О дивный новый мир

           Forsuddenlytherehadswarmedupfromthoseroundchambersundergroundaghastlytroopofmonsters.Hideouslymaskedorpaintedoutofallsemblanceofhumanity,theyhadtrampedoutastrangelimpingdanceroundthesquare;roundandagainround,singingastheywent,roundandround–eachtimealittlefaster;andthedrumshadchangedandquickenedtheirrhythm,sothatitbecamelikethepulsingoffeverintheears;andthecrowdhadbeguntosingwiththedancers,louderandlouder;andfirstonewomanhadshrieked,andthenanotherandanother,asthoughtheywerebeingkilled;andthensuddenlytheleaderofthedancersbrokeoutoftheline,rantoabigwoodenchestwhichwasstandingatoneendofthesquare,raisedthelidandpulledoutapairofblacksnakes.Agreatyellwentupfromthecrowd,andalltheotherdancersrantowardshimwithout-stretchedhands.Hetossedthesnakestothefirst-comers,thendippedbackintothechestformore.Moreandmore,blacksnakesandbrownandmottled-heflungthemout.Andthenthedancebeganagainonadifferentrhythm.Roundandroundtheywentwiththeirsnakes,snakily,withasoftundulatingmovementatthekneesandhips.Roundandround.Thentheleadergaveasignal,andoneafteranother,allthesnakeswereflungdowninthemiddleofthesquare;anoldmancameupfromundergroundandsprinkledthemwithcornmeal,andfromtheotherhatchwaycameawomanandsprinkledthemwithwaterfromablackjar.Thentheoldmanliftedhishandand,startlingly,terrifyingly,therewasabsolutesilence.