Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VII
Onhearingthathiswifewasoutside,Magnuscamequicklyforward.Shethrewherselfintohisarms.
“Tellme,tellme,”shecried,“isHarran—is——”
“Wedon’tknowyet,”heanswered.“Oh,Annie——”
ThensuddenlytheGovernorcheckedhimself.He,theindomitable,couldnotbreakdownnow.
“Thedoctoriswithhim,”hesaid;“wearedoingallwecan.Tryandbebrave,Annie.Thereisalwayshope.Thisisaterribleday’swork.Godforgiveusall.”
Shepressedforward,butheheldherback.
“No,don’tseehimnow.Gointothenextroom.Garnett,takecareofher.”
Butshewouldnotbedenied.ShepushedbyMagnus,and,breakingthroughthegroupthatsurroundedherson,sankonherkneesbesidehim,moaning,incompassionandterror.
Harranlaystraightandrigiduponthefloor,hisheadproppedbyapillow,hiscoatthathadbeentakenoffspreadoverhischest.Onelegofhistrouserswassoakedthroughandthroughwithblood.Hiseyeswerehalf-closed,andwiththeregularityofamachine,theeyeballstwitchedandtwitched.Hisfacewassowhitethatitmadehisyellowhairlookbrown,whilefromhisopenedmouth,thereissuedthatloudandterriblesoundofguttering,rasping,labouredbreathingthatgaggedandchokedandgurgledwitheveryinhalation.
“Oh,Harrie,Harrie,”calledMrs.Derrick,catchingatoneofhishands.
Thedoctorshookhishead.
“Heisunconscious,Mrs.Derrick.”
“Wherewashe—whereis—the—the——”
“Throughthelungs.”
“Willhegetwell?Tellmethetruth.”
“Idon’tknow.Mrs.Derrick.
