Білі люди

           Thefisherssaythathispeoplehadwantedtokeephimfromhislandwife,andtheyhadfoughtwithhimandkilledhim.Hiswifehadasonwithstrange,velveteyeslikehisfather’s,andshecouldn’tkeephimawayfromthewater.Whenhewasoldenoughtoswimheswamoutoneday,becausehethoughthesawsomesealsandwantedtogetnearthem.Heswamouttoofar,perhaps.Henevercameback,andthefishermensaidhisfather’speoplehadtakenhim.Whenonehasheardstorieslikethatallone’slifenothingseemsverystrange.”

           “NothingreallyISstrange,”saidHectorMacNairn.“AgainandagainthroughalltheageswehavebeentoldthesecretsofthegodsandthewondersoftheLaw,andwehavereveredandechoedbutneverbelieved.Whenwebelieveandknowallissimpleweshallnotbeafraid.Youarenotafraid,Ysobel.Tellmymotheryouarenot.”

           Iturnedmyfacetowardheragaininthedarkness.IfeltasifsomethingwasgoingonbetweenthemwhichhesomehowknewIcouldhelpthemin.ItwasasthoughhewerecallingonsomethinginmynaturewhichIdidnotmyselfcomprehend,butwhichhisprofoundmindsawandknewwasstrongerthanIwas.

           SuddenlyIfeltasifImighttrusttohimandtoIt,andthat,withoutbeingtroubledoranxious,Iwouldjustsaythefirstthingwhichcameintomymind,becauseitwouldbeputthereformebysomepowerwhichcoulddictatetome.IneverfeltyoungerorlesscleverthanIdidatthatmoment;IwasonlyYsobelMuircarrie,whoknewalmostnothing.Butthatdidnotseemtomatter.Itwassuchasimple,almostchildishthingItoldher