Таємничий сад
I. There Is No One Left
Manythingshappenedduringthehoursinwhichshesleptsoheavily,butshewasnotdisturbedbythewailsandthesoundofthingsbeingcarriedinandoutofthebungalow.
Whensheawakenedshelayandstaredatthewall.Thehousewasperfectlystill.Shehadneverknownittobesosilentbefore.Sheheardneithervoicesnorfootsteps,andwonderedifeverybodyhadgotwellofthecholeraandallthetroublewasover.ShewonderedalsowhowouldtakecareofhernowherAyahwasdead.TherewouldbeanewAyah,andperhapsshewouldknowsomenewstories.Maryhadbeenrathertiredoftheoldones.Shedidnotcrybecausehernursehaddied.Shewasnotanaffectionatechildandhadnevercaredmuchforanyone.Thenoiseandhurryingaboutandwailingoverthecholerahadfrightenedher,andshehadbeenangrybecausenooneseemedtorememberthatshewasalive.Everyonewastoopanic-strickentothinkofalittlegirlnoonewasfondof.Whenpeoplehadthecholeraitseemedthattheyrememberednothingbutthemselves.Butifeveryonehadgotwellagain,surelysomeonewouldrememberandcometolookforher.
Butnoonecame,andasshelaywaitingthehouseseemedtogrowmoreandmoresilent.Sheheardsomethingrustlingonthemattingandwhenshelookeddownshesawalittlesnakeglidingalongandwatchingherwitheyeslikejewels.Shewasnotfrightened,becausehewasaharmlesslittlethingwhowouldnothurtherandheseemedinahurrytogetoutoftheroom.Heslippedunderthedoorasshewatchedhim.
“Howqueerandquietitis,”shesaid.
