"William W. Johnstone - Ashes 05 - Alone in the Ashes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

He walked out of the truck stop and to his
pickup.
As he pulled back onto the car- and
truck-littered interstate, Ben wondered if that was
the way he'd end his span on earth. A bullet
between the eyes and left to rot in some house or ditch?
Before he could answer his own question, an old woman
trudging along the side of the interstate flagged him
down. What did they used to call people like this? Ben
thought.
 Bag ladies. Yeah.
He leaned over and rolled down the
passenger-side window. "Can I help you,
ma'am?"'
She cackled, exposing the blackened, rotting
stumps of teeth. "If I was twenty years
younger, you damn sure could, young feller!"
Ben laughed.
Young feller!
"Thanks, lady. You just made my day."
"Or if you was twenty years older," she laughed
again. ""Course, if that was the case, you probably
couldn't get it up no more, could you?"
"Probably not," Ben said. "You want a
ride?"
"Well, you look like a trusting sort, Mr.
Ben Raines. But I think not. I just wanted to warn
you not to go into Nashville."
"How'd you know my name?"
"Seen some pictures of you a time or two.
Country sure has gone to crap, ain't it, Mr.
Raines?"
"We'll rebuild it."
She smiled and shook her head. "No, we
won't, Mr. Raines. Not none of you nor me.
Maybe two, three
hundred years up the road. But we won't know
nothin" about it. Don't go into the city. Thugs and
shit-heads took it over. Turn back around and
take the Gallatin exit. You a big, tough man,
but don't tempt fate."
"Aren't you afraid of going into the city?"
"Oh, they won't bother me. Too old to do them
any harm. They think I'm crazy so they leave me
alone. Bye now, Ben Raines. Hang in there,
kid."
She picked up her sacks and went trudging on
up the road.
Ben smiled as he watched her leave. "Luck
to you, too, lady," he muttered.