"Jack Vance - Elder Isles 2 - The Green Pearl" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

shrouds. Cordage was too dear for his pocket, so he performed a set of
make-shift splices, which strengthened the shrouds but made an unsightly
display.

And so it went. Sarles gave the Preval only what maintenance was
needed to keep it afloat, and sallied out among the reefs and rocks only
when conditions were optimum, which was not often.
without fail or delay, he must make a whole set of tedious repairs, and he
could expect neither leisure nor wine-bibbing until the repairs were done.
To finance the repairs he might even be forced to beg a place aboard the
Lirlou, which again was most tiresome, since it meant that he would be
forced to work Junt's hours.

For the nonce, he shifted the back-stay to one of the stem-cleats, which,
in mild weather such as that of today, would suffice.

Sarles fished for two hours, during which time he caught a single
flounder. When he cleaned the fish, its belly fell open and out rolled a
magnificent green pearl, of a quality far beyond Sarles' experience.
Marvelling at his good fortune, he again threw out his lines but now the
breeze began to freshen, and concerned with the state of his makeshift
back-stay, Sarles hoisted anchor, raised his sail and turned his bow toward
Mynault, and as he sailed he gloated upon the beautiful green pearl, the
very touch of which sent shivers of delight along his nerves.

Once more in the harbour, Sarles beached his boat and set out for
home, only to meet his cousin Junt.

"What?" cried Junt. "Back so soon from your work? It is not yet noon!
What have you caught? A single flounder? Sarles, you will die in penury if
you do not take yourself in hand! Truly you should give the Preval a good
work-over and then fish with zeal, so that you may do something for
yourself and your old age."

Nettled by the criticism, Sarles retorted: "What of you? Why are you not
out in your fine Lirlou? Do you fear a bit of wind?"

"Not at all! I would fish and gladly, wind or no wind, but for caulking and
fresh pitch done to Lirlou's seams."
 I wish you good luck, said Sarles and continued along the jetty. The
wind, so he noted, had shifted and now blew from the north.

At the market Sarles sold his flounder for a decent price, then paused to
reflect. He pulled the pearl from his pocket and considered it anew: a
beautiful thing, though the green luster was unusual and even—it must be
admitted—a trifle unsettling.

Sarles grinned a curious mindless grin and tucked the pearl back into
his pocket. He marched across the square to the tavern, where he poured
a good half-pint of wine down his throat. The first called for another, and as