Хребти божевілля
XII
RankamateurthatIwas,IthoughtatthatmomentthatImightbeabetternavigatorthanheineffectingthedangerouscrossingbetweenpinnacles;andwhenImademotionstochangeseatsandtakeoverhisdutieshedidnotprotest. Itriedtokeepallmyskillandself-possessionaboutme,andstaredatthesectorofreddishfartherskybetwixtthewallsofthepass —resolutelyrefusingtopayattentiontothepuffsofmountain-topvapor,andwishingthatIhadwax-stoppedearslikeUlysses’menofftheSiren’scoasttokeepthatdisturbingwindpipingfrommyconsciousness.
ButDanforth,releasedfromhispilotingandkeyeduptoadangerousnervouspitch,couldnotkeepquiet. Ifelthimturningandwrigglingaboutashelookedbackattheterriblerecedingcity,aheadatthecave-riddled,cube-barnacledpeaks,sidewiseatthebleakseaofsnowy,rampart-strewnfoothills,andupwardattheseething,grotesquelycloudedsky. Itwasthen,justasIwastryingtosteersafelythroughthepass,thathismadshriekingbroughtussoclosetodisasterbyshatteringmytightholdonmyselfandcausingmetofumblehelplesslywiththecontrolsforamoment. Asecondafterwardmyresolutiontriumphedandwemadethecrossingsafely—yetIamafraidthatDanforthwillneverbethesameagain.
IhavesaidthatDanforthrefusedtotellmewhatfinalhorrormadehimscreamoutsoinsanely—ahorrorwhich,Ifeelsadlysure,ismainlyresponsibleforhispresentbreakdown. Wehadsnatchesofshoutedconversationabovethewind’spipingandtheengine’sbuzzingaswereachedthesafesideoftherangeandswoopedslowlydowntowardthecamp,butthathadmostlytodowiththepledgesofsecrecywehadmadeaswepreparedtoleavethenightmarecity.
