The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells-Chapter V
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Capítulo V: El hombre que no tenía adonde ir. A primera hora de la mañana (era la segunda mañana después de mi recuperación, y creo que la cuarta después de que me recogieran), me desperté al final de una sucesión de sueños tumultuosos, sueños de pistolas y aullidos de multitudes, y me di cuenta de un griterío ronco en la cubierta. Me froté los ojos y me quedé escuchando el ruido, dudoso por un momento de mi paradero. Luego vino un golpeteo repentino de pies descalzos, el sonido de objetos pesados ​​que se arrojaban, un crujido violento y el estrépito de cadenas. Oí el susurro del agua cuando el barco viró repentinamente, y una ola espumosa verde amarillenta voló del otro lado de la pequeña escotilla y la dejó chorreando. Me puse rápidamente la ropa y salí a cubierta.
Mientras subía por la escalera, vi contra el cielo rojizo -porque el sol acababa de salir- la amplia espalda y el pelo rojo del capitán, y sobre sus espaldas, la jaula del puma que giraba desde un aparejo conectado a la botavara del palo mesana.
La pobre bestia parecía terriblemente asustada, agachada en el fondo de su pequeña jaula.
"¡Al agua con ellos!", vociferó el capitán. "¡Al agua con ellos!", Pronto tendremos un barco limpio de todos".
Estaba parado en mi camino, entonces tuve que tocar su hombro para subir a la cubierta. Giró sorprendido, y se tambaleó unos pasos atrás para mirarme. No hacía falta un ojo experto para saber que el hombre aún estaba borracho.
''¡Hola!'' dijo, tontamente; y después, con una luz llegando a sus ojos, ''¿Qué, es el Sr.-Señor?''
''Prendick'',dije.
''¡Prendick al diablo!'' dijo. ''Cállate,--ese es tu nombre. Sr. Cállate.''
No sirvió de nada contestar al bruto; pero no estaba esperando su movimiento siguiente. Extendió la mano a la pasarela donde Montgomery estaba hablando con un hombre enorme con cabello gris y pantalones de franela azul sucios, que aparentemente acababa de subir a bordo.
''¡Por allí, Sr Maldito Cállate! ¡por allí !'' rugió el capitán.
Montgomery y su acompañante se volvieron cuando habló.
"¿Qué quiere decir?", dije yo.
"Por ahí, señor Maldito Cállate", ¡eso es lo que quiero decir! ¡Fuera de mi barco, señor Maldito Cállate... y rápido! Estamos limpiando el barco... limpiando todo el bendito barco; ¡y usted se va!".
Lo miré estupefacto. Entonces se me ocurrió que eso era exactamente lo que yo quería. La perspectiva de no realizar un viaje como único pasajero con este borracho pendenciero no era motivo de duelo. Me volví hacia Montgomery.
"No podemos llevarlo", dijo el acompañante de Montgomery, lacónicamente.
'¡No puede llevarme!'' dije, aterrado. Tenía la cara más cuadrada y decidida que nunca había visto.
''Mire aquí''. empecé, volviendome hacia el capitán.
''¡Por la borda!'' dijo el capitán. ''Este barco no es más para bestias ni caníbales ni peor que bestias. Te vas por la borda, Sr.Cállate. Si no pueden llevarte, vas por la borda. Pero, de todas maneras, te vas- con tus amigos. ¡He acabado con esta bendita isla para siempre, amén! He tenido suficiente con ella.''
''Pero, Montgomery'', exhorté.
Distorsionó su labio inferior, señaló con la cabeza desesperademente al hombre con cabello gris a su lado, para indicar su impotencia para ayudarme.
''Me encargo de ti enseguida'',dijo el capitán.
Entonces comenzó un curioso altercado a tres bandas. Alternativamente, apelé a uno y a otro de los tres hombres, primero al hombre canoso para que me dejara desembarcar, y luego al capitán borracho para que me mantuviera a bordo. Incluso grité súplicas a los marineros. Montgomery no decía nada, solo sacudía la cabeza. "Te vas por la borda, te digo", era el estribillo del capitán. "¡No me importa la ley! Aquí yo soy la ley". Al final debo confesar que mi voz se quebró repentinamente en medio de una rotunda amenaza. Sentí un arrebato de histérica irritación, y yéndome a la popa, me quedé mirando tristemente a la nada.
Mientras tanto, los marineros progresaban rápidamente con la tarea de desembarcar los paquetes y animales enjaulados. Una gran lancha, con dos velas al tercio, estaba bajo el saliente de la goleta; y en ella se cargó el extraño surtido de productos. En ese momento no vi las manos de la isla que recibían los paquetes, porque el casco de la lancha estaba a un lado de la goleta, escondido de mi vista . Ni Montgomery ni su acompañante me prestaron la menor atención, sino que se dedicaron a ayudar y dirigir a los cuatro o cinco marineros que descargaban las mercaderías. El capitán fue a la proa interfiriendo en vez de ayudar. Yo estaba alternadamente desesperado y temerario. Una o dos veces, cuando estaba esperando que las cosas se llevaran a cabo, no pude resistir un impulso de reír de mi condición miserable. Me sentía aún más miserable por no haber desayunado. El hambre y una falta de sangre le quitan toda la virilidad a un hombre. Percibí muy claramente que no tenía la energía de resistir a lo que el capitán eligiría para expulsarme, o para imponerme sobre Montgomery y su compañero. Entonces, esperé pasivamente lo que sobrevendría; y la tarea de transferir las posesiones de Montgomery hacia la lancha siguió como si yo no existiera.
En ese momento ese trabajo fue terminado, y luego vino una lucha. Fui arrastrado, resistiéndome lo bastante débilmente, a la pasarela. Incluso entonces noté la rareza de las caras oscuras de los hombres que estaban con Montgomery en la lancha; pero la misma ahora estaba completamente cargada y se alejaba velozmente. Una brecha de agua verde que se ensanchaba apareció debajo de mí, y retrocedí con todas mis fuerzas para evitar caer de cabeza. Los hombres de la lancha gritaron burlonamente y escuché a Montgomery maldecirlos; luego el capitán, el oficial y uno de los marineros que lo ayudaban, me llevaron hacia la popa.
El bote del "Lady Vain" había sido remolcado detrás; estaba medio lleno de agua, no tenía remos ni provisiones. Me rehusé a ir a abordarlo y me tendí completamente sobre la cubierta. Al final, me movieron con una cuerda (porque no tenían una escalera de popa), y luego la cortaron dejándome a la deriva. Me alejé lentamente de la goleta. En una especie de estupor observé cómo todas las manos se acercaban al cordaje y la goleta, lenta pero seguramente, se volvía hacia el viento; las velas ondeaban y luego se hincharon cuando el viento entró en ellas. Observé su costado castigado por el clima, inclinado abruptamente hacia mí y luego salió de mi campo visual.
No volví la cabeza para seguirla. Al principio, apenas podía creer lo que había sucedido. Me acuclillé en el fondo del bote, aturdido y mirando fijamente el mar vacío y aceitoso. Después, me di cuenta que estaba otra vez en ese pequeño infierno mío, ahora medio hundido; y mirando atrás sobre la borda, ví la goleta alejándose, con el capitán pelirrojo burlandose de mí sobre el coronamiento, y volviendo hacia la isla, vi la lancha cada vez más pequeña como acercándose a la playa.
Bruscamente, la crueldad de esa deserción quedó clara para mí. No tenía medios para llegar a la tierra, a menos que tuviera la suerte de derivar hacia allí. Todavía estaba débil, debe recordar, por mi exposición en el bote; estaba con el estómago vacío y muy débil, o debería haber tenido más valor. Pero tal como estaba, de repente comencé a sollozar y llorar, como nunca lo había hecho desde que era un niñito. Las lágrimas corrían por mi cara. En un arrebato de desesperación, golpeé con los puños el agua que había en el fondo del bote y pateé salvajemente la borda. Rogué a Dios en voz alta para que me dejara morir.
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I jumped into my clothes and went on deck.
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"Overboard with 'em!"
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bawled the captain.
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"Overboard with 'em!
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We'll have a clean ship soon of the whole bilin' of 'em."
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He stood in my way, so that I had perforce to tap his shoulder to come on deck.
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He came round with a start, and staggered back a few paces to stare at me.
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It needed no expert eye to tell that the man was still drunk.
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"Hullo!"
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"Prendick," said I.
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"Prendick be damned!"
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said he.
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"Shut-up,—that's your name.
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Mister Shut-up."
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It was no good answering the brute; but I certainly did not expect his next move.
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"That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up!
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that way!"
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roared the captain.
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Montgomery and his companion turned as he spoke.
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"What do you mean?"
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I said.
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"That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up,—that's what I mean!
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Overboard, Mister Shut-up,—and sharp!
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I stared at him dumfounded.
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Then it occurred to me that it was exactly the thing I wanted.
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I turned towards Montgomery.
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"Can't have you," said Montgomery's companion, concisely.
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"You can't have me!"
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said I, aghast.
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He had the squarest and most resolute face I ever set eyes upon.
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"Look here," I began, turning to the captain.
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"Overboard!"
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said the captain.
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"This ship aint for beasts and cannibals and worse than beasts, any more.
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Overboard you go, Mister Shut-up.
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If they can't have you, you goes overboard.
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But, anyhow, you go—with your friends.
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I've done with this blessed island for evermore, amen!
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I've had enough of it."
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"But, Montgomery," I appealed.
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"I'll see to you, presently," said the captain.
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Then began a curious three-cornered altercation.
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I even bawled entreaties to the sailors.
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Montgomery said never a word, only shook his head.
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"You're going overboard, I tell you," was the captain's refrain.
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"Law be damned!
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I'm king here."
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At last I must confess my voice suddenly broke in the middle of a vigorous threat.
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I felt a gust of hysterical petulance, and went aft and stared dismally at nothing.
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The captain went forward interfering rather than assisting.
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I was alternately despairful and desperate.
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I felt all the wretcheder for the lack of a breakfast.
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Hunger and a lack of blood-corpuscles take all the manhood from a man.
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Presently that work was finished, and then came a struggle.
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I was hauled, resisting weakly enough, to the gangway.
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I refused to go aboard her, and flung myself full length on the deck.
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I drifted slowly from the schooner.
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I did not turn my head to follow her.
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At first I could scarcely believe what had happened.
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Abruptly the cruelty of this desertion became clear to me.
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I had no means of reaching the land unless I should chance to drift there.
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The tears ran down my face.
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I prayed aloud for God to let me die.
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Chapter V: The Man Who Had Nowhere To Go

IN the early morning (it was the second morning after my recovery, and I believe the fourth after I was picked up), I awoke through an avenue of tumultuous dreams,—dreams of guns and howling mobs,—and became sensible of a hoarse shouting above me. I rubbed my eyes and lay listening to the noise, doubtful for a little while of my whereabouts. Then came a sudden pattering of bare feet, the sound of heavy objects being thrown about, a violent creaking and the rattling of chains. I heard the swish of the water as the ship was suddenly brought round,
and a foamy yellow-green wave flew across the little round window and left it streaming. I jumped into my clothes and went on deck.
As I came up the ladder I saw against the flushed sky—for the sun was just rising—the broad back and red hair of the captain,
and over his shoulder the puma spinning from a tackle rigged on to the mizzen spanker-boom.
The poor brute seemed horribly scared, and crouched in the bottom of its little cage.
"Overboard with 'em!" bawled the captain. "Overboard with 'em! We'll have a clean ship soon of the whole bilin' of 'em."
He stood in my way, so that I had perforce to tap his shoulder to come on deck. He came round with a start, and staggered back a few paces to stare at me. It needed no expert eye to tell that the man was still drunk.
"Hullo!" said he, stupidly; and then with a light coming into his eyes, "Why, it's Mister—Mister?"
"Prendick," said I.
"Prendick be damned!" said he. "Shut-up,—that's your name. Mister Shut-up."
It was no good answering the brute; but I certainly did not expect his next move. He held out his hand to the gangway by which Montgomery stood talking to a massive grey-haired man in dirty-blue flannels, who had apparently just come aboard.
"That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up! that way!" roared the captain.
Montgomery and his companion turned as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" I said.
"That way, Mister Blasted Shut-up,—that's what I mean! Overboard, Mister Shut-up,—and sharp! We're cleaning the ship out,—cleaning the whole blessed ship out; and overboard you go!"
I stared at him dumfounded. Then it occurred to me that it was exactly the thing I wanted. The lost prospect of a journey as sole passenger with this quarrelsome sot was not one to mourn over. I turned towards Montgomery.
"Can't have you," said Montgomery's companion, concisely.
"You can't have me!" said I, aghast. He had the squarest and most resolute face I ever set eyes upon.
"Look here," I began, turning to the captain.
"Overboard!" said the captain. "This ship aint for beasts and cannibals and worse than beasts, any more. Overboard you go, Mister Shut-up. If they can't have you, you goes overboard. But, anyhow, you go—with your friends. I've done with this blessed island for evermore, amen! I've had enough of it."
"But, Montgomery," I appealed.
He distorted his lower lip, and nodded his head hopelessly at the grey-haired man beside him, to indicate his powerlessness to help me.
"I'll see to you, presently," said the captain.
Then began a curious three-cornered altercation. Alternately I appealed to one and another of the three men,—first to the grey-haired man to let me land, and then to the drunken captain to keep me aboard. I even bawled entreaties to the sailors. Montgomery said never a word, only shook his head. "You're going overboard, I tell you," was the captain's refrain. "Law be damned! I'm king here." At last I must confess my voice suddenly broke in the middle of a vigorous threat. I felt a gust of hysterical petulance, and went aft and stared dismally at nothing.
Meanwhile the sailors progressed rapidly with the task of unshipping the packages and caged animals. A large launch, with two standing lugs, lay under the lea of the schooner; and into this the strange assortment of goods were swung. I did not then see the hands from the island that were receiving the packages, for the hull of the launch was hidden from me by the side of the schooner. Neither Montgomery nor his companion took the slightest notice of me, but busied themselves in assisting and directing the four or five sailors who were unloading the goods. The captain went forward interfering rather than assisting. I was alternately despairful and desperate. Once or twice as I stood waiting there for things to accomplish themselves, I could not resist an impulse to laugh at my miserable quandary. I felt all the wretcheder for the lack of a breakfast. Hunger and a lack of blood-corpuscles take all the manhood from a man. I perceived pretty clearly that I had not the stamina either to resist what the captain chose to do to expel me, or to force myself upon Montgomery and his companion. So I waited passively upon fate; and the work of transferring Montgomery's possessions to the launch went on as if I did not exist.
Presently that work was finished, and then came a struggle. I was hauled, resisting weakly enough, to the gangway. Even then I noticed the oddness of the brown faces of the men who were with Montgomery in the launch;
but the launch was now fully laden, and was shoved off hastily. A broadening gap of green water appeared under me, and I pushed back with all my strength to avoid falling headlong. The hands in the launch shouted derisively, and I heard Montgomery curse at them; and then the captain, the mate, and one of the seamen helping him, ran me aft towards the stern.
The dingey of the "Lady Vain" had been towing behind; it was half full of water, had no oars, and was quite unvictualled. I refused to go aboard her, and flung myself full length on the deck. In the end, they swung me into her by a rope (for they had no stern ladder), and then they cut me adrift. I drifted slowly from the schooner. In a kind of stupor I watched all hands take to the rigging, and slowly but surely she came round to the wind;
the sails fluttered, and then bellied out as the wind came into them. I stared at her weather-beaten side heeling steeply towards me;
and then she passed out of my range of view.
I did not turn my head to follow her. At first I could scarcely believe what had happened. I crouched in the bottom of the dingey, stunned, and staring blankly at the vacant, oily sea. Then I realised that I was in that little hell of mine again, now half swamped; and looking back over the gunwale,
I saw the schooner standing away from me, with the red-haired captain mocking at me over the taffrail, and turning towards the island saw the launch growing smaller as she approached the beach.
Abruptly the cruelty of this desertion became clear to me. I had no means of reaching the land unless I should chance to drift there. I was still weak, you must remember, from my exposure in the boat; I was empty and very faint, or I should have had more heart. But as it was I suddenly began to sob and weep, as I had never done since I was a little child. The tears ran down my face. In a passion of despair I struck with my fists at the water in the bottom of the boat, and kicked savagely at the gunwale. I prayed aloud for God to let me die.