Jorgenson, standing by the taffrail, noted the faint reddish glow in the massive blackness of the further shore. Jorgenson noted things quickly, cursorily, perfunctorily, as phenomena unrelated to his own apparitional existence of a visiting ghost. They were but passages in the game of men who were still playing at life. He knew too well how much that game was worth to be concerned about its course. He had given up the habit of thinking for so long that the sudden resumption of it irked him exceedingly, especially as he had to think on toward a conclusion. In that world of eternal oblivion, of which he had tasted before Lingard made him step back into the life of men, all things were settled once for all. He was irritated by his own perplexity which was like a reminder of that mortality made up of questions and passions from which he had fancied he had freed himself forever. By a natural association his contemptuous annoyance embraced the existence of Mrs. Travers, too, for how could he think of Tom Lingard, of what was good or bad for King Tom, without thinking also of that woman who had managed to put the ghost of a spark even into his own extinguished eyes? She was of no account; but Tom's integrity was. It was of Tom that he had to think, of what was good or bad for Tom in that absurd and deadly game of his life. Finally he reached the conclusion that to be given the ring would be good for Tom Lingard. Just to be given the ring and no more. The ring and no more.
'It will help him to make up his mind,' muttered Jorgenson in his moustache, as if compelled by an obscure conviction. It was only then that he stirred slightly and turned away from the loom of the fires on the distant shore. Mrs. Travers heard his footsteps passing again along the side of the deckhouse—and this time never raised her head. That man was sleepless, mad, childish, and inflexible. He was impossible. He haunted the decks of that hulk aimlessly. . . .
It was, however, in pursuance of a very distinct aim that Jorgenson had gone forward again to seek Jaffir.
The first remark he had to offer to Jaffir's consideration was that the only person in the world who had the remotest chance of reaching Belarab's gate on that night was that tall white woman the Rajah Laut had brought on board, the wife of one of the captive white chiefs. Surprise made Jaffir exclaim, but he wasn't prepared to deny that. It was possible that for many reasons, some quite simple and others very subtle, those sons of the Evil One belonging to Tengga and Daman would refrain from killing a white woman walking alone from the water's edge to Belarab's gate. Yes, it was just possible that she might walk unharmed.
'Especially if she carried a blazing torch,' muttered Jorgenson in his moustache. He told Jaffir that she was sitting now in the dark, mourning silently in the manner of white women. She had made a great outcry in the morning to be allowed to join the white men on shore. He, Jorgenson, had refused her the canoe. Ever since she had secluded herself in the deckhouse in great distress.
Jaffir listened to it all without particular sympathy. And when Jorgenson added, 'It is in my mind, O Jaffir, to let her have her will now,' he answered by a 'Yes, by Allah! let her go. What does it matter?' of the greatest unconcern, till Jorgenson added:
'Yes. And she may carry the ring to the Rajah Laut.'
Jorgenson saw Jaffir, the grim and impassive Jaffir, give a perceptible start. It seemed at first an impossible task to persuade Jaffir to part with the ring. The notion was too monstrous to enter his mind, to move his heart. But at last he surrendered in an awed whisper, 'God is great. Perhaps it is her destiny.'
Being a Wajo man he did not regard women as untrustworthy or unequal to a task requiring courage and judgment. Once he got over the personal feeling he handed the ring to Jorgenson with only one reservation, 'You know, Tuan, that she must on no account put it on her finger.'
'Let her hang it round her neck,' suggested Jorgenson, readily.
As Jorgenson moved toward the deckhouse it occurred to him that perhaps now that woman Tom Lingard had taken in tow might take it into her head to refuse to leave the Emma. This did not disturb him very much. All those people moved in the dark. He himself at that particular moment was moving in the dark. Beyond the simple wish to guide Lingard's thought in the direction of Hassim and Immada, to help him to make up his mind at last to a ruthless fidelity to his purpose Jorgenson had no other aim. The existence of those whites had no meaning on earth. They were the sort of people that pass without leaving footprints. That woman would have to act in ignorance. And if she refused to go then in ignorance she would have to stay on board. He would tell her nothing.
As a matter of fact, he discovered that Mrs. Travers would simply have nothing to do with him. She would not listen to what he had to say. She desired him, a mere weary voice confined in the darkness of the deck cabin, to go away and trouble her no more. But the ghost of Jorgenson was not easily exorcised. He, too, was a mere voice in the outer darkness, inexorable, insisting that she should come out on deck and listen. At last he found the right words to say.
'It is something about Tom that I want to tell you. You wish him well, don't you?'
After this she could not refuse to come out on deck, and once there she listened patiently to that white ghost muttering and mumbling above her drooping head.
'It seems to me, Captain Jorgenson,' she said after he had ceased, 'that you are simply trifling with me. After your behaviour to me this morning, I can have nothing to say to you.'
'I have a canoe for you now,' mumbled Jorgenson.
'You have some new purpose in view now,' retorted Mrs. Travers with spirit. 'But you won't make it clear to me. What is it that you have in your mind?'
'Tom's interest.'
'Are you really his friend?'
'He brought me here. You know it. He has talked a lot to you.'
'He did. But I ask myself whether you are capable of being anybody's friend.'
'You ask yourself!' repeated Jorgenson, very quiet and morose. 'If I am not his friend I should like to know who is.'
Mrs. Travers asked, quickly: 'What's all this about a ring? What ring?'
'Tom's property. He has had it for years.'
'And he gave it to you? Doesn't he care for it?'
'Don't know. It's just a thing.'
'But it has a meaning as between you and him. Is that so?'
