Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

Chapter 5

           NowI’maslavetotheGoavernment,tetheredtotheroadside,wi’saireen,andabacklikeasuckle.”

           Hetookupthehammer,struckastone,droppedtheimplementwithanoath,andputbothhandstohisears.“Mercyonme!Myheid’sburstin’!”hecried.

           Hewasawildfigure,aboutmyownsizebutmuchbent,withaweek’sbeardonhischin,andapairofbighornspectacles.

           “Icannadae’t,”hecriedagain.“TheSurveyormaunjustreportme.I’mformybed.”

           Iaskedhimwhatwasthetrouble,thoughindeedthatwasclearenough.

           “ThetroubleisthatI’mnosober.LastnichtmydochterMerranwaswaddit,andtheydancedtillfowerinthebyre.Meandsomeitherchielssatdowntothedrinkin’,andhereIam.PeetythatIeverlookitonthewinewhenitwasred!”

           Iagreedwithhimaboutbed.

           “It’seasyspeakin’,”hemoaned.“ButIgotapostcardyestreensayin’thatthenewRoadSurveyorwouldberoundtheday.He’llcomeandhe’llnofindme,orelsehe’llfindmefou,andeitherwayI’madoneman.I’llawa’backtomybedandsayI’mnoweel,butIdootthat’llnohelpme,fortheykenmykindo’no-weel-ness.”

           ThenIhadaninspiration.“DoesthenewSurveyorknowyou?”Iasked.

           “Nohim.He’sjustbeenaweekatthejob.Herinsaboutinaweemotor-cawr,andwadspeirtheinsideooto’awhelk.”

           “Where’syourhouse?”Iasked,andwasdirectedbyawaveringfingertothecottagebythestream.

           “Well,backtoyourbed,”Isaid,“andsleepinpeace.

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