Алая чума
Chapter 1
Theoldmanhudgedalongonthegroundandpeeredatthefind.
“Plaguevictims,”heannounced. “That’sthewaytheydiedeverywhereinthelastdays. Thismusthavebeenafamily,runningawayfromthecontagionandperishinghereontheCliffHousebeach. They—whatareyoudoing,Edwin?”
Thisquestionwasaskedinsuddendismay,asEdwin,usingthebackofhishuntingknife,begantoknockouttheteethfromthejawsofoneoftheskulls.
“Goingtostring’em,”wastheresponse.
Thethreeboyswerenowhardatit;andquiteaknockingandhammeringarose,inwhichGranserbabbledonunnoticed.
“Youaretruesavages. Alreadyhasbegunthecustomofwearinghumanteeth. Inanothergenerationyouwillbeperforatingyournosesandearsandwearingornamentsofboneandshell. Iknow. Thehumanraceisdoomedtosinkbackfartherandfartherintotheprimitivenightereagainitbeginsitsbloodyclimbupwardtocivilization. Whenweincreaseandfeelthelackofroom,wewillproceedtokilloneanother. AndthenIsupposeyouwillwearhumanscalp-locksatyourwaist,aswell—asyou,Edwin,whoarethegentlestofmygrandsons,havealreadybegunwiththatvilepigtail. Throwitaway,Edwin,boy;throwitaway.”
“Whatagabbletheoldgeezermakes,”Hare-Lipremarked,when,theteethallextracted,theybegananattemptatequaldivision.
Theywereveryquickandabruptintheiractions,andtheirspeech,inmomentsofhotdiscussionovertheallotmentofthechoicerteeth,wastrulyagabble.
