Загублений світ
I was the Flail of the Lord
Hecrossedtoanoakencupboard,andashethrewitopenIcaughtaglimpseofglisteningrowsofparallelbarrels,likethepipesofanorgan.
"I’llseewhatIcanspareyououtofmyownbattery,"saidhe.
Onebyonehetookoutasuccessionofbeautifulrifles,openingandshuttingthemwithasnapandaclang,andthenpattingthemasheputthembackintotherackastenderlyasamotherwouldfondleherchildren.
"ThisisaBland’s.577axiteexpress,"saidhe."Igotthatbigfellowwithit."Heglancedupatthewhiterhinoceros."Tenmoreyards,andhe’dwouldhaveaddedmetoHIScollection.
‘Onthatconicalbullethisonechancehangs,
’Tistheweakone’sadvantagefair.’
HopeyouknowyourGordon,forhe’sthepoetofthehorseandthegunandthemanthathandlesboth.Now,here’sausefultool—.470,telescopicsight,doubleejector,point-blankuptothree-fifty.That’stherifleIusedagainstthePeruvianslave-driversthreeyearsago.IwastheflailoftheLordupinthoseparts,Imaytellyou,thoughyouwon’tfinditinanyBlue-book.Therearetimes,youngfellah,wheneveryoneofusmustmakeastandforhumanrightandjustice,oryouneverfeelcleanagain.That’swhyImadealittlewaronmyown.Declareditmyself,wageditmyself,endeditmyself.Eachofthosenicksisforaslavemurderer—agoodrowofthem—what?ThatbigoneisforPedroLopez,thekingofthemall,thatIkilledinabackwaterofthePutomayoRiver.Now,here’ssomethingthatwoulddoforyou."Hetookoutabeautifulbrown-and-silverrifle."Wellrubberedatthestock,sharplysighted,fivecartridgestotheclip.Youcantrustyourlifetothat."Hehandedittomeandclosedthedoorofhisoakcabinet.
