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I

           Itwasarelieftodiscoversuddenlythatitwasnotinmyheadatall,butontheoutsideofthedoor.BeforeIcouldcollectmyselfthewords“Comein”wereoutofmymouth,andthestewardenteredwithatray,bringinginmymorningcoffee.Ihadslept,afterall,andIwassofrightenedthatIshouted,“Thisway!Iamhere,steward,”asthoughhehadbeenmilesaway.Heputdownthetrayonthetablenextthecouchandonlythensaid,veryquietly,“Icanseeyouarehere,sir.”Ifelthimgivemeakeenlook,butIdarednotmeethiseyesjustthen.HemusthavewonderedwhyIhaddrawnthecurtainsofmybedbeforegoingtosleeponthecouch.Hewentout,hookingthedooropenasusual.

           Iheardthecrewwashingdecksaboveme.IknewIwouldhavebeentoldatonceiftherehadbeenanywind.Calm,Ithought,andIwasdoublyvexed.Indeed,Ifeltdualmorethanever.Thestewardreappearedsuddenlyinthedoorway.Ijumpedupfromthecouchsoquicklythathegaveastart.

           “Whatdoyouwanthere?”

           “Closeyourport,sir—theyarewashingdecks.”

           “Itisclosed,”Isaid,reddening.

           “Verywell,sir.”Buthedidnotmovefromthedoorwayandreturnedmystareinanextraordinary,equivocalmannerforatime.Thenhiseyeswavered,allhisexpressionchanged,andinavoiceunusuallygentle,almostcoaxingly:

           “MayIcomeintotaketheemptycupaway,sir?”

           “Ofcourse!”Iturnedmybackonhimwhilehepoppedinandout.ThenIunhookedandclosedthedoorandevenpushedthebolt.Thissortofthingcouldnotgoonverylong.Thecabinwasashotasanoven,too.

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