Алая чума

Chapter 2

           Andacrossthebaywherewecampedlastyear,evenmorepeoplelived,clearfromPointRichmond,onthelevelgroundandonthehills,allthewayaroundtoSanLeandroonegreatcityofsevenmillionpeople. Seventeeth...there,that’sit,sevenmillions.” 

           Againtheboys’eyesrangedupanddownfromEdwin’sfingerstotheteethonthelog. 

           “Theworldwasfullofpeople. Thecensusof2010gaveeightbillionsforthewholeworldeightcrab-shells,yes,eightbillions. Itwasnotliketo-day. Mankindknewagreatdealmoreaboutgettingfood. Andthemorefoodtherewas,themorepeopletherewere. Intheyear1800,therewereonehundredandseventymillionsinEuropealone. Onehundredyearslateragrainofsand,Hoo-Hooonehundredyearslater,at1900,therewerefivehundredmillionsinEuropefivegrainsofsand,Hoo-Hoo,andthisonetooth. Thisshowshoweasywasthegettingoffood,andhowmenincreased. Andintheyear2000therewerefifteenhundredmillionsinEurope. Anditwasthesameallovertherestoftheworld. Eightcrab-shellsthere,yes,eightbillionpeoplewerealiveontheearthwhentheScarletDeathbegan. 

           “IwasayoungmanwhenthePlaguecametwenty-sevenyearsold;andIlivedontheothersideofSanFranciscoBay,inBerkeley. Yourememberthosegreatstonehouses,Edwin,whenwecamedownthehillsfromContraCosta? ThatwaswhereIlived,inthosestonehouses. IwasaprofessorofEnglishliterature.” 

           Muchofthiswasovertheheadsoftheboys,buttheystrovetocomprehenddimlythistaleofthepast. 

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