Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
‘Youmusteitherbewithusnoworyoumustbesilencedforever.Thethingistoogreataoneforustohesitate.EitheryouareheartandsoulwithusonyouroathonthecrossoftheChristians,oryourbodythisnightshallbethrownintotheditchandweshallpassovertoourbrothersintherebelarmy.Thereisnomiddleway.Whichisittobe,deathorlife?Wecanonlygiveyouthreeminutestodecide,forthetimeispassing,andallmustbedonebeforetheroundscomeagain.’
“‘HowcanIdecide?’saidI.‘Youhavenottoldmewhatyouwantofme.ButItellyounowthatifitisanythingagainstthesafetyofthefortIwillhavenotruckwithit,soyoucandrivehomeyourknifeandwelcome.’
“‘Itisnothingagainstthefort,’saidhe.‘Weonlyaskyoutodothatwhichyourcountrymencometothislandfor.Weaskyoutoberich.Ifyouwillbeoneofusthisnight,wewillsweartoyouuponthenakedknife,andbythethreefoldoathwhichnoSikhwaseverknowntobreak,thatyoushallhaveyourfairshareoftheloot.Aquarterofthetreasureshallbeyours.Wecansaynofairer.’
“‘Butwhatisthetreasure,then?’Iasked.‘Iamasreadytoberichasyoucanbe,ifyouwillbutshowmehowitcanbedone.’
“‘Youwillswear,then,’saidhe,‘bythebonesofyourfather,bythehonourofyourmother,bythecrossofyourfaith,toraisenohandandspeaknowordagainstus,eithernoworafterwards?’
“‘Iwillswearit,’Ianswered,‘providedthatthefortisnotendangered.
