Таинственный сад
XXV. The Curtain
Dickonalwaysspokeittotherobinhimself,sothequeergibberishheusedwhenhespoketohumansdidnotmatterintheleast.Therobinthoughthespokethisgibberishtothembecausetheywerenotintelligentenoughtounderstandfeatheredspeech.Hismovementsalsowererobin.Theyneverstartledonebybeingsuddenenoughtoseemdangerousorthreatening.AnyrobincouldunderstandDickon,sohispresencewasnotevendisturbing.
Butattheoutsetitseemednecessarytobeonguardagainsttheothertwo.Inthefirstplacetheboycreaturedidnotcomeintothegardenonhislegs.Hewaspushedinonathingwithwheelsandtheskinsofwildanimalswerethrownoverhim.Thatinitselfwasdoubtful.Thenwhenhebegantostandupandmoveabouthediditinaqueerunaccustomedwayandtheothersseemedtohavetohelphim.Therobinusedtosecretehimselfinabushandwatchthisanxiously,hisheadtiltedfirstononesideandthenontheother.Hethoughtthattheslowmovementsmightmeanthathewaspreparingtopounce,ascatsdo.Whencatsarepreparingtopouncetheycreepoverthegroundveryslowly.TherobintalkedthisoverwithhismateagreatdealforafewdaysbutafterthathedecidednottospeakofthesubjectbecauseherterrorwassogreatthathewasafraiditmightbeinjurioustotheEggs.
Whentheboybegantowalkbyhimselfandeventomovemorequicklyitwasanimmenserelief.Butforalongtime—oritseemedalongtimetotherobin—hewasasourceofsomeanxiety.Hedidnotactastheotherhumansdid.
