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│ Night shift │
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(C) Stephen King
Dial Infarkhykh
distant sections of the basement somewhere in the northeastern
its exact part. Behind came Ippeston and
Brochu. They dragged behind them the sleeve of one
one of the most powerful fire hoses, which has
there was another advantage. Nozzle it
had a crane with which it was possible
regulate the jet pressure and even completely
cut off the pressure.
- We've arrived. Here he is. - Stopped, however-
Netz, Hall, pointing to the floor.
It was big and, judging by the appearance, quite
a heavy wooden hatch that closed the passage into
dungeon. In the very center of it there was a
but a massive metal ring.
- Hey, Warwick! Warwick! - Hall called out
boss - Come here for a minute.
Warwick just appeared at that moment from
around the next turn. Seeing a group of people
people crowded around the Hall and listened
carefully looking at something at his feet,
he, with his constant disgusting ear-
soap, asked sympathetically:
- What happened, student? The lace is untied
got stuck?
No one else, however, cared
laughter.
“Look,” Hall kicked the hatch, “
entrance to the lower basement...
- So what? Why the hell are you not
are you working?! Now it seems nottime to
break! - Warwick exploded.
“Your rats are there,” Hall answered calmly.
- They breed there by the thousands! Maybe
maybe hundreds of thousands and someday, maybe
very soon they will start heading out into the city,
bringing terrible epidemics! But I see you don’t
no matter! Wisconsky and I saw here
even a huge bat the size of
average cat!
Other people began to approach them,
attracted by Hall's loud voice. They
silently gathered around and gloomily looked
They fell first on the hatch, then on the taken aback Warwick.
- I really don't care! -
having thrown off the momentary stupor, he increased
suddenly a voice. - I hired you to clean the under-
val, and not so that you would be here for me...
- Yes, it really was like that, -
Hall interrupted him. - But in the beginning there were us,
as far as I remember, thirty-six people,
and now there are no more than twenty left. Hell-
the plant administration will have to take a good look
will fork out compensation for those sixteen-
those whom you, Warwick, as the eldest, do not
saved. On the head, I think, you for this
they won't pet you.
- What a lucky man! - someone cackled -
then from the crowd that was already standing in a ring
around them.
Warwick, his mouth open in surprise, silently
looked at Hall...
- I didn’t expect this from you, student, no
expected... You turned out to be more dangerous and smarter than
“I thought,” he said with a hint of respect
Warwick. But do you really think...
eat thatI'm really interested in
how many rats are there down there? If you think so-
eat, you're wrong. This is perfect for me
indifferent.
- Oh, doesn’t it matter?!! Hall exploded. -
Well listen, motherfucker, I'll tell you
now it’s something that definitely won’t happen to you
doesn't matter! Yesterday I was in the library meh-
ria and found something interesting there. I
specifically looked for municipal regulations
theta concerning this plant. One of
them, dated 1911, but
valid to this day, it seemed to me
especially interesting. Do you know what it's about?
stealing, Warwick?
Warwick's eyes were narrowed with undisguised
filled with hatred, and his gaze is as cold as
ice
- You're fired, student. You can be free
den.
“So,” Hall continued calmly,
as if he had not heard anything - in this
The resolution referred to criminal charges
responsibility of the plant administration,
leading to the appearance of parasites in the plant
in quantities exceeding the permissible sanitary
container limits. Do you understand, Warwick? I repeat
in letters, it was about O
P-A-R-A-Z-I-T-A-H. Under parasites we mean
animals carrying dangerous inhalants have been encountered
infectious diseases. They were even
specifically listed there: simple and flying
whose mice, skunks, unregistered
stray dogs and rats. Rats especially.
Rats, Mr. Warwick, were mentioned on two
pages of this resolutionfourteen
once! Now just imagine
minute, what will begin when I, leaving here,
yes, upstairs, I’ll go straight to the mayor of the city
kind and in colors I will describe to him everything that is about-
comes from down here in the basement
niah...
Hall paused for a moment, enjoying himself.
the sight of Warvi's face twisted with hatred
ka.
- I think as soon as I report this
to the mayor, the plant will be right there, it will remain immediately
updated until the reasons are clarified, punishment for vi-
new and complete extermination of every single
No rats. And you, Warwick, at best with
you'll crash out onto the street no later than this
Saturday. I can already hear what words he will say
you your boss before moving you
knee under the ass. So, Warwick, you have to
you get temporary unemployment benefits
worker. FOR YOU, Warwick, not for me.
Warwick's hands clenched in powerless anger
into fists. Closing his eyes, he exhaled noisily.
blew the air, thinking to himself: “That’s how it is in the
I got the replay! But how I felt that
It was high time to throw this guy out of the factory
a tramp under any pretext!" Opening my eyes
behind, he saw in front of him a hatch in the second
basement level and on his face again appeared
there was his eternal smile, saying that
that he had finally come to his senses.
- Okay, student. Consider me joking.
You're not fired.
-You're also not as stupid as I thought.
- Hall praised him.
The defeated Warwick had only his
xo swallow the last oneHall lunge. He
just nodded, as if gratefully, with everything
with the same tense and nervous grimace that must
womanized means an ironic grin.
-You are so resourceful and brave, Hall. Not later
should you crawl down and look
with your own eyes, what is happening there?
Take Wisconsky with you too.
- Not me! - screamed in fear
Wisconsky. - Not me! I... I...
- What “I...” - eyes flashing fiercely,
Warwick barked at him.
Wisconski immediately shut up.
“Okay, I agree,” he said cheerfully.
Hall. - We will need three good powerful
lantern I think I saw a whole shelf
just these, six-battery ones, mostly
office premises. Isn't it true, Warwick?
- You'll probably need help,
- Warwick answered evasively. - You can choose-
steal them for yourself.
“I choose you, Warwick,” calmly and
Hall said politely, looking intently
right in his eyes. - In the end,
the administrator must also be represented
tion, what do you think?.. Why are you so pale-
nel, Warwick? Are you really afraid of these couples?
sew rats? Maybe there aren't that many of them there
a lot. Or not at all...
Someone (judging by the voice - Ippeston) to-
cackled freely.
Warwick looked around, doomedly, tightly
a crowd of people surrounded him. Each of them
he looked gloomily at his feet.
“I’m quitting,” he finally said to the fallen
voice, - go up to the office and bring three
lanterns, about whichHall said.
- Why are you dragging me into this?! -
moaned Wisconski, looking longingly at
Holla. - YOU know I...
“I’m not the one dragging you in,” Hall replied.
and looked gloomily at Warwick, who
met this gaze no less gloomily, but
I didn’t look away for a long time.
To be continued...
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