Короли и капуста
The Lotus and the Bottle
Atthedoorhistamemonkeyleapeddownfromhisshelf,chatteringbriskly.Theconsulturnedtohisdesktogethimsomenutsheusuallykeptthere.Reachinginthehalf-darkness,hishandstruckagainstthebottle.Hestartedasifhehadtouchedthecoldrotundityofaserpent.
Hehadforgottenthatthebottlewasthere.
Helightedthelampandfedthemonkey.Then,verydeliberately,helightedacigar,andtookthebottleinhishand,andwalkeddownthepathtothebeach.
Therewasamoon,andtheseawasglorious.Thebreezehadshifted,asitdideachevening,andwasnowrushingsteadilyseaward.
Steppingtothewater’sedge,Geddiehurledtheunopenedbottlefaroutintothesea.Itdisappearedforamoment,andthenshotupwardtwiceitslength.Geddiestoodstill,watchingit.Themoonlightwassobrightthathecouldseeitbobbingupanddownwiththelittlewaves.Slowlyitrecededfromtheshore,flashingandturningasitwent.Thewindwascarryingitouttosea.Soonitbecameamerespeck,doubtfullydiscernedatirregularintervals;andthenthemysteryofitwasswallowedupbythegreatermysteryoftheocean.Geddiestoodstilluponthebeach,smokingandlookingoutuponthewater.
"Simon!—Oh,Simon!—wakeupthere,Simon!"bawledasonorousvoiceattheedgeofthewater.
OldSimonCruzwasahalf-breedfishermanandsmugglerwholivedinahutonthebeach.OutofhisearliestnapSimonwasthusawakened.
Heslippedonhisshoesandwentoutside
