Королі та капуста

           "Ifindthatasaprophylacticalittlebrandyisalmostanecessityinthisclimate."

           Astheyturnedtoenterthepulperiaanativeman,barefoot,glidednoiselesslyupandaddressedthedoctorinSpanish.Hewasyellowish-brown,likeanover-ripelemon;heworeacottonshirtandraggedlinentrousersgirdedbyaleatherbelt.Hisfacewaslikeananimal’s,liveandwary,butwithoutpromiseofmuchintelligence.Thismanjabberedwithanimationandsomuchseriousnessthatitseemedapitythathiswordsweretobewasted.

           Dr.Greggfelthispulse.

           "Yousick?"heinquired.

           "Mimujerestáenfermaenlacasa,"saidtheman,thusendeavouringtoconveythenews,intheonlylanguageopentohim,thathiswifelayillinherpalm-thatchedhut.

           Thedoctordrewahandfulofcapsulesfilledwithawhitepowderfromhistrouserspocket.Hecountedouttenofthemintothenative’shand,andhelduphisforefingerimpressively.

           "Takeone,"saidthedoctor,"everytwohours."Hethenhelduptwofingers,shakingthememphaticallybeforethenative’sface.Nexthepulledouthiswatchandranhisfingerrounditsdialtwice.Againthetwofingersconfrontedthepatient’snose."Two—two—twohours,"repeatedthedoctor.

           "Si,Señor,"saidthenative,sadly.

           Hepulledacheapsilverwatchfromhisownpocketandlaiditinthedoctor’shand."Mebring,"saidhe,strugglingpainfullywithhisscantEnglish,"otherwatchytomorrow."Thenhedeparteddownheartedlywithhiscapsules.