Королі та капуста
The Lotus and the Bottle
AtcollegeGeddiehadbeenatreasureasafirst-baseman.Henowclosedhisumbrella,stuckituprightinthesand,andstooped,withhishandsrestinguponhisknees.Thepurser,burlesquingthepitcher’scontortions,hurledattheconsultheheavyrollofnewspapers,tiedwithastring,thatthesteameralwaysbroughtforhim.Geddieleapedhighandcaughttherollwithasounding"thwack."Theloungersonthebeach—aboutathirdofthepopulationofthetown—laughedandapplaudeddelightedly.Everyweektheyexpectedtoseethatrollofpapersdeliveredandreceivedinthatsamemanner,andtheywereneverdisappointed.InnovationsdidnotflourishinCoralio.
Theconsulrehoistedhisumbrellaandwalkedbacktotheconsulate.
Thishomeofagreatnation’srepresentativewasawoodenstructureoftworooms,withanative-builtgalleryofpoles,bambooandnipapalmrunningonthreesidesofit.Oneroomwastheofficialapartment,furnishedchastelywithaflat-topdesk,ahammock,andthreeuncomfortablecane-seatedchairs.Engravingsofthefirstandlatestpresidentofthecountryrepresentedhungagainstthewall.Theotherroomwastheconsul’slivingapartment.
Itwaseleveno’clockwhenhereturnedfromthebeach,andthereforebreakfasttime.Chanca,theCaribwomanwhocookedforhim,wasjustservingthemealonthesideofthegalleryfacingthesea—aspotfamousasthecoolestinCoralio.
