Chapter 114 109．The Dispute between Ahab and Starbucks

Two days later, the "Pequode" gradually approached the Taiwan Islands and Bashi Islands from southwest to northeast. Passing between these two archipelagos is equivalent to leaving the China Sea and sailing into the Pacific Ocean. Captain Ahab stood erect in his captain's cabin, his new bony legs already put on. The bony legs were dazzlingly white, touching the legs of his table, which had been fastened to the ground with screws. On the table in front of Captain Ahab was a map of the Japanese archipelago. He held a small sharp knife in his hand, with his back to the door, studying his itinerary.

From behind, he looked very strange. "It's almost there, it's finally here!" murmured Captain Ahab, looking both excited and impatient. "Captain Ahab." Starbuck entered the captain's cabin, and he came to report that the whale oil stored in the captain's cabin was leaking. "Who?" Ahab said impatiently, and didn't turn his head back, let alone figure out who the person who came to report to him was. "Go away, go back to the deck, and leave me alone." Captain Ahab was terribly reluctant to be disturbed when he was absorbed in his thoughts.

"It's me, Starbucks, Captain." Starbuck thought the captain had made a mistake, so he hurriedly reported himself. "The whale oil stored in the cabin has leaked, we have to clean it up quickly." Starbuck went on to say that all his considerations were purely for the good of the ship as a whole. "What? Still sorting out those broken barrels? Did you know that we're going to Japan soon?" "I know, but..." "But what? Do you want me to stay here for another week?" said Captain Ahab impatiently. "But we have to do this, otherwise, one day we will lose our year's worth of oil."

Starbucks did not exaggerate the seriousness of the problem at all. "But I don't want those rotten bucket hoops here." "But we ran such a long distance, isn't it just for the oil?" "Yeah, we've come all this way, and why can't we get it, you bloody white ghost." "I'm talking to you about our whale oil, sir." Starbuck was puzzled by Captain Ahab's absent-mindedness. "But I'm not thinking about it." Captain Ahab was in a hurry. "Get out, let it leak as it pleases, let it do what it does, I'm still leaking, 'Pequord' is still leaking, who cares about us?"

"Mr. Captain, I think you have to calm down. Please think about it carefully. We must keep our oil well. Otherwise, we won't be able to explain to the shipowner after we go back." Starbucks earnestly said. "Damn them, let them yell on the beaches of Nantucket, what have I to do, I'm the owner of the Pequod, I can do what I want, I'm the captain, no The misers you speak of." Captain Ahab became a little excited. He pointed to Starbuck. "Go, go back to your deck, and don't mess with me here." Starbuck blushed, but refused to give up his request.

He took a step forward, very resolute, but he tried his best not to show the intensity of his actions and his disrespect to the old man. "I think you will adopt a correct opinion. Of course, first of all, I must ask you to forgive my offense." "I don't need you to teach me, you bastard." The more Ahab spoke, the more angry he reached out and grabbed a loaded musket from the rack, and pointed it at Starbuck a few steps away. "Let me tell you, I am the one who has the final say on this boat, do you hear me, go back quickly." Starbuck was flushed with anger, and his eyes were fixed on the black barrel of the gun, blinking.

But he didn't panic, but turned around calmly and left. "You're not insulting me, it's simply violence, but if you think about it, you can't go on like this." Starbuck said firmly. "The first mate has become braver, but he is still obedient." Captain Ahab put away his gun and pondered what the mate had said. "Yes, Ahab, that's not right. You can't offend them now and make them dissatisfied with you, and your plan will go wrong." Ahab came out of his captain's cabin, and came to the deck, and approached Starbuck. "And you're right, Starbucks, you're a very good man, don't pay any attention to what I say."

he said to Starbuck with a broad smile. "Quickly, furl up the sails, load the main mast and sail down, push the crane over, open the main cabin, and prepare to clean up the leaking oil drum." Captain Ahab gave the order. "Everything is under Starbuck's command." He added another sentence.