Сияние

“It Was Her!”

           

           Eyeswidening,hefumbledforthewallswitch,andthelow,intimatebarlightingcameon,circlesoftwenty-wattbulbsemplantedonthetopsofthethreewagon-wheelchandeliersoverhead.

           Theshelveswereallempty.Theyhadnotevenasyetgatheredagoodcoatofdust.Thebeertapsweredry,aswerethechromedrainsbeneaththem.Tohisleftandright,thevelvet-upholsteredboothsstoodlikemenwithhighbacks,eachonedesignedtogiveamaximumofprivacytothecoupleinside.Straightahead,acrossthered-carpetedfloor,fortybarstoolsstoodaroundthehorseshoe-shapedbar.Eachstoolwasupholsteredinleatherandembossedwithcattlebrands-CircleH,BarDBar(thatwasfitting),RockingW,LazyB.

           Heapproachedit,givinghisheadalittleshakeofbewildermentashedidso.Itwaslikethatdayontheplaygroundwhen…buttherewasnosenseinthinkingaboutthat.Stillhecouldhaveswornhehadseenthosebottles,vaguely,itwastrue,thewayyouseethedarkenedshapesoffurnitureinaroomwherethecurtainshavebeendrawn.Mildglintsonglass.Theonlythingthatremainedwasthatsmellofbeer,andJackknewthatwasasmellthatfadedintothewoodworkofeverybarintheworldafteracertainperiodoftime,nottobeeradicatedbyanycleanerinvented.Yetthesmellhereseemedsharp…almostfresh.

           Hesatdownononeofthestoolsandproppedhiselbowsonthebar’sleathercushionededge.Athislefthandwasabowlforpeanuts-nowempty,ofcourse.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 353 из 672