Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
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"Iwasseekingtheearthlyonetowhichyouyourselffirstledme."
"Youenteredthenbymyinvitation,butIdonotthinkIbadeyoucomeagain."
"ThenIbegforadmission,mistress,forindeedIhavesoreneedofParadise."
Shelookedathimcuriously."Youlookolder--andsadder.Ihavenotbeentoyourkirk,buttheytellmethatyouarescorchingthesoulsofyourfolkwithyourterrors."
"WouldtoGodIcouldscorchthemintosalvation!...Ihavebeenindirestraits,MistressKatrine.ForIcameagaintofindParadiseandIfounditnot,butstumbledintoHell."
Thegirllookedathimwithcompassionateeyes.
"YoumaysitdowninParadise,"shesaid."Ipermityou.AndIwillgiveyousomeofmywildstrawberries.Tellmewhathastroubledyou."
HetoldherofthedoingsofBeltaneEve,stumblingly,withmanyomissions.Hetoldherofhisstrifewithhisparishioners,ofhisloneliness,ofthemissiontowhichhewasvowed."Iamresolved,"hesaid,"thatthoughIgoonaloneIwillnotfailincourage.YourMontrose’scomfortismine--thatthearmoftheLordisnotshortened."
Thegirlbrooded.
"Didyoucomeheretofindme?"
"IhadaconvictionthatyouwouldbeinParadise.Thisisnotaleforamaid’sear,butIcameheretowarnyou,mistress.ThelongglenthatrunsdowntotheRoodMillisafrontier-line,whichifyoupassyouareinthelandofdarkness.Ifoundyoufirstamongthepines,andIbeseechyougonotagainamongthem,thoughitwereathighnoon,foryonWoodisaccursed."
Shenodded."Ifeltittoo
