"James Herbert - Rats 02 - Lair" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert James)

makeshift goal. Keith met it with a kick of his own and sent it
skimming back past his father.

"Show off!" Terry called out and ran after it, slipping and falling
onto his back as he stretched a foot out to halt the ball's progress.

Hazel and the two children laughed aloud as Terry struggled to his
feet, a rueful grin on his face.

"All right, you asked for it," he called back to Keith. "Get ready for
this one!"

He retrieved the ball, placed it firmly on the ground, took a few steps
back, then kicked it high and hard towards the goal mouth Josie
bravely jumped up and tried to catch the ball, but the boy was older
and wiser: he ducked and let it sail over his head. The ball
disappeared with a rustle of protesting leaves into the heavy clump of
bushes behind the trees.

"Oh, Dad!" Keith moaned.
Terry, that's too hard," said Hazel, reproachfully.

Well, go and get it, son," said Terry, unabashed.

But Keith squatted on the ground, arms folded across his chest, a set
expression on his face.

"I get it, Daddy," Josie cried out, scurrying towards the bushes.

Watch her, Terry, don't let her go out of sight," Hazel said
anxiously.

"She's all right, it didn't go far." Terry stretched his arms and
gazed at the greenness around him. "Beats bloody working," he muttered
under his breath.

Josie peered into the bushes, then jiggled her body through the small
opening she had found. She squirmed further into the undergrowth, her
eyes darting from left to right in search of the lost ball. Her
mother's voice followed her through the tangle of leaves and branches,
but the girl's mind was too concentrated on her quest to listen. She
squealed in excitement when she saw the white round object of her
search nestling beneath a leafy bush, and pushed herself forward,
wincing as the branches scratched at her legs.

She reached the ball in a final determined rush, then squatted on her
haunches to retrieve it. Something moved just beyond the football.
Something dark, hiding in the darker shadows of the thick
undergrowth.