Червона чума
Chapter 3
WedecidedontheChemistryBuilding,attheuniversity,andweplannedtolayinasupplyofprovisions,andbyforceofarmstopreventanyotherpersonsfromforcingtheirpresenceuponusafterwehadretiredtoourrefuge.
“Allthisbeingarranged,mybrotherbeggedmetostayinmyownhouseforatleasttwenty-fourhoursmore,onthechanceoftheplaguedevelopinginme. TothisIagreed,andhepromisedtocomeformenextday. WetalkedonoverthedetailsoftheprovisioningandthedefendingoftheChemistryBuildinguntilthetelephonedied.Itdiedinthemidstofourconversation. Thateveningtherewerenoelectriclights,andIwasaloneinmyhouseinthedarkness. Nomorenewspaperswerebeingprinted,soIhadnoknowledgeofwhatwastakingplaceoutside.
“Iheardsoundsofriotingandofpistolshots,andfrommywindowsIcouldseetheglareoftheskyofsomeconflagrationinthedirectionofOakland. Itwasanightofterror. Ididnotsleepawink. Aman—whyandhowIdonotknow—waskilledonthesidewalkinfrontofthehouse. Iheardtherapidreportsofanautomaticpistol,andafewminuteslaterthewoundedwretchcrawleduptomydoor,moaningandcryingoutforhelp. Armingmyselfwithtwoautomatics,Iwenttohim. BythelightofamatchIascertainedthatwhilehewasdyingofthebulletwounds,atthesametimetheplaguewasonhim. Ifledindoors,whenceIheardhimmoanandcryoutforhalfanhourlonger.
