Вітер у вербах
The Wild Wood
Hispaperofhalf-finishedversesslippedfromhisknee,hisheadfellback,hismouthopened,andhewanderedbytheverdantbanksofdream-rivers.Thenacoalslipped,thefirecrackledandsentupaspurtofflame,andhewokewithastart.Rememberingwhathehadbeenengagedupon,hereacheddowntothefloorforhisverses,poredoverthemforaminute,andthenlookedroundfortheMoletoaskhimifheknewagoodrhymeforsomethingorother.
ButtheMolewasnotthere.
Helistenedforatime.Thehouseseemedveryquiet.
Thenhecalled"Moly!"severaltimes,and,receivingnoanswer,gotupandwentoutintothehall.
TheMole’scapwasmissingfromitsaccustomedpeg.Hisgoloshes,whichalwayslaybytheumbrella-stand,werealsogone.
TheRatleftthehouse,andcarefullyexaminedthemuddysurfaceofthegroundoutside,hopingtofindtheMole’stracks.Theretheywere,sureenough.Thegolosheswerenew,justboughtforthewinter,andthepimplesontheirsoleswerefreshandsharp.Hecouldseetheimprintsoftheminthemud,runningalongstraightandpurposeful,leadingdirecttotheWildWood.
TheRatlookedverygrave,andstoodindeepthoughtforaminuteortwo.Thenhere-enteredthehouse,strappedabeltroundhiswaist,shovedabraceofpistolsintoit,tookupastoutcudgelthatstoodinacornerofthehall,andsetofffortheWildWoodatasmartpace.