уWhat?ф She started. уOh. In English. Terangi, he meansўф She said it in Interhuman.
Maclaren sat quite still.
Ryerson opened his book. уThey have forgotten Kipling now,ф he said. уOne day they will remember. For no people live long, who offer their young men naught but fatness and security. Tamara, lass, let your son hear this one day. It is his song too, he is human.ф
The words were unknown to Maclaren, but he listened and thought he understood.
уWe have fed our sea for a thousand years And she calls us, still unfed,
Though thereтs never a wave of all her waves But marks our English dead:
We have strawed our best to the weedтs unrest, To the shark and the sheering gull,
If blood be the price of admiralty,
Lord God, we haт paid it in full!ўф
When Ryerson had finished, Maclaren stood up, folded his hands and bowed. уSensei,ф he said, уgive me your blessing.ф
уWhat?ф The other man leaned back into shadows, and now he was again entirely old. You could scarcely hear him under the waves outside. уYouтve naught to thank me for, lad.ф
уNo, you gave me much,ф said Maclaren. уYou have told me why men go, and it isnтt for nothing. It is because they are men.ф