OCR Text |
Show 132 it will take at least ten more minutes to reach the base of the mountain. Dietrich and Damien, move them along!" The twins, as leaden as sleepwalkers, pushed the children while Gerhardt and Ulrich hurried to help them. "This way, Gast? You want us to go through the pass?" "That's right, my fine brave soldiers, quickly now, before the rain starts. I have such a wonderful surprise for you all on the other side of the pass." I stood rooted to the gcound, torn between Hilde's screams and the urgent orders of Gast. "We can't leave her here," I cried in protest. He turned on me with such a look of fury that I recoiled. "If you had done as I said that night in the Market Place, we Would not be forced to leave her," he lashed out. "Now help me with the rest of these children and spare me your usual sanctimonious disapproval. We will go on without Hilde. If we delay for even a moment my plans may miscarry." Hilde fell to the ground, winding her arms around the stone cross as if trying to anchor herself to a world which had fallen away. "How can you do this to her, Gast?" I cried out. "She loves you!" "That's the way, boys," he shouted, ignoring me. "Make sure that none fall behind. Move them as quickly along the path as you can. My wonderful surprise is only a little way ahead." I started to follow, then hung back near Hilde and watched them pull away into the distance. I tried to soothe Hilde with a few useless words, but when Gast had advanced far ahead of me, to just below the |