Chapter 12 Chapter 3 Doctor Antekit
The Goddess of Praise is obsessed with some people, and she has a hundred mouths to blow the trumpet for them, making them famous all over the world.
Such was the case with the famous Dr. Antekit, who is a legendary figure in all the legendary countries of the Far East.His name, like the name of a great natural scientist, is widely known in the vast area from the Dardanelles in Asia to the Suez Canal, from Suez to the Tunisian border in Africa, in the Red Sea and the entire Arabian coast.He holds the core secrets of the universe like a Gnostic.If in the time when the Bible circulated, he would have been called the god of charity, and on the banks of the Euphrates he would have been revered like the descendants of ancient astrologers.
Is such a lofty reputation somewhat overrated?Clearly, to compare him to an ancient astrologer and a modern magician, and to endow him with supernatural powers, is an overstatement.Dr. Antaiket was a mortal man, yet he was a man of great learning, integrity, shrewdness, good judgment, insight, insight, and a remarkable man made by circumstances.Sure enough, he lived up to his reputation. In a province in the middle of Asia Minor, he invented a special medicine to prevent plague, which saved the people of the province from a terrible catastrophe of infectious diseases, and has since enjoyed a great reputation.
The main reason for his fame is that he is a mysterious figure.Where did he come from?What kind of experience have you had?No one knows.Where was he?Under what conditions do you live?No one can tell you.People only heard that Dr. Antekit was loved by the people of Asia Minor and East Africa, and that his medical skills were unparalleled in the world. The news spread to the great scientific centers of Europe;But in Western countries, people don't see him, or even know where he lives in recent years.And so this disposition freed him from some incarnation of Vishnu, from some incarnation of Hinduism, and transformed him into a remarkable man of mystical medicine.
Dr. Antekit had not yet practiced medicine in the principal countries of Europe, but his fame had spread there.When he arrived at Raguza by yacht, he was just an ordinary tourist who had enjoyed the scenery of the Mediterranean Sea.But his name instantly spread throughout the city.There was anticipation, hope to see the Doctor himself, and even the yacht on which he was aboard attracted attention.If it wasn't for Matiff's courage to turn the tide, the yacht was almost in danger, which attracted more people's attention.
In fact, this kind of yacht was only owned by those dudes in the United States, Britain and France who loved water sports at that time!The two masts are straight, not far from the center of the ship, so that the jib and sail can be fully spread; The mast is tall and majestic, so that this two-masted ship can ride the wind and waves at high speed no matter what the weather is.This ship has a displacement of 350 tons. It has a slender hull with both bow and stern upturned, but it has a wider hull and a deep draft.In the hands of the helmsman, no matter where the wind comes from, whether it is tailwind or crosswind, the helmsman can fully fill the sail and sail at a speed of 13.5 knots per hour.Even in international competitions, the United Kingdom's Bowdis, Catena, and Morton are no match for it.
Inside and out, the yacht is pleasing to the eye, and perhaps the most experienced yachtsman could not imagine a more perfect yacht.The deck is Canadian tunnel style, smooth and spotless, white; the interior walls of the cabin are exquisitely crafted; under the cloth; a complete system of pulleys, motorized cable system contrasting with the slings, iron-gray stays, shrouds, and backstays; The whole hull of the boat is black and translucent; a gleaming gold belt surrounds the hull, and the stern is simple and generous.All this makes this yacht look exquisite and elegant, ingenious.
Knowing the exterior and interior of this yacht is important because it is the floating residence of the mysterious figure, the future protagonist of this story.Visitors are not allowed on the yacht, but the novelist has a special eye for seeing what is forbidden to him and describing it.
The interior of the boat is luxurious and comfortable.The cabins, cabins, living room and dining room have been exquisitely painted and decorated, and the carpets, tapestries and all furniture have been carefully arranged to meet the needs of yacht sailing.Not only the quarters of the captain and sailors, but also the silver or china tableware in the pantry are well placed to prevent jolting and shaking.The kitchen is extremely clean and tidy, and the hammock in the bedroom swings moderately.Twenty or so sailors, dressed in fancy Maltese seaman's uniform: shorts, sea boots, sailor shirts, brown belts, red caps, dungarees, with yachts and everyone's initials embroidered in white thread.
Which port does this yacht belong to?In which port is it registered?Which country along the Mediterranean Sea is it moored for the winter?What is its nationality?People don't know anything, just like people don't know the nationality of doctors.A green flag with a red cross was flying from the upper right corner of the ship.There are thousands of flags flying in the seas of the world, and it is difficult to find a second such flag.
Dr. Antekit has not yet landed, and all the documents of the yacht have been handed over to the customs officials.There is no doubt that the documents are in compliance with the regulations, because after the crew checked the body, the yacht entered and exited the port freely.
The name of the yacht is "Sawa Lena", written in lowercase capitals and gold letters on the stern, but the port of registration is not indicated.In the port of Gravosa, the yacht can now be admired to its fullest.Boscade and Matiff stared at the yacht, not out of curiosity, but their mood was much more excited than the sailors in the port, because they were going to board the yacht the next day, and they were going to be interviewed by Dr. Antekit. met with.Both of them had grown up on the Provence coast, and they were very sensitive to things at sea, especially Boscade, who watched this wonderful ship like a connoisseur, and after the performance that night, the two of them stared at it.
"Ah!" Matiff exclaimed.
"Oh!" Boscard replied.
"Well, Boscade!"
"Yes, Matiff, I don't disagree!"
This interjection of praise, from the mouths of two poor artists, is much more meaningful than that from other people's mouths.
At this time, all the operations after the anchorage of the "Sawalena" were completed, the sails were lowered and hung on the beams, the cables were carefully arranged and returned to their original positions, and the sails at the stern were erected.The yacht anchored at double anchors at a corner of the port, indicating that it intends to stay here for a while.
That evening, Dr. Antekit took only a short stroll around the port of Graves.Just when Doronta and his daughter wanted to go back to Raguza and walked towards the carriage waiting for them at the pier, just as the lively festival was not over yet, the strange young man walked along the long street alone When returning home, the doctor just visited the port.The port of Gravosa is one of the good ports along the coast, and many ships of different nationalities are moored in the port.After leaving the port city, the doctor walked along the shore of the Gulf of Umbra, forty-eight kilometers wide, until he came to the mouth of the small river Umbra.The river here is so deep that even a ship of great tonnage can sail up against the current until it reaches the foot of Mount Feradezza.At about nine o'clock, he returned to the embankment and saw the large mail ship of the Idlo Company from the Indian Ocean sailing into the harbour.Then he went back to his ship and slept in his room.There were two lamps burning in the room, and he remained alone until dawn.
This has become his habit.The captain was an old sailor, about forty years old, named Narsos, and he was ordered not to be disturbed when the doctor was alone.
It should be said that if the public doesn't know anything about this character's past, his subordinates and crew don't know much more than outsiders.Even so, they remained loyal to him.He showed no mercy for violations of ship rules, but he treated everyone equally, was considerate, and often gave generously.Therefore there is no sailor who is not happy to come and work on his ship.He was never verbally abused, physically punished, or fired, and the crew was like a family.
After the doctor returned to the ship, everything was arranged and ready to spend the night.The lights at the bow and stern of the ship were already on, the guards were on their posts, and the ship was silent.
Dr. Antekit was sitting on a large sofa in the room, and on the table in front of him were several newspapers bought by his servants from the port of Gravosa.He only browsed the news and ignored the important articles. He wanted to know what ships were coming in and out of the port, and which famous people in the province were going to rest in the countryside or other places, and then pushed away the newspaper.At eleven o'clock, tiredness struck him, and he went to bed without the service of a servant.However, he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
It might be surprising to see the thoughts that troubled him, and to sum them up in these words:
"Who is that young man who greeted the Dragon Tower on the Gravosa Pier?"
At eight o'clock next morning, Dr. Antekit came on deck.The night gradually faded from the water surface of the harbor, and the sun has dyed the top of the hill at the end of the harbor red, and the "Sawalena" will soon be bathed in bright sunshine.
Narsus, the captain, came to the doctor, and after saying good morning to him, asked him what he wanted.The doctor said a few words and told Narsos to do so and so.
After a while, the boss of the ship took four people to leave the "Sawalena" in a small boat and headed for the pier.Boscade and Matif came by appointment and waited on the pier.
Two upright young men were displaced, far away from their hometown in Provence, in this place thousands of miles away, how much they wanted to see their homeland again!In his wandering career, a grand festival is coming.
On this day, they took off their performance costumes as acrobats and put on shabby but neat clothes. Like the night before, they watched yachts on the pier.They were in such a good mood that not only had dinner the night before, but breakfast that morning.The reason why they can eat with such open stomachs is, in the final analysis, that they have a great income of forty-two farorins!But don't believe that they will spend all their money!No such thing!Boscade calculated carefully, and in the long run, at least ten days' livelihood was guaranteed.
"Matiff, we have all this, thanks to you!"
"Oh! Where did you go, Boscade!"
"Yes, thanks to you, my great man!"
"Okay! Even if it's thanks to me... since you must think so!" Matiff responded.
At this time, the boat of the "Sawa Lena" docked.The captain of the boat stood on the boat, hat in his hand, and hurriedly said that he was at the command of "gentlemen".
"Sir?" exclaimed Boscade. "Which sir?"
"It's the two of you. Doctor Antaijit is waiting for you on his boat!" The boat boss replied.
"Okay! We're 'Mr.'!" said Boscard.
Matiff's eyes were wide open, and he was rubbing his hat with his hands, looking embarrassed.
"When are you going to board the ship, gentlemen?" asked the captain of the ship.
"We...we want to..." Boscade gestured kindly.
After a while the two friends were in the boat, and sat comfortably on the long deck, which was covered with a black carpet trimmed with red, while the captain of the boat stood behind them.
Needless to say, under the weight of the strong man, the waterline of the boat was immersed in the water four or five inches deep, and even the four corners of the carpet had to be lifted up, otherwise they would be dragged into the water.
With a whistle, the four oars launched into the water at the same time, and the boat sailed towards the "Sawalena" at high speed.
To tell the truth, these two poor artists were quite excited and a bit shy.Street performers are so respected!Matiff dared not move.Although Boscade felt ashamed and dare not take it for granted, there was a smile on his delicate and intelligent face.The boat circles the stern of the yacht and docks at the welcoming starboard doorway.
The two friends boarded the moving gangway, which rattled under the weight of Matiff.Immediately after they were on deck, they were led aft to see Dr. Antekit.
After a cordial greeting, and after a while of humility, Boscade and Matif were willing to sit down.
The doctor looked at them for a while, but did not speak.His indifferent and handsome face made them stand in awe.It can be seen that although his smile is not on the corner of his mouth, it is deeply hidden in his heart.
"Friends," he said, "yesterday you saved me and my crew from a catastrophe. I want to thank you once more, so I ask you to come aboard my ship."
"Mr. Doctor, it's very kind of you." Boscade began to regain his confidence and replied calmly. "Actually, it's nothing to worry about. What my companion did, someone with his strength could have done it. Isn't that right, Matiff?"
"Yes!" said the doctor, "but it was none other than your companion who risked his life to save me, so I treat him as a benefactor!"
"Ah, sir doctor," said Boscuard, "you'll make my friend blush by saying that. Don't make him angry, you see him blushing."
"Well, friends, I don't think you like praise very much, so I won't say it. However, since you have done a good thing, you should..."
"Mr. Doctor, please forgive me for interrupting your words. The ethics book says that any good deed itself contains a reward, so we have already been rewarded!"
"I've got it! How did you get it?" asked the doctor, worried that someone else had already paid for it on his behalf.
"Indeed," said Boscade, "after our Hercules had given his all-out marvelous contest, the audience wanted to try him on the stage, and so crowds flocked to our Provence stage. .Matiff knocked six of the toughest mountain men and Gravosa's strongest porters to the ground, so we got a big buck!"
"Huge amount?"
"Yeah! It's been there on our tour."
"How much?"
"Forty-two florins!"
"Ah! That's quite a lot! But I didn't know that!..." replied Dr. Antekit cheerfully, "if I knew you were performing, and it was my duty to see it, I would be glad to do so! Please allow me Let me reserve a seat..."
"Tonight, Mr. Doctor, it would be a great honor for you to come to our wrestling show tonight!"
Mattif was polite and bowed.When he bends over, the broad shoulders of "never lost" rise from left to right. "Never lost" is a common phrase in Boscade's announcements.
Dr. Antekit saw that it was impossible to get the two acrobats to accept any kind of compensation, at least in money, so he changed his approach.In fact, the plan to take them in had been confirmed the night before, and from what I learned, they were honest and completely reliable.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Everyone calls me 'Boscade,' sir."
"And you?"
"Matiff," replied Hercules.
"That's Cape Matif," added Boscade.He was proud when he uttered the name that is famous in all arenas in the South of France.
"But, that's...a nickname," said the doctor.
"We have no other name," said Boscade, "because we are poor, and if we had a name, no one would call us by it."
"Do you have any relatives?"
"Relatives! Mr. Doctor, our conditions never allow us to have relatives! If one day we become rich, they will come and compete to inherit the property!"
"Are you French? What province?"
"Provence," replied Boscade proudly, "that is to say, more French than the French!"
"You're very funny, Boscade!"
"It's a professional requirement. Just imagine, Mr. Doctor, a clown and a comedian are so sad! In that case, the rotten apples you get in an hour can't be eaten in a lifetime! So I am very happy, very happy , that’s how it should be on stage!”
"Where's Matiff?"
"Matiff is more serious and stable, and his feelings are inward and not outward!" replied Boscade, who patted his companion on the shoulder as affectionately as a horse's neck. "This is also a professional requirement! When he picks up fifty people's weight to perform hand skills, he must take it seriously! When wrestling, he not only exerts strength with his arms, but also his head! Matiff has been fighting and fighting, not only with Fighting against people, even fighting against poverty! But poverty did not defeat him!"
Dr. Antekit was interested in what he had to say.He is short in stature, but he is upright. Facing such a cruel fate, he endures and fights against it!The doctor felt that this man was full of wisdom and courage, and he was thinking, if he was born in a good living environment, what would he be like today?
"Where are you going now?" asked the doctor.
"Wherever you go," replied Boscade. "It's not always bad luck to go this way, and we often have to live on. It's just that I'm afraid this time I'm going further away from home! Anyway, it's our fault. Back then, we should have figured out where we were going!"
The doctor looked at them for a while, then said:
"What can I do for you two?"
"Don't worry, Monsieur Doctor," replied Boscade, "indeed, don't worry..."
"Now don't you really want to go back to your Provence hometown?"
The eyes of the two acrobats suddenly lit up.
"I can take you back," the doctor said again.
"That would be wonderful!" said Boscade, and then to his companion, "Matiff, do you want to go back?"
"I want to go back... Boscade, as long as you come back, I will go back!"
"But what will we do when we go back? How will we live?"
Matiff scratches his forehead.Whenever he felt embarrassed, he always scratched his forehead like this.
"We do...we do..." he murmured.
"You don't know what you're going to do...I don't know either! But it's my hometown after all! It's strange, Mr. Doctor, that poor people like us, who don't even have any relatives, have a hometown! It's amazing! People can't explain it!"
"Will you two stay with me?" asked Dr. Antekit.
At this unexpected suggestion, Boscade stood up suddenly, and Hercules looked at him, wondering if he should stand up like him.
"Stay with you, Monsieur Doctor?" replied Boscuard at last: "but what use are we to do? Work hard? Play tricks? We never do anything else! Unless To amuse you while you are sailing or in your home country..."
"Listen," answered the doctor, "I need men of courage, loyalty, dexterity, and intelligence, to help me with my plans. You have nothing to worry about here, and nothing to do over there at home. Will you What are you doing staying for me?"
"But when these plans are completed..." said Boscade.
"If you like, don't leave me," said the doctor, smiling. "You stay on board with me! See, you can teach my crew to walk a tightrope! On the other hand, if you want to go home, that's fine too. Make sure you live a prosperous life in the future.”
"Oh! Monsieur Doctor!" exclaimed Boscade, "you won't let us have a good time! We can't bear it!"
"I promise to give you work, and you will be satisfied!"
"Well then," said Boscard, "you're very tempting!"
"Do you have any disagreement on this?"
"Perhaps only one. You see us two, Cap Matiff and I! We are from the same country, if we have a family, we are a family! We are good brothers! There is no Matif without Bescade Well, without Matiff there would be no Boscades! We are like conjoined twins, inseparable, brother. Nobody can separate us, can they? Because separation would kill us, Mr. Doctor !"
As he spoke, Boscade held out his hand to Matiff, and Matiff pressed the hand to his chest like a child.
"My friends," said Dr. Antekit, "you will not be separated. I know very well that you will never be separated."
"Well, that's all right, Monsieur Doctor, if..."
"what if?"
"If Matiff agrees."
"You just agree, Boscade." The Hercules said, "You have the final say!"
"Very well," the doctor replied, "that's the deal, don't go back on your word! From today on, you don't have to worry about anything."
"Oh! Be careful, Monsieur Doctor!" cried Boscade. "You may promise more than you think!"
"why?"
"Because we will cost you a lot, especially Matif! He has a big appetite, and you are afraid that he will eat more if he is tired of working hard and loses energy."
"On the contrary, I dare say he will double his strength!"
"Then he will eat you up!"
"He can't beat me, Boscade!"
"However, two...three meals a day..."
"Five meals, six meals, ten meals are fine, as long as he wants to eat!" Dr. Antekit replied with a smile: "Let him eat with his belly open!"
"Hey, my Matiff!" Boscade exclaimed joyfully, "Now you can eat to your heart's content!"
"And you too, Boscade."
"Oh, me! I have a poor appetite! But I want to ask, Mr. Doctor, are we going to sea?"
"Often, my friend. I will practice medicine all over the Mediterranean, and patients will come to me from all over the coast! I want to practice medicine from country to country! If I am in, or if my patients need me to go to sea, don't I Can you not go? Doctors in big cities go from one district to another to treat patients, but I have to practice medicine from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Adriatic Sea. I have some The speed of the boat is ten times faster than this two-masted yacht, and you often have to follow me to the doctor!"
"We like to do it, sir!" replied Boscade, rubbing his hands excitedly.
"Aren't you afraid of the sea?" asked Dr. Antekit.
"We!" cried Boscade. "We! Children who grow up in Provence are afraid of the sea! We have been rolling around in small boats by the sea since we were young! No, we are not afraid of the sea, nor are we afraid of seasickness! We are used to walking with our heads upside down and feet up! Those gentlemen and wives only need to do this kind of exercise for two months before boarding the ship, so they don’t have to hold the washbasin to vomit endlessly when crossing the sea! Please come in! Please come in! Gentlemen and ladies, Follow the crowd and move forward!"
Joyful Burskard reverted to his old ways, and yelled as if on a stage.
"Well, Boscade!" replied the doctor. "We will get along very well, and I especially hope that your good character will not change at all! Smile, boy, laugh and sing to your heart's content! This kind of happiness of yours will never be superfluous, and our future may There will be a lot of sad things!"
Saying that, Dr. Antekit became serious again.Boscade observed the situation and guessed that this person must have experienced great pain in the past.These things, maybe one day he will let them know.
"Monsieur Doctor," continued Boscard, "from this day on we are both yours, body and soul."
"From today," replied the doctor, "you will be able to live in your cabins. It is likely that I will spend a few more days in Gravosa and Laguiz. It is from now on that you will become acquainted with the Take a look at life aboard the 'Savarena'."
"Until the day you bring us to your homeland!" Boscade added.
"I don't have a homeland," the doctor replied, "or I have someone build a homeland. If you want, it will be your homeland too!"
"Okay, Matiff!" Boscade yelled, "Let's sell the show booth! Don't worry, we don't owe anyone money, and we won't go bankrupt!"
Then the two friends said good-bye to Dr. Antekit, boarded the boat that had been waiting for them, and sailed to the Gravosa quay.
Once there, they spent two hours clearing their belongings and surrendering all their belongings, namely: open stage, painted canvas, big and small drums, to a fellow traveler.The business was done quickly, and a few florins in pockets did not add much to their burden.
However, Burscade insisted on keeping his old acrobatic suit and cornet, and Matiff kept his trombone and weird wrestling suit.There are so many successes and victories recorded in these old instruments and rags that it is sad to be parted from them.They stuffed it into the bottom of the only box, and then they put furniture, clothes, and all.
It was nearly one o'clock in the afternoon, and Boscade and Matiff returned to the "Sawalena".A large forward cabin had been arranged for them--a comfortable cabin indeed, with "everything that could be pictured," as the merry chap said.
The crew warmly welcomed the two new partners.Thanks to the help of the latter, they avoided a terrible disaster.
As soon as Boscade and Matiff got on board, they found that the food on board was much better than that in Provence Arena.
"You see, Matiff," continued Boscade, after finishing his delicious glass of Asti brandy, "how good things come back! That's why it's good to be good!"
Matiff had no choice but to nod, a large piece of baked ham and two fried eggs stuffed into his mouth.These things fell into his bottomless stomach in a few strokes.
"There's nothing more amusing than watching you eat, my Matiff," said Boscard. "Look how good they serve!"
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