Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
I’llfacesteelandpouther,angrymenandangrybeasts,butI’llnofacewhatgarsamandeelikearattoninahole.AndwhatforshouldIfaceitforfolkthatarenoadrapbluid’skintome?"
Themanspokeloudlyandviolently,asifalittleashamedofhimself,andwentintothehouse,whereDavidcouldhearthebarfalling.
FromAmosRitchiehehadadifferentanswer.Amos,sincehiswife’sdeath,hadgoneaboutwithbentshouldersandagreyface,andhadsatforlonghoursinhissmithybesideadeadfire.ThereDavidfoundhim,andpropoundedhisrequest.
"I’lldoyourwill,sir,"wastheanswer."I’vesaelittlelefttoliveforthatI’vethelesstofear.Butthere’llbeneedo’mairthanyouandme,fortheparishisdementit,anddaftfolkareilltoguide.Thefirstthingistogetthedeidburied.ForGod’ssakedinnaspeakofburnin’,forthoughthebodyisbutourearthlytenement,burnin’isowerliketheDeil’swark."
ThatnightKatrinecameagain,andwithherMarkRiddel.Thesoldierhadlostsomethingofhisbluffcomposure,andatroubledeyemetDavid’s.
"Ihavebeenlisteningtoasermononcourage,"hesaidruefully.
Katrinepointedamockingfingerathim.
"Hewouldrunaway,"shesaid,"he,theoldsoldierofahundredbattles."
"’DeedandIwould.Ahundredbattles,norathousandbattles,wouldnareconcilemetothepest.Icouldnameyoumanyaboldcaptainwhoattherumourofpestilenceshiftedhisleaguer,thoughhewouldhaveheldhisgroundbeforealltheEmperor’sarmies.
