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.
