Межзвёздный скиталец

           Thereweresomanyofusthatwewerepackedandjammed.Solittleroomwastherethatmanyofthewomenthenightbeforehadsatupandsleptwiththeirheadsbowedontheirknees.Rightalongsideofme,sonearthatwhenhetossedhisarmsabouthestruckmeontheshoulder,SilasDunlapwasdying.Hehadbeenshotintheheadinthefirstattack,andalltheseconddaywasoutofhisheadandravingandsingingdoggerel.Oneofhissongs,thathesangoverandover,untilitmademotherfranticnervous,was:

           “Saidthefirstlittledeviltothesecondlittledevil,‘Givemesometobaccyfromyouroldtobaccybox.’Saidthesecondlittledeviltothefirstlittledevil,‘Stickclosetoyourmoneyandclosetoyourrocks,An’you’llalwayshavetobaccyinyouroldtobaccybox.’”

           Iwassittingdirectlyalongsideofhim,holdingthebaby,whentheattackburstonus.Itwassundown,andIwasstaringwithallmyeyesatSilasDunlapwhowasjustinthefinalactofdying.Hiswife,Sarah,hadonehandrestingonhisforehead.BothsheandherAuntMarthawerecryingsoftly.Andthenitcame—explosionsandbulletsfromhundredsofrifles.Cleararoundfromeasttowest,bywayofthenorth,theyhadstrungoutinhalfacircleandwerepumpingleadinourposition.Everybodyintheriflepitflatteneddown.Lotsoftheyoungerchildrensetupa-squalling,anditkeptthewomenbusyhushingthem.