Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
"Maybe,"themansaid."Andmaybenot."
"Anyideas?"IaskedBudandOllie.
"Holdonasec,"themannearHadensaid."I’mDanMiller.FromLynn,Mass.Youdon’tknowme,noreasonwhyyoushould,butIgotaplaceonHighlandLake.Boughtitjustthisyear.Gotheldupforit,ismorelikeit,butIhadtohaveit."Therewereafewchuckles."Anyway,Isawawholepileoffertilizerandlawn-foodbagsdownthere.Twenty-five-poundsacks,mostofthem.Wecouldputthemuplikesandbags.Leaveloopholestolookoutthrough..."
Nowmorepeoplewerenoddingandtalkingexcitedly.Ialmostsaidsomething,thenhelditback.Millerwasright.Puttingthosebagsupcoulddonoharm,andmightdosomegood.Butmymindwentbacktothattentaclesqueezingthedog-foodbag.Ithoughtthatoneofthebiggertentaclescouldprobablydothesameforatwenty-five-poundbagofGreenAcreslawnfoodorVigoro.Butasermononthatwouldn’tgetusoutorimproveanyone’smood.
Peoplebegantobreakup,talkingaboutgettingitdone,andMilleryelled:"Holdit!Holdit!Let’sthrashthisoutwhilewe’realltogether!"
Theycameback,aloosecongregationoffiftyorsixtypeopleinthecornerformedbythebeercooler,thestoragedoors,andtheleftendofthemeatcase,whereMr.McVeyalwaysseemstoputthethingsnoonewants,likesweetbreadsandScotcheggsandsheep’sbrainsandheadcheese.Billywovehiswaythroughthemwithafive-year-old’sunconsciousagilityinaworldofgiantsandheldupaHersheybar."Wantthis,Daddy?"
"Thanks."Itookit.
