16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
tened the surface almost as effectually as oil,
doing away with countless superficial noises,
so that the great voice of the rain came right
down into the sick-berth itself, and Stephen,
on his evening rounds, had to repeat his exclamation,
'I am astonished to see you here,
Mr Martin: you are not fit to be up, and must
go back to bed directly.' Of course he was not
fit to be up. His eyes were deep-sunk in his
now boney head, his lips were barely visible;
and although he said, 'It was only a passing
indisposition as I told you; and now it is over,'
he had to grip the medicine-chest to keep upright.
'Nonsense,' said Stephen. 'You must go
back to bed directly. That is an order, my dear
sir. Padeen, help Mr Martin to his cabin, will
you, now?'
When Stephen's work was done he walked up
the ladder and into the gunroom: his was not
exactly a seaman's step – there was something