Алая чума
Chapter 1
Alreadydismembered,fromthecrackedlegsthewhitemeatsentforthasmallcloudofsavorysteam. Thisattractedtheoldman’snostrils,andhelookeddowninamazement.
Thechangeofhismoodtooneofjoywasimmediate. Hesnuffledandmutteredandmumbled,makingalmostacroonofdelight,ashebegantoeat. Ofthistheboystooklittlenotice,foritwasanaccustomedspectacle. Nordidtheynoticehisoccasionalexclamationsandutterancesofphraseswhichmeantnothingtothem,as,forinstance,whenhesmackedhislipsandchampedhisgumswhilemuttering: “Mayonnaise!Justthink—mayonnaise! Andit’ssixtyyearssincethelastwasevermade!Twogenerationsandneverasmellofit! Why,inthosedaysitwasservedineveryrestaurantwithcrab.”
Whenhecouldeatnomore,theoldmansighed,wipedhishandsonhisnakedlegs,andgazedoutoverthesea. Withthecontentofafullstomach,hewaxedreminiscent.
“Tothinkofit!I’veseenthisbeachalivewithmen,women,andchildrenonapleasantSunday. Andthereweren’tanybearstoeatthemup,either. Andrightupthereonthecliffwasabigrestaurantwhereyoucouldgetanythingyouwantedtoeat. FourmillionpeoplelivedinSanFranciscothen. Andnow,inthewholecityandcountytherearen’tfortyalltold. Andoutthereontheseawereshipsandshipsalwaystobeseen,goinginfortheGoldenGateorcomingout. Andairshipsintheair—dirigiblesandflyingmachines. Theycouldtraveltwohundredmilesanhour.
