"Zenna Henderson - Hush!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Henderson Zenna)

thing that lay beside it. Its glowing eyes were blinking and its ears shifting planes тАУ probably to locate sound.
Her mouth opened to let out the terror that was constricting her lungs, and her frantic scream coincided with the
shrill clamour of the telephone. The Eater hesitated, then slid swiftly toward the repeated ring. In the pause after the
party lineтАЩs four identifying rings, it stopped and June clapped both hands over her mouth, her eyes dilated with
paralysed terror.
The ring began again. June caught Dubby up into her arms and backed slowly toward the front door. The EaterтАЩs
snout darted out to the telephone and the ring stilled without even an after-resonance.
The latch of the front door gave a rasping click under JuneтАЩs trembling hand. Behind her, she heard the choonk
and horrible slither as the Eater lost interest in the silenced telephone. She whirled away from the door, staggering off
balance under the limp load of DubbyтАЩs body. She slipped to one knee, spilling the child to the floor with a thump.
The Eater slid toward her, pausing at the hall door, its ears tilting and moving.
June crouched on her knees, staring, one hand caught under Dubby. She swallowed convulsively, then cautiously
withdrew her hand. She touched DubbyтАЩs bony little chest. There was no movement. She hesitated indecisively, then
backed away, eyes intent on the Eater.
Her heart drummed in her burning throat. Her blood roared in her ears. The starchy krunkle of her wide skirt
rattled in the stillness. The fibres of the rug murmured under her knees and toes. She circled wider, wider, the noise
only loud enough to hold the EaterтАЩs attention тАУ not to attract him to her. She backed guardedly into the corner by the
radio. Calculatingly, she reached over and clicked it on, turning the volume dial as far as it would go.
The Eater slid tentatively toward her at the click of the switch. June backed slowly away, eyes intent on the
creature. The sudden insane blare of the radio hit her an almost physical blow. The Eater glided up close against the
vibrating cabinet, its snout lifting and drinking in the horrible cacophony of sound.
June lurched for the front door, wrenching frantically at the door knob. She stumbled outside, slamming the door
behind her. Trembling, she sank to the top step, wiping the cold sweat from her face with the underside of her skirt.
She shivered in the sharp cold, listening to the raucous outpouring from the radio that boomed so loud it was no
longer intelligible.
She dragged herself to her feet, pausing irresolutely, looking around at the huddled houses, each set on its own
acre of weeds and lawn. They were all dark in the early winter evening.
June gave a little moan and sank on the step again, hugging herself desperately against the penetrating chill. It
seemed an eternity that she crouched there before the radio cut off in mid-note.
Fearfully, she roused and pressed her face to one of the door panes. Dimly through the glass curtains she could
see the Eater, sluggish and swollen, lying quietly by the radio. Hysteria was rising for a moment, but she resolutely
knuckled the tears from her eyes.
The headlights scythed around the corner, glittering swiftly across the blank windows next door as the car
crunched into the WarrenтАЩs driveway and came to a gravel-skittering stop.
June pressed her hands to her mouth, sure that even through the closed door she could hear the choonk and
slither of the thing inside as it slid to and fro, seeking sound.
The car door slammed and hurried footsteps echoed along the path. June made wild shushing motions with her
hands as Mrs. Warren scurried around the corner of the house.
тАЬJune!тАЭ Mrs. WarrenтАЩs voice was ragged with worry. тАЬIs Dubby all right? What are you doing out here? WhatтАЩs
wrong with the phone?тАЭ She fumbled for the door knob.
 тАЬNo, no!тАЭ June shouldered her roughly aside. тАЬDonтАЩt go in! ItтАЩll get you, too!тАЭ
She heard a thud just inside the door. Dimly through the glass she saw the flicker of movement as the snout of the
Eater raised and wavered toward them.
тАЬJune!тАЭ Mrs. Warren jerked her away from the door. тАЬLet me in! WhatтАЩs the matter? Have you gone crazy?тАЭ
Mrs. Warren stopped suddenly, her face whitening. тАЬWhat have you done to Dubby, June?тАЭ
The girl gulped with the shock of the accusation. тАЬI havenтАЩt done anything, Mrs. Warren. He made a Noise-eater
and it тАУ it тАУтАЭ June winced away from the sudden blaze of Mrs. WarrenтАЩs eyes.
тАЬGet away from that door!тАЭ Mrs. WarrenтАЩs face was that of a stranger, her words icy and clipped. тАЬI trusted you
with my child. If anything has happened to him тАУтАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt go in тАУ oh, donтАЩt go in!тАЭ June grabbed at her coat hysterically. тАЬPlease, please wait! LetтАЩs get тАУтАЭ