Мгла
An Argument with Norton. A Discussion Near the Beer Cooler. Verification.
Forgiveme,gentlemen,butit’scompletelyridiculous.Eitheryou’rehavingmeon"-hepatronizeduswithhisgleamingsmiletoshowthathecouldtakeajokeaswellasthenextfellow-"oryou’resufferingfromsomeformofgrouphypnosis."
Mytemperroseagain,andIcontrolledit-withdifficulty.Idon’tthinkthatI’mordinarilyaquick-temperedman,buttheseweren’tordinarycircumstances.IhadBillytothinkabout,andwhatwashappening-orwhathadalreadyhappened-toStephanie.Thosethingswereconstantlygnawingatthebackofmymind.
"Allright,"Isaid."Let’sgobackthere.There’sachunkoftentacleonthefloor.Thedoorcutitoffwhenitcamedown.Andyoucanhearthem.They’rerustlingalloverthatdoor.Itsoundslikethewindinivy."
"No,"hesaidcalmly.
"What?"IreallydidbelieveIhadmisheardhim."Whatdidyousay?
"Isaidno,I’mnotgoingbackthere.Thejokehasgonefarenough."
"Brent,Isweartoyouit’snojoke."
"Ofcourseitis,"hesnapped.HiseyesranoverJim,Myron,restedbrieflyonOllieWeeks-whoheldhisglancewithcalmimpassivity-andatlastcamebacktome."It’swhatyoulocalsprobablycall’arealbelly-buster.Right,David?"
"Brent...look-"
"No,youlook!"Hisvoicebegantorisetowardacourtroomshout.Itcarriedvery,verywell,andseveralofthepeoplewhowerewanderingaround,edgyandaimless,lookedovertoseewhatwasgoingon.Nortonjabbedhisfingeratmeashespoke."It’sajoke.It’sabananaskinandI’mtheguythat’ssupposedtosliponit.
