Запретный лес
VI. The Black Wood by Night
Weatherhadbatteredit,andonecornerofthetophadbeenbrokenbysomeoldstorm,butitstillstoodfoursquaretotheseasons.Onesidewasveryclearinthemoon,andonitDavidthoughthecoulddetectahalf-obliteratedlegend.Hekneltdown,andthoughthelowerpartwasobscuredbeyondhope,theupperlettersstoodoutplain.I.O.M.--heread:"JoviOptimoMaximo."Thisuncouththinghadoncebeenanaltar.
Hetiptoedawayfromitwithasuddensenseofawe.Othershadknownthiswood--mailedRomansclankingupthelongroadsfromthesouth,white-robedpriestswhohadoncesacrificedheretotheirdeadgods.Hewasscholarenoughtofeelthemagicofthissuddenwindowopenedintothepast.Buttherewasthatinthediscoverywhichdisquietedaswellascharmedhim.Themysteriesoftheheathenhadbeenhere,andhefeltthesimplicityofthewoodlandviolatedanditspeaceravished.Oncetherehadbeenwildtonguesintheair,andhealmostseemedtoheartheirecho.
Hehurriedoffintothedarkundergrowth....Butnowhismoodhadchanged.Hefeltfatigue,hiseyesweredrowsy,andhethoughtoftheanxiousIsobelsittingupforhim.HerealizedthatthiswasthenightofRood-Mass--paganandpapisticalfolly,buthisreasoncouldnotaltogethercurbhisfancy.Theoldfolksaid--folly,nodoubt,butstill--Hehadanoverpoweringdesiretobesafeinhisbedatthemanse.HewouldretracehisstepsandstriketheroadfromReiverslaw.Thatwouldmeangoingwest,andafteramoment’spuzzlinghestartedtoruninwhathethoughttherightdirection.
TheWood,orhisownmind,hadchanged.
