Тайный сообщник
II
“Sir!”
“Canyougetmealittlehotwaterfromthegalley?”
“Iamafraid,sir,thegalleyfire’sbeenoutforsometimenow.”
“Goandsee.”
Heflewupthestairs.
“Now,”Iwhispered,loudly,intothesaloon—tooloudly,perhaps,butIwasafraidIcouldn’tmakeasound.Hewasbymysideinaninstant—thedoublecaptainslippedpastthestairs—throughatinydarkpassage...aslidingdoor.Wewereinthesaillocker,scramblingonourkneesoverthesails.Asuddenthoughtstruckme.Isawmyselfwanderingbarefooted,bareheaded,thesunbeatingonmydarkpoll.Isnatchedoffmyfloppyhatandtriedhurriedlyinthedarktoramitonmyotherself.Hedodgedandfendedoffsilently.Iwonderwhathethoughthadcometomebeforeheunderstoodandsuddenlydesisted.Ourhandsmetgropingly,lingeredunitedinasteady,motionlessclaspforasecond....Nowordwasbreathedbyeitherofuswhentheyseparated.
Iwasstandingquietlybythepantrydoorwhenthestewardreturned.
“Sorry,sir.Kettlebarelywarm.ShallIlightthespiritlamp?”
“Nevermind.”
Icameoutondeckslowly.Itwasnowamatterofconsciencetoshavethelandascloseaspossible—fornowhemustgooverboardwhenevertheshipwasputinstays.Must!Therecouldbenogoingbackforhim.AfteramomentIwalkedovertoleewardandmyheartflewintomymouthatthenearnessofthelandonthebow.UnderanyothercircumstancesIwouldnothaveheldonaminutelonger.Thesecondmatehadfollowedmeanxiously.
IlookedontillIfeltIcouldcommandmyvoice.
