Королі та капуста

           Atthedoorhistamemonkeyleapeddownfromhisshelf,chatteringbriskly.Theconsulturnedtohisdesktogethimsomenutsheusuallykeptthere.Reachinginthehalf-darkness,hishandstruckagainstthebottle.Hestartedasifhehadtouchedthecoldrotundityofaserpent.

           Hehadforgottenthatthebottlewasthere.

           Helightedthelampandfedthemonkey.Then,verydeliberately,helightedacigar,andtookthebottleinhishand,andwalkeddownthepathtothebeach.

           Therewasamoon,andtheseawasglorious.Thebreezehadshifted,asitdideachevening,andwasnowrushingsteadilyseaward.

           Steppingtothewater’sedge,Geddiehurledtheunopenedbottlefaroutintothesea.Itdisappearedforamoment,andthenshotupwardtwiceitslength.Geddiestoodstill,watchingit.Themoonlightwassobrightthathecouldseeitbobbingupanddownwiththelittlewaves.Slowlyitrecededfromtheshore,flashingandturningasitwent.Thewindwascarryingitouttosea.Soonitbecameamerespeck,doubtfullydiscernedatirregularintervals;andthenthemysteryofitwasswallowedupbythegreatermysteryoftheocean.Geddiestoodstilluponthebeach,smokingandlookingoutuponthewater.

           "Simon!—Oh,Simon!—wakeupthere,Simon!"bawledasonorousvoiceattheedgeofthewater.

           OldSimonCruzwasahalf-breedfishermanandsmugglerwholivedinahutonthebeach.OutofhisearliestnapSimonwasthusawakened.

           Heslippedonhisshoesandwentoutside