Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 4
Lastly,ifthepolicecomeseekingme,justshowthemthecarintheglen.Iftheotherlotturnup,tellthemIcaughtthesouthexpressafteryourmeeting.”
Hedid,orpromisedtodo,allthesethings.Ishavedofftheremnantsofmymoustache,andgotinsideanancientsuitofwhatIbelieveiscalledheathermixture.Themapgavemesomenotionofmywhereabouts,andtoldmethetwothingsIwantedtoknow—wherethemainrailwaytothesouthcouldbejoined,andwhatwerethewildestdistrictsnearathand.
Attwoo’clockhewakenedmefrommyslumbersinthesmoking-roomarmchair,andledmeblinkingintothedarkstarrynight.Anoldbicyclewasfoundinatool-shedandhandedovertome.
“Firstturntotherightupbythelongfir-wood,”heenjoined.“Bydaybreakyou’llbewellintothehills.ThenIshouldpitchthemachineintoabogandtaketothemoorsonfoot.Youcanputinaweekamongtheshepherds,andbeassafeasifyouwereinNewGuinea.”
Ipedalleddiligentlyupsteeproadsofhillgraveltilltheskiesgrewpalewithmorning.Asthemistsclearedbeforethesun,Ifoundmyselfinawidegreenworldwithglensfallingoneverysideandafar-awaybluehorizon.Here,atanyrate,Icouldgetearlynewsofmyenemies.
