Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
WhenIlookedfromthedovecotIcouldseefarawayabluelinewhichIknewwasthesea,andIgrewfurioustothinkthatourenemieshadthissecretconning-towertorakeourwaterways.
ThenIreflectedthatifthataeroplanecamebackthechancesweretentoonethatIwouldbediscovered.SothroughtheafternoonIlayandprayedforthecomingofdarkness,andgladIwaswhenthesunwentdownoverthebigwesternhillsandthetwilighthazecreptoverthemoor.Theaeroplanewaslate.ThegloamingwasfaradvancedwhenIheardthebeatofwingsandsawitvolplaningdownwardtoitshomeinthewood.Lightstwinkledforabitandtherewasmuchcomingandgoingfromthehouse.Thenthedarkfell,andsilence.
ThankGoditwasablacknight.Themoonwaswellonitslastquarterandwouldnotrisetilllate.Mythirstwastoogreattoallowmetotarry,soaboutnineo’clock,sofarasIcouldjudge,Istartedtodescend.Itwasn’teasy,andhalf-waydownIheardthebackdoorofthehouseopen,andsawthegleamofalanternagainstthemillwall.ForsomeagonizingminutesIhungbytheivyandprayedthatwhoeveritwaswouldnotcomeroundbythedovecot.Thenthelightdisappeared,andIdroppedassoftlyasIcouldontothehardsoiloftheyard.
IcrawledonmybellyintheleeofastonedyketillIreachedthefringeoftreeswhichsurroundedthehouse.IfIhadknownhowtodoitIwouldhavetriedtoputthataeroplaneoutofaction,butIrealizedthatanyattemptwouldprobablybefutile
