Лорд Джим

Chapter 39

           Adistributionofpowder,bullets,andpercussion-capswasmadeimmediatelyunderthegirl’ssupervision.SeveralmessengersweretobedispatchedindifferentdirectionsafterJim,whoseexactwhereaboutswereunknown.Thesemenstartedatdawn,butbeforethattimeKassimhadmanagedtoopencommunicationswiththebesiegedBrown.

           ‘ThataccomplisheddiplomatistandconfidantoftheRajah,onleavingtheforttogobacktohismaster,tookintohisboatCornelius,whomhefoundslinkingmutelyamongstthepeopleinthecourtyard.Kassimhadalittleplanofhisownandwantedhimforaninterpreter.ThusitcameaboutthattowardsmorningBrown,reflectinguponthedesperatenatureofhisposition,heardfromthemarshyovergrownhollowanamicable,quavering,strainedvoicecrying—inEnglish—forpermissiontocomeup,underapromiseofpersonalsafetyandonaveryimportanterrand.Hewasoverjoyed.Ifhewasspokentohewasnolongerahuntedwildbeast.Thesefriendlysoundstookoffatoncetheawfulstressofvigilantwatchfulnessasofsomanyblindmennotknowingwhencethedeathblowmightcome.Hepretendedagreatreluctance.Thevoicedeclareditself“awhiteman—apoor,ruined,oldmanwhohadbeenlivinghereforyears.”Amist,wetandchilly,layontheslopesofthehill,andaftersomemoreshoutingfromonetotheother,Browncalledout,“Comeon,then,butalone,mind!”Asamatteroffact—hetoldme,writhingwithrageattherecollectionofhishelplessness—itmadenodifference.

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