Червона чума
Chapter 6
Whiletheothertwo,aidedbythedogs,assembledthegoatsandstartedthemforthetrailthroughtheforest,Edwinstayedbytheoldmanandguidedhiminthesamedirection. Whentheyreachedtheoldrightofway,Edwinstoppedsuddenlyandlookedback. Hare-LipandHoo-Hooandthedogsandthegoatspassedon. Edwinwaslookingatasmallherdofwildhorseswhichhadcomedownonthehardsand. Therewereatleasttwentyofthem,youngcoltsandyearlingsandmares,ledbyabeautifulstallionwhichstoodinthefoamattheedgeofthesurf,witharchedneckandbrightwildeyes,sniffingthesaltairfromoffthesea.
“Whatisit?”Granserqueried.
“Horses,”wastheanswer. “FirsttimeIeverseen’emonthebeach. It’sthemountainlionsgettingthickerandthickeranddriving’emdown.”
Thelowsunshotredshaftsoflight,fan-shaped,upfromacloud-tumbledhorizon. Andcloseathand,inthewhitewasteofshore-lashedwaters,thesea-lions,bellowingtheiroldprimevalchant,hauledupoutoftheseaontheblackrocksandfoughtandloved.
“Comeon,Granser,”Edwinprompted. Andoldmanandboy,skin-cladandbarbaric,turnedandwentalongtherightofwayintotheforestinthewakeofthegoats.
