On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field.
Авторы: King Stephen Edwin
no intention of discussing it. ‘Go in there and tell the old guy to leave. You can also make sure nobody’s trying to free the prisoners while we’re out here running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off
A light dawned in Freddy Denton’s dazed eyes. ‘The prisoners! Mel, let’s go!’
They started away, only to be frozen by Henry’s bullhorn-amplified voice three yards behind them: ‘AND PUT AWAY THOSE GUNS,YOU IDIOTS!’
Freddy did as the amplified voice commanded. Mel did the same. They crossed War Memorial Plaza and trotted up the PD steps with their guns holstered, which was probably a very good thing for Nome’s grandfather.
33
Blood everywhere, Ernie thought, just as Jackie had. He stared at the carnage, dismayed, and then forced himself to move. Everything inside the reception desk had spilled out when Rupe Libby hit it. Lying amid the litter was a red plastic rectangle which he prayed the people downstairs might still be able to put to use.
He was bending down to get it (and telling himself not to throw up, telling himself it was still a lot better than the A Shau Valley in Nam) when someone behind him said, ‘Holy fucking God in the morning! Stand up, Calvert, slow. Hands over your head.’
But Freddy and Mel were still reaching for their weapons when Rommie came up the stairs to search for what Ernie had already found. Rommie had the speed-pump Black Shadow he’d put away in his safe, and he pointed it at the two cops without a moment’s hesitation.
You fine fellas might as well come all the way in,’ he said. ‘And stay together. Shoulder to shoulder. If I see light between you, I’ll shoot. Ain’t fuckin the dog on dis, me.’
‘Put that down,’ Freddy said. ‘We’re police.’
‘Prime assholes is what you are. Stand over dere against that bulletin board. And keep rubbin shoulders while you do it. Ernie, what the damn hell you doin in here?’
‘I heard shooting. I was worried.’ He held up the red key card that opened the cells in the Coop. ‘You’ll need this, I think. Unless… unless they’re dead.’
«They ain’t dead, but it was fuckin close. Take it down to Jackie. I’ll watch these fellas.’
‘You can’t release em, they’re prisoners,’ Mel said. ‘Barbie’s a murderer. The other one tried to frame Mr Rennie with some papers or… or somethin like that.’
Rommie didn’t bother replying. ‘Go on, Ernie. Hurry.’
‘What happens to us?’ Freddy asked. ‘You ain’t gonna kill us, are you?’
‘Why would I kill you, Freddy? You still owe on that rototiller you bought from me las’ spring. Behind in payments, too, is my recollection. No, we’ll just lock you in the Coop. See how you like it down dere. Smells kinda pissy, but who knows, you might like it.’
‘Did you have to kill Mickey?’ Mel asked. ‘He wasn’t nothing but a softheaded boy.’
‘We didn’t kill none of em,’ Rommie said. ‘Your good pal Junior did dat.’ Not that anybody will believe it come tomorrow night, he thought.
‘Junior!’ Freddy exclaimed. ‘Where is he?’
‘Shoveling coal down in hell would be my guess,’ Rommie said. ‘Dat’s where they put the new help.’
34
Barbie, Rusty, Jackie, and Ernie came upstairs. The two erstwhile prisoners looked as if they did not quite believe they were still alive. Rommie and Jackie escorted Freddy and Mel down to the Coop. When Mel saw Junior’s crumpled body, he said, ‘You’ll be sorry for this!’
Rommie said, ‘Shut your hole and get in your new home. Bot’ in the same cell. You’re chums, after all.’
As soon as Rommie and Jackie had returned to the top floor, the two men began to holler.
‘Let’s get out of here while we still can,’ Ernie said.
35
On the steps, Rusty looked up at the pink stars and breathed air which stank and smelled incredibly sweet at the same time. He turned to Barbie. ‘I never expected to see the sky again.’
‘Neither did I. Let’s blow town while we’ve got the chance. How does Miami Beach sound to you?’
Rusty was still laughing when he got into the van. Several cops were on the Town Hall lawn, and one of them—Todd Wendlestat—looked over. Ernie raised his hand in a wave; Rommie and Jackie followed suit; Wendlestat returned the wave, then bent to help a woman who had gone sprawling to the grass when her high heels betrayed her.
Ernie slid behind the wheel and mated the electrical wires hanging below the dashboard. The engine started, the side door slammed shut, and the van pulled away from the curb. It rolled slowly up Town Common Hill, weaving around a few stunned meeting-goers who were walking in the street. Then they were out of downtown and headed toward Black Ridge, picking up speed.
ANTS
1
They started seeing the glow
