"Roger Zelazny - And I Only Am Escaped to Tell Thee" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zelazny Roger)

It sounded as if the Devil had just won another hand.
Pretending to inspect the cargo's fastenings, Van Berkum
located his barrel again, mixed in with all the others. He
could tell it by the small dab of blue paint. Unlike the others
it was empty, and caulked on the inside.
Turning, he made his way across the deck again. Something
huge and bat-winged flitted past him. He hunched his shoulders
and hurried.
Four more loads, and each time a quick look into the
distance. Then--Then . . . ?
Then!
He saw it. There was a ship off the port bow! He looked
about frantically. There was no one near him. This was it. If
he hurried. If he was not seen.
He approached his barrel, undid the fastenings, looked
about again. Still no one nearby. The other vessel definitely
appeared to be approaching. There was neither time nor means to
calculate courses, judge winds or currents. There was only the
gamble and the hope.
He took the former and held to the latter as he rolled the
barrel to the railing, raised it, and cast it overboard. A
moment later he followed it.
The water was icy, turbulent, dark. He was sucked
downward. Frantically he clawed at it, striving to drag himself
to the surface.
Finally there was a glimpse of light. He was buffeted by
waves, tossed about, submerged a dozen times. Each time, he
fought his way back to the top.
He was on the verge of giving up when the sea suddenly
grew calm. The sounds of the storm softened. The day began to
grow brighter about him. Treading water, he saw the vessel he
had just quitted receding in the distance, carrying its private
hell along with it. And there, off to his left, bobbed the
barrel with the blue marking. He struck out after it.
When he finally reached it, he caught hold. He was able to
draw himself partly out of the water. He clung there and
panted. He shivered. Although the sea was calmer here, it was
still very cold. When some of his strength returned, he raised
his head, scanned the horizon.
There!
The vessel he had sighted was even nearer now. He raised
an arm and waved it. He tore off his shirt and held it high,
rippling in the wind like a banner.

He did this until his arm grew numb. When he looked again
the ship was nearer still, though there was no indication that

file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Ro...20Only%20Am%20Escaped%20to%20Tell%20Thee.htm (2 of 3) [10/16/2004 3:19:17 PM]
 Roger Zelazny. And I Only Am Escaped to Tell Thee