Мгла

           Ididn’teventry.Isuspectedshemightbemorecompetentthananyofus,exceptmaybeforOllie.Shewascarryingasmallcanvasshoppingbasket,anditwasloadedwithanarsenalofRaidandBlackFlagspraycans,allofthemuncappedandreadyforaction.InherfreehandsheheldaSpauldingJimmyConnorstennisracketfromadisplayofsportinggoodsinAisle2.

           "Whatyougonnadowiththat,Mrs.Reppler?"Jimasked.

           "Idon’tknow,"shesaid.Shehadalow,raspy,competentvoice."Butitfeelsrightinmyhand."Shelookedhimoverclosely,andhereyewascold."JimGrondin,isn’tit?Didn’tIhaveyouinschool?"

           Jim’slipsstretchedinanuneasyegg-suckgrin."Yes’m.MeandmysisterPauline."

           "Toomuchtodrinklastnight?"

           Jim,whotoweredoverherandprobablyoutweighedherbyonehundredpounds,blushedtotherootsofhisAmericanLegioncrewcut."Aw,no-"

           Sheturnedawaycurtly,cuttinghimoff."Ithinkwe’reready,"shesaid.

           Allofushadsomething,althoughyouwouldhavecalleditanoddassortmentofweapons.OlliehadAmanda’sgun,BuddyEagletonhadasteelpinchbarfromoutbacksomewhere.Ihadabroomhandle.

           "Okay,"DanMillersaid,raisinghisvoiceabit."Youfolkswanttolistenupaminute?"

           AdozenpeoplehaddrifteddowntowardtheOUTdoortoseewhatwasgoingon.Theywerelooselyknotted,andtotheirrightstoodMrs.Carmodyandhernewfriends.

           "We’regoingovertothedrugstoretoseewhatthesituationisthere.Hopefully,we’llbeabletobringsomethingbacktoaidMrs.Clapham.