Мгла
After the Storm. Norton. A Trip to Town.
Inoneoftheshadowy,dustybackrooms,stuffedowlswithgold-ringedeyesspreadtheirwingsforeverastheirfeetendlesslygraspedvarnishedlogs;stuffedraccoonsstoodinatrioarounda"stream"thatwasalongfragmentofdustymirror;andonemoth-eatenwolf,whichwasfoamingsawdustinsteadofsalivaaroundhismuzzle,snarledacreepyeternalsnarl.Mrs.CarmodyclaimedthewolfwasshotbyherfatherasitcametodrinkfromStevensBrookoneSeptemberafternoonin1901.
TheexpeditionstoMrs.Carmody’sAntiquaryshopworkedwellformywifeandson.Shewasintocarnivalglassandhewasintodeathinthenameoftaxidermy.ButIthoughtthattheoldwomanexercisedaratherunpleasantholdoverSteff’smind,whichwasinallotherwayspracticalandhardheaded.ShehadfoundSteff’svulnerablespot,amentalAchilles’heel.NorwasStefftheonlyoneintownwhowasfascinatedbyMrs.Carmody’sgothicpronouncementsandfolkremedies(whichwerealwaysprescribedinGod’sname).
Stump-waterwouldtakeoffbruisesifyourhusbandwasthesortwhogotabittoofreewithhisfistsafterthreedrinks.YoucouldtellwhatkindofawinterwascomingbycountingtheringsonthecaterpillarsinJuneorbymeasuringthethicknessofAugusthoneycomb.Andnow,goodGodprotectandpreserveus,THEBLACKSPRINGOF1888(addyourownexclamationpoints,asmanyasyouthinkitdeserves).Ihadalsoheardthestory.
