Мгла

           Itseemedimpossiblethatanyhumanpairoflungscouldhaveenoughairinthemtosustainsuchashriek.Nortonmuttered,"OhmyGod,"andranhishandsthroughhishair.

           Theshriekendedabruptly.Itdidnotdwindle;itwascutoff.Onemoremanwentoutside,abeefyguyinchinoworkpants.Ithinkhewassetonrescuingtheshrieker.Foramomenthewasoutthere,visiblethroughtheglassandthemist,likeafigureseenthroughamilkscumonatumbler.Then(andasfarasIknow,Iwastheonlyonetoseethis)somethingbeyondhimappearedtomove,agrayshadowinallthatwhite.Anditseemedtomethatinsteadofrunningintothefog,themaninthechinopantswasjerkedintoit,hishandsflailingupwardasifinsurprise.

           Foramomenttherewastotalsilenceinthemarket.

           Aconstellationofmoonssuddenlyglowedintobeingoutside.Theparking-lotsodiumlights,undoubtedlysuppliedbyundergroundelectricalcables,hadjustgoneon.

           "Don’tgoout-there,"Mrs.Carmodysaidinherbestgore-crowvoice."It’sdeathtogooutthere."

           Allatonce,nooneseemeddisposedtoargueorlaugh.

           Anotherscreamcamefromoutside,thisonemuffledandratherdistant-sounding.Billytensedagainstmeagain.

           "David,what’sgoingon?"OllieWeeksasked.Hehadlefthisposition.Therewerebigbeadsofsweatonhisround,smoothface."Whatisthis?"

           "I’llbegoddammedifIhaveanyidea,"Isaid.Ollielookedbadlyscared.HewasabachelorwholivedinanicelittlehouseupbyHighlandLakeandwholikedtodrinkinthebaratPleasantMountain.