealsosixorsevenpeoplewhohadgonecrazy.
Crazyisn’tthebestword;perhapsIjustcan’tthinkoftheproperone.Buttherewerethesepeoplewhohadlapsedintoacompletestuporwithoutbenefitofbeer,wine,orpills.Theystaredatyouwithblankandshinydoorknobeyes.Thehardcementofrealityhadcomeapartinsomeunimaginableearthquake,andthesepoordevilshadfallenthrough.Intime,someofthemmightcomeback.Iftherewastime.
Therestofushadmadeourownmentalcompromises,andinsomecasesIsupposetheywerefairlyodd.Mrs.Reppler,forinstance,wasconvincedthewholethingwasadream-orsoshesaid.Andshespokewithsomeconviction.
IlookedoveratAmanda.Iwasdevelopinganuncomfortably-strongfeelingforher-uncomfortablebutnotexactlyunpleasant.Hereyeswereanincredible,brilliantgreen...
