Червона чума
Chapter 1
Edwinarchedanarrowthatfellshort. ButHare-Lip,withaslingsuchasDavidcarriedintobattleagainstGoliath,hurledastonethroughtheairthatwhistledfromthespeedofitsflight. Itfellsquarelyamongthewolvesandcausedthemtoslinkawaytowardthedarkdepthsoftheeucalyptusforest.
Theboyslaughedandlaydownagaininthesand,whileGransersighedponderously. Hehadeatentoomuch,and,withhandsclaspedonhispaunch,thefingersinterlaced,heresumedhismaunderings.
“’Thefleetingsystemslapselikefoam,’”hemumbledwhatwasevidentlyaquotation. “That’sit—foam,andfleeting. Allman’stoilupontheplanetwasjustsomuchfoam. Hedomesticatedtheserviceableanimals,destroyedthehostileones,andclearedthelandofitswildvegetation. Andthenhepassed,andthefloodofprimordialliferolledbackagain,sweepinghishandiworkaway—theweedsandtheforestinundatedhisfields,thebeastsofpreysweptoverhisflocks,andnowtherearewolvesontheCliffHousebeach.” Hewasappalledbythethought. “Wherefourmillionpeopledisportedthemselves,thewildwolvesroamto-day,andthesavageprogenyofourloins,withprehistoricweapons,defendthemselvesagainstthefangeddespoilers. Thinkofit!AndallbecauseoftheScarletDeath—”
TheadjectivehadcaughtHare-Lip’sear.
“He’salwayssayingthat,”hesaidtoEdwin.“Whatisscarlet?”
“’Thescarletofthemaplescanshakemelikethecryofbuglesgoingby,’”theoldmanquoted.
“It’sred,”Edwinansweredthequestion.
