Заборонений ліс
I. The Coming of the Minister
"NotbutwhatI’lltak’theWudattheproperseason.Tak’theWud,Mr.Sempill,likeotherfolkinWoodilee."
Hepeeredintheminister’sfacetoseeifhewereunderstood.Satisfiedthathewasnot,helaughedagain.
"Tak’Gibbie’sadvice,sir,andnogangneartheWud.It’snaeplaceformeno’God,likeyoursel’,sir,andpuirGibbie."
"DotheycallittheBlackWood?"
Gibbiespat."Incomin’bodies,naedoot,"hesaidincontempt."Butit’sjusttheWudwi’nae’black’abootit.Butkenyethenamethatauldfolkgie’dit?"Hebecameconfidentialagain."Theyca’ditMelanudrigill,"hewhispered.
Davidrepeatedtheword.Hismindhadbeenrunningonheathenlearning,andhewonderedifthenamewereGreek.
"Thatmightmeanthe’placeofdarkwaters,’"hesaid.
"Na,na.Ye’rewrongthere,Mr.Sempill.There’snaedarkwatersinMelanudrigill.There’sthesevenburnsthatrinsouth,butthey’rea’asclearasAller.Butdinnaspeakthatnametoitherfolk,Mr.Sempill,anddinnaletonthatGibbietelledye.It’sawanchancyname.YecancryitinasafebitliketheHillo’Deer,butifyewastobreatheitintheWuduncothingsmichthappen.Idaurnaspeakmyainnameamongthetrees."
"YournameisGibbie.Gibbiewhat?"
Theman’sfaceseemedtonarrowinfearandthentoexpandinconfidence."Icantellittoaministero’theWord.It’sGilbertNiven.KenyewhereIgotthatname?IntheWud,sir.Kenyewhagie’ditme?TheGuidFolk.Ye’llnoletonthatItelledye