Отравленный пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
Stillnearertouswasthedeadcab-horse,kneelingbetweentheshafts.Theolddriverwashangingoverthesplash-boardlikesomegrotesquescarecrow,hisarmsdanglingabsurdlyinfrontofhim.Throughthewindowwecoulddimlydiscernthatayoungmanwasseatedinside.Thedoorwasswingingopenandhishandwasgraspingthehandle,asifhehadattemptedtoleapforthatthelastinstant.Inthemiddledistancelaythegolflinks,dottedastheyhadbeeninthemorningwiththedarkfiguresofthegolfers,lyingmotionlessuponthegrassofthecourseoramongtheheatherwhichskirtedit.Ononeparticulargreentherewereeightbodiesstretchedwhereafoursomewithitscaddieshadheldtotheirgametothelast.Nobirdflewinthebluevaultofheaven,nomanorbeastmoveduponthevastcountrysidewhichlaybeforeus.Theeveningsunshoneitspeacefulradianceacrossit,buttherebroodedoveritallthestillnessandthesilenceofuniversaldeath—adeathinwhichweweresosoontojoin.Atthepresentinstantthatonefrailsheetofglass,byholdingintheextraoxygenwhichcounteractedthepoisonedether,shutusofffromthefateofallourkind.Forafewshorthourstheknowledgeandforesightofonemancouldpreserveourlittleoasisoflifeinthevastdesertofdeathandsaveusfromparticipationinthecommoncatastrophe.Thenthegaswouldrunlow,wetooshouldliegaspinguponthatcherry-colouredboudoircarpet,andthefateofthehumanraceandofallearthlylifewouldbecomplete.Foralongtime,inamoodwhichwastoosolemnforspeech,welookedoutatthetragicworld.
