Кінець рабства

XIII

           

           “I’venoticedoflatethatyouarenotquiteyourself,oldfriend.”

           Heputanaffectionategentlenessintothelasttwowords.Therealintimacyoftheirintercoursehadneverbeensovividlyexpressedbefore.

           “Tut,tut,tut!”

           Thewicker-chaircreakedheavily.

           “Irritable,”commentedMr.VanWyktohimself;andaloud,“I’llexpecttoseeyouinhalfanhour,then,”hesaidnegligently,movingoff.

           “Inhalfanhour,”CaptainWhalley’srigidsilveryheadrepeatedbehindhimasifoutofatrance.

           Amidships,below,twovoices,closeagainsttheengineroom,couldbeheardansweringeachother—oneangryandslow,theotheralert.

           “Itellyouthebeasthaslockedhimselfintogetdrunk.”

           “Can’thelpitnow,Mr.Massy.Afterall,amanhasarighttoshuthimselfupinhiscabininhisowntime.”

           “Nottogetdrunk.”

           “Iheardhimswearthattheworrywiththeboilerswasenoughtodriveanymantodrink,”Sternesaidmaliciously.

           Massyhissedoutsomethingaboutburstingthedoorin.Mr.VanWyk,toavoidthem,crossedinthedarktotheothersideofthedeserteddeck.Theplankingofthelittlewharfrattledfaintlyunderhishastyfeet.

           “Mr.VanWyk!Mr.VanWyk!”

           Hewalkedon:somebodywasrunningonthepath.“You’veforgottentogetyourmail.”

           Sterne,holdingabundleofpapersinhishand,caughtupwithhim.

           “Oh,thanks.”

           But,astheothercontinuedathiselbow,Mr.VanWykstoppedshort.Theoverhangingeaves,descendinglowuponthelightedfrontofthebungalow,threwtheirblackstraight-edgedshadowintothegreatbodyofthenightonthatside.

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Roboto Lora
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