Кінець рабства
IX
Thetaciturnfishermenwithinthereefswouldextendtheirleanarmstowardstheoffing;andthebrownfiguresstoopingonthetinybeaches,thebrownfiguresofmen,women,andchildrengrubbinginthesandinsearchofturtles’eggs,wouldriseup,crookedelbowaloftandhandovertheeyes,towatchthismonthlyapparitionglidestraighton,swerveoff—andgoby.Theirearscaughtthepantingofthatship;theireyesfollowedhertillshepassedbetweenthetwocapesofthemainlandgoingatfullspeedasthoughshehopedtomakeherwayuncheckedintotheverybosomoftheearth.
Onsuchdaystheluminousseawouldgivenosignofthedangerslurkingonbothsidesofherpath.Everythingremainedstill,crushedbytheoverwhelmingpowerofthelight;andthewholegroup,opaqueinthesunshine,—therocksresemblingpinnacles,therocksresemblingspires,therocksresemblingruins;theformsofisletsresemblingbeehives,resemblingmole-hills,theisletsrecallingtheshapesofhaystacks,thecontoursofivy-cladtowers,—wouldstandreflectedtogetherupsidedownintheunwrinkledwater,likecarvedtoysofebonydisposedonthesilveredplate-glassofamirror.
Thefirsttouchofblowingweatherwouldenvelopthewholeatonceinthespumeofthewindwardbreakers,asifinasuddencloudlikeburstofsteam;andtheclearwaterseemedfairlytoboilinallthepassages.
