Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
NocablemessageswerereceivedanylongerfromSouthAmerica.InNorthAmericathesouthernstates,aftersometerribleracialrioting,hadsuccumbedtothepoison.NorthofMarylandtheeffectwasnotyetmarked,andinCanadaitwashardlyperceptible.Belgium,Holland,andDenmarkhadeachinturnbeenaffected.Despairingmessageswereflashingfromeveryquartertothegreatcentresoflearning,tothechemistsandthedoctorsofworld-widerepute,imploringtheiradvice.Theastronomerstooweredelugedwithinquiries.Nothingcouldbedone.Thethingwasuniversalandbeyondourhumanknowledgeorcontrol.Itwasdeath—painlessbutinevitable—deathforyoungandold,forweakandstrong,forrichandpoor,withouthopeorpossibilityofescape.Suchwasthenewswhich,inscattered,distractedmessages,thetelephonehadbroughtus.Thegreatcitiesalreadyknewtheirfateandsofaraswecouldgatherwerepreparingtomeetitwithdignityandresignation.Yetherewereourgolfersandlaborerslikethelambswhogambolundertheshadowoftheknife.Itseemedamazing.Andyethowcouldtheyknow?Ithadallcomeuponusinonegiantstride.Whatwasthereinthemorningpapertoalarmthem?Andnowitwasbutthreeintheafternoon.Evenaswelookedsomerumourseemedtohavespread,forwesawthereapershurryingfromthefields.Someofthegolferswerereturningtotheclub-house.Theywererunningasiftakingrefugefromashower.Theirlittlecaddiestrailedbehindthem.Otherswerecontinuingtheirgame.Thenursehadturnedandwaspushingherperambulatorhurriedlyupthehillagain.
