Короли и капуста
The Shamrock and the Palm
’‘Laws,now!’saysMissisGuatemala,‘youdon’tsayso,ma’am!Now,mineneverthinkofleavin’me—te-he!ma’am,’snickersMissisGuatemala.
"Iwaswonderin’howIwasgoin’tomoveawayfromthemtropicswithoutbein’hiredagain.Darkasitwas,Icouldseeasteamerridin’intheharbour,withsmokeemergin’fromherstacks.Iturneddownalittlegrassstreetthatrundowntothewater.OnthebeachIfoundalittlebrownnigger-manjustabouttoshoveoffinaskiff.
"‘Holdon,Sambo,’saysI,‘savveEnglish?’
"‘Heapplenty,yes,’sayshe,withapleasantgrin.
"‘Whatsteameristhat?’Iaskshim,‘andwhereisitgoing?Andwhat’sthenews,andthegoodwordandthetimeofday?’
"‘ThatsteamertheConchita,’saidthebrownman,affableandeasy,rollin’acigarette.‘HimcomefromNewOrleansforloadbanana.Himgotloadlastnight.Ithinkhimsailinone,twohour.Verreenicedayweshallbegoin’have.Youhearsometalkee‘boutbigbattle,maybeso?YouthinkcatcheeGeneralDeVega,señor?Yes?No?’
"‘How’sthat,Sambo?’saysI.‘Bigbattle?Whatbattle?WhowantscatcheeGeneralDeVega?I’vebeenupatmyoldgoldminesintheinteriorforacoupleofmonths,andhaven’theardanynews.’
"‘Oh,’saysthenigger-man,proudtospeaktheEnglish,‘verreegreatrevolutioninGuatemalaoneweekago.GeneralDeVega,himtrybepresident.Himraisearmee—one—five—tenthousandmansforfightatthegovernment.
