Пітер Пен і Венді
The Mermaids’ Lagoon
Hisironclawmadeacircleofdeadwaterroundhim,fromwhichtheyfledlikeaffrightedfishes.
Buttherewasonewhodidnotfearhim:therewasonepreparedtoenterthatcircle.
Strangely,itwasnotinthewaterthattheymet.Hookrosetotherocktobreathe,andatthesamemomentPeterscaleditontheoppositeside.Therockwasslipperyasaball,andtheyhadtocrawlratherthanclimb.Neitherknewthattheotherwascoming.Eachfeelingforagripmettheother’sarm:insurprisetheyraisedtheirheads;theirfaceswerealmosttouching;sotheymet.
Someofthegreatestheroeshaveconfessedthatjustbeforetheyfelltotheyhadasinking.HaditbeensowithPeteratthatmomentIwouldadmitit.Afterall,thiswastheonlymanthattheSea-Cookhadfeared.ButPeterhadnosinking,hehadonefeelingonly,gladness;andhegnashedhisprettyteethwithjoy.QuickasthoughthesnatchedaknifefromHook’sbeltandwasabouttodriveithome,whenhesawthathewashigheruptherockthanhisfoe.Itwouldnothavebeenfightingfair.Hegavethepirateahandtohelphimup.
ItwasthenthatHookbithim.
NotthepainofthisbutitsunfairnesswaswhatdazedPeter.Itmadehimquitehelpless.Hecouldonlystare,horrified.Everychildisaffectedthusthefirsttimeheistreatedunfairly.Allhethinkshehasarighttowhenhecomestoyoutobeyoursisfairness.Afteryouhavebeenunfairtohimhewillloveyouagain,buthewillneverafterwardsbequitethesameboy.Nooneevergetsoverthefirstunfairness;nooneexceptPeter.Heoftenmetit,buthealwaysforgotit.