Chapter 3 door of opportunity

They had bought first class tickets, which was a blessing, for they had brought a great deal: Alban's suitcase and suitcase, Anne's vanity case and hat box.They had two suitcases containing everything they might need at any time, and Alban had given the rest to an agent to take to London and keep it until they stabilized.They had many things: Alban's collection of paintings and calligraphy from the East, his guns and saddles.They were leaving Sandra forever.As usual, Alban gave the porter generously, and then wandered over to the newsagent to buy a newspaper.He bought The New Statesman, The Nation, The Chatter and the latest issue of The Spirit of London.He returned to his compartment and threw the pile of things on the seat.

"It's only an hour's journey away," Annie said. "I know, but I still want to buy it. I haven't been able to buy them for a long time. Tomorrow morning, all we can buy is tomorrow's Time, Daily Express and Post. Isn't that right?" ?” She didn't answer, and he turned away because he saw two people coming towards them—a man and his wife, their traveling companions from Singapore. "Has everything passed customs?" Alban called to them happily. The man didn't seem to hear it, and continued to walk straight ahead, but the woman answered.

"Yes, they never found those cigarettes." She saw Anne, gave her a friendly smile, and passed.Annie's face turned red. "I guess they want to come in," said Alban. "We'd better have the car to ourselves if we can." She looked at him curiously. "I don't think you need to worry about that," she replied, "I don't think anyone will move in." He lit a cigarette and began to pace the carriage door with a happy smile on his face.When they passed the Red Sea, they found that the canal was very windy, and Anne was surprised by the decent-looking people she usually saw: they took off their old decent clothes and put on more Warm clothes, and then suddenly they're nothing.Their ties look terrible, and their shirts don't look right.They wore dirty flannel trousers, battered, obviously not very good golf outfits, or blue serge suits made by local tailors.Most of the passengers disembarked at Marseilles, but there were a dozen who sat as far as Tilbury—or they thought that after a long journey in the East, it was not enough for them to go through the seaside. There are benefits, or for economic reasons.Now, many people have come to the platform.They wore sunhats or double felt hats, thick overcoats, or shapeless soft hats or bowlers, often not very neatly, and too small.It was a surprise to see this scene.They looked like second-class guys from the suburbs.Alban, however, had already acquired the air of London.There was not a speck of dust on his fine overcoat, and his Homburg hat looked brand new.You can't tell that he's been away for three years.His collar was loosely wound around his neck, and his soft chiffon tie was neatly tied.Anne could not help admiring his handsomeness from the bottom of her heart as she looked at her.He was six feet tall and very slender, well dressed and well cut.He had beautiful hair, still thick, blue eyes, and a sallow skin, which was perfectly normal for someone who had just passed adolescence and lost his rosy complexion.There was almost no color on his face.His handsome head rests on a long neck like an Adam's apple, though you may be more impressed by the contrast than by his pretty face.He has a standard silhouette, a straight nose, and thick eyebrows, so he is very photogenic.In fact, just looking at his picture, people would think he is a very handsome guy.This was not the case, perhaps because of the paleness of his brows and eyelashes, and his thin lips; but he looked very much like a man of wisdom.There was something refined about his face.You might think this is what a poet looks like.When Anne became engaged to her, whenever her girlfriends asked her about her fiancé, she would say that he looked like Shelley.He turned to her now, with a hint of a smile in his blue eyes.His smile is quite attractive.

"It's great to be back in the UK!" It is October day.They crossed the canal on a gray day over a gray sea.There was no wind at all.Fishing boats anchored in the calm waters, seemingly forever forgetting their ancient battles.The coast is green beyond compare, but this bright and pleasant green is quite different from the lush and fierce new green of the eastern forest.The red towns they pass through along the way feel warm and homey.They all seemed to be smiling friendly, welcoming the return of people who had left their homes.They saw the riches of Essex as they entered the estuary of the Thames, and not long afterward the banks of Kent with church-walls, lovely weather-beaten trees in the middle, and then the woods of Cobham.The red sun appears in the thin mist, shines on the wetlands, and falls at night.Inside the station, arc lights illuminated things in the dark.It was a beautiful thing to see the porters coming and going in their dirty uniforms, and the fat and important station master in his pitcher hat.The station master whistled and waved his arms.Alban returned to the carriage and sat down in the corner facing Annie.The train started to move.

"We expect to be in London at ten past six," said Alban, "Jammin Street at seven. We have an hour to shower and change. After that we can be at the Savoy at half past eight. Dinner. We can have some soda tonight, my dear, and have a good meal." He giggled. Meet in a restaurant." He picked up the newspaper and asked her if she would like a copy.Annie shook her head. "Are you tired?" he asked. "No." "Excited?" She smiled and avoided his question.He began to read the papers, and began to look at the advertisements, and she was aware of the satisfaction he felt when he returned to them.They also subscribed to these papers when they were in Sandra, but they always arrived six weeks later, although they still knew what was going on in the world-they were very interested in it, but the late papers always reminded with the fact that they are adrift.But now that Alban was reading the paper that had just come out, they could feel the difference.This is a new kind of almost luxury for them.He wanted to read them all at once.Annie looked out the window: it was already pitch black outside, and she could only see the grass illuminated by the lights of the train, but soon, a small town appeared in front of her, and some dirty houses began to appear in her vision. One piece after another, the windows flicker with the lights of various houses, and the chimneys on the roof monotonously point to the sky.They passed Baking, East Ham, and Bromley—the names written on the platform made Anne shudder, and then they reached Stepney.Alban put down his newspaper.

"We'll be there in five minutes." He put on his hat, and took from the shelves what the porters had put on them.He looked at her with bright eyes, and his lips twitched unceasingly.She could feel that he was trying to control his emotions.He also looked out the window. The train passed a brightly lit street, where many trams, buses, and electric cars were parked, and the street was also crowded with people.So many people!The shops have already been lit up for business, and vendors on the side of the road are also pushing carts and starting to sell. "London!" he said.

He took her hand and pressed it lightly.His smile was so sweet that Anne felt compelled to say something.She tried to be humorous. "Does this amuse you?" "I don't know if I want to yell or throw up." To Fenchurch Street.He went to the window and waved out, calling in a porter.After a screech of brakes, the train stopped.A porter came and opened the door, and Alban handed him the luggage one by one.Then he began his usual polite gestures: jumping first himself, then reaching out to help Anne down to the platform.The porters went to fetch the trolleys, so they stood by the luggage and waited.Alban waved to the two fellow passengers who passed by.They smiled stiffly at him.

"It's a relief that we don't have to be polite to these poor people anymore," Alban said softly. Anne glanced at him quickly - he was truly incomprehensible.The porter came back with his trolley, loaded it with his luggage and started on, Anne and Alban at his heels.Alban took his wife's arm and pressed it lightly. "It's a taste of London. My God! It's so good." He rejoices in the noise and the hustle and bustle, the people jostling each other.The arc lights and the black shadows they cast were harsh and clear, and he felt beaming everywhere.They walked up the street, and the porter was about to call a taxi for them.Alban saw the bus on the street and the police clearing the traffic, and his eyes lit up.There was an inspired look on his haughty face.The taxi is coming.Their luggage was piled up next to the driver, and Alban gave the porter twelvepence before driving away.They crossed Tennessee Street and got stuck in a traffic jam on Cannon Street.Alban laughed out loud.

"What's the matter with you?" Annie asked. "I'm very excited right now." Then they walked to the embankment, where it was relatively quiet.Some taxis and cars passed them.The sounds of the trams were also wonderful music to Alban.After Westminster Bridge they crossed Parliament Square and passed through the verdant St. James's Park.They booked a room at a hotel in Jermyn Street.When they arrived, the receptionist took them upstairs, and the porters helped them carry their luggage up.This room has two single beds and a bathroom. "It looks really nice," Alban said. "Until we find a suitable apartment, we can barely live here."

He looked at his watch. "Listen, honey, if we pack together, there's going to be trouble. We still have a lot of time, and you'll take longer than me to pack and change, so I'd better go out first. I want to go The club is looking for my letter. My tuxedo is in the suitcase, and I need only twenty minutes to shower and change. Are you satisfied with my arrangement?" "Okay, that's a good idea." "I'll be back in an hour." "very good." He took out of his pocket a small comb which he usually carried with him, and brushed his long hair.Then he put his hat on and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Shall I turn on the hot water for you?" "No, there's no need." "Okay, see you later." So he went out. When he was gone, Jenny took out her vanity and hatbox and put them on top of the trunk.Then she rang the bell.She didn't take off her hat, but sat down and lit a cigarette.When the waiter answered the bell, she asked for porters to be found for her.The workers are here.She points to the luggage. "Can you take these things into the corridor? I'll tell you what to do next in a moment." "Yes, ma'am." She gave the porter two shillings.He took out his suitcases and other luggage, and closed the door behind him.Tears rolled down Anne's cheeks, but she tried to pull herself together; she wiped them away and powdered her face again.She needs to calm down now.She was glad Alban offered to go to the club, it made things a lot easier and gave her room to think. Now the time had come to realize what she had been planning for weeks, and now she had to say the terrible things she had to say, and again she was timid.Her heart sank.She knew exactly what she was going to say to Alban, and she had said it to herself a thousand times, three or four times a day during the long journey from Singapore to London, and she was afraid of herself. will become more and more suspicious.She was afraid of arguments, and the thought of a possible argument made her sick.Anyway, she now has an hour to gather her thoughts.He might say she was heartless, cruel, and unreasonable.But she can't control it all. "No, no, no!" she cried. She trembled with fear.But suddenly, she saw herself in the cabin again, sitting just as it had all begun.It was almost lunch time, and Alban would be back from the office soon.She began to think about the old days: to her relief, their home was still an attractive place for Alban, he was happy to be home, the large corridor was their drawing room, she understood , although they had lived there eighteen months, he was very pleased that she had managed to decorate the home.The midday sun filtered in through the blinds, and the filtered glare gave the room a sense of cold silence.Anne is very particular about home decorating, and although they often move urgently due to service needs and never stay in any place for a long time, she always shows new enthusiasm for each new location and brings their The home is comfortably furnished and charming.She is a very modern woman.The tenants were often surprised because her house had never had any knick-knacks.Her curtains are especially brightly colored; she also deftly recolors paintings by Marie-Laurents and Gauguins, which she then hangs on the walls with silver borders—Guest They are often shocked by it.She knew in her heart that many people would not agree with her approach. The tasteful ladies in Port Wallace thought that arrangement was weird, artificial and inappropriate at all, but she was not influenced by other people's opinions at all. .They will gradually understand that it is not entirely a bad thing to surprise them a little.Now, she looked at the long and spacious corridor, as satisfied as an artist looking at his own work.It is a delightful piece of work, one of the few peaceful arrangements in the world.It refreshes the mind and activates the imagination unconsciously.Three huge yellow cannas form a nice tonal palette.She looked at the bookcases full of books, which is another scenery in the colony.She looked at them affectionately, as if they were a load.Then, she glanced at the piano.One score was still open on the piano stand, it was Debussy, and Alban played it before going to work. When Alban was appointed to the office in Katar, her friends in the colony began to comfort her, because it was the most remote place for Sandra.It is almost completely isolated from the town where the government headquarters is located, and there is neither telegraph nor telephone.Yet she really liked it there.They had been there for a while, and she hoped to stay another year.It was an area almost as large as an English county, with a long coastline dotted with many small islands.There is a wide and meandering river in the town, and there are dense virgin forests on both sides of the river.This station, just up the creek, contained some Chinese shops, a small local village nestled among thick coconut groves, the district office, the home of the head of the office, the clerk's quarters, and the barracks.Their neighbors were the manager of a rubber plantation a few miles up the river and his assistant, both Dutch, who lived in a log cabin by a tributary of the river.The owners of the rubber grove hold lunch meetings twice a month, which are their only opportunities to communicate with the outside world.Although their lives are lonely, they are not boring at all.They lived to the fullest.In the clear dawn, they rode horses on the bridle paths in the jungle, exploring the mysteries of the equatorial night.Then they went home, showered, changed and had breakfast before Alban went to work in the office.Annie usually writes letters and does housework in the morning.She fell in love with the country from the first day she arrived and took great pains to learn the language.The stories of love, jealousy, and death she heard here fueled her imagination.She had heard some romances from the days just past.She tried to blend in with these strange people and understand their culture and traditions.Both she and Alban had read a great deal about local people and things.They had a good library to borrow books from, and had many new books sent from London, and they did not miss much of value.In addition, Alban liked to play the piano very well, although he was only an amateur, he played it very well.He took his craft seriously and was gifted; he had a keen ear and could read notation with ease, and Anne always liked to sit by and listen to him and score new pieces as he played them.But their greatest joy lies in traveling.Sometimes, they travel for two weeks.They may go straight down the river in a sailboat, and then linger on small islands, swim and play in the sea, fish, or keep going upstream until the river becomes shallower and the trees on both sides begin to get closer to each other, So much so that the sky between the trees looks almost like a thin strip.Here, the boatmen have to use poles to help the sailboat sail, and they also need to spend the night with local families.They bathe by the clear river, the water is so clear that you can see the river bottom sediment.Those places are charming, peaceful, remote, and always feel like staying there forever.Sometimes, they choose to walk again, walking on the trails in the jungle for several days, sleeping in tents at night, mosquitoes and leeches will always come to suck their blood, but they still enjoy that time.Who can sleep so soundly in a tent?After trying something new, they go home happily, comfortably enjoying the well-organized building, the mail from home, all the documentation books, and of course, that piano. After returning home, Alban would always sit in front of the piano, his fingers itchy, and he could not wait to feel the keys, playing works by Stravinsky, Ravel, Darius Millau and others. I feel that he has incorporated some personal things into these songs, such as the sound of the jungle at night, the dawn of the estuary, the starry night, and the crystal clearness of the forest pond. Sometimes, there will be heavy rain here for many days in a row, so Alban will choose to learn Chinese at home.After learning Chinese, he will be able to communicate with the Chinese in this country in their language, and Anne will do some things that she does not have time to do on weekdays.Days like this made the distance between them seem even closer.They always have a lot to talk about, and both feel comfortable being close to each other when they are filled with their own affairs.They have always been unusually united.On rainy days, they are stuck at home, but they make each other feel that they are facing the world as one. One time, they went to Port Wallace.It was a chance for a change of scene, but Anne was always happy to go home.She always had trouble finding peace there.Because she knew that none of the people they met liked Alban.They were very ordinary middle-class people who had always lived in remote areas, and their lives were dull, without the intellectual interests that filled her and Alban. Many of them were extremely narrow-minded and badly brought up. .It annoyed Anne to think of their unfriendliness to Alban.Alban, they said, was a visionary.He was very kind to them, but Anne knew that they resented his enthusiasm.When he tried to be pleasant, they said he was putting on airs; when he tried to amuse people, they thought he was making fun of them. The magistrate's wife, Hannay, who liked Anne, told her this once when they went to Government House.Maybe the magistrate asked his wife to give them some hints. "You know, dear, it's a pity your husband doesn't attract people. He's very clever. Don't you think it would be much better if he didn't let people know about his intelligence?" , my husband said to me: Of course I know that Alban Turrell is the brightest young man in our service system, yet he worries me the most. I am a magistrate, but whenever he speaks to me, It always made me feel like, from his point of view, I was a complete asshole." Worst of all, Anne learns how poorly Alban is viewed by the magistrate. "He's not trying to be superior," Anne replied, laughing, "and he's certainly not an egomaniac. I think people see him that way because he has a straight nose and high cheekbones." "You know, the people at the club don't like him either. People call him 'Percy with all his punches.'" Annie blushed.She had heard them call him that before, and it made her very angry.Tears welled up in her eyes. "I think it's so unfair." Mrs. Hannay took her hand and pressed it tenderly and affectionately. "Honey, you know, I don't mean to hurt you. Your husband probably won't rise to a very high position. If he could be more humane, things would be so much easier. Why doesn't he play football? " "He's not for that, he prefers to play tennis." "But he doesn't feel like that. He always feels like there's no one here who deserves to play with him." "No, it's not like that." Anne replied, feeling greatly hurt. Alban is actually a very good tennis player.He'd played a lot in England, Anne knew, and he'd been content to compete on the pitch with guys who were strong and energetic.He can make even the best opponents look stupid.He could get crazy on the tennis court, and Annie knew that he couldn't control the temptation. "But he's playing in the porch himself, isn't he?" said Mrs. Hannay. "I don't see it that way. Believe me, Alban has no idea that he's unpopular. As far as I know, he's always been kind to everyone." "But he's the most annoying person," said Mrs. Hannay coldly. "I know people don't like us very much," Anne said with a smile. "I'm sorry, but I really don't know what we can do about it." "It's none of your business, darling," cried Mrs. Hannay. "Everybody likes you. That's why they put up with your husband. Who can't like you, darling?" "I don't know why they like me," said Anne. But when she said this, she was not very sincere.She has been carefully playing the role of the good wife and taking pleasure in it.People don't like Alban because he's so different, and because he loves art and literature; Everyone must be strong.They didn't like him because he was better educated than all, they thought him superior to all.Yes, he was better than average, but not at the level they thought he was.Anne was forgiven for being an ugly little thing--that was a disparaging term for herself, but she was not, and if she had to be called ugly, it was the most attractive kind of ugliness.She looks like a little monkey, but she is a very sweet and human monkey.Her figure is very well-proportioned, which is her greatest advantage.And her eyes: she had big, deep, dark brown eyes, clear and shining.Those eyes were always playful, and could be softer when she felt compassion for people.Her curly hair was almost black, and her skin was swarthy; she had a small but full nose with large nostrils, and an oversized mouth.Yet she was alert and lively.She could listen with feigned interest to colonial women talking about their husbands and servants and children in England, and she could listen with admiration to men telling her stories she had already heard so many times.Everyone thought she was a pleasant person.What they didn't know was how she would tease them behind their backs.They would never know that she thought them narrow, vulgar, and pretentious.The East has no attraction for them, because Easterners always see the world in material terms.Romance lingers on their doorstep, and they chase it away like nagging beggars.She never said anything publicly, but repeated Rand's lines in her heart: I love nature and secondarily art. She recalled her conversation with Mrs. Hannay, but on the whole she didn't care too much about it.She wondered if she should mention this to Alban.It struck her as strange that Alban had never been aware of his unpopularity.But she was also afraid that if she told him, he would act coy and unnatural in the future.He never noticed the indifference of those in the club.He made them feel shy and uncomfortable.His appearance often causes some embarrassment, but the happy he has always been unaware of these, and still treats everyone happily and enthusiastically.In fact, he was always curiously unaware of other people's feelings.Alban never seemed to realize that the people of the colonies, the government officials, the colonists and their wives, were also human beings.He always saw them as pawns in a game.He laughed with them, joked with them, was kind and tolerant to them.Annie told herself, laughing, that he was like a prep school headmaster, taking the little ones out on a picnic and trying to make it fun. She felt that it might not be appropriate to tell him the truth.He couldn't pretend to be confused, and she was pleased to know that it was so easy for her.What else to do with these people?The guys who came to the colonies were like second-rate school guys, life didn't teach them anything.Fifty-year-olds still look like young lads.Most of them like to drink heavily.They never read anything worthwhile either.Their ambition is to be a person who is indistinguishable from everyone else.In their view, a man's highest honor is to be called a good man.If you are interested in the spiritual world, you are a moralist.Their lives were wasted in mutual envy, in petty suspicions.And those poor women are drowned in all kinds of trivial mutual hostility.The circle they created was narrower than the smallest town in England.They are always pretending to be serious and full of malice.What did it matter if such a person didn't like Alban?They might have to put up with him because he has great abilities.He is smart and energetic.They dare not say that he did not do his job well.He has been successful in every job he has held.Relying on his sensitivity and imagination, he can always understand what the local people are thinking and make them do things obediently - which is impossible for other people in his position.He is gifted with languages ​​and speaks all the local dialects.Knowing not only the common language of the government officials, but also the more refined ones, he was able to make occasional ceremonial speeches which pleased and impressed the officers.He's also very organized, which seems to be a gift for him.He is not afraid to take responsibility.In due course he can become a permanent resident anywhere.Alban liked Britain very much, his father was a brigadier general who had died in battle, and although he had little personal wealth, he had many influential friends.He always referred to him with pleasure and irony. "The great advantage of a democratic government is that virtue is always supported and encouraged, and always rewarded with its due," he said. Everyone can see that Alban is the most capable person, as long as he takes time, it is impossible for him not to be the magistrate.Then, Anne thought, what they were complaining about about his superiority would be worthy of the name.They will accept him as a leader, and he has a way of making people respect and obey him.She didn't get dizzy from what she had foreseen, she just accepted it.It would be interesting if Alban got the magistrate and she got the magistrate's wife.What an opportunity!They were shy and coy people, ranging from government employees to cultivators.If they lived in the governor's mansion, it would quickly bring order to those people.If the Chief's favorite thing is ingenuity, then the pursuit of ingenuity will become the trend.He and Alban can take good care of some of the local art and carefully collect memories of the bygone years.Unexpected progress will take place in this country.They will develop it and at the same time strengthen the construction of order and beauty.They will inject passion for this beautiful land and a sincere love for this romantic nation into their subordinates.They will make the locals aware of the beauty of music.They will breed culture in this land.They will create beauty here.Sandra will usher in her golden age. Suddenly, she heard Alban's footsteps.Annie then woke up from her daydream.All of this is still far in the future.Alban was only a district officer, and what really mattered was their life now.She heard the sound of Alban entering the bathroom, followed by the sound of splashing water on herself.After a while, he came out.He has changed into shirt and shorts.His beautiful hair was still wet. "Is lunch ready?" he asked. "Ready." He sat down at the piano and played a piece he had played that morning.The silver bell-like notes poured down like a waterfall in an instant, blending into the sultry air.You may therefore think of a solemn garden full of big trees, artificial pools in the garden and imitation classical paths for pedestrians to walk around.Alban played the piano very delicately.After a while, the footman informed them that lunch was on the table.Alban then got up and entered the dining room arm in arm with Anne.A cloth screen fan spins lazily on the wall.Annie glanced at the table.There are brightly colored tablecloths and lovely plates on the tables, thus setting off a festive atmosphere. "Did anything interesting happen at work today?" she asked. "No, nothing terribly interesting. Just worked on a buffalo case. Oh, and Pryn invited me to look at his property. Some handyman destroyed a tree there, and he wanted me to check it out .” Pullin was the manager of the rubber plantation up the creek, and they had some dealings with him now and then.Sometimes, when he wanted a change, he would go down the river to Alban's for dinner and overnight.They all like him.He was thirty-five years old, with a red, deeply lined face, and black hair.He was uneducated, but optimistic and easy-going by nature, but since he was the only Englishman in the neighbourhood, Alban and the others always treated him very kindly.At first, he was a little shy with them.Word would travel fast in the East, and people here would know they were intellectuals long before they arrived in the region.He didn't know how to face them.He may not have known that he had a commendable charisma that made the sensual Alban especially susceptible.He also found that Alban was much more human than he expected, and of course, Anne was also quite good.Alban played ragtime for him—a treat the magistrate didn’t get—and played dominoes with him.When Alban and Anne first traveled through the area and told him they wanted to spend a few nights on the rubber plantations, Pullin warned them that he was living with a local woman who He bore two children.他说，他会尽量不让安妮看到他们，但不会送走他们，因为他也没有其他地方可以安置他们。阿尔班笑了。 “安妮不是那么忸怩的女人。不必想着把他们藏起来。安妮可是很喜欢小孩子的。” 很快，安妮便同那害羞又可爱的当地妇女成为了朋友，不久，又融入了两个孩子中间，常常高兴地同他们玩游戏。她和那女孩常常有些秘密谈话，孩子们也很喜欢她。她总会在华莱士港给他们带来可爱的玩具。普林发现，殖民地里的其他白人女性总是一副刻薄尖酸的样子，而安妮却是时常微笑并且非常宽容的。他觉得，他怎么做都不足以表达自己的愉悦及对阿尔班和安妮的感激。 “如果所有的知识分子都像你们一样，”他说，“那希望每次派来这里的都是知识分子。” 他一想到明年阿尔班夫妇就要永远离开，便感到很恼怒。并且，如果下一任的地区办公室主任也是已婚的，那么，他的老婆便会对普林和一个当地妇女同居这事感到耿耿于怀。更甚的是，普林对这女人还有依恋。 然而最近，橡胶园的情况有些不妙。小工们都是中国人，并且受到了所谓共产主义思潮的影响。他们现在变得很是躁动。阿尔班已不得不把其中一些审判后监禁起来。 “普林告诉我，等到他们的合约期满之后，他会把他们统统送回中国，重新找爪哇人来替他们。”阿尔班说，“我觉得他这想法是对的。爪哇人要顺从得多。” “还会有更严重的麻烦吗？” “哦，不会的。普林知道自己该做些什么，并且，他是个很坚定的家伙。他不会容忍那些人无理取闹的。再说了，有了我和警察的支持，我想那些中国人不会再耍什么把戏了。”他笑着说道，“天鹅绒手套下也有铁拳。” 他话还没说完，一阵嘈杂声便突然响起。发生暴乱了，有许多人踩石阶的声音，兼有各类巨响和尖叫。 “先生，先生。” "What happened?" 阿尔班立即从椅子上起身，很快地走到阳台上。安妮也跟了过去。台阶下聚了很多当地人。那里还有一个警官、三四个警察、一个船夫及几个部落里来的人。 “这是怎么回事儿？”阿尔班叫道。 有两三个大叫着回答了他。那警官用手把旁边的挡开，于是，阿尔班便看见地上躺着一个穿着衬衫和卡其布短裤的人。他冲下石阶。他认出那人正是普林的经理助理。他是个欧亚混血儿。他的衬衫上沾满了血，脸上和头上也有凝结的血块。他已经失去意识了。 “把他带过来。”安妮说。 阿尔班下了道命令，于是便有人将那人抬到阳台上并平放于地。这时，安妮拿出一只枕头放在他头下。她叫人取来了水和紧急医药箱。“他死了吗？”阿尔班问。 "No." “最好能给他喝点儿白兰地。” 那船夫给大家带来了一些骇人的消息。那些中国人突然发起暴动，袭击了经理办公室。普林已被杀害，而他的助理奥克利侥幸逃了出来。他到的时候，暴徒们正在抢劫办公室，他看到他们将普林从窗口扔出来，扔到了自己脚下。一些中国人看到了他，便追了出来。他沿着小河一路逃跑，在跳上一只小船之前，他便已负伤。在那些中国人还未登上任何交通工具前，他便飞也似的奔流直下，以寻求帮助。他离开时，看到橡胶林的办公室着了火。毫无疑问，那些工人烧掉了所有他们能烧掉的东西。 奥克利呻吟了一声并睁开眼来。他是个矮小且皮肤黑黑的人，他身材瘦削，长着一头浓密而粗糙的头发。此刻，他的眼里满是恐惧。 “放心吧，你没事的，”安妮说，“你现在很安全。” 他叹了口气，然后苦涩地笑了。安妮帮他洗了脸，并以医用海绵沾上抗菌剂为他做了消毒处理。所幸的是，他头部的伤并不是很严重。 “你现在能讲话吗？”阿尔班问。 “等等，”安妮说，“我们先来看看他的腿。” 阿尔班让那警官负责把聚到阳台上围观的人群打发走。安妮撕掉了奥克利一条腿上的短裤。仍有些布料粘在已经凝固的血块上。 “我一直像只猪那样在流血。”奥克利说。 还好这只是皮外伤。伤口又开始流血，阿尔班于是灵活地伸出手按住了它。阿尔班为奥克利做了伤口包扎，并缠上了纱布。那警官和一个警察则帮忙将他扶到了一把长椅子上。阿尔班给他喝了白兰地加苏打水，不久，他恢复了体力，感觉可以开口说话了。然而他知道的却也并不比那船夫刚刚所讲的要多。普林死了，橡胶园也着了火。 “那么，那女孩和两个孩子怎样？”安妮问。 "I have no idea." “哦，阿尔班。” “我必须去找警察。你确定普林已经死了吗？” “是的，先生。我看到他了。” “那些暴徒抢到枪械了吗？” “我不知道，先生。” “不知道是什么意思？”阿尔班生气地叫道，“普林有支枪，是吧？” "Yes, sir." “那里应该还有更多的枪。你也有一支枪，对吧？看守人应该有一支的。” 这个欧亚混血儿沉默了。阿尔班严厉地看着他。 “那里总共有多少中国人？” “一百五十个。” 安妮寻思着，阿尔班为何要问这么多问题，在她看来，这似乎是在浪费时间。重要的是去上游捉拿那些工人，准备船只并给警察们分发弹药。 “先生，你们有多少警力？”奥克利问道。 “八个，此外还有一名警官。” “我可以一起去吗？这样我们就有十个人了。我现在绑上了绷带，我觉得自己已经没问题了。” “我不去。”阿尔班说。 “阿尔班，你必须去。”安妮叫道，几乎都不敢相信自己的耳朵。 “荒谬！这简直是疯了。奥克利去了也没用。再过几个小时，他还会发烧的。他去了只会碍事。这样便只有九个人。而那里有一百五十个中国人，并且，他们有武器，还有各式军火。” "how do you know?" “若非如此，他们是不敢公然演出这样一场暴乱的。这样贸然前往简直就是白痴行径。” 安妮吃惊地盯着他，张大了嘴。奥克利也是一脸迷惑。 "Then what are you going to do?" “好啦，幸好我们还有船。我会派人到华莱士港请求增援。” “但增援力量至少要两天后才能到达。” “好吧，不这样又能怎样？普林已经死了，橡胶林也被烧得精光。即使我们现在过去，也完全无济于事。我会派个本地人去侦察一下，看看那些中国人究竟在搞什么。”他冲着安妮笑了，还是那种迷人的微笑，“相信我，亲爱的，多等一两天并没有什么大不了的，那些混蛋会等到他们应得的报应的。” 奥克利张嘴想要说话，然而最终却什么也没说。他只是个欧亚混血的经理助理，而阿尔班是地区办公室主任，代表的是政府权力。于是，他转而望着安妮，安妮从那眼神里读出了他的决心和个人诉求。 “但再等两天的话，他们便可能实施更为可怕的暴行了，”她叫道，“我们都猜不到那群无比残忍的人还会做些什么。” “不管他们做了什么，都会付出相应代价的。我可以向你们保证。” “哦，阿尔班，你可不能什么也不做。我恳求你现在就亲自过去看看。” “别傻了。我可没法仅靠八名警察和一名警官便镇压住那伙暴徒。我也没有权利冒这种险。我们只能坐船去，这就不可能不被发现。岸边的茅草就是极好的掩护，他们很可能潜伏在那里，等到我们接近时，便一举将我们击毙。我们连一点儿取胜机会也没有。” “先生，如果我们在两天内什么也不做，我想他们一定会认为我们很好欺负。”奥克利说。 “当我需要你的意见时，我会问你的。”阿尔班刻薄地说，“到目前为止，我所知道的只是，当有危险发生时，你所做的就只是急忙逃走。我没法说服自己说，你能在化解危机中起到什么有益的作用。” 奥克利脸红了，他没有再说什么。他满是困惑地看着眼前的阿尔班。 “我要到办公室去了，”阿尔班说，“我会写一个简短的报告，并即刻派人乘船送到下游去。” 他给了那警官一道命令——此前，那警官一直僵硬地站在台阶的最顶端。他于是敬了个礼，然后跑掉了。阿尔班走进一个小门厅，取下他的遮阳帽。安妮随即跟上了他。 “阿尔班，看在上帝的分上，再听我说几句话。”她低声说。 “亲爱的，我不想在你面前无礼，但现在我的时间确实很紧。我想，你还是先管好自己的事吧。” “阿尔班，你不能什么也不做。不管有多危险，你都必须去橡胶林。” “不要表现得像个傻瓜似的。”他生气地说。 在这以前，他还从未对她发过火。然而她却拉住他的手，不让他走。 “我告诉过你，即使我去了，也是无济于事。” “你不知道。普林的女人和孩子们还在那里。我们必须设法救出他们。让我和你一起去吧。否则，他们一定会杀害他们母子的。” “那些混蛋也许早就杀掉他们了。” “啊，你怎么可以这样无情！即使只有千分之一的机会，你也有责任去救他们的命。” “我的职责是表现得像个理性人。我不会为了救一个本地女人和她那两个欧亚混血的小捣蛋，便拿我和我的警察们的性命去冒险。你以为我是傻蛋吗？” “他们会说你是胆小鬼的。” "Who?" “殖民地的所有人。” 他轻蔑地笑了。 “要是你知道我对这殖民地所有人都是不屑顾就好了。” 她开始审视般地看着他。他们结婚已有八年了，她清楚他的每一个表情，以及它们分别意味着什么。她盯着他的蓝眼睛，就像看着打开的窗户。她的脸色突然变得一片煞白。她放开他的手，转过身去。她默默地走回阳台上去。此刻，她那难看的猴腮脸上写满了恐惧。 阿尔班到自己的办公室写了一封短信，尽述事实，很快，那电动船便载着这信急流而下。 接下来的两天可谓是没有一点儿安宁。逃出来的当地人向大家讲述了橡胶林里发生的事。然而那些激动人心又无限恐怖的故事似乎也不可能表现出事情的全貌。总之，最近又发生很多杀戮事件。看守人被杀了。逃出来的人们讲述了那些残忍的场景。然而，安妮还是没能听到关于普林的女人及两个孩子的消息。一想到他们可能的命运，她便忍不住浑身发抖。阿尔班尽可能多地积聚起了一些本地人。他们就靠着矛和刀剑作为武装。他征募了一些船只。形势已经很严峻了，然而他依然保持着他的冷静。他觉得，自己已经做了所有能做的事，剩下的只是冷静的等待了。他尽到了他的职责。他开始比平日里更多地陶醉于弹奏钢琴。他早晨和安妮一起去骑马。他看起来也像是忘记了同安妮间发生的、自结婚以来的第一次严重分歧。他认为安妮已经明白了他的决定中所蕴含的智慧。同她一起时，他仍像从前那样爱开玩笑，那样热忱，那样快乐。他谈到那些暴徒时，语气里只有无情的讽刺：等到定夺之日，他们中的许多人会宁愿自己从来就没有出生过。 “他们最后会怎样？”安妮问。 “哦，他们都会被绞死的。”他耸耸肩，表示自己的嫌恶，“我讨厌亲临行刑现场。这常常让我觉得很恶心。” 他非常同情奥克利，他们安置好了他，并且一直由安妮亲自看护着。或许他后悔在盛怒之下说过冒犯奥克利的话，因此，之后他一直特别用心地照顾他。 接着，第三天下午，在他们刚吃完午饭并开始喝咖啡时，阿尔班那灵敏的耳朵听到了电动汽船的声音。同时，一个警察进来报告说，他们观测到，政府的船来了。 “终于来了。”阿尔班叫道。 他马上夺门而出。安妮升起百叶窗，望向河边。现在，那声响已经很大了，不久，她便看到有船出现在河流的拐角处。她看到阿尔班正站在栈桥上。他上了一只普拉胡帆船，等到政府派来的船只抛下锚之后，他才上了岸。安妮于是告诉奥克利，增援力量来了。 “他们去进攻时，地区主任会和他们同去吗？”奥克利问安妮。 “当然会去。”安妮冷冷地说。 “我看未必。” 安妮突然感到一阵难受。过去的两天里，她一直极力地克制着，不让自己哭出来。她没有回答，只是径直走出房间。 一刻钟后，阿尔班回来了，同时还带来了警察队的队长，队长带来了二十名锡克教信徒，准备应对那些骚乱者。斯特兰顿队长长着一张小小的红脸，红色的胡须，双腿向里弯曲着，然而为人非常热忱，也很有吸引力。珍妮常常在华莱士港碰见他。 “啊，特瑞尔太太，现在的情况可真是一塌糊涂，”他愉快地大声叫道，一边同安妮握手，“不过我来了，还有我那精神抖擞的军队，我们已经准备好要进行一场恶战了。来吧，孩子们，冲向他们……这落后的地方有什么东西可喝吗？” “这孩子。”安妮笑着说道。 “有一些凉凉的低度酒。然后，我想和你们谈谈这次行动的计划。” 他的活泼让人很是觉得安慰。这似乎吹走了自那血腥的灾难发生后笼罩在这房间里的愁云。男仆端了盘子进来，斯特兰顿于是自己动手拿了一杯威士忌。阿尔班大致给他讲了一下最近发生的事——阿尔班的叙述清晰、扼要而又准确。 “我必须要说，我真是很崇拜你，”斯特兰顿说道，“如果我处在你这个位置上，一定忍不住那口气，带着八个警察教训那帮混蛋去了。” “我觉得完全没有必要去冒这种险。” “老朋友，安全第一，我说的是吧？”斯特兰顿愉快地说道，“我真高兴你没有冲动。我也不常常有打架的机会。如果只顾自己表现的话，那可真是个卑鄙的行为。” 斯特兰顿队长想要立刻沿河直上，去打击那帮混蛋，然而阿尔班却指出了这样做的不明智之处。电汽船靠近的声音一定会惊动那帮暴徒。河岸边那些长长的杂草是个很好的掩护，他们也有足够的枪支，完全能够阻止队长的队伍上岸。因此，完全没有必要将我们的攻击力量暴露于地方的枪火之下。一定不能忘记的是，对方有一百五十个不怕死的家伙，因此我们很容易遭到伏击。阿尔班随后向大家阐述了他的计划。斯特兰顿仔细地听着，并不时地点头。这显然是个好计划。他们可以伺机袭击那帮暴徒，惊得他们措手不及，并且可能在不伤一员的情况下便将他们一网打尽。斯特兰顿要是不接受这计划，他可就真是个傻蛋。 “但你自己为什么没有这样做？”斯特兰顿问道。 “就靠八个警察和一个警官？” 斯特兰顿没有回答。 “不管怎样，这确实是个好主意，那我们就这么办吧。我们还有很多时间，特瑞尔夫人，如果您允许的话，我可以先洗个澡吗？” 他们在日落时分出发了，斯特兰顿队长和他的二十个锡克教教徒，阿尔班和警察们，以及他新近征募到的一些本地人。是夜，天空一片漆黑，连月亮也没有露脸。一开始，他们将阿尔班募集到的一些小船拖在队伍后面，并打算行进一段距离后换船。他们必须无声地靠近目的地，这一点非常重要。于是，在依靠电汽船行进了约三小时后，他们换乘上小船，悄悄地往上游划去。他们在到达那广阔橡胶园的边界后，随即下了船。有向导在前面领路，那路非常狭窄，因此他们不得不排成一列队伍。看得出，这里已经很久没有人走过了，因此，路面状况很是糟糕。其间，他们还趟过了两条小溪。这条迂回的小道引着他们一路来到了那些暴徒身后，但他们想要等到接近拂晓时再动手。不久，斯特兰顿命令队伍暂停下来。这是一次长长的等待。最后的最后，天空终于不再那么黑了，你看不清那树的树干，但却能隐约感觉到它们于黑暗之中的存在了。斯特兰顿一直背靠一棵树倚着。那时，他忽地站直身子，轻声向一名警官发出一道命令。不久，整个队伍又开始前进。突然，他们走上一条大路，于是开始换作四人一行，继续向前走着。破晓时分到了，在那鬼魅般的光影下，四周的景物开始隐约成形了。在又一个轻声的命令之后，队伍停了下来。他们已经能看到那些中国工人住的地方了。大伙此时一片沉默。队伍又开始继续向前，然后又一次停下来。斯特兰顿眼里闪着异样的光芒，冲阿尔班笑了一笑。 “我们能看到那些笨蛋睡觉的样子了。” 他整了整队伍。士兵们往枪筒里装上了弹药。他往前一步，举起了手。那些卡宾枪于是都对准了那些中国人的住所。 "shot!" 随着一声声枪响，前方也传来了一阵阵短促的尖叫声。突然，一阵喧嚣之后，那些中国人拥了出来，一边叫，一边挥舞着手臂。然而，让阿尔班感到惊诧不已的是，在那些人前面，叫声最大并且一直向他们挥舞着拳头的，却是个白人。 “这是怎么回事儿？”斯特兰顿叫到。 那是个非常高大并且满身肥肉的男人，穿着卡其布裤子和无袖汗衫，尽管那肥肥的腿显然妨碍了他，但他仍是尽可能快速地向阿尔班他们跑来，一边跑一边挥舞着双拳，嘴里还叫道： “该死的！该死的！” “天啊，那是范·哈森尔特！”阿尔班说道。 这是伐木场的经理，是个荷兰人，他驻扎在位于约二十英里外的一条较大的支流边。 “你们这些混蛋究竟在干什么？”待到走近时，他气喘吁吁地说。 “你这混蛋怎么到那里去了？”斯特兰顿反问道。 他看到那些中国人正从各个方向四散开来，于是令自己的人将他们包围。之后，他又转向范·哈森尔特。 "What the hell is going on here?" “怎么回事儿？怎么回事儿？”这荷兰人生气地叫道，“我还想知道这是怎么回事。你和你那些该死的警察。你他妈的在这个时辰到这里来发疯地朝我们射击，这又是怎么回事？射击练习？你可能会杀死我的。白痴！” “来根烟吧。”斯特兰顿说。 “范·哈森尔特，你怎么到这里来了？”阿尔班又一次问道，一脸茫然的样子，“这是我们从华莱士港请来平息暴乱的力量。” “我怎么到这里来的？我是走来的。你们以为我是怎么到这里来的？该死的暴乱。我平息了那暴乱。如果这就是你们来这里的原因，那你们可以请回了。我的脑袋差点儿就被子弹击中了。” “我不明白。”阿尔班说。 “你不需要明白。”范·哈森尔特的唾沫随着他的话语一起喷泻而出，他还在生气，“一些工人到伐木场来找我，说一些中国佬杀害了普林，并烧了他的地盘。于是，我带上我的助理、看守人和一个荷兰朋友赶了过来，想看看这究竟是怎么回事。” 斯特兰顿队长睁大了眼睛。 “你就像是参加野餐会那样跨步进来了吗？”他问。 “哦，你不会以为我仅仅因为在这个国家住了一些年月，就会因一百来个中国佬而放弃对上帝的信仰吧？我发现他们都吓坏了。只有一个人敢于拿枪指着我，我于是打爆了他的脑袋。剩下的人都投降了。我将他们的头领绑了起来。我正打算今天早上派人去下游通知你来捉拿他们。” 斯特兰顿看了他一会儿，随即便发出一阵狂笑。他笑得眼泪都流了出来。那荷兰人一开始只是生气地看着他，然而不久也跟他一起笑起来。这个大腹便便的胖子在笑的时候，身上的肥肉也跟着他的笑声一起在抖动。阿尔班愠怒地看着他们。他非常生气。 “普林的女人和孩子们现在怎样了？”他问。 “哦，他们都没事。” 现在看来，阿尔班没有受歇斯底里的安妮影响而冒险显然是个明智举动。普林的孩子当然会没事。他从来就没想过他们会出事。 范·哈森尔特和他的人回了伐木林，很快，斯特兰顿也带着他的二十个锡克教教徒回华莱士港，留下阿尔班和他们的警察们收拾残局。阿尔班简短地向上级作了汇报。然后，他还有很多事要做。他似乎应该在这里多待一段时日。但由于这里所有的房产都被烧毁了，他只得暂住在那些工人们的简易住所里，因此他不愿意安妮来跟着自己受苦。他给她写了封信，表达自己的想法。他很高兴地告诉她，普林的女人很安全。然后，他开始投入工作中，展开初步调查。他问询了许多目击者。然而一周后，他收到命令，让他马上前往华莱士港。政府派来通报这命令的船只将载他前往华莱士港，到下游时，他可以顺道见一下安妮，但那不能超过一小时。阿尔班为此感到很生气。 “我不明白，总督为什么不让我先把事情处理好，反倒这样拖延我行事。这种做法让人很不舒服。” “哎，总督从不考虑会不会给下属带来困扰，不是吗？”安妮笑着说。 “都是些繁文缛节。要不是我一分钟也不愿多待的话，我一定会要求把你带去。我本想尽快为法庭收集好证据的。我认为在这种国家里，正义能够及早得到伸张是最好不过的。” 当阿尔班乘坐的船到达华莱士港时，港口上的一个警察告诉他，港务长有个口信要带给他。那是总督的秘书捎来的消息，让港务长通知阿尔班，总督想要尽快见到他。这会儿正是早上十点。阿尔班先到俱乐部洗澡，剃胡须，换上干净衣服，还将头发整理了一下。随后，他叫了一辆三轮车，让车夫把他带到总督办公室。他立刻便被带到了秘书的房间，相互握了手。 “我去告诉总督你到了，”他说，“你可以先坐一会儿吗？” 说完，秘书离开了房间，没过多久，他便回来了。 “总督一会儿就能接见你。你介意我接着写我的信吗？” 阿尔班笑了笑。那秘书不是很有吸引力的人。他于是只好等着，抽了根烟，开始想自己的事情。他的初步调查做得很不错，这激起了他的兴趣。不久，一位长者走进来，告诉阿尔班总督准备好见他了。他随即起身，跟着那长者进了总督房间。 “早上好，特瑞尔。” “早上好，先生。” 总督坐在一张大大的桌子旁边。他朝阿尔班点头，示意他坐下。那总督看起来整个人都是灰的。头发是灰的，脸是灰的，眼睛也是灰的。看起来，热带的阳光已经洗去他本来的颜色。他已在这个国家待了三十年，官职也是一级一级地往上升。他看起来疲倦又沮丧，甚至连说话声音也给人以灰暗之感。然而阿尔班却喜欢他，因为他很安静。阿尔班并不认为他很聪明，然而他对这个国家的了解却无人能敌，并且，他的丰富经历完全可以弥补智力上的任何缺陷。他盯着阿尔班看了很久，却一直没有说话。于是，阿尔班突然产生出一种奇怪的想法：他觉得，总督可能是觉得尴尬。他本打算首先打破这沉默，然而总督却突然开口了。 “我昨天见到范·哈森尔特了。”他说。 "Yes, sir." “你可以从你的角度向我叙述一下阿鲁德地产上发生的事，以及你所采取的一些应对措施吗？” 阿尔班头脑清醒，也很沉着。他详细而准确地向总督陈述了最近发生的事情。他尽量小心地选择他的用词，也做到了流畅的表达。 “你有一名军士和八名警察，为什么没有立即赶往骚乱现场？” “我认为这样的冒险很不合理。” 总督那灰灰的脸上流露出一丝浅浅的笑。 “如果政府官员都在不合理的冒险面前犹豫，那么这地方永远不可能成为英国的一个省。” 阿尔班没再说话。要与那些明显在胡说的人交流是很难的。 “我很想听一听你对于自己采取的决定的理由。” 阿尔班很冷静地回答了面前这人，他确信自己的行为是正确的。他将当初对安妮说的话更为详细地向总督重复了一遍。总督一直认真听着，之后，他说道： “范·哈森尔特和他的助理、一个荷兰朋友和一个看守人，似乎便很有效率地处理了这件事。” “他的运气很好。但这还是说明他是个该死的蠢蛋。他这样做完全无异于疯子的举动。” “你不觉得，让一个荷兰种植者做了你应该做的事，是一种对政府的嘲弄吗？” “我不觉得，先生。” “你让自己成为了整个殖民地的笑柄。” 阿尔班笑了。 “我完全有气度承受那些可笑之人的观点，我也完全没有在意过他们的看法。” “政府官员的效用在很大程度上取决于他们的威信，我相信，如果一个人被众人视为懦夫，那么他的威信便可以说是微乎其微了。” 这下，阿尔班脸红了。 “先生，我并不是很明白您这话的意思。” “我一直很小心地在处理这件事。我见了斯特拉顿队长，可怜人普林的助理奥克利，我也见了范·哈森尔特，我还听了你的自我辩护。” “我并不知道我这是在做自我辩护，先生。” “请不要打断我。我认为你犯下一个严重的判断错误。根据目前的情形来看，那件事情所需冒的风险其实是很小的，但不管风险有多大，我也认为你应该勇敢地担起来。在这样的情况下，快速而坚定的应对是很必要的。我猜不到为什么你只是派人来请求增援，但在增援到达之前却什么也没做。不管怎样，我恐怕得告诉你，我认为你再继续担任政府官职也起不到多大作用了。” 阿尔班满脸惊讶地望着他。 “但是，如果处在那种情况下的人是你，你也会贸然前去吗？”他问他。 "I will." 阿尔班耸了耸肩。 “你不相信吗？”总督厉声问道。 “我当然相信你，先生。但请允许我多说一句，如果您不幸遇害，那么，对殖民地而言，那将会是个无法挽回的损失。” 总督于是拿手指敲了敲桌子。他看了看窗外，然后又转回视线，看着阿尔班。当他再讲话时，语气缓和了许多。 “特瑞尔，我觉得，从性情上来看，你不适合这种非常混乱的生活。如果你肯听我的建议，我认为你应该回家。以你的能力，我相信你很快便能找到一个更适合你的工作。” “先生，我想我并不是很明白您的意思。” “哦，好啦，特瑞尔，我知道你并不傻。我只是不想让你难堪。看在你和你妻子的分上，我不想让你背着因为懦弱而被开除的罪名离开。我想要给你一个辞职的机会。” “非常感谢，先生。我并不准备利用这机会。如果我辞职，就说明我承认自己的决定是个错误，说明你对我的指控是合理的。我拒不承认这点。” “那就随你吧。我很仔细地考虑了这问题，对此，我也是毫无疑问。我现在不得不将你解职。必要的文件不久就会送到你手上的。同时，你需要暂回你的岗位，并在你的继任者到来时做好交接工作。” “很好，先生。”阿尔班回答说，同时，他眨了眨眼睛，随即问道，“那您希望我什么时候回去？” “此刻。” “那么，您介意我在回去以前先去俱乐部用午餐吗？” 总督惊讶地望着阿尔班，他的愤怒里忽然很不情愿地融进了一丝敬意。 “不介意。对不起，特瑞尔，这次不幸的事故让政府损失了一名总是那么热忱的人，但我相信，凭着他的智慧和勤奋，他今后一定会大有一番作为。”