小说园

第92部分（第5页）

from　a　far　distance　she　was　drawing　near；　towards　the　line　of

twiggy　oak　trees　where　they　made　their　intense　darkness；

gathered　on　a　single　bank。

She　must　draw　near。　But　they　broke　away；　they　cantered　round；

making　a　wide　circle　to　avoid　noticing　her；　and　cantered　back

into　the　open　hillside　behind　her。

They　were　behind　her。　The　way　was　open　before　her；　to　the

gate　in　the　high　hedge　in　the　near　distance；　so　she　could　pass

into　the　smaller；　cultivated　field；　and　so　out　to　the　high…road

and　the　ordered　world　of　man。　Her　way　was　clear。　She　lulled　her

heart。　Yet　her　heart　was　couched　with　fear；　couched　with　fear

all　along。

Suddenly　she　hesitated　as　if　seized　by　lightning。　She　seemed

to　fall；　yet　found　herself　faltering　forward　with　small　steps。

The　thunder　of　horses　galloping　down　the　path　behind　her　shook

her；　the　weight　came　down　upon　her；　down；　to　the　moment　of

extinction。　She　could　not　look　round；　so　the　horses　thundered

upon　her。

Cruelly；　they　swerved　and　crashed　by　on　her　left　hand。　She

saw　the　fierce　flanks　crinkled　and　as　yet　inadequate；　the　great

hoofs　flashing　bright　as　yet　only　brandished　about　her；　and　one

by　one　the　horses　crashed　by；　intent；　working　themselves　up。

They　had　gone　by；　brandishing　themselves　thunderously　about

her；　enclosing　her。　They　slackened　their　burst　transport；　they

slowed　down；　and　cantered　together　into　a　knot　once　more；　in　the

corner　by　the　gate　and　the　trees　ahead　of　her。　They　stirred；

they　moved　uneasily；　they　settled　their　uneasy　flanks　into　one

group；　one　purpose。　They　were　up　against　her。

Her　heart　was　gone；　she　had　no　more　heart。　She　knew　she　dare

not　draw　near。　That　concentrated；　knitted　flank　of　the

horse…group　had　conquered。　It　stirred　uneasily；　awaiting　her；

knowing　its　triumph。　It　stirred　uneasily；　with　the　uneasiness　of

awaited　triumph。　Her　heart　was　gone；　her　limbs　were　dissolved；

she　was　dissolved　like　water。　All　the　hardness　and　looming　power

was　in　the　massive　body　of　the　horse…group。

Her　feet　faltered；　she　came　to　a　standstill。　It　was　the

crisis。　The　horses　stirred　their　flanks　uneasily。