Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Walt liked the idea of ​​a canoe very much, not because he liked the cramped space of a canoe, but because this particular way would inspire him to write.The key to the success of this book is whether the journey can be written as an "adventure" story, and this unusual vehicle can easily achieve this goal.If driving in a normal way, it will certainly not be able to arouse his special writing inspiration, because although it is comfortable, it is not creative.The way of hiking has also become nothing special because it is widely promoted as hiking activities.Walter once traveled across most of Europe with a backpack, a toothbrush and a T-shirt. He was basically very happy to complete this journey in the most primitive way, but he wanted to use it more A non-modern way of traveling to accomplish it.The way of hiking that he is fond of is basically the same as the kind of masochistic travel that wears heavy spikes, stares blankly, and goes step by step to the destination. It is closer to Atlas in Greek mythology than to Odysseus. .

So Walt liked the idea.There were, of course, other reasons for his favoring this approach. If he takes a car or walks, he will have to stick to Leslie Seale every day during the journey, and taking a canoe can reduce the frequency of contact between the two and give him a little more personal freedom.Walter hated Searle to such an extent that Searle's every movement annoyed him, and he was vaguely aware of his absurd inability to restrain this obsession.He also found that Elizabeth's attitude towards him had begun to be very kind, a change he could not discern because it was so natural and appropriate.Which means Elizabeth is perfectly acceptable to him, eight months after he's had a crush on another woman -- Margaret 'Marianne.Now that she was being nice to him again, he felt that she was really "degrading" him—that's how he called it.His current understanding of Elizabeth only proves that he doesn't understand her transformation at all, but Elizabeth does occupy a very important position in Walter's mind, and he interprets Elizabeth's feelings for him in his own way. Every word and attitude he said was her love for him, he felt her kindness to him, her kindness to him—to Whitemore alone! It is undeniable that in Lai A lot of things changed completely after Sri Sear came along.Walter needed a very strong sense of self-control whenever he thought of this man.

They planned to pitch a tent and camp out every night, which Walt was happy to do, whether it was feasible or not.Not just because it would give him a chance to fight the big bears that roamed among the oaks, or he could feel and describe the nocturnal scenery of woods and rivers, but it would also save him from sharing a room with Searle in the hotel every night. pain. When camping, he could leave him alone and go wandering in the woods, but when the two of them went to the bar, it was impossible for him to leave alone without saying a word. The canoes were named Beep and Emma - Mrs. Gallopy was a little surprised why Searle was named after her, but the real resistance to it was that she didn't want her Have nothing to do with Syl.Now that everything is ready, there is only one thing left to do, that is, in order to capture a wider range of scenes, Seale needs to replace the heavy photographic equipment with light and portable equipment, otherwise the small canoe will be enough to stuff a sleeping bag. When it's full, there's no room for anything else.In the end, Searle had to unload some equipment so that he could travel lightly.

Despite the worries lurking in everyone's mind at Trinian Manor—Lavinia's uneasiness, Walter's indignation, Elizabeth's guilt, and Emma's resentment—it's still ostensibly uneventful.In this early spring when the trees are not yet green, the sunshine in England is still as warm as usual, and the night is hot and windless, as if summer has arrived.After dinner one night, Searle went out to the balcony and said: This England really has a taste of France.He chatted with them about the charming France in his impression. They talked happily and affectionately for a while.

The rapport continued until later on Friday when Walter and Seale were ready to go.On this day, Walter went to the radio station to do his routine broadcast as usual, and then went home for dinner after the end.At dinner, drinks were enjoyed for the upcoming "Canoeing on the Rushmere River" trip.Afterwards Elizabeth drove them through the sweet spring evening to a town on the Roshmere River about twenty miles from where they had really started.They plan to spend the night at Green's Cave, an ancient cave that overlooks the entire origin of the Roshmere River.Walter thought that their story should start from prehistoric England, but Seale disagreed with this arrangement, which was somewhat different from his original idea.He said that not most of the British people originated from Green.

Having said that, insist on spending the night in the cave.He's lived in trucks, baths, pool tables, canvas chairs, and spent nights in endless deserts, but not in caves.He didn't want to let go of this special opportunity. Elizabeth led them to the cave, and walked with them about a hundred yards along the path to see if the surrounding conditions were safe.They were very happy, had just had a big farewell meal, and were both a little drunk.They put down the sleeping bag and luggage and took Elizabeth back to the car.When none of them spoke, a tense silence pressed on everyone's ears, and they shuffled and made their own noises.

"I don't want to live in a house with nothing but a roof," Elizabeth said, breaking the silence. "This is a special prehistoric night." Her car drove away, leaving deep marks on the road, and the grass on both sides of the road was also shone green by the headlights.She was gone, leaving the silence of the night with their prehistoric times. Afterwards, the conversation between the two adventurers was like that at the two ends of a telephone line, getting quieter and quieter. Every evening they called back from the bar or the phone booth to report that the manor was safe.

They had managed to get as far as Autrey, where two canoes were waiting for them.They happily came to the river with their gear.Walt's first notebook was full.Seale was mesmerized by the beauty of England from the first flash of his camera.While in Capel, he couldn't wait to call Lavinia and tell her that she was right, that it was indeed "magical", unique in the UK. "They sound like they're happy," Lavinia said in a dubious tone as she hung up the phone.She wished so much to see them, but they had agreed before they left that they would have to pretend to be strangers in a strange land, and go down the river all over Shaka as if they had never been here before.

"You destroy my imagination, if you're going to put Trinin Manor in it," Walter once said, "I must look at this place, this country, as I have never been here before. . I mean with a completely strange and fresh eye." So Cuining Manor spent every evening waiting for their phone calls; this also gently pleased this pretendingly quiet bay. Then on Wednesday evening, the fifth day of their journey, they went into the Swan, surrounded by a crowd cheering them as heroes of Roschmere.The bar entertains them with drinks for free.They said they had been hindered in Petja, and had slept there for a while; but they could not resist the idea of ​​walking across the fields to the town of Shaka.Because of the winding course of the Roshmere River, it was about two miles by water from Petha to Shaka, but only one mile back across the fields.There is no hotel in Petja district, so they decided to walk back to Shaka Town and the familiar Swan Bar.

Then there was the usual chatter in the bar, with people crowding around asking how the trip came about.Walter took his glass and walked to his usual corner, and after a while Searle followed.Then at the bar, the other guests of the bar flocked over and surrounded them, intending to talk to them. Yet every conversation was interrupted by a strange atmosphere between the two.They didn't quarrel, but there was a very private and tense atmosphere between them that cut them off from everyone else in the bar, almost unconsciously, and nobody was aware of it. Then Walter stood up abruptly and left.

He left without saying a word, without even saying goodbye.Only the slam of the door he left reminded everyone of the incident.It was a very moving, violent and decisive sound, a departure with a profound meaning of ending. All looked bewilderedly from the door to the unfinished glass of beer on Walter's table and his empty seat, and were quick to ascertain that Walter would not return after the angry door slam. .Searle was still sitting there leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.Bill Maddows floated like a cloud from the corner to Seale's seat in order to break the condensed mystery in the air.They spent a glass of beer talking for a while about outboard motors and discussing the topic of small sailboats.When he got up to go to the bar for a drink, he glanced at the beer glass left by Walter and said, "I'll help Mr. Whitemore refill a glass of beer by the way. His glass has been left for too long." "Oh, no, Walter has gone back." Searle said. "But now..." Mattos had just said a few words, and immediately realized that he should shut up. "Yes, I know. But he feels more comfortable that way." "Is he unwell or what?" "No, but if he stays around, he'll probably choke me," Searle said affectionately, "but he learned restraint in school, so he swallowed his anger back. Very cultivated." .” "Did you offend Mr. Whitemore?" asked Bill, who fancied he knew the young American better than Walter. "Very seriously," Searle said flatly, smiling at Bill. Mados stuck out his tongue, then went to the bar to pour a beer.After that, the store resumed its usual lively conversation.Seale stayed until the bar closed, turning to say goodbye to Rafe, the owner, as he locked the door behind them. In the end he walked out into the village street with everyone.When their party was going down the narrow country road, when they were still joking about the pity that he didn't have a comfortable bed waiting for him, when he said their bed was stuffy and old and no better, He left suddenly. "Good night!" His voice came from the other side of the road. This was the last time anyone in Shaka saw Leslie Seale. Forty-eight hours later, Aaron Grant arrived at Trinian Manor and began his investigation.