"Alexander Green - The ships in Liss" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Alexander)

brigantine that cast anchor at the very entrance? The Felicity. They say it's
loaded with gold."
"I don't know that vessel," said Renior. "I saw her, of course. Who is her
captain?"
Nobody knew. Nobody had seen him. He had not made a single call and
had not come to the hotel. Just once three sailors from the Felicity,
middle-aged and decorous people pursued by curious glances, came from
the ship into Liss, bought some tobacco, and did not appear again.
"A pup," grumbled Estamp. "A lout. Stay in your cabin, lout," he
suddenly flushed and turned towards the window, "maybe you'll grow a
moustache."
The captains broke into guffaws. When the laughter had died down,
Renior said:
"There's nothing to be done, we're locked in. I'd give up my cargo with
pleasure-after all, what do I care about someone else's lemons? But to give
up the President...."
"Or the Marianne," interrupted Duke. "What if she were blown up?" He
grew pale and drank down a double shot. "Don't speak to me about such
terrible and fateful things, Renior!"
"I'm so sick of hearing about your Marianne," shouted Renior, "that I
would even welcome an explosion!"
"And may your President sink!"
"Wha-a-at?"
"Captains, don't quarrel," said Estamp.
"I know you!" cried out Chinchar to a very surprised visitor. "Come
here, treat an old fellow!"
But the visitor turned his back. The captains sank into thought. Each
had his own reasons for wishing to leave Liss as quickly as possible. A
distant fortress was expecting Duke. Chinchar was in a hurry to play out
his little swindle. Renior thirsted for a reunion with his family after a
two-year's absence, while Estamp was afraid that his crew, which was a
loose assemblage, would leave him. Two of them had already run off and
were now at the Prickly Pillow bragging about fantastic adventures in
New Guinea.
These vessels - the Marianne, the President, Chinchar's Hermit, and
Estamp's Aramea - had taken refuge in Liss from the pursuit of hostile
privateers. The high-speed Marianne had been the first to fly in, the next
day the Hermit had come crawling, and two days later the Aramea and
the President dropped anchor, panting. Including the mysterious Felicity,
there were in all five ships in Liss, not counting barges and small coastal
vessels.
"Therefore I say that I want Bitt-Boy," the tipsy Duke began to speak
again. "I'll tell you a little something about him. Of course, you all know
that milksop, Beppo Malastino. Well, there was Malastino staying in
Zurbagan, drinking 'Good God', ( Deadly stuff. Pure alcohol infused with
cayenne pepper, and containing a small amount of honey.тАФ;Author).
and holding his Butuzka on his lap. In walks Bitt-Boy. 'Malastino, weigh
anchor, I'll pilot your vessel through Kasset. You'll be in Akhuan Skap
before everyone else this season.' What do you think, captains? Many a
time I'd sail through Kasset with a full cargo, and that idiot Malastino