Алая чума
Chapter 2
Heretheoldmanlaunchedintoadisquisitionongermsandtheirnatures,usingwordsandphrasesofsuchextraordinarylengthandmeaninglessness,thattheboysgrinnedatoneanotherandlookedoutoverthedesertedoceantilltheyforgottheoldmanwasbabblingon.
“ButtheScarletDeath,Granser,”Edwinatlastsuggested.
Granserrecollectedhimself,andwithastarttorehimselfawayfromtherostrumofthelecture-hall,where,toanotherworldaudience,hehadbeenexpoundingthelatesttheory,sixtyyearsgone,ofgermsandgerm-diseases.
“Yes,yes,Edwin;Ihadforgotten. Sometimesthememoryofthepastisverystronguponme,andIforgetthatIamadirtyoldman,cladingoat-skin,wanderingwithmysavagegrandsonswhoaregoatherdsintheprimevalwilderness. ’Thefleetingsystemslapselikefoam,’andsolapsedourglorious,colossalcivilization. IamGranser,atiredoldman.IbelongtothetribeofSantaRosans.Imarriedintothattribe. MysonsanddaughtersmarriedintotheChauffeurs,theSacramen-tos,andthePalo-Altos. You,Hare-Lip,areoftheChauffeurs. You,Edwin,areoftheSacramentos.Andyou,Hoo-Hoo,areofthePalo-Altos. Yourtribetakesitsnamefromatownthatwasneartheseatofanothergreatinstitutionoflearning.ItwascalledStanfordUniversity. Yes,Iremembernow. Itisperfectlyclear. IwastellingyouoftheScarletDeath. WherewasIinmystory?”
“Youwastellingaboutgerms,thethingsyoucan’tseebutwhichmakemensick,”Edwinprompted.
