Мгла
What Happened to the Soldiers. With Amanda. A Conversation with Dan Miller.
Myfleshwascrawling.
"Okay,"Isaid.
"We’llmakeitasquickaswecan,"Olliesaid.Hissapphireringglowedmutelyashemovedhisflashlight."Iwanttogetoutofherefast."
Ilookedupattheropes.Theyhadusedthesamesortofclotheslinethemaninthegolfcaphadallowedmetoticaroundhiswaist.Thenooseshadsunkintothepuffedfleshoftheirnecks,andIwonderedagainwhatitcouldhavebeentomakebothofthemgothroughwithit.IknewwhatOlliemeantbysayingthatifthenewsofthedoublesuicidegotout,itwouldmakethingsworse.Formeitalreadyhad-andIwouldn’thavebelievedthatpossible.
Therewasasnickingsound.Olliehadopenedhisknife,agoodheavyjobmadeforslittingopencartons.And,ofcourse,cuttingrope.
"Youorme?"heasked.
Iswallowed."Oneeach."
Wedidit.
WhenIgotback,AmandawasgoneandMrs.TurmanwaswithBilly.Theywerebothsleeping.Iwalkeddownoneoftheaislesandavoicesaid:"Mr.Drayton.David."ItwasAmanda,standingbythestairstothemanager’soffice,hereyeslikeemeralds."Whatwasit?"
"Nothing,"Isaid.
Shecameovertome.Icouldsmellfaintperfume.AndohhowIwantedher."Youliar,"shesaid.
"Itwasnothing.Afalsealarm."
"Ifthat’sbowyouwantit."Shetookmyhand."I’vejustbeenuptotheoffice.It’semptyandthere’salockonthedoor."Herfacewasperfectlycalm,buthereyeswerelambent,almostferal,andapulsebeatsteadilyinherthroat.
"Idon’t-"
"Isawthewayyoulookedatme,"shesaid."Ifweneedtotalkaboutit,it’snogood.
