Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
ThePeddlers’GuildcarriedthesecommandsofChongMong-jutoeveryvillageandeverysoulinallCho-Sen.Iwasamarkedman.
Lord,Lord,Cho-Sen,Iknowyoureveryhighwayandmountainpath,allyourwalledcitiesandtheleastofyourvillages.Fortwo-scoreyearsIwanderedandstarvedoveryou,andtheLadyOmeverwanderedandstarvedwithme.Whatweinextremityhaveeaten!—Leavingsofdog’sflesh,putridandunsaleable,flungtousbythemockingbutchers;minari,awater-cressgatheredfromstagnantpoolsofslime;spoiledkimchithatwouldrevoltthestomachsofpeasantsandthatcouldbesmelledamile.Ay—Ihavestolenbonesfromcurs,gleanedthepublicroadforstraygrainsofrice,robbedponiesoftheirsteamingbean-souponfrostynights.
ItisnotstrangethatIdidnotdie.Iknewandwasupheldbytwothings:thefirst,theLadyOmbymyside;thesecond,thecertainfaiththatthetimewouldcomewhenmythumbsandfingerswouldfast-lockinthegulletofChongMong-ju.
TurnedalwaysawayatthecitygatesofKeijo,whereIsoughtChongMong-ju,wewanderedon,throughseasonsanddecadesofseasons,acrossCho-Sen,whoseeveryinchofroadwasanoldstorytooursandals.Ourhistoryandidentitywerewide-scatteredasthelandwaswide.Nopersonbreathedwhodidnotknowusandourpunishment.
