Кінець рабства
IX
Greatheavens!Coulditbethat?Andafterremainingthunderstruckforafewsecondshetriedtoshakeitoffwithself-contumely,asthoughithadbeentheproductofanunhealthybiastowardstheIncredible,theInexplicable,theUnheard-of—theMad!
This—theilluminatingmoment—hadoccurredthetripbefore,onthereturnpassage.TheyhadjustleftaplaceofcallonthemainlandcalledPangu;theyweresteamingstraightoutofabay.Totheeastamassiveheadlandclosedtheview,withthetiltededgesoftherockystratashowingthroughitsraggedclothingofrankbushesandthornycreepers.Thewindhadbeguntosingintherigging;theseaalongthecoast,greenandasifswollenalittleabovethelineofthehorizon,seemedtopouritselfover,timeaftertime,withaslowandthunderingfall,intotheshadowoftheleewardcape;andacrossthewideopeningthenearestofagroupofsmallislandsstoodenvelopedinthehazyyellowlightofabreezysunrise;stillfartheroutthehummockytopsofotherisletspeepedoutmotionlessabovethewaterofthechannelsbetween,scouredtumultuouslybythebreeze.
TheusualtrackoftheSofalabothgoingandreturningoneverytripledherforafewmilesalongthisreefinfestedregion.Shefollowedabroadlaneofwater,droppingastern,oneafteranother,thesecrumbsoftheearth’scrustresemblingasquadronofdismastedhulksrunindisorderuponafoulgroundofrocksandshoals.
