Таємний спільник
II
AfterdinnerIwentintomystateroomasifImeanttotakesomerest.Therewetwobentourdarkheadsoverahalf-unrolledchartlyingonmybed.
“There,”Isaid.“It’sgottobeKoh-ring.I’vebeenlookingatiteversincesunrise.Ithasgottwohillsandalowpoint.Itmustbeinhabited.Andonthecoastoppositethereiswhatlookslikethemouthofabiggishriver—withsometowns,nodoubt,notfarup.It’sthebestchanceforyouthatIcansee.”
“Anything.Koh-ringletitbe.”
Helookedthoughtfullyatthechartasifsurveyingchancesanddistancesfromaloftyheight—andfollowingwithhiseyeshisownfigurewanderingontheblanklandofCochin-China,andthenpassingoffthatpieceofpapercleanoutofsightintounchartedregions.Anditwasasiftheshiphadtwocaptainstoplanhercourseforher.IhadbeensoworriedandrestlessrunningupanddownthatIhadnothadthepatiencetodressthatday.Ihadremainedinmysleepingsuit,withstrawslippersandasoftfloppyhat.Theclosenessoftheheatinthegulfhadbeenmostoppressive,andthecrewwereusedtoseeingmewanderinginthatairyattire.
“Shewillclearthesouthpointassheheadsnow,”Iwhisperedintohisear.“Goodnessonlyknowswhen,though,butcertainlyafterdark.I’lledgeherintohalfamile,asfarasImaybeabletojudgeinthedark—”
“Becareful,”hemurmured,warningly—andIrealizedsuddenlythatallmyfuture,theonlyfutureforwhichIwasfit,wouldperhapsgoirretrievablytopiecesinanymishaptomyfirstcommand.
Icouldnotstopamomentlongerintheroom.
