Кінець рабства
IX
Withintheknotsandloopsoftherocksthewaterrestedmoretransparentthancrystalundertheircrookedandleakycanoes,scoopedoutofthetrunkofatree:theformsofthebottomundulatedslightlytothedipofapaddle;andthemenseemedtohangintheair,theyseemedtohanginclosedwithinthefibersofadark,soddenlog,fishingpatientlyinastrange,unsteady,pellucid,greenairabovetheshoals.
Theirbodiesstalkedbrownandemaciatedasifdriedupinthesunshine;theirlivesranoutsilently;thehomeswheretheywereborn,wenttorest,anddied—flimsyshedsofrushesandcoarsegrassekedoutwithafewraggedmats—werehiddenoutofsightfromtheopensea.Noglowoftheirhouseholdfireseverkindledforaseamanaredsparkupontheblindnightofthegroup:andthecalmsofthecoast,theflaminglongcalmsoftheequator,theunbreathing,concentratedcalmslikethedeepintrospectionofapassionatenature,broodedawfullyfordaysandweekstogetherovertheunchangeableinheritanceoftheirchildren;tillatlastthestones,hotlikeliveembers,scorchedthenakedsole,tillthewaterclungwarm,andsickly,andasifthickened,aboutthelegsofleanmenwithgirdedloins,wadingthigh-deepinthepaleblazeoftheshallows.AnditwouldhappennowandthenthattheSofala,throughsomedelayinoneoftheportsofcall,wouldheaveinsightmakingforPangubayaslateasnoonday.
Onlyablurringcloudatfirst,thethinmistofhersmokewouldarisemysteriouslyfromanemptypointontheclearlineofseaandsky.
