Кінець рабства
XI
“Ididn’tmakethelaw—butthereitis;andIamanactiveyoungfellow!Iquiteholdwithyourideas;Iknowyourwaysbythistime,Mr.Massy.Iwouldn’ttrytogivemyselfairslikethat—that—erlazyspecimenofanoldmanupthere.”
Heputamarkedemphasisonthelastsentence,toleadMassyawayfromthetrackincase...buthedidnotdoubtofnowholdinghissuccess.Thechiefengineerseemednonplused,likeaslowmaninvitedtocatchholdofawhirligigofsomesort.
“Whatyouwant,sir,isachapwithnononsenseabouthim,whowouldbecontenttobeyoursailing-master.Quiteright,too.Well,IamfitfortheworkasmuchasthatSerang.Becausethat’swhatitamountsto.Doyouknow,sir,thatadam’Malaylikeamonkeyisinchargeofyourship—andnooneelse.Justlistentohisfeetpit-pattingaboveusonthebridge—realofficerincharge.He’stakingheruptheriverwhilethegreatmaniswallowinginthechair—perhapsasleep;andifheis,thatwouldnotmakeitmuchworseeither—takemywordforit.”
Hetriedtothrusthimselffartherin.Massy,withloweredforehead,onehandgraspingthebackofthearm-chair,didnotbudge.
“Youthink,sir,thatthemanhasgotyoutightinhisagreement...”Massyraisedaheavysnarlingfaceatthis...“Well,sir,onecan’thelphearingofitonboard.It’snosecret.Andithasbeenthetalkonshoreforyears;fellowshavebeenmakingbetsaboutit.No,sir!It’syouwhohavegothimatyourmercy.Youwillsaythatyoucan’tdismisshimforindolence.Difficulttoproveincourt,andsoon.Why,yes.
