Мгла
Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.
"Whatisit?"MikeHadenasked.
"Well...untillastweekwehadawholecaseofthoselittleblowtorches.Thekindyouusearoundyourhousetosolderleakypipesormendyourexhaustsystemorwhatever.Yourememberthose,Mr.Brown?"
Brownnodded,lookingsour.
"Soldout?"Millerasked.
"No,theydidn’tgoatall.Weonlysoldthreeorfourandsenttherestofthecaseback.Whatapisser.Imean...whatashame."Blushingsodeeplyhewasalmostpurple,BuddyEagletonretiredintothebackgroundagain.
Wehadmatches,ofcourse,andsalt(someonesaidvaguelythathehadheardsaltwasthethingtoputonbloodsuckersandthingslikethat);andallkindsofO’Cedarmopsandlong-handledbrooms.Mostofthepeoplecontinuedtolookheartened,andJimandMyronweretooplotzotosoundadissentingnote,butImetOllie’seyesandsawacalmhopelessnessinthemthatwasworsethanfear.HeandIhadseenthetentacles.TheideaofthrowingsaltonthemortryingtofendthemoffwiththehandlesofO’Cedarmopswasfunny,inaghastlyway.
"Mike,"Millersaid,"whydon’tyoucrewthislittleadventure?IwanttotalktoOllieandDavehereforaminute."
"Gladto."HadenclappedDanMillerontheshoulder."Somebodyhadtotakecharge,andyoudiditgood.Welcometotown."
"DoesthismeanIgetakickbackonmytaxes?Millerasked.Hewasabantylittleguywithredhairthatwasreceding.Helookedlikethesortofguyyoucan’thelplikingonshortnoticeand-justmaybe-thekindofguyyoucan’thelpnotlikingafterhe’sbeenaroundforawhile.
