Алая чума
Chapter 5
Itsaid:’Whereinhelldidyoucomefrom?’
“Thosewerethewords,theexactwords. Thatwaswhatyourothergrandfathersaidtome,Hare-Lip,whenhegreetedmethereontheshoreofLakeTemescalfifty-sevenyearsago. AndtheywerethemostineffablewordsIhaveeverheard. Iopenedmyeyes,andtherehestoodbeforeme,alarge,dark,hairyman,heavy-jawed,slant-browed,fierce-eyed. HowIgotoffmyhorseIdonotknow. ButitseemedthatthenextIknewIwasclaspinghishandwithbothofmineandcrying. Iwouldhaveembracedhim,buthewaseveranarrow-minded,suspiciousman,andhedrewawayfromme. YetdidIclingtohishandandcry.”
Granser’svoicefalteredandbrokeattherecollection,andtheweaktearsstreameddownhischeekswhiletheboyslookedonandgiggled.
“YetdidIcry,”hecontinued,“anddesiretoembracehim,thoughtheChauffeurwasabrute,aperfectbrute—themostabhorrentmanIhaveeverknown. Hisnamewas...strange,howIhaveforgottenhisname. EverybodycalledhimChauffeur—itwasthenameofhisoccupation,anditstuck. Thatishow,tothisday,thetribehefoundediscalledtheChauffeurTribe.
“Hewasaviolent,unjustman. WhytheplaguegermssparedhimIcanneverunderstand. Itwouldseem,inspiteofouroldmetaphysicalnotionsaboutabsolutejustice,thatthereisnojusticeintheuniverse. Whydidhelive?—aniniquitous,moralmonster,ablotonthefaceofnature,acruel,relentless,bestialcheataswell.
