Таємний спільник
I
Itwasarelieftodiscoversuddenlythatitwasnotinmyheadatall,butontheoutsideofthedoor.BeforeIcouldcollectmyselfthewords“Comein”wereoutofmymouth,andthestewardenteredwithatray,bringinginmymorningcoffee.Ihadslept,afterall,andIwassofrightenedthatIshouted,“Thisway!Iamhere,steward,”asthoughhehadbeenmilesaway.Heputdownthetrayonthetablenextthecouchandonlythensaid,veryquietly,“Icanseeyouarehere,sir.”Ifelthimgivemeakeenlook,butIdarednotmeethiseyesjustthen.HemusthavewonderedwhyIhaddrawnthecurtainsofmybedbeforegoingtosleeponthecouch.Hewentout,hookingthedooropenasusual.
Iheardthecrewwashingdecksaboveme.IknewIwouldhavebeentoldatonceiftherehadbeenanywind.Calm,Ithought,andIwasdoublyvexed.Indeed,Ifeltdualmorethanever.Thestewardreappearedsuddenlyinthedoorway.Ijumpedupfromthecouchsoquicklythathegaveastart.
“Whatdoyouwanthere?”
“Closeyourport,sir—theyarewashingdecks.”
“Itisclosed,”Isaid,reddening.
“Verywell,sir.”Buthedidnotmovefromthedoorwayandreturnedmystareinanextraordinary,equivocalmannerforatime.Thenhiseyeswavered,allhisexpressionchanged,andinavoiceunusuallygentle,almostcoaxingly:
“MayIcomeintotaketheemptycupaway,sir?”
“Ofcourse!”Iturnedmybackonhimwhilehepoppedinandout.ThenIunhookedandclosedthedoorandevenpushedthebolt.Thissortofthingcouldnotgoonverylong.Thecabinwasashotasanoven,too.
