Запретный лес
X. What the Moon Saw
I’mfortheWudthenicht,andit’smypurposetobideincovertillthefolkarehalfdementit,andsyne,whentheireenareblind,tojointhem.I’veanotionthattherewillbesomewarkwi’theredcock,andI’dlikeafeatherortwaasakeepsake.AndI’veasortofnotionthatmyauldfriendChasehopewillbethere;soasatokeno’friendshipI’llpitsautonhistail--whilkmeansthatifIgetthechanceI’llanointhisdowpwi’thehennyseed.Now,youtwa,taketentandlistentome.YewillswearthatItelledyewhatIhavetelledye,andthatyesawmeattheGreenshieldresseduplikeamerry-andrew.Thehornssuldhaebeenastag’s,butIwasfearedo’hankin’theminthebusses,sothepuirauldReiverslawbilly-goathadtodee."
Hewasacrazysightwiththegoat’sheadonhim,andaformidablesightwithoutit,forashestoodinthatduskbesidetwomenbentwithlabour,theonemaimedandtheotherpasttheallottedspanofhumanyears,Davidhadanimpressionofsomethingdesperateandfearlessandlight-hearted.Theshepherdswereclearlytornbetweenloyaltyandterror,andhehimself,whilefirmenoughinhisresolve,hadtokeephisthoughtsbatteneddowntopreventhiskneesknocking.ButReiverslawseemedtohavenofears.HehadsetaboutthethingascannilyasifheweresellingsheepatLockerbiefair,andnow,withaventurebeforehimwhichnottwoothermeninScotlandwouldhavecontemplated,hewasnotablytheleastembarrassedoftheparty.
"Isawthreepyets[magpies]fleeintiltheWudthismorning,"saidPrentice,"andbutanecam’back.
