Таємний спільник
II
Onthebluebackgroundofthehighcoasttheyseemtofloatonsilverypatchesofcalmwater,aridandgray,ordarkgreenandroundedlikeclumpsofevergreenbushes,withthelargerones,amileortwolong,showingtheoutlinesofridges,ribsofgrayrockunderthedarkmantleofmattedleafage.Unknowntotrade,totravel,almosttogeography,themanneroflifetheyharborisanunsolvedsecret.Theremustbevillages—settlementsoffishermenatleast—onthelargestofthem,andsomecommunicationwiththeworldisprobablykeptupbynativecraft.Butallthatforenoon,asweheadedforthem,fannedalongbythefaintestofbreezes,IsawnosignofmanorcanoeinthefieldofthetelescopeIkeptonpointingatthescatteredgroup.
AtnoonIgavenoordersforachangeofcourse,andthemate’swhiskersbecamemuchconcernedandseemedtobeofferingthemselvesundulytomynotice.AtlastIsaid:
“Iamgoingtostandrightin.Quitein—asfarasIcantakeher.”
Thestareofextremesurpriseimpartedanairofferocityalsotohiseyes,andhelookedtrulyterrificforamoment.
“We’renotdoingwellinthemiddleofthegulf,”Icontinued,casually.“Iamgoingtolookforthelandbreezestonight.”
“Blessmysoul!Doyoumean,sir,inthedarkamongstthelotofallthemislandsandreefsandshoals?”
“Well—ifthereareanyregularlandbreezesatallonthiscoastonemustgetcloseinshoretofindthem,mustn’tone?”
“Blessmysoul!”heexclaimedagainunderhisbreath.Allthatafternoonheworeadreamy,contemplativeappearancewhichinhimwasamarkofperplexity.
