Мгла

           NortonwasalawyerfromNewJerseyandhisplaceonLongLakewasonlyasummercottagewithnofurnaceorinsulation.Twoyearsbefore,wehadaboundarydisputethatfinallywoundupincountycourt.Iwon.NortonclaimedIwonbecausehewasanout-of-towner.Therewasnolovelostbetweenus.

           Steffsighedandfannedthetopofherbr**stswiththeedgeofher-halter.Idoubtedifitcooledheroffmuchbutitimprovedtheviewalot.

           "Idon’twanttoscareyou,"Isaid,"butthere’sabadstormontheway,Ithink."

           Shelookedatmedoubtfully."Therewerethunderheadslastnightandthenightbefore,David.Theyjustbrokeup."

           "Theywon’tdothattonight."

           "No?"

           "Ifitgetsbadenough,we’regoingtogodownstairs."

           "Howbaddoyouthinkitcanget?"

           Mydadwasthefirsttobuildayear-roundhomeonthissideofthelake.Whenhewashardlymorethanakidheandhisbrothersputupasummerplacewherethehousenowstood,andin1938asummerstormknockeditflat,stonewallsandall.Onlytheboathouseescaped.Ayearlaterhestartedthebighouse.It’sthetreesthatdothedamageinabadblow.Theygetold,andthewindknocksthemover.It’smothernature’swayofcleaninghouseperiodically.

           "Idon’treallyknow,"Isaid,truthfullyenough.Ihadonlyheardstoriesaboutthegreatstormofthirty-eight."Butthewindcancomeoffthelakelikeanexpresstrain."

           Billycamebackawhilelater,complainingthatthemonkeybarswerenofunbecausehewas"allsweatedup."IruffledhishairandgavehimanotherPepsi.