Вітер у вербах
The Open Road
"AndtothinkIneverknew!"wentontheToadinadreamymonotone."Allthosewastedyearsthatliebehindme,Ineverknew,neverevendreamt!Butnow—butnowthatIknow,nowthatIfullyrealise!Owhataflowerytrackliesspreadbeforeme,henceforth!Whatdust-cloudsshallspringupbehindmeasIspeedonmyrecklessway!WhatcartsIshallflingcarelesslyintotheditchinthewakeofmymagnificentonset!Horridlittlecarts—commoncarts—canary-colouredcarts!"
"Whatarewetodowithhim?"askedtheMoleoftheWaterRat.
"Nothingatall,"repliedtheRatfirmly."Becausethereisreallynothingtobedone.Yousee,Iknowhimfromofold.Heisnowpossessed.Hehasgotanewcraze,anditalwaystakeshimthatway,initsfirststage.He’llcontinuelikethatfordaysnow,likeananimalwalkinginahappydream,quiteuselessforallpracticalpurposes.Nevermindhim.Let’sgoandseewhatthereistobedoneaboutthecart."
Acarefulinspectionshowedthemthat,eveniftheysucceededinrightingitbythemselves,thecartwouldtravelnolonger.Theaxleswereinahopelessstate,andthemissingwheelwasshatteredintopieces.
TheRatknottedthehorse’sreinsoverhisbackandtookhimbythehead,carryingthebird-cageanditshystericaloccupantintheotherhand."Comeon!"hesaidgrimlytotheMole."It’sfiveorsixmilestothenearesttown,andweshalljusthavetowalkit.
