"James E. Gunn - The Witching Hour" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gunn James E)

He went to the rear of the car and released the jack. тАЬWhy not?тАЭ
тАЬI run away.тАЭ Her voice was quietly tragic. Matt turned to look at her. Her blue eyes were large and
moist. As he watched, a single tear gathered and traced a muddy path down her cheek.

Matt hardened his heart. He picked up the flat and stuffed it into the trunk and slammed the lid. The sun
was getting lower, and on this forgotten lane to nowhere it might take him the better part of an hour to
drive the twenty-five miles.

He slid into the driverтАЩs seat and punched the starter button. After one last look at the forlorn little figure
in the middle of the road, he shook his head savagely and let in the clutch.

тАЬMister! Hey, mister!тАЭ

He slammed on the brakes and stuck his head out the window. тАЬNow what do you want?тАЭ

тАЬNothinтАЩ,тАЭ she said mournfully. тАЬOnly you forgot your jack.тАЭ

Matt jammed the gear shift into reverse and backed up rapidly. Silently he got out, picked up the jack,
opened the trunk, tossed in the jack, slammed the lid. But as he brushed past her again, he hesitated.
тАЬWhere are you going?тАЭ

тАЬNo place,тАЭ she said.

тАЬWhat do you mean тАШno placeтАЩ? DonтАЩt you have any relatives?тАЭ She shook her head sadly. тАЬFriends?тАЭ he
asked hopefully. She shook her head again. тАЬAll right, then, go home where you belong!тАЭ

He slid into the car and slammed the door. She was not his concern. The car jerked into motion. No
doubt she would go home when she got hungry enough. He shifted into second, grinding the gears. Even
if she didnтАЩt, someone would take her in. After all, he was no welfare agency.

He slammed on the brakes. He backed up and skidded to a stop beside the girl.

тАЬGet in,тАЭ he said.

Trying to keep the car out of the ruts was trouble enough, but the girl jumped up and down on the seat
beside him, squealing happily.

тАЬCareful of those notes,тАЭ he said, indicating the bulging manila folders on the seat between them. тАЬThereтАЩs
over a yearтАЩs work in those.тАЭ

Her eyes were wide as she watched him place the folders in the back seat on top of the portable
typewriter that rested between the twenty-pound sack of flour and the case of eggs.

тАЬA yearтАЩs work?тАЭ she echoed.

тАЬNotes. For a book IтАЩm going to write.тАЭ

тАЬYou write stories?тАЭ

тАЬA book. About an aspect of psychology. About poltergeist phenomena, to be precise.тАЭ