第15部分(第3/7 頁)

e’d　ever　experienced。　Thirty　guys　living　in　one　house；　studying　and　working　the　farm　together。　No　girls。　No　pot。　No　drinking。　No　drama。

Sounds；　um；　fun！

Maybe　it　was　because　the　schedule　sort　of　reminded　him　of　his　life　aboard　the　Belinda　with　Chips；　but　he　liked　waking　up　at　5　a。m。　to　milk　the　cows；　then　heading　to　the　old…fashioned　one…room　schoolhouse　to　discuss　Plato。　He’d　always　half…assed　it　in　high　school；　so　this　was　the　first　time　he’d　ever　really　tried　to　study　and　learn。　It　was　surprisingly　satisfying。　It　was　sort　of　like　what　Chips　had　taught　him：　that　you　have　to　own　the　work　before　you　can　own　yourself。　Chips　had　given　him　a　ton　of　good　advice。　And　now　he　was　gone。

Nate　sighed　in　frustration。　It　turned　out　he’d　known　he　had　cancer　the　whole　time　they　were　aboard　the　Belinda。　Nate　thought　of　the　days　they　spent　exploring　the　world；　docking　on　islands　that　seemed　almost　untouched　by　man。　Days　spent　at　sea　so　far　out　you　couldn’t　see　land；　methodically　fishing。　Of　their　quiet　dinners　on　board；　where　they　ate　their　daily　catch　and　contemplated　the　multicolored　sunset。　He’d　had　all　the　time；　all　the　opportunities　in　the　world—why　hadn’t　Chips　said　anything？　His　father　squeezed　his　shoulder　in　a　gesture　of　solidarity。　Chips　had　been　the　Captain’s　mentor　as　well。

“Thanks　for　ing；”　Captain　Archibald　said；　shaking　hands　with　Chuck；　who　had　been　standing　at　a　respectful　distance。　Nate　and　Chuck　had　bee　close　this　year；　and　when　he　heard　the　news　about　Chips；　Chuck　had　insisted　that　he　e　with　Nate；　for　moral　support。

“Well…”　The　Captain　trailed　off　unfortably；　shifting　from　one　tan　leather　Gucci　loafer　to　another。　“I’ll　be　off　now。　You’ll　be　all　right？”　he　asked；　as　if　unsure　whether　it　was　okay　to　leave。

“I’ll　be　fine；”　Nate