Короли и капуста
The Admiral
Attheadmiral’sheelstaggedhisnewly-shippedcrew—threegrinning,glossy,blackCaribs,baretothewaist,thesandspurtinginshowersfromthespringoftheirnakedfeet.
BrieflyandwithdignityFelipedemandedhisvesselofthecollector.Andnowafreshhonourawaitedhim.Thecollector’swife,whoplayedtheguitarandreadnovelsinthehammockallday,hadmorethanalittleromanceinherplacid,yellowbosom.ShehadfoundinanoldbookanengravingofaflagthatpurportedtobethenavalflagofAnchuria.Perhapsithadsobeendesignedbythefoundersofthenation;but,asnonavyhadeverbeenestablished,oblivionhadclaimedtheflag.Laboriouslywithherownhandsshehadmadeaflagafterthepattern—aredcrossuponablue-and-whiteground.ShepresentedittoFelipewiththesewords:"Bravesailor,thisflagisofyourcountry.Betrue,anddefenditwithyourlife.GoyouwithGod."
Forthefirsttimesincehisappointmenttheadmiralshowedaflickerofemotion.Hetookthesilkenemblem,andpassedhishandreverentlyoveritssurface."Iamtheadmiral,"hesaidtothecollector’slady.Beingonlandhecouldbringhimselftonomoreexuberantexpressionofsentiment.Atseawiththeflagatthemastheadofhisnavy,somemoreeloquentexpositionoffeelingsmightbeforthcoming.
Abruptlytheadmiraldepartedwithhiscrew.ForthenextthreedaystheywerebusygivingtheEstrelladelNocheanewcoatofwhitepainttrimmedwithblue.
