Кінець рабства
VIII
“Whydon’tyouspeak?AtfirstyouweresohighandmightywithmeIhardlydaredtocreepaboutmyowndeck.NowIcan’tgetawordfromyou.Youdon’tseemtoseemeatall.Whatdoesitmean?Uponmysoul,youterrifymewiththisdeafanddumbtrick.What’sgoingoninthatheadofyours?Whatareyouplottingagainstmetheresohardthatyoucan’tsayaword?Youwillnevermakemebelievethatyou—you—don’tknowwheretolayyourhandsonacoupleofhundred.YouhavemademecursethedayIwasborn....”
“Mr.Massy,”saidCaptainWhalleysuddenly,withoutstirring.
Theengineerstartedviolently.
“IfthatissoIcanonlybegyoutoforgiveme.”
“Starboard,”mutteredtheSerangtothehelmsman;andtheSofalabegantoswingroundthebendintothesecondreach.
“Ough!”Massyshuddered.“Youmakemybloodruncold.Whatmadeyoucomehere?Whatmadeyoucomeaboardthateveningallofasudden,withyourhightalkandyourmoney—temptingme?Ialwayswonderedwhatwasyourmotive?Youfastenedyourselfonmetohaveeasytimesandgrowfatonmylifeblood,Itellyou.Wasthatit?Ibelieveyouarethegreatestmiserintheworld,orelsewhy...”
“No.Iamonlypoor,”interruptedCaptainWhalley,stonily.
“Steady,”murmuredtheSerang.Massyturnedawaywithhischinonhisshoulder.
“Idon’tbelieveit,”hesaidinhisdogmatictone.CaptainWhalleymadenomovement.“Thereyousitlikeagorgedvulture—exactlylikeavulture
