Таинственный сад
I. There Is No One Left
“Itsoundsasiftherewerenooneinthebungalowbutmeandthesnake.”
Almostthenextminutesheheardfootstepsinthecompound,andthenontheveranda.Theyweremen’sfootsteps,andthemenenteredthebungalowandtalkedinlowvoices.Noonewenttomeetorspeaktothemandtheyseemedtoopendoorsandlookintorooms.
“Whatdesolation!”sheheardonevoicesay.“Thatpretty,prettywoman!Isupposethechild,too.Iheardtherewasachild,thoughnooneeversawher.”
Marywasstandinginthemiddleofthenurserywhentheyopenedthedoorafewminuteslater.Shelookedanugly,crosslittlethingandwasfrowningbecauseshewasbeginningtobehungryandfeeldisgracefullyneglected.Thefirstmanwhocameinwasalargeofficershehadonceseentalkingtoherfather.Helookedtiredandtroubled,butwhenhesawherhewassostartledthathealmostjumpedback.
“Barney!”hecriedout.“Thereisachildhere!Achildalone!Inaplacelikethis!Mercyonus,whoisshe!”
“IamMaryLennox,”thelittlegirlsaid,drawingherselfupstiffly.Shethoughtthemanwasveryrudetocallherfather’sbungalow“Aplacelikethis!”“IfellasleepwheneveryonehadthecholeraandIhaveonlyjustwakenedup.Whydoesnobodycome?”
“Itisthechildnooneeversaw!”exclaimedtheman,turningtohiscompanions.“Shehasactuallybeenforgotten!”
“WhywasIforgotten?”Marysaid,stampingherfoot.“Whydoesnobodycome?”
TheyoungmanwhosenamewasBarneylookedatherverysadly.Maryeventhoughtshesawhimwinkhiseyesasiftowinktearsaway
