Мгла
The End.
IprayedtoGodtoletmegetBillytosafetybecausehehadbeenthroughsomuch.
Mostpeoplehadpulledtothesideoftheroadwhenthemistcame,andbynoonwewereinNorthWindham.ItriedtheRiverRoad,butaboutfourmilesdown,abridgespanningasmallandnoisystreamhadfallenintothewater.IhadtoreversefornearlyamilebeforeIfoundaspotwideenoughtoturnaround.We-,venttoPortlandbyRoute302afterall.
Whenwegotthere,Idrovethecutofftotheturnpike.Theneatlineoftollboothsguardingtheaccesshadbeenturnedintovacant-eyedskeletonsofsmashedPola-Glas.Allofthemwereempty.IntheslidingglassdoorwayofonewasatornjacketwithMaineTurnpikeAuthoritypatchesonthesleeves.Itwasdrenchedwithtacky,dryingblood.
WehadnotseenasinglelivingpersonsinceleavingtheFederal.
Mrs.Repplersaid,"David,tryyourradio."
Islappedmyforeheadinfrustrationandangeratmyself,wonderinghowIcouldhavebeenstupidenoughtoforgettheScout’sAM/FMforsolong.
"Don’tdothat,"Mrs.Repplersaidcurtly."Youcan’tthinkofeverything.Ifyoutry,youwillgomadandbeofnouseatall."
IgotnothingbutashriekofstaticallthewayacrosstheAMband,andtheFMyieldednothingbutasmoothandominoussilence.
"Doesthatmeaneverything’sofftheair?"Amandaasked.Iknewwhatshewasthinking,maybe.WewerefarenoughsouthnowsothatweshouldhavebeenpickingupaselectionofstrongBostonstations-WRKO,WBZ,WMEXButifBostonhadgone
"Itdoesn’tmeananythingforsure,"Isaid.
