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,Haywardsallwereburning;andtothenorthward,cleartoPointRichmond,otherfireswereatwork. Itwasanawe-inspiringspectacle. Civilization,mygrandsons,civilizationwaspassinginasheetofflameandabreathofdeath. 

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