michael, brother of jerry-第12节

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sixty　gold　a　month；　seein'　there's　only　four　of　you。〃

〃And　a　mate；〃　the　captain　added。

〃And　a　mate；〃　Daughtry　repeated。　　〃Very　good；　sir。　　An'　no　share。〃

〃But　yourself？〃　spoke　up　the　fourth　man；　a　huge…bulking；　colossal…　bodied；　greasy…seeming　grossness　of　fleshthe　Armenian　Jew　and　San　Francisco　pawnbroker　the　previous　steward　had　warned　Daughtry　about。　　〃Have　you　papersletters　of　recommendation；　the　documents　you　receive　when　you　are　paid　off　before　the　shipping　commissioners？〃

〃I　might　ask；　sir；〃　Dag　Daughtry　brazened　it；　〃for　your　own　papers。　　This　ain't　no　regular　cargo…carrier　or　passenger…carrier；　no　more　than　you　gentlemen　are　a　regular　company　of　ship…owners；　with　regular　offices；　doin'　business　in　a　regular　way。　　How　do　I　know　if　you　own　the　ship　even；　or　that　the　charter　ain't　busted　long　ago；　or　that　you're　being　libelled　ashore　right　now；　or　that　you　won't　dump　me　on　any　old　beach　anywheres　without　a　soo…markee　of　what's　comin'　to　me？　　Howsoever〃he　anticipated　by　a　bluff　of　his　own　the　show　of　wrath　from　the　Jew　that　he　knew　would　be　wind　and　bluff〃howsoever；　here's　my　papers　。　。　。　〃

With　a　swift　dip　of　his　hand　into　his　inside　coat…pocket　he　scattered　out　in　a　wealth　of　profusion　on　the　cabin　table　all　the　papers；　sealed　and　stamped；　that　he　had　collected　in　forty…five　years　of　voyaging；　the　latest　date　of　which　was　five　years　back。

〃I　don't　ask　your　papers；〃　he　went　on。　　〃What　I　ask　is；　cash　payment　in　full　the　first　of　each　month；　sixty　dollars　a　month　gold〃

〃Oodles　and　oodles　of　it；　gold　and　gold　and　better　than　gold；　in　cask　and　chest；　in　cask　and　chest；　a　fathom　under　the　sand；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　assured　him　in　beneficent　cackles。　　〃Kings；　principalities　and　powers！all　of　us；　the　least　of　us。　　And　plenty　more；　my　gentlemen；　plenty　more。　　The　latitude　and　longitude　are　mine；　and　the　bearings　from　the　oak　ribs　on　the　shoal　to　Lion's　Head；　and　the　cross…bearings　from　the　points　unnamable；　I　only　know。　　I　only　still　live　of　all　that　brave；　mad；　scallywag　ship's　company　。　。　。　〃

〃Will　you　sign　the　articles　to　that？〃　the　Jew　demanded；　cutting　in　on　the　ancient's　maunderings。

〃What　port　do　you　wind　up　the　cruise　in？〃　Daughtry　asked。

〃San　Francisco。〃

〃I'll　sign　the　articles　that　I'm　to　sign　off　in　San　Francisco　then。〃

The　Jew；　the　captain；　and　the　farmer　nodded。

〃But　there's　several　other　things　to　be　agreed　upon；〃　Daughtry　continued。　　〃In　the　first　place；　I　want　my　six　quarts　a　day。　　I'm　used　to　it；　and　I'm　too　old　a　stager　to　change　my　habits。〃

〃Of　spirits；　I　suppose？〃　the　Jew　asked　sarcastically。

〃No；　of　beer；　good　English　beer。　　It　must　be　understood　beforehand；　no　matter　what　long　stretches　we　may　be　at　sea；　that　a　sufficient　supply　is　taken　along。〃

〃Anything　else？〃　the　captain　queried。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　Daughtry　answered。　　〃I　got　a　dog　that　must　come　along。〃

〃Anything　else？a　wife　or　family　maybe？〃　the　farmer　asked。

〃No　wife　or　family；　sir。　　But　I　got　a　nigger；　a　perfectly　good　nigger；　that's　got　to　come　along。　　He　can　sign　on　for　ten　dollars　a　month　if　he　works　for　the　ship　all　his　time。　　But　if　he　works　for　me　all　the　time；　I'll　let　him　sign　on　for　two　an'　a　half　a　month。〃

〃Eighteen　days　in　the　longboat；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　shrilled；　to　Daughtry's　startlement。　　〃Eighteen　days　in　the　longboat；　eighteen　days　of　scorching　hell。〃

〃My　word；〃　quoth　Daughtry；　〃the　old　gentleman'd　give　one　the　jumps。　　There'll　sure　have　to　be　plenty　of　beer。〃

〃Sea　stewards　put　on　some　style；　I　must　say；〃　commented　the　wheat…　farmer；　oblivious　to　the　Ancient　Mariner；　who　still　declaimed　of　the　heat　of　the　longboat。

〃Suppose　we　don't　see　our　way　to　signing　on　a　steward　who　travels　in　such　style？〃　the　Jew　asked；　mopping　the　inside　of　his　collar…　band　with　a　coloured　silk　handkerchief。

〃Then　you'll　never　know　what　a　good　steward　you've　missed；　sir；〃　Daughtry　responded　airily。

〃I　guess　there's　plenty　more　stewards　on　Sydney　beach；〃　the　captain　said　briskly。　　〃And　I　guess　I　haven't　forgotten　old　days；　when　I　hired　them　like　so　much　dirt；　yes；　by　Jinks；　so　much　dirt；　there　were　so　many　of　them。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Steward；　for　looking　us　up；〃　the　Jew　took　up　the　idea　with　insulting　oiliness。　　〃We　very　much　regret　our　inability　to　meet　your　wishes　in　the　matter〃

〃And　I　saw　it　go　under　the　sand；　a　fathom　under　the　sand；　on　cross…bearings　unnamable；　where　the　mangroves　fade　away；　and　the　coconuts　grow；　and　the　rise　of　land　lifts　from　the　beach　to　the　Lion's　Head。〃

〃Hold　your　horses；〃　the　wheat…farmer　said；　with　a　flare　of　irritation；　directed；　not　at　the　Ancient　Mariner；　but　at　the　captain　and　the　Jew。　　〃Who's　putting　up　for　this　expedition？　Don't　I　get　no　say　so？　　Ain't　my　opinion　ever　to　be　asked？　　I　like　this　steward。　　Strikes　me　he's　the　real　goods。　　I　notice　he's　as　polite　as　all　get…out；　and　I　can　see　he　can　take　an　order　without　arguing。　　And　he　ain't　no　fool　by　a　long　shot。〃

〃That's　the　very　point；　Grimshaw；〃　the　Jew　answered　soothingly。　〃Considering　the　unusualness　of　our　。　。　。　of　the　expedition；　we'd　be　better　served　by　a　steward　who　is　more　of　a　fool。　　Another　point；　which　I'd　esteem　a　real　favour　from　you；　is　not　to　forget　that　you　haven't　put　a　red　copper　more　into　this　trip　than　I　have…　…〃

〃And　where'd　either　of　you　be；　if　it　wasn't　for　me　with　my　knowledge　of　the　sea？〃　the　captain　demanded　aggrievedly。　　〃To　say　nothing　of　the　mortgage　on　my　house　and　on　the　nicest　little　best　paying　flat　building　in　San　Francisco　since　the　earthquake。〃

〃But　who's　still　putting　up？all　of　you；　I　ask　you。〃　　The　wheat…　farmer　leaned　forward；　resting　the　heels　of　his　hands　on　his　knees　so　that　the　fingers　hung　down　his　long　shins；　in　Daughtry's　appraisal；　half…way　to　his　feet。　　〃You；　Captain　Doane；　can't　raise　another　penny　on　your　properties。　　My　land　still　grows　the　wheat　that　brings　the　ready。　　You；　Simon　Nishikanta；　won't　put　up　another　pennyyet　your　loan…shark　offices　are　doing　business　at　the　same　old　stands　at　God　knows　what　per　cent。　to　drunken　sailors。　　And　you　hang　the　expedition　up　here　in　this　hole…in…the…　wall　waiting　for　my　agent　to　cable　more　wheat…money。　　Well；　I　guess　we'll　just　sign　on　this　steward　at　sixty　a　month　and　all　he　asks；　or　I'll　just　naturally　quit　you　cold　on　the　next　fast　steamer　to　San　Francisco。〃

He　stood　up　abruptly；　towering　to　such　height　that　Daughtry　looked　to　see　the　crown　of　his　head　collide　with　the　deck　above。

〃I'm　sick　and　tired　of　you　all；　yes；　I　am；〃　he　continued。　　〃Get　busy！　　Well；　let's　get　busy。　　My　money's　coming。　　It'll　be　here　by　to…morrow。　　Let's　be　ready　to　start　by　hiring　a　steward　that　is　a　steward。　　I　don't　care　if　he　brings　two　families　along。〃

〃I　guess　you're　right；　Grimshaw；〃　Simon　Nishikanta　said　appeasingly。　　〃The　trip　is　beginning　to　get　on　all　our　nerves。　Forget　it　if　I　fly　off　the　handle。　　Of　course　we'll　take　this　steward　if　you　want　him。　　I　thought　he　was　too　stylish　for　you。〃

He　turned　to　Daughtry。

〃Naturally；　the　least　said　ashore　about　us　the　better。〃

〃That's　all　right；　sir。　　I　can　keep　my　mouth　shut；　though　I　might　as　well　tell　you　there's　some　pretty　tales　about　you　drifting　around　the　beach　right　now。〃

〃The　object　of　our　expedition？〃　the　Jew　queried　quickly。

Daughtry　nodded。

〃Is　that　why　you　want　to　come？〃　was　demanded　equally　quickly。

Daughtry　shook　his　head。

〃As　long　as　you　give　me　my　beer　each　day；　sir；　I　ain't　goin'　to　be　interested　in　your　treasure…huntin'。　　It　ain't　no　new　tale　to　me。　The　South　Seas　is　populous　with　treasure…hunters〃　　Almost　could　Daughtry　have　sworn　that　he　had　seen　a　flash　of　anxiety　break　through　the　dream…films　that　bleared　the　Ancient　Mariner's　eyes。　〃And　I　must　say；　sir；〃　he　went　on　easily；　though　saying　what　he　would　not　have　said　had　it　not　been　for　what　he　was　almost　certain　he　sensed　of　the　ancient's　anxiousness；　〃that　the　South　Seas　is　just　naturally　lousy　with　buried　treasure。　　There's　Keeling…Cocos；　millions　'n'　millions　of　it；　pounds　sterling；　I　mean；　waiting　for　the　lucky　one　with　the　right　steer。〃

This　time　Daughtry　could　have　sworn　to　having　sensed　a　change　toward　relief　in　the　Ancient　Mariner；　whose　eyes　were　again　filmy　with　dreams。

〃But　I　ain't　interested　in　treasure；　sir；〃　Daughtry　concluded。　〃It's　beer　I'm　interested　in。　　You　can　chase　your　treasure；　an'　I　don't　care　how　long；　just　as　long　as　I've　got　six　quarts　to　open　each　day。　　But　I　give　you　fair　warning；　sir；　before　I　sign　on：　　if　the　beer　dries　up；　I'm　goin'　to　get　interested　in　what　you're　after。　　Fair　play　is　my　motto。〃

〃Do　you　expect　us　to　pay　for　your　beer　in　addition？〃　Simon　Nishikanta　demanded。

To　Daughtry　it　was　too　good　to　be　true。　　Here；　with　the　Jew　healing　the　breach　with　the　wheat…farmer　whose　agents　still　cabled　money；　was　the　time　to　take　advantage。

〃Sure；　it's　one　of　our　agreements；　sir。　　What　time　would　it　suit　you；　sir；　to…morrow　afternoon；　for　me　to　sign　on　at　the　shipping　commissioner's？〃

〃Casks　and　chests　of　it；　casks　and　chests　of　it；　oodles　and　oodles；　a　fathom　under　the　sand；〃　chattered　the　Ancient　Mariner。

〃You're　all　touched　up　under　the　roof；〃　Daughtry　grinned。　　〃Which　ain't　got　nothing　to　do　with　me　as　long　as　you　furnish　the　beer；　pay　me　due　an'　proper　what's　comin'　to　me　the　first　of　each　an'　every　month；　an'　pay　me　off　final