Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
Fartheralongthecurve,inplainviewfrommyeyrie,carvedoutofthelivingrock,werefourcolossalfigures.Itwasthestatureofamantotheiranklejoints.Thefourcolossisat,withhandsrestingonknees,witharmscrumbledquiteaway,andgazedoutupontheriver.Atleastthreeofthemsogazed.Ofthefourthallthatremainedwerethelowerlimbstothekneesandthehugehandsrestingontheknees.Atthefeetofthisone,ridiculouslysmall,crouchedasphinx;yetthissphinxwastallerthanI.
Ilookeduponthesecarvenimageswithcontempt,andspatasIlooked.Iknewnotwhattheywere,whetherforgottengodsorunrememberedkings.Buttometheywererepresentativeofthevanityofearth-menandearth-aspirations.
Andoverallthiscurveofriverandsweepofwaterandwidesandsbeyondarchedaskyofachingbrassunfleckedbythetiniestcloud.
ThehourspassedwhileIroastedinthesun.Often,forquitedecentintervals,Iforgotmyheatandpainindreamsandvisionsandinmemories.AllthisIknew—crumblingcolossiandriverandsandandsunandbrazensky—wastopassawayinthetwinklingofaneye.Atanymomentthetrumpsofthearchangelsmightsound,thestarsfalloutofthesky,theheavensrollupasascroll,andtheLordGodofallcomewithhishostsforthefinaljudgment.
Ah,IknewitsoprofoundlythatIwasreadyforsuchsublimeevent.
