Кінець рабства
XII
”
CaptainWhalley,smilingtoo,shookhishead.“Godforbid!”
Hethoughtthatperhapsonthewholehedeservedsomethingbetterthantodieinsuchsentiments.Thetimeofcoursewouldhavetocome,andhetrustedtohisMakertoprovideamannerofgoingoutofwhichheneednotbeashamed.Fortheresthehopedhewouldlivetoahundredifneedbe:othermenhadbeenknown;itwouldbenomiracle.Heexpectednomiracles.
Thepronounced,argumentativetonecausedMr.VanWyktoraisehisheadandlookathimsteadily.CaptainWhalleywasgazingfixedlywitharaptexpression,asthoughhehadseenhisCreator’sfavorabledecreewritteninmysteriouscharactersonthewall.Hekeptperfectlymotionlessforafewseconds,thengothisvastbulkontohisfeetsoimpetuouslythatMr.VanWykwasstartled.
Hestruckfirstaheavyblowonhisinflatedchest:and,throwingouthorizontallyabigarmthatremainedsteady,extendedintheairlikethelimbofatreeonawindlessday—
“Notapainoranachethere.Canyouseethisshakeintheleast?”
Hisvoicewaslow,inanawing,confidentcontrastwiththeheadlongemphasisofhismovements.Hesatdownabruptly.
“Thisisn’ttoboastofit,youknow.Iamnothing,”hesaidinhiseffortlessstrongvoice,thatseemedtocomeoutasnaturallyasariverflows.Hepickedupthestumpofthecigarhehadlaidaside,andaddedpeacefully,withaslightnod,“Asithappens,mylifeisnecessary;itisn’tmyown,itisn’t—Godknows.”
Hedidnotsaymuchfortherestoftheevening,butseveraltimesMr.
