Chapter 41 forty bernard

My job that night was guard, so I had to leave the meeting early anyway.Patrol the hangar outside near the edge of the field for three hours.Guard the glider still stacked in the big crate.Here's the funny thing: In wartime, light filters, magneto generators, and even simple washing machines can be bought new without wishing or praying.Everything has to be sourced from elsewhere.The intact wing is dropped from one kite and loaded onto another.The ones that were removed were used as spare wings.Most of the tradesman training we received back home didn't get the point.Completely disassemble the engine.Put it back together after countless tests.If it doesn't work here, just take it out and replace it.Engines, propellers, wheels, you name it.After Japan's Oscar II landed unscathed, we had to do a clean sweep. (Unhappy) Macy says we should be trained as burglars.It is said that any Indian thief can teach us the skills we need, and let us learn how to take it apart in the shortest time.Ridiculous, I know, but he had a point.We even patched up the cloth fuselage of a kite with brethren's clothes and then painted it with rice wine Blackpool never taught this.Of course, it was all thought up by American soldiers.All their crooked kites are being tinkered with in a well-appointed hangar.

But even though the war was over and the Japanese soldiers had surrendered long ago, supplies continued to arrive.Something we dreamed of when we were at war.Explanation: The ship is already on its way and cannot turn back.Of course, most of the brothers are complaining.No big case of roast beef and Yorkshire puddings could find their way.There are no bacon sandwiches on white crisp bread filling the hangar.No buckets of raisin pudding and creme fraiche.Only the ammunition that the commander begged for.Airplanes, tanks, nuts, bolts, the spare parts that every rookie doesn't want to hold against their back teeth.When things come, they're out there.The trouble is: now those have to be all guarded.Store it safely away from the sneaky little black hands around us.

Those loose thieves can lift anything.Under a person's sleeping head, taking the wallet away, and more than once.I didn't realize it until the morning.In the hangar full of kites, every piece of plexiglass was removed, and the two armed guards outside pointed their rifles at the shadow.Then the booty was carried off into the jungle, leaving His Majesty's army scratching their heads.A priest has lost the entire church: the bell tent covering it, the altar, the pews.One night there, the next morning is an unholy gap.The brethren laughed that even God didn't see the thief coming.

But by far the worst are Indian bandits.They kill and steal, not stealthy thieves.thug.Assassinate, shoot, and bludgeon guards for loot without thinking.It is also a professional standard in its own right.Everyone complained, and they said: Now that the war is over, we will fight these nasty robbers.Indian bandits are rampant.Everyone is on tenterhooks.We all agreed that they were worse than the Japanese, because we couldn't tell the difference between them and coolies. Everywhere people followed the battalion.Those little black Indians would do anything for a precious tip.No matter where you go, there are handymen (my lord, give me some money.) with big ugly tea urns.Laundrymen do laundry like women.Throw a few pennies to the barber and they'll even shave you while you sleep.And we are surrounded by untouchables, happy to clear the contents of the urinal with bare hands.poor thing.Even Indians hate them.Several brothers have seen Hindu women spit milk for a thrown coin.Even the most sophisticated people are intimidated.

I shared guard that night with an Indian.Army workers.They were recruited, not professional soldiers.I have worked with this person many times before.Spent many months with him removing tires from crooked kites and fitting them to other kites.He is keen on learning.Eager to know what to do.The order was executed well.Black eyes always looked at me suspiciously.Immediately made him do several things the right way.His usual name is Arang.The last name is rather weird (like a tongue twister).At one point, he tried to write it down for me, slowly and with great concentration, but it was just a bunch of letters in an indeterminate order.brat.But as far as Indians are concerned, they have little muscle.And happy.Not as pitiful as most people.Outside the shack where we were meeting, I noticed him right away.Watching from a distance.A guy came up to him and asked what he was doing there.

He said: Come on, I'm loitering.His English is useless.I have to join in quick before the guy punches him in the cheek.Another Indian was also sent to guard with us.The name is Ashak.Just arrived at camp.Been to Kanpur and Cooke Bassa.The guards on duty always walk together to the patrol area.Pick up the rifle and head out to replace the previous guard.If you place an order, you may be murdered by bandits.Murdered, or worse, found wandering the jungle in only their underpants. Usually Aaron and I watch very quietly.Need to be alert (of course).But the truth is, there is not much to talk about with locals in Bangladesh.Not so for Ashak.As soon as the three of us stood up, he started talking: Tell me, Mr. Bernard, what do you think of India?

Those people can never figure out our names.But I didn't care, just said: very hot.Too many mosquitoes.Earl Lane has nothing like that. Earl Lane? In London, where I live. do you miss london Of course, who wouldn't want to be this far from home. That's what the British say.I wonder if you guys miss England so much why are you staying in India? Well, I'm afraid I don't have much choice. Of course, forgive me.Do you want to go home now? We all want to go home. That's like other people who went on strike clamoring to be discharged. It was strange for the little Indian to mention it.How much do you know about that?I asked him.

Oh nothing.I only know that many people are like Johnny.Pilpo and the others, aren't they very hot?They want to go home, don't they?Back to England.Bai Yanbi, Vera.Lynn [Annotation: Vera Lynn: British singer and military lover during World War II. ], good tea. What do you mean? Yes I heard that now the war is over and everyone is tired of India. Of course, everyone wants to go home.meet their loved ones. That's right.lover. How do you know all this?I have a feeling: he's an oily guy. I don't know anything, Mr. Bernard, please forgive me.my English is not good.unreasonably.

You speak good English.I told him. Would you be surprised? I know many Indians are educated.Missionaries teach, don't they? no. Where did you learn it?army? No, I was lucky enough to learn it in school.There they call me the British little black person.The British taught me many useful things. Glad to hear he has a grateful heart. I said to Aaron: What would we poor Indians do without you British?I said: Aaron, everything the British give us is in India.Ashak whispered to me with the smell of garlic in his mouth: Arang said: Taj Mahal?He is simple minded.uneducated.Then Ashak raised his voice: I also have to tell him that the Taj Mahal was built before the British came.He asked me: who built it?I told him: Indians built it.Then he looked so surprised.I said: don't exaggerate so much.But let's see, here we go, taxation and cricket

fair play.Aaron added, grinning like a fool. Fair play, phew, let's play white.Ashak cried out.An excitable nation. Lower your voice.I told him. Please forgive me.I am delighted when I speak of England.Like a king.What a great man.Some said he stuttered as if the devil had his tongue.But I said no.He is a noble man.He looked up and hummed thoughtfully, then patted his head, which is comical for an Indian.railway!How could I forget?British gift to ignorant people.Like your Lancashire cloth.My mother said: It is better than the ones weaved at home.better. I heard a shout in the distance.I raised my gun and said: Did you hear that?

I heard nothing. I listen.Tell him to be quiet.Our duty is to guard, not chat.But everything is silent.As soon as I relaxed, Ashak started chirping again: Where did I just say that?Oh yes, the British.The law Let us not forget the law.Aren't we defending good British manufactures from thieves?What are we without your laws? As he spoke, I noticed smoke rising near the camp.It smelled more pungent than the usual night air. Still he goes on and on: I'm not one of those people who want the British out of India.I like you guys.Aren't you all protecting us from the small-eyed Japanese soldiers all this time?You English bulldogs know there is nothing worse than a foreign invasion of your own land.See how you British fight the Germans.Neither the bratwurst nor the language suits the British.You say: Go back, don't mess with us, or our bulldogs will bite.It is a terrible thing for foreigners' dirty boots to trample on their own land.don't you think The horizon began to glow orange.The sun had gone down hours earlier, but it appeared to be showing up again.Something is bound to go wrong. When no one pays attention to us, you also see what Indians are like.Hindus hate muslims.Muslims hate Hindus.They fight all the time.You have been in Calcutta.I know that, Mr. Bernard.Shocking, isn't it?We must learn to live in peace as you Britons live with your neighbors when you are not at war. There was another cry.Can't go wrong this time.Something happened in the camp. But tell me, have you ever wondered why the British came here in India? I thought to myself: Brothers will handle it.The shouts, the smoke have nothing to do with my guards. Mr. Bernard? This Ashak obviously asked me something.I wish this guy would shut up.But it is our duty to live in harmony.Did you just ask me something? I was just pondering why the British came here in India. Are you kidding me?There's war, man! Mr. Bernard is angry, I can see it.Please forgive me. I'm not angry.Can we be quiet now?There's something going on over there and I need to stop asking questions. Of course, of course.I can hear voices now too.But I'm sure that's just you Brits having a good time. Yeah?If you don't talk to me, I want to go to a carnival too. As you wish.Ashak said.He turned to Aaron.I moved a bit, turned my back to me, and chatted with him.Although I couldn't understand, I knew what he said to Arang in Bengali.So this person is your friend? Aaron shook his head in their shared sinister way.To the uninitiated, it appears as if denying that all new white-knee rookies are confused by the action.But that's for sure.The two of them started chattering.Now I can't understand a word.But Aaron kept glancing at me.cowardly.Awkward.Then I heard the word lifesaving in the chatter.I realized right away that he was telling Ashak about me.Aaron touched his arm as if washing his hands, and tapped the air with his dark fingers to signify rain.Ashak's eyes widened, listening intently like school story time.Finally figured it out, I knew what he was talking about. It was the day when the rainy season broke out.Soggy earth smelled like perfume from our gritty nostrils.Freed from the dusty heat, the brethren ran outside with ease.Wet in the rain.Really like.Old Fa (formerly known as Claude Winters) told us all about the cure for hairy fever.Survival brand soap and rain water.He prescribes: good soap for the rainy season when it's pouring.Let everyone do the same.strip naked.Lather on.Slippery hands pass soap from hand to hand.Old Fa soon became nervous and his precious Lifesaver soap was getting smaller and smaller.He yelled at everyone to save their lives.The brothers said: Come on, it's your turn, uncle.But I am very reluctant.Being naked in the rain is what young people do.But the desire to end this longing was strong.Even the most sensible Macy is washing.He told me it worked.Everyone yelled: Fatty is almost gone, hurry up, uncle.no way.strip naked.Fantastic.The cool rain slapped my bare skin.A little tingle of ecstasy.Lather up with soap and lather like a Hollywood bath.I was about to rinse off when the rain stopped.The end is as fast as the beginning. (The rainy season in India has that kind of ability.) Let me stand on the spot like Adam, naked and soaped, and the sky will not rain a drop.The brothers all laughed (of course).I thought, that was a funny scene.Hands up.Puzzled.I applied like a sponge with lather I didn't know how to rinse off. I didn't expect Alang to see it, and he made up a story to tell his friends.This Ahshak laughed at the end of the little story and even slapped me on the back.He said: Forgive me, please forgive me.You don't speak our language, do you?Aaron told me I know what he just told you.I say it bluntly. you know?It's a very funny story. The rainy season in India is very unpredictable. You are right.But uncle, is that what they call you?What good is it for you Brits to be so far from home?Hairy hot? At this point I stood up.Does he think I can still sit and listen to this kind of talk?I was mocked by coolies.Well, stand up.somebody is coming.Move fast.hurry up.Moved. The smoke was getting thicker.Something happened, and I desperately wanted to know what it was.Soon two people emerged from the darkness.run.The guns are at the ready.I didn't recognize them until they got close. I told the two coolies: Get it under control. It's Laofa and Feiduo.Panting loudly.The shed was on fire.They told me.my shack.Inside the meeting shed.It was pitch black, and the floors, beds, and walls were filled with people's sheds.The truth is, they yelled: Come on, uncle.Macy's in there!I didn't even think about it, I just ran.