Мгла
The Spell of Mrs. Carmody. The Second Night in the Market. The Final Confrontation.
Dumfries,canyoucarryBilly?"
Shepickedhimupinherarms.
"AmItooheavy?"Billyasked.
"No,hon."
"Good."
"YouandBillygetinfront,"Olliewenton."Shovewayover.Mrs.Turmaninfront,inthemiddle.David,youbehindthewheel.Therestofuswill-"
"Wheredidyouthinkyouweregoing?"
ItwasMrs.Carmody.
ShestoodattheheadofthecheckoutlinewhereOlliehadhiddenthebagsofgroceries.Herpantsuitwasayellowscreaminthegloom.Herhairfrizzedoutwildlyinalldirections,remindingmemomentarilyofElsaLanchesterinTheBrideofFrankenstein.Hereyesblazed.Tenorfifteenpeoplestoodbehindher,blockingtheINandOUTdoors.Theyhadthelookofpeoplewhohadbeenincaraccidents,orwhohadseenaUFOland,orwhohadseenatreepullitsrootsupandwalk.
BillycringedagainstAmandaandburiedhisfaceagainstherneck.
"Goingoutnow,Mrs.Carmody,"Olliesaid.Hisvoicewascuriouslygentle."Standaway,please."
"Youcan’tgoout.Thatwayisdeath.Don’tyouknowthatbynow?"
"Noonehasinterferedwithyou,"Isaid."Allwewantisthesameprivilege."
Shebentandfoundthebagsofgroceriesunerringly.Shemusthaveknownwhatwewereplanningallalong.ShepulledthemoutfromtheshelfwhereOlliehadplacedthem.Onerippedopen,spillingcansacrossthefloor.Shethrewtheotheranditsmashedopenwiththesoundofbreakingglass.Sodaranfizzingeverywhichwayandsprayedoffthechromefacingofthenextcheckoutlane.
"Thesearethesortofpeoplewhobroughtiton!"sheshouted.
