Країна сліпих

           Hefeltsomethingofthebuoyancythatcomestoallmeninthebeginningofafight,butmoreperplexity. Hebegantorealisethatyoucannotevenfighthappilywithcreatureswhostanduponadifferentmentalbasistoyourself. Farawayhesawanumberofmencarryingspadesandstickscomeoutofthestreetofhouses,andadvanceinaspreadinglinealongtheseveralpathstowardshim. Theyadvancedslowly,speakingfrequentlytooneanother,andeverandagainthewholecordonwouldhaltandsnifftheairandlisten. 

           ThefirsttimetheydidthisNunezlaughed. Butafterwardshedidnotlaugh. 

           Onestruckhistrailinthemeadowgrass,andcamestoopingandfeelinghiswayalongit. 

           Forfiveminuteshewatchedtheslowextensionofthecordon,andthenhisvaguedispositiontodosomethingforthwithbecamefrantic. Hestoodup,wentapaceorsotowardsthecircumferentialwall,turned,andwentbackalittleway. Theretheyallstoodinacrescent,stillandlistening. 

           Healsostoodstill,grippinghisspadeverytightlyinbothhands. Shouldhechargethem? 

           Thepulseinhisearsranintotherhythmof"IntheCountryoftheBlindtheOne-eyedManisKing!" 

           Shouldhechargethem? 

           Helookedbackatthehighandunclimbablewallbehind—unclimbablebecauseofitssmoothplastering,butwithalpiercedwithmanylittledoors,andattheapproachinglineofseekers. Behindtheseotherswerenowcomingoutofthestreetofhouses. 

           Shouldhechargethem? 

           "Bogota!"calledone. "Bogota!whereareyou?"