Запретный лес

           "

           Themandidnotraisehishead,butclaspedDavid’slegsandnozzledhimlikeafawningdog,while,likeadog,hegaveshort,terrifiedyelps.

           "Yoursinisprovenandacknowledged,"saidDavid."Hereonthesceneofyourguiltyouwillchooseyourroad.Isaytoyou,asElijahsaidtothepeopleofIsrael,’IftheLordbeGod,followHim;butifBaal,thenfollowhim.’ThisnightyourenounceAbironorrenounceChrist."

           Themanwassilent,asiftheextremityoffearhadfrozenhisspeech.ButasDavidraisedhim,ashudderinglikeanepilepsyshookhisbody.Hislegswerelimp,andDavidplacedhimonhiskneessothathisbrowrestedonthestone.

           "Renounceyourmasterhereinhistemple...Iwillgiveyouwordsifyouhavenoneofyourown....Sayafterme,’IabhorandrejecttheDevilandallhisworks,andIflingmyselfuponthemercyofGod.’Man,man,itisyourimmortalsoulthattremblesabovethePit."

           Thehuddledfigurewasstillsilent.Then,afteraviolentshiver,hisvoicecamebacktohim.Hebegantostutterwords,wordsmeaninglesstoDavid’sear.Itmaybethatitwastherenunciationofhisgods;but,whateveritwas,itwasnotcompleted.

           Forsuddenlyenergyreturnedtohislimbs,andhesprangviolentlytohisfeet.Madnessglowedinhiseyes;hisheadwasheldforasecondinalisteningposture.

           "Theycome,"hescreamed."Thedogs!--thereddogs!"

           Davidseizedhim,butatthatmomentthemaniac’sstrengthfarexceededhisown.Hetorehimselffreewitharendingofhisclothes.Hisfacewasalimpvacancyofterrorinwhichtheeyesglaredunseeingly.