Таємний спільник
II
Ireleasedmygripatlastandheranforwardasiffleeingfordearlife.
Iwonderedwhatmydoublethereinthesaillockerthoughtofthiscommotion.Hewasabletoheareverything—andperhapshewasabletounderstandwhy,onmyconscience,ithadtobethusclose—noless.Myfirstorder“Hardalee!”re-echoedominouslyunderthetoweringshadowofKoh-ringasifIhadshoutedinamountaingorge.AndthenIwatchedthelandintently.Inthatsmoothwaterandlightwinditwasimpossibletofeeltheshipcoming-to.No!Icouldnotfeelher.Andmysecondselfwasmakingnowreadytoshipoutandlowerhimselfoverboard.Perhapshewasgonealready...?
Thegreatblackmassbroodingoverourverymastheadsbegantopivotawayfromtheship’ssidesilently.AndnowIforgotthesecretstrangerreadytodepart,andrememberedonlythatIwasatotalstrangertotheship.Ididnotknowher.Wouldshedoit?Howwasshetobehandled?
Iswungthemainyardandwaitedhelplessly.Shewasperhapsstopped,andherveryfatehunginthebalance,withtheblackmassofKoh-ringlikethegateoftheeverlastingnighttoweringoverhertaffrail.Whatwouldshedonow?Hadshewayonheryet?Isteppedtothesideswiftly,andontheshadowywaterIcouldseenothingexceptafaintphosphorescentflashrevealingtheglassysmoothnessofthesleepingsurface.Itwasimpossibletotell—andIhadnotlearnedyetthefeelofmyship.Wasshemoving?WhatIneededwassomethingeasilyseen,apieceofpaper,whichIcouldthrowoverboardandwatch.Ihadnothingonme.TorundownforitIdidn’tdare.Therewasnotime.
