Алая чума
Chapter 4
“Afterbeingturnedasidetwiceagainbyadvancingfires,Isucceededingettingthroughtotheuniversity. OntheedgeofthecampusIcameuponapartyofuniversityfolkwhoweregoinginthedirectionoftheChemistryBuilding. Theywereallfamilymen,andtheirfamilieswerewiththem,includingthenursesandtheservants. ProfessorBadmintongreetedme,Ihaddifficultyinrecognizinghim. Somewherehehadgonethroughflames,andhisbeardwassingedoff. Abouthisheadwasabloodybandage,andhisclotheswerefilthy.
“Hetoldmehehadprowlers,andthathisbrotherhadbeenkilledthepreviousnight,inthedefenceoftheirdwelling.
“Midwayacrossthecampus,hepointedsuddenlytoMrs.Swinton’sface. Theunmistakablescarletwasthere. Immediatelyalltheotherwomensetupascreamingandbegantorunawayfromher. Hertwochildrenwerewithanurse,andthesealsoranwiththewomen. Butherhusband,DoctorSwinton,remainedwithher.
“’Goon,Smith,’hetoldme. ’Keepaneyeonthechildren. Asforme,Ishallstaywithmywife. Iknowsheisasalreadydead,butIcan’tleaveher. Afterwards,ifIescape,IshallcometotheChemistryBuilding,anddoyouwatchformeandletmein.’
“Ilefthimbendingoverhiswifeandsoothingherlastmoments,whileIrantoovertaketheparty. WewerethelasttobeadmittedtotheChemistryBuilding. Afterthat,withourautomaticrifleswemaintainedourisolation. Byourplans,wehadarrangedforacompanyofsixtytobeinthisrefuge. Instead,everyoneofthenumberoriginallyplannedhadaddedrelativesandfriendsandwholefamiliesuntiltherewereoverfourhundredsouls.
