Алая чума
Chapter 4
Hesatdownforlornlyonthestepsofthefrontveranda,andI,havinglingered,wavedhimalastfarewell. Thatnight,severalmilesbeyondFruitvaleandstillinthecity,wemadecamp. Andthatnightweshiftedcamptwicetogetawayfromourdead. Inthemorningtherewerethirtyofus. IshallneverforgetthePresidentoftheFaculty. Duringthemorning’smarchhiswife,whowaswalking,betrayedthefatalsymptoms,andwhenshedrewasidetoletusgoon,heinsistedonleavingthemotorcarandremainingwithher. Therewasquiteadiscussionaboutthis,butintheendwegavein. Itwasjustaswell,forweknewnotwhichonesofus,ifany,mightultimatelyescape.
“Thatnight,thesecondofourmarch,wecampedbeyondHaywardsinthefirststretchesofcountry. Andinthemorningtherewereelevenofusthatlived. Also,duringthenight,Wathope,theprofessorwiththewoundedleg,desertedusinthemotorcar. Hetookwithhimhissisterandhismotherandmostofourtinnedprovisions. Itwasthatday,intheafternoon,whilerestingbythewayside,thatIsawthelastairshipIshalleversee. Thesmokewasmuchthinnerhereinthecountry,andIfirstsightedtheshipdriftingandveeringhelplesslyatanelevationoftwothousandfeet. WhathadhappenedIcouldnotconjecture,butevenaswelookedwesawherbowdipdownlowerandlower. Thenthebulkheadsofthevariousgas-chambersmusthaveburst,for,quiteperpendicular,shefelllikeaplummettotheearth.
“AndfromthatdaytothisIhavenotseenanotherairship.
