Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
WasitpossiblethathehadgonetojoinMontroseinhisevilwork?Andthetroopersandthegroom?WeretheywithLevenagainundertheCovenant’sbanner,orweretheyperillingtheirsoulswiththemalignants?Thelattermostlikely,andtohissurprisehefeltnodesiretoreprobatethem.Springwaslooseningotherbondsthanthoseofwinter.
Itwasabrightwarmday,whichmighthavebeenborrowedfromJune,andtheburstingleaveswerestirredbyawanderingwestwind.Davidsatforalittleonthecrestofthehill,gazingatthehighsummits,which,intheAprillight,wereclearineverynookandyetinfinitelydistant.ThegreatHerstaneCraighadoldsnowdriftsstillinitsravines,andhehadthefancythatitwasreallybuiltofmarblewhichshoneinplacesthroughthebrownhusk.TheGreenDoddidnotnowbelieitsname;abovethescreesandheatherofitsflanksroseaconeofdazzlinggreenness.TheupperAllerglenwasfilledwithpuresunshine,theveryquintessenceoflight,andthesword-cutoftheRoodwasforoncefreefromgloom.Therewasnogoldinthelandscape,fortheshallows,evenwhentheycaughtthesun,weresilver,thebentwasflushingintothepalestgreen,theskiesabovewereaninfinityofcolourlesslight.Andyettheriotofspringwasthere.Davidfeltitinhisbonesandinhisheart.
TheherdofReiverslawwasbusywithhislatelambs.Theman,Prenticebyname,wasasourfellowwhomanaccidentinchildhoodhaddeprivedofaleg.Inspiteofhismisfortunehecouldmoveaboutonasinglecrutchatagoodpace,andhadavoiceandatonguewhichtheparishfeared.
