Мгла

           "He’sdead,"Olliesaid."Lethimgo,David.Thefu**ingthinggothisfemoralartery,he’sdead.Let’sgettheChristoutofhere."Hisfacewasoncemorerunningwithsweatandhiseyesbulgedfromhisbigroundface.Oneoftheweb-strandsfloatedeasilydownonthebackofhishandandOllieswunghisarm,snappingit.Thestrandleftabloodyweal.

           Mrs.Repplerscreamed"Ware!"again,andweturnedtowardher.AnotherofthemhadcomeoutofthemistandhadwrappeditslegsaroundDanMillerinamadlover’sembrace.Hewasstrikingatitwithhisfists.AsIbentandpickedupBuddy’spinchbar,thespiderbegantowrapDaninitsdeadlythread,andhisstrugglesbecameagrisly,jitteringdeathdance.

           Mrs.RepplerwalkedtowardthespiderwithacanofBlackFlaginsectrepellentheldoutstretchedinonehand.Thespider’slegsreachedforher.Shedepressedthebuttonandacloudofthestuffjettedintooneofitssparkling,jewel-likeeyes.Thatlow-pitchedmewlingsoundcameagain.Thespiderseemedtoshudderalloverandthenitbegantolurchbackward,hairylegsscratchingatthepavement.ItdraggedDan’sbody,bumpingandrolling,behindit.Mrs.Repplerthrewthecanofbugsprayatit.Itbouncedoffthespider’sbodyandclatteredtothehottop.

           Thespiderstruckthesideofasmallsportscarhardenoughtomakeitrockonitssprings,andthenitwasgone.

           IgottoMrs.Reppler,whowasswayingonherfeetanddeadpale.Iputanarmaroundher."Thankyou,youngman,"shesaid."Ifeelabitfaint."

           "That’sokay,’Isaidhoarsely