"Scott Nicholson - Must See to Appreciate" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nicholson Scott)

and the shade inviting and the cool creek bubbling beside the house is
an asset, not an ice-coated hazard. Play up the investment angle, too.

тАЬThey move to Florida?тАЭ David asked, investigating the galvanized
ductwork that ran beneath the flooring. Yellow insulation filled the gaps
between the floor joists.

тАЬSure. DoesnтАЩt everybody?тАЭ Reynolds chuckled. He kept his eyes
glued to the bouncing circle of the flashlight beam, though the thing he
really wanted to see was probably hiding in the darkness, mere inches from
the edge of light. His dread was nearly matched by his curiosity.

тАЬYou wouldnтАЩt be lying to me, would you, Reynolds?тАЭ The light
exploded in his eyes again. тАЬAbout somebody living here?тАЭ

He blinked rapidly. тАЬI donтАЩt know what youтАЩre talking about, David.
Now, we need to be getting back. Afraid IтАЩve got another appointment.тАЭ
 The light remained on his face. Reynolds could see nothing of the
man behind the bright wash.

тАЬHavenтАЩt you seen enough?тАЭ Reynolds said, a little bit of the
hey-old-chum tone still working its way into his voice. He decided to give
one last try at turning over this property. тАЬYou just canтАЩt find places like this
anymore. More than a mile from the nearest house. You donтАЩt have to worry
about the neighborhood brats bugging you.тАЭ

тАЬI like kids,тАЭ David said.

тАЬSure, David. And your kids will love it here. Plenty of room to play,
hike, or just scream at the top of your lungs if you feel like it. You can
scream for days and no one will notice.тАЭ

тАЬAnd why would somebody need to scream? Is this place occupied
or something?тАЭ

DavidтАЩs words were eaten by the shadows. The stillness of the
basement was broken only by ReynoldsтАЩ ragged heartbeat and breath.

тАЬOccupied?тАЭ Reynolds said, not even having to pretend to sound
startled. тАЬThis place isnтАЩt occupied.тАЭ

тАЬYou wouldnтАЩt lie to me, would you, Reynolds?тАЭ

He wasnтАЩt lying. The house wasnтАЩt haunted. Rather, it was ... what was
that phrase? Oh yes, multi-dimensionally possessed.

Still, beads of sweat erupted on the high bare plane of ReynoldsтАЩ
forehead. The light mercifully fell away and raced across the smooth
white-gray of the cement.