Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 11
Hewasmostlytoothless,and,despiteapronouncedlimpthatcompelledhimtogoslippity-hop,hewasveryalertandspryinallhismovements.Also,hewasimpudentlyfamiliar.Thiswasbecausehehadbeeninmyhousesixtyyears.Hehadbeenmyfather’sservantbeforeIcouldtoddle,andaftermyfather’sdeath(PonsandItalkedofitthisday)hebecamemyservant.ThelimphehadacquiredonastrickenfieldinItaly,whenthehorsemenchargedacross.Hehadjustdraggedmyfatherclearofthehoofswhenhewaslancedthroughthethigh,overthrown,andtrampled.Myfather,consciousbuthelplessfromhisownwounds,witnesseditall.Andso,asIsay,Ponshadearnedsucharighttoimpudentfamiliaritythatatleasttherewasnogainsayinghimbymyfather’sson.
PonsshookhisheadasIdrainedthehugedraught.
“Didyouhearitboil?”Ilaughed,asIhandedbacktheemptytankard.
“Likeyourfather,”hesaidhopelessly.“Butyourfatherlivedtolearnbetter,whichIdoubtyouwilldo.”
“Hegotastomachaffliction,”Idevilled,“sothatonemouthfulofspiritsturneditoutsidein.Itwerewisdomnottodrinkwhenone’stankwillnotholdthedrink.”
WhilewetalkedPonswasgatheringtomybedsidemyclothesfortheday.
“Drinkon,mymaster,”heanswered.
