Запретный лес
VI. The Black Wood by Night
Forashewatchedthedancehesawthatthefigureswereindeedhuman,menandwomenboth--thewomenhalf-naked,butthemenwithstrangeheadpieceslikeanimals.WhathehadtakenfordemonsfromthePitweremaskedmortals--onewiththesnoutofapig,onewithagoat’shorns,andthepiperagapingblackhound....Astheypassed,thealtarwasforamomentuncovered,andhesawthatfoodanddrinkweresetonitforsomeinfernalsacrament.
Thedancewasslowandcuriouslyarranged,foreachwomanwasheldclosefrombehindbyherpartner.Andtheydancedwiddershins,againstthesun.Tooneaccustomedtotheopenmovementofcountryjigsandreelsthethingseemedtheuttermostevil--thegrinningmasks,thewhitetrancedfemalefaces,theobscenepostures,aboveallthatwitch-musicashorridasamoanofterror.
David,agreatangergatheringinhisheart,wasonhisfeetnow,andasherosethepipingchanged.Itsslowmeasurebecameacrazylilt,quickandfurious.Thepiperwascapering;thedancers,stillgoingwiddershins,swungroundandleapedforward,flingingtheirlimbsasinsomedementedreel....Therewereoldwomenthere,forhesawgreyhairflying.Andnowcamehumancriestoaddtothedinofthepipe--acryingandasighingwrungoutofmaddenedbodies.
ToDaviditseemedavisionofthelostinHell.ThefuryofanIsraelitishprophetcameuponhim.Hestrodeintotheglade.Devilsorno,hewouldputanendtothisconventionofthedamned.
"InthenameofGod,"hecried,"Iforbidyou.
