Алая чума
Chapter 1
“Andyoudon’tknowitbecauseyoucomefromtheChauffeurTribe. Theyneverdidknownothing,noneofthem. Scarletisred—Iknowthat.”
“Redisred,ain’tit?”Hare-Lipgrumbled.“Thenwhat’sthegoodofgettin’cockyandcallingitscarlet?”
“Granser,whatfordoyoualwayssaysomuchwhatnobodyknows?”heasked. “Scarletain’tanything,butredisred. Whydon’tyousayred,then?”
“Redisnottherightword,”wasthereply. “Theplaguewasscarlet. Thewholefaceandbodyturnedscarletinanhour’stime. Don’tIknow? Didn’tIseeenoughofit? AndIamtellingyouitwasscarletbecause—well,becauseitwasscarlet. Thereisnootherwordforit.”
“Redisgoodenoughforme,”Hare-Lipmutteredobstinately. “Mydadcallsredred,andheoughttoknow. HesayseverybodydiedoftheRedDeath.”
“Yourdadisacommonfellow,descendedfromacommonfellow,”Granserretortedheatedly. “Don’tIknowthebeginningsoftheChauffeurs? Yourgrandsirewasachauffeur,aservant,andwithouteducation. Heworkedforotherpersons. Butyourgrandmotherwasofgoodstock,onlythechildrendidnottakeafterher. Don’tIrememberwhenIfirstmetthem,catchingfishatLakeTemescal?”
“Whatiseducation?”Edwinasked.
“Callingredscarlet,”Hare-Lipsneered,thenreturnedtotheattackonGranser. “Mydadtoldme,an’hegotitfromhisdadaforehecroaked,thatyourwifewasaSantaRosan,an’thatshewassurenoaccount.
