Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
TheremembranceoflittleScudderdecidedme.Itwasaboutthebeastliestmomentofmylife,forI’mnogoodatthesecold-bloodedresolutions.StillImanagedtorakeuptheplucktosetmyteethandchokebackthehorriddoubtsthatfloodedinonme.IsimplyshutoffmymindandpretendedIwasdoinganexperimentassimpleasGuyFawkesfireworks.
Igotadetonator,andfixedittoacoupleoffeetoffuse.ThenItookaquarterofalentonitebrick,andburieditnearthedoorbelowoneofthesacksinacrackofthefloor,fixingthedetonatorinit.ForallIknewhalfthoseboxesmightbedynamite.Ifthecupboardheldsuchdeadlyexplosives,whynottheboxes?InthatcasetherewouldbeagloriousskywardjourneyformeandtheGermanservantsandaboutanacreofsurroundingcountry.Therewasalsotheriskthatthedetonationmightsetofftheotherbricksinthecupboard,forIhadforgottenmostthatIknewaboutlentonite.Butitdidn’tdotobeginthinkingaboutthepossibilities.Theoddswerehorrible,butIhadtotakethem.
Iensconcedmyselfjustbelowthesillofthewindow,andlitthefuse.ThenIwaitedforamomentortwo.Therewasdeadsilence—onlyashuffleofheavybootsinthepassage,andthepeacefulcluckofhensfromthewarmout-of-doors.IcommendedmysoultomyMaker,andwonderedwhereIwouldbeinfiveseconds....
Agreatwaveofheatseemedtosurgeupwardsfromthefloor,andhangforablisteringinstantintheair.
