Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
Forallweknew,theEasternSeaboardmightnolongerexist.Olliedranksteadily,butdidn’tgetdrunk.Hewassweatingitoutasrapidlyashecouldputitin.
Atlast,asthediscussionwiththeFlat-Eartherswasbecomingacrimonious,Olliespokeup."Ifyoudon’tbelieveit,Mr.Norton,that’sfine.I’lltellyouwhattodo.Yougoonoutthatfrontdoorandwalkaroundtotheback.There’sagreatbigpileofreturnablebeerandsodabottlesthere.NormandBuddyandIputthemoutthismorning.Youbringbackacoupleofthosebottlessoweknowyoureallywentbackthere.YoudothatandI’llpersonallytakemyshirtoffandeatit."
Nortonbegantobluster.
Olliecuthimoffinthesamesoft,evenvoice."Itellyou,you’renotdoinganythingbutdamagetalkingthewayyouare.There’speopleherethatwanttogohomeandmakesuretheirfamiliesareokay.Mysisterandheryear-olddaughterareathomeinNaplesrightnow.I’dliketocheckonthem,sure.Butifpeoplestartbelievingyouandtrytogohome,whathappenedtoNormisgoingtohappentothem."
Hedidn’tconvinceNorton,butheconvincedsomeoftheleanersandfencesitters-itwasn’twhathesaidsomuchasitwashiseyes,hishauntedeyes.IthinkNorton’ssanityhingedonnotbeingconvinced,orthathethoughtitdid.Buthedidn’ttakeOllieuponhisoffertobringbackasamplingofreturnablesfromoutback.Noneofthemdid.Theyweren’treadytogoout,atleastnotyet.
