Франкенштейн
Chapter 16
AsnightadvancedIplacedavarietyofcombustiblesaroundthecottage,andafterhavingdestroyedeveryvestigeofcultivationinthegarden,Iwaitedwithforcedimpatienceuntilthemoonhadsunktocommencemyoperations.
"Asthenightadvanced,afiercewindarosefromthewoodsandquicklydispersedthecloudsthathadloiteredintheheavens;theblasttorealonglikeamightyavalancheandproducedakindofinsanityinmyspiritsthatburstallboundsofreasonandreflection.Ilightedthedrybranchofatreeanddancedwithfuryaroundthedevotedcottage,myeyesstillfixedonthewesternhorizon,theedgeofwhichthemoonnearlytouched.Apartofitsorbwasatlengthhid,andIwavedmybrand;itsank,andwithaloudscreamIfiredthestraw,andheath,andbushes,whichIhadcollected.Thewindfannedthefire,andthecottagewasquicklyenvelopedbytheflames,whichclungtoitandlickeditwiththeirforkedanddestroyingtongues.
"AssoonasIwasconvincedthatnoassistancecouldsaveanypartofthehabitation,Iquittedthesceneandsoughtforrefugeinthewoods.
"Andnow,withtheworldbeforeme,whithershouldIbendmysteps?Iresolvedtoflyfarfromthesceneofmymisfortunes;buttome,hatedanddespised,everycountrymustbeequallyhorrible.Atlengththethoughtofyoucrossedmymind.Ilearnedfromyourpapersthatyouweremyfather,mycreator;andtowhomcouldIapplywithmorefitnessthantohimwhohadgivenmelife?AmongthelessonsthatFelixhadbestoweduponSafie,geographyhadnotbeenomitted;Ihadlearnedfromthesetherelativesituationsofthedifferentcountriesoftheearth.YouhadmentionedGenevaasthenameofyournativetown,andtowardsthisplaceIresolvedtoproceed.
"ButhowwasItodirectmyself?IknewthatImusttravelinasouthwesterlydirectiontoreachmydestination,butthesunwasmyonlyguide.
