Скотный двор
Chapter 9
"‘AlfredSimmonds,HorseSlaughtererandGlueBoiler,Willingdon. DealerinHidesandBone-Meal. KennelsSupplied.’ Doyounotunderstandwhatthatmeans? TheyaretakingBoxertotheknacker’s!"
Acryofhorrorburstfromalltheanimals. Atthismomentthemanontheboxwhippeduphishorsesandthevanmovedoutoftheyardatasmarttrot. Alltheanimalsfollowed,cryingoutatthetopsoftheirvoices. Cloverforcedherwaytothefront. Thevanbegantogatherspeed. Clovertriedtostirherstoutlimbstoagallop,andachievedacanter. "Boxer!"shecried."Boxer!Boxer!Boxer!" Andjustatthismoment,asthoughhehadheardtheuproaroutside,Boxer’sface,withthewhitestripedownhisnose,appearedatthesmallwindowatthebackofthevan.
"Boxer!"criedCloverinaterriblevoice. "Boxer!Getout!Getoutquickly!They’retakingyoutoyourdeath!"
Alltheanimalstookupthecryof "Getout,Boxer,getout!" Butthevanwasalreadygatheringspeedanddrawingawayfromthem. ItwasuncertainwhetherBoxerhadunderstoodwhatCloverhadsaid. Butamomentlaterhisfacedisappearedfromthewindowandtherewasthesoundofatremendousdrummingofhoofsinsidethevan. Hewastryingtokickhiswayout. ThetimehadbeenwhenafewkicksfromBoxer’shoofswouldhavesmashedthevantomatchwood. Butalas!hisstrengthhadlefthim;andinafewmomentsthesoundofdrumminghoofsgrewfainteranddiedaway. Indesperationtheanimalsbeganappealingtothetwohorseswhichdrewthevantostop. "Comrades,comrades!"theyshouted. "Don’ttakeyourownbrothertohisdeath! "Butthestupidbrutes,tooignoranttorealisewhatwashappening,merelysetbacktheirearsandquickenedtheirpace. Boxer’sfacedidnotreappearatthewindow.
