32/44 The people are repeating one and the same name: "Khorre! Khorre! Khorre!" And then Khorre himself appears, dishevelled, crushed, but happy--the rope has broken. Knitting his brow, Haggart is waiting in silence. "There are the ends! Eh, you there, keep quiet! There is nothing to laugh at--they started to hang me, and the rope broke, Noni." Haggart looks at his old, drunken, frightened, and happy face, and he laughs like a madman. And the sailors respond with roaring laughter. The reflected lights are dancing more merrily upon the waves--as if they are also laughing with the people. |