"Buenos Aires - yes, can you sneak me on board?"

"How much can you give me?"

"Not much, I only have a few Boli. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"That's not going to work. Less than fifty is not good - this is still cheap - a boy like you. ”

"What do you mean by Brother Childe? If you like my clothes, you can change them with me, but I have so much money on me, I can't get any more. ”

"You still have a watch there. Hand it over. Arthur took out a women's gold watch, with delicate patterns and inlaid enamels, and the letters "G. Bo" engraved on the back. It was his mother's watch - but what did it matter now?

"Ah!" the sailor let out an exclamation with a quick glance. "Of course it's stealing!

Arthur withdrew his hand. "No," he said, "I'll give it to you when we're on board." I won't give it to you until then. ”

"So, it doesn't look like you're stupid! I bet'll be your first time in trouble, eh?"

"That's my thing. Yo! The patrol is coming. ”

They crouched down behind the group portrait until the patrol had walked over. Then the sailor stood up, told Arthur to follow him, and went on, smirking silly. Arthur silently followed.

The sailor led him back to the small irregular square near the Medici Palace, and stopped in a dark corner. He had wanted to speak quietly out of caution, but the words he spoke were slurred.

"Wait here, if you go any further, those who are soldiers will see you. ”

"What are you going to do?"

"Get you some clothes. There's blood on the sleeve of your coat, and I can't take you aboard. ”

Arthur looked down at his sleeves torn by the window bar. His hand was scratched, and the blood dripped onto it. The man apparently took him for a murderer. Hey, it doesn't matter what people think.

After a while, the sailor came back with a package under his arm.

"Put it on," he whispered, "move quickly." I had to go back, and the old Jewish man was endless, haggling with me, delaying me for half an hour. ”

Arthur did as he was told. As soon as he touched his old clothes, he instinctively felt disgusted, and he couldn't help but shrink a little. Luckily, the clothes are rough but clean. When he put on his new outfit and walked into the light, the sailor looked at him drunkenly with a very solemn expression. He nodded approvingly.

"That's it," he said, "that's it, don't be silent." Arthur, with his change of clothes, followed him through a maze of winding canals and dark narrow alleys. It is a remnant of the Middle Ages, and the people of Livorno call it "New Venice". A few eerie old palaces stand alone, sandwiched between noisy scruffy houses and squalid courtyards. These palaces are flanked by filthy ditches, miserable attempts to preserve their former dignity, though knowing that this is futile in vain. He knew that some of the alleys were notorious dens of thieves, outlaws, and smugglers, and that others were just dwellings for the destitute.

The sailor stopped beside a small bridge, looked around, and saw that no one noticed them. Then they descended the stone steps and came to a narrow pier. There was a dirty and dilapidated boat under the bridge. He sharply ordered Arthur to jump in and lie down, and then he sat down in the boat himself and began to paddle the boat towards the harbor.

Arthur lay quietly on the damp and leaky plank, covered with the clothes that the man had thrown at him. He peeked out from the inside at the familiar streets and houses.

They quickly crossed the bridge and entered a section of canal, where the moat of the castle was located. The massive walls towered over the water's edge, the bases were wide and narrower the higher they went, and the top was a solemn tower. How powerful and terrible the tower seemed to him a few hours ago!

He lay down on the bottom of the boat and smiled softly.

"Don't make a sound," whispered the sailor, "cover your head! ”

Arthur pulled his clothes over his head. A few yards further on, the boat stopped in front of a row of masts chained together. This row of masts stretched across the canal, blocking the narrow waterway between the customs and the castle walls. A sleepy-eyed official came out yawning, and he bent down by the river with a lantern.

"Please show your passport. ”

The sailor handed over his official papers. Arthur was suffocating from under his clothes, and he held his breath and listened.

"You're coming back at a good time for the night!" said the customs officer dissatisfied. "I guess I went out to party for a while. What's on your ship?"

"Old clothes. Buy a bargain. He picked up the waistcoat and showed it to him. The officer lowered the lantern, leaned down, and opened his eyes wide to see what was going on.

"I think it's okay. You can get over. ”

He lifted the fence and the boat slowly rowed into the dark and turbulent waters. After a distance, Arthur sat up and pushed his clothes away.

"The boat is there. The sailor paddled silently, and then whispered. "Come near me and don't speak. ”

He climbed onto the side of the huge black cargo ship. Seeing that this person who was not familiar with water was so clumsy, the sailor couldn't help but curse in his heart. Despite Arthur's natural agility, most people would be more clumsy than he was if he were in his position.

Having safely landed on the boat, they cautiously climbed between the huge black cable and the machine, and then reached a hatch. The sailor gently lifted the hatch.

"Go down!" he whispered. "I'll be right back. ”

The bilge is not only damp and dark, but it also emits a foul odor that is unbearable. Arthur instinctively stepped back at first, choking on the stench of rawhide and fat. Then he remembered the "punishment room", then walked down the ladder and shrugged his shoulders. It seems that life is the same everywhere, ugly, rotten, full of poisonous insects, full of shameful secrets and dark corners. Life is still life, and he has to try to get better.

After a few minutes, the sailor came back with something in his hand. Because the light was dim, Arthur couldn't see what it was.

"Give me the watch and the money now. Hurry up!"

Arthur took advantage of the darkness and managed to leave a few coins.

"You must get me something to eat," he said, "and I'm dying of hunger." ”

"I've brought it to you, right here. The sailor handed him a jug, some biscuits, and a piece of bacon. "Now remember, when the customs officers come to inspect tomorrow morning, you have to hide in this empty barrel, right here. Before we sailed out on the high seas, you gave me to stay here like a mouse. I'll tell you when it's time to come out. If the captain sees it, you're screwed—that's all! Have you put your drink away? Good night!"