Межзвёздный скиталец

           Intheafternoonthewindwasfoutherly,withfrefhgales,butdry,fothatwewereablethefollowingmorningtocleanbetweendecks,andalfotofumigatethefhipwithgunpowder.

           ButImusthasten,formynarrativeisnotofAdamStrangtheshipwreckedsea-cunyonacoralisle,butofAdamStrang,laternamedYiYong-ik,theMightyOne,whowasonetimefavouriteofthepowerfulYunsan,whowasloverandhusbandoftheLadyOmoftheprincelyhouseofMin,andwhowaslongtimebeggarandpariahinallthevillagesofallthecoastsandroadsofCho-Sen.(Ah,ha,Ihaveyouthere—Cho-Sen.Itmeansthelandofthemorningcalm.InmodernspeechitiscalledKorea.)

           Remember,itwasbetweenthreeandfourcenturiesbackthatIlived,thefirstwhiteman,onthecoralislesofRaaKook.Inthosewaters,atthattime,thekeelsofshipswererare.Imightwellhavelivedoutmydaysthere,inpeaceandfatness,underthesunwherefrostwasnot,haditnotbeenfortheSparwehr.TheSparwehrwasaDutchmerchantmandaringtheunchartedseasforIndiesbeyondtheIndies.Andshefoundmeinstead,andIwasallshefound.