16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
squids, trailing half the length of the ship. And
never a bird, never a single gull. A sulphurous
whiff from the island half-choked him. 'He will
never forgive me if I do not tell him,' he said.
'Do you suppose he has turned in?'
'Good morning, gentlemen,' said Stephen
from the companion-ladder. 'What is this I
hear about an island?' He was looking indescribably
frowzy, unwashed, unshaved, no
wig, old bloody shirt, bloody apron still round
his waist; and it was clear that even he felt it
improper to advance to the holy place itself.
'Let me steady you,' said Jack, stepping
across the heaving deck. Stephen had dipped
his hands but not his arms, and they looked
like pale gloves against the red-brown. Jack
seized one, hauled him up and led him to the
rail. 'There is the island,' he said. 'But tell me,
how is West? And are any of the others dan-