Заборонений ліс
XIX. The Sacrifice
Thenhestartedupwithacryandencounteredagrave,perturbedface.
"YouhadbettercometoCalidon,"Marksaid."Katrine...shehastakenaturnfortheworse.Shehasbeeninafeversincemidday."
Itwasthenewshehadbeenexpecting,andDavidroseobediently.
"I’llgoonfoot,"hesaid."Icanrunfasterthananyhorse."
Marklookedathimanxiously."You’lldonosuchthing.You’dfaintoryouwereacrosstheHillo’Deer.BidewhereyouareandI’llsaddleyourbeast."
Thetwosetoffatagallop,butintheroughpartsoftheroadMarkslackenedandtookDavid’sbridle."Holdup,"hecried."It’llnomendmattersifyoubreakyourneck."
Davidaskedonlyonequestion."Haveyougotaleech?"hesaid.
"I’llhavenoleeches.Yourcountrybotcherwouldonlybleedher,andshehasnathestrengthforthat.GrizelandyonwifeIsobelarealltheleechesthatareneeded,andI’mnotwithoutskillmyself.Keepupyourheart,David.Allisnotintyet,andit’sayounglife."
AtCalidongateDavidspokeagain."Isitthepest?"
"Icannatell,forthepesthasmanyshapestoit.Weaknessandfever--there’snoothersigns,thoughGodkensthat’sbadenough."
HewastakenstraighttoherchamberbyIsobel,andfoundthereMistressGrizel,asilent,stern-facedguardian.Katrinelaytossinginhighdelirium,moaningalittle,andmovingherarmsfeeblyonthecoverlet.Abandageofwetclothswasonherbrow,and,asDavidlaidhishandonit,hefeltthepulseofthefeverbeneath.Herlongdarklasheslayonherflushedcheeks,buteverynowandthenhereyeswouldopeninaglassystare.