Мгла
What Happened to the Soldiers. With Amanda. A Conversation with Dan Miller.
Hidingus.Butmaybeitwouldn’thideusforlong,andtherewasmoretoitthanthat.WehadbeenintheFederalforeighteenhours,moreorless,andIcouldfeelakindoflethargyspreadingoverme,notmuchdifferentfromthelethargyI’vefeltononeortwooccasionswhenI’vetriedtoswimtoofar.Therewasanurgetoplayitsafe,tojuststayput,totakecareofBilly(andmaybetobangAmandaDumfriesinthemiddleofthenight,avoicemurmured),toseeifthemistwouldn’tjustlift,leavingeverythingasithadbeen.
Icouldseeitontheotherfacesaswell,anditsuddenlyoccurredtomethattherewerepeoplenowintheFederalwhoprobablywouldn’tleaveunderanycircumstance.Theverythoughtofgoingoutthedoorafterallthathadhappenedwouldfreezethem.
Millerhadbeenwatchingthesethoughtscrossmyface,maybe.Hesaid,"Therewereabouteightypeopleinherewhenthatdamnfogcame.Fromthatnumberyousubtractthebag-boy,Norton,andthefourpeoplethatwentoutwithhim,andthatmanSmalley.Thatleavesseventythree."
Andsubtractingthetwosoldiers,nowrestingunderastackofPurinaPuppyChowbags,itmadeseventy-one.
"Thenyousubtractthepeoplewhohavejustoptedout,"hewenton."Therearetenortwelveofthose.Sayten.Thatleavesaboutsixty-three.But-"Heraisedonesugar-powderedfinger."Ofthosesixty-three,we’vegottwentyorsothatjustwon’tleave.You’dhavetodragthemoutkickingandscreaming."
"Whichallgoestoprovewhat?"
"Thatwe’vegottogetout,that’sall.AndI’mgoing.
