Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
Thenthewalloppositemeflashedintoagoldenyellowanddissolvedwitharendingthunderthathammeredmybrainintoapulp.Somethingdroppedonme,catchingthepointofmyleftshoulder.
AndthenIthinkIbecameunconscious.
Mystuporcanscarcelyhavelastedbeyondafewseconds.Ifeltmyselfbeingchokedbythickyellowfumes,andstruggledoutofthedebristomyfeet.SomewherebehindmeIfeltfreshair.Thejambsofthewindowhadfallen,andthroughtheraggedrentthesmokewaspouringouttothesummernoon.Isteppedoverthebrokenlintel,andfoundmyselfstandinginayardinadenseandacridfog.Ifeltverysickandill,butIcouldmovemylimbs,andIstaggeredblindlyforwardawayfromthehouse.
Asmallmill-laderaninawoodenaqueductattheothersideoftheyard,andintothisIfell.Thecoolwaterrevivedme,andIhadjustenoughwitslefttothinkofescape.IsquirmeduptheladeamongtheslipperygreenslimetillIreachedthemill-wheel.ThenIwriggledthroughtheaxleholeintotheoldmillandtumbledontoabedofchaff.Anailcaughttheseatofmytrousers,andIleftawispofheather-mixturebehindme.
Themillhadbeenlongoutofuse.Theladderswererottenwithage,andinthelofttheratshadgnawedgreatholesinthefloor.Nauseashookme,andawheelinmyheadkeptturning,whilemyleftshoulderandarmseemedtobestrickenwiththepalsy.Ilookedoutofthewindowandsawafogstillhangingoverthehouseandsmokeescapingfromanupperwindow.
