Kwaque? Well, Kwaque was Kwaque, an individual, more unlike all other men than most men are unlike one another. No queerer estray ever drifted along the stream of life. Seventeen years old he was, as men measure time; but a century was measured in his lean-lined face, his wrinkled forehead, his hollowed temples, and his deep-sunk eyes. From his thin legs, fragile-looking as windstraws, the bones of which were sheathed6 in withered7 skin with apparently8 no muscle padding in between—from such frail9 stems sprouted10 the torso of a fat man. The huge and protuberant11 stomach was amply supported by wide and massive hips12, and the shoulders were broad as those of a Hercules. But, beheld13 sidewise, there was no depth to those shoulders and the top of the chest. Almost, at that part of his anatomy14, he seemed builded in two dimensions. Thin his arms were as his legs, and, as Michael first beheld him, he had all the seeming of a big-bellied black spider.
He proceeded to dress, a matter of moments, slipping into duck trousers and blouse, dirty and frayed15 from long usage. Two fingers of his left hand were doubled into a permanent bend, and, to an expert, would have advertised that he was a leper. Although he belonged to Dag Daughtry just as much as if the steward16 possessed17 a chattel18 bill of sale of him, his owner did not know that his anæsthetic twist of ravaged19 nerves tokened the dread20 disease.
The manner of the ownership was simple. At King William Island, in the Admiralties, Kwaque had made, in the parlance21 of the South Pacific, a pier-head jump. So to speak, leprosy and all, he had jumped into Dag Daughtry’s arms. Strolling along the native runways in the fringe of jungle just beyond the beach, as was his custom, to see whatever he might pick up, the steward had picked up Kwaque. And he had picked him up in extremity22.
Pursued by two very active young men armed with fire-hardened spears, tottering23 along with incredible swiftness on his two spindle legs, Kwaque had fallen exhausted24 at Daughtry’s feet and looked up at him with the beseeching25 eyes of a deer fleeing from the hounds. Daughtry had inquired into the matter, and the inquiry26 was violent; for he had a wholesome27 fear of germs and bacilli, and when the two active young men tried to run him through with their filth-corroded spears, he caught the spear of one young man under his arm and put the other young man to sleep with a left hook to the jaw28. A moment later the young man whose spear he held had joined the other in slumber29.
The elderly steward was not satisfied with the mere30 spears. While the rescued Kwaque continued to moan and slubber thankfulness at his feet, he proceeded to strip them that were naked. Nothing they wore in the way of clothing, but from around each of their necks he removed a necklace of porpoise31 teeth that was worth a gold sovereign in mere exchange value. From the kinky locks of one of the naked young men he drew a hand-carved, fine-toothed comb, the lofty back of which was inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which he later sold in Sydney to a curio shop for eight shillings. Nose and ear ornaments32 of bone and turtle-shell he also rifled, as well as a chest-crescent of pearl shell, fourteen inches across, worth fifteen shillings anywhere. The two spears ultimately fetched him five shillings each from the tourists at Port Moresby. Not lightly may a ship steward undertake to maintain a six-quart reputation.
When he turned to depart from the active young men, who, back to consciousness, were observing him with bright, quick, wild-animal eyes, Kwaque followed so close at his heels as to step upon them and make him stumble. Whereupon he loaded Kwaque with his trove33 and put him in front to lead along the runway to the beach. And for the rest of the way to the steamer, Dag Daughtry grinned and chuckled35 at sight of his plunder36 and at sight of Kwaque, who fantastically titubated and ambled37 along, barrel-like, on his pipe-stems.
On board the steamer, which happened to be the Cockspur, Daughtry persuaded the captain to enter Kwaque on the ship’s articles as steward’s helper with a rating of ten shillings a month. Also, he learned Kwaque’s story.
It was all an account of a pig. The two active young men were brothers who lived in the next village to his, and the pig had been theirs—so Kwaque narrated38 in atrocious bêche-de-mer English. He, Kwaque, had never seen the pig. He had never known of its existence until after it was dead. The two young men had loved the pig. But what of that? It did not concern Kwaque, who was as unaware39 of their love for the pig as he was unaware of the pig itself.
The first he knew, he averred40, was the gossip of the village that the pig was dead, and that somebody would have to die for it. It was all right, he said, in reply to a query41 from the steward. It was the custom. Whenever a loved pig died its owners were in custom bound to go out and kill somebody, anybody. Of course, it was better if they killed the one whose magic had made the pig sick. But, failing that one, any one would do. Hence Kwaque was selected for the blood-atonement.
Dag Daughtry drank a seventh quart as he listened, so carried away was he by the sombre sense of romance of this dark jungle event wherein men killed even strangers because a pig was dead.
Scouts42 out on the runways, Kwaque continued, brought word of the coming of the two bereaved43 pig-owners, and the village had fled into the jungle and climbed trees—all except Kwaque, who was unable to climb trees.
“My word,” Kwaque concluded, “me no make ’m that fella pig sick.”
“My word,” quoth Dag Daughtry, “you devil-devil along that fella pig too much. You look ’m like hell. You make ’m any fella thing sick look along you. You make ’m me sick too much.”
It became quite a custom for the steward, as he finished his sixth bottle before turning in, to call upon Kwaque for his story. It carried him back to his boyhood when he had been excited by tales of wild cannibals in far lands and dreamed some day to see them for himself. And here he was, he would chuckle34 to himself, with a real true cannibal for a slave.
A slave Kwaque was, as much as if Daughtry had bought him on the auction-block. Whenever the steward transferred from ship to ship of the Burns Philp fleet, he always stipulated44 that Kwaque should accompany him and be duly rated at ten shillings. Kwaque had no say in the matter. Even had he desired to escape in Australian ports, there was no need for Daughtry to watch him. Australia, with her “all-white” policy, attended to that. No dark-skinned human, whether Malay, Japanese, or Polynesian, could land on her shore without putting into the Government’s hand a cash security of one hundred pounds.
Nor at the other islands visited by the Makambo had Kwaque any desire to cut and run for it. King William Island, which was the only land he had ever trod, was his yard-stick by which he measured all other islands. And since King William Island was cannibalistic, he could only conclude that the other islands were given to similar dietary practice.
As for King William Island, the Makambo, on the former run of the Cockspur, stopped there every ten weeks; but the direst threat Daughtry ever held over him was the putting ashore45 of him at the place where the two active young men still mourned their pig. In fact, it was their regular programme, each trip, to paddle out and around the Makambo and make ferocious46 grimaces47 up at Kwaque, who grimaced48 back at them from over the rail. Daughtry even encouraged this exchange of facial amenities49 for the purpose of deterring50 him from ever hoping to win ashore to the village of his birth.
For that matter, Kwaque had little desire to leave his master, who, after all, was kindly51 and just, and never lifted a hand to him. Having survived sea-sickness at the first, and never setting foot upon the land so that he never again knew sea-sickness, Kwaque was certain he lived in an earthly paradise. He never had to regret his inability to climb trees, because danger never threatened him. He had food regularly, and all he wanted, and it was such food! No one in his village could have dreamed of any delicacy52 of the many delicacies53 which he consumed all the time. Because of these matters he even pulled through a light attack of home-sickness, and was as contented54 a human as ever sailed the seas.
And Kwaque it was who pulled Michael through the port-hole into Dag Daughtry’s stateroom and waited for that worthy55 to arrive by the roundabout way of the door. After a quick look around the room and a sniff56 of the bunk57 and under the bunk which informed him that Jerry was not present, Michael turned his attention to Kwaque.
Kwaque tried to be friendly. He uttered a clucking noise in advertisement of his friendliness58, and Michael snarled59 at this black who had dared to lay hands upon him—a contamination, according to Michael’s training—and who now dared to address him who associated only with white gods.
Kwaque passed off the rebuff with a silly gibbering laugh and started to step nearer the door to be in readiness to open it at his master’s coming. But at first lift of his leg, Michael flew at it. Kwaque immediately put it down, and Michael subsided60, though he kept a watchful61 guard. What did he know of this strange black, save that he was a black and that, in the absence of a white master, all blacks required watching? Kwaque tried slowly sliding his foot along the floor, but Michael knew the trick and with bristle62 and growl63 put a stop to it.
It was upon this tableau64 that Daughtry entered, and, while he admired Michael much under the bright electric light, he realized the situation.
“Kwaque, you make ’m walk about leg belong you,” he commanded, in order to make sure.
Kwaque’s glance of apprehension65 at Michael was convincing enough, but the steward insisted. Kwaque gingerly obeyed, but scarcely had his foot moved an inch when Michael’s was upon him. The foot and leg petrified66, while Michael stiff-leggedly drew a half-circle of intimidation67 about him.
“Got you nailed to the floor, eh?” Daughtry chuckled. “Some nigger-chaser, my word, any amount.”
“Hey, you, Kwaque, go fetch ’m two fella bottle of beer stop ’m along icey-chestis,” he commanded in his most peremptory68 manner.
Kwaque looked beseechingly69, but did not stir. Nor did he stir at a harsher repetition of the order.
“My word!” the steward bullied70. “Suppose ’m you no fetch ’m beer close up, I knock ’m eight bells ’n ’a dog-watch onta you. Suppose ’m you no fetch ’m close up, me make ’m you go ashore ’n’ walk about along King William Island.”
“No can,” Kwaque murmured timidly. “Eye belong dog look along me too much. Me no like ’m dog kai-kai along me.”
“You fright along dog?” his master demanded.
“My word, me fright along dog any amount.”
Dag Daughtry was delighted. Also, he was thirsty from his trip ashore and did not prolong the situation.
“Hey, you, dog,” he addressed Michael. “This fella boy he all right. Savvee? He all right.”
Michael bobbed his tail and flattened71 his ears in token that he was trying to understand. When the steward patted the black on the shoulder, Michael advanced and sniffed72 both the legs he had kept nailed to the floor.
“Walk about,” Daughtry commanded. “Walk about slow fella,” he cautioned, though there was little need.
Michael bristled73, but permitted the first timid step. At the second he glanced up at Daughtry to make certain.
Michael smiled with his eyes that he understood, and turned casually75 aside to investigate an open box on the floor which contained plates of turtle-shell, hack-saws, and emery paper.
“And now,” Dag Daughtry muttered weightily aloud, as, bottle in hand, he leaned back in his arm-chair while Kwaque knelt at his feet to unlace his shoes, “now to consider a name for you, Mister Dog, that will be just to your breeding and fair to my powers of invention.”
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收听单词发音
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1
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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7
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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sprouted
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| v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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protuberant
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| adj.突出的，隆起的 | |
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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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chattel
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| n.动产；奴隶 | |
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ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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23
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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porpoise
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| n.鼠海豚 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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trove
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| n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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ambled
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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41
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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42
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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43
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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45
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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46
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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47
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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50
deterring
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的现在分词 ) | |
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51
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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52
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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53
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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54
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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56
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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57
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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58
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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59
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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60
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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61
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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62
bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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63
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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64
tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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66
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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67
intimidation
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| n.恐吓，威胁 | |
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68
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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70
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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72
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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74
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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