Алая чума
Chapter 4
SowetoreupthecementfloorofthecentralcourtoftheChemistryBuildinganddugawell. Thereweremanyyoungmen,undergraduates,withus,andweworkednightanddayonthewell. Andourfearswereconfirmed. Threehoursbeforewereachedwater,thepipeswentdry.
“Asecondtwenty-fourhourspassed,andstilltheplaguedidnotappearamongus. Wethoughtweweresaved. ButwedidnotknowwhatIafterwardsdecidedtobetrue,namely,thattheperiodoftheincubationoftheplaguegermsinahuman’sbodywasamatterofanumberofdays. Itslewsoswiftlywhenonceitmanifesteditself,thatwewereledtobelievethattheperiodofincubationwasequallyswift. So,whentwodayshadleftusunscathed,wewereelatedwiththeideathatwewerefreeofthecontagion.
“Butthethirddaydisillusionedus. Icanneverforgetthenightprecedingit. Ihadchargeofthenightguardsfromeighttotwelve,andfromtheroofofthebuildingIwatchedthepassingofallman’sgloriousworks. Soterriblewerethelocalconflagrationsthatalltheskywaslightedup. Onecouldreadthefinestprintintheredglare. Alltheworldseemedwrappedinflames. SanFranciscospoutedsmokeandfirefromascoreofvastconflagrationsthatwerelikesomanyactivevolcanoes. Oakland,SanLeandro,Haywards—allwereburning;andtothenorthward,cleartoPointRichmond,otherfireswereatwork. Itwasanawe-inspiringspectacle. Civilization,mygrandsons,civilizationwaspassinginasheetofflameandabreathofdeath.