Скотный двор
Chapter 8
Napoleonapprovedofthispoemandcausedittobeinscribedonthewallofthebigbarn,attheoppositeendfromtheSevenCommandments. ItwassurmountedbyaportraitofNapoleon,inprofile,executedbySquealerinwhitepaint.
Meanwhile,throughtheagencyofWhymper,NapoleonwasengagedincomplicatednegotiationswithFrederickandPilkington. Thepileoftimberwasstillunsold. Ofthetwo,Frederickwasthemoreanxioustogetholdofit,buthewouldnotofferareasonableprice. AtthesametimetherewererenewedrumoursthatFrederickandhismenwereplottingtoattackAnimalFarmandtodestroythewindmill,thebuildingofwhichhadarousedfuriousjealousyinhim. SnowballwasknowntobestillskulkingonPinchfieldFarm. Inthemiddleofthesummertheanimalswerealarmedtohearthatthreehenshadcomeforwardandconfessedthat,inspiredbySnowball,theyhadenteredintoaplottomurderNapoleon. Theywereexecutedimmediately,andfreshprecautionsforNapoleon’ssafetyweretaken. Fourdogsguardedhisbedatnight,oneateachcorner,andayoungpignamedPinkeyewasgiventhetaskoftastingallhisfoodbeforeheateit,lestitshouldbepoisoned.
AtaboutthesametimeitwasgivenoutthatNapoleonhadarrangedtosellthepileoftimbertoMr.Pilkington;hewasalsogoingtoenterintoaregularagreementfortheexchangeofcertainproductsbetweenAnimalFarmandFoxwood. TherelationsbetweenNapoleonandPilkington,thoughtheywereonlyconductedthroughWhymper,werenowalmostfriendly. TheanimalsdistrustedPilkington,asahumanbeing,butgreatlypreferredhimtoFrederick,whomtheybothfearedandhated. Asthesummerworeon,andthewindmillnearedcompletion,therumoursofanimpendingtreacherousattackgrewstrongerandstronger.
