Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
BigBillwasn’tcrying,buthewasclose.
"There’sonlyonechance,"Mrs.Carmodysaid.
"What’sthat,ma’am?"MikeHadenaskedpolitely.
"Asacrifice,"Mrs.Carmodysaid-sheseemedtogrininthegloom."Abloodsacrifice."
Bloodsacrifice-thewordshungthere,slowlyturning.Evennow,whenIknowbetter,Itellmyselfthatthenwhatshemeantwassomeone’spetdog-therewereacoupleofthemtrottingaroundthemarketinspiteoftheregulationsagainstthem.EvennowItellmyselfthat.ShelookedlikesomecrazedremnantofNewEnglandPuritanisminthegloom...butIsuspectthatsomethingdeeperanddarkerthanmerePuritanismmotivatedher.Puritanismhaditsowndarkgrandfather,oldAdamwithbloodyhands.
Sheopenedhermouthtosaysomethingmore,andasmall,neatmaninredpantsandanattysportshirtstruckheropenhandedacrosstheface.Hishairwaspartedwithrulerevennessontheleft.Heworeglasses.Healsoworetheunmistakablelookofthesummertourist.
"Youshutupthatbadtalk,"hesaidsoftlyandtonelessly.
Mrs.Carmodyputherhandtohermouthandthenhelditouttous,awordlessaccusation.Therewasbloodonthepalm.Butherblackeyesseemedtodancewithmadglee.
"Youhaditcoming!"awomancriedout."Iwouldhavedoneitmyself!"
"They’llgetholdofyou,"Mrs.Carmodysaid,showingusherbloodypalm.Thetrickleofbloodwasnowrunningdownoneofthewrinklesfromhermouthtoherchinlikeadropletofraindownagutter."Nottoday,maybe.Tonight.Tonightwhenthedarkcomes.
