Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Itwasoffensive,true,butwhatcouldpoorsea-cuniesdo?WhatcouldoldJohannesMaartensdo,withabevyoflaughinggirlsabouthim,tweakinghisnose,pinchinghisarms,ticklinghisribstillhepranced?ToescapesuchtormentHansAmdenclearedaspaceandgaveaclumsy-footedHollandishbreakdowntillalltheCourtroareditslaughter.
ItwasoffensivetomewhohadbeenequalandbooncompanionofKimformanydays.Iresistedthelaughingki-sang.Ibracedmylegsandstooduprightwithfoldedarms;norcouldpinchorticklebringaquiverfromme.Thustheyabandonedmeforeasierprey.
“ForGod’ssake,man,makeanimpression,”HendrikHamel,whohadstruggledtomewiththreeki-sangdraggingbehind,mumbled.
Wellmighthemumble,forwheneverheopenedhismouthtospeaktheycrammeditwithsweets.
“Saveusfromthisfolly,”hepersisted,duckinghisheadabouttoavoidtheirsweet-filledpalms.“Wemusthavedignity,understand,dignity.Thiswillruinus.Theyaremakingtameanimalsofus,playthings.Whentheygrowtiredofustheywillthrowusout.You’redoingtherightthing.Sticktoit.Standthemoff.Commandrespect,respectforallofus—”
Thelastwasbarelyaudible,forbythistimetheki-sanghadstuffedhismouthtospeechlessness.
