Короли и капуста
“Fox-in-the-Morning”
Ajiggety-joggetyjourneyitwas;ice-coldandhot,wetanddry.Thetrailclimbedappallingmountains,woundlikearottenstringaboutthebrowsofbreathlessprecipices,plungedthroughchillingsnow-fedstreams,andwriggledlikeasnakethroughsunlessforeststeemingwithmenacinginsectandanimallife.Afterdescendingtothefoothillsitturnedtoatrident,thecentralprongendingatAlazan.AnotherbranchedofftoCoralio;thethirdpenetratedtoSolitas.Betweentheseaandthefoothillsstretchedthefivemilesbreadthofalluvialcoast.Herewasthefloraofthetropicsinitsrankestandmostprodigalgrowth.Spaceshereandtherehadbeenwrestedfromthejungleandplantedwithbananasandcaneandorangegroves.Therestwasariotofwildvegetation,thehomeofmonkeys,tapirs,jaguars,alligatorsandprodigiousreptilesandinsects.Wherenoroadwascutaserpentcouldscarcelymakeitswaythroughthetangleofvinesandcreepers.Acrossthetreacherousmangroveswampsfewthingswithoutwingscouldsafelypass.Thereforethefugitivescouldhopetoreachthecoastonlybyoneoftheroutesnamed.
"Keepthematterquiet,Billy,"advisedGoodwin."Wedon’twanttheInstoknowthatthepresidentisinflight.IsupposeBob’sinformationissomethingofascoopinthecapitalasyet.Otherwisehewouldnothavetriedtomakehismessageaconfidentialone;andbesides,everybodywouldhaveheardthenews.I’mgoingaroundnowtoseeDr.Zavalla,andstartamanupthetrailtocutthetelegraphwire."
