Отруєний пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
Sosolemnwasit,soimpressive,thatthebuzzandrattleofourmotor-carseemedanunwarrantableintrusion,anindecentdisregardofthisreverentstillnesswhichlaylikeapalloverandroundtheruinsofhumanity.Itwasthisgrimhush,andthetallcloudsofsmokewhichrosehereandthereoverthecountry-sidefromsmolderingbuildings,whichcastachillintoourheartsaswegazedroundatthegloriouspanoramaoftheWeald.
Andthentherewerethedead!Atfirstthoseendlessgroupsofdrawnandgrinningfacesfilleduswithashudderinghorror.SovividandmordantwastheimpressionthatIcanliveoveragainthatslowdescentofthestationhill,thepassingbythenurse-girlwiththetwobabes,thesightoftheoldhorseonhiskneesbetweentheshafts,thecabmantwistedacrosshisseat,andtheyoungmaninsidewithhishandupontheopendoorintheveryactofspringingout.Lowerdownweresixreapersallinalitter,theirlimbscrossing,theirdead,unwinkingeyesgazingupwardsattheglareofheaven.ThesethingsIseeasinaphotograph.Butsoon,bythemercifulprovisionofnature,theover-excitednerveceasedtorespond.Theveryvastnessofthehorrortookawayfromitspersonalappeal.Individualsmergedintogroups,groupsintocrowds,crowdsintoauniversalphenomenonwhichonesoonacceptedastheinevitabledetailofeveryscene.Onlyhereandthere,wheresomeparticularlybrutalorgrotesqueincidentcaughttheattention,didthemindcomebackwithasuddenshocktothepersonalandhumanmeaningofitall.
Aboveall,therewasthefateofthechildren.
