Заборонений ліс

VI. The Black Wood by Night

           Forashewatchedthedancehesawthatthefigureswereindeedhuman,menandwomenboth--thewomenhalf-naked,butthemenwithstrangeheadpieceslikeanimals.WhathehadtakenfordemonsfromthePitweremaskedmortals--onewiththesnoutofapig,onewithagoat’shorns,andthepiperagapingblackhound....Astheypassed,thealtarwasforamomentuncovered,andhesawthatfoodanddrinkweresetonitforsomeinfernalsacrament.

           Thedancewasslowandcuriouslyarranged,foreachwomanwasheldclosefrombehindbyherpartner.Andtheydancedwiddershins,againstthesun.Tooneaccustomedtotheopenmovementofcountryjigsandreelsthethingseemedtheuttermostevil--thegrinningmasks,thewhitetrancedfemalefaces,theobscenepostures,aboveallthatwitch-musicashorridasamoanofterror.

           David,agreatangergatheringinhisheart,wasonhisfeetnow,andasherosethepipingchanged.Itsslowmeasurebecameacrazylilt,quickandfurious.Thepiperwascapering;thedancers,stillgoingwiddershins,swungroundandleapedforward,flingingtheirlimbsasinsomedementedreel....Therewereoldwomenthere,forhesawgreyhairflying.Andnowcamehumancriestoaddtothedinofthepipe--acryingandasighingwrungoutofmaddenedbodies.

           ToDaviditseemedavisionofthelostinHell.ThefuryofanIsraelitishprophetcameuponhim.Hestrodeintotheglade.Devilsorno,hewouldputanendtothisconventionofthedamned.

           "InthenameofGod,"hecried,"Iforbidyou.

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