Улисс
Chapter 1
Canyourecalltheboats?
Oursoi-disantsailormunchedheavilyawhilehungrilybeforeanswering:
—I’mtiredofallthemrocksinthesea,hesaid,andboatsandships.Saltjunkallthetime.
Tiredseemingly,heceased.Hisquestionerperceivingthathewasnotlikelytogetagreatdealofchangeoutofsuchawilyoldcustomer,felltowoolgatheringontheenormousdimensionsofthewaterabouttheglobe,sufficeittosaythat,asacasualglanceatthemaprevealed,itcoveredfullythreefourthsofitandhefullyrealisedaccordinglywhatitmeanttorulethewaves.Onmorethanoneoccasion,adozenatthelowest,neartheNorthBullatDollymounthehadremarkedasuperannuatedoldsalt,evidentlyderelict,seatedhabituallynearthenotparticularlyredolentseaonthewall,staringquiteobliviouslyatitanditathim,dreamingoffreshwoodsandpasturesnewassomeonesomewheresings.Anditlefthimwonderingwhy.Possiblyhehadtriedtofindoutthesecretforhimself,flounderingupanddowntheantipodesandallthatsortofthingandoverandunder,well,notexactlyunder,temptingthefates.Andtheoddsweretwentytoniltherewasreallynosecretaboutitatall.
