Зима тревоги нашей

           ItwaslongsinceIhadaddressedmyflockaloud,butthismorningIdid,perhapsoutofnervousness.

           "Myfriends,"Isaid,"whatyouareabouttowitnessisamystery.IknowIcandependonyoutokeepsilent.Ifanyofyouhaveanyfeelingaboutthemoralissueinvolved,Ichallengeyouandwillaskyoutoleave."Ipaused."Noobjections?Verywell.IfIeverhearofanoysteroracabbagediscussingthiswithstrangers,thesentenceisdeathbydinnerfork.

           "AndIwanttothankyouall.Wehavebeentogether,humbleworkersinthevineyard,andIaservantasyouare.Butnowachangeiscoming.Iwillbemasterherehenceforth,butIpromiseIwillbeagoodandkindandunderstandingmaster.Thetimeapproaches,myfriends,thecurtainrises—farewell."AndasImovedtothefrontdoorswiththebroom,Iheardmyownvoicecry,"Danny—Danny!Getoutofmyguts."AgreatshuddershookmesothatIhadtoleanonthebroomamomentbeforeIopenedupthedoors.

           Myfather’swatchsaidninewithitsblack,stumpyhourhandandminussixwithitslong,thinminutehand.IcouldfeelitsheartbeatagainstmypalmasIlookedatit.