Волны

           MissCurryistakingusforabriskwalk,whileMissHudsonsitsatherdesksettlingheraccounts.’

           ’Itisdull,’saidJinny,’walkingalongthehighroadwithnowindowstolookat,withnoblearedeyesofblueglassletintothepavement.’

           ’Wemustformintopairs,’saidSusan,’andwalkinorder,notshufflingourfeet,notlagging,withLouisgoingfirsttoleadus,becauseLouisisalertandnotawool-gatherer.’

           ’SinceIamsupposed,’saidNeville,’tobetoodelicatetogowiththem,sinceIgetsoeasilytiredandthenamsick,Iwillusethishourofsolitude,thisreprievefromconversation,tocoastroundthepurlieusofthehouseandrecover,ifIcan,bystandingonthesamestairhalf-wayupthelanding,whatIfeltwhenIheardaboutthedeadmanthroughtheswing-doorlastnightwhencookwasshovinginandoutthedampers.Hewasfoundwithhisthroatcut.Theapple-treeleavesbecamefixedinthesky;themoonglared;Iwasunabletoliftmyfootupthestair.Hewasfoundinthegutter.Hisbloodgurgleddownthegutter.Hisjowlwaswhiteasadeadcodfish.Ishallcallthisstricture,thisrigidity,"deathamongtheappletrees"forever.Therewerethefloating,pale-greyclouds;andtheimmitigabletree;theimplacabletreewithitsgreavedsilverbark.Therippleofmylifewasunavailing.Iwasunabletopassby.Therewasanobstacle."Icannotsurmountthisunintelligibleobstacle,"Isaid.Andtheotherspassedon.Butwearedoomed,allofus,bytheappletrees,bytheimmitigabletreewhichwecannotpass.