О дивный новый мир

           Anotherwaslyingacrossherlegs,sothatshecouldn’tkick.Thethirdwashittingherwithawhip.Once,twice,threetimes;andeachtimeLindascreamed.Crying,hetuggedatthefringeofthewoman’sblanket."Please,please."Withherfreehandsheheldhimaway.Thewhipcamedownagain,andagainLindascreamed.Hecaughtholdofthewoman’senormousbrownhandbetweenhisownandbititwithallhismight.Shecriedout,wrenchedherhandfree,andgavehimsuchapushthathefelldown.Whilehewaslyingonthegroundshehithimthreetimeswiththewhip.Ithurtmorethananythinghehadeverfelt–likefire.Thewhipwhistledagain,fell.ButthistimeitwasLindawhoscreamed.

           "Butwhydidtheywanttohurtyou,Linda?’’heaskedthatnight.Hewascrying,becausetheredmarksofthewhiponhisbackstillhurtsoterribly.Buthewasalsocryingbecausepeopleweresobeastlyandunfair,andbecausehewasonlyalittleboyandcouldn’tdoanythingagainstthem.Lindawascryingtoo.Shewasgrownup,butshewasn’tbigenoughtofightagainstthreeofthem.Itwasn’tfairforhereither."Whydidtheywanttohurtyou,Linda?"

           "Idon’tknow.HowshouldIknow?"Itwasdifficulttohearwhatshesaid,becauseshewaslyingonherstomachandherfacewasinthepillow."Theysaythosemenaretheirmen,"shewenton;andshedidnotseemtobetalkingtohimatall;sheseemedtobetalkingwithsomeoneinsideherself.Alongtalkwhichshedidn’tunderstand;andintheendshestartedcryinglouderthanever.