Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
SoitwasthatKwan-Yung-jintravelled.Theheadmenofthevillagewerecringinglyafraidofhim,andforgoodreason,aswewerenotoverlonginfindingout.Isteppedforwardasinterpreter,foralreadyIhadthehangofseveralscoreofKoreanwords.Hescowledandwavedmeaside.ButwhatdidIreek?Iwasastallashe,outweighedhimbyafulltwostone,andmyskinwaswhite,myhairgolden.Heturnedhisbackandaddressedtheheadmanofthevillagewhilehissixsilkensatellitesmadeacordonbetweenus.Whilehetalkedmoresoldiersfromtheshipcarriedupseveralshoulder-loadsofinch-planking.Theseplankswereaboutsixfeetlongandtwofeetwide,andcuriouslysplitinhalflengthwise.Neareroneendthantheotherwasaroundholelargerthanaman’sneck.
KwanYung-jingaveacommand.SeveralofthesoldiersapproachedTromp,whowassittingonthegroundnursingafelon.NowTrompwasaratherstupid,slow-thinking,slow-movingcuny,andbeforeheknewwhatwasdoingoneoftheplanks,withascissors-likeopeningandclosing,wasabouthisneckandclamped.Discoveringhispredicament,hesetupabull-roaringanddancing,tillallhadtobackawaytogivehimclearspacefortheflyingendsofhisplank.
Thenthetroublebegan,foritwasplainlyKwanYung-jin’sintentiontoplankallofus.Oh,wefought,bare-fisted,withahundredsoldiersandasmanyvillagers,whileKwanYung-jinstoodapartinhissilksandlordlydisdain.
