the jacket (the star-rover)-第30章

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Command　respect；　respect　for　all　of　us〃



The　last　was　barely　audible；　for　by　this　time　the　ki…sang　had

stuffed　his　mouth　to　speechlessness。



As　I　have　said；　I　had　the　will　and　the　fearlessness；　and　I　racked　my

sea…cuny　brains　for　the　wit。　　A　palace　eunuch；　tickling　my　neck　with

a　feather　from　behind；　gave　me　my　start。　　I　had　already　drawn

attention　by　my　aloofness　and　imperviousness　to　the　attacks　of　the

ki…sang；　so　that　many　were　looking　on　at　the　eunuch's　baiting　of　me。

I　gave　no　sign；　made　no　move；　until　I　had　located　him　and　distanced

him。　　Then；　like　a　shot；　without　turning　head　or　body；　merely　by　my

arm　I　fetched　him　an　open；　back…handed　slap。　　My　knuckles　landed

flat　on　his　cheek　and　jaw。　　There　was　a　crack　like　a　spar　parting　in

a　gale。　　He　was　bowled　clean　over；　landing　in　a　heap　on　the　floor　a

dozen　feet　away。



There　was　no　laughter；　only　cries　of　surprise　and　murmurings　and

whisperings　of　〃Yi　Yong…ik。〃　　Again　I　folded　my　arms　and　stood　with

a　fine　assumption　of　haughtiness。　　I　do　believe　that　I；　Adam　Strang；

had　among　other　things　the　soul　of　an　actor　in　me。　　For　see　what

follows。　　I　was　now　the　most　significant　of　our　company。　　Proud…

eyed；　disdainful；　I　met　unwavering　the　eyes　upon　me　and　made　them

drop；　or　turn　awayall　eyes　but　one。　　These　were　the　eyes　of　a

young　woman；　whom　I　judged；　by　richness　of　dress　and　by　the　half…

dozen　women　fluttering　at　her　back；　to　be　a　court　lady　of

distinction。　　In　truth；　she　was　the　Lady　Om；　princess　of　the　house

of　Min。　　Did　I　say　young？　　She　was　fully　my　own　age；　thirty；　and　for

all　that　and　her　ripeness　and　beauty　a　princess　still　unmarried；　as

I　was　to　learn。



She　alone　looked　me　in　the　eyes　without　wavering　until　it　was　I　who

turned　away。　　She　did　not　look　me　down；　for　there　was　neither

challenge　nor　antagonism　in　her　eyesonly　fascination。　　I　was　loth

to　admit　this　defeat　by　one　small　woman；　and　my　eyes；　turning　aside；

lighted　on　the　disgraceful　rout　of　my　comrades　and　the　trailing　ki…

sang　and　gave　me　the　pretext。　　I　clapped　my　hands　in　the　Asiatic

fashion　when　one　gives　command。



〃Let　be！〃　I　thundered　in　their　own　language；　and　in　the　form　one

addressee　underlings。



Oh；　I　had　a　chest　and　a　throat；　and　could　bull…roar　to　the　hurt　of

ear…drums。　　I　warrant　so　loud　a　command　had　never　before　cracked　the

sacred　air　of　the　Emperor's　palace。



The　great　room　was　aghast。　　The　women　were　startled；　and　pressed

toward　one　another　as　for　safety。　　The　ki…sang　released　the　cunies

and　shrank　away　giggling　apprehensively。　　Only　the　Lady　Om　made　no

sign　nor　motion　but　continued　to　gaze　wide…eyed　into　my　eyes　which

had　returned　to　hers。



Then　fell　a　great　silence；　as　if　all　waited　some　word　of　doom。　　A

multitude　of　eyes　timidly　stole　back　and　forth　from　the　Emperor　to

me　and　from　me　to　the　Emperor。　　And　I　had　wit　to　keep　the　silence

and　to　stand　there；　arms　folded；　haughty　and　remote。



〃He　speaks　our　language；〃　quoth　the　Emperor　at　the　last；　and　I　swear

there　was　such　a　relinquishment　of　held　breaths　that　the　whole　room

was　one　vast　sigh。



〃I　was　born　with　this　language；〃　I　replied；　my　cuny　wits　running

rashly　to　the　first　madness　that　prompted。　　〃I　spoke　it　at　my

mother's　breast。　　I　was　the　marvel　of　my　land。　　Wise　men　journeyed

far　to　see　me　and　to　hear。　　But　no　man　knew　the　words　I　spoke。　　In

the　many　years　since　I　have　forgotten　much；　but　now；　in　Cho…Sen；　the

words　come　back　like　long…lost　friends。〃



An　impression　I　certainly　made。　　The　Emperor　swallowed　and　his　lips

twitched　ere　he　asked：



〃How　explain　you　this？〃



〃I　am　an　accident；〃　I　answered；　following　the　wayward　lead　my　wit

had　opened。　　〃The　gods　of　birth　were　careless；　and　I　was　mislaid　in

a　far　land　and　nursed　by　an　alien　people。　　I　am　Korean；　and　now；　at

last；　I　have　come　to　my　home。〃



What　an　excited　whispering　and　conferring　took　place。　　The　Emperor

himself　interrogated　Kim。



〃He　was　always　thus；　our　speech　in　his　mouth；　from　the　time　he　came

out　of　the　sea；〃　Kim　lied　like　the　good　fellow　he　was。



〃Bring　me　yang…ban's　garments　as　befits　me；〃　I　interrupted；　〃and　you

shall　see。〃　　As　I　was　led　away　in　compliance；　I　turned　on　the　ki…

sang。　　〃And　leave　my　slaves　alone。　　They　have　journeyed　far　and　are

weary。　　They　are　my　faithful　slaves。〃



In　another　room　Kim　helped　me　change；　sending　the　lackeys　away；　and

quick　and　to　the　point　was　the　dress…rehearsal　he　gave　me。　　He　knew

no　more　toward　what　I　drove　than　did　I；　but　he　was　a　good　fellow。



The　funny　thing；　once　back　in　the　crowd　and　spouting　Korean　which　I

claimed　was　rusty　from　long　disuse；　was　that　Hendrik　Hamel　and　the

rest；　too　stubborn…tongued　to　learn　new　speech；　did　not　know　a　word

I　uttered。



〃I　am　of　the　blood　of　the　house　of　Koryu；〃　I　told　the　Emperor；　〃that

ruled　at　Songdo　many　a　long　year　agone　when　my　house　arose　on　the

ruins　of　Silla。〃



Ancient　history；　all；　told　me　by　Kim　on　the　long　ride；　and　he

struggled　with　his　face　to　hear　me　parrot　his　teaching。



〃These；〃　I　said；　when　the　Emperor　had　asked　me　about　my　company；

〃these　are　my　slaves；　all　except　that　old　churl　there〃I　indicated

Johannes　Maartens〃who　is　the　son　of　a　freed　man。〃　　I　told　Hendrik

Hamel　to　approach。　　〃This　one；〃　I　wantoned　on；　〃was　born　in　my

father's　house　of　a　seed　slave　who　was　born　there　before　him。　　He　is

very　close　to　me。　　We　are　of　an　age；　born　on　the　same　day；　and　on

that　day　my　father　gave　him　me。〃



Afterwards；　when　Hendrik　Hamel　was　eager　to　know　all　that　I　had

said；　and　when　I　told　him；　he　reproached　me　and　was　in　a　pretty

rage。



〃The　fat's　in　the　fire；　Hendrik；〃　quoth　I。　　〃What　I　have　done　has

been　out　of　witlessness　and　the　need　to　be　saying　something。　　But

done　it　is。　　Nor　you　nor　I　can　pluck　forth　the　fat。　　We　must　act　our

parts　and　make　the　best　of　it。〃



Taiwun；　the　Emperor's　brother；　was　a　sot　of　sots；　and　as　the　night

wore　on　he　challenged　me　to　a　drinking。　　The　Emperor　was　delighted；

and　commanded　a　dozen　of　the　noblest　sots　to　join　in　the　bout。　　The

women　were　dismissed；　and　we　went　to　it；　drink　for　drink；　measure

for　measure。　　Kim　I　kept　by　me；　and　midway　along；　despite　Hendrik

Hamel's　warning　scowls；　dismissed　him　and　the　company；　first

requesting；　and　obtaining；　palace　lodgment　instead　of　the　inn。



Next　day　the　palace　was　a…buzz　with　my　feast；　for　I　had　put　Taiwun

and　all　his　champions　snoring　on　the　mats　and　walked　unaided　to　my

bed。　　Never；　in　the　days　of　vicissitude　that　came　later；　did　Taiwun

doubt　my　claim　of　Korean　birth。　　Only　a　Korean；　he　averred；　could

possess　so　strong　a　head。



The　palace　was　a　city　in　itself；　and　we　were　lodged　in　a　sort　of

summer…house　that　stood　apart。　　The　princely　quarters　were　mine；　of

course；　and　Hamel　and　Maartens；　with　the　rest　of　the　grumbling

cunies；　had　to　content　themselves　with　what　remained。



I　was　summoned　before　Yunsan；　the　Buddhist　priest　I　have　mentioned。

It　was　his　first　glimpse　of　me　and　my　first　of　him。　　Even　Kim　he

dismissed　from　me；　and　we　sat　alone　on　deep　mats　in　a　twilight　room。

Lord；　Lord；　what　a　man　and　a　mind　was　Yunsan！　　He　made　to　probe　my

soul。　　He　knew　things　of　other　lands　and　places　that　no　one　in　Cho…

Sen　dreamed　to　know。　　Did　he　believe　my　fabled　birth？　　I　could　not

guess；　for　his　face　was　less　changeful　than　a　bowl　of　bronze。



What　Yunsan's　thoughts　were　only　Yunsan　knew。　　But　in　him；　this

poor…clad；　lean…bellied　priest；　I　sensed　the　power　behind　power　in

all　the　palace　and　in　all　Cho…Sen。　　I　sensed　also；　through　the　drift

of　speech；　that　he　had　use　of　me。　　Now　was　this　use　suggested　by　the

Lady　Om？a　nut　I　gave　Hendrik　Hamel　to　crack。　　I　little　knew；　and

less　I　cared；　for　I　lived　always　in　the　moment　and　let　others

forecast；　forfend；　and　travail　their　anxiety。



I　answered；　too；　the　summons　of　the　Lady　Om；　following　a　sleek…

faced；　cat…footed　eunuch　through　quiet　palace　byways　to　her

apartments。　　She　lodged　as　a　princess　of　the　blood　should　lodge。

She；　too；　had　a　palace　to　herself；　among　lotus　ponds　where　grow

forests　of　trees　centuries　old　but　so　dwarfed　that　they　reached　no

higher　than　my　middle。　　Bronze　bridges；　so　delicate　and　rare　that

they　looked　as　if　fashioned　by　jewel…smiths；　spanned　her　lily　ponds；

and　a　bamboo　grove　screened　her　palace　apart　from　all　the　palace。



My　head　was　awhirl。　　Sea…cuny　that　I　was；　I　was　no　dolt　with　women；

and　I　sensed　more　than　idle　curiosity　in　her　sending　for　me。　　I　had

heard　love…tales　of　common　men　and　queens；　and　was　a…wondering　if

now　it　was　my　fortune　to　prove　such　tales　true。



The　Lady　Om　wasted　little　time。　　There　were　women　about　her；　but　she

regarded　their　presence　no　more　than　a　carter　his　horses。　　I　sat

beside　her　on　deep　mats　that　made　the　room　half　a　couch；　and　wine

was　given　me　and　sweets　to　nibble；　served　on　tiny；　foot…high　tables

inlaid　with　pearl。



Lord；　Lord；　I　had　but　to　look　into　her　eyesBut　wait。　　Make　no

mistake。　　The　Lady　Om　was　no　fool。　　I　have　said　she　was　of　my　own

age。　　All　of　thirty　she　was；　with　the　poise　of　her　years。　　She　knew

what　she　wanted。　　She　knew　what　she　did　not　want。　　It　was　because　of

this　she　had　never　married；　although　all　pressure　that　an　Asiatic

court　could　put　upon　a　woman　had　been　vainly　put　upon　her　to　compel

her　to　marry　Chong　Mong…ju。　　He　was　a　lesser　cousin　of　the　great　Min

family；　himself　no　fool；　and　grasping　so　greedily　for　power　as　to

perturb　Yunsan；　who　strove　to　retain　all　power　himself　and　keep　the

palace　and　Cho…Sen　in　ordered　balance。　　Thus　Yunsan　it　was　who　in

secret　allied　himself　with　the　Lady　Om；　saved　her　from　her　cousin；

used　her　to　trim　her　cousin's　wings。　　But　enough　of　intrigue。　　It

was　long　before　I　guessed　a　tithe　of　it；　and　then　largely　through

the　Lady　Om's　confidences　and　Hendrik　Hamel's　conclusions。



The　Lady　Om　was　a　very　flower　of　woman。　　Women　such　as　she　are　born

rarely；　scarce　twice　a　century　the　whole　world　over。　　She　was

unhampered　by　rule　or　convention。　　Religion；　with　her；　was　a　series

of　abstractions；　partly　learned　from　Yunsan；　partly　worked　out　for

herself。　　Vulgar　religion；　the　public　religion；　she　held；　was　a

device　to　keep　the　toiling　millions　to　their　toil。　　She　had　a　will

of　her　own；　and　she　had　a　heart　all　womanly。　　She　was　a　beautyyes；

a　beauty　by　any　set　rule　of　the　world。　　Her　large　black　eyes　were

neither　slitted　nor　slanted　in　the　Asiatic　way。　　They　were　long；

true；　but　set　squarely；　and　with　just　the　slightest　hint　of

obliqueness　that　was　all　for　piquancy。



I　have　said　she　was　no　fool。　　Behold！　　As　I　palpitated　to　the

situation；　princess　and　sea…cuny　and　love　not　a　little　that

threatened　big；　I　racked　my　cuny's　brains　for　wit　to　carry　the　thing

off　with　manhood　credit。　　It　chanced；　early　in　this　first　meeting；

that　I　mentioned　what　I　had　told　all　the　Court；　that　I　was　in　truth

a　Korean　of　the　blood　of　the　ancient　house　of　Koryu。



〃Let　be；〃　she　said；　tapping　my　lips　with　her　peacoc