Мгла
What Happened to the Soldiers. With Amanda. A Conversation with Dan Miller.
Thekindthat’spowderedwithwhitesugar.
"Sitdown,Mr.Drayton,"heinvited.
IlookedaroundforAmanda,butshewasalreadyhalfwayuptheaisle.Shedidn’tlookback.Ouractofloveinthedarkalreadyseemedsomethingoutofafantasy,impossibletobelieveeveninthisweirddaylight.Isatdown.
"Haveadonut."Heheldtheboxout.
Ishookmyhead."Allthatwhitesugarisdeath.Worsethancigarettes."
Thatmadehimlaughalittlebit."inthatcase,havetwo."
Iwassurprisedtofindalittlelaughterleftinsideme-hehadsurpriseditout,andIlikedhimforit.Ididtaketwoofhisdonuts.Theytastedprettygood.Ichasedthemwithacigarette,althoughitisnotnormallymyhabittosmokeinthemornings.
"Ioughttogetbacktomykid,"Isaid."He’llbewakingup."
Millernodded."Thosepinkbugs,"hesaid."They’reallgone.Soarethebirds.HankVannermansaidthelastonehitthewindowsaroundfour.Apparentlythe...thewildlife...isalotmoreactivewhenit’sdark."
"Youdon’twanttotellBrentNortonthat,"Isaid."OrNorm."
Henoddedagainanddidn’tsayanythingforalongtime.Thenhelitacigaretteofhisownandlookedatme."Wecan’tstayhere,Drayton,"hesaid.
"There’sfood.Plentytodrink."
"Thesuppliesdon’thaveanythingtodowithit,andyouknowit.Whatdowedoifoneofthebigbeastiesouttheredecidestobreakininsteadofjustgoingbumpinthenight?Dowetrytodriveitoffwithbroomhandlesandcharcoallighterfluid?"
Ofcoursehewasright.Perhapsthemistwasprotectingusinaway.
