Таємний спільник
II
Whentheship’swayisdeadenedinstaysandallthehandsareaftatthemainbracesyouwillhaveaclearroadtoslipoutandgetoverboardthroughtheopenquarter-deckport.I’vehadthembothfastenedup.Usearope’sendtoloweryourselfintothewatersoastoavoidasplash—youknow.Itcouldbeheardandcausesomebeastlycomplication.”
Hekeptsilentforawhile,thenwhispered,“Iunderstand.”
“Iwon’tbetheretoseeyougo,”Ibeganwithaneffort.“Therest...IonlyhopeIhaveunderstood,too.”
“Youhave.Fromfirsttolast”—andforthefirsttimethereseemedtobeafaltering,somethingstrainedinhiswhisper.Hecaughtholdofmyarm,buttheringingofthesupperbellmademestart.Hedidn’tthough;heonlyreleasedhisgrip.
AftersupperIdidn’tcomebelowagaintillwellpasteighto’clock.Thefaint,steadybreezewasloadedwithdew;andthewet,darkenedsailsheldalltherewasofpropellingpowerinit.Thenight,clearandstarry,sparkleddarkly,andtheopaque,lightlesspatchesshiftingslowlyagainstthelowstarswerethedriftingislets.Ontheportbowtherewasabigonemoredistantandshadowilyimposingbythegreatspaceofskyiteclipsed.
OnopeningthedoorIhadabackviewofmyveryownselflookingatachart.Hehadcomeoutoftherecessandwasstandingnearthetable.
“Quitedarkenough,”Iwhispered.
Hesteppedbackandleanedagainstmybedwithalevel,quietglance.Isatonthecouch.Wehadnothingtosaytoeachother.Overourheadstheofficerofthewatchmovedhereandthere.ThenIheardhimmovequickly.
