Мгла

           helikesthatlight...andsometimeshepullsouttheplugs...littleVictordoes...andWandagets...boredwatchinghimafterawhile...she’sjusteight..."Shestoppedtalkingandjustlookedatus.Iimaginethatwemusthavelookedlikenothingbutabankofmercilesseyestoherrightthen,nothumanbeingsatall,justeyes."Isn’tanyonegoingtohelpme?"shescreamed.Herlipsbegantotremble."Won’t...won’tanybodyhereseealadyhome?"

           Noonereplied.Peopleshuffledtheirfeet.Shelookedfromfacetofacewithherownbrokenface.Thefatlocalmantookahesitanthalf-stepforwardandhiswifejerkedhimbackwithonequicktug,herhandclappedoverhiswristlikeamanacle.

           "You?"theblondwomanaskedOllie.Heshookhishead."You?"shesaidtoBud.HeputhishandovertheTexasInstrumentscalculatoronthecounterandmadenoreply."You?"shesaidtoNorton,andNortonbegantosaysomethinginhisbiglawyer’svoice,somethingabouthownooneshouldgooffhalf-cocked,and...andshedismissedhimandNortonjusttrailedoff.

           "You?"shesaidtome,andIpickedBillyupagainandheldhiminmyarmslikeashieldtowardoffherterriblebrokenface.

           "Ihopeyouallrotinhell,"shesaid.Shedidn’tscreamit.Hervoicewasdeadtired.ShewenttotheOUTdoorandpulleditopen,usingbothhands.Iwantedtosaysomethingtoher,callherback,butmymouthwastoodry.

           "Aw,lady,listen-"theteenagekidwhohadshoutedatMrs.Carmodybegan.Heheldherarm.Shelookeddownathishandandhelethergo,shamefaced