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.
