16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
the present, collecting the immediate past,
thanked God for his delivery, and then said,
'But what's amiss? Am I really here and alive?'
He moved, feeling himself: the weakness was
authentic, so was his gummed-up, itching eye
and his unshaven face. So was his consuming
thirst. 'Ahoy, there,' he called, but without
much conviction.
'Sir?' cried Grimble, Killick's mate.
'Light along a jug of water, just tinged with
wine.' And when he had drained it he asked,
gasping, 'Why is the ship so quiet? No bells, Is
anyone dead?'
'No, sir. But Captain Pullings said any sod as
woke you should have a hundred lashes.'
Jack nodded and said, 'Let me have some
warm water, and pass the word for Padeen
and the Doctor's young man.'
They came, but a grim, bent Killick came