Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty Two

"Are you sleepy?" Eric asked. "Not sleepy, it's still early now." The doctor replied. "Then come over to my place for a late night drink." "OK." The doctor hasn't smoked opium for two nights, and he planned to do so tonight, but it doesn't hurt to wait a little longer.The more anxiously you wait, the more intense the pleasure will be.He walked Eric through the deserted streets.The residents of Candela go to bed early, and there is not even a soul on the street.The doctor walked so fast that it took him two steps to equal Eric's one.Standing next to such a striding giant, the doctor's short legs and protruding belly seemed comical.It was less than two hundred yards from the hotel to the Dane, but by the time Eric's doorstep the doctor was out of breath.The door was unlocked.On such an island, where there is no way to escape or to dispose of stolen goods properly, there is no need to worry about thieves.Eric pushed open the door, went in, and lit the lamp.The doctor took the most comfortable seat and sat down, waiting for Eric to fetch glasses, ice, whiskey and soda.Under the flickering light of the kerosene lamp, the doctor's short gray hair, short flat and upturned nose, and a touch of red on the cheekbones reminded people of an elderly gorilla, and his bright small eyes Glittering like a monkey.It would be foolish to think that these eyes cannot see through appearances.No matter how inarticulate the other person is, the doctor's eyes can still see the sincerity hidden behind the clumsiness.It would be wise for anyone to gain insight into this.As for people's rhetoric, no matter how pleasant it is, he will not be easily seduced - just from the mischievous smile on the corner of people's mouth, he can see the clue.And for those truths, no matter how naive and those real feelings, no matter how messy, he will sympathize with them. Although this empathy is slightly ironic and entertaining, it is full of patience and kindness .

Eric poured a glass of wine for his guest and one for himself. "Where's Mrs. Fries?" asked the doctor. "Dead?" "Yes, died a year ago, of a heart attack. She was a very nice woman, her mother was New Zealand, but if you saw her you'd think she was pure Swede. Typical Scandinavian Looks, tall, fair skin, just like the goddess in "Rhinegold". Old Swan always said that she was prettier than Louise when she was a child." "Louise is indeed a pretty girl," said the doctor. "Mrs. Fries is like a mother to me. You can't even imagine how nice she is. I used to go to her whenever I was free. If I didn't go to her for fear of disturbing them too much, she Will pick me up in person. We Danes, you know, don't like the Dutch, think they're boring and clumsy, so it's a blessing to have a place like this. Old Swan used to like to speak Swedish to me " Eric laughed, "He has almost forgotten, he speaks half Swedish, half English, sometimes Malay, and a few sporadic words of Japanese. At first you have to listen It's hard to understand him. You say it's so weird how a person can forget his mother tongue. I've always liked English, so it's okay to talk to Ferris for a long time, honestly, in this kind of place, Someone with an education like Frith's is really hard to come by."

"I wonder how he got here." "He saw this place in an old travel book, and he said that he wanted to come here when he was a child. The strange thing is that he decided that this was the only place he wanted to live. But what is even more bizarre is that, He couldn't remember the name of the island, and couldn't find the travel book. He only knew that it was a twin island located between Celebes and New Guinea, where the sea breeze was fragrant and the island was full of magnificent scenery. marble palace." "Sounds more like a place in The Arabian Nights than an island in a travelogue."

"In the eyes of many people, the East is like this." "Indeed," the doctor murmured. He thought of the magnificent bridge across the Minjiang River in Fuzhou.The Minjiang River is always crowded with ships of various colors. There are Chinese-style sailboats with painted eyes on the prow, implying that people on board can see the road ahead; boards, and steamboats chugging along.The barges were inhabited by noisy ship-men.In the middle of the river, there was a bamboo raft, and on the raft stood two men wearing nothing but a piece of cloth wrapped around their waists, fishing with cormorants.Such a scene can make you stop for an hour every time.The fisherman threw the bird into the water, the cormorant dived down, caught the fish, and then surfaced.At this time, the fisherman grabbed the rope tied to the cormorant's feet, carried it to the boat, and when it fluttered its wings angrily, he grabbed its throat and forced it to hand over the fish it had just caught. fish.After all, a cormorant is just a "fisherman" who fishes in different ways, but for it, every fishing is an adventure.

The Dane went on: "He came to the East when he was twenty-four years old, and it took him twelve years to get here. He asked everyone he met if he had heard of this place, but you know that in Mick Commonwealth of Rhonesia and Borneau, people don't know much about these places. When he was young, he lived in nowhere and always drifted from one place to another. You heard old Swan's words too, I think it is true , he never did any work for long. At last he came here, the captain of a Dutch ship told him, and it was the only place in the archipelago which, though not exactly like the place he was looking for, was like. There are similar islands in the description, so he wanted to take a look. When he came, he had almost no other luggage except books and clothes. At first, he didn't believe that this was the place of his dreams. You’ve seen those marble palaces too, and the one you’re staying in is one of them.” Eric looked around and laughed, “For so many years, he’s pictured a fairyland on earth for himself, thinking of it as great luck He's not going to find anything else here, no matter if this is exactly what he's looking for or not, by the riverside. Then he switches angles and forces reality to match his imagination, if you know what I mean. At last he came to the conclusion that this was the place he was looking for. As the houses were indeed covered with marble, and had stuccoed columns, he thought they were marble palaces."

"The man you speak of is wiser than I thought." "He had a job here and there was more trade in those days than there is now, and then he fell in love with old Swan's daughter and married her." "Are they happy together?" "Yes. Swann didn't like him very much. Old Swann was active then, coming up with this plan and that, but never letting Frith in. But his daughter adored Ferris, thought he was wonderful. Then Swann got old and she took over the estate and took care of things and made ends meet. You know, some women are like that. She thought of Ferris sitting in the study with She holds a book in her hand, or reads, or writes or takes notes, and she feels a sense of satisfaction in her heart. She thinks he is a genius. She thinks everything she has done for him is worthwhile. She is a very good woman. "

A very interesting picture came to the doctor's mind: a ruined single house in a nutmeg estate, surrounded by huge Java olives.Under this one roof, there are three different people living together.One is an old pirate from Sweden, cruel and capricious, and undeniably the great explorer who conquered the boring desert.The other is an unrealistic principal who loves to daydream, lured by the mirage in the east, just like a peddler's donkey who has been freed in the park, wandering aimlessly in the spiritual paradise, doing whatever he wants absorbing knowledge.Another was a great blond woman who looked like a Viking goddess.She acts as the connecting point that brings it all together.With her love and sincerity, and of course her generous sense of humor, she steers, guides, and protects these two incompatible men.

"When she knew she was going to die, she made Louise swear to take care of Frith and old Swan. The manor belonged to Swan, and even now, the income is enough for them to live. She was worried that the old man would drive Frith away after she died. Get out." Eric hesitated for a while, then said, "She wants me to promise to take care of Louise, after all, it's not easy for her, poor child. Swan is a cunning troublemaker who likes to do things. His Brain is as good as ever, lying, plotting, just to play some stupid tricks on you. He dotes on Louise, she is the only one who can get her way with him. Once, for fun, he took Frith's manuscript Torn to shreds. When we found him, he was surrounded by shredded paper like snowflakes."

"I don't think that's a big loss to the world." The doctor said with a smile, "but for a hard-working author, it's going to be pissed off." "Do you think Frith is bad?" "I don't know him yet." "He taught me a lot. I've always been very grateful to him. I came here as a kid. I went to the University of Copenhagen and we talked about culture a lot at home. My father and George Brandis were friends, And Holger Drachmann, the poet, they used to come to my house, and it was under Brandeis that I started reading Shakespeare, but I was ignorant and narrow-minded at the time, and it was Fries who taught me Understand the beauty of the East. You know, people come here and find that there is nothing. Is it all here? They will think so, and then go home. The fortress I showed you yesterday, although now only the Dilapidated gray walls and sprawling weeds, but I'll never forget the first time Frith took me there. His description rebuilt the crumbling walls and the battlements were rearmed as a result. He told I, at that time, for several weeks in a row, walked anxiously every day in the fortress, and I was about to fall ill, because among the local people who did not know the prophets, there were prophecies of catastrophe in Portugal. The Governor Waiting eagerly for the ship to report the news, the ship finally arrived, followed by the bad news that King Sebastian and many noble courtiers were annihilated in the defense of Alcacer. He looked at the letter in his hand, Weeping, not only for his King, but he foresaw that his country would lose its liberty because of this defeat, and this rich East, this world we discovered and conquered, these Countless islands in the hands of a few warriors because of the great power of Portugal will go to foreigners. Believe it or not, I am very sad to hear this, as if there is a lump of lead in my throat. Vision and his eyes were filled with tears. Not only that, but he told me of Goa full of gold, the great capital of the East, rich from the plunder of Asia, and of horses Laba Strait, Macau and Basra and the Strait of Hormuz. He made that period so vivid that I never saw the East through history for the first time until that day. For a Danish rural kid like me It is a great honor to be able to witness these miracles with my own eyes. Whenever I think of those tanned young people whose motherland is no bigger than my Denmark, I think, if I can become a fearless man with my own indomitable will What a great thing it is for a man who possesses half the world with his spirit and fervent imagination. But all this is in the past, and they say Goa is now a poor village. If only the soul could Eternal, then to a certain extent, the imperial dream of that year, the indomitable will and courage will continue to exist."

"Mr. Fries has given your young heart a strong drug," said the doctor in a low voice. "Yes, I'm intoxicated," Eric said with a smile, "but the intoxication doesn't give me a headache the next morning." The doctor didn't answer.He thought, the effect of this drug is not just intoxicating, maybe it will be more harmful in the future.Eric took a sip of his whiskey. "I was a Lutheran when I was a kid, and when I went to university, I became an atheist. It was the fashion at the time, and I was young and young, so when Frith preached Brahmanism to me, I Shrugged at him. We sat for hours on the verandah at the entrance of the manor, me, Ferris and his wife Catherine, Ferris was always eloquent, Catherine said very little, but listened attentively, adoringly as she listened. Look at Fries. I would argue with Fries because that's just too abstract to understand, but you know, he's good at persuading people, and there's a masculine beauty to what he believes in that suits Silverlight The long tropical night, the distant stars, and the low-sounding sea. Then I couldn't help wondering if there really was something universal in his religion, for in the comedies of Wagner and Shakespeare, and the There's something in Mons's poetry that fits that too, if you know what I mean. But sometimes, I get impatient and I say to myself, this guy is just a talker. You know, he's very A big drinker, a lover of good food, he always had an excuse when he was asked to work, but Catherine believed in him. She wasn't a fool, and if he was really a fake, she wouldn't spend twenty years with him and not know it. Really It's strange that he looks so scruffy, but his mind is so high. He said some things, I will never forget in my life. Sometimes he soars in the mysterious spiritual world-you know what I mean - That is a height that you cannot reach, you can only stand on the ground and look up at him, but your heart can also be filled with ecstasy. You know, he can always do unexpected things. Old Swan Tore up his manuscript, and there are two whole chapters of "Song of the Lugitanians", which is the result of his year. Catherine burst into tears when she saw the pile of scraps of paper, but he just sighed, Then I went out for a walk. When I came back, I brought a bottle of rum to the old Swan. Although the old Swan was secretly happy after his success, he was also a little scared. However, Frith said: "It's okay, father-in-law, you It’s just a few dozen sheets of paper torn out, they’re just illusions, and anyone who takes a second look at it is a fool. The truth of things can’t be destroyed, it’s always there.” And the next day, he’s at his desk to re-translate Those two chapters."

"He said he would read a few paragraphs to me," said the doctor. "I think he forgot." "He'll remember," Eric said, smiling with gentle seriousness. Dr. Saunders liked him very much.The Dane was sincere in every way.He is indeed an idealist, but his idealism and humor are reconciled without being annoying.He makes it feel like his character is even more powerful than his Kong Wu's powerful body.He may not be bright, but he is dependable, and his simple, honest temper more than makes up for his ugly appearance.The doctor suddenly thought that he was likely to be deeply in love with a certain woman, and he was not as innocent as a piece of paper. "Is the lady we saw their only daughter?" "Catherine was a widow before marrying Frith. She had a son with her ex-husband and later had a son with Frith, but both of those children died when Louise was a child." "Did she take care of everything when her mother died?" "yes." "She's still very young." "Eighteen. She was just a baby when I first came to the island. They sent her to the local mission school, then her mother thought she should be sent to Auckland, and Catherine got sick and told her to come back. In just one year, she has grown into a slim young girl, and when she left, she was just a child who could sit on my lap and play." He threw a shy look at the doctor. With a slight smile, "Let me tell you secretly that we are engaged." "Oh?" "It's not official, so don't mention it either. Old Swann would love to, but her dad said she was too young. I know that too, but that's not the real reason Frith turned me down. I'm afraid he thinks I'm Not good enough for her. He was always fantasizing about some English nobleman coming here on his yacht and falling madly in love with her. But so far only young Fred in a pearling schooner." He giggled. "I don't mind waiting a few more years. I know she's young, so I didn't propose to her before. You know, it took me a while to accept that she wasn't a little girl anymore. When you're like me After falling in love with someone like Louise for a few months, it doesn't matter if you wait a year or two, and the time together will be long. After marriage, it will definitely be different from now, and I know we must be very, very Happiness. But when you get it, you don't dream about it. People get things that they lose. Do you think I'm stupid?" "No." "Of course, you just met her today and you don't know her. She's beautiful, isn't she?" "Very." "Beauty is the last thing to be said for her other qualities. She is very intelligent and just as pragmatic as her mother. Sometimes seeing this lovely child - she is a child after all - running the estate in perfect order I find it funny when she is working hard. Malays know that it is useless to play tricks with her. After all, she has lived here since she was a child, and you have no idea how smart she is. It will really scare you. She is Her grandfather and Ferris are also very capable. She is the roundworm in their belly and understands all their problems, but she doesn't mind at all, and still loves these two men deeply. What are they like, she Just what to do, like everybody else. I've never seen her get impatient with either of them, and you know it takes patience to hear old Swann tell the same story fifty times. " "I guess it's her that keeps things going smoothly." "Everyone will think so, but what others don't guess is that her beauty, intelligence and kindness hide a delicate, sensitive and delicate heart. To conceal is not the right word, to conceal means to conceal something , and concealment represents a lie, and Louise has no idea what concealment and lies are. She is very beautiful, kind, and intelligent, all of which are true, but there is another thing in her heart, a kind of Only me and her late mother perceive the illusory soul. I don't know what to say, it's like a ghost haunting the body, the spirit in the spirit world, if you can imagine. It's like that burning in The deepest flame in every human body is the most fundamental thing of a person, and all the qualities seen by the outside world are just things emitted by this flame." The doctor raised his eyebrows.Eric Christensen seemed a bit of a misnomer to him.But the doctor didn't hate listening to him, he was deeply in love now, and for such a young man, Dr. Sanders' heart was soft, although there was a bit of irony in his softness. "Have you seen Andersen?" Eric asked. "Of course, a long time ago." "For me, the flaming soul in Louise, which I feel with my soul instead of my eyes, is like the little mermaid. It is not at ease in the entanglement with humans, and it always misses the sea faintly, It is not entirely human. Louise is very sweet, very gentle, very gentle, but she always reveals a kind of indifference and deliberately keeps a distance from people. This is very precious and beautiful to me. I don’t Jealousy, not afraid, it's a priceless treasure, and I love her so much that it's sad to think she'll lose it one day. I think when she's a wife and a mother, that flame goes out, and by the time No matter how beautiful her soul was, it was different. The flame is independent, part of the universe, maybe we all have such a fire in our hearts, but in Louise, it can be destroyed. I feel it, you just need to be a little sensitive, and you can clearly see its existence. She is so pure, and I am not a blank slate, which makes me feel ashamed." "Don't be a fool," said the doctor. "How stupid is this? When you fall in love with someone like Louise, you can't bear to lie in the arms of strangers and kiss the gorgeous red lips that you bought. I feel worthless for her, I At least she should be given a clean and complete body." "poor child." In Dr. Saunders' eyes, the young man was talking nonsense, but he didn't want to argue with Eric.It was getting late, and his addiction to cigarettes was calling him.He drank the wine in his glass. "I have never subscribed to asceticism. A wise man should combine physical pleasure with spiritual enjoyment and derive greater satisfaction from both. One of the most valuable things I have learned in life is not to stay There are regrets. Life is short, nature is hostile, and humans are irrational. Interestingly though, most misfortunes come with compensations, so with a little humor and common sense, people You can overcome some less serious consequences and get things done." After saying this, he got up and left.