Країна сліпих

           "Shoutfirst,"saidCorrea,"lestthechildrenbeafraid... Thisisamarvellousoccasion." 

           Sotheyshouted,andPedrowentfirstandtookNunezbythehandtoleadhimtothehouses. 

           Hedrewhishandaway. "Icansee,"hesaid. 

           "See?"saidCorrea. 

           "Yes,see,"saidNunez,turningtowardshim,andstumbledagainstPedro’spail. 

           "Hissensesarestillimperfect,"saidthethirdblindman. "Hestumbles,andtalksunmeaningwords. Leadhimbythehand." 

           "Asyouwill,"saidNunez,andwasledalong,laughing. 

           Itseemedtheyknewnothingofsight. 

           Well,allingoodtimehewouldteachthem. 

           Heheardpeopleshouting,andsawanumberoffiguresgatheringtogetherinthemiddleroadwayofthevillage. 

           Hefoundittaxhisnerveandpatiencemorethanhehadanticipated,thatfirstencounterwiththepopulationoftheCountryoftheBlind. Theplaceseemedlargerashedrewneartoit,andthesmearedplasteringsqueerer,andacrowdofchildrenandmenandwomen(thewomenandgirls,hewaspleasedtonote,hadsomeofthemquitesweetfaces,forallthattheireyeswereshutandsunken)cameabouthim,holdingontohim,touchinghimwithsoft,sensitivehands,smellingathim,andlisteningateverywordhespoke. Someofthemaidensandchildren,however,keptaloofasifafraid,andindeedhisvoiceseemedcoarseandrudebesidetheirsofternotes. Theymobbedhim. Histhreeguideskeptclosetohimwithaneffectofproprietorship,andsaidagainandagain, "Awildmanoutoftherock." 

           "Bogota,"hesaid."Bogota.Overthemountaincrests."