Запретный лес
XIII. White Magic
"I’massnughereasawinterbadger,"saidKerrcontentedly."Ilacknoughtbutapipeoftobacco,andthatImustwhistlefor,seeingthatIleftmyspleuchanatPhiliphaugh....Mistress,you’vetheknackofanoldcampaigner.Youmighthavebeenatthewars."
"Themenofmyracehavealwaysbeenatthewars,andthewomenhavealwaysdreamedofthem,"shesaid,andonhisforeheadshekissedhimgood-night.
DavidLesliecametoWoodileeinthemorning,butdidnothalt,pushingontoLanarkintheafternoon.Hisarmywasinlessofahurry,andthreetroop-captainsmadetheirbedsinthemanse,whiletheministersleptonhisstudyfloor.Theywerecivilenough,cadetsofsmallhousesinFife,whohadhadtheirtraininginarmsabroad,andcaredaslittleforthecausetheyfoughtforasanymercenaryofTilly’s.Withintwodaystheneighbourhoodwasclearofsoldiery,saveforthegarrisonsleftasearth-stoppersathouseslikeCalidon,whichmightbetherefugeofmalignants.
ForaweekMarkKerrlayintherecessesofMelanudrigill,andforDavidthedayspassedlikeaseraphicvision.EverynightafterthedarkeninghemetKatrineinParadise,andthetwocarriedtotherefugeehisdailyprovender--eggsandmilk,alefromtheCalidonbuttery,cakeswhichwereMistressGrizel’s,cheesewhichwasIsobel’s.ForDavidthespelloftheWoodhadgone.Helookedonitnowasamandoesathisfamiliarbedroomwhenhewakesfromanightmare,unabletoreconstructthesceneofhisterrors.