Алая чума
Chapter 1
Hesaidshewasahash-slingerbeforetheRedDeath,thoughIdon’tknowwhatahash-slingeris. Youcantellme,Edwin.”
ButEdwinshookhisheadintokenofignorance.
“Itistrue,shewasawaitress,”Granseracknowledged. “Butshewasagoodwoman,andyourmotherwasherdaughter. WomenwereveryscarceinthedaysafterthePlague. ShewastheonlywifeIcouldfind,evenifshewasahash-slinger,asyourfathercallsit. Butitisnotnicetotalkaboutourprogenitorsthatway.”
“DadsaysthatthewifeofthefirstChauffeurwasalady—”
“What’salady?”Hoo-Hoodemanded.
“Alady’saChauffeursquaw,”wasthequickreplyofHare-Lip.
“ThefirstChauffeurwasBill,acommonfellow,asIsaidbefore,”theoldmanexpounded;“buthiswifewasalady,agreatlady. BeforetheScarletDeathshewasthewifeofVanWorden. HewasPresidentoftheBoardofIndustrialMagnates,andwasoneofthedozenmenwhoruledAmerica. Hewasworthonebillion,eighthundredmillionsofdollars—coinslikeyouhavethereinyourpouch,Edwin. AndthencametheScarletDeath,andhiswifebecamethewifeofBill,thefirstChauffeur. Heusedtobeather,too. Ihaveseenitmyself.”
Hoo-Hoo,lyingonhisstomachandidlydigginghistoesinthesand,criedoutandinvestigated,first,histoe-nail,andnext,thesmallholehehaddug. Theothertwoboysjoinedhim,excavatingthesandrapidlywiththeirhandstilltherelaythreeskeletonsexposed. Twowereofadults,thethirdbeingthatofapart-grownchild.
