Призрак Оперы
XXIV Barrels! Barrels!
Icalledhim:"Erik!Erik!"
IshoutedasloudlyasIcouldacrossthedesert,buttherewasnoanswertomyvoice.Allarounduslaythesilenceandthebareimmensityofthatstonydesert.Whatwastobecomeofusinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude?
Wewerebeginningliterallytodieofheat,hungerandthirst...ofthirstespecially.Atlast,IsawM.deChagnyraisehimselfonhiselbowandpointtoaspotonthehorizon.Hehaddiscoveredanoasis!
Yes,farinthedistancewasanoasis...anoasiswithlimpidwater,whichreflectedtheirontrees!...Tush,itwasthesceneofthemirage...Irecognizeditatonce...theworstofthethree!...Noonehadbeenabletofightagainstit...noone...IdidmyutmosttokeepmyheadANDNOTTOHOPEFORWATER,becauseIknewthat,ifamanhopedforwater,thewaterthatreflectedtheirontree,andif,afterhopingforwater,hestruckagainstthemirror,thentherewasonlyonethingforhimtodo:tohanghimselfontheirontree!
SoIcriedtoM.deChagny:
"It’sthemirage!...It’sthemirage!...Don’tbelieveinthewater!...It’sanothertrickofthemirrors!..."
Thenheflatlytoldmetoshutup,withmytricksofthemirrors,mysprings,myrevolvingdoorsandmypalacesofillusions!HeangrilydeclaredthatImustbeeitherblindormadtoimaginethatallthatwaterflowingoverthere,amongthosesplendid,numberlesstrees,wasnotrealwater!...Andthedesertwasreal!...Andsowastheforest!...Anditwasnousetryingtotakehimin...hewasanold,experiencedtraveler...
