Chapter 6 six

Peace abandoned German.Not in the way the campus and the village look, though; the campus and the village still retain most of their dreamy summer tranquility.Autumn had barely touched the tall trees, and at midday the sun still briefly retained its summer energy.There is just a hint of coolness in the air, suggesting that winter is coming. But a new gust of wind swept over everything as it had brought the first fallen leaves.Dozens of boys are forced to attend school at the beginning of the summer term, relying on temporary staff while most teachers are away, and fighting the sweltering heat with most of the accumulated traditions of the past. The summer term is over.Although it is the first time for this school to open a summer semester, it is the 163rd winter semester of this school that is starting now. The forces assembled for it shattered the leisurely summer spirit, like pieces Leaves are average.

The teachers, who attended the first service in the chapel, sat a few rows ahead of us at right angles to our pews, their weary expressions and slouched postures beckoning that they had never left the school. In the eastern apse of the chapel sit their wives and children, who during the dreary winter months are the subject of constant speculation in our chapel ceremonies (Why did he marry her? To him? How did the two of them make these little monsters?).On this warm first day of the new term, teachers like to wear seersucker and their wives show off their hats.Five younger teachers did not show up because they were in battle.Mr. Pike was there in the uniform of an ensign; Naval Academy must have been less intense, allowing him to return to Devon for today's event.His face was as peaceful and hopeless as ever, brooding over the sleek, crisp coat that made him look like a charlatan.

Continuity is the keynote.Hymns are old hymns, sermons are old sermons, and preaching is old preaching.There was only one surprise; as it was an emergency (it was a new word at the time), the maids were missing.But continuity was emphasized; not to start over, but to continue the education of the youth in the uninterrupted tradition of Devon. I know, and maybe I'm the only one who knows, that this is fake.Devon had slipped through their fingers during those warm, indulgent months.Traditions are broken, standards are lowered and rules are forgotten.During those sunny days when we skipped school, we never thought about what we owed Devon, as this opening-day sermon advised us to do.We were always thinking about ourselves and what Devin owed us and we took everything and more than we deserved.Today's hymn is "Dear Lord and Father of Men Forgive Our Folly," which we never heard during the summer.What we have been listening to is an unorthodox gypsy music, leading us to do all kinds of unforgivable follies in the gypsy way.I never tire of it, I almost follow its rhythm, its jumping, clanging sound in summer.

And yet, with Phineas's fall, in the last long stretch of daylight on that tree, it was finally over.As I sat chilling in the chapel going through these ceremonies, I couldn't help thinking that this probably proved that the German school rules were right after all, German in winter.If you break the school rules, the school rules will punish you.That, I think, is the gist of the first-morning sermon. After the ceremony, more than 700 of our students (this is the regular number of students in the winter semester of the German school) bustlingly went to report one by one according to the content on the list.All the classrooms are overcrowded, the zebra crossing is full of people, the dormitory is as lively as a factory, and every bulletin board is full of notices.

We used to be an idiosyncratic but leaderless gang in the summer, commanded by no one but Phineas' whimsy.Now, we see official class leaders and politicians taking over, who of course take for granted their control of the sidewalks and playgrounds that were once ours.I still have the room I shared with Feeney in the summer, but the big suite across the hall, Leper.Lepellier had daydreamed in its July and August sunshine and dust, its tentacles cautiously passing through its windows and into the house, and now Brinker.Hadley had camped inside.Emissaries have come to visit and negotiate with him.Leper was as unlucky as everyone else in his final year, moving to a room in an old building in the woods toward the gym.

After lunch in the morning classes, I went to check on Brinker, and was about to step into the house when I stopped.Suddenly, I don't want to see the plates of snails that Leper amassed over the summer replaced by Brinker's papers.Wait a minute, even if you take a look in the past, this is something that the outstanding students of this year should do.Generally speaking, he should be a magnet for me, he is the center of all excitement and influence in the class.Normally, I would have been drawn to him if those summer, gypsy days hadn't been invented.Now, Brinker, the thoughtful Brinker with new plans, has nothing to offer me in Leper's place of dust and vines and snails.

I didn't go in.In any case, I'm late for the afternoon's activities.I used to be very punctual.But today it was late, even later than I had to be.I'm supposed to report to the rowboat house down river.Devon has two rivers, separated by a small dyke.On the way to the rowing house, I stopped on the footbridge that spanned over the embankment and looked upriver at the tiny Devon River winding its way towards me through the surrounding dense pine and birch trees. As I couldn't help thinking of the river, I thought of Phineas.I think not of the tree and the pain, but of one of his favorite tricks, the triumphant Phineas, standing alone like a river god on the prow of a canoe.He held his arms up high, letting the air support him, with a beautiful expression on his face, and a beautifully balanced body, every muscle perfectly aligned with the others to maintain this whimsically beautiful posture.His skin was shining because of the water splashed on it, his whole body was suspended between the river and the sky, as if he had escaped the gravity of the earth, as long as the foot was slightly lifted, the whole person would float up, Float in the air, grab summer in all its glory, and offer it up to the skies.

Then, the canoe changed direction slightly, the balance of his body was suddenly broken, Gao Xiang's arms hung down, and an uncontrollable leg bounced upwards, Phineas would fall into the water, roaring angrily. I paused in the rush of the day to recall him thus, and then, feeling refreshed, continued on to the rowboat home on the Tidewater River below the dike. We never used the lower river, the Naguamste, in summer.It was ugly, salty, and lined with swamps, mud, and seaweed.It flows into the ocean miles away, so its course is dominated by unimaginable factors like the Gulf Stream, Arctic ice caps, and the moon.It's nothing like the Devon River ahead of this dam, that freshwater river we've had so much fun all summer.The course of the Devon is bounded by some of the more inland ridges we know; it flows through alpine farms and forests as we know it, crossing the school grounds at the end of its course, and then, somewhat spectacularly, in the A small waterfall forms next to the diversion dam and flows into the murky Naguamunster River.

The Devon School straddles the two rivers. No sooner had I entered the dank main room at the rowing house than Quackenbusch caught a glimpse of me with his expressionless black eyes among the hustle and bustle of oarsmen.There was something wrong with Quackenbusch, the captain of the rowing team.I can't figure out what exactly is wrong.During those winter semesters in German, the students in the class were in extreme opposition. As far as I know, Quackenbusch has a bad reputation, but everyone agrees.One little clue is that no one ever called him by his given name. I don't even know what his given name is. He doesn't have a nickname, not even an unfriendly one.

Late, Forrester, he said in his mature voice.He was the hardy macho type; maybe he was just unlikable because he matured before the rest of us. Yes, sorry for the delay. The rowing team waits for no one.He didn't seem to think it was funny to say that.I thought it was funny, so I had to laugh. ah if you think it's a joke I didn't say it was a joke. Somebody has to actually give me a hand here.My rowing team has got to win the New England interscholastic race, or my name won't be Cliff.Quackenbusch. After such an opening statement, I started my job as a senior assistant to the rowing team leader.Although there is no such official position, but sometimes it is set up out of necessity, and it is definitely not an idle position.It's a job that doesn't do any good.The official team leader assistant is a student who is one level below me, and he will be able to lead the team in the next year.A fourth-year assistant won't get any promotion, but I applied for such a useless position, and Quackenbusch, who didn't know me as much as I didn't know him, finally figured it out.

To get some towels, he pointed to a door without even looking at me. How many do you want? who knows?go get it.Take as much as you can.I'm sorry you can't take too much. The kind of work I do is usually done by physically handicapped kids, and since everyone has to play sports, handicapped kids can only do that kind of work.As I made my way to the door, I figured Quackenbush was examining me to see if he could spot a limp or something.But I knew that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him in his dull black eyes. Quackenbusch was a little happier as we stood collecting towels on the raft in front of the rowboat house at the end of the afternoon's practice. You've never rowed a boat, have you?He took the initiative to talk like this, there was no pause in the middle of the sentence, and there was no question mark in the whole sentence.His voice sounded almost too grown-up, as if he was playing it on purpose; as if he was speaking through a tube. No, I never rowed. I rowed two young heavyweight rowers. It was immediately apparent that beneath the tight undershirt he had a muscular bantamweight physique.I wrestle in winter, he continued, what do you do in winter? I don't know, manage some other projects. Are you in fourth grade? He knew me in fourth grade.Yes. Is it late to start managing sports teams? Yeah? Of course it's fucking late!There was a tone of angry conviction in his words, a way of beating my fledgling ego. Ah, never mind. There are relationships. I don't think so. Fuck you Forest.Who the hell are you. With a groan in my heart, I turned to look at him.Quackenbush wouldn't let me work for him as I would have liked, and we'd have to fight.Now it's easy to see why.You must know that Quackenbusch has been hated by everyone since he stepped into the German school. From the very beginning, he has been squeezed. Over the years, he has not obtained any of the positions he wanted, and he just blindly elects others to be in the class. Leader, cheer for others.I don't want to humiliate him in vain; I even sympathize with his trembling, irritated arrogance that can no longer be maintained, even with his violent self-importance, now only because of some At the slightest hint of disapproval from those below himself, his violent self-importance defecates unleashed.It all explained him, I realized, and it wasn't that he was saying something that didn't sound right to me.Just because he's so ignorant that he doesn't know anything about that gypsy summer, or the loss I'm trying to bear, or the frolicking and the splashing and the petaling breeze, and he's never seen Leper's snail Or the charter of the Super Suicide Club, which he never shared, knew and felt like Phineas did. You, Quackenbush, you have no idea who I am.The sentence came out of my mouth, and I had to go on, and you don't know anything else. listen , you son of a bitch I hit him hard in the face with my fist.For a moment I didn't know why I was doing it; it seemed like I was such a piece of shit.Then I realized it was because someone scolded me. Quackenbush wrestled his arms around my neck, and I'm glad I'm not disabled.I stretched my arms back, grabbed the sweatshirt on his back, and yanked it so hard that it broke free from my grasp.I tried to shake him off, and he just slammed forward, and we both fell into the water. The immersion quenched Quackenbusch's anger, and he let go of me.I crawled back onto the raft, still outraged by what he had said.The next time you call someone a piece of trash, I'll say it sternly so that he can understand it all, and it's best to find out who it is. Get off, Forest, he said menacingly in the water, you're not needed here, Forest.Get out of here! I fought this fight, the first little battle in a long one for Feeney.It wasn't until my fist slapped Quackenbusch in the face that I realized I had made myself Feeney's defender, and I don't think he would thank me for it now.He's too loyal to anything about himself his roommates, his dorm, his class, his school, and stretches his loyalties outward until I can't imagine anyone being left out .But I didn't really feel like I was fighting this fight for Phineas.I felt as if I was fighting this fight for myself. If so, I'd have nothing to show off when I was drenched and lost toward my dorm.The job I wanted was gone, my temper was gone, and I was thinking about this messed up afternoon over and over in my mind.I now know that it is indeed autumn.I can feel autumn clinging to my wet clothes, an unfriendly, uncomfortable breath in the air, the edge of winter's cold weather, the air that causes everything to wither, the country's soon-to-be-extinguished light of life.One of my legs couldn't stop shaking, whether it was cold or angry I couldn't tell.I wish I had beaten him harder. Someone was coming towards me along this crooked potholed path to the dormitory, a path from old London with old houses on either side of it crooked as if they were about to fall over the road, The pebbles bulged beneath my feet like a masonry sea storm. A tall figure came down the path toward me.Only Mr. Lutzbury; no one else walks so swiftly over these stones. I don't know people living in the houses on both sides of the road, most likely some thin old women.I can't just go straight into a house.There were angles, undulations, and bends in the road, but none big enough to hide me.Mr. Lutzbury loomed on like a high-masted clipper on this bumpy channel, and I tried to slip past him in my squeaky wet sneakers. Hold on, Forrester.Mr. Lutzbury's bass is full of British accents, and his Adam's apple seems to move as widely as his mouth when he speaks.Is there a heavy rain where you are? No, sir, I'm sorry, sir, I fell into the river.Instinctively, I apologized to him for this unfortunate incident which made me only uncomfortable. Can you tell me how and why you fell into the river? I slide down. That's right.After a pause he went on, I think you've slipped everything since last year.For example, I know that when you lived in my dorm this summer, you guys gathered to gamble.He ran the dorm; I realize now that one of the reasons we had those days of relief was that he wasn't there. gamble?What gamble, sir? Cards, dice, he waved his long hand, expressing his reluctance to say more, I will not pursue it.It doesn't matter.Do not play anymore. I don't know who played it.I think of those nights of blackjack, poker, and various games Phineas invented; the back room of Leper's apartment, with blankets wrapped around the lamps, so that only a small ring of light shone harshly. In the midst of the darkness that spreads all around; Phineas always loses even at games of his own invention, he always bets what he should win, and if his cards were not so stinky, his bets This will be the most glorious success.Finny finally bet on his own refrigerator and lost the bizarre contraption to me. I thought of this because Mr. Lutzbury was saying at this moment: I'm restoring the dormitory to its original state and I'm going to tell you that you'd better get that broken refrigerator out.Of course, this kind of thing is not allowed to enter the dormitory.I noticed that during the summer everything was messed up and none of you big boys who knew the standards had lifted a finger to help Mr. Prudhomme keep order.He was a teacher working on a temporary basis for the summer term, and he couldn't be expected to know everything he needed to know right away.You big boys are just taking advantage of the situation. I stood there with wet shoes on, trembling all over.If only I had taken advantage of that situation, taken advantage of it, seized, grasped, and cherished the abundance of opportunities that summer presented me; if only that. I said nothing, and my face was as indifferent as a defendant who knew the court would not be swayed by the evidence he had in his favour.It was a boy's look, and Mr. Lutzbury knew it very well. There is a long-distance call from you, and he continues to use the tone of a judge to inform the defendant of his rights, so as to do his duty, although this duty is not to his own taste.I wrote down the operator's number in a pad next to the phone in my study.You can fight. Thank you, sir. He didn't tell me any further information, and walked away along the path. I was surprised, and I didn't know who in the family was sick. But when I came to his study, low-ceilinged, dark and gloomy with books, black leather chair, pipe rack, frayed tan carpet, a room that students rarely enter except as punishment, I saw the book It wasn't the number of my old operator, but a phone number that seemed to stop my heart. I dialed the operator's number and listened in amazement while she went about her business as if it were just any long-distance call.Then his voice left the line, which was pre-occupied and charged, and Phineas' voice took its place.Happy new school year! Thank you, thank you so much, your voice I'm glad to hear from you Don't just talk useless, I have to pay for this call.Who do you share a room with? No one, they didn't put anyone in our room. Leave me some space!My old German yo.But anyway, you can't let them put someone else in our room, can you?All I heard in his voice was friendliness, and simple and cheerful love. Of course not to let them arrange. I knew you wouldn't let me, roommates are roommates, even if they fight occasionally.You must have been crazy when you came to my house. Maybe, I think I must be crazy. Totally crazy.I want to make sure you're recovered, so I'm calling you.I know you'd be crazy if you allowed them to put someone else in my room instead of me.But you didn't, and I knew you wouldn't.Ah, I did have a little doubt at the time, because you talked so crazy in my house.I must admit, I was surprised for a second.I'm sorry about that, Gene.I was of course completely wrong.You didn't let them put anyone in my place. Yes, I didn't let them arrange it. Damn me for thinking you might let them arrange it.I knew you wouldn't. Yes, I will not. I pay my own money for long distance!Completely for no reason.Ah, it costs you money too.So hurry up and talk, buddy.Better be nice.Participate in sports.Which program are you going to join? rowing.Ah, not exactly a rowboat.It's rowing team management.Assistant rowing team leader. Assistant rowing team leader? i think i may not get the job Assistant rowing team leader? i had a fight this afternoon Assistant rowing team leader?No one's voice was as confused as Finny's.You are crazy! Look, Feeney, I don't want to be some school celebrity. What?His face was clearer than anything I had seen at the moment in Mr. Lutzbury's study, and it was a grimace of worry and alarm.Who said what they were! Ah, then why are you so excited? What do you want to manage the rowing team?what do you want to manageWhat does this have to do with sports? That's the point, that's the benefit of it, it has nothing to do with sports.Because I don't want to do any more sports.Sports excluded me, as if Dr. Stempel was referring to me when he said of course sports couldn't be done.I don't trust myself when it comes to sports, and I don't trust anyone else either.It's as if rugby players are bent on knocking each other's lives out, as if boxers are bent on beating each other to death, as if even a tennis ball can be turned into a bullet.In 1942, that didn't seem like such a crazy idea, when jumping from a tree meant abandoning a torpedoed ship.Later, in the school's swimming pool, we were asked to do the second stage of practice: when we jumped into the water, we had to splash the water with both hands to disperse the burning oil on the sea surface. So I said to Phineas: I'm too busy to play sports.He had all his broken groans and confused language, and I don't think the problem was resolved until he finally said, "Look, man, if I can't make sports, you're going to do it for me." I do.At this point, I had lost a part of myself to him, and a sense of freedom welling up in my chest told me that this must have been my purpose from the beginning: to be a part of Phineas.