the moon pool-第9章

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I　watched　itand　rubbed　my　eyes　and　stared　again。　　For

over　its　flaming　portal　something　huge　and　black　moved；

like　a　gigantic　beckoning　finger！



Da　Costa　had　seen　it；　too；　and　he　turned　the　Suwarna

straight　toward　the　descending　orb　and　its　strange　shadow。

As　we　approached　we　saw　it　was　a　little　mass　of　wreckage

and　that　the　beckoning　finger　was　a　wing　of　canvas；　sticking

up　and　swaying　with　the　motion　of　the　waves。　　On　the　high…

est　point　of　the　wreckage　sat　a　tall　figure　calmly　smoking　a

cigarette。



We　brought　the　Suwarna　to；　dropped　a　boat；　and　with　my…

self　as　coxswain　pulled　toward　a　wrecked　hydroairplane。　　Its

occupant　took　a　long　puff　at　his　cigarette；　waved　a　cheerful

hand；　shouted　a　greeting。　　And　just　as　he　did　so　a　great　wave

raised　itself　up　behind　him；　took　the　wreckage；　tossed　it　high

in　a　swelter　of　foam；　and　passed　on。　　When　we　had　steadied

our　boat；　where　wreck　and　man　had　been　wasnothing。



There　came　a　tug　at　the　side；　two　muscular　brown

hands　gripped　it　close　to　my　left；　and　a　sleek；　black；　wet　head

showed　its　top　between　them。　　Two　bright；　blue　eyes　that

held　deep　within　them　a　laughing　deviltry　looked　into　mine；

and　a　long；　lithe　body　drew　itself　gently　over　the　thwart　and

seated　its　dripping　self　at　my　feet。



〃Much　obliged；〃　said　this　man　from　the　sea。　　〃I　knew

somebody　was　sure　to　come　along　when　the　O'Keefe　ban…

shee　didn't　show　up。〃



〃The　what？〃　I　asked　in　amazement。



〃The　O'Keefe　bansheeI'm　Larry　O'Keefe。　　It's　a　far

way　from　Ireland；　but　not　too　far　for　the　O'Keefe　banshee

to　travel　if　the　O'Keefe　was　going　to　click　in。〃



I　looked　again　at　my　astonishing　rescue。　　He　seemed　per…

fectly　serious。



〃Have　you　a　cigarette？　　Mine　went　out；〃　he　said　with　a

grin；　as　he　reached　a　moist　hand　out　for　the　little　cylinder；

took　it；　lighted　it。



I　saw　a　lean；　intelligent　face　whose　fighting　jaw　was　soft…

ened　by　the　wistfulness　of　the　clean…cut　lips　and　the　honesty

that　lay　side　by　side　with　the　deviltry　in　the　laughing　blue

eyes；　nose　of　a　thoroughbred　with　the　suspicion　of　a　tilt；

long；　well…knit；　slender　figure　that　I　knew　must　have　all　the

strength　of　fine　steel；　the　uniform　of　a　lieutenant　in　the

Royal　Flying　Corps　of　Britain's　navy。



　He　laughed；　stretched　out　a　firm　hand；　and　gripped　mine。



　〃Thank　you　really　ever　so　much；　old　man；〃　he　said。



I　liked　Larry　O'Keefe　from　the　beginningbut　I　did　not

dream　as　the　Tonga　boys　pulled　us　back　to　the　Suwarna　bow

that　liking　was　to　be　forged　into　man's　strong　love　for　man

by　fires　which　souls　such　as　his　and　mineand　yours　who

read　thiscould　never　dream。



Larry！　　Larry　O'Keefe；　where　are　you　now　with　your

leprechauns　and　banshee；　your　heart　of　a　child；　your　laugh…

ing　blue　eyes；　and　your　fearless　soul？　　Shall　I　ever　see　you

again；　Larry　O'Keefe；　dear　to　me　as　some　best　beloved

younger　brother？　　Larry！











CHAPTER　VII



Larry　O'Keefe



PRESSING　BACK　the　questions　I　longed　to　ask；　I　introduced

myself。　　Oddly　enough；　I　found　that　he　knew　me；　or　rather

my　work。　　He　had　bought；　it　appeared；　my　volume　upon　the

peculiar　vegetation　whose　habitat　is　disintegrating　lava　rock

and　volcanic　ash；　that　I　had　entitled；　somewhat　loosely；　I

could　now　perceive；　Flora　of　the　Craters。　　For　he　explained

naively　that　he　had　picked　it　up；　thinking　it　an　entirely

different　sort　of　a　book；　a　novel　in　factsomething　like

Meredith's　Diana　of　the　Crossways；　which　he　liked　greatly。



He　had　hardly　finished　this　explanation　when　we　touched

the　side　of　the　Suwarna；　and　I　was　forced　to　curb　my　curi…

osity　until　we　reached　the　deck。



〃That　thing　you　saw　me　sitting　on；〃　he　said；　after　he　had

thanked　the　bowing　little　skipper　for　his　rescue；　〃was　all

that　was　left　of　one　of　his　Majesty's　best　little　hydroairplanes

after　that　cyclone　threw　it　off　as　excess　baggage。　　And　by　the

way；　about　where　are　we？〃



Da　Costa　gave　him　our　approximate　position　from　the

noon　reckoning。



O'Keefe　whistled。　　〃A　good　three　hundred　miles　from

where　I　left　the　H。M。S。　Dolphin　about　four　hours　ago；〃　he

said。　　〃That　squall　I　rode　in　on　was　some　whizzer！



〃The　Dolphin；〃　he　went　on；　calmly　divesting　himself　of

his　soaked　uniform；　〃was　on　her　way　to　Melbourne。　　I'd　been

yearning　for　a　joy　ride　and　went　up　for　an　alleged　scouting

trip。　　Then　that　blow　shot　out　of　nowhere；　picked　me　up；　and

insisted　that　I　go　with　it。



〃About　an　hour　ago　I　thought　I　saw　a　chance　to　zoom　up

and　out　of　it；　I　turned；　and　BLICK　went　my　right　wing；　and

down　I　dropped。〃



〃I　don't　know　how　we　can　notify　your　ship；　Lieutenant

O'Keefe；〃　I　said。　　〃We　have　no　wireless。〃



〃Doctair　Goodwin；〃　said　Da　Costa；　〃we　could　change　our

course；　sairperhaps〃



〃Thanksbut　not　a　bit　of　it；〃　broke　in　O'Keefe。　　〃Lord

alone　knows　where　the　Dolphin　is　now。　　Fancy　she'll　be　nos…

ing　around　looking　for　me。　　Anyway；　she's　just　as　apt　to　run

into　you　as　you　into　her。　　Maybe　we'll　strike　something　with

a　wireless；　and　I'll　trouble　you　to　put　me　aboard。〃　He　hesi…

tated。　　〃Where　are　you　bound；　by　the　way？〃　he　asked。



〃For　Ponape；〃　I　answered。



〃No　wireless　there；〃　mused　O'Keefe。　　〃Beastly　hole。

Stopped　a　week　ago　for　fruit。　　Natives　seemed　scared　to　death

at　usor　something。　　What　are　you　going　there　for？〃



　Da　Costa　darted　a　furtive　glance　at　me。　　It　troubled　me。



　O'Keefe　noted　my　hesitation。



〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said。　　〃Maybe　I　oughn't　to

have　asked　that？〃



〃It's　no　secret；　Lieutenant；〃　I　replied。　　〃I'm　about　to　under…

take　some　exploration　worka　little　digging　among　the

ruins　on　the　Nan…Matal。〃



I　looked　at　the　Portuguese　sharply　as　I　named　the　place。

A　pallor　crept　beneath　his　skin　and　again　he　made　swiftly

the　sign　of　the　cross；　glancing　as　he　did　so　fearfully　to　the

north。　　I　made　up　my　mind　then　to　question　him　when　op…

portunity　came。　　He　turned　from　his　quick　scrutiny　of　the

sea　and　addressed　O'Keefe。



〃There's　nothing　on　board　to　fit　you；　Lieutenant。〃



〃Oh；　just　give　me　a　sheet　to　throw　around　me；　Captain；〃

said　O'Keefe　and　followed　him。　　Darkness　had　fallen；　and　as

the　two　disappeared　into　Da　Costa's　cabin　I　softly　opened

the　door　of　my　own　and　listened。　　Huldricksson　was　breath…

ing　deeply　and　regularly。



I　drew　my　electric…flash；　and　shielding　its　rays　from　my

face；　looked　at　him。　　His　sleep　was　changing　from　the　heavy

stupor　of　the　drug　into　one　that　was　at　least　on　the　border…

land　of　the　normal。　　The　tongue　had　lost　its　arid　blackness

and　the　mouth　secretions　had　resumed　action。　　Satisfied　as　to

his　condition　I　returned　to　deck。



O'Keefe　was　there；　looking　like　a　spectre　in　the　cotton

sheet　he　had　wrapped　about　him。　　A　deck　table　had　been

cleated　down　and　one　of　the　Tonga　boys　was　setting　it　for

our　dinner。　　Soon　the　very　creditable　larder　of　the　Suwarna

dressed　the　board；　and　O'Keefe；　Da　Costa；　and　I　attacked　it。

The　night　had　grown　close　and　oppressive。　　Behind　us　the

forward　light　of　the　Brunhilda　glided　and　the　binnacle　lamp

threw　up　a　faint　glow　in　which　her　black　helmsman's　face

stood　out　mistily。　　O'Keefe　had　looked　curiously　a　number

of　times　at　our　tow；　but　had　asked　no　questions。



〃You're　not　the　only　passenger　we　picked　up　today；〃　I

told　him。　　〃We　found　the　captain　of　that　sloop；　lashed　to　his

wheel；　nearly　dead　with　exhaustion；　and　his　boat　deserted　by

everyone　except　himself。〃



〃What　was　the　matter？〃　asked　O'Keefe　in　astonishment。



〃We　don't　know；〃　I　answered。　　〃He　fought　us；　and　I　had

to　drug　him　before　we　could　get　him　loose　from　his　lashings。

He's　sleeping　down　in　my　berth　now。　　His　wife　and　little　girl

ought　to　have　been　on　board；　the　captain　here　says；　but

they　weren't。〃



〃Wife　and　child　gone！〃　exclaimed　O'Keefe。



〃From　the　condition　of　his　mouth　he　must　have　been

alone　at　the　wheel　and　without　water　at　least　two　days　and

nights　before　we　found　him；〃　I　replied。　　〃And　as　for　looking

for　anyone　on　these　waters　after　such　a　timeit's　hopeless。〃



〃That's　true；〃　said　O'Keefe。　　〃But　his　wife　and　baby！　　Poor；

poor　devil！〃



He　was　silent　for　a　time；　and　then；　at　my　solicitation；　be…

gan　to　tell　us　more　of　himself。　　He　had　been　little　more　than

twenty　when　he　had　won　his　wings　and　entered　the　war。　　He

had　been　seriously　wounded　at　Ypres　during　the　third　year

of　the　struggle；　and　when　he　recovered　the　war　was　over。

Shortly　after　that　his　mother　had　died。　　Lonely　and　restless；

he　had　re…entered　the　Air　Service；　and　had　remained　in　it

ever　since。



〃And　though　the　war's　long　over；　I　get　homesick　for　the

lark's　land　with　the　German　planes　playing　tunes　on　their

machine　guns　and　their　Archies　tickling　the　soles　of　my

feet；〃　he　sighed。　　〃If　you're　in　love；　love　to　the　limit；　and　if

you　hate；　why　hate　like　the　devil　and　if　it's　a　fight　you're　in；

get　where　it's　hottest　and　fight　like　hellif　you　don't　life's

not　worth　the　living；〃　sighed　he。



I　watched　him　as　he　talked；　feeling　my　liking　for　him

steadily　increasing。　　If　I　could　but　have　a　man　like　this　be…

side　me　on　the　path　of　unknown　peril　upon　which　I　had　set

my　feet　I　thought；　wistfully。　　We　sat　and　smoked　a　bit；　sip…

ping　the　strong　coffee　the　Portuguese　made　so　well。



Da　Costa　at　last　relieved　the　Cantonese　at　the　wheel。

O'Keefe　and　I　drew　chairs　up　to　the　rail。　　The　brighter　stars

shone　out　dimly　through　a　hazy　sky；　gleams　of　phosphores…

cence　tipped　the　crests　of　the　waves　and　sparkled　with　an

almost　angry　brilliance　as　the　bow　of　the　Suwarna　tossed

them　aside。　　O'Keefe　pulled　contentedly　at　a　cigarette。　　The

glowing　spark　lighted　the　keen；　boyish　face　and　the　blue

eyes；　now　black　and　brooding　under　the　spell　of　the　tropic

night。



　〃Are　you　American　or　Irish；　O'Keefe？〃　I　asked　suddenly。



　〃Why？〃　he　laughed。



〃Because；〃　I　answered；　〃from　your　name　and　your　service

I　would　suppose　you　Irishbut　your　command　of　pure

Americanese　makes　me　doubtful。〃



He　grinned　amiably。



〃I'll　tell　you　how　that　is；〃　he　said。　　〃My　mother　was　an

Americana　Grace；　of　Virginia。　　My　father　was　the

O'Keefe；　of　Coleraine。　　And　these　two　loved　each　other　so

well　that　the　heart　they　gave　me　is　half　Irish　and　half

American。　　My　father　died　when　I　was　sixteen。　　I　used　to　go

to　the　States　with　my　mother　every　other　year　for　a　month

or　two。　　But　after　my　father　died　we　used　to　go　to　Ireland

every　other　year。　　And　there　you　areI'm　as　much　Ameri…

can　as　I　am　Irish。



〃When　I'm　in　love；　or　excited；　or　dreaming；　or　mad　I

have　the　brogue。　　But　for　the　everyday　purpose　of　life　I　like

the　United　States　talk；　and　I　know　Broadway　as　well　as　I　do

Binevenagh　Lane；　and　the　Sound　as　well　as　St。　Patrick's

Channel；　educated　a　bit　at　Eton；　a　bit　at　Harvard；　always

too　much　money　to　have　to　make　any；　in　love　lots　of　times；

and　never　a　heartache　after　that　wasn't　a　pleasant　one；　and

never　a　real　purpose　in　life　until