Мгла
The Spell of Mrs. Carmody. The Second Night in the Market. The Final Confrontation.
"Iwoulddoanything-takeanychances-justtoseethesunagain."
Justtoseethesunagain.Alittleshivercoursedthroughme.Shehadputherfingeronaspotthatwasveryclosetothecenterofmyownfears,onthesenseofalmostforegonedoomthathadgrippedmesinceIhadseenNormdraggedoutthroughtheloadingdoor.Youcouldonlyseethesunthroughthemistasalittlesilvercoin.ItwaslikebeingonVenus.
Itwasn’tsomuchthemonstrouscreaturesthatlurkedinthemist;myshotwiththepinchbarhadshownmetheywerenoLovecraftianhorrorswithimmortallifebutonlyorganiccreatureswiththeirownvulnerabilities.Itwasthemistitselfthatsappedthestrengthandrobbedthewill.Justtoseethesunagain.Shewasright.Thatalonewouldbeworthgoingthroughalotofhell.
IsmiledatHattieandshesmiledtentativelyback.
"Yes,"Amandasaid."Metoo."
IbegantoshakeBillyawakeasgentlyasIcould.
"I’mwithyou,"Mrs.Repplersaidbriefly.
Wewerealltogetherbythemeatcounter,allbutBudBrown.Hehadthankedusfortheinvitationandthendeclinedit.Hewouldnotleavehisplaceinthemarket,hesaid,butaddedinaremarkablygentletoneofvoicethathedidn’tblameOlliefordoingso.
Anunpleasant,sweetisharomawasbeginningtodriftupfromthewhiteenamelcasenow,asmellthatremindedmeofthetimeourfreezerwentonthefritzwhilewewerespendingaweekontheCape.Perhaps,Ithought,itwasthesmellofspoilingmeatthathaddrivenMr.McVeyovertoMrs.Carmody’steam.
