– Mass of Gatling! The captain Feargus Sleyton asks you to welcome to him.
The Gatling saw the half-naked Black whose black body got in beams setting the sun a shade of old bronze.
– What it is necessary for it?
– Asks to welcome to it – the Black repeated.
The Gatling reluctantly rose and went on an unsteady planked footway to “residence” of the governor.
Sleyton accepted it, standing in the usual pose.
– The Gatling, I need to talk to you. You love Ms. Kingman? – it asked Gatlingu an unexpected question.
– I do not consider it necessary to answer you! It concerns only me!
– You are mistaken! It concerns also me!
– Really? Then I can report that I personally as speak, have no Views on Ms. Kingman. We are with it friends, and I deeply respect her. But the same friendship imposes on me and some duties…
– In what they consist?
– That I will allow to dispose to nobody of destiny of Ms. Kingman against her good will.
– Do not forget, Gatling that here I have the privilege to allow something or not to allow. Only I! – And after a pause he added: – Here that, Gatling! I have an opportunity to bring you to coast of the Azores. I will be able to provide very solidly you on the road.
Gatling all reddened for anger and clenched fists.
– To be silent! – he shouted. – You dare to offer me a bribe? You dare to think that I am capable to betray the person for money? – And after these words it snatched on Sleyton.
Sleyton reflected blow and blew a whistle. Ten different races ragamuffins making bodyguard of Sleyton rushed to Gatlinga because of the opened doors.
The Gatling rejected them extensively, but fight was unequal. In a few minutes it was strong connected.
– To throw it into a dark punishment cell! By the way, arrest also Simpkinsa!
And when Gatlinga took away, Sleyton asked one of servants whether everything is ready to a ceremony of the choice of the groom.
– Perfectly. So, today at nine in the evening!
* * *
The big hall of a saloon was decorated wonderfully well. Walls dazzled with the flags of all nations taken from the lost ships and pieces of color matter. Through all room, up and down, garlands of seaweed lasted. On air these seaweed quickly grew brown and had quite pathetic appearance, but what to do, other greens could not be got. But on tables several bouquets of the large white colors reminding water lilies flaunted. The multi-colored lamps suspended to a ceiling supplemented furniture. The long table was filled with cold dishes, wine and even bottles of champagne.
The population of the Island literally was rushed off the feet since the morning.
By the evening it was impossible to recognize all these pathetic ragamuffins.
Each of them in a treasured trunk had quite decent suit. They had never before a shave so carefully, did not brush with such diligence the hair which weaned from a brush and a comb, never exhausted so much soap and waters and never so long stared at themselves in splinters of mirrors…
These splinters were reflected by the most various persons: and black as soot, the shining face of the Black, both narrow eyes of the zheltolitsy Chinese, and corroded I will merge and winds a face of the old old salt, and a bright red face of the Indian with intricate jewelry in ears.
But all of them – old and young, white and black – thought of one:
– The right, I am not bad! You never can tell! And who knows the mysteries of whimsical heart of the woman?
In a word, each of them how chances were small, cherished hope to take the place of the groom.
In the middle of a saloon the tribune was erected.
Here, on this eminence, exactly at nine in the evening in a white dress, as well as it is necessary to the bride, Ms. Kingman with the accompanying her Ida Dode and Maggie Flores was built.
At its emergence burst chorus. This singing did not differ in symmetry, it for a musical ear of Viviana was even awful, but choristers could not be reproached with a lack of enthusiasm. Lamps shook and flags when several tens of hoarse and hoarse voices roared waved and roared: “Glory, glory, glory!”
Pale, uneasy and gloomy, “bride” rose by a high scaffold.
Sleyton addressed it with the speech beseeming a case. Pointed out “firmness” of the law that each woman entering on the Island of the Lost Ships has to choose to herself the husband.
– Perhaps, Ms., this law will seem to you severe. But it is necessary and, eventually, is fair. To the publication of this law the question was resolved by the right of force, knifing between applicants. And the population of the Island perished, as from epidemic…
Yes, all this was, maybe, and reasonably, but from it it was not easier than Ms. Kingman. Her eyes involuntarily looked for supports. But she did not see either Gatlinga, or even Simpkins among attendees. Sleyton noticed this look and smiled.
Each applicant had to approach with bow the bride and wait for the answer. The bride answered with the movement of the head “yes” or “no”.
One by one grooms stretched… All this chain excited at Ms. Kingman only horror, disgust, contempt, sometimes and an involuntary smile when, for example, before it appeared with a stick in a hand, “in the best look”, the most ancient settler Ostrova – Italian Giulio Bocco.
It is necessary to tell that Sleyton was afraid in this Mathusela’s soul as competitors. Really, Bokko had chances. Vivian, looking at him, slowed down with the answer, as if considering something, but then also made negative gesture the head and that, without knowing that, saved Bokko’s life as this short minute of fluctuation Feargus Sleyton already decided to get rid of Bokko if happiness falls to its lot. All defiled before Ms. Kingman. The last Sleyton appeared…
But Ms. Kingman, having slipped an eye on its figure, resolutely shook the head:
– No.
– Wow! Here so piece! What now to do? – exclamations were heard.
Sleyton was enraged, but constrained himself.
– Ms. Kingman did not wish to choose none of us – he told with external tranquility. – But it cannot repeal our laws. It is necessary to change only a way of the choice. I offer here that: Ms. Kingman has to become my wife. If someone wishes to challenge it from me, let leaves, and we will try forces. Who will win, that also will receive it. – And Sleyton, having quickly rolled up sleeves, became in a fighting pose.
Minute passed in waiting silence.
And suddenly at the general laughter the old man Bokko, having thrown off a suit, safely rushed to Sleyton. The crowd surrounded them. It was visible that Bokko was once good boxer. It managed to reflect several blows of Sleyton dexterously. Time, on the third attack, he struck quite telling blow to Sleyton in a jaw from below, but right there swept on a floor from strong blow in a breast. It was won.
After it there was a new applicant – Irish O’Gara. It was hefty, broad-shouldered small and was considered as one of the best boxers.
Fight ran high with a new force. But Sleyton, strong, quiet and methodical, mastered also this opponent soon. Being covered with blood, O’Gara lay on a floor, spitting out the beaten-out teeth.
The third rival was not…
The victory remained for Sleyton, and he approached Ms. Kingman and gave it a hand. Viviana reeled and grasped the old woman’s hand Dode-Ternip.
Chapter 11
SLEYTON’S DEFEAT
The Gatling sat in a dark punishment cell, considering the situation. At this time at a door someone quietly knocked.
– Mr. Gatling! It I, Aristide Ternip-Dode… How do you feel?
– I thank you, Ternip. May you tell, day now or night?
– Evening, Mr. Gatling. And, one may say, solemn evening. Ms. Kingman chooses to herself the husband… All male population participates in this ceremony, except for two married: me and Flores. Therefore also charged us watch: to me – at your camera of the conclusion, and to Flores – at Simpkins.
– Listen, Mr. Ternip, open for me a door.
– With the greatest pleasure would make it, but I cannot. I am afraid. You do not know Sleyton. He will flatten out me in flat cake and will throw on eating up to crabs.
– Be not afraid, Ternip. I pledge you the word that…
– @-@. I will not open for anything. And here, um … – and it lowered a voice – if you get out from there, then I at anything…
– Where I will get out?
Ternip lowered a voice before whisper:
– In the left corner of a cabin, at height of human growth, is such cat’s лазок, covered with a plywood plate. You draw aside a plate, well and… And opposite – Simpkins, by the way…
Ternip did not manage to finish still phrases as Gatling already feverishly rummaged hands on walls, found a plate and quickly tore off it. The ray of light got into a punishment cell, Gatling rose on hands and crept through a narrow window in a dark corridor which brought to the deck. In a wall opposite there was a same window hammered with plywood. Whether not there Simpkins is located? The Gatling tore off plywood and really uvidat the astonished face of the detective which was looking out of a window soon.
– Zhivey get out from there! It is the devil’s work! It is necessary to help out from prison of the own jailer! What you awkward! Hold my hand! Well! So! We go.
The Gatling accompanied by Simpkins entered the hall of “the choice of the bride” while Sleyton gave a hand to Ms. Kingman.
In a cabin there was a movement, then there came the waiting silence.
Ominously – the uneasy type of Gatlinga promised being present that interesting events have to be developed.
– On what elections stopped? – loudly asked Gatling, standing at a cabin threshold.
Sleyton shuddered. Hardly noticeable spasm passed on his face, but in a moment he already regained self-control. Having turned to Gatlingu, he quietly told, pointing to Ms. Kingman:
– You were late. She by right will be my wife.
– I object. You illegally imprisoned me and Simpkins and eliminated from elections.
– Any talk…
But in crowd nervousness already began. At this moment of Gatling for the first time noticed that Sleyton has the party which is ready to support him in everything, but there are also enemies. They also shouted that again comers have to be allowed to “competition”.
– Well! – Sleyton exclaimed. – Let’s prolong our competition! – And, having clenched fists, it raised them to the person Gatlinga: – You wish to try forces?
– Even I insist on it!
The crowd hooted enough.
Fight was coming hot.
– On the deck! On the deck! – voices were distributed.
All came to the deck. Outlined a circle. Enemies removed jackets and rolled up sleeves. The old man Bokko undertook a role of the arbitrator. Islanders with bated breath monitored each movement of opponents.
On this signal they at the same time met in the center of a circle. The Gatling led the hot attack. Sleyton methodically and somehow inertly beat off.
From crowd remarks were heard. In the heat of hobby began to address boxers on “you”.
– Protect forces, Gatling! You see that Sleyton wants to exhaust them at you and then to finish off!
– Fervor you will not help!
– Sleyton will take! Good fellow our Feargus! Oho, what blow!.
The more fight ran high, the moods of two hostile parties were shown more brightly. They were imperceptibly demarcated: “sleytonist” stood already behind. Hobby was so big that the crowd repeated gestures of boxers as corps de ballet repeats all a pas of the dancing-master.
The Gatling really got excited at first – his nerves were too strained. But after several mistakes he began to fight more coolly. But Feargus Sleyton, having received several blows from the opponent, got excited. Now their nervous “tone” was counterbalanced, and it was already possible to judge fighting features of the opponent.
Sleyton was stronger physically, more heavy; The Gatling, conceding in force and weight, it was unusually dexterous and quickly in the movements. Sleyton attacked less often, but is more sensitive; The Gatling struck a number of the unexpected blows confusing calculations of the opponent. The result of fight was not clear. Bokko gave a break sign. Sleytonista picked up Feargus, seated, took off a shirt and began to pound strenuously towels. The Gatling other party carefully surrounded.
After a break fight was started again, with even big exasperation. Tension of the audience was at the highest point. From outside could seem that not two persons, but all population of the Island box: all of them, repeating the movements of fighters, did attacks, retreats, squats… bent aside, threw the head in a stomach of the invisible enemy…
Fight came to an end, and this time is obvious not in favor of Gatlinga.
Sleyton, appear, was inexhaustible. He derived strength from some hidden stocks of energy and struck blows with indestructible persistence now. At Gatlinga swam away the left eye from enormous bruise, from a mouth there was blood. Several times it, appear, dead fell to the ground, but the extraordinary tension of will rose again to receive new blow. Sleytonista already triumphed a victory a roar and a rumble.
But suddenly Gatling, having collected the strength, snatched on Sleyton and struck it such blow in a jaw that Sleyton, having thrown the head, failed on a floor. However, having risen hardly, he began to recede, moving back, to a ship board, wishing to wait for several seconds to recover the breath and again to take the offensive. But Gatling as the maniac, with the mad, widely opened right eye, pressed it to a board and here struck such awful blow in a nose bridge that Sleyton, having shaken in air legs, departed overboard.
Shouts of horror and delight, derisive exclamations, laughter, applause – everything mixed up in wild cacophony.
Sleytonista hastily caught the prostrate deity from green seaweed…
When it appeared on the deck, new explosion of shouts and laughter met him. All wet, entangled by seaweed, he resembled the drowned man who stayed kind days in water. His face swelled up and was blood-stained. Despite it, Sleyton tried to keep advantage.
The unsteady gait he approached Gatlingu and gave it a hand:
– You won! It is yours!
The answer of Gatlinga surprised all attendees:
– No, it not mine. I do not wish to impose myself violently at all and to become her husband only because successfully gave blow in your nose bridge!
The crowd calmed down, waiting, what will be farther. Sleyton flushed:
– Devil take it! Whether it will come to an end sometime? There is enough! Ms. Kingman! As the governor Ostrova, I suggest you to make a choice immediately, or I will order to cast lots!
– Lot! Lot!. – the crowd cried.
Ms. Kingman shuddered, unsteadily approached Gatlingu and offered to him a hand.
– At last – with a vinegary smile Sleyton told and approached to congratulate it.
– Ms. Kingman – whispered to her on an ear of Gatling – you are absolutely free, and I do not raise any claim to you. I do not dare to think that you linked life with destiny… the criminal – he added even more quietly.
Part third
Chapter 12
PLOT
– Damned boards as they creak! Do not stumble, Mr. Gatling! Give me your hand. I know the road backwards. Two decades wander I about “streets” of this island. Time as runs!. Twenty years!
And Gatling heard as Ternip heaved a deep sigh.
There was a dead of night. Stars were not visible. Second day will tighten all Island a continuous veil of fog.
It was heard as in water fish lapped, sometimes someone as if sighed. Somewhere deeply in a hold the rat in search of grain scraped. Travelers slowly, gropingly, made the way forward. From time some groan reached time: “kuu-va”, “kuu-va”, the bearing a faint resemblance shout of an eagle owl.