Читать книгу The Plumed Serpent. Historical Novel - Life and Love after the Mexico Revolution онлайн

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‘Of course they would,’ said the Judge. ‘They were waiting for the next person to come along and fall.’

‘Did nobody help you?’ asked Kate.

‘Oh no! If anyone has an accident in this country, you must never, NEVER help. If you touch them even, you may be arrested for causing the accident.’

‘That’s the law!’ said the Judge. ‘If you touch them before the police arrive, you are arrested for complicity. Let them lie and bleed, is the motto.’

‘Is that true?’ said Kate to Don Ramón.

‘Fairly true,’ he replied. ‘Yes, it is true you must not touch the one who is hurt.’

‘How disgusting!’ said Kate.

‘Disgusting!’ cried the Judge. ‘A great deal is disgusting in this country, as you’ll learn if you stay here long. I nearly lost my life on a banana skin; lay in a darkened room for days, between life and death, and lame for life from it.’

‘How awful!’ said Kate. ‘What did you do when you fell?’

‘What did I do? Just smashed my hip.’

It had truly been a terrible accident, and the man had suffered bitterly.