Waltey
Udarec v temi
066 A Blow in the Dark
Myths and Legends of Our Own Land · Charles M. SkinnerO besedilu
Udarec v temi
- Vir
- Myths and Legends of Our Own Land
- Avtor
- Charles M. Skinner
- Jezik branja
- Slovenščina
- Jezik izvirnika
- English
- Čas branja
- 3 min branja
- Obseg
- 2 strani
- Naslov izvirnika
- 066 A Blow in the Dark
O izvirniku
Myths and Legends of Our Own Land
Obsežna zgodovinska zbirka ameriških legend, ki jih je Skinner zbral in avtorsko rekonstruiral. Bralni jezik je Slovenščina, izvirnik pa prihaja iz vira Myths and Legends of Our Own Land v jeziku English.
Besedilo
Udarec v temi
Torijec Manheim zamišljen sedi v svoji kmečki hiši blizu Valley Forgea, njegova hči pa z vročično rdečico na licih zre v somrak, kjer naletava sneg. Izčrpana je in bolna; mrzlico si je nakopala prav tega dne, ko se je v mrazu skrivaj odpravila v ameriški tabor, da bi svojega ljubega opozorila na nov poskus umora Washingtona, ki mora ob vrnitvi iz oddaljenega naselja mimo hiše njenega očeta. Torijec o tem ne ve ničesar; vendar se zdrzne vsakič, ko možje v sosednji sobi zaropotajo s kockami ali zapojejo opolzko pesem, in obraz mu potemni od tesnobe, ko mimo hiše po snegu škripaje stopajo napol bosi vojaki, ki iščejo živež. Ure minevajo in hrup v sosednji sobi narašča; nenadoma pa potihne, ko se zasliši trkanje na vrata. Torijec jih odpre in zatrepeta, ko visok, resnoben mož atletske postave stopi v soj ognja ter si mirno sname rokavice. »Dolga ježa je za menoj,« reče. »Ali mi lahko daste kaj jesti in dovolite, da za kakšno uro zaspim, dokler se snežni metež ne poleže?«
Manheim odvrne, da lahko, nato pa oddrsa v sosednjo sobo in zašepeta: »Washington!« Dekle pošljejo po jedačo in pijačo. Zaman skuša z znamenjem ali besedo opozoriti moža, ki tako mirno sedi pred ognjem, saj je oče ves čas dovolj blizu, da jo lahko vidi in sliši. Ko Washington poje skromni obrok, prosi, naj ga za nekaj časa pustijo samega, dekletu pa naročijo, naj ga odpelje v sobo levo od stopniščnega podesta v zgornjem nadstropju.
Njen oče drži svečo ob vznožju stopnic, dokler ne vidi gosta vstopiti v sobo; nato hčeri ukaže, naj gre v svojo posteljo v sobi desno od podesta. Zatem se iz spodnje sobe sliši živahno šepetanje in stresanje lončka s kockami, s katerimi žrebajo, komu bo pripadlo, da se prikrade po stopnicah in zabode spečega Washingtona. Mine ura in zdi se, da v hiši vsi počivajo, toda stopnice rahlo zaškripajo, ko se Manheim prikrade k svojemu plenu. Upihne svečo in tiho vstopi v sobo na levi. Možje, ki v temi prisluškujejo ob vznožju stopnic, zaslišijo stok, torijec pa se zmagoslavno vzklikajoč požene nazaj, saj uporniškega voditelja ni več in Howova nagrada jim bo zagotovila bogastvo do konca življenja.
Kozarci se napolnijo in sredi veselja se na stopnicah zasliši korak. Pred njimi stoji Washington. Z mirnim, globokim glasom se zahvali kmetu za zavetje in prosi, naj mu pripeljejo konja pred vrata ter pripravijo račun. Torijec strmi vanj kakor brez uma. Nato plane po stopnicah, sunkoma odpre vrata sobe na levi in se zazre v obraz, ki počiva na blazini — blazini, oškropljeni s krvjo. Obraz je hčerin. Besede »oče« na tem svetu ne bo nikoli več slišal. Sveča mu pade iz roke; zgrudi se na tla; naj mu bo greh odpuščen! Zunaj se zasliši topot konjskih kopit. Washington odjezdi, ne da bi vedel za nevarnost, ki ji je ušel, in žrtev, ki jo je odvrnila.
Izvirnik
066 A Blow in the Dark
Naslednje strani prikazujejo izvirno besedilo za primerjavo.
The Tory Manheim sits brooding in his farmhouse near Valley Forge, and his daughter, with a hectic flush on her cheek, looks out into the twilight at the falling snow. She is worn and ill; she has brought on a fever by exposure incurred that very day in a secret journey to the American camp, made to warn her lover of another attempt on the life of Washington, who must pass her father's house on his return from a distant settlement. The Tory knows nothing of this; but he starts whenever the men in the next room rattle the dice or break into a ribald song, and a frown of apprehension crosses his face as the foragers crunch by, half-barefoot, through the snow. The hours go on, and the noise in the next room increases; but it hushes suddenly when a knock at the door is heard. The Tory opens it, and trembles as a tall, grave man, with the figure of an athlete, steps into the fire-light and calmly removes his gloves. “I have been riding far,” said he. “Can you give me some food and the chance to sleep for an hour, until the storm clears up?”
Manheim says that he can, and shuffling into the next room, he whispers, “Washington!” The girl is sent out to get refreshments. It is in vain that she seeks to sign or speak to the man who sits there so calmly before the fire, for her father is never out of sight or hearing. After Washington has finished his modest repast he asks to be left to himself for a while, but the girl is told to conduct him to the room on the left of the landing on the next floor.
Her father holds the candle at the foot of the stairs until he sees his guest enter; then he bids his daughter go to her own bed, which is in the chamber on the right of the landing. There is busy whispering in the room below after that, and the dice box is shaken to see to whose lot it shall fall to steal up those stairs and stab Washington in his sleep. An hour passes and all in the house appear to be at rest, but the stairs creak slightly as Manheim creeps upon his prey. He blows his candle out and softly enters the chamber on the left. The men, who listen in the dark at the foot of the stair, hear a moan, and the Tory hurries back with a shout of gladness, for the rebel chief is no more and Howe's reward will enrich them for life.
Glasses are filled, and in the midst of the rejoicing a step is heard on the stair. Washington stands before them. In calm, deep tones he thanks the farmer for his shelter, and asks that his horse be brought to the door and his reckoning be made out. The Tory stares as one bereft. Then he rushes aloft, flings open the door of the room on the left, and gazes at the face that rests on the pillow,--a pillow that is dabbled with red. The face is that of his daughter. The name of father is one that he will never hear again in this world. The candle falls from his hand; he sinks to the floor; be his sin forgiven! Outside is heard the tramp of a horse. It is that of Washington, who rides away, ignorant of the peril he has passed and the sacrifice that averted it.
Nadaljuj z branjem
