Кінець рабства
X
Awhalewithaninseparablepilot-fish!That’swhattheoldmanlookedlike;foritcouldnotbesaidhelookedlikeashark,thoughMr.Massyhadcalledhimthatveryname.ButMr.Massydidnotmindwhathesaidinhissavagefits.Sternesmiledtohimself—andgraduallytheideasevokedbythesound,bytheimaginedshapeofthewordpilot-fish;theideasofaid,ofguidanceneededandreceived,cameuppermostinhismind:thewordpilotawakenedtheideaoftrust,ofdependence,theideaofwelcome,clear-eyedhelpbroughttotheseamangropingforthelandinthedark:gropingblindlyinfogs:feelingtheirwayinthethickweatherofthegalesthat,fillingtheairwithasaltmistblownupfromthesea,contracttherangeofsightonallsidestoashrunkenhorizonthatseemswithinreachofthehand.
Apilotseesbetterthanastranger,becausehislocalknowledge,likeasharpervision,completestheshapesofthingshurriedlyglimpsed;penetratestheveilsofmistspreadoverthelandbythestormsofthesea;defineswithcertitudetheoutlinesofacoastlyingunderthepalloffog,theformsoflandmarkshalfburiedinastarlessnightasinashallowgrave.Herecognizesbecausehealreadyknows.