"Smith, Wilber - Hungry as the Sea" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)racing. He was down and smothered in white water. But he could feel
his head breaking the surface, and he was still on the break-line. He knew there was another big wave racing down on him. It was just beginning to peak and he knew he still had the strength to catch her, to get high and race again. I did it once - I'll damned well do it again/he said aloud, and went down for breakfast. He stepped into the saloon, and for a long moment nobody realized he was there. There was an excited buzz of comment and speculation that absorbed them all. The Chief Engineer had an old copy of Lloyd's List folded at the front page and held above a plate of eggs as he read aloud. Nicholas wondered where he had found the ancient copy. His spectacles had slid right to the end of his nose, so he had to tilt his head far backwards to see through them, and his Australian accent twanged like a guitar. In a joint statement issued by the new Chairman and incoming members of the Board, a tribute was paid to the fifteen years of loyal service that Mr. Nicholas Berg had given to Christy Marine. The five officers listened avidly, ignoring their breakfasts, until David Allen glanced up captain, Sir, he shouted, and leapt to his feet, while with the other hand, he snatched the newspaper out of Vinny Baker's hands and bundled it under the table. Sir, may I present the officers of Warlock. Shuffling, embarrassed, the younger officers shook hands hurriedly and then applied themselves silently to their congealing breakfasts with a total dedication that precluded any conversation, while Nick Berg took the Master's seat at the head of the long table in the heavy silence and David Allen sat down again on the crumpled sheets of newsprint. The steward offered the menu to the new Captain, and returned almost immediately with a dish of stewed fruit. I ordered a boiled egg/ said Nick mildly, and an apparition in snowy white appeared from the galley, with the chef's cap at a jaunty angle. "The sailor's curse is constipation, Skipper. I look after MY officers - that fruit is delicious and good for you. I'm doing you your eggs now, dear, but eat your fruit first. And the diamond twinkled again as he vanished. Nick stared after him in the appalled silence. |
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