Пітер Пен і Венді
"Hook Or Me This Time"
Hefoughtnowlikeahumanflail,andeverysweepofthatterribleswordwouldhaveseveredintwainanymanorboywhoobstructedit;butPeterflutteredroundhimasiftheverywinditmadeblewhimoutofthedangerzone.Andagainandagainhedartedinandpricked.
Hookwasfightingnowwithouthope.Thatpassionatebreastnolongeraskedforlife;butforoneboonitcraved:toseePeterbadformbeforeitwascoldforever.
Abandoningthefightherushedintothepowdermagazineandfiredit.
’Intwominutes,’hecried,’theshipwillbeblowntopieces.’
Now,now,hethought,trueformwillshow.
ButPeterissuedfromthepowdermagazinewiththeshellinhishands,andcalmlyflungitoverboard.
WhatsortofformwasHookhimselfshowing?Misguidedmanthoughhewas,wemaybeglad,withoutsympathisingwithhim,thatintheendhewastruetothetraditionsofhisrace.Theotherboyswereflyingaroundhimnow,flouting,scornful;andashestaggeredaboutthedeckstrikingupatthemimpotently,hismindwasnolongerwiththem;itwasslouchingintheplayingfieldsoflongago,orbeingsentupforgood,orwatchingthewall-gamefromafamouswall.Andhisshoeswereright,andhiswaistcoatwasright,andhistiewasright,andhissockswereright.
JamesHook,thounotwhollyunheroicfigure,farewell.
Forwehavecometohislastmoment.
SeeingPeterslowlyadvancinguponhimthroughtheairwithdaggerpoised,hespranguponthebulwarkstocasthimselfintothesea.
