Кінець рабства
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Theabruptandfalteringintonationsofthedeepvoice;thetaciturnityputonlikeanarmor;thedeliberate,asifguarded,movements;thelongimmobilities,asifthemanhewatchedhadbeenafraidtodisturbtheveryair:everyfamiliargesture,everywordutteredinhishearing,everysighoverheard,hadacquiredaspecialsignificance,aconfirmatoryimport.
EverydaythatpassedovertheSofalaappearedtoSternesimplycrammedfullwithproofs—withincontrovertibleproofs.Atnight,whenoffduty,hewouldstealoutofhiscabininpyjamas(formoreproofs)andstandafullhour,perhaps,onhisbarefeetbelowthebridge,asabsolutelymotionlessastheawningstanchioninitsdecksocketnearby.Onthestretchesofeasynavigationitisnotusualforacoastingcaptaintoremainondeckallthetimeofhiswatch.TheSerangkeepsitforhimasamatterofcustom;inopenwater,onastraightcourse,heisusuallytrustedtolookaftertheshipbyhimself.Butthisoldmanseemedincapableofremainingquietlydownbelow.Nodoubthecouldnotsleep.Andnowonder.Thiswasalsoaproof.Suddenlyinthesilenceoftheshippantinguponthestill,darksea,Sternewouldhearalowvoiceabovehimexclaimingnervously—
“Serang!”
“Tuan!”
“Youarewatchingthecompasswell?”
“Yes,Iamwatching,Tuan.”
“Theshipismakinghercourse?”
“Sheis,Tuan.Verystraight.”
“Itiswell;andremember,Serang,thattheorderisthatyouaretomindthehelmsmenandkeepalookoutwithcare,thesameasifIwerenotondeck.
