Запретный лес
II. The Road to Calidon
SomethingcoldseemedtohavedescendedonDavid’sspirits,which,assoonashewasawareofit,hetriedtoexorcisebywhistlingabarortwo,andthenbyspeakingaloud.Herecitedapsalm,buthisvoice,forusualnotablyfullandmellow,seemednottocarryayard.Itwasforcedbackonhimbythetrees.Hetriedtoshout,withnobettereffect.Therecameanechowhichsurprisedhim,tillheperceivedthatitwasanowl.Othersanswered,andtheplacewasfilledwiththeireldritchcries.Oneflappedacrosstheroadnotayardfromhim,andinasecondhisbeastwasonitshaunches.
Hewasnowbeyondthethroatoftheglen,andtheWoodileeburnhadlefthim,goingitsownwayintothedeepsofFennanMoss,wherethewoodwasthin.Theroadpluckedupcourage,andforalittleranbroadandstraightthroughacovertofbirches.Thenthepinescloseddownagain,thistimewithmoreinsistence,sothatthepathwasamereladderamonggnarledroots.Herethereweremothsabout--aqueerthing,Davidthought--whiteglimmeringcreaturesthatbrushedhisfaceandmadehishorsehalfcrazy.Hehadriddenataslowjog,butthebeast’sneckandflanksweredampwithsweat.Presentlyhehadtodismountandleadit,testingeverystepwithhisfoot,forthereseemedtobeuglyscaursbreakingawayonhisleft.Theowlskeptupacontinuouscalling,andtherewasanotherbirdwithanotelikearustysaw.Hetriedtowhistle,toshout,tolaugh,buthisvoiceseemedtocomeoutoffoldsofcloth.Hethoughtitwashisplaid,buttheplaidwasabouthischestandshouldersandfarfromhismouth....
