Межзвёздный скиталец

           AsIhavesaid,Ihadthewillandthefearlessness,andIrackedmysea-cunybrainsforthewit.Apalaceeunuch,ticklingmyneckwithafeatherfrombehind,gavememystart.Ihadalreadydrawnattentionbymyaloofnessandimperviousnesstotheattacksoftheki-sang,sothatmanywerelookingonattheeunuch’sbaitingofme.Igavenosign,madenomove,untilIhadlocatedhimanddistancedhim.Then,likeashot,withoutturningheadorbody,merelybymyarmIfetchedhimanopen,back-handedslap.Myknuckleslandedflatonhischeekandjaw.Therewasacracklikeasparpartinginagale.Hewasbowledcleanover,landinginaheapontheflooradozenfeetaway.

           Therewasnolaughter,onlycriesofsurpriseandmurmuringsandwhisperingsof“YiYong-ik.”AgainIfoldedmyarmsandstoodwithafineassumptionofhaughtiness.IdobelievethatI,AdamStrang,hadamongotherthingsthesoulofanactorinme.Forseewhatfollows.Iwasnowthemostsignificantofourcompany.Proud-eyed,disdainful,Imetunwaveringtheeyesuponmeandmadethemdrop,orturnaway—alleyesbutone.Theseweretheeyesofayoungwoman,whomIjudged,byrichnessofdressandbythehalf-dozenwomenflutteringatherback,tobeacourtladyofdistinction.Intruth,shewastheLadyOm,princessofthehouseofMin.DidIsayyoung?Shewasfullymyownage,thirty,andforallthatandherripenessandbeautyaprincessstillunmarried,asIwastolearn.