Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
TheAsiaticisacruelbeast,anddelightsinspectaclesofhumansuffering.
Atanyratewewerepleasedwhenanendtoourbeatingscame.ThiswascausedbythearrivalofKim.Kim?AllIcansay,andthebestIcansay,isthathewasthewhitestmanIeverencounteredinCho-Sen.HewasacaptainoffiftymenwhenImethim.HewasincommandofthepalaceguardsbeforeIwasdonedoingmybestbyhim.AndintheendhediedfortheLadyOm’ssakeandformine.Kim—well,KimwasKim.
Immediatelyhearrivedtheplanksweretakenfromournecksandwewerelodgedinthebeetinntheplaceboasted.Wewerestillprisoners,buthonourableprisoners,withaguardoffiftymountedsoldiers.Thenextdaywewereunderwayontheroyalhighroad,fourteensailormenastridethedwarfhorsesthatobtaininCho-Sen,andboundforKeijoitself.TheEmperor,soKimtoldme,hadexpressedadesiretogazeuponthestrangenessoftheseadevils.
Itwasajourneyofmanydays,halfthelengthofCho-Sen,northandsouthasitlies.Itchanced,atthefirstoff-saddling,thatIstrolledaroundtowitnessthefeedingofthedwarfhorses.AndwhatIwitnessedsetmebawling,“Whatnow,Vandervoot?”tillallourcrewcamerunning.AsIamalivingmanwhatthehorseswerefeedingonwasbeansoup,hotbeansoupatthat,andnaughtelsedidtheyhaveonallthejourneybuthotbeansoup.Itwasthecustomofthecountry.
