end of the tether-第21节
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Sterne scratched at the door softly； then； putting his
lips to the rose of the ventilator； said
〃I must speak to you； Mr。 Massy。 Just give me a
minute or two。〃
〃I am busy。 Go away from my door。〃
〃But pray； Mr。 Massy 。 。 。〃
〃You go away。 D'you hear？ Take yourself off alto…
getherto the other end of the shipquite away 。 。 。〃
The voice inside dropped low。 〃To the devil。〃
Sterne paused： then very quietly
〃It's rather pressing。 When do you think you will
be at liberty； sir？〃
The answer to this was an exasperated 〃Never〃； and
at once Sterne； with a very firm expression of face；
turned the handle。
Mr。 Massy's staterooma narrow； one…berth cabin
smelt strongly of soap； and presented to view a swept；
dusted； unadorned neatness； not so much bare as barren；
not so much severe as starved and lacking in humanity；
like the ward of a public hospital； or rather （owing to
the small size） like the clean retreat of a desperately
poor but exemplary person。 Not a single photograph
frame ornamented the bulkheads； not a single article of
clothing； not as much as a spare cap； hung from the
brass hooks。 All the inside was painted in one plain
tint of pale blue； two big sea…chests in sailcloth covers
and with iron padlocks fitted exactly in the space under
the bunk。 One glance was enough to embrace all the
strip of scrubbed planks within the four unconcealed
corners。 The absence of the usual settee was striking；
the teak…wood top of the washing…stand seemed hermeti…
cally closed； and so was the lid of the writing…desk；
which protruded from the partition at the foot of the
bed…place； containing a mattress as thin as a pancake
under a threadbare blanket with a faded red stripe； and
a folded mosquito…net against the nights spent in harbor。
There was not a scrap of paper anywhere in sight； no
boots on the floor； no litter of any sort； not a speck of
dust anywhere； no traces of pipe…ash even； which； in
a heavy smoker； was morally revolting； like a manifesta…
tion of extreme hypocrisy； and the bottom of the old
wooden arm…chair （the only seat there）； polished with
much use； shone as if its shabbiness had been waxed。
The screen of leaves on the bank； passing as if unrolled
endlessly in the round opening of the port； sent a waver…
ing network of light and shade into the place。
Sterne； holding the door open with one hand； had thrust
in his head and shoulders。 At this amazing intrusion
Massy； who was doing absolutely nothing； jumped up
speechless。
〃Don't call names；〃 murmured Sterne hurriedly。 〃I
won't be called names。 I think of nothing but your
good； Mr。 Massy。〃
A pause as of extreme astonishment followed。 They
both seemed to have lost their tongues。 Then the mate
went on with a discreet glibness。
〃You simply couldn't conceive what's going on on
board your ship。 It wouldn't enter your head for a
moment。 You are too goodtootoo upright； Mr。
Massy； to suspect anybody of such a 。 。 。 It's enough
to make your hair stand on end。〃
He watched for the effect： Massy seemed dazed； un…
comprehending。 He only passed the palm of his hand
on the coal…black wisps plastered across the top of his
head。 In a tone suddenly changed to confidential au…
dacity Sterne hastened on。
〃Remember that there's only six weeks left to
run 。 。 。〃 The other was looking at him stonily 。 。 。
〃so anyhow you shall require a captain for the ship
before long。〃
Then only； as if that suggestion had scarified his flesh
in the manner of red…hot iron； Massy gave a start and
seemed ready to shriek。 He contained himself by a
great effort。
〃Require a captain；〃 he repeated with scathing slow…
ness。 〃Who requires a captain？ You dare to tell me
that I need any of you humbugging sailors to run my
ship。 You and your likes have been fattening on me
for years。 It would have hurt me less to throw
my money overboard。 Pampered useless
f…f…f…frauds。 The old ship knows as much as the best
of you。〃 He snapped his teeth audibly and growled
through them； 〃The silly law requires a captain。〃
Sterne had taken heart of grace meantime。
〃And the silly insurance people too； as well；〃 he said
lightly。 〃But never mind that。 What I want to ask
is： Why shouldn't _I_ do； sir？ I don't say but you could
take a steamer about the world as well as any of us
sailors。 I don't pretend to tell YOU that it is a very
great trick 。 。 。〃 He emitted a short； hollow guffaw；
familiarly 。 。 。 〃I didn't make the lawbut there it
is； and I am an active young fellow！ I quite hold with
your ideas； I know your ways by this time； Mr。 Massy。
I wouldn't try to give myself airs like thatthater
lazy specimen of an old man up there。〃
He put a marked emphasis on the last sentence； to
lead Massy away from the track in case 。 。 。 but he
did not doubt of now holding his success。 The chief
engineer seemed nonplused； like a slow man invited to
catch hold of a whirligig of some sort。
〃What you want； sir； is a chap with no nonsense about
him； who would be content to be your sailing…master。
Quite right； too。 Well； I am fit for the work as much
as that Serang。 Because that's what it amounts to。
Do you know； sir； that a dam' Malay like a monkey is
in charge of your shipand no one else。 Just listen
to his feet pit…patting above us on the bridgereal
officer in charge。 He's taking her up the river while
the great man is wallowing in the chairperhaps asleep；
and if he is； that would not make it much worse either
take my word for it。〃
He tried to thrust himself farther in。 Massy； with
lowered forehead； one hand grasping the back of the
arm…chair； did not budge。
〃You think； sir； that the man has got you tight in
his agreement 。 。 。〃 Massy raised a heavy snarling
face at this 。 。 。 〃Well； sir； one can't help hearing
of it on board。 It's no secret。 And it has been the
talk on shore for years； fellows have been making bets
about it。 No； sir！ It's YOU who have got him at your
mercy。 You will say that you can't dismiss him for
indolence。 Difficult to prove in court； and so on。 Why；
yes。 But if you say the word； sir； I can tell you some…
thing about his indolence that will give you the clear
right to fire him out on the spot and put me in charge
for the rest of this very tripyes； sir； before we leave
Batu Beruand make him pay a dollar a day for his
keep till we get back； if you like。 Now； what do you
think of that？ Come； sir。 Say the word。 It's really
well worth your while； and I am quite ready to take
your bare word。 A definite statement from you would
be as good as a bond。〃
His eyes began to shine。 He insisted。 A simple state…
ment；and he thought to himself that he would man…
age somehow to stick in his berth as long as it suited
him。 He would make himself indispensable； the ship
had a bad name in her port； it would be easy to scare
the fellows off。 Massy would have to keep him。
〃A definite statement from me would be enough；〃
Massy repeated slowly。
〃Yes； sir。 It would。〃 Sterne stuck out his chin
cheerily and blinked at close quarters with that uncon…
scious impudence which had the power to enrage Massy
beyond anything。
The engineer spoke very distinctly。
〃Listen well to me； then； Mr。 Sterne： I wouldn't
d'ye hear？I wouldn't promise you the value of two
pence for anything YOU can tell me。〃
He struck Sterne's arm away with a smart blow； and
catching hold of the handle pulled the door to。 The
terrific slam darkened the cabin instantaneously to his
eye as if after the flash of an explosion。 At once he
dropped into the chair。 〃Oh； no！ You don't！〃 he
whispered faintly。
The ship had in that place to shave the bank so close
that the gigantic wall of leaves came gliding like a
shutter against the port； the darkness of the primeval
forest seemed to flow into that bare cabin with the odor
of rotting leaves； of sodden soilthe strong muddy smell
of the living earth steaming uncovered after the pass…
ing of a deluge。 The bushes swished loudly alongside；
above there was a series of crackling sounds； with a
