Мгла
The First Night.
Andsincethenthatvoiceofdisappointedexpectation-thatcheatedchild’svoicethatcanneverbesatisfiedwithsuchamildsuperlativeasgood-hasfallenprettymuchsilent.Andexceptforafewrumbles-likethesoundsofthoseunseencreaturessomewhereoutinthefoggynight-ithasbeenprettymuchsilenteversince.Maybeyoucantellme-whyshouldthesilencingofthatchildish,demandingvoiceseemsomuchlikedying?
Aroundfouro’clockBillywokeup-partially,atleast-andlookedaroundwithbleary,uncomprehendingeyes."Arewestillhere?"
"Yeah,honey,"Isaid."Weare."
Hestartedtocrywithaweakhelplessnessthatwashorrible.Amandawokeupandlookedatus.
"Hey,kid,"shesaid,andpulledhimgentlytoher."Everythingisgoingtolookalittlebettercomemorning.
"No,"Billysaid."Noitwon’t.Itwon’t.Itwon’t."
"Shh,"shesaid.Hereyesmetmineoverhishead."Shh,it’spastyourbedtime."
"Iwantmymother!"
"Yeah,youdo,"Amandasaid."Ofcourseyoudo."
Billysquirmedaroundinherlapuntilhecouldlookatme.Whichhedidforsometime.Andthensleptagain.
"Thanks,"Isaid."Heneededyou."
"Hedoesn’tevenknowme."
"Thatdoesn’tchangeit."
"Sowhatdoyouthink?"sheasked.Hergreeneyesheldminesteadily."Whatdoyoureallythink
"Askmeinthemorning."
"I’maskingyounow."
IopenedmymouthtoanswerandthenOllieWeeksmaterializedoutofthegloomlikesomethingfromahorrortale.Hehadaflashlightwithoneoftheladies’blousesoverthelens,andhewaspointingittowardtheceiling
