16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ting likewise – when we were all ahoo a clergyman
came aboard, the same that we saw
on the way out; the gentleman very like the
Captain, only rather darker. He had heard the
Captain was wounded – was much concerned
– enquired for you – said he would come
again at noon tomorrow – begged for paper
and ink and left you this note.'
'Thank you, Tom,' said Stephen. 'I shall read
it aboard the Alastor. May I beg for a boat?
And perhaps the man the Captain sent might
come with us.'
In the Alastor's great cabin, now thoroughly
clean at last and smelling only of sea-water,
tar and fresh paint – there had been a truly
shocking carnage – Stephen sat drawing in
sips of scalding tea, a drink he ordinarily despised,
though not as much as he despised
Grimshaw's coffee, but one that he found
comforting after the high Peruvian desert; and