Мгла
After the Storm. Norton. A Trip to Town.
"Haveyoustillgotthelist?"
Ipattedmyhippocket.
HereyesshiftedtoNorton."I’mverysorryaboutCarla,Brent.Weallwere."
"Thankyou,"hesaid."Thankyouverymuch."
TherewasanothermomentofawkwardsilencewhichBillybroke."Canwegonow,Daddy?"Hehadchangedtojeansandsneakers.
"Yeah,Iguessso.Youready,Brent?"
"GivemeanotherbeerfortheroadandIwillbe."
Steffy’sbrowcreased.Shehadneverapprovedoftheonefor-the-roadphilosophy,orofmenwhodrivewithacanofBudleaningagainsttheircrotches.Igaveherabarenodandsheshrugged.Ididn’twanttoreopenthingswithNortonnow,Shegothimabeer.
"Thanks,"hesaidtoSteffy,notreallythankingherbutonlymouthingaword.Itwasthewayyouthankawaitressinarestaurant.Heturnedbacktome."Leadon,Macduff."
"Berightwithyou,"Isaid,andwentintothelivingroom.
Nortonfollowed,andexclaimedoverthebirch,butIwasn’tinterestedinthatorinthecostofreplacingthewindowjustthen.Iwaslookingatthelakethroughtheslidingglasspanelthatgaveonourdeck.ThebreezehadfreshenedalittleandthedayhadwarmedupfivedegreesorsowhileIwascuttingwood.Ithoughttheoddmistwe’dnoticedearlierwouldsurelyhavebrokenup,butithadn’t.Itwascloser,too.Halfwayacrossthelakenow.
"Inoticedthatearlier,"Nortonsaid,pontificating."Somekindoftemperatureinversion,that’smyguess."
Ididn’tlikeit.IfeltverystronglythatIhadneverseenamistexactlylikethisone.
