Страна слепых

           Instead,hesatupintheplacewheretheyhadlefthim,restinghislimbsandturningtheunanticipatedcircumstancesofhisarrivaloverandoverinhismind. 

           Everynowandthenhelaughed,sometimeswithamusement,andsometimeswithindignation. 

           "Unformedmind!"hesaid. "Gotnosensesyet! Theylittleknowthey’vebeeninsultingtheirheaven-sentkingandmaster. IseeImustbringthemtoreason. Letmethink—letmethink." 

           Hewasstillthinkingwhenthesunset. 

           Nunezhadaneyeforallbeautifulthings,anditseemedtohimthattheglowuponthesnowfieldsandglaciersthatroseaboutthevalleyoneverysidewasthemostbeautifulthinghehadeverseen. Hiseyeswentfromthatinaccessibleglorytothevillageandirrigatedfields,fastsinkingintothetwilight,andsuddenlyawaveofemotiontookhim,andhethankedGodfromthebottomofhisheartthatthepowerofsighthadbeengivenhim. 

           Heheardavoicecallingtohimfromoutofthevillage."Yahothere,Bogota!Comehither!" 

           Atthathestoodupsmiling. Hewouldshowthesepeopleonceandforallwhatsightwoulddoforaman. Theywouldseekhim,butnotfindhim. 

           "Youmovenot,Bogota,"saidthevoice. 

           Helaughednoiselessly,andmadetwostealthystepsasidefromthepath. 

           "Tramplenotonthegrass,Bogota;thatisnotallowed." 

           Nunezhadscarcelyheardthesoundhemadehimself. Hestoppedamazed. 

           Theownerofthevoicecamerunningupthepiebaldpathtowardshim. 

           Hesteppedbackintothepathway. "HereIam,"hesaid. 

           "WhydidyounotcomewhenIcalledyou?"saidtheblindman. "Mustyoubeledlikeachild? Cannotyouhearthepathasyouwalk?"