Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Butifyoucannotcure,youmaypreventitsspread.Ourfirsttaskistosafeguardthosewhoarenotyetsmitten.Ifyoushutupacottagewherethereisonesickman,youcondemneverymembertodeath.Thatmustbestoppedwithoutdelay--andforGod’ssakeletusburythedead--buryorburn."
"Burn?"hecriedoutaghast.
"Burn,"shenodded."Fireisthebestpurifier."
"Butweshallrousetheplacetomadness."
"Betterthatthandeath.Butwewanthelpers--boldmenwhofearneitherthepestnoranangrypeople."
Heshookhishead."TherearenonesuchinWoodilee.Thebonesofallareturnedtowater."
"Thenwemuststiffenthem....ThereistheonewhomwenowcallMarkRiddel.Itwashewhotoldmeofyourtrouble,forhewasatCalidonyesterdayonhiswaybackfromAnnandale.Thereistheblack-avisedman,too,atReiverslaw....Aretherenonemore?"
Thegirl’sbrisknesswasrousingDavid’smindfromitstorpor.
"AmosRitchie,maybe."
"Thatgivesusthree--fourwithyourself--andfourresolvedmencandowonders.Otherswillfallinoncethedrumisbeaten.Rouseyourself,David,andbeaseagertosavebodiesasyoueverweretosavesouls.Anddonotforgettoprayforachangeinthislamentableweather.AringingfrostwoulddomoretostaythepestthanalltheleechesinScotland...."
Shedepartedassuddenlyasshehadcome."Idarenotcomebyday,"shetoldhim,"forifWoodileeheardofastrangeritspanicwouldbeworse.Wehavetodowithterrifiedbairns.ButIwillbehereatthesamehourto-morrownight,andbythattimeyoumusthavegatheredyourhelpers.
