{"id":10,"date":"2024-03-10T12:48:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T12:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uglulaekjarbru.org\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2025-08-31T14:20:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T14:20:54","slug":"eldri-thydingar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uglulaekjarbru.org\/index.php\/eldri-thydingar\/","title":{"rendered":"Eldri \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ekki hefur miki\u00f0 fari\u00f0 fyrir \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingum \u00e1 efni Ambrose Bierce yfir \u00e1 \u00edslensku. \u00deekktasta og v\u00ed\u00f0f\u00f6rlasta verk hans, The Devil’s Dictionary<\/em> (upprunalega The Cynic’s Word Book<\/em>), kom \u00fat \u00e1ri\u00f0 2000 undir heitinu Or\u00f0ab\u00f3k Andskotans<\/em> \u00ed \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingu Hallbergs Hallmundssonar, \u00fe\u00f3 \u00e1\u00f0ur hafi einhverjar or\u00f0ab\u00f3kaf\u00e6rslur veri\u00f0 \u00fe\u00fdddar og birtar \u00ed \u00edslenskum t\u00edmaritum, m.a. undir fyrirs\u00f6gninni Or\u00f0ask\u00fdringar K\u00f6lska<\/em> (sj\u00e1 \u00ed leit \u00e1 Timarit.is). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u00e9r fyrir ne\u00f0an eru \u00fe\u00e6r sm\u00e1sagna\u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingar sem \u00e9g hef fundi\u00f0 og eru a\u00f0gengilegar \u00e1 stafr\u00e6na safninu timarit.is<\/a>. Fyrir utan \u00feessar s\u00f6gur getur T\u00edmarit.is um tv\u00e6r \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingar til vi\u00f0b\u00f3tar \u00ed \u00fatvarpsdagskr\u00e1; sm\u00e1s\u00f6gurnar Vaka\u00f0 yfir l\u00edki<\/em> \u00ed \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingu Hersteins P\u00e1lssonar, sem lesin var \u00e1 R\u00e1s 1 \u00feann 29. jan\u00faar 1996, og Kv\u00f6ldgestur <\/em>\u00ed \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ingu Baldurs \u00d3skarssonar, \u00e1 dagskr\u00e1 s\u00f6mu r\u00e1sar \u00feann 30. n\u00f3vember sama \u00e1r. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Efnisyfirlit<\/p>\n\n

    \n\n
  1. Gesturinn (The Stranger)<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  2. \u00d3kunni ma\u00f0urinn (The Stranger)<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  3. Ma\u00f0urinn og slangan (The Man and the Snake)<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  4. Atbur\u00f0ur \u00e1 Uglul\u00e6kjarbr\u00fa (An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge)<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Si\u00f0fer\u00f0ilsl\u00f6gm\u00e1li\u00f0 og eigingirnin (d\u00e6misaga (e. fable))<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Or\u00f0ab\u00f3k Andskotans (The Devil’s Dictionary)<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Gesturinn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    V\u00edsir 2. febr\u00faar 1936. \u00de\u00fd\u00f0andi Axel Thorsteinson. Lausleg \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ing \u00far ensku, nokku\u00f0 stytt. Sama \u00fe\u00fd\u00f0ing \u00e1\u00f0ur birt \u00ed 12. tbl. R\u00f6kkurs 1. desember 1935. \u00datg. Axel Thorsteinsson.<\/em> <\/p>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    (Ambrose Bierce t\u00f3k \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed borgarstyrj\u00f6ldinni i Bandar\u00edkjunum og s\u00f3tti efni i hana \u00ed fj\u00f6lda margar s\u00f6gur, sem hann birti, \u00fe\u00e1 er hann haf\u00f0i s\u00e6rst og fengi\u00f0 lausn \u00far hernum. Kunnustu b\u00e6kur hans eru \u201eThe Monk and The Hangman’s Daughter\u201c og \u201eCan Such Things Be?\u201c. Bierce t\u00f3k \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed stj\u00f3rnarbyltingu \u00ed Mexico og var \u00ed li\u00f0i Villa hersh\u00f6f\u00f0ingja, en hvarf, svo a\u00f0 enginn vissi hva\u00f0 af honum var\u00f0. Er af m\u00f6rgum tali\u00f0, a\u00f0 hann hafi falli\u00f0 i orustu og hv\u00edli l\u00edk hans i \u00f3\u00feektri gr\u00f6f i Mexico).<\/p>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vi\u00f0 s\u00e1tum \u00ed hring kringum b\u00e1li\u00f0, sem vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um kveikt og n\u00fa var fari\u00f0 a\u00f0 dofna yfir. \u00de\u00e1 kom ma\u00f0ur utan \u00far dimmunni, settist \u00e1 klettsnibbu skamt fr\u00e1 okkur og t\u00f3k svo til m\u00e1ls me\u00f0 alv\u00f6ruhreim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eA\u00f0rir hafa komi\u00f0 \u00e1 undan ykkur til \u00feess a\u00f0 kanna \u00feessar sl\u00f3\u00f0ir\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enginn m\u00e6lti \u00ed m\u00f3ti \u00feessu. Hann var sj\u00e1lfur s\u00f6nnun \u00feess, er hann h\u00e9lt fram, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 hann var ekki \u00far okkar flokki, og hlaut a\u00f0 hafa f\u00e9laga einhverssta\u00f0ar \u00ed n\u00e1nd vi\u00f0 \u00e1ningarsta\u00f0 okkar. \u00c1 \u00feessum sl\u00f3\u00f0um fer\u00f0u\u00f0ust menn ekki einir s\u00edns li\u00f0s. Undangengna viku h\u00f6f\u00f0um vi\u00f0 enga mannlega veru s\u00e9\u00f0, a\u00f0eins sl\u00f6ngur og froska og sl\u00edk kvikindi. \u00c1 sandau\u00f0nunum \u00ed Arizona heldur enginn l\u00edfi e\u00f0a \u00f3skertum limum \u00ed sl\u00edkum f\u00e9lagsskap til lengdar. \u00dear ver\u00f0ur langfer\u00f0ama\u00f0urinn a\u00f0 hafa birg\u00f0ir, vopn, skotf\u00e6ri og bur\u00f0ard\u00fdr og af \u00fev\u00ed lei\u00f0ir, a\u00f0 hann ver\u00f0ur a\u00f0 hafa f\u00e9laga. \u00dea\u00f0 var kannske vegna \u00feess, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0, sem \u00fearna vorum \u00e1 fer\u00f0inni \u00ed \u00e6fint\u00fdraleit \u2014 vorum allmj\u00f6g \u00ed vafa um hverskonar f\u00e9laga \u00feessi \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0ur hef\u00f0i, ef til vill \u00e1 n\u00e6stu gr\u00f6sum, \u2014 risum upp til h\u00e1lfs, er hann kom, og l\u00f6g\u00f0um hendur \u00e1 vopn okkar. \u00dea\u00f0 var eitthva\u00f0 h\u00f3tunarkent \u00ed r\u00f6dd hans og \u00e1 sl\u00edkum sta\u00f0 og stundu sem \u00feessari m\u00e1 vi\u00f0 \u00f6llu b\u00faast. En \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0urinn l\u00e9t \u00feetta sig engu skifta og h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram m\u00e1li s\u00ednu, af festu og \u00e1setningi og r\u00f6dd hans var jafn tilbreytingarlaus og er hann fyrst \u00e1varpa\u00f0i okkur:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFyrir 30 \u00e1rum h\u00e9ldum vi\u00f0: Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis, allir fr\u00e1 Tucson, yfir Santa Catalina fj\u00f6ll og sem lei\u00f0 liggur vestur \u00e1 b\u00f3ginn. Vi\u00f0 leitu\u00f0um gulls \u00ed j\u00f6r\u00f0u og var s\u00fa \u00e6tlun okkar, ef leitin b\u00e6ri eigi \u00e1rangur, a\u00f0 halda \u00e1fram alt til Gila-flj\u00f3ts, einhvers sta\u00f0ar \u00ed n\u00e1nd vi\u00f0 Big Bend, en \u00fear h\u00f6f\u00f0um vi\u00f0 fr\u00e9tt, a\u00f0 landnemar hef\u00f0i sest a\u00f0. Vi\u00f0 vorum vel \u00fatb\u00fanir, en h\u00f6f\u00f0um lei\u00f0s\u00f6gumann engan \u2014 vi\u00f0: Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ma\u00f0urinn endurt\u00f3k n\u00f6fnin h\u00e6gt og greinilega, svo sem vildi hann festa \u00feau i minni okkar \u00e1heyrenda sinna, s\u00e9rhvers okkar, en vi\u00f0 veittum n\u00fa m\u00e1li hans og honum sj\u00e1lfum \u00f3skerta athygli og \u00f3ttu\u00f0umst minna nokkura yfirvofandi h\u00e6ttu fr\u00e1 f\u00e9l\u00f6gum hans, ef nokkrir voru, einhverssta\u00f0ar \u00fat \u00ed myrkrinu, sem umkringdi okkur eins og svartur veggur. Framkoma \u00feessa sj\u00e1lfbo\u00f0a-fr\u00e1segjanda var heldur ekki \u00feann veg, a\u00f0 neitt benti til, a\u00f0 \u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0a v\u00e6ri til a\u00f0 \u00f3ttast hann. Ef til vill var \u00feetta ge\u00f0bila\u00f0ur ma\u00f0ur, sem engum ger\u00f0i mein. Svo miklir gr\u00e6ningjar vorum vi\u00f0 ekki, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 vissum ekki, a\u00f0 oft er \u00fea\u00f0 svo a\u00f0 \u00feeir, sem einf\u00f6rum fara e\u00f0a dvelja langvistum \u00ed f\u00e1menni e\u00f0a \u00ed einveru, markast af \u00fev\u00ed \u00ed framkomu allri og h\u00e1ttum og or\u00f0alagi, og sl\u00edkir menn eru oft ekki \u00ed augum \u00feeirra, sem fj\u00f6lmenni einu eru vanir, svo mj\u00f6g fr\u00e1brug\u00f0nir \u00feeim, sem eru \u201eeinkennilegir\u201c e\u00f0a jafnvel ge\u00f0bila\u00f0ir. Ma\u00f0urinn er eins og tr\u00e9, sem \u00ed sk\u00f3gi ver\u00f0ur beinvaxi\u00f0 og eins og einstaklingseinkenni \u00feess leyfa \u00ed sl\u00edku samf\u00e9lagi, en eitt s\u00e9r \u00fati \u00e1 bersv\u00e6\u00f0i mundi ver\u00f0a kr\u00e6kl\u00f3tt, vegna n\u00e6\u00f0inga umhverfisins. Sl\u00edkar voru hugsanir minar, er eg haf\u00f0i \u00fdtt bar\u00f0ast\u00f3ra hattinum m\u00ednum lengra ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 enni\u00f0, vegna bjarmans fr\u00e1 eldunum, og star\u00f0i \u00e1 fr\u00e1segjandann. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    En hva\u00f0 gat fyrir honum vaka\u00f0 me\u00f0 dv\u00f6l sinni h\u00e9r \u00ed sandau\u00f0ninni mi\u00f0ri?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enginn haf\u00f0i rofi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f6gnina og gesturinn h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram m\u00e1li s\u00ednu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00deetta land var eigi \u00fe\u00e1 eins og n\u00fa. \u00de\u00e1 var hvergi b\u00fdli milli Gila og fl\u00f3ans (Mexico-fl\u00f3a). Vei\u00f0i var nokkur \u00e1 \u00fdmsum st\u00f6\u00f0um til fjalla og gras n\u00f3g \u00ed n\u00e1nd hinna strj\u00e1lu vatnspytta, til \u00feess a\u00f0 skepnur okkar g\u00e6ti dregi\u00f0 fram l\u00edfi\u00f0. Ef vi\u00f0 v\u00e6rum hepnir og engir Rau\u00f0skinnar yr\u00f0i \u00e1 vegi okkar voru l\u00edkur til, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 g\u00e6tum komist \u00feanga\u00f0, sem vi\u00f0 \u00e6tlu\u00f0um okkur, heilu og h\u00f6ldnu. En \u00feegar vika var li\u00f0in fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed, er vi\u00f0 l\u00f6g\u00f0um af sta\u00f0, var h\u00f6fu\u00f0\u00e1kv\u00f6r\u00f0uninni breytt fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vera leit a\u00f0 au\u00f0\u00e6fum \u00ed \u00fea\u00f0, a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a tilraun til a\u00f0 vernda l\u00edf og limu. Vi\u00f0 vorum komnir of langt til \u00feess a\u00f0 geta horfi\u00f0 aftur, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0, sem fyrir h\u00f6ndum var, gat vart veri\u00f0 verra en \u00fea\u00f0, sem a\u00f0 baki var. Vi\u00f0 h\u00e9ldum \u00fev\u00ed \u00e1fram fer\u00f0 okkar og ri\u00f0um a\u00f0 n\u00e6turlagi, til \u00feess a\u00f0 komast hj\u00e1 a\u00f0 lenda \u00ed br\u00f6sum vi\u00f0 Rau\u00f0skinna, og til \u00feess a\u00f0 losna vi\u00f0 hitann \u00f3\u00feolandi \u00e1 daginn. \u00deegar bjart var or\u00f0i\u00f0 af degi leitu\u00f0um vi\u00f0 uppi felusta\u00f0i og dv\u00f6ldumst \u00fear uns myrkva t\u00f3k. Stundum gekk villid\u00fdrakj\u00f6t okkar til \u00feur\u00f0ar og drykkjark\u00fatar okkar t\u00e6mdust. Li\u00f0u \u00fe\u00e1 oft margir dagar svo, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um hvorki vott n\u00e9 \u00feurt. \u00deegar vi\u00f0 fundum vatn af n\u00fdju, sm\u00e1brunn \u00ed einhverri gilglufunni, e\u00f0a grunnan pytt, \u00fe\u00e1 var okkur aftur borgi\u00f0. Vi\u00f0 \u00f6\u00f0lu\u00f0umst \u00ferek, andlegt og l\u00edkamlegt, \u00e1 n\u00fd, n\u00e6gilegt til \u00feess a\u00f0 \u00ferauka \u00e1fram, fara \u00e1 vei\u00f0ar og skj\u00f3ta villid\u00fdr okkur til matar, stundum sk\u00f3garbj\u00f6rn, antel\u00f3pu e\u00f0a villid\u00fdr einhverrar tegundar, eins og gu\u00f0i \u00fe\u00f3kna\u00f0ist \u00ed \u00fea\u00f0 og \u00fea\u00f0 skifti\u00f0. Alt var \u00e6tt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Morgun nokkurn f\u00f3rum vi\u00f0 eftir fjallsja\u00f0ri og leitu\u00f0um a\u00f0 skorningi til \u00feess a\u00f0 fara um, er Rau\u00f0skinnar, sem h\u00f6f\u00f0u veitt okkur eftirf\u00f6r, \u00e1n \u00feess vi\u00f0 vissum, n\u00e1\u00f0u okkur. \u00deeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u komist \u00e1 sl\u00f3\u00f0 okkar \u00ed gili eigi langt h\u00e9r fr\u00e1. Af \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00feeir voru li\u00f0fleiri en vi\u00f0 \u2014 t\u00edu gegn einum, ger\u00f0u \u00feeir engar af s\u00ednum vanalegu var\u00fa\u00f0arr\u00e1\u00f0st\u00f6funum, \u00feessir \u00f6rgu hugleysingjar, en \u00feeystu \u00e1 eftir okkur ragnandi og \u00e6pandi, og skutu af byssum s\u00ednum \u00e1 okkur. \u00dea\u00f0 gat ekki komi\u00f0 til m\u00e1la a\u00f0 berjast \u00fearna. Vi\u00f0 kn\u00fa\u00f0um bur\u00f0ard\u00fdr okkar og rei\u00f0skj\u00f3ta eins og okkur var au\u00f0i\u00f0 upp skorninginn, uns hestarnir g\u00e1tu ekki lengur f\u00f3ta\u00f0 sig, og \u00fe\u00e1 stigum vi\u00f0 af baki og skildum gripi vora og \u00fatb\u00fana\u00f0 eftir, v\u00f6rpu\u00f0um \u00f6llu \u00ed kl\u00e6r varganna. En vi\u00f0 h\u00e9ldum rifflum okkar, vi\u00f0 \u2014 Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eGamli h\u00f3purinn\u201c, hv\u00edsla\u00f0i einhver \u00ed h\u00f3pi okkar, en foringi okkar gaf \u00feeim, sem m\u00e6lt haf\u00f0i bendingu um a\u00f0 \u00feegja, og gesturinn h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn sinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eVi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um stigi\u00f0 af baki vi\u00f0 \u00feyrnirunna-\u00feyrpingu \u00ed slakkanum, en Rau\u00f0skinnarnir stigu n\u00fa af baki og \u00fer\u00f6ngvu\u00f0u okkur til \u00feess a\u00f0 fara h\u00e6rra upp og v\u00f6r\u00f0u allar lei\u00f0ir, svo a\u00f0 eigi yr\u00f0i undankomu au\u00f0i\u00f0. \u00dev\u00ed mi\u00f0ur n\u00e1\u00f0i \u00feyrnirunna-gr\u00f3\u00f0urinn a\u00f0eins skamt upp, svo a\u00f0 \u00feegar vi\u00f0 nokkuru ofar komum \u00e1 sk\u00fdlislausan blett skutu Rau\u00f0skinnarnir \u00e1 okkur af a\u00f0 minsta kosti t\u00f3lf rifflum, en \u00feeir eru skyttur sl\u00e6mar \u00feegar asi er \u00e1 \u00feeim, og \u00fea\u00f0 var gu\u00f0s vilji, a\u00f0 \u00feeir h\u00e6f\u00f0u engan okkar. \u00c1fram h\u00e9ldum vi\u00f0 h\u00e6rra upp og komumst \u00fear \u00ed hellissk\u00fata nokkurn, \u00fear sem vi\u00f0 hef\u00f0um geta\u00f0 varist \u00f6llum Rau\u00f0skinnum landsins. En vi\u00f0 vorum varnarlausir gegn hungri og \u00feorsta. Hugrekki \u00e1ttum vi\u00f0 enn, en vonir voru minningar einar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Engan \u00feessara Rau\u00f0skinna s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 s\u00ed\u00f0ar, en \u00feegar kvelda t\u00f3k s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 bjarmana af eldum \u00feeirra. \u00deeir h\u00e9ldu v\u00f6r\u00f0 alls sta\u00f0ar \u00fear, sem nokkur von var um a\u00f0 komast \u00e1 brott, \u2014 \u00fear bi\u00f0u var\u00f0menn \u00feeirra me\u00f0 riffla s\u00edna, \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 \u00feurfa a\u00f0 spenna upp gikkinn. \u00cd \u00ferj\u00e1 daga og \u00ferj\u00e1r n\u00e6tur \u00ferauku\u00f0um vi\u00f0, en kvalir okkar voru or\u00f0nar \u00f3b\u00e6rilegar. A\u00f0 morgni fj\u00f3r\u00f0a dagsins sag\u00f0i Ramon Gallegos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eDrengir g\u00f3\u00f0ir. Eg \u00feekki ekki vilja gu\u00f0s og veit eigi hva\u00f0 honum kann a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3knast. Eg hefi lifa\u00f0 tr\u00faarlausu l\u00edfi og er l\u00edtt kunnur hversu \u00fei\u00f0 hafi lifa\u00f0 l\u00edfi ykkar gagnvart alm\u00e1ttugum gu\u00f0i. Afsaki\u00f0 herrar m\u00ednir, en n\u00fa er t\u00edmi kominn til \u00feess fyrir mig a\u00f0 sigra Rau\u00f0skinna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eMadre de Dios\u201c, sag\u00f0i hann, \u201eme\u00f0tak n\u00fa s\u00e1l Ramons Gallegos\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann setti skammbyssuhlaupi\u00f0 \u00e1 anna\u00f0 gagnauga sitt og hleypti af byssunni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deannig hvarf hann fr\u00e1 okkur \u2014 William Shaw, George W, Kent og Berry Davis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eg var lei\u00f0toginn. M\u00e9r bar a\u00f0 taka til m\u00e1ls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eHann var ma\u00f0ur djarfur, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g. Hann vissi stundina og hvernig deyja skyldi. Heimskulegt er a\u00f0 b\u00ed\u00f0a \u00feess a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a vitskertur, falla fyrir k\u00falu Rau\u00f0skinna \u2014 e\u00f0a vera fleginn lifandi. \u00d3s\u00e6mandi a\u00f0 minni hyggju. Vi\u00f0 skulum fara \u00e1 eftir Ramoni Gallegos!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00dea\u00f0 er r\u00e9tt\u201c sag\u00f0i William Shaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00dea\u00f0 er r\u00e9tt\u201c, sag\u00f0i George W. Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eg lag\u00f0i til Ramon Gallegos og breiddi vasakl\u00fat yfir andlit hans. En \u00fe\u00e1 sag\u00f0i William Shaw: \u201eEg vildi vera \u00feannig d\u00e1litla stund\u201c. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Og George W. Kent sag\u00f0i a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri sama sinnis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eSvo skal \u00fea\u00f0 vera\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g. \u201eRau\u00f0u dj\u00f6flarnir munu bi\u00f0a heila viku. William Shaw og Georg W. Kent, dragi\u00f0 upp gikkina \u00e1 skammbyssum ykkar og krj\u00fapi\u00f0 \u00e1 kn\u00e9\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deeir ger\u00f0u \u00fea\u00f0 sem \u00e9g haf\u00f0i sagt og \u00e9g st\u00f3\u00f0 fyrir framan \u00fe\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i William Shaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i George W. Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFyrirgef oss vorar syndir\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFyrirgef oss vorar syndir\u201c, s\u00f6g\u00f0u \u00feeir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eOg me\u00f0tak s\u00e1lir vorar\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eOg me\u00f0tak s\u00e1lir vorar\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAmen!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAmen!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eEg lag\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 sinu hvorum megin vi\u00f0 Ramon Gallegos og huldi andlit \u00feeirra\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alt i einu, er h\u00e9r var komi\u00f0 fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn gestsins, st\u00f6kk einhver \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, \u00feeirra, er seti\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0u hinum  megin vi\u00f0 eldinn, me\u00f0 skammbyssu \u00ed h\u00f6nd s\u00e9r:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eOg \u00fe\u00fa \u2014\u201c, \u00e6pti hann, \u201e\u00fe\u00fa \u00e1r\u00e6ddir a\u00f0 fl\u00fdja? \u00de\u00fa \u00feor\u00f0ir a\u00f0 lifa, blautge\u00f0ja hundur! Eg skal senda \u00feig til \u00feeirra, \u00fe\u00f3tt \u00e9g ver\u00f0i hengdur fyrir!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    En foringi okkar hlj\u00f3p \u00e1 hann eins og villid\u00fdr \u00e1 br\u00e1\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eH\u00e6gan, Sam Yountsey, h\u00e6gan!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um allir stokki\u00f0 \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, nema gesturinn, sem sat hreyfingarlaus \u00e1 klettsnibbunnij \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 veita \u00feessu nokkra athygli. Einhver \u00fereif \u00ed hinn handlegg Yountsey’s til \u00feess a\u00f0 halda honum kyrrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eKapteinn\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g vi\u00f0 foringja okkar. \u201e\u00dea\u00f0 er eitthva\u00f0 bogi\u00f0 vi\u00f0 \u00feetta. N\u00e1ungi \u00feessi er anna\u00f0 hvort vitfirringur e\u00f0a lygalaupur, venjulegur hversdagslegur lygalaupur, sem Yountsey getur enga hv\u00f6t hj\u00e1 s\u00e9r fundi\u00f0 til \u00feess a\u00f0 drepa. Ef \u00feessi ma\u00f0ur var \u00ed flokki \u00feeim, sem hann tala\u00f0i um er einn, \u2014 ef til vill hann sj\u00e1lfur \u2014 sem hann hefir ekki nefnt\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eJ\u00e1\u201c, sag\u00f0i foringi okkar, og slepti um lei\u00f0 taki \u00e1 Yountsey, \u201eh\u00e9r er eitthva\u00f0, sem vir\u00f0ist einkennilegt. Fyrir m\u00f6rgum \u00e1rum fundust leifar af l\u00edkum fj\u00f6gurra hv\u00edtra manna fyrir framan hellismunna \u00feann, sem gesturinn okkar hefir tala\u00f0 um. Menn \u00feessir h\u00f6f\u00f0u veri\u00f0 hro\u00f0alega leiknir, og \u00e6tla\u00f0 var, a\u00f0 Rau\u00f0skinnar hef\u00f0i flegi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1 lifandi. L\u00edkin voru grafin \u00ed n\u00e1nd vi\u00f0 hellismunnanna. Vi\u00f0 g\u00f6ngum \u00feanga\u00f0 \u00e1 morgun\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gesturinn reis \u00e1 f\u00e6tur og hann gn\u00e6f\u00f0i yfir okkur \u00ed hverfandi bjarma eldanna, \u00fev\u00ed vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um veri\u00f0 svo ni\u00f0ur sokknir \u00ed fr\u00e1s\u00f6gnina, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um ekki g\u00e6tt \u00feess, a\u00f0 b\u00e6ta sprekum \u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00deeir voru fj\u00f3rir\u201c, sag\u00f0i hann. \u201eRamon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me\u00f0 \u00feessari endurteknu nafnak\u00f6llum hinna l\u00e1tnu gekk hann \u00e1 brott og var \u00f3\u00f0ara horfinn \u00fat \u00ed myrkri\u00f0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00cd \u00feessum svifum kom einn \u00far flokki vorum, sem haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 \u00e1 ver\u00f0i, til okkar, og f\u00f3r geyst me\u00f0 riffil sinn \u00ed hendi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eKapteinn\u201c, sag\u00f0i hann, \u201eseinasta h\u00e1lftimann hafa \u00fer\u00edr menn veri\u00f0 \u00e1 ver\u00f0i \u2014 \u00fearna\u201c, \u2014 og benti \u00ed \u00e1ttina, sem gesturinn haf\u00f0i fari\u00f0 \u00fat \u00ed myrkri\u00f0. \u201eEg s\u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1 greinilega, \u00feegar dr\u00f3 fr\u00e1 tunglinu, en af \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00feeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u engar byssur, og \u00feeir ger\u00f0u sig ekki l\u00edklega til \u00e1r\u00e1sar, l\u00e9t \u00e9g \u00fe\u00e1 afskiftalausa. En \u00fea\u00f0 hlj\u00f3p \u00ed taugarnar \u00e1 m\u00e9r a\u00f0 horfa st\u00f6\u00f0ugt \u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFar\u00f0u aftur \u00e1 var\u00f0sta\u00f0 \u00feinn”, sag\u00f0i foringi okkar. \u201eOg \u00fei\u00f0 hinir, Ieggist ni\u00f0ur, e\u00f0a \u00fei\u00f0 skuli\u00f0 mig fyrir hitta\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Var\u00f0ma\u00f0urinn h\u00e9lt \u00e1 brott ragnandi og kom ekki aftur, en \u00e1kafi Yountsey var meiri en svo, a\u00f0 hann l\u00e9ti \u00fea\u00f0 \u00e1 sig f\u00e1, \u00fe\u00f3tt foringi okkar v\u00e6ri kominn \u00ed \u00feungt skap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAfsaki\u00f0, kapteinn\u201c, sag\u00f0i hann, \u201een hverjir haldi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e9r, a\u00f0 \u00feeir hafi veri\u00f0?\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eRamon Gallegos, William Shaw og George W. Kent\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eEn Berry Davis? Eg hef\u00f0i \u00e1tt a\u00f0 skj\u00f3ta hann\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAllsendis \u00f3\u00fearft, Yountsey. Hann tr\u00f3\u00f0 sama helveg og f\u00e9lagar hans \u00e1 undan honum. Legstu n\u00fa fyrir\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    \u00d3kunni ma\u00f0urinn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    Sunnudagsbla\u00f0i\u00f0, 7. febr\u00faar 1960. \u00de\u00fd\u00f0anda ekki geti\u00f0, en ritstj\u00f3ri er Gylfi Gr\u00f6ndal.<\/em><\/p>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Skyndilega kom ma\u00f0ur \u00fat \u00far myrkrinu, sem umlukti okkur, \u00fear sem vi\u00f0 s\u00e1tum \u00ed kringum eldinn. Ma\u00f0urinn settist \u00e1 stein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00dei\u00f0 eru\u00f0 ekki hinir fyrstu, sem komi\u00f0 \u00e1 \u00feessar sl\u00f3\u00f0ir, sag\u00f0i hann alvarlegur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enginn m\u00f3tm\u00e6lti \u00feessu. Ma\u00f0urinn var sj\u00e1lfur s\u00f6nnun or\u00f0a sinna. Hann hlaut a\u00f0 hafa veri\u00f0 h\u00e9r \u00ed n\u00e1grenninu, \u00feegar vi\u00f0 bjuggum um okkur \u00e1 \u00feessum sta\u00f0. Auk \u00feess hlutu f\u00e9lagar hans a\u00f0 vera \u00e1 n\u00e6stu gr\u00f6sum, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 h\u00e9r um sl\u00f3\u00f0ir fer\u00f0ast enginn lifandi ma\u00f0ur einn s\u00edns li\u00f0s. \u00cd meira en viku h\u00f6f\u00f0um vi\u00f0 ekki s\u00e9\u00f0 anna\u00f0 kvikt en eitursl\u00f6ngur og skjaldb\u00f6kur, \u2014 a\u00f0 undanskildum okkur sj\u00e1lfum og g\u00e6\u00f0ingum okkar. H\u00e9r umhverfis Arizona geta menn ekki varizt sl\u00edkum h\u00e6ttum einir. \u00deeir ver\u00f0a a\u00f0 vera margir saman og auk \u00feess vopna\u00f0ir og vel \u00fatb\u00fanir a\u00f0 \u00f6llu leyti. \u00deess vegna var \u00f3hugsandi a\u00f0 \u00feessi \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0ur v\u00e6ri einn. \u00dea\u00f0 var annars gaman a\u00f0 vita, hvers konar menn \u00feessi undarlegi n\u00e1ungi \u00e1tti a\u00f0 f\u00e9l\u00f6gum. Hann virtist til d\u00e6mis ekki taka eftir \u00fev\u00ed, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 \u00e6vint\u00fdramennirnir h\u00f6f\u00f0um allir setzt upp og studdum hendi \u00e1 byssur okkar. \u00dea\u00f0 er ekki margt sem gerist h\u00e9r \u00e1 hinum villtu sv\u00e6\u00f0um. Vi\u00f0 komu \u00f3kunnugs manns er a\u00f0eins til eitt svar: a\u00f0 b\u00ed\u00f0a og vera vi\u00f0 \u00f6llu b\u00fainn. \u00d3kunni ma\u00f0urinn byrja\u00f0i aftur a\u00f0 tala me\u00f0 sama tilbreytingarlausa m\u00e1lr\u00f3mnum og hann haf\u00f0i sagt s\u00edn kynlegu \u00e1varpsor\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Fyrir \u00ferj\u00e1t\u00edu \u00e1rum f\u00f3ru Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis yfir Santa Catalina-fjalli\u00f0 og h\u00e9ldu s\u00ed\u00f0an \u00e1fram eins langt til vesturs og h\u00e6gt var. Vi\u00f0 vorum \u00e1 sn\u00f6pum eftir gulli, en ef vi\u00f0 fyndum ekkert, \u00e6tlu\u00f0um vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 fara til Gilaflj\u00f3tsins einhvers sta\u00f0ar \u00ed n\u00e1munda vi\u00f0 Big Bend, af \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 vissum, a\u00f0 \u00fear byggi f\u00f3lk. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um g\u00f3\u00f0an \u00fatb\u00fana\u00f0, en engan lei\u00f0s\u00f6gumann \u2014 bara Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ma\u00f0urinn taldi upp n\u00f6fnin h\u00e6gt og me\u00f0 \u00feungum \u00e1herzlum, eins og hann vildi greipa \u00feau \u00ed huga \u00e1heyrenda sinna, sem hlustu\u00f0u \u00e1 hann me\u00f0 athygli. Vi\u00f0 vorum ekki lengur \u00e1 var\u00f0bergi gagnvart f\u00e9l\u00f6gum mannsins, sem ef til vill voru einhvers sta\u00f0ar \u00fati \u00ed myrkrinu, sem var allt umhverfis okkur eins og m\u00farveggur. Vi\u00f0 vorum h\u00e6ttir a\u00f0 \u00edmynda okkur, a\u00f0 \u00feessi einkennilegi s\u00f6guma\u00f0ur hef\u00f0i nokku\u00f0 illt \u00ed huga. Framkoma hans minnti frekar \u00e1 meinlausan vitfirring en fjandmann. Vi\u00f0 vorum ekki svo \u00f3kunnugir \u00ed \u00feessu landi, a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 vissum ekki, a\u00f0 hi\u00f0 einmanalega l\u00edf frumbyggjans m\u00f3ta\u00f0i oft fur\u00f0uleg einkenni \u00ed skapger\u00f0 hans og framkomu, sem oft minnti \u00e1 hreina vitfirring. Me\u00f0 \u00feetta \u00ed huga virti \u00e9g andlit hins \u00f3kunnuga manns fyrir m\u00e9r \u00ed skugganum af brei\u00f0um b\u00f6r\u00f0unum \u00e1 hatti hans. En \u00e9g gat ekki varizt einnar \u00e1leitinnar spurningar: Hva\u00f0 var hann a\u00f0 gera h\u00e9r \u00fati \u00e1 hinu villta og \u00f3bygg\u00f0a sv\u00e6\u00f0i? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enginn rauf \u00fe\u00f6gnina og ma\u00f0urinn h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn sinni:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00deetta land var ekki \u00fea\u00f0, sem \u00fea\u00f0 er n\u00fa. \u00dea\u00f0 var vart stingandi str\u00e1 milli Gila og Golfen. H\u00e9r og \u00fear \u00ed fjallinu var d\u00e1litla villibr\u00e1\u00f0 a\u00f0 finna og kringum hinar sjalds\u00e9\u00f0u vatnsuppsprettur \u00f3x stundum h\u00e1tt og miki\u00f0 gras, sem for\u00f0a\u00f0i hestunum okkar fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 svelta \u00ed hel. Ef vi\u00f0 hef\u00f0um geta\u00f0 fari\u00f0 fer\u00f0a okkar \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 rekast \u00e1 Ind\u00ed\u00e1na, \u00fe\u00e1 hef\u00f0um vi\u00f0 kannski haft \u00feetta af. Eftir viku fer\u00f0 haf\u00f0i takmark lei\u00f0angursins breytzt \u00far \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vera leit a\u00f0 gulli og gr\u00e6num sk\u00f3gum \u00ed \u00fea\u00f0 a\u00f0 kr\u00e6kja s\u00e9r \u00ed matarbita til \u00feess a\u00f0 halda \u00ed s\u00e9r l\u00edft\u00f3runni. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um fer\u00f0azt of langt til \u00feess a\u00f0 sn\u00faa aftur. \u00dea\u00f0 sem bei\u00f0 okkar gat ekki veri\u00f0 verra en \u00fea\u00f0, sem vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um lagt a\u00f0 baki, svo a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 h\u00e9ldum \u00e1fram. Vi\u00f0 fer\u00f0u\u00f0umst \u00e1 n\u00e6turnar til \u00feess a\u00f0 sleppa vi\u00f0 Ind\u00ed\u00e1nana og s\u00f6mu lei\u00f0is til \u00feess a\u00f0 losna vi\u00f0 mesta hitann. \u00c1 daginn f\u00f6ldum vi\u00f0 okkur eins r\u00e6kilega og vi\u00f0 g\u00e1tum. \u00deegar vistir okkar og vatnsfl\u00f6skur voru gengnar til \u00feurr\u00f0ar, vorum vi\u00f0 stundum matarlausir og drykkjarlausir \u00ed fleiri s\u00f3larhringa. En vi\u00f0 s\u00e9rhvert vatnsb\u00f3l sem vi\u00f0 fundum, jukust kraftar okkar, svo a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 g\u00e1tum skoti\u00f0 eitthva\u00f0 af \u00feeim d\u00fdrum, sem leitu\u00f0u til vatnsb\u00f3lsins \u00ed sama tilgangi og vi\u00f0. Stundum var \u00fea\u00f0 bj\u00f6rn, stundum antil\u00f3pa, stundum sl\u00e9ttuhundur. Gu\u00f0 r\u00e9\u00f0i \u2014 allt var matur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Einn morgun, \u00feegar vi\u00f0 ri\u00f0um eftir fjalli \u00ed leit a\u00f0 skar\u00f0i til \u00feess a\u00f0 komast um, elti h\u00f3pur af Ind\u00ed\u00e1num okkur. \u00deeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u fylgt sporum okkar eftir upp\u00feornu\u00f0um \u00e1rfarvegi, \u2014 \u00fea\u00f0 er ekki langt h\u00e9\u00f0an. \u00deeir vissu, a\u00f0 \u00feeir voru minnst t\u00edu sinnum fleiri en vi\u00f0, og f\u00f3ru s\u00e9r \u00feess vegna a\u00f0 engu \u00f3\u00f0slega. Fr\u00e1 okkar h\u00e1lfu kom ekki til greina a\u00f0 leggja til atl\u00f6gu vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1. Vi\u00f0 kn\u00fa\u00f0um vesalings hestana okkar \u00e1fram eins og \u00feeir komust, en s\u00ed\u00f0an k\u00f6stu\u00f0um vi\u00f0 okkur \u00far s\u00f6\u00f0lunum og klifru\u00f0um upp me\u00f0 fjallinu. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um or\u00f0i\u00f0 a\u00f0 skilja allan \u00fatb\u00fana\u00f0 okkar eftir. En byssurnar okkar h\u00f6f\u00f0um vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3 allir \u2014 Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 S\u00f6mu g\u00f6mlu f\u00e9lagarnir, sag\u00f0i einn af okkur, en foringi okkar var flj\u00f3tur a\u00f0 segja honum a\u00f0 \u00feegja, og \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0urinn h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram fr\u00e1s\u00f6gn sinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Ind\u00ed\u00e1narnir st\u00f6nzu\u00f0u \u00fear sem vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um skili\u00f0 d\u00f3t okkar eftir, en eftir skamma stund h\u00e9ldu nokkrir \u00feeirra \u00e1fram a\u00f0 elta okkur. Tuttugu metra \u00ed burtu s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 l\u00f3\u00f0r\u00e9tta kletta og \u00e1 milli \u00feeirra var d\u00e1l\u00edti\u00f0 op. Vi\u00f0 hr\u00f6\u00f0u\u00f0um okkur inn um opi\u00f0 og komum \u00ed helli, sem var \u00e1l\u00edka st\u00f3r og venjulegt herbergi. H\u00e9r vorum vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3 \u00f6ruggir \u2014 \u00ed bili a\u00f0 minnsta kosti. Einn vopna\u00f0ur ma\u00f0ur hef\u00f0i fr\u00e1 \u00feessu skj\u00f3li okkar geta\u00f0 vari\u00f0 sig gegn \u00f6llum Ind\u00ed\u00e1num landsins, en vi\u00f0 hungrinu og \u00feorstanum h\u00f6f\u00f0um vi\u00f0 engin r\u00e1\u00f0. Kjark skorti okkur ekki, en vonin var l\u00edkt og draumur \u00ed fjarska. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eftir \u00feetta s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 ekki svo miki\u00f0 sem einn Ind\u00ed\u00e1na, en hins vegar s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 st\u00f6\u00f0ugt reyk fr\u00e1 b\u00e1linu \u00feeirra. Vi\u00f0 vissum, a\u00f0 \u00feeir v\u00f6ktu yfir hverri hreyfingu okkar n\u00f3tt sem dag \u2014 vissum, a\u00f0 enginn okkar haf\u00f0i minnstu von um a\u00f0 geta stigi\u00f0 eitt skref \u00fat \u00far hellinum. \u00der\u00edr dagar li\u00f0u og alltaf s\u00e1um vi\u00f0 reykinn. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um \u00ferauka\u00f0 \u00ed \u00feessa \u00ferj\u00e1 daga, en l\u00ed\u00f0an okkar f\u00f3r st\u00f6\u00f0ugt versnandi. A\u00f0 morgni hins fj\u00f3r\u00f0a dags sag\u00f0i Ramon Gallegos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Herrar m\u00ednir! \u00c9g veit ekki miki\u00f0 um gu\u00f0 og \u00f3skir hans. \u00c9g hef lifa\u00f0 \u00ed tr\u00faleysi og veit \u00feess vegna ekkert um hann. Fyrirgefi\u00f0 m\u00e9r, ef \u00e9g trufla ykkur, en n\u00fa er minn t\u00edmi kominn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann f\u00e9ll \u00e1 kn\u00e9 \u00e1 hellisg\u00f3lfi\u00f0 og \u00fer\u00fdsti byssukjaftinum a\u00f0 enninu. \u201eMadre de Dios\u201c sag\u00f0i hann, \u201en\u00fa kemur s\u00e1l Ramon Gallegos”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Og svo yfirgaf hann okkur, \u2014 William Shaw, George W. Kent og Barry Davis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00dea\u00f0 var \u00e9g, sem var foringinn. \u00dea\u00f0 var \u00e9g, sem var\u00f0 a\u00f0 segja eitthva\u00f0. \u201eHann var hraustur ma\u00f0ur\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g. \u201eHann vissi, hven\u00e6r hann \u00e1tti a\u00f0 deyja og hvernig. \u00dea\u00f0 er f\u00e1sinna, a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a fyrst brj\u00e1la\u00f0ur af hungri og \u00feorsta og hlaupa s\u00ed\u00f0an upp \u00ed opi\u00f0 gini\u00f0 \u00e1 Ind\u00ed\u00e1nunum og ver\u00f0a kannski fleginn lifandi. Vi\u00f0 skulum fylgja ford\u00e6mi Ramon Gallegos”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00c9g sam\u00feykki \u00fea\u00f0\u201c, sag\u00f0i William Shaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00c9g sam\u00feykki \u00fea\u00f0”, sag\u00f0i George W. Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00c9g lagf\u00e6r\u00f0i \u00fatlimi Ramon Gallegos og breiddi vasakl\u00fat yfir andlit hans. \u00de\u00e1 sag\u00f0i William Shaw:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00deannig vil’ \u00e9g l\u00edta \u00fat eftir d\u00e1litla stund”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Og George W. Kent kva\u00f0st vilja hi\u00f0 sama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00dei\u00f0 skulu\u00f0 f\u00e1 \u00fea\u00f0, sem \u00fei\u00f0 vilji\u00f0”, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g. \u201eRau\u00f0u dj\u00f6flarnir geta be\u00f0i\u00f0 allt upp \u00ed viku. William Shaw og George W. Kent! Dragi\u00f0 upp byssur ykkar og krj\u00fapi\u00f0 \u00e1 kn\u00e9!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deeir ger\u00f0u \u00fea\u00f0 og \u00e9g st\u00f3\u00f0 fyrir framan \u00fe\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i William Shaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAlm\u00e1ttugur gu\u00f0, fa\u00f0ir vor\u201c, sag\u00f0i George W. Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFyrirgef oss vorar syndir\u201c, sag\u00f0i \u00e9g.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eFyrirgef oss vorar syndir\u201c, s\u00f6g\u00f0u \u00feeir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eTak vi\u00f0 s\u00e1lum vorum\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eTak vi\u00f0 s\u00e1lum vorum\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201eAmen\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eAmen\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00c9g lag\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 til vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0ina \u00e1 Ramon Gallegos og breiddi kl\u00fat yfir andlit \u00feeirra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    – – – <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deegar h\u00e9r var komi\u00f0 s\u00f6gu heyr\u00f0ist skyndilega \u00ferusk. Einn af f\u00e9l\u00f6gum okkar haf\u00f0i sprotti\u00f0 \u00e1 f\u00e6tur me\u00f0 byssuna \u00ed hendinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Og \u00fe\u00fa, \u00e6pti hann a\u00f0 \u00f3kunna manninum. \u2014 \u00de\u00fa voga\u00f0ir \u00fe\u00e9r a\u00f0 fl\u00fdja. \u00de\u00fa voga\u00f0ir \u00fe\u00e9r a\u00f0 lifa. \u00de\u00fa, raggeitin \u00fe\u00edn, \u00e9g skal sj\u00e1 til \u00feess a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00fa farir s\u00f6mu lei\u00f0 og vesalings f\u00e9lagar \u00fe\u00ednir \u2014 enda \u00fe\u00f3tt \u00e9g ver\u00f0i hengdur fyrir viki\u00f0!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Foringi okkar reis n\u00fa \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, \u00fereif \u00ed \u00f6xlina \u00e1 hinum \u00e6sta f\u00e9laga okkar, Sam Yountsey h\u00e9t hann, og skipa\u00f0i honum a\u00f0 sleppa byssunni. Vi\u00f0 h\u00f6f\u00f0um n\u00fa allir sta\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, allir nema \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0urinn, sem sat r\u00f3legur \u00e1 steininum s\u00ednum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00c9g v\u00e9k n\u00fa a\u00f0 foringja okkar og sag\u00f0i:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Herra, \u00feessi ma\u00f0ur er anna\u00f0 hvort ge\u00f0veikur, e\u00f0a \u00fe\u00e1 a\u00f0 hann er lygari. Og ef hann er lygari, \u00fe\u00e1 hefur Yountsey fullan r\u00e9tt til \u00feess a\u00f0 skj\u00f3ta hann. Ef hann hefur veri\u00f0 \u00ed h\u00f3pnum, sem hann hefur sagt okkur fr\u00e1, \u00fe\u00e1 hafa \u00feeir veri\u00f0 fimm. Og ef \u00feeir hafa veri\u00f0 fimm, \u00fe\u00e1 hefur hann aldrei nafngreint einn \u00feeirra, \u2014 tr\u00falega sj\u00e1lfan sig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Foringi okkar kinka\u00f0i kolli og var hugsi um stund. S\u00ed\u00f0an sag\u00f0i hann:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00dea\u00f0 rifjast n\u00fa upp fyrir m\u00e9r, a\u00f0 fyrir m\u00f6rgum \u00e1rum fundust fj\u00f6gur l\u00edk af hv\u00edtum m\u00f6nnum vi\u00f0 hellismunna skammt h\u00e9r fr\u00e1. \u00deeir voru illa \u00fatleiknir og au\u00f0s\u00e9\u00f0, a\u00f0 \u00feeim haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 mis\u00feyrmt. \u00deeir voru grafnir h\u00e9r. Vi\u00f0 getum s\u00e9\u00f0 lei\u00f0ina \u00feeirra \u00e1 morgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00d3kunni ma\u00f0urinn st\u00f3\u00f0 \u00e1 f\u00e6tur og st\u00f3\u00f0 hreyfingarlaus andartak \u00ed skini eldbjarmans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00deeir voru fj\u00f3rir, sag\u00f0i hann, \u2014 Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw, George W. Kent og Berry Davis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Eftir a\u00f0 hafa enn einu sinni tali\u00f0 upp n\u00f6fn hinna l\u00e1tnu, h\u00e6gt og me\u00f0 \u00feungum \u00e1herzlum, sneri hann s\u00e9r vi\u00f0 og hvarf \u00fat \u00ed myrkri\u00f0. Vi\u00f0 s\u00e1um hann aldrei meir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00c1 sama andartaki og \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0urinn hvarf kom s\u00e1 okkar f\u00e9laganna, sem haf\u00f0i sta\u00f0i\u00f0 v\u00f6r\u00f0 skammt fr\u00e1 og \u00feess vegna fari\u00f0 \u00e1 mis vi\u00f0 fr\u00e1s\u00f6gnina. Hann var mj\u00f6g \u00e6stur og h\u00e9lt \u00e1 byssu sirini \u00ed hendinni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Herra, sag\u00f0i hann. \u2014 S\u00ed\u00f0asta h\u00e1lft\u00edmann hef \u00e9g s\u00e9\u00f0 \u00ferj\u00e1 menn \u00fearna vi\u00f0 h\u00e6\u00f0ardragi\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann benti \u00ed s\u00f6mu \u00e1tt og \u00f3kunni ma\u00f0urinn haf\u00f0i fari\u00f0 \u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00c9g s\u00e1 \u00fe\u00e1 mj\u00f6g greinilega, h\u00e9lt hann \u00e1fram, \u2014 af \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 m\u00e1ninn var kominn upp. En \u00fear sem \u00feeir voru vopnlausir, \u00e1kva\u00f0 \u00e9g a\u00f0 a\u00f0hafast ekkert fyrr en \u00e9g s\u00e6i hva\u00f0 \u00feeir hyg\u00f0ust fyrir. \u00deeir hreyf\u00f0u sig ekki allan t\u00edmann, en samt hafa \u00feeir gert mig \u00f3styrkan og \u00e6stan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Far\u00f0u aftur \u00e1 \u00feinn sta\u00f0, sag\u00f0i foringinn. \u2014 Stattu v\u00f6r\u00f0, \u00feanga\u00f0 til \u00fe\u00fa ver\u00f0ur leystur af. \u00dei\u00f0 hinir skulu\u00f0 leggjast og reyna a\u00f0 sofna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    V\u00f6r\u00f0urinn f\u00f3r \u00e1 sinn sta\u00f0 og vi\u00f0 hinir f\u00f3rum a\u00f0 lagf\u00e6ra hv\u00edlur okkar. Yountsey kom til foringja okkar og sag\u00f0i:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Herra. Hva\u00f0a menn skyldu \u00feetta hafa veri\u00f0?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 Ramon Gallegos, William Shaw og George W. Kent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 En Berry Davis? Hvers vegna m\u00e1tti \u00e9g ekki skj\u00f3ta hann, fyrst hann voga\u00f0i s\u00e9r a\u00f0 lifa?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2014 \u00deess ger\u00f0ist ekki \u00fe\u00f6rf. Hann er eins dau\u00f0ur og nokkur ma\u00f0ur getur veri\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Ma\u00f0urinn og slangan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    (F\u00e1lkinn, 37. tbl. 34. \u00e1rg. (20. 9. 1961), bls. 10-11, 29). \u00de\u00fd\u00f0anda ekki geti\u00f0, en ritstj\u00f3ri og \u00e1byrg\u00f0arma\u00f0ur er Gylfi Gr\u00f6ndal.<\/em><\/p>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00dea\u00f0 er sanna\u00f0 me\u00f0 vitnisbur\u00f0i svo margra manna, a\u00f0 v\u00edsindin eru h\u00e6tt a\u00f0 m\u00e6la \u00fev\u00ed \u00ed m\u00f3t, a\u00f0 augu sl\u00f6ngunnar hafa sl\u00edkt a\u00f0dr\u00e1ttarafl, a\u00f0 hver sem m\u00e6tir \u00feeim me\u00f0 augnar\u00e1\u00f0i s\u00ednu, dregst gegnt vilja s\u00ednum a\u00f0 \u00f3argad\u00fdrinu og l\u00ed\u00f0ur vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 hryllilegar kvalir um lei\u00f0 og hann ver\u00f0ur sl\u00f6ngunni a\u00f0 br\u00e1\u00f0.\u201c <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Harker Brayton l\u00e1 endilangur \u00e1 legubekknum og las \u201eUndur v\u00edsindanna\u201c eftir Morrysters. Hann var \u00ed reykingaslopp, me\u00f0 innisk\u00f3 \u00e1 f\u00f3tum, og hann l\u00e9t fara vel um sig. Hann brosti l\u00edti\u00f0 eitt, \u00feegar hann las ofanskr\u00e1\u00f0a setningu. \u201e\u00dea\u00f0 undarlegasta,\u201c hugsa\u00f0i hann me\u00f0 s\u00e9r, \u201e\u00fea\u00f0 undarlegasta af \u00fev\u00ed \u00f6llu er a\u00f0 v\u00edsindamenn eins og Morrysters skyldu leggja tr\u00fana\u00f0 \u00e1 svona b\u00e1biljur, sem jafnvel \u00f3uppl\u00fdst f\u00f3lk v\u00edsar \u00e1 bug n\u00fa \u00e1 t\u00edmum.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann l\u00e9t hugann reika og star\u00f0i beint fram fyrir sig, en b\u00f3kin seig \u00ed hendi hans. Um lei\u00f0 og b\u00f3kin seig ni\u00f0ur fyrir sj\u00f3nl\u00ednu, kom hann auga \u00e1 eitthva\u00f0 \u00ed dimmu stofuhorninu. Hann var skyndilega hrifinn fr\u00e1 hugsunum s\u00ednum. Hann s\u00e1 \u00fearna tvo l\u00fdsandi depla \u00ed skugganum bak vi\u00f0 gaflinn \u00e1 legubekknum, og um \u00fea\u00f0 bil tveggja\u2014\u00feriggja sentimetra bil \u00e1 milli \u00feeirra. \u00dea\u00f0 gat veri\u00f0 lj\u00f3si\u00f0 fr\u00e1 gaslampanum fyrir ofan hann, sem endurspegla\u00f0ist \u00e1 tveimur naglahausum; hann gaf \u00fev\u00ed ekki meiri gaum, en h\u00e9lt \u00e1fram a\u00f0 lesa. Sk\u00f6mmu seinna var eitthva\u00f0, sem kom honum til a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta b\u00f3kina s\u00edga og g\u00e1 aftur a\u00f0 lj\u00f3sdeplunum. \u00deeir voru enn \u00e1 sama sta\u00f0. Lj\u00f3si\u00f0 virtist \u00fe\u00f3 sk\u00e6rara og bliki\u00f0 gr\u00e6nna en \u00e1\u00f0ur. Honum s\u00fdndist l\u00edka, a\u00f0 \u00feeir hef\u00f0u f\u00e6rzt a\u00f0eins n\u00e6r. Enn voru \u00feeir svo langt inn \u00ed skuggalegu horninu, a\u00f0 hann gat ekki \u00ed sj\u00f3nhendingu \u00e1tta\u00f0 sig \u00e1 hva\u00f0 \u00feetta var, og hann f\u00f3r aftur a\u00f0 lesa. Allt \u00ed einu kom hann a\u00f0 einhverju \u00ed b\u00f3kinni, sem laust harkalega ni\u00f0ur \u00ed huga hans. Hann kipptist vi\u00f0 og missti hana vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0ina \u00e1 legubekknum. Brayton reis upp vi\u00f0 dogg og star\u00f0i inn \u00ed skuggann, \u00fear sem lj\u00f3sdeplarnir bliku\u00f0u a\u00f0 honum fannst, enn sk\u00e6rar en \u00e1\u00f0ur. Athygli hans var n\u00fa vakin til fulls og augnar\u00e1\u00f0i\u00f0 forvitnislegt og rannsakandi. \u00de\u00e1 greindi hann st\u00f3ra sl\u00f6ngu, sem l\u00e1 og hringa\u00f0i sig saman vi\u00f0 f\u00f3tagaflinn, \u2014 lj\u00f3sdeplarnir voru augun \u00ed sl\u00f6ngunni! Flekk\u00f3tt h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 var teygt \u00fat fr\u00e1 innsta hringnum og hv\u00edldi \u00e1 \u00feeim yzta og sneri beint a\u00f0 honum. Brei\u00f0ur og lj\u00f3tur kjafturinn og hallandi enni\u00f0, l\u00e1gt eins og \u00e1 mannlegum heimskingja, s\u00fdndi greinilega hvert slangan horf\u00f0i. N\u00fa voru augun ekki bara l\u00fdsandi deplar; \u00feau st\u00f6r\u00f0u inn \u00ed augu hans sj\u00e1lfs, illileg og fl\u00e1r\u00e1\u00f0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    *<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Harker Brayton var 35 \u00e1ra piparsveinn, gr\u00faskari og \u00ed\u00fer\u00f3ttama\u00f0ur \u00ed bland en l\u00e9t hverjum degi n\u00e6gja s\u00edna \u00fej\u00e1ningu. Hann var vel efna\u00f0ur og heilsug\u00f3\u00f0ur. Hann var n\u00fdkominn aftur til San Francisko \u00far l\u00f6ngu fer\u00f0alagi um hitabeltisl\u00f6ndin. Hann var ma\u00f0ur me\u00f0 nokku\u00f0 \u00f3vanalegan smekk og l\u00f6ngun hans \u00ed \u00fe\u00e6gindi haf\u00f0i r\u00e9na\u00f0 t\u00f6luvert \u00fear sem hann haf\u00f0i jafnan geta\u00f0 veitt s\u00e9r hvers konar muna\u00f0, og \u00feegar h\u00f3gl\u00edfi\u00f0 \u00ed Castle Hotel var\u00f0 honum \u00f3fulln\u00e6gjandi t\u00f3k hann me\u00f0 \u00e1n\u00e6gju heimbo\u00f0i doktor Durings vinar s\u00edns, hins \u00feekkta v\u00edsindamanns. H\u00fas dr. Durings var st\u00f3rt og gamaldags, og \u00fea\u00f0 var \u00ed borgarhluta sem er ekki talinn \u201ef\u00ednn\u201c lengur. \u00dea\u00f0 var einhver vir\u00f0ulegur h\u00e6verskubl\u00e6r yfir \u00feessu h\u00fasi, \u00fea\u00f0 virtist b\u00faa yfir s\u00e9reinkennum, sem ver\u00f0a til \u00ed einangrun. Eitt \u00feeirra var \u201eflygillinn\u201c, en \u00ed \u00feeirri \u00e1lmu var b\u00e6\u00f0i ranns\u00f3knarstofa og safn. \u00dea\u00f0 var \u00fear sem doktorinn f\u00e9kk \u00fatr\u00e1s fyrir v\u00edsindalegar tilhneigingar s\u00ednar me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 rannsaka \u00fe\u00e6r d\u00fdrategundir, sem honum voru hugleiknastar \u2014 en me\u00f0al \u00feeirra voru kvikindi eins og sl\u00f6ngur og e\u00f0lur. Hann d\u00e1\u00f0ist a\u00f0 tilbrig\u00f0um n\u00e1tt\u00farunnar og kalla\u00f0i sj\u00e1lfan sig Zola n\u00e1tt\u00farufr\u00e6\u00f0innar. En kona hans og d\u00e6turnar, sem \u00e1ttu enga samlei\u00f0 me\u00f0 honum var\u00f0andi fr\u00f3\u00f0leiksf\u00fdsn hans um \u00feessa mi\u00f0urvelgefnu einstaklinga sk\u00f6punarverksins, fengu ekki a\u00f0 koma inn i \u201eflygilinn\u201c e\u00f0a skri\u00f0d\u00fdrasafni\u00f0 eins og hann kalla\u00f0i \u00fea\u00f0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deessi hluti h\u00fassins var mj\u00f6g einfaldur a\u00f0 fyrirkomulagi og h\u00e6f\u00f0i vel einf\u00f6ldum l\u00edfsvenjum \u00edb\u00faanna en margir \u00feeirra voru \u00feess h\u00e1ttar, a\u00f0 \u00feeim var af \u00f6ryggis\u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0um meina\u00f0 a\u00f0 nj\u00f3ta \u00feess frelsis, sem er forsenda \u00feess a\u00f0 l\u00edfs\u00fe\u00e6ginda ver\u00f0i noti\u00f0 til fulls. \u00deeir voru g\u00e6ddir \u00feeim eiginleika a\u00f0 vera lifandi, og hann var erfi\u00f0ur vi\u00f0fangs. En \u00feeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u, hver i sinni \u00edb\u00fa\u00f0, eins miki\u00f0 frelsi og h\u00e6gt var a\u00f0 veita \u00feeim me\u00f0 tilliti til a\u00f0 koma \u00ed veg fyrir a\u00f0 \u00feeir \u00e6tu hver a\u00f0ra. Og eftir \u00fev\u00ed sem Brayton haf\u00f0i heyrt, kom \u00fea\u00f0 \u00f3sjaldan fyrir a\u00f0 sumir \u00feeirra fyndust \u00e1 \u00fdmsum st\u00f6\u00f0um \u00fear sem \u00feeim hef\u00f0i \u00e1tt a\u00f0 veitast erfitt a\u00f0 gefa sk\u00fdringu \u00e1 n\u00e6rveru sinni. En \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir skri\u00f0d\u00fdrasafni\u00f0 og fr\u00e1hrindandi \u00edb\u00faa \u00feess, sem Brayton hugsa\u00f0i \u00ed rauninni aldrei um, \u00fe\u00e1 kunni hann pr\u00fd\u00f0ilega vi\u00f0 sig hj\u00e1 doktor During. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Burts\u00e9\u00f0 fr\u00e1 \u00f3\u00fe\u00e6gindunum af \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a svona hverft vi\u00f0 og skyndilegum vi\u00f0bj\u00f3\u00f0shryllingi, var Brayton ekkert s\u00e9rstaklega uppv\u00e6gur. Fyrst datt honum \u00ed hug a\u00f0 hringja \u00e1 \u00fej\u00f3ninn en h\u00e6tti vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 \u00fe\u00f3tt bj\u00f6llustrengurinn v\u00e6ri alveg vi\u00f0 h\u00f6ndina. Honum fannst a\u00f0 s\u00fa hreyfing mundi gera sig \u00f3ttasleginn, en \u00fea\u00f0 var hann ekki \u00ed rauninni. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deetta var sl\u00f6ngutegund, sem Brayton \u00feekkti ekki. Hann gat bara gizka\u00f0 \u00e1 lengdina, og honum s\u00fdndist h\u00fan \u00e1l\u00edka gild og ne\u00f0ri handleggurinn \u00e1 honum sj\u00e1lfum. Hvernig h\u00e6tta stafa\u00f0i af henni, ef h\u00fan var h\u00e6ttuleg? Var h\u00fan eitru\u00f0? Var \u00feetta kyrkislanga? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H\u00fan var a\u00f0 minnsta kosti andstyggileg \u00fe\u00f3 h\u00fan v\u00e6ri ekki h\u00e6ttuleg. Jafnvel hin villimannlega ge\u00f0jan n\u00fat\u00edmans, sem fyllir veggina m\u00e1lverkum og g\u00f3lfi\u00f0 h\u00fasg\u00f6gnum og h\u00fasg\u00f6gnin postul\u00ednisd\u00f3ti, hefur ekki b\u00fai\u00f0 neinn sta\u00f0 fyrir svona fulltr\u00faa \u00far dj\u00fapum frumsk\u00f3ganna. Og auk \u00feess \u2014 a\u00f0 hugsa s\u00e9r! \u2014 andardr\u00e1ttur hennar blanda\u00f0ist einmitt \u00fev\u00ed lofti, sem hann var nau\u00f0beyg\u00f0ur til a\u00f0 anda a\u00f0 s\u00e9r. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    * <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Brayton reis upp og bj\u00f3st til \u00fatg\u00f6ngu, varlega og helzt \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 trufla sl\u00f6nguna. Hann vissi a\u00f0 hann gat gengi\u00f0 aftur \u00e1 bak \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 eiga neitt \u00e1 h\u00e6ttu. Hann gat \u00ferifi\u00f0 til s\u00edn eitthva\u00f0 af \u00feessum austurlenzku vopnum, sem h\u00e9ngu \u00e1 veggjunum ef \u00f3freskjan skyldi koma \u00e1 eftir honum.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann lyfti h\u00e6gra f\u00e6ti til a\u00f0 f\u00e6ra hann aftur. Hann studdi h\u00e6gri hendinni \u00e1 st\u00f3l og h\u00e9lt f\u00e6tinum uppi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eVitleysa,\u201c sag\u00f0i hann upph\u00e1tt. \u201e\u00c9g er a\u00f0 minnsta kosti ekki svo huglaus a\u00f0 \u00e9g \u00feori ekki a\u00f0 s\u00fdna a\u00f0 \u00e9g er hr\u00e6ddur.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann lyfti f\u00e6tinum h\u00e6rra og steig honum harkalega ni\u00f0ur \u2014 \u00feumlungi framar en hinum! Hann skildi ekki hvernig \u00feetta gat \u00e1tt s\u00e9r sta\u00f0. Hann ger\u00f0i a\u00f0ra tilraun me\u00f0 vinstri f\u00e6ti en \u00e1rangurinn var s\u00e1 sami, hann kom ni\u00f0ur framanvi\u00f0 h\u00e6gri f\u00f3t. Tak handarinnar var\u00f0 \u00e6 krampakenndara um st\u00f3lbaki\u00f0, handleggurinn var alveg beinn, teyg\u00f0ur aftur fyrir bak. Hann var s\u00fdnilega hr\u00e6ddur um a\u00f0 missa taki\u00f0 \u00e1 st\u00f3lnum. H\u00f6fu\u00f0 sl\u00f6ngunnar sneri alltaf a\u00f0 honum. H\u00fan hreyf\u00f0i sig ekki en \u00fea\u00f0 var eins og rafgneistar streymdu af augum hennar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann var \u00f6skugr\u00e1r \u00ed framan. Hann st\u00e9 enn eitt skref \u00e1fram og enn\u00fe\u00e1 eitt; hann reyndi a\u00f0 draga st\u00f3linn me\u00f0 s\u00e9r en hann f\u00e9ll me\u00f0 h\u00e1va\u00f0a \u00e1 g\u00f3lfi\u00f0, \u00feegar taki\u00f0 losna\u00f0i. Ma\u00f0urinn stundi, slangan hreyf\u00f0i sig ekki, gaf ekkert hlj\u00f3\u00f0 fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r, en augun voru eins og tv\u00e6r brennandi s\u00f3lir. \u00de\u00e6r virtust senda fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r marglita v\u00edkkandi hringi, \u00feeir virtust koma n\u00e6r og n\u00e6r andliti hans og me\u00f0vitundin var \u00e1 hra\u00f0ri fer\u00f0 burt. Hann heyr\u00f0i einstrengingslegan trumbusl\u00e1tt blanda\u00f0an fjarl\u00e6gri t\u00f3nlist, sem var n\u00e6stum \u00f3skiljanlega f\u00f6gur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H\u00e6gt, n\u00e6stum \u00f3greinanlega, breyttist t\u00f3nlistin \u00ed dv\u00ednandi stormhlj\u00f3\u00f0. Hann s\u00e1 fyrir framan sig landslag glita\u00f0 s\u00f3lgeislum. Yfir \u00fea\u00f0 reis himinh\u00e1r regnbogi, sem afmarka\u00f0i hundru\u00f0 borga og mi\u00f0ja vegu fr\u00e1 honum a\u00f0 \u00feessari s\u00fdn var risast\u00f3r slanga me\u00f0 k\u00f3r\u00f3nu \u00e1 h\u00f6f\u00f0i. Slangan lyfti h\u00f6f\u00f0inu og leit \u00e1 hann augum m\u00f3\u00f0ur hans, sem var d\u00e1in. Allt \u00ed einu virtist landslagi\u00f0 sv\u00edfa upp eins og leiktjald og s\u00fdnin hvarf. Eitthva\u00f0 lamdist harkalega framan \u00ed hann og \u00ed brj\u00f3sti\u00f0. Hann haf\u00f0i skolli\u00f0 framyfir sig \u00e1 g\u00f3lfi\u00f0; bl\u00f3\u00f0i\u00f0 rann \u00far brotnu nefi hans og sprungnum v\u00f6rum. Um stund l\u00e1 hann grafkyrr me\u00f0 loku\u00f0 augu. Andliti\u00f0 hv\u00edldi \u00e1 g\u00f3lfinu. Svo vakna\u00f0i me\u00f0vitund hans, og hann vissi a\u00f0 d\u00e1lei\u00f0slan haf\u00f0i rofna\u00f0, \u00feegar hann leit undan vi\u00f0 falli\u00f0. Hann vissi l\u00edka a\u00f0 hann mundi komast \u00fat \u00far herberginu me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 for\u00f0ast a\u00f0 l\u00edta \u00e1 sl\u00f6nguna. En tilhugsunin um sl\u00f6nguna, sem var bara \u00ed tuttugu sent\u00edmetra fjarl\u00e6g\u00f0 fr\u00e1 h\u00f6f\u00f0inu \u00e1 honum, au\u00f0vita\u00f0 s\u00e1 hann hana ekki, en kannski var h\u00fan einmitt n\u00fa a\u00f0 kasta s\u00e9r yfir hann \u2014 nei, \u00fea\u00f0 var allt of vi\u00f0urstyggilegt. Hann lyfti h\u00f6f\u00f0inu og leit aftur \u00e1 sl\u00f6nguna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    H\u00fan haf\u00f0i ekki hreyft sig. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Svo ger\u00f0ist \u00feetta: Ma\u00f0urinn, sem l\u00e1 \u00e1 g\u00f3lfinu \u00ed t\u00e6plega metra fjarl\u00e6g\u00f0 fr\u00e1 \u00f3vini s\u00ednum, reis upp \u00e1 olnbogana, lyfti h\u00f6f\u00f0inu og teyg\u00f0i fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r f\u00e6turna. Andlit hans var n\u00e1hv\u00edtt undir bl\u00f3\u00f0blettunum, augun galopin. Hann var fro\u00f0ugur um munninn. Allur l\u00edkaminn skalf af hr\u00e6ringum, sem fl\u00e6ddu \u00ed gegnum hann fr\u00e1 hvirfli til ilja og hann byrja\u00f0i a\u00f0 hlykkjast til eins og slanga. Hann skaut s\u00e9r fram og dr\u00f3 f\u00e6turna og f\u00e6r\u00f0ist n\u00e6r sl\u00f6ngunni vi\u00f0 hverja hreyfingu. Hann h\u00e9lt h\u00f6ndunum fyrir s\u00e9r eins og til varnar og dr\u00f3st \u00fe\u00f3 s\u00edfellt lengra fram \u00e1 olnbogunum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    * <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Dr. During og kona hans s\u00e1tu \u00ed b\u00f3kasafninu. V\u00edsindama\u00f0urinn var \u00ed \u00f3venju g\u00f3\u00f0u skapi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00c9g er alveg n\u00fdb\u00fainn a\u00f0 f\u00e1 s\u00e9rstaklega g\u00f3\u00f0an Ophiophagus \u00ed skiptum vi\u00f0 annan safnara,\u201c sag\u00f0i hann. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eOg hva\u00f0 er n\u00fa \u00fea\u00f0?\u201c spur\u00f0i konan og virtist ekki tiltakanlega forvitin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eNei, hverslags f\u00e1vizka er \u00feetta, g\u00f3\u00f0a m\u00edn. M\u00e9r finnst n\u00fa a\u00f0 s\u00e1, sem uppg\u00f6tvar a\u00f0 konan hans kann ekki gr\u00edsku, eigi r\u00e9tt \u00e1 skilna\u00f0i. Ophiophagus er slanga, sem \u00e9tur a\u00f0rar sl\u00f6ngur.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00c9g vona a\u00f0 h\u00fan \u00e9ti allar \u00fe\u00ednar sl\u00f6ngur,\u201c sag\u00f0i fr\u00fain annars hugar. \u201eEn hvernig n\u00e6r h\u00fan \u00ed hinar sl\u00f6ngurnar? D\u00e1lei\u00f0ir \u00fe\u00e6r, geri \u00e9g r\u00e1\u00f0 fyrir?\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00deetta er alveg eftir \u00fe\u00e9r,\u201c sag\u00f0i doktorinn. \u201e\u00de\u00fa veizt, a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 er ekkert sem fer eins \u00ed taugarnar \u00e1 m\u00e9r og \u00feessi heimskulega tr\u00fa, a\u00f0 sl\u00f6ngur geti d\u00e1leitt.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    * <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Samtali\u00f0 rofna\u00f0i vi\u00f0 skelfingar\u00f3p, sem bergm\u00e1la\u00f0i \u00ed hlj\u00f3\u00f0u h\u00fasinu. Anna\u00f0 \u00f3p heyr\u00f0ist og enn\u00fe\u00e1 eitt, \u00feau voru \u00f3hugnanlega sk\u00fdr. \u00deau risu \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, ma\u00f0urinn undrandi og konan f\u00f6l og hr\u00e6dd. Doktorinn var kominn \u00fat \u00far herberginu \u00e1\u00f0ur en bergm\u00e1li\u00f0 af s\u00ed\u00f0asta \u00f3pinu d\u00f3 \u00fat. Hann hentist upp stigann og t\u00f3k tv\u00e6r tr\u00f6ppur \u00ed hverju st\u00f6kki. \u00c1 ganginum utan vi\u00f0 herbergi Braytons m\u00e6tti hann \u00fej\u00f3nustuf\u00f3lkinu, sem haf\u00f0i komi\u00f0 ni\u00f0ur af loftinu. \u00deeir k\u00f6stu\u00f0u s\u00e9r \u00e1 hur\u00f0ina \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 berja. H\u00fan var ekki l\u00e6st og opna\u00f0ist \u00feegar. Brayton l\u00e1 \u00e1 maganum \u00e1 g\u00f3lfinu og var dau\u00f0ur. Handleggina haf\u00f0i hann teygt undir f\u00f3tagaflinn \u00e1 legubekknum. \u00deeir dr\u00f3gu hann fram og l\u00f6g\u00f0u hann \u00e1 baki\u00f0. Andliti\u00f0 var ata\u00f0 bl\u00f3\u00f0i og fro\u00f0u og augun st\u00f6r\u00f0u galopin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eHann hefur fengi\u00f0 slag,\u201c sag\u00f0i v\u00edsindama\u00f0urinn og lag\u00f0ist \u00e1 hn\u00e9\u00f0 og setti hendina \u00e1 hjartasta\u00f0 Braytons. Me\u00f0an hann kraup svona var\u00f0 honum liti\u00f0 undir legubekkinn. \u201eHva\u00f0 er \u00feetta!\u201c hr\u00f3pa\u00f0i hann. \u201eHvernig hefur \u00feessi komizt hinga\u00f0?\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann teyg\u00f0i sig innundir legubekkinn, dr\u00f3 sl\u00f6nguna fram og kasta\u00f0i henni \u00fat \u00e1 g\u00f3lf, og svo r\u00falla\u00f0i h\u00fan me\u00f0 hv\u00f6ssu skrj\u00e1fandi hlj\u00f3\u00f0i yfir glj\u00e1b\u00f3na\u00f0 g\u00f3lfi\u00f0 og stanza\u00f0i vi\u00f0 vegginn og l\u00e1 \u00fear grafkyrr. \u00deetta var uppstoppu\u00f0 slanga; augun voru \u00fatb\u00fain me\u00f0 tveim sk\u00f3t\u00f6lum \u00far gleri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Atbur\u00f0ur \u00e1 Uglul\u00e6kjarbr\u00fa <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    (Morgunbla\u00f0i\u00f0 6. jan\u00faar 2001, Menningarbla\u00f0\/Lesb\u00f3k. \u00de\u00fd\u00f0andi: Hallberg Hallmundsson) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Ma\u00f0ur st\u00f3\u00f0 \u00e1 j\u00e1rnbrautarbr\u00fa \u00ed nor\u00f0anver\u00f0u Alabamar\u00edki og leit ni\u00f0ur \u00ed straumhart vatni\u00f0 sex metrum ne\u00f0ar. Hendurnar \u00e1 honum voru fyrir aftan bak, bundnar saman \u00e1 \u00falnli\u00f0unum me\u00f0 sn\u00e6ri. Reiptaug var \u00fe\u00e9tt undin um h\u00e1lsinn \u00e1 honum. H\u00fan var \u00e1f\u00f6st traustum bita uppi yfir h\u00f6f\u00f0inu \u00e1 honum og slakinn n\u00e1\u00f0i honum ni\u00f0ur a\u00f0 hnj\u00e1m. Nokkur laus bor\u00f0, l\u00f6g\u00f0 yfir \u00fevertr\u00e9n sem h\u00e9ldu uppi j\u00e1rnbrautarteinunum, myndu\u00f0u pall fyrir hann og b\u00f6\u00f0la hans \u2014 tvo \u00f3breytta hermenn \u00far Sambandshernum undir stj\u00f3rn li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfa, sem \u00ed borgaralegu samf\u00e9lagi kann a\u00f0 hafa veri\u00f0 a\u00f0sto\u00f0arl\u00f6greglustj\u00f3ri. Skammt fr\u00e1 \u00e1 sama br\u00e1\u00f0abirg\u00f0apallinum var vopna\u00f0ur li\u00f0sforingi \u00ed einkennisb\u00faningi sem gaf tign hans til kynna: Hann var h\u00f6fu\u00f0sma\u00f0ur. Var\u00f0menn st\u00f3\u00f0u vi\u00f0 sinn hvorn enda br\u00faarinnar me\u00f0 riffla \u00ed svokalla\u00f0ri stu\u00f0ningsst\u00f6\u00f0u, \u00fea\u00f0 er a\u00f0 segja, uppr\u00e9tta framan vi\u00f0 vinstri \u00f6xlina og hamarinn hv\u00edlandi \u00e1 framhandlegg l\u00f6g\u00f0um \u00fevert yfir bringuna \u2014 formleg og \u00f3e\u00f0lileg stelling sem \u00fevingar fram \u00fer\u00e1\u00f0beina l\u00edkamsst\u00f6\u00f0u. \u00dea\u00f0 virtist ekki vera \u00ed verkahring \u00feessara tveggja manna a\u00f0 vita hva\u00f0 \u00e1 sey\u00f0i var \u00e1 br\u00fanni mi\u00f0ri; \u00feeir bara t\u00e1lmu\u00f0u umfer\u00f0, hvor vi\u00f0 sinn enda, um g\u00f6nguplankana sem l\u00e1gu yfir hana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Handan vi\u00f0 annan var\u00f0manninn var engan a\u00f0 sj\u00e1; j\u00e1rnbrautin l\u00e1 beint inn \u00ed sk\u00f3g um \u00fea\u00f0 bil hundra\u00f0 metra, sveig\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 og var \u00far augs\u00fdn. Vafalaust var \u00fatvar\u00f0arst\u00f6\u00f0 eitthva\u00f0 lengra burtu. Hinn bakki \u00e1rinnar var opi\u00f0 sv\u00e6\u00f0i \u2014 afl\u00ed\u00f0andi brekka og vi\u00f0 br\u00fan hennar v\u00edggir\u00f0ing \u00far l\u00f3\u00f0r\u00e9ttum trj\u00e1bolum me\u00f0 raufum fyrir riffla og einu skar\u00f0i; gegnum \u00fea\u00f0 st\u00f3\u00f0 kjaftur fallbyssu \u00far l\u00e1t\u00fani, sem beint var a\u00f0 br\u00fanni. \u00cd mi\u00f0ri brekkunni milli br\u00faarinnar og virkisins voru \u00e1horfendurnir \u2014 eitt undirfylki f\u00f3tg\u00f6nguli\u00f0a \u00ed \u201efylkingarst\u00f6\u00f0u\u201c, me\u00f0 skeftisenda rifflanna \u00e1 j\u00f6r\u00f0inni, hlaupin hallandi l\u00edtillega aftur a\u00f0 h\u00e6gri \u00f6xl, og hendur krosslag\u00f0ar um skefti\u00f0. Einn lautinant st\u00f3\u00f0 h\u00e6gra megin vi\u00f0 fylkinguna; sver\u00f0soddur hans nam vi\u00f0 j\u00f6r\u00f0, og hann hv\u00edldi vinstri h\u00f6ndina \u00e1 hinni h\u00e6gri. A\u00f0 undanskildum m\u00f6nnunum fj\u00f3rum \u00e1 mi\u00f0ri br\u00fanni hreyf\u00f0i sig enginn. Undirfylki\u00f0 sneri a\u00f0 br\u00fanni og star\u00f0i sem steinrunni\u00f0, grafkyrrt. Var\u00f0mennirnir sem g\u00e6ttu \u00e1rbakkanna hef\u00f0u eins vel geta\u00f0 veri\u00f0 styttur sem pr\u00fdddu br\u00fana. H\u00f6fu\u00f0sma\u00f0urinn st\u00f3\u00f0 me\u00f0 krosslag\u00f0a arma og fylgdist \u00fe\u00f6gull me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed sem undirmenn hans a\u00f0h\u00f6f\u00f0ust en gaf \u00feeim engin merki. Dau\u00f0inn er h\u00f6f\u00f0ingi sem jafnvel \u00feeim sem \u00feekkja hann best ber a\u00f0 taka \u00e1 m\u00f3ti me\u00f0 formlegri tj\u00e1ningu vir\u00f0ingar \u00feegar hann tilkynnir komu s\u00edna fyrirfram. Samkv\u00e6mt hir\u00f0si\u00f0um hersins eru \u00fe\u00f6gn og festa merki lotningar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ma\u00f0urinn sem \u00fearna skyldi hengja var um \u00fea\u00f0 bil h\u00e1lffertugur a\u00f0 sj\u00e1. Hann var \u00f3breyttur borgari, ef d\u00e6ma m\u00e1tti af kl\u00e6\u00f0na\u00f0i hans, sem var eins og gerist me\u00f0al plantekrueigenda. Andlitsdr\u00e6ttirnir voru vi\u00f0kunnanlegir \u2014 beint nef, sta\u00f0festulegur munnsvipur, breitt enni, og fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed var s\u00edtt, d\u00f6kkt h\u00e1ri\u00f0 greitt beint aftur bak vi\u00f0 eyrun allt ni\u00f0ur a\u00f0 kraganum \u00e1 vel sni\u00f0num s\u00ed\u00f0jakka. Hann var me\u00f0 yfirskegg og oddmj\u00f3tt h\u00f6kuskegg en skegglaus \u00ed v\u00f6ngum; augun voru st\u00f3r og d\u00f6kkgr\u00e1 og st\u00f6fu\u00f0u g\u00f3\u00f0mennsku sem vart hef\u00f0i m\u00e1tt b\u00faast vi\u00f0 af manni sem var me\u00f0 h\u00e1lsinn \u00ed sn\u00f6runni. \u00deetta var augs\u00fdnilega enginn \u00f3hefla\u00f0ur launmor\u00f0ingi. Frj\u00e1lsleg herl\u00f6gin innihalda \u00e1kv\u00e6\u00f0i um hengingu margs konar pers\u00f3na, og herramenn eru \u00fear ekki undanskildir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Undirb\u00faningnum var loki\u00f0, og \u00f3breyttu hermennirnir tveir stigu til hli\u00f0ar og dr\u00f3gu burt bor\u00f0in sem \u00feeir h\u00f6f\u00f0u sta\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00e1. Li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfinn sneri s\u00e9r a\u00f0 h\u00f6fu\u00f0smanninum, heilsa\u00f0i honum \u00e1 hermannav\u00edsu og t\u00f3k s\u00e9r st\u00f6\u00f0u beint fyrir aftan hann, en s\u00e1 steig fr\u00e1 eitt skref. Eftir \u00feessar st\u00f6\u00f0ubreytingar st\u00f3\u00f0u hinn d\u00e6mdi og li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfinn sinn \u00e1 hvorum enda sama bor\u00f0sins, sem l\u00e1 yfir \u00ferj\u00fa \u00fevertrj\u00e1nna \u00e1 br\u00fanni. S\u00e1 endi sem \u00f3breytti borgarinn st\u00f3\u00f0 \u00e1 n\u00e1\u00f0i h\u00e9r um bil, en ekki alveg, a\u00f0 fj\u00f3r\u00f0a \u00fevertr\u00e9nu. \u00deessu bor\u00f0i haf\u00f0i \u00feungi h\u00f6fu\u00f0smannsins haldi\u00f0 fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 spor\u00f0reisast; n\u00fa h\u00e9lt \u00feungi li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfans \u00fev\u00ed \u00e1 sama h\u00e1tt. \u00deegar hinn fyrrnefndi g\u00e6fi merki mundi hinn s\u00ed\u00f0arnefndi st\u00edga til hli\u00f0ar, bor\u00f0i\u00f0 mundi spor\u00f0reisast, og hinn d\u00e6mdi falla ni\u00f0ur \u00e1 milli \u00fevertrj\u00e1nna. Tilh\u00f6gunin var a\u00f0 hans \u00e1liti einf\u00f6ld og hagleg. Andliti\u00f0 \u00e1 honum haf\u00f0i ekki veri\u00f0 huli\u00f0, n\u00e9 heldur var bundi\u00f0 fyrir augun \u00e1 honum. Hann leit andartak \u00e1 \u00f3st\u00f6\u00f0uga f\u00f3tfestu s\u00edna, en l\u00e9t svo augun reika a\u00f0 i\u00f0andi vatni \u00e1rinnar, sem streymdi fram fyrir ne\u00f0an f\u00e6turna \u00e1 honum. Dansandi drumbur rekatr\u00e9s dr\u00f3 a\u00f0 s\u00e9r athygli hans og hann fylgdist me\u00f0 honum ni\u00f0ur strenginn. En hva\u00f0 hann virtist seinn \u00ed fer\u00f0um! \u00deetta var silaleg \u00e1! Hann loka\u00f0i augunum til \u00feess a\u00f0 beina s\u00ed\u00f0ustu hugsunum s\u00ednum a\u00f0 konu sinni og b\u00f6rnum. Vatni\u00f0, gyllt \u00e1rs\u00f3linni, dalal\u00e6\u00f0an undir b\u00f6kkunum nokkru ne\u00f0ar vi\u00f0 \u00e1na, v\u00edgi\u00f0, hermennirnir, rekadrumburinn \u2014 allt \u00feetta haf\u00f0i raska\u00f0 einbeitingu hans, og n\u00fa var\u00f0 hann s\u00e9r me\u00f0vitandi um n\u00fdja truflun. Gegnum hugsunina um \u00e1stvini hans sl\u00f3 hlj\u00f3\u00f0i sem hann gat hvorki hunsa\u00f0 n\u00e9 skili\u00f0: hvellt, greinilegt m\u00e1lmsl\u00e1ttarhlj\u00f3\u00f0 eins og hamarsh\u00f6gg j\u00e1rnsmi\u00f0s \u00e1 ste\u00f0ja; \u00fea\u00f0 var sami gjallandinn. Hann velti \u00fev\u00ed fyrir s\u00e9r hva\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 g\u00e6ti veri\u00f0 og hvort \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri \u00f3m\u00e6lanlega fjarl\u00e6gt e\u00f0a \u00e1 n\u00e6stu gr\u00f6sum \u2014 \u00fea\u00f0 var eins og \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri hvort tveggja \u00ed senn. Endurtekning \u00feess var regluleg en jafnh\u00e6g og l\u00edkhringing. Hann bei\u00f0 hvers slags af \u00f3\u00fereyju og \u2014 \u00e1n \u00feess hann vissi hvers vegna \u2014 kv\u00ed\u00f0a. \u00deagnarbilin ur\u00f0u \u00e6 lengri, tafirnar \u00f3\u00feolandi. Eftir \u00fev\u00ed sem \u00feau heyr\u00f0ust sjaldnar ur\u00f0u hlj\u00f3\u00f0in h\u00e6rri og hvellari. \u00deau s\u00e6r\u00f0u hann \u00ed eyrum eins og hn\u00edfsstungur; hann \u00f3tta\u00f0ist a\u00f0 hann mundi \u00e6pa. \u00dea\u00f0 sem hann heyr\u00f0i var tifi\u00f0 \u00ed \u00farinu hans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann lauk upp augunum og s\u00e1 aftur vatni\u00f0 fyrir ne\u00f0an. \u201eEf \u00e9g bara g\u00e6ti losa\u00f0 \u00e1 m\u00e9r hendurnar,\u201c hugsa\u00f0i hann, \u201eg\u00e6ti \u00e9g smeygt af m\u00e9r sn\u00f6runni og stokki\u00f0 \u00ed \u00e1na. Ef \u00e9g kafa\u00f0i g\u00e6ti \u00e9g for\u00f0ast byssuk\u00falurnar, og me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 synda af \u00fer\u00f3tti n\u00e1\u00f0 bakkanum, stokki\u00f0 inn \u00ed sk\u00f3ginn, og fl\u00fai\u00f0 heim. Heimili mitt, gu\u00f0i s\u00e9 lof, er enn\u00fe\u00e1 ekki \u00e1 \u00feeirra yfirr\u00e1\u00f0asv\u00e6\u00f0i; konan m\u00edn og b\u00f6rnin eru enn langt fr\u00e1 fremstu v\u00edgl\u00ednu \u00feeirra.\u201c Og sem \u00feessar hugsanir, sem h\u00e9r ver\u00f0ur a\u00f0 kl\u00e6\u00f0a or\u00f0um, leiftru\u00f0u inn \u00ed heila hins d\u00e6mda fremur en ur\u00f0u \u00fear til kinka\u00f0i h\u00f6fu\u00f0sma\u00f0urinn til li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfans. Li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfinn steig til hli\u00f0ar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    II<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Peyton Farquhar var efna\u00f0ur plantekrueigandi af gamalli og mikilsmetinni Alabama\u00e6tt. \u00dear sem hann var \u00fer\u00e6laeigandi, og eins og a\u00f0rir \u00fer\u00e6laeigendur stj\u00f3rnm\u00e1lama\u00f0ur, var hann au\u00f0vita\u00f0 skilna\u00f0arsinni \u00ed \u00f6ndver\u00f0u og heitur stu\u00f0ningsma\u00f0ur Su\u00f0urr\u00edkjanna. Drambsemis\u00e1st\u00e6\u00f0ur, sem ekki er nau\u00f0synlegt a\u00f0 t\u00edunda h\u00e9r, h\u00f6f\u00f0u varna\u00f0 honum \u00fej\u00f3nustu \u00ed \u00feeim gl\u00e6silega her sem lagt haf\u00f0i \u00ed h\u00f6rmulega herf\u00f6r og enda\u00f0 me\u00f0 falli Corinthu. Honum h\u00f6f\u00f0u gramist \u00fe\u00e6r vans\u00e6mandi h\u00f6mlur sem lag\u00f0ar voru \u00e1 hann og hann langa\u00f0i a\u00f0 f\u00e1 \u00fatr\u00e1s fyrir \u00fer\u00f3tt sinn, lifa \u00e6vint\u00fdralegu l\u00edfi hermannsins og f\u00e1 t\u00e6kif\u00e6ri til a\u00f0 vinna s\u00e9r hei\u00f0ur. \u00dea\u00f0 t\u00e6kif\u00e6ri, fannst honum, mundi bj\u00f3\u00f0ast s\u00e9r eins og \u00fea\u00f0 b\u00fd\u00f0st \u00f6llum \u00e1 str\u00ed\u00f0st\u00edmum. \u00c1 me\u00f0an ger\u00f0i hann \u00fea\u00f0 sem hann gat. Engin \u00fej\u00f3nusta var of l\u00edtilfj\u00f6rleg fyrir hann a\u00f0 inna af hendi til a\u00f0sto\u00f0ar Su\u00f0urr\u00edkjunum, engin gl\u00e6fraf\u00f6r of h\u00e6ttuleg fyrir hann a\u00f0 takast \u00e1 hendur ef h\u00fan var \u00ed samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 skapger\u00f0 \u00f3breytts borgara sem \u00ed hjarta s\u00ednu var herma\u00f0ur og \u00ed g\u00f3\u00f0ri tr\u00fa, \u00e1n allt of margra skilyr\u00f0a, j\u00e1ta\u00f0ist a\u00f0 minnsta kosti a\u00f0 nokkru leyti undir \u00fea\u00f0 bl\u00e1tt \u00e1fram \u00feorparalega d\u00f3msor\u00f0 a\u00f0 engar reglur gildi \u00ed \u00e1stum og str\u00ed\u00f0i.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    Kv\u00f6ld eitt \u00feegar Farquhar og kona hans s\u00e1tu \u00e1 gr\u00f3fum bekk n\u00e1l\u00e6gt heimrei\u00f0inni \u00e1 eignarj\u00f6r\u00f0 hans rei\u00f0 gr\u00e1kl\u00e6ddur herma\u00f0ur upp a\u00f0 hli\u00f0inu og ba\u00f0 um vatn a\u00f0 drekka. Fr\u00fa Farquhar fannst s\u00e9r hei\u00f0ur ger a\u00f0 f\u00e1 a\u00f0 \u00fej\u00f3na honum me\u00f0 s\u00ednum eigin hv\u00edtu h\u00f6ndum. Me\u00f0an h\u00fan var a\u00f0 s\u00e6kja vatni\u00f0 tala\u00f0i ma\u00f0ur hennar vi\u00f0 rykstokkinn rei\u00f0manninn og innti t\u00ed\u00f0inda fr\u00e1 v\u00edgst\u00f6\u00f0vunum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eNor\u00f0anmennirnir eru a\u00f0 gera vi\u00f0 j\u00e1rnbrautina,\u201c sag\u00f0i ma\u00f0urinn, \u201eog eru a\u00f0 b\u00faa sig undir a\u00f0ra s\u00f3kn. \u00deeir eru komnir a\u00f0 Uglul\u00e6kjarbr\u00fanni og eru b\u00fanir a\u00f0 laga hana og hafa gert s\u00e9r virki \u00e1 nor\u00f0urbakkanum. Yfirma\u00f0ur \u00feess hefur gefi\u00f0 \u00fat tilskipun, sem hangir uppi alls sta\u00f0ar, \u00feess efnis a\u00f0 hver s\u00e1 \u00f3breyttur borgari sem sta\u00f0inn er a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 skipta s\u00e9r af j\u00e1rnbrautinni e\u00f0a br\u00fam, jar\u00f0g\u00f6ngum og lestum henni vi\u00f0komandi ver\u00f0i tafarlaust hengdur. \u00c9g s\u00e1 tilskipunina.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eHva\u00f0 er langt a\u00f0 Uglul\u00e6kjarbr\u00fanni?\u201c spur\u00f0i Farquhar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eSvona um 50 k\u00edl\u00f3metrar.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eEr engin hereining h\u00e9rna megin vi\u00f0 \u00e1na?\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eEkki nema ein var\u00f0st\u00f6\u00f0 innan vi\u00f0 k\u00edl\u00f3metra fr\u00e1 bakkanum og stakur var\u00f0ma\u00f0ur vi\u00f0 \u00feennan enda br\u00faarinnar.\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eGerum r\u00e1\u00f0 fyrir a\u00f0 einhver \u2014 segjum \u00f3breyttur borgari, sem \u00feekkir til henginga \u2014 k\u00e6mist \u00f3s\u00e9\u00f0ur fram hj\u00e1 var\u00f0st\u00f6\u00f0inni og g\u00e6ti kannski yfirbuga\u00f0 var\u00f0manninn,\u201c sag\u00f0i Farquhar brosandi, \u201ehverju g\u00e6ti hann \u00e1orka\u00f0?\u201c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Herma\u00f0urinn hugsa\u00f0i sig um. \u201e\u00c9g var \u00fear fyrir m\u00e1nu\u00f0i,\u201c sag\u00f0i hann. \u201e\u00c9g t\u00f3k eftir \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 fl\u00f3\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00ed vetur lei\u00f0 haf\u00f0i hr\u00faga\u00f0 heilmiklu af rekavi\u00f0i upp a\u00f0 st\u00f6plunum, sem eru \u00far timbri, \u00e1 \u00feessum enda br\u00faarinnar. Hann er n\u00fa or\u00f0inn \u00feurr og mundi fu\u00f0ra upp.\u201c H\u00fasm\u00f3\u00f0irin var komin me\u00f0 vatni\u00f0, og herma\u00f0urinn drakk \u00fea\u00f0. Hann \u00feakka\u00f0i henni me\u00f0 virktum, hneig\u00f0i sig fyrir manni hennar, og rei\u00f0 \u00e1 brott. Klukkustundu s\u00ed\u00f0ar, eftir a\u00f0 dimmt var or\u00f0i\u00f0, f\u00f3r hann aftur hj\u00e1 plantekrunni og stefndi nor\u00f0ur, \u00fea\u00f0an sem hann haf\u00f0i komi\u00f0. Hann var nj\u00f3snari \u00far Sambandshernum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    III<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deegar Farquhar f\u00e9ll eins og steinn gegnum br\u00fana missti hann me\u00f0vitund og var sem hann v\u00e6ri \u00feegar dau\u00f0ur. \u00dar \u00feessu \u00e1standi vakna\u00f0i hann \u2014 \u00f3rat\u00edma s\u00ed\u00f0ar, fannst honum \u2014 vi\u00f0 s\u00e1rsauka, sem stafa\u00f0i af sn\u00f6ggum \u00fer\u00fdstingi \u00e1 h\u00e1lsinn \u00e1 honum, og \u00fev\u00ed n\u00e6st tilfinningu \u00feess a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 kafna. Hann fann skerandi s\u00e1rar kvalir fara um sig, allt fr\u00e1 h\u00e1lsi og ni\u00f0ur \u00ed gegnum hverja taug l\u00edkams og lima. \u00deessi s\u00e1rsauki virtist kv\u00edslast sem leiftur um sk\u00fdrt marka\u00f0ar l\u00ednur me\u00f0 yfirm\u00e1ta hr\u00f6\u00f0um sl\u00e6tti, eins og taktfastur eldstraumur, og j\u00f3k honum hita sem br\u00e1tt ger\u00f0ist \u00f3b\u00e6rilegur. \u00cd h\u00f6f\u00f0inu var hann s\u00e9r ekki me\u00f0vitandi um neitt nema fyllingu \u2014 \u00ferengsli. Engar hugsanir fylgdu \u00feessum tilfinningum. Hinn vitsmunalegi \u00fe\u00e1ttur e\u00f0lis hans var \u00feegar \u00feurrka\u00f0ur \u00fat; hann gat a\u00f0eins fundi\u00f0 til, og tilfinningin var kvalr\u00e6\u00f0i. Hann gat greint hreyfingu. Umlukinn geislandi sk\u00fdi, sem hann var n\u00fa a\u00f0eins \u00feess eldlegi kjarni \u00e1n efnislegs inntaks, sl\u00f6ngva\u00f0ist hann \u00ed \u00f3skiljanlegum hengilsveiflum eins og gr\u00ed\u00f0arst\u00f3r pend\u00fall. \u00de\u00e1, allt \u00ed einu, af sl\u00edkri skyndingu a\u00f0 honum \u00f3gna\u00f0i, skaust lj\u00f3si\u00f0 sem umlukti hann upp\u00e1vi\u00f0 me\u00f0 hlj\u00f3\u00f0i sem helst l\u00edktist h\u00e1u svampi; hr\u00e6\u00f0ilegur gn\u00fdr dundi \u00ed eyrum hans, og allt var\u00f0 kalt og dimmt. Hann endurheimti hugarorku s\u00edna, og hann vissi a\u00f0 reiptaugin haf\u00f0i slitna\u00f0 og hann falli\u00f0 \u00ed vatnsstrenginn. \u00dea\u00f0 var engin frekari kyrking; snaran um h\u00e1lsinn \u00e1 honum var \u00feegar a\u00f0 k\u00e6fa hann og varna\u00f0i vatninu a\u00f0 komast \u00ed lungun \u00e1 honum. A\u00f0 deyja hengdur \u00e1 \u00e1rbotni! \u2014 honum fannst \u00fea\u00f0 f\u00e1r\u00e1nleg hugmynd. Hann opna\u00f0i augun \u00ed dimmunni og s\u00e1 fyrir ofan sig gl\u00e6tu lj\u00f3ss, en hve langt h\u00fan var \u00ed burtu, hve langt utan seilingar! Hann var enn a\u00f0 s\u00f6kkva, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 lj\u00f3sgl\u00e6tan f\u00f3r r\u00e9nandi \u00fear til vart grillti \u00ed hana. En svo t\u00f3k h\u00fan a\u00f0 aukast aftur og ver\u00f0a bjartari, og hann vissi a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 r\u00edsa upp a\u00f0 yfirbor\u00f0inu \u2014 vissa sem hann t\u00f3k me\u00f0 nokkurri treg\u00f0u, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 hann fann n\u00fa til mikilla \u00f3\u00fe\u00e6ginda. \u201eA\u00f0 vera hengdur og drukkna,\u201c hugsa\u00f0i hann, \u201e\u00fea\u00f0 er ekki svo sl\u00e6mt; en \u00e9g k\u00e6ri mig ekki um a\u00f0 ver\u00f0a skotinn. Nei; \u00e9g vil ekki ver\u00f0a skotinn: \u00fea\u00f0 er ekki r\u00e9ttl\u00e1tt.\u201c Hann var s\u00e9r ekki me\u00f0vitandi um neina \u00e1reynslu, en snarpur s\u00e1rsauki \u00ed \u00falnli\u00f0unum ger\u00f0i honum vi\u00f0vart um a\u00f0 hann v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 reyna a\u00f0 losa \u00e1 s\u00e9r hendurnar. Hann veitti \u00feessu bj\u00e1stri athygli eins og sl\u00e6pingi kynni a\u00f0 fylgjast me\u00f0 leikni loddara \u00e1n \u00feess a\u00f0 l\u00e1ta sig \u00e1rangurinn miklu skipta. Gl\u00e6sileg vi\u00f0leitni! \u2014 st\u00f3rkostlegur, ofurmannlegur kraftur! Ah, \u00feetta var g\u00f3\u00f0ur \u00e1rangur! Brav\u00f3! Sn\u00e6ri\u00f0 var burtu; handleggirnir \u00e1 honum skildust og flutu upp\u00e1vi\u00f0, og hann s\u00e1 hendurnar \u00e1 s\u00e9r \u00f3greinilega \u00e1 b\u00e1\u00f0a vegu \u00ed birtunni sem var a\u00f0 aukast. Hann virti \u00fe\u00e6r fyrir s\u00e9r me\u00f0 n\u00fdjum \u00e1huga \u00fear sem fyrst \u00f6nnur og s\u00ed\u00f0an hin hama\u00f0ist \u00e1 sn\u00f6runni um h\u00e1lsinn \u00e1 honum. \u00de\u00e6r slitu hana burt og \u00fdttu henni grimmdarlega til hli\u00f0ar, \u00fear sem h\u00fan hlykkja\u00f0ist eins og vatnasn\u00e1kur. \u201eSettu hana aftur \u00e1, settu hana aftur \u00e1!\u201c Hann h\u00e9lt sig hr\u00f3pa \u00feessa skipun til handanna \u00e1 s\u00e9r, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 losun sn\u00f6runnar haf\u00f0i fylgt s\u00e1rasti kvalastingur sem hann haf\u00f0i fram a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed fundi\u00f0 til. H\u00e1lsinn \u00e1 honum var hr\u00e6\u00f0ilega s\u00e1r; heilinn brann sem \u00ed eldi; hjarta\u00f0, sem b\u00e6rst haf\u00f0i dauflega, t\u00f3k sn\u00f6ggan kipp og \u00e6tla\u00f0i a\u00f0 \u00fer\u00f6ngva s\u00e9r \u00fat um munninn \u00e1 honum. Allur l\u00edkami hans var haldinn og hrelldur \u00f3b\u00e6rilegri angist! En \u00f3hl\u00fd\u00f0nar hendurnar \u00e1 honum hunsu\u00f0u skipunina. \u00de\u00e6r b\u00f6r\u00f0u vatni\u00f0 af \u00fer\u00f3tti me\u00f0 skj\u00f3tum t\u00f6kum ni\u00f0ur\u00e1vi\u00f0 og \u00fdttu honum upp \u00e1 yfirbor\u00f0i\u00f0. Hann fann h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00e1 s\u00e9r koma \u00far kafinu; augun \u00ed honum blindu\u00f0ust af s\u00f3larlj\u00f3sinu; brj\u00f3sti\u00f0 \u00feandist \u00fat eins og \u00ed krampa, og me\u00f0 sl\u00edkri kv\u00f6l a\u00f0 k\u00f3r\u00f3na\u00f0i allar a\u00f0rar gleyptu lungun \u00ed sig lofti\u00f0, sem hann anda\u00f0i fr\u00e1 s\u00e9r aftur me\u00f0 h\u00e1um skr\u00e6k! Skilningarvit hans voru n\u00fa fullkomlega starfh\u00e6f. \u00deau voru meira a\u00f0 segja \u00f3e\u00f0lilega sk\u00f6rp og athugul. Eitthva\u00f0 \u00ed \u00feessari \u00f3gnarlegu r\u00f6skun l\u00edff\u00e6rakerfisins haf\u00f0i svo upphafi\u00f0 \u00feau og f\u00e1ga\u00f0, a\u00f0 \u00feau veittu athygli hlutum sem \u00e1\u00f0ur h\u00f6f\u00f0u fari\u00f0 framhj\u00e1 \u00feeim. Hann fann bylgjurnar \u00e1 andliti s\u00e9r og heyr\u00f0i hlj\u00f3\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00ed \u00feeim hverri fyrir sig, \u00feegar \u00fe\u00e6r skullu \u00e1 honum. Hann horf\u00f0i \u00e1 sk\u00f3ginn \u00e1 \u00e1rbakkanum, s\u00e1 einst\u00f6k tr\u00e9, lauf, og \u00e6\u00f0arnar \u00e1 hverju laufi \u2014 s\u00e1 jafnvel skord\u00fdrin \u00e1 \u00feeim: engispretturnar, sk\u00e6rlitar flugurnar, gr\u00e1ar k\u00f3ngul\u00e6rnar sem strekktu vefinn sinn fr\u00e1 einni t\u00e1g til annarrar. Hann t\u00f3k eftir regnbogalitum daggardropunum \u00e1 millj\u00f3num grasstr\u00e1a. Su\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00ed rykm\u00fdinu sem sveima\u00f0i yfir hringi\u00f0unum \u00ed \u00e1nni, v\u00e6ngja\u00feytur drekaflugnanna, sundt\u00f6k vatnak\u00f3ngul\u00f3nna eins og \u00e1ratog sem kn\u00fa\u00f0 haf\u00f0i b\u00e1tinn \u00feeirra \u2014 allt \u00feetta barst honum eins og t\u00f3nlist. Fiskur skaust hj\u00e1 fyrir framan augun \u00e1 honum, og hann heyr\u00f0i hvernig hann klauf vatni\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann haf\u00f0i komi\u00f0 \u00far kafinu svo a\u00f0 hann sneri ni\u00f0ur \u00e1na; \u00e1 andartaki virtist hinn s\u00fdnilegi heimur sn\u00faast h\u00e6gt um n\u00f6f sem var hann sj\u00e1lfur, og hann s\u00e1 br\u00fana, virki\u00f0, hermennina \u00e1 br\u00fanni, h\u00f6fu\u00f0smanninn, li\u00f0\u00fej\u00e1lfann, \u00f3breyttu hermennina tvo, b\u00f6\u00f0la s\u00edna. \u00de\u00e1 bar eins og skuggamynd vi\u00f0 bl\u00e1an himininn. \u00deeir hr\u00f3pu\u00f0u og b\u00f6\u00f0u\u00f0u h\u00f6ndum og bentu \u00e1 hann. H\u00f6fu\u00f0sma\u00f0urinn haf\u00f0i gripi\u00f0 skammbyssuna s\u00edna en skaut ekki; hinir voru \u00f3vopna\u00f0ir. Hreyfingar \u00feeirra voru skr\u00edpalega \u00fdktar og hryllilegar, v\u00f6xturinn tr\u00f6llslegur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Allt \u00ed einu heyr\u00f0i hann hvellt hlj\u00f3\u00f0, og eitthva\u00f0 small af skyndingu \u00ed vatni\u00f0 a\u00f0eins f\u00e1um \u00feumlungum fr\u00e1 h\u00f6f\u00f0inu \u00e1 honum og skvetti fro\u00f0u framan \u00ed hann. Hann heyr\u00f0i annan hvell og s\u00e1 annan var\u00f0manninn me\u00f0 riffilinn vi\u00f0 \u00f6xlina og l\u00edti\u00f0, bl\u00e1tt reyksk\u00fd st\u00edga upp af hlaupinu. Ma\u00f0urinn \u00ed vatninu s\u00e1 auga\u00f0 \u00ed manninum vi\u00f0 br\u00fana stara \u00ed sitt eigi\u00f0 gegnum sigti\u00f0 \u00e1 rifflinum. Hann t\u00f3k eftir a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 var gr\u00e1tt auga og minntist \u00feess a\u00f0 hafa lesi\u00f0 a\u00f0 gr\u00e1 augu v\u00e6ru sk\u00f6rpust og allar fr\u00e6gar skyttur gr\u00e1eygar. \u00deessi haf\u00f0i samt ekki hitt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hli\u00f0arstraumur haf\u00f0i sn\u00fai\u00f0 Farquhar h\u00e1lfvegis vi\u00f0; hann haf\u00f0i augun aftur \u00e1 sk\u00f3ginum \u00e1 bakkanum andsp\u00e6nis virkinu. N\u00fa heyr\u00f0i hann sk\u00fdra h\u00e1a r\u00f6dd hlj\u00f3ma fyrir aftan sig me\u00f0 eint\u00f3na kve\u00f0andi og berast yfir vatni\u00f0 svo greinilega a\u00f0 h\u00fan sm\u00f3 og k\u00e6f\u00f0i \u00f6ll \u00f6nnur hlj\u00f3\u00f0, jafnvel \u00f6ldugutli\u00f0 \u00ed eyrum hans. \u00de\u00f3tt hann v\u00e6ri enginn herma\u00f0ur haf\u00f0i hann n\u00f3gu oft komi\u00f0 \u00ed herb\u00fa\u00f0ir til a\u00f0 \u00feekkja uggv\u00e6nlega merkingu \u00feessa yfirvega\u00f0a, seimdregna, \u00e1bl\u00e1sna s\u00f6nglanda; lautinantinn \u00e1 bakkanum var a\u00f0 taka \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed morgunverkunum. Hve kuldalega og miskunnarlaust \u2014 me\u00f0 hve j\u00f6fnu, r\u00f3legu hlj\u00f3mfalli, bo\u00f0andi og kn\u00fdjandi fram kyrr\u00f0 \u00ed li\u00f0inu \u2014 og me\u00f0 hve n\u00e1kv\u00e6mlega m\u00e6ldu millibili \u00feessi grimmilegu or\u00f0 f\u00e9llu: \u201eStandi\u00f0 r\u00e9tt! . . . Axli\u00f0 vopn! . . . Tilb\u00fanir! . . . Mi\u00f0i\u00f0! . . . Hleypi\u00f0 af!\u201c Farquhar stakk s\u00e9r \u2014 eins dj\u00fapt og hann gat. Vatnsni\u00f0urinn l\u00e9t \u00ed eyrum hans eins og Niagarafossarnir, en \u00fe\u00f3 heyr\u00f0i hann l\u00e1gan \u00ferumudyninn fr\u00e1 skothr\u00ed\u00f0inni, og \u00feegar hann reis aftur upp a\u00f0 yfirbor\u00f0inu var\u00f0 hann var vi\u00f0 glampandi m\u00e1lmagnir, s\u00e9rkennilega flatar, sem sm\u00e1sveiflu\u00f0ust h\u00e6glega ni\u00f0ur\u00e1vi\u00f0. Sumar \u00feeirra snertu hann, b\u00e6\u00f0i andlit og hendur, og f\u00e9llu s\u00ed\u00f0an \u00e1fram. Ein sat f\u00f6st milli kraga og h\u00e1ls; h\u00fan var \u00f3\u00fe\u00e6gilega heit og hann \u00fereif hana burt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00deegar hann kom upp \u00e1 yfirbor\u00f0i\u00f0 og gleypti \u00ed sig andann s\u00e1 hann a\u00f0 hann haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 lengi \u00ed kafi; hann var s\u00fdnu ne\u00f0ar \u00ed \u00e1nni \u2014 n\u00e6r \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 vera \u00f3hultur. Hermennirnir voru n\u00e6stum b\u00fanir a\u00f0 endurhla\u00f0a; m\u00e1lmkrassarnir gl\u00f6mpu\u00f0u allir \u00ed einu \u00ed s\u00f3lskininu \u00feegar \u00feeir voru dregnir \u00fat \u00far hlaupunum, sn\u00fai\u00f0 og stungi\u00f0 \u00ed sl\u00ed\u00f0rin. Var\u00f0mennirnir tveir hleyptu af \u00e1 n\u00fd, sj\u00e1lfst\u00e6tt og \u00e1n \u00e1rangurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fl\u00f3ttama\u00f0urinn s\u00e1 allt \u00feetta yfrum \u00f6xlina \u00e1 s\u00e9r; hann var n\u00fa \u00e1 \u00fer\u00f3ttmiklu sundi me\u00f0 straumnum. Heilinn \u00ed honum starfa\u00f0i jafnr\u00f6sklega og armar hans og f\u00e6tur; hann hugsa\u00f0i me\u00f0 lj\u00f3shra\u00f0a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201eLi\u00f0sforinginn,\u201c \u00e1lykta\u00f0i hann, \u201efer ekki a\u00f0 gera s\u00f6mu skyssuna aftur. \u00dea\u00f0 er jafnau\u00f0velt a\u00f0 sk\u00fdla s\u00e9r fyrir skothr\u00ed\u00f0 og einst\u00f6ku skoti. Hann er sennilega b\u00fainn a\u00f0 gefa skipun um a\u00f0 skj\u00f3ta a\u00f0 vild. Gu\u00f0 hj\u00e1lpi m\u00e9r. \u00c9g get ekki komist undan \u00feeim \u00f6llum!\u201c Vo\u00f0alegri gusu minna en tvo metra fr\u00e1 honum fylgdi h\u00e1r \u00feytur me\u00f0 minnkandi styrkleika, sem virtist fara aftur gegnum lofti\u00f0 a\u00f0 virkinu og d\u00f3 \u00fat \u00ed sprengingu sem hr\u00e6r\u00f0i \u00e1na ni\u00f0ur a\u00f0 botni! R\u00edsandi vatnsfaldur sveig\u00f0ist yfir hann, f\u00e9ll yfir hann, blinda\u00f0i hann, k\u00e6f\u00f0i hann! Fallbyssan var farin a\u00f0 taka \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed leiknum. \u00deegar hann hristi \u00e1 s\u00e9r h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 eftir uppn\u00e1mi\u00f0 \u00ed vatninu vi\u00f0 h\u00f6ggi\u00f0 heyr\u00f0i hann k\u00faluna, sem fleyst haf\u00f0i upp, fara su\u00f0andi gegnum lofti\u00f0 fyrir framan sig, og eftir andartak var h\u00fan farin a\u00f0 brj\u00f3ta og kvista greinar \u00ed sk\u00f3ginum hinum megin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201e\u00deetta gera \u00feeir ekki aftur,\u201c hugsa\u00f0i hann; \u201en\u00e6st ver\u00f0ur h\u00fan hla\u00f0in me\u00f0 \u00fer\u00faguskotum. \u00c9g ver\u00f0 a\u00f0 hafa augun \u00e1 fallbyssunni; reykurinn getur sagt m\u00e9r til \u2014 hvellurinn berst of seint; hann er seinni en skoti\u00f0. \u00deetta er g\u00f3\u00f0 byssa.\u201c Allt \u00ed einu fann hann sig \u00feeytast hring eftir hring \u2014 spinna eins og spunakerlingu. \u00c1in, bakkarnir, sk\u00f3garnir, br\u00fain, sem n\u00fa var or\u00f0in fjarl\u00e6g, virki\u00f0 og mennirnir \u2014 allt var \u00ed \u00f3lj\u00f3sum hr\u00e6rigraut. Hlutirnir greindust a\u00f0eins sem litir; hringlaga, l\u00e1r\u00e9tt strik af litum \u2014 \u00fea\u00f0 var allt sem hann s\u00e1. Hann haf\u00f0i borist inn \u00ed hringi\u00f0u og var n\u00fa \u00feeytt \u00e1fram hra\u00f0fara og me\u00f0 sn\u00faningi sem kom honum til a\u00f0 sundla og ver\u00f0a veikur. Eftir f\u00e1ein andart\u00f6k kasta\u00f0ist hann upp \u00e1 m\u00f6lina vi\u00f0 r\u00e6tur vinstri bakka \u00e1rinnar \u2014 sy\u00f0ri bakkans \u2014 og bak vi\u00f0 eyrarodda sem huldi hann fyrir \u00f3vinum hans. \u00deessi skyndilegi stans og skr\u00e1mur \u00e1 annarri hendinni af m\u00f6linni hresstu hann, og hann gr\u00e9t af \u00e1n\u00e6gju. Hann bora\u00f0i fingrunum ni\u00f0ur \u00ed sandinn, j\u00f3s honum yfir sig b\u00e1\u00f0um h\u00f6ndum og blessa\u00f0i hann upph\u00e1tt. Sandurinn s\u00fdndist honum eins og demantar, r\u00fab\u00ednar, smarag\u00f0ar; hann gat ekki hugsa\u00f0 s\u00e9r neitt svo fagurt a\u00f0 hann l\u00edktist \u00fev\u00ed ekki. Tr\u00e9n \u00e1 bakkanum voru risast\u00f3rar gar\u00f0pl\u00f6ntur; hann t\u00f3k eftir \u00e1kve\u00f0nu skipulagi \u00ed ni\u00f0urr\u00f6\u00f0un \u00feeirra, anda\u00f0i a\u00f0 s\u00e9r ilminum af bl\u00f3mum \u00feeirra. Undarlegt, r\u00f3sbleikt lj\u00f3s skein gegnum bilin milli stofnanna, og vindurinn l\u00e9k \u00e1 h\u00f6rpu s\u00edna \u00ed greinum \u00feeirra. Hann haf\u00f0i enga l\u00f6ngun til a\u00f0 fullkomna fl\u00f3tta sinn \u2014 var \u00e1n\u00e6g\u00f0ur me\u00f0 a\u00f0 dvelja \u00e1 \u00feessum sei\u00f0magna\u00f0a sta\u00f0 \u00fear til hann yr\u00f0i handtekinn \u00e1 n\u00fd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hvinur og brestir af \u00fer\u00faguskoti me\u00f0al greinanna h\u00e1tt yfir h\u00f6f\u00f0i hans v\u00f6ktu hann af draumi s\u00ednum. Ruglu\u00f0 fallbyssuskyttan haf\u00f0i sent honum kve\u00f0juskot af handah\u00f3fi. Hann spratt \u00e1 f\u00e6tur, \u00feaut upp afl\u00ed\u00f0andi bakkann, og hentist inn \u00ed sk\u00f3ginn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hann fer\u00f0a\u00f0ist \u00feann dag allan og t\u00f3k stefnu me\u00f0 mi\u00f0 af s\u00f3linni. Sk\u00f3gurinn virtist aldrei \u00e6tla a\u00f0 enda; hann s\u00e1 hvergi rof \u00ed honum, ekki einu sinni sl\u00f3\u00f0 eftir sk\u00f3garh\u00f6ggsmenn. Hann haf\u00f0i ekki vita\u00f0 a\u00f0 hann \u00e6tti heima \u00ed svo \u00f3snortnu h\u00e9ra\u00f0i. \u00dea\u00f0 var eitthva\u00f0 \u00f3hugnanlegt vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1 opinberun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Um n\u00e1ttm\u00e1l var hann or\u00f0inn \u00fatkeyr\u00f0ur, f\u00f3ts\u00e1r og hungra\u00f0ur, en hugsunin um konu og b\u00f6rn kn\u00fa\u00f0i hann \u00e1fram. A\u00f0 lokum fann hann veg sem l\u00e1 \u00ed \u00fea\u00f0 sem hann vissi a\u00f0 var r\u00e9tta \u00e1ttin. Hann var jafnbrei\u00f0ur og beinn og borgarstr\u00e6ti, og \u00fe\u00f3 virtist sem enginn hef\u00f0i fari\u00f0 um hann. Engir akrar l\u00e1gu a\u00f0 honum, hvergi neinir mannab\u00fasta\u00f0ir. Ekki einu sinni hundg\u00e1 gaf til kynna mannabygg\u00f0. Svartir stofnar trj\u00e1nna myndu\u00f0u beinan vegg \u00e1 b\u00e1\u00f0ar hendur og endu\u00f0u vi\u00f0 sj\u00f3ndeildarhring \u00ed odda eins og teikning me\u00f0 fjarv\u00edddarlex\u00edu. Yfir h\u00f6f\u00f0i hans, \u00feegar hann leit upp gegnum \u00feessa sk\u00f3gargj\u00e1, skinu st\u00f3rar gullnar stj\u00f6rnur, sem litu \u00f3kunnuglega \u00fat og klasa\u00f0 var \u00ed undarleg stj\u00f6rnumerki. Hann var viss um a\u00f0 \u00feeim v\u00e6ri skipa\u00f0 ni\u00f0ur eftir einhvers konar reglu sem hef\u00f0i dulda og \u00f3heillav\u00e6nlega merkingu. Sk\u00f3gurinn til beggja handa var fullur af s\u00e9rkennilegum hlj\u00f3\u00f0um, og me\u00f0al \u00feeirra heyr\u00f0i hann greinilega \u2014 einu sinni, tvisvar, og enn aftur \u2014 hv\u00edslingar \u00e1 \u00f3kunnu tungum\u00e1li.Hann haf\u00f0i s\u00e1rsauka \u00ed h\u00e1lsinum, og \u00feegar hann lyfti h\u00f6ndum og \u00fereifa\u00f0i fann hann a\u00f0 hann var hr\u00e6\u00f0ilega b\u00f3lginn. Hann vissi a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri svartur hringur \u00fear sem snaran haf\u00f0i mari\u00f0 hann. Augun \u00ed honum virtust \u00fer\u00fatin; hann gat ekki lengur loka\u00f0 \u00feeim. Tungan \u00ed honum var b\u00f3lgin af \u00feorsta; hann svala\u00f0i henni me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 reka hana \u00fat \u00far s\u00e9r \u00fat \u00ed kalt lofti\u00f0. Hve mj\u00faklega sv\u00f6r\u00f0urinn haf\u00f0i teppalagt \u00feessa \u00f3f\u00f6rnu brei\u00f0g\u00f6tu \u2014 hann fann ekki lengur veginn undir f\u00f3tum s\u00e9r! Eflaust haf\u00f0i hann sofna\u00f0 \u00e1 g\u00f6ngunni \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir \u00fej\u00e1ningar s\u00ednar, \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 n\u00fa s\u00e9r hann anna\u00f0 svi\u00f0 \u2014 kannski var hann bara a\u00f0 n\u00e1 s\u00e9r eftir \u00f3r\u00e1\u00f0. Hann stendur vi\u00f0 hli\u00f0i\u00f0 heima hj\u00e1 s\u00e9r. Allt er eins og hann skildi vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 og allt bjart og fagurt \u00ed morguns\u00f3linni. Hann hl\u00fdtur a\u00f0 hafa veri\u00f0 \u00e1 fer\u00f0inni alla n\u00f3ttina. \u00deegar hann \u00fdtir opnu hli\u00f0inu og fetar sig upp brei\u00f0an, hv\u00edtan gangst\u00edginn s\u00e9r hann breg\u00f0a fyrir kvenfatna\u00f0i; konan hans, svo fersk og sv\u00f6l og ind\u00e6l, st\u00edgur ni\u00f0ur af ver\u00f6ndinni a\u00f0 koma til m\u00f3ts vi\u00f0 hann. Fyrir ne\u00f0an \u00ferepin stendur h\u00fan og b\u00ed\u00f0ur, brosandi af \u00f3segjanlegri gle\u00f0i, \u00f3vi\u00f0jafnanleg \u00ed \u00feokka s\u00ednum og vir\u00f0uleik. \u00d3, hva\u00f0 h\u00fan er falleg! Hann stekkur fram me\u00f0 \u00fatbreidda arma. \u00deegar hann er um \u00fea\u00f0 bil a\u00f0 fa\u00f0ma hana a\u00f0 s\u00e9r finnur hann deyfandi h\u00f6gg aftan \u00e1 h\u00e1lsinn; blindandi hv\u00edtt lj\u00f3s logar allt \u00ed kringum hann me\u00f0 hlj\u00f3\u00f0i eins og af fallbyssuskoti \u2014 s\u00ed\u00f0an er allt myrkur og \u00fe\u00f6gn! Peyton Farquhar var allur; h\u00e1lsbrotinn skrokkurinn sveifla\u00f0ist h\u00f3glega fr\u00e1 hli\u00f0 til hli\u00f0ar ne\u00f0an vi\u00f0 plankana \u00e1 Uglul\u00e6kjarbr\u00fa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Si\u00f0fer\u00f0isl\u00f6gm\u00e1li\u00f0 og eigingirnin <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>

    Saga – missirisrit, 1. desember 1928. Winnipeg, Kanada. \u00de\u00fd\u00f0anda ekki geti\u00f0, en ritstj\u00f3ri er \u00deorsteinn \u00de. \u00deorsteinsson.<\/em><\/p>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Si\u00f0fer\u00f0isl\u00f6gm\u00e1l m\u00e6tti Eigingirni \u00e1 br\u00fa. sem var a\u00f0eins n\u00f3gu brei\u00f0 fyrir einn. \u201cLegstu ni\u00f0ur vanvir\u00f0an \u00fe\u00edn svo eg geti gengi\u00f0 yfir \u00feig,\u201d \u00feruma\u00f0i Si\u00f0fer\u00f0isl\u00f6gm\u00e1li\u00f0.
    Eigingirnin horf\u00f0i \u00ed augu hennar, en stein\u00feag\u00f0i.
    \u201c\u00d3,\u201d sag\u00f0i Si\u00f0fer\u00f0isl\u00f6gm\u00e1li\u00f0 efandi, \u201cvi\u00f0 skulum kasta hlutkesti um \u00fea\u00f0 hvor okkar sn\u00fai til baka me\u00f0an hin fer yfir.\u201d
    Eigingirnin \u00feag\u00f0i, en t\u00f3k ekki af henni augun.
    \u201cTil \u00feess a\u00f0 for\u00f0ast \u00e1rekstur,\u201d sag\u00f0i Si\u00f0fer\u00f0isl\u00f6gm\u00e1li\u00f0 t\u00f6luvert huklandi, \u00fe\u00e1 skal eg leggjast ni\u00f0ur og lofa \u00fe\u00e9r a\u00f0 ganga yfir mig.\u201d
    \u00de\u00e1 f\u00e9kk Eigingirnin m\u00e1li\u00f0:
    \u201cEg held \u00fe\u00fa s\u00e9rt n\u00fa annars ekki notandi til a\u00f0 ganga \u00e1 \u00fe\u00e9r. Eg er d\u00e1l\u00edti\u00f0 vandl\u00e1t a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed hva\u00f0 eg hefi undir f\u00f3tunum. Setjum svo a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00fa steypir \u00fe\u00e9r \u00ed \u00e1na.\u201d
    Og \u00feann veg f\u00f3r \u00fea\u00f0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Or\u00f0ab\u00f3k Andskotans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \u00c1ri\u00f0 2000 gaf JPV forlag \u00fat b\u00f3kina Or\u00f0ab\u00f3k Andskotans <\/em>(The Devil\u2019s Dictionary) sem Hallberg Hallmundsson \u00edslenska\u00f0i auk \u00feess a\u00f0 rita \u00e6vi\u00e1grip og s\u00f6gu h\u00f6fundar, bygg\u00f0a a\u00f0 mestu \u00e1 b\u00f3kinni Ambrose Bierce: Alone in Bad Company<\/em> eftir Roy Morris, Jr. H\u00e9r \u00e1 eftir koma d\u00e6mi um nokkrar af styttri or\u00f0sk\u00fdringum b\u00f3karinnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n