第129章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(44)

第129章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(44)

'gonedeafinahour？'saidmr.cruncher，ruminating，withhismindmuchdisturbed；'wot'scometoher？'

'ifeel，'saidmisspross，'asiftherehadbeenaflashandacrash，andthatcrashwasthelastthingishouldeverhearinthislife.'

'blestifsheain'tinaqueercondition！'saidmr.cruncher，moreandmoredisturbed.'wotcanshehavebeenatakin'，tokeephercourageup？hark！there'stherollofthemdreadfulcarts！youcanhearthat，miss？'

'icanhear，'saidmisspross，seeingthathespoketoher，'nothing.o，mygoodman，therewasfirstagreatcrash，andthenagreatstillness，andthatstillnessseemstobefixedandunchangeable，nevertobebrokenanymoreaslongasmylifelasts.'

'ifshedon'theartherollofthosedreadfulcarts，nowverynightheirjourney'send，'saidmr.cruncher，glancingoverhisshoulder，'it'smyopinionthatindeedsheneverwillhearanythingelseinthisworld.'

andindeedsheneverdid.

xlv.thefootstepsdieoutforever

alongtheparisstreets，thedeath-cartsrumble，hollowandharsh.sixtumbrilscarrytheday'swinetolaguillotine.allthedevouringandinsatiatemonstersimaginedsinceimaginationcouldrecorditself，arefusedintheonerealisation，guillotine.andyetthereisnotinfrance，withitsrichvarietyofsoilandclimate，ablade，aleaf，aroot，asprig，apeppercorn，whichwillgrowtomaturityunderconditionsmorecertainthanthosethathaveproducedthishorror.crushhumanityoutofshapeoncemore，undersimilarhammers，anditwilltwistitselfintothesametorturedforms.sowthesameseedofrapaciouslicenseandoppressionoveragain，anditwillsurelyyieldthesamefruitaccordingtoitskind.

sixtumbrilsrollalongthestreets.changethesebackagaintowhattheywere，thoupowerfulenchanter，time，andtheyshallbeseentobethecarriagesofabsolutemonarchs，theequipagesoffeudalnobles，thetoilettesofflaringjezebels，thechurchesthatarenotmyfather'shousebutdensofthieves，thehutsofmillionsofstarvingpeasants！no；thegreatmagicianwhomajesticallyworksouttheappointedorderofthecreator，neverreverseshistransformations.'ifthoubechangedintothisshapebythewillofgod，'saytheseerstotheenchanted，inthewisearabianstories，'thenremainso！but，ifthouwearthisformthroughmerepassingconjuration，thenresumethyformeraspect！'changelessandhopeless，thetumbrilsrollalong.

asthesombrewheelsofthesixcartsgoround，theyseemtoploughupalongcrookedfurrowamongthepopulaceinthestreets.ridgesoffacesarethrowntothissideandtothat，theploughsgosteadilyonward.sousedaretheregularinhabitantsofthehousestothespectacle，thatinmanywindowstherearenopeople，andinsomeoccupationofthehandsisnotsomuchassuspended，whiletheeyessurveythefacesinthetumbrils.hereandthere，theinmatehasvisitorstoseethesight；thenhepointshisfinger，withsomethingofthecomplacencyofacuratororauthorisedexponent，tothiscartandtothis，andseemstotellwhosathereyesterday，andwhotherethedaybefore.

oftheridersinthetumbrils，someobservethesethings，andallthingsontheirlastroadside，withanimpassivestare；others，withalingeringinterestinthewaysoflifeandmen.some，seatedwithdroopingheads，aresunkinsilentdespair；again，therearesomesoheedfuloftheirlooksthattheycastuponthemultitudesuchglancesastheyhaveseenintheatres，andinpictures.severalclosetheireyes，andthink，ortrytogettheirstrayingthoughtstogether.onlyone，andheamiserablecreature，ofacrazedaspect，issoshatteredandmadedrunkbyhorror，thathesings，andtriestodance.notoneofthewholenumberappealsbylookorgesture，tothepityofthepeople.

thereisaguardofsundryhorsemenridingabreastofthetumbrils，andfacesareoftenturneduptosomeofthem，andtheyareaskedsomequestion.itwouldseemtobealwaysthesamequestion，foritisalwaysfollowedbyapressofpeopletowardsthethirdcart.thehorsemenabreastofthatcart，frequentlypointoutonemaninitwiththeirswords.theleadingcuriosityis，toknowwhichishe；hestandsatthebackofthetumbrilwithhisheadbentdown，toconversewithameregiriwhositsonthesideofthecart，andholdshishand.hehasnocuriosityorcareforthesceneabouthim，andalwaysspeakstothegirl.hereandthereinthelongstreetofst.honore，criesareraisedagainsthim.iftheymovehimatall，itisonlytoaquietsmile，asheshakeshishairalittlemorelooselyabouthisface.hecannoteasilytouchhisface，hisarmsbeingbound.

onthestepsofachurch，awaitingthecoming-upofthetumbrils，standsthespyandprison-sheep.helooksintothefirstofthem：notthere.helooksintothesecond：notthere.healreadyaskshimself，'hashesacrificedme？'whenhisfaceclears，ashelooksintothethird.

'whichisevremonde？'saysamanbehindhim.

'that.atthebackthere.'

'withhishandinthegirl's？'

'yes.'

themancries，'down，evremonde！totheguillotineallaristocrats！down，evremonde！'

'hush，hush！'thespyentreatshim，timidly.

'andwhynot，citizen？'

'heisgoingtopaytheforfeit：itwillbepaidinfiveminutesmore.lethimbeatpeace.'

butthemancontinuingtoexclaim，'down，evremonde！'thefaceofevremondeisforamomentturnedtowardshim.evremondethenseesthespy，andlooksattentivelyathim，andgoeshisway.

theclocksareonthestrokeofthree，andthefurrowploughedamongthepopulaceisturninground，tocomeonintotheplaceofexecution，andend.theridgesthrowntothissideandtothat，nowcrumbleinandclosebehindthelastploughasitpasseson，forallarefollowingtotheguillotine.infrontofit，seatedinchairs，asinagardenofpublicdiversion，areanumberofwomen，busilyknitting.ononeoftheforemostchairs，standsthevengeance，lookingaboutforherfriend.