"Laymon, Richard - AmongTheMissing" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laymon Richard)

"Guess you could say _every_ forest is a fucking forest, if you're in the mood."
"Oh, please. I may _lose_ the mood."
"How about the Woody Pines Motor Lodge?"
"Where's that?"
"I don't know. I made it up."
She reached over, slapped his thigh, and said, "Stop that."
"I know a place," he said.
"A _real_ place?"
"A beautiful, romantic place with a view of the river."
"That sounds promising."
"We'll have the stars overhead, treetops whispering in the breeze, and moonlight rippling on the water."
"Fabulous! Where is it?"
"The Bend."
"The Bend?"
"You don't know the Bend?"
"We've only been here two months, dear. I can hardly be expected to know every detail of your backwoods, albeit quaint geography. So if you'd like to fill me in . . . ?"
"It's a bend, or turn, in the Silver River."
She nodded. "Runs into Silver Lake, I presume."
"That's right. The river widens and slows down at the Bend, and there's a nice, sandy beach."
"I'm not so sure about sand. . . ."
"You'll have to make up your mind pretty soon. The turn-off's coming up."
"Well, I do have a blanket. I suppose the sand shouldn't present _too_ much of a problem."
"You'd better slow down."
Taking her foot off the gas pedal, she said, "It does get everywhere."
"What?"
"Sand. The nasty little grains like to go where they've got no business."
"The turn-off's right after this curve."
"Ah." She pressed down gently on the brake pedal. "I suppose we might as well give it a try."
"Sure. Get ready to turn."
"Right?"
"Left." He closely watched the roadside. "There!"
She jammed on the brake and swung the Jaguar in a hard left that took it onto a road both unmarked and unpaved. Trees crowded in close, blocking out the moon. "This is a bit spooky," she announced.
"I'll protect you."
"You're such a gentleman."
"So was Count Dracula," he said.
Her head turned. "Now, stop that."
"Vampires are _real_ gentlemen, right up to the moment they sink their fangs into your neck."
She slapped his thigh again. "Cut that out! You're frightening me."
"Sorry."
"How far does this road go, anyway?"
"Not much farther," he told her.
"I hope not."
Moments later, the trees moved back from the sides of the road, letting moonlight in. The road continued into a broad clearing -- a parking area, deserted except for a garbage barrel and a single, dark car.
"Oh, dear," she said. "Company."
"Don't worry about it."
She parked beside the garbage barrel. "So where is this Bend of yours?"
"We'll have to walk down to it."
"Oh, charming. Far?"
"Not very."
She twisted the ignition key and silence replaced the engine's roar. She killed the headlights. Darkness clamped down on the clearing ahead of them.