Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 5
Suddenlyitbegantoriseinswiftwhorls,andthenextIknewitwasspeedingeastwardagaintillitbecameaspeckinthebluemorning.
Thatmademedosomesavagethinking.Myenemieshadlocatedme,andthenextthingwouldbeacordonroundme.Ididn’tknowwhatforcetheycouldcommand,butIwascertainitwouldbesufficient.Theaeroplanehadseenmybicycle,andwouldconcludethatIwouldtrytoescapebytheroad.Inthatcasetheremightbeachanceonthemoorstotherightorleft.Iwheeledthemachineahundredyardsfromthehighway,andplungeditintoamoss-hole,whereitsankamongpond-weedandwater-buttercups.ThenIclimbedtoaknollwhichgavemeaviewofthetwovalleys.Nothingwasstirringonthelongwhiteribbonthatthreadedthem.
Ihavesaidtherewasnotcoverinthewholeplacetohidearat.AsthedayadvanceditwasfloodedwithsoftfreshlighttillithadthefragrantsunninessoftheSouthAfricanveld.AtothertimesIwouldhavelikedtheplace,butnowitseemedtosuffocateme.Thefreemoorlandswereprisonwalls,andthekeenhillairwasthebreathofadungeon.
Itossedacoin—headsright,tailsleft—anditfellheads,soIturnedtothenorth.InalittleIcametothebrowoftheridgewhichwasthecontainingwallofthepass.Isawthehighroadformaybetenmiles,andfardownitsomethingthatwasmoving,andthatItooktobeamotor-car.BeyondtheridgeIlookedonarollinggreenmoor,whichfellawayintowoodedglens.