Part 1

Chapter 1. Sun and Shadow

           

           Thirtyyearsago,Marseilleslayburninginthesun,oneday.

           AblazingsunuponafierceAugustdaywasnogreaterrarityinsouthernFrancethen,thanatanyothertime,beforeorsince.EverythinginMarseilles,andaboutMarseilles,hadstaredatthefervidsky,andbeenstaredatinreturn,untilastaringhabithadbecomeuniversalthere.Strangerswerestaredoutofcountenancebystaringwhitehouses,staringwhitewalls,staringwhitestreets,staringtractsofaridroad,staringhillsfromwhichverdurewasburntaway.Theonlythingstobeseennotfixedlystaringandglaringwerethevinesdroopingundertheirloadofgrapes.Thesedidoccasionallywinkalittle,asthehotairbarelymovedtheirfaintleaves.

           Therewasnowindtomakearippleonthefoulwaterwithintheharbour,oronthebeautifulseawithout.Thelineofdemarcationbetweenthetwocolours,blackandblue,showedthepointwhichthepureseawouldnotpass;butitlayasquietastheabominablepool,withwhichitnevermixed.Boatswithoutawningsweretoohottotouch;shipsblisteredattheirmoorings;thestonesofthequayshadnotcooled,nightorday,formonths.Hindoos,Russians,Chinese,Spaniards,Portuguese,Englishmen,Frenchmen,Genoese,Neapolitans,Venetians,Greeks,Turks,descendantsfromallthebuildersofBabel,cometotradeatMarseilles,soughttheshadealike—takingrefugeinanyhiding-placefromaseatoointenselybluetobelookedat,andaskyofpurple,setwithonegreatflamingjeweloffire.

           Theuniversalstaremadetheeyesache.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 1 из 1266