Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 15
Assureaslootisloot,oldJohannesMaartenswouldhavegotawayandacrosstheYellowSeawithhisbootyhaditnotbeenforthefognextdaythatlosthim.Thatcursedfog!Asongwasmadeofit,thatIheardandhatedthroughallCho-Sentomydyingday.Hereruntwolinesofit:
“YanggukenichajinangaWheanpongtoradeunda,ThethickfogoftheWesternersBroodsoverWheanpeak.”
ForfortyyearsIwasabeggarofCho-Sen.OfthefourteenofusthatwerecastawayonlyIsurvived.TheLadyOmwasofthesameindomitablestuff,andweagedtogether.Shewasalittle,weazened,toothlessoldwomantowardthelast;butevershewasthewonderwoman,andshecarriedmyheartinherstotheend.Foranoldman,threescoreandten,Istillretainedgreatstrength.Myfacewaswithered,myyellowhairturnedwhite,mybroadshouldersshrunken,andyetmuchofthestrengthofmysea-cunydaysresidedinthemusclesleftme.
ThusitwasthatIwasabletodowhatIshallnowrelate.ItwasaspringmorningonthecliffsofFusan,hardbythehighway,thattheLadyOmandIsatwarminginthesun.Wewereintheragsofbeggary,pridelessinthedust,andyetIwaslaughingheartilyatsomemumbledmerryquipoftheLadyOmwhenashadowfelluponus.
