Заборонений ліс

XII. The Man with the Squint

           Themansestoodattheextremesouthernendofthekirkton,beyondthekirk,alongbowshotfromthenearestdwelling,whichwasRobbthebellman’s.TothewestofitlaythebroomyslopesoftheHillofDeer,totheeasttheglenoftheburnandWindywayshill,andtothesouththeroughmeadowsthroughwhichtheroaddippedtotheWood.Itwasalonelyspot,asIsobeloftentestified,andafternightfallnosoulcamenearit;evenatravelleronthehighwaydidnotpasswithinhalfamile.

           Hisstudywindowopenedonthegarden,andthesoundseemedtocomefromsomeoneknockinggentlyonthebackdoor.David,stillconfusedwithsleep,tookhiscandleanddescendedthestairs.Isobelhadheardnothing--forthemuffledsoundofhersnorescamefromthepress-bedbehindthekitchen....Againthesoftknockingcame,thistimewithamoreinsistentsound.InsometrepidationDavidunboltedthedoor,tellinghimselfthatitmightbeasummonstoattendadyingparishioner.

           Therewaslittlemoonandathickautumnhazecoveredtheground.Risingoutofit,likeshipsoutofthewater,werehugefigures,andhesawthattheyweremountedmen.Oneofthemsathishorseandheldtheotherbeasts;onewasonhisfeetandsupportedathird,whoseemedveryweary.

           Davidraisedhiscandle,andsawthefigureofthestandingman.Thefacewasdarkwithsun,butdarkerundertheeyeswithfatigue;thedress,oncerichandsplendid,wasbothmiredandtorn;andonehandwaswrappedinablood-stainedkerchief.

           "DoIspeakwiththeministerofWoodilee?"themanasked,andatthefirstwordDavidknewhim.

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Roboto Lora
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