Віднесені вітром

Chapter 17

           "TherearenodesertersintheConfederatearmy."

           "Ibegyourpardon,"saidRhettwithmockhumility."Imeantthosethousandsonfurloughwhoforgottorejointheirregimentsandthosewhohavebeenovertheirwoundsforsixmonthsbutwhoremainathome,goingabouttheirusualbusinessordoingthespringplowing."

           HiseyesgleamedandMrs.Meadebitherlipinahuff.Scarlettwantedtogiggleatherdiscomfiture,forRhetthadcaughtherfairly.Therewerehundredsofmenskulkingintheswampsandthemountains,defyingtheprovostguardtodragthembacktothearmy.Theyweretheoneswhodeclareditwasa"richman’swarandapoorman’sfight"andtheyhadhadenoughofit.Butoutnumberingthesebyfarweremenwho,thoughcarriedoncompanyrollsasdeserters,hadnointentionofdesertingpermanently.Theyweretheoneswhohadwaitedthreeyearsinvainforfurloughsandwhiletheywaitedreceivedill-spelledlettersfromhome:"Weairhungry""Therewon’tbenocropthisyearthereain’tnobodytoplow.""Weairhungry.""Thecommissarytooktheshoats,andweain’thadnomoneyfromyouinmonths.Weairlivin’ondriedpeas."

           Alwaystherisingchorusswelled:"Wearehungry,yourwife,yourbabies,yourparents.Whenwillitbeover?Whenwillyoucomehome?Wearehungry,hungry."Whenfurloughsfromtherapidlythinningarmyweredenied,thesesoldierswenthomewithoutthem,toplowtheirlandandplanttheircrops,repairtheirhousesandbuilduptheirfences.

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 402 з 1537