Алая чума
Chapter 4
Atteno’clockthatnight,thegreatpowdermagazinesatPointPinoleexplodedinrapidsuccession. Soterrificweretheconcussionsthatthestrongbuildingrockedasinanearthquake,whileeverypaneofglasswasbroken. ItwasthenthatIlefttheroofandwentdownthelongcorridors,fromroomtoroom,quietingthealarmedwomenandtellingthemwhathadhappened.
“Anhourlater,atawindowonthegroundfloor,Iheardpandemoniumbreakoutinthecampsoftheprowlers. Therewerecriesandscreams,andshotsfrommanypistols. Asweafterwardconjectured,thisfighthadbeenprecipitatedbyanattemptonthepartofthosethatwerewelltodriveoutthosethatweresick. Atanyrate,anumberoftheplague-strickenprowlersescapedacrossthecampusanddriftedagainstourdoors. Wewarnedthemback,buttheycursedusanddischargedafusilladefromtheirpistols. ProfessorMerryweather,atoneofthewindows,wasinstantlykilled,thebulletstrikinghimsquarelybetweentheeyes. Weopenedfireinturn,andalltheprowlersfledawaywiththeexceptionofthree. Onewasawoman. Theplaguewasonthemandtheywerereckless. Likefoulfiends,thereintheredglarefromtheskies,withfacesblazing,theycontinuedtocurseusandfireatus. OneofthemenIshotwithmyownhand. Afterthattheothermanandthewoman,stillcursingus,laydownunderourwindows,wherewewerecompelledtowatchthemdieoftheplague.
