Алая чума
Chapter 6
Whyhashenotsentmethedeath-stick? Becauseheknowsthatwithmeitiswithoutavail. Butyou,Hare-Lip,sodeeplyareyousunkinblacksuperstitionthatdidyouawakethisnightandfindthedeath-stickbesideyou,youwouldsurelydie. Andyouwoulddie,notbecauseofanyvirtuesinthestick,butbecauseyouareasavagewiththedarkandcloudedmindofasavage.
“Thedoctorsmustbedestroyed,andallthatwaslostmustbediscoveredoveragain. Wherefore,earnestly,Irepeatuntoyoucertainthingswhichyoumustrememberandtelltoyourchildrenafteryou. Youmusttellthemthatwhenwaterismadehotbyfire,thereresidesinitawonderfulthingcalledsteam,whichisstrongerthantenthousandmenandwhichcandoallman’sworkforhim. Thereareotherveryusefulthings. Inthelightningflashresidesasimilarlystrongservantofman,whichwasofoldhisslaveandwhichsomedaywillbehisslaveagain.
“Quiteadifferentthingisthealphabet. Itiswhatenablesmetoknowthemeaningoffinemarkings,whereasyouboysknowonlyrudepicture-writing. InthatdrycaveonTelegraphHill,whereyouseemeoftengowhenthetribeisdownbythesea,Ihavestoredmanybooks. Inthemisgreatwisdom. Also,withthem,Ihaveplacedakeytothealphabet,sothatonewhoknowspicture-writingmayalsoknowprint. Somedaymenwillreadagain;andthen,ifnoaccidenthasbefallenmycave,theywillknowthatProfessorJamesHowardSmithoncelivedandsavedforthemtheknowledgeoftheancients.
