Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
WhenspringwaspassingIfeltagloomcomeovermeasIwalkedthere,andonedayaterrorseizedmeandIranandrantillIwasamongthehazels.Icannotbeareventobeinsightofthedarktrees.Yousaythatthereiswitchcraftthere."Sheloweredhervoiceandhereyesweresolemn."Whatisthiswitchcraft?"
"Icannottell,savethatitisthenethermostworksofdarkness,andthatithasseducedtheheartsofmyunhappypeople....Godhelpme,butIhaveseenwithmyeyeswhatIcannotforget....Thereisnosmoothministryforme,fornowIamasoldierofChristandmustbefightingtillIhavegotthevictory."
"Andyouarealone?"
"Ihaveonewhowillstandbyme."AndhetoldherofReiverslaw.
"Nay,youhaveanother,"shecried."Youhavemeforafriend,andyouhavethisgreenwoodforasanctuary.IfIcannotfightbyyourside,youwillknowthatIamhereandthatIamwishingyouwell.See,ImakeyoufreeofParadise.Itisyoursnow,aswellasmine."Sheheldoutherhand.
Hetookoffhishat.
"Youweresinging,"hesaid,"andyoursongwastrue,forhere’s’comfortforthecomfortless.’Youhaveputsteelintomybones,MistressKatrine.IfIcancomehereandspeakwithyouattimes,itwillbelikethewaterbesidethegateofBethlehemtoKingDavid....Iwillknowwhenyouareherewithoutyoursendingmeword."
"Thenthereiswitchcraftinthegreenwood,"shesaid,smilinggravely,"forI,too,knewthatyouwerecomingto-daybeforeyoucame."
