Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
Shepossessedasummerpalaceonthesouthcoast,whichwefrequentedmuch.Thentherewereman’sdiversions.Ibecamepatronofthesportofwrestling,andrevivedarcheryamongtheyang-bans.Also,therewastiger-huntinginthenorthernmountains.
AremarkablethingwasthetidesofCho-Sen.Onournorth-eastcoasttherewasscarceariseandfallofafoot.Onourwestcoasttheneaptidesranashighassixtyfeet.Cho-Senhadnocommerce,noforeigntraders.Therewasnovoyagingbeyondhercoasts,andnovoyagingofotherpeoplestohercoasts.Thiswasduetoherimmemorialpolicyofisolation.OnceinadecadeorascoreofyearsChineseambassadorsarrived,buttheycameoverland,aroundtheYellowSea,acrossthecountryoftheHong-du,anddowntheMandarinRoadtoKeijo.Theroundtripwasayear-longjourney.TheirmissionwastoexactfromourEmperortheemptyceremonialofacknowledgmentofChina’sancientsuzerainty.
ButHamel,fromlongbrooding,wasripeningforaction.Hisplansgrewapace.Cho-SenwasIndiesenoughforhimcouldhebutworkitright.Littleheconfided,butwhenhebegantoplaytohavememadeadmiraloftheCho-Sennavyofjunks,andtoinquiremorethancasuallyofthedetailsofthestore-placesoftheimperialtreasury,Icouldputtwoandtwotogether.
NowIdidnotcaretodepartfromCho-SenexceptwiththeLadyOm.
