Мгла
The End.
Iwasonlyinchesfromit’sred,viciouslystupideyes.Itslegs,eachasthickasmywrist,slippedbackandforthacrossthesquarebonnet.Amandascreamedceaselessly,likeafirebell.
"Woman,shutyourhead,"Mrs.Repplertoldher.
Thespidergaveup.Itcouldnotsmellus,ergowewerenolongerthere.Itstruttedbackintothemistonitsunsettlingnumberoflegs,becameaphantasm,andthenwasgone.
Ilookedoutthewindowtomakesureitwasgoneandthenopenedthedoor.
"Whatareyoudoing?"Amandascreamed,butIknewwhatIwasdoing.IliketothinkOlliewouldhavedoneexactlythesamething.Ihalf-stepped,half-leanedout,andgotthegun.Somethingcamerapidlytowardme,butIneversawit.Ipulledbackinandslammedthedoorshut.
Amandabegantosob.Mrs.Repplerputanarmaroundherandcomfortedherbriskly.
Billysaid,"Arewegoinghome,Daddy?"
"BigBill,we’regonnatry."
"Okay,"hesaidquietly.
Icheckedthegunandthenputitintotheglovecompartment.Olliehadreloadeditaftertheexpeditiontothedrugstore.Therestoftheshellshaddisappearedwithhim,butthatwasallright.HehadfiredatMrs.Carmody,hehadfiredonceattheclawedthing,andthegunhaddischargedoncewhenithittheground.TherewerefourofusintheScout,butifpushcamerightdowntoshove,I’dbindsomeotherwayoutformyself.
IhadaterriblemomentwhenIcouldn’tfindmykeyring.Icheckedallmypockets,cameupempty,andthencheckedthemallagain,forcingmyselftogoslowlyandcalmly.
