Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
WecouldwipeoutNephiintheshakeofalamb’stailandtakealltheprovisionswecancarry.Butwewouldn’tcarrythemveryfar.Brigham’sSaintswouldbedownuponusandwewouldbewipedoutinanothershakeofalamb’stail.Youknowit.Iknowit.Weallknowit.”
Hiswordscarriedconvictiontolistenersalreadyconvinced.Whathehadtoldthemwasoldnews.Theyhadmerelyforgottenitinaflurryofexcitementanddesperateneed.
“NobodywillfightquickerforwhatisrightthanIwill,”fathercontinued.“Butitjusthappenswecan’taffordtofightnow.Ifeveraructionstartswehaven’tachance.Andwe’veallgotourwomenandchildrentorecollect.We’vegottobepeaceableatanyprice,andputupwithwhateverdirtisheapedonus.”
“Butwhatwillwedowiththedesertcoming?”criedawomanwhonursedababeatherbreast.
“There’sseveralsettlementsbeforewecometothedesert,”fatheranswered.“Fillmore’ssixtymilessouth.ThencomesCornCreek.AndBeaver’sanotherfiftymiles.NextisParowan.Thenit’stwentymilestoCedarCity.ThefartherwegetawayfromSaltLakethemorelikelythey’llsellusprovisions.”
“Andiftheywon’t?”thesamewomanpersisted.
“Thenwe’requitofthem,”saidmyfather.