Кінець рабства
VIII
Andwhatdoyoucallthatsillytouch-and-gomannerinwhichyoutooktheshipoverthebarjustnow?Youexpectmetoputupwiththat?”
Leaningonhiselbowagainsttheladderabaftthebridge,Sterne,themate,triedtohear,blinkingthewhilefromthedistanceatthesecondengineer,whohadcomeupforamoment,andstoodintheengine-roomcompanion.Wipinghishandsonabunchofcottonwaste,helookedaboutwithindifferencetotherightandleftattheriverbanksslippingasternoftheSofalasteadily.
Massyturnedfullatthechair.Thecharacterofhiswhinebecameagainthreatening.
“Takecare.Imayyetdismissyouandfreezetoyourmoneyforayear.Imay...”
Butbeforethesilent,rigidimmobilityofthemanwhosemoneyhadcomeinthenickoftimetosavehimfromutterruin,hisvoicediedoutinhisthroat.
“NotthatIwantyoutogo,”heresumedafterasilence,andinanabsurdlyinsinuatingtone.“Iwantnothingbetterthantobefriendsandrenewtheagreement,ifyouwillconsenttofindanothercoupleofhundredtohelpwiththenewboilers,CaptainWhalley.I’vetoldyoubefore.Shemusthavenewboilers;youknowitaswellasIdo.Haveyouthoughtthisover?”
Hewaited.Theslenderstemofthepipewithitsbulkylumpofabowlattheendhungdownfromhisthicklips.Ithadgoneout.Suddenlyhetookitfrombetweenhisteethandwrunghishandsslightly.
“Don’tyoubelieveme?”Hethrustthepipebowlintothepocketofhisshinyblackjacket.
“It’slikedealingwiththedevil,”hesaid.
