Короли и капуста
Smith
ThoughtI’dpaymyrespectstotheflag."
"Sitdown,"saidGeddie."I’vebeenadmiringyourcrafteversinceitcameinsight.Lookslikeafastsailer.What’shertonnage?"
"Searchme!"saidSmith."Idon’tknowwhatsheweighsinat.Butshe’sgotatidygait.TheRambler—that’shername—don’ttakethedustofanythingafloat.Thisismyfirsttriponher.I’mtakingasquintalongthiscoastjusttogetanideaofthecountrieswheretherubberandredpepperandrevolutionscomefrom.Ihadnoideatherewassomuchscenerydownhere.Why,CentralParkain’tinitwiththisneckofthewoods.I’mfromNewYork.Theygetmonkeys,andcocoanuts,andparrotsdownhere—isthatright?"
"Wehavethemall,"saidGeddie."I’mquitesurethatourfaunaandflorawouldtakeaprizeoverCentralPark."
"Maybetheywould,"admittedSmith,cheerfully."Ihaven’tseenthemyet.ButIguessyou’vegotusskinnedontheanimalandvegetationquestion.Youdon’thavemuchtravelhere,doyou?"
"Travel?"queriedtheconsul."Isupposeyoumeanpassengersonthesteamers.No;veryfewpeoplelandinCoralio.Aninvestornowandthen—touristsandsight-seersgenerallygofurtherdownthecoasttooneofthelargertownswherethereisaharbour."
"Iseeashipoutthereloadingupwithbananas,"saidSmith."Anypassengerscomeonher?"
"That’stheKarlsefin,"saidtheconsul."She’satrampfruiter—madeherlasttriptoNewYork,Ibelieve.No;shebroughtnopassengers.
