Chapter 126 121．friends don't be afraid

At midnight, it was raining and windy. The "Pequode" sailed forward with difficulty in the wind and rain. There is endless darkness in the distance, and no one knows what is waiting for them in front of them. Stubb and Flask were lying on the bulwark, and were tying ropes to the anchor on the bulwark, fearing that it might go wrong in the stormy weather. The two of them chatted while they were busy working. "I said Stubb, I remember hearing you say that no matter what ship Captain Ahab sails in, there must be something on the insurance policy, as if the ship was loaded with gunpowder and yellow phosphorus."

"Even if I said so, so what, is my mind constantly changing, and besides, what if our ship is now loaded with gunpowder and yellow phosphorus?" "Look at the constant rain now, water is wringing out everywhere, even if you have magic, you can't light them!" "Didn't you notice my red hair?" "Even a torch is useless." Stubb went on. "Actually, there's nothing terrible about it. Just think about it. On a ship like ours that is stormed by thunder and rain, what's the difference between standing under the mast holding a lightning rod and standing under the mast holding nothing?" Woolen cloth?"

"Unless the mast is struck by lightning first, nothing will happen to you." "So now there is not even a single lightning rod in a hundred ships, and there is no need for it at all." "You should listen to me. You, I, Captain Ahab and everyone on this ship will not be in any danger at all. There is no need to be so afraid. My words are correct." "Did you understand what I said? How could you not understand? Even the stupidest people will understand!" "Think about it, if it's what you fear, everyone in the world has a lightning rod in their hat and walks around like that, wouldn't it make people laugh?"

"But some things are not easy to figure out at once." Flask spoke up. "Yeah, especially a drenched guy." Stubb quipped. "Hey, I said Flask, do you think we are tying the anchor chain like this, does it look like a man's hands are tied behind his back? But, you know, how big those hands must be!" "Yes." Flask spoke up. "I feel that the whole world has dropped anchor, but I don't know where it is. What a rope it must be!" Stubb's words were full of sorrow. While talking, the two finished their work. "Flask, can you twist the corner of my coat?"

"Ok." Flask agreed. "Actually, in such a stormy weather, it is quite appropriate to wear a tuxedo. The tail of the dress never gets wet, unlike the current clothes, which are so annoying." Stubb envied the tuxedo at this moment, not out of beauty but practicality. "When I get back, I won't wear these clothes. I'll wear a tuxedo and a tall hat, and I'll look like a rich and educated man. How about it, huh?" While Stubb was dreaming of what he would wear back home, a gust of wind blew his raincoat into the sea. The raincoat disappeared in an instant.

"This damn weather!" "This hateful wind!" Stubb cursed violently. The wind and rain were not lessened by his curse at all.