Extract from Morgandale
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
British (General) British (Received Pronunciation - RP, BBC)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
one lantern hung above the entrance to the Harbour Tavern as they swung into the yard in front of the low building with the sheen of the moonlight on the water behind it. Games listened for the noise of drinkers, but there was no sound above the metallic trotting of the horse's hooves. He flicked the end of his show route out of the open window, and the red glow curved up and then down and exploded on the cobblestones. The cab came to a stop, and they opened the small doors and got out. Where can we get a cab to go back in? Said his grandfather to the native driver as he paid him off. I will go back here sometime later. There are others, too. I'll take your word for it, said the captain, not understanding the dialect. And they walked off towards the light from the lantern behind them, the cab turned and headed straight into the night. His grandfather walked strongly and without any sign of age, they lowered their heads and went in through the doorway and under the lantern. James followed down a narrow passage. At the end of the corridor. They turned left into the bar. The voices were low and well ordered. The men sat in twos and threes at the long benches. James stood just inside the doorway and looked around the room on his right to seamen were playing cribbage. His grandfather put a hand on his shoulder and guided him between the dark wooden benches and tables towards the bar. Finally, they lent on the bar counter and looked at each other. A row of lanterns hung above their heads along the length of the bar and gave a good light. What do you have asked his grandfather? What do you suggest? Evening, Captain, said the barman, pressing forward a little with both hands on the edge of the oak bar. Business looks quiet tonight, Henny, said the captain. It will get better later, full of people. It was earlier. Make it two mugs of red wine, a good one. I don't want me got to start rotting At my age, they looked around the bar and only turn to face each other again. When the barman put the pewter mugs down in front of them, they picked them up carefully without spilling the wine, and glanced up at each other. Cheers, lad, And good luck, said Captain Kerrigan. Thanks, replied James. They drank together with their noses in focus above the rims of their mugs. Not bad, honey, not bad, said Captain Kerrigan and lowered his mug onto the bar, his head tilted a little to one side in appreciation. Do you hear anything about Roads column? I'd like to meet any of them that's going and you see any coming tonight? Give me the nod. I've thought of taking the dolphin around the coast of Portuguese waters. If they find all the gold they've been shouting about, there's none of them here now, Captain said Honey. But if I see them, I will tell you which ones they are. Have a drink, said the captain. I will, but just a small one. These can be long nights, and it's bad enough when they get drunk. It had better not be any of my crew tonight. So the captain and winked, they drank in silence. James looked around the room, tobacco smoke hung heavy under the low beams, and the wine seeped comfortably into James stomach as he drank it down in pace with his grandfather. He looked carefully into the faces of everybody who came into the bar. The place filled up and Henny worked harder, and the level of noise grew with the flow of liquor. Henny lent his left arm across the bar and pointed with his forefinger for Captain Carrigan to follow its direction. I think he's one of the offices, said Honey. Thanks, said the captain and Henny turned to serve a new customer. Holding his half full mug, James followed his grandfather towards the man sitting by himself at the end of the table. He was young and well shaven and showed no surprise when the elderly semen sat down next to him on the bench. Hope you don't mind, said Captain Carrigan. My name's Carrigan of the dolphin. The barman tells me you're one of those going up country to Mr Rhodes, and I wanted to hear some more about it. What can I tell you? My name is borrow for the journey north. I shall be an army captain for afterwards. I shall be a settler like the rest of us. His voice was friendly. What I was thinking, said Captain Carrigan, was that if you find what you're looking for. You'll need a port nearer than Cape Town or Durban from which to trade and ships to call there. If I knew where there would be cargo, I'd bring the ship into one of those Portuguese ports. From what I know of where you go in, I'd say the place was Beira. It ain't much of a place at present, and they say there's a lot of fever, but the harbour is safe. James, listen to them. They ignored him and he sat and drank his wine. The bar was full and the voice is loud. Slowly, his own thoughts dominated the surroundings. He thought of the new spring in England and the many angry words that his father would have spoken about him to his sister, provided he was accepted for the column. He told himself it would be worth his father's inconvenience, and Esther would find herself a husband and be away from the house. She was pretty. She would have her own home to run. He had his own life to lead and only himself to make it go forward in the way that he wished he knew there were penalties to pay in any course that he set himself and there would be no family in the new country and no women. He thought about women and hoped that by not seeing them, he would not think of his need. When he had built his farm, he would go back to England and look for a wife. There would be a good time enough for everything. He looked back and saw that women had never been a large part of his life. He had been a border at Wellington, and the holidays had seen the occasional ball at the neighbor's home. But he had met no one then or afterwards, during vacations from Oxford who remained in his memory. He remembered seeing very little strength in any of them. He promised himself that when the farm was built, he would go back and look properly.