章节目录 The Palace at Four A.M.

(88106 www.88106.info)    Myfatherskingdomwasandis,allauthoritiesagree,large.Towalkbordertobordereast-west,thetravelermustbudgetnolessthanseventeendays.ItsnameisHo,theConfuciantermforharmony.Confucianismwasaninterestofthefirstruler(astrangetasteinourpartoftheworld),andwhenhedclearedhisexpanseoffieldandforestofhisenemies,twocenturiesago,heindulgedhimselfinanhommagetothegreatChinesethinker,muchtothemerrimentofsomeofourstaiderneighbors,whosedomainswereproperLuftlundsandDolphinlunds.Wehaveaneconomybasedupontruffles,inwhichourforestsarespectacularlyrich,andelectricity,whichwewereexportingwhenothercountriesstillreadbykerosenelamp.Ourarmyisthebestintheregion,everymanacolonel——thesubtlesecretofmyfathersrule,ifthetruthbeknown.Inthislandeverypriestisabishop,everyambulance-chaserarobedjustice,everypeasantacorporationandeverystreet-cornershouterKanthimself.Myfathersgeniuswastopromotehissubjects,maleandfemale,acrosstheboard,ceaselessly;thepeopleofHowarmthemselvesforeverinthesunofAchievement.Iwastheonlymaninthekingdomwhothoughthimselfadonkey——

    fromtheAutobiography

    Iamwritingtoyou,Hannahbella,fromadistantcountry.Idaresayyourememberitwell.TheKingenclosestheopeningpagesofhisautobiography.Heismostcuriousastowhatyourresponsetothemwillbe.Hehaslaboredmightilyovertheircomposition,workingwithoutfood,withoutsleep,formanydaysandnights.

    TheKinghasnotbeen,inthesemonths,inthebestofspirits.Hehasreadyourarticleanddeclareshimselftobeverymuchimpressedbyit.Hebegsyou,priortopublicationinthiscountry,todohimthegreatfavorofchangingthephrase"twodisinterestedandimpartialarbiters"onpagethirty-o"malignelementsundertheideologicalswayofstillmoremalignelements."Otherwise,heisdelighted.Heasksmetotellyouthatyourtouchisasadroitasever.

    Earlyintheautobiography(asyousee;weencounterthewords:"MymothertheQueenmadeamirrorpie,asplendidthingthesizeofapokertable"TheKingwishestoknowifpokertablesareinuseinfarawaylands,andwhetherthereaderinsuchplaceswouldcomprehendthedimensionsofthepie.Hecontinues:"inwhichreflectionsfromthekitchenchandelierexplodedwhenthecrewrolleditfromtheoven.Wewerekneelingside-by-side,peeringintothedepthsofanew-mademirrorpie,whenmymothersaidtome,orratherhercelestialimagesaidtomydark,heavy-hairedone,Getout.Icannotbeartolookuponyourdonkeyfaceagain."

    TheKingwishestoknow,Hannahbella,whetherthispassageseemstoyoutaintedbyself-pity,oris,rather,suitablydispassionate.

    Hewalksupanddownthesmallroomnexttohisbedchamber,singingyourpraises.Thedecreehavingtodowithyourbanishmentwillberescinded,hesays,themomentyouagreetochangethephrase"twodisinterestedandimpartialarbiters"to"malignelements,"etc.ThisIurgeyoutodowithallspeed.

    TheKinghasnotbeenathisbest.Peace,hesays,isanunnaturalcondition.Thecountryisprosperous,yes,andheunderstandsthatthepeoplevaluepeace,thattheyprefertospinouttheirdestiniesinplacid,undisturbedfashion.Buthisdestiny,hesays,istoalterthemapoftheworld.Heisconsideringseveralnewwars,smallones,hesays,smallbutinteresting,complex,dicey,even.Hewouldverymuchliketoconsultwithyouaboutthem.Heasksyoutochange,onpageforty-fourofyourarticle,thephrase"egregioususurpations"to"symbolsofbenigntransformation."Pleaseinitialthechangeontheproofs,sothathistorianswillnotaccuseusofbowdlerization.

    YourattentioniscalledtothepassageinthepagesIsendwhichrunsasfollows:"Iwalkedoutofthecastleatdusk,noteventhejoyofanewsunrisetoconsoleme,myshavingkitwithitsdozenrazors(althoughIshavedadozentimesaday,theheadwasstilladonkeys)bangingagainsttheWalther.22inmyrucksack.AfteratimeIwassuddenlyquitetired.Ilaydownunderahedgebythesideoftheroad.Oneofthebushesabovemehadashredofblackclothtiedtoit,asign,inourcountry,thattheplacewashaunted(butmyheadsenoughtofrightenanyghost)."Doyourememberthatshredofblackcloth,Hannahbella?"Iateasliceofmymothersspinachpieandconsideredmysituation.Myprincelinesswouldwinmeanevening,perhapsafortnight,atthisorthatnoblescastleinthevicinity,butmyexperienceofvisitinghadtaughtmethatneitherroyalbloodnornoveltyofaspectprevailedforlongagainstahostsnaturalpreferenceforfolkwithheadsmuchlikehisown.ShouldIen-zoomyself?Volunteerforatravelingcircus?Attemptthestage?Thequestionwasmostvexing.

    "Ihadnotwipedthelastcrumbsofthespinachpiefrommywhiskerswhensomethinglaydownbesideme,underthehedge.

    "Whatsthis?Isaid.

    "Soft,saidthenewarrival,dontbeafraid,Iamabogle,letmeabidehereforthenight,yourbackiswarmandthatsamercy.

    "Whatsabogle?Iasked,immediatelyfetched,forthecreaturewassmall,notatallfrighteningtolookuponandcladinfemaleflesh,somethingIdonotholdinlowesteem.

    "Abogle,saidthetinyone,withprecision,isnotablackdog.

    "Well,Ithought,nowIknow.

    "Abogle,shecontinued,isnotaboggart.

    "Delightedtohearit,Isaid.

    "Dontyouevershave?sheasked.Andwhyhaveyouthathugehideousheadonyou,thatcouldbemistakenfortheheadofanass,couldIseebettersoastothinkbetter?

    "Youmaylieelsewhere,Isaid,ifmyfacediscountenancesyou.

    "Iamfatigued,shesaid,gotosleep,welldiscussitinthemorning,moveabitsothatyourbackfitsbetterwithmyfront,itwillbecold,later,andthisplaceiscursed,sotheysay,andIhearthatthePrincehasbeendrivenfromthepalace,Godknowswhatthatsallaboutbutitpromisesnogoodforusplainfolk,police,probably,runningalloverthefenswiththeiridentitychecksandmakingyoublowuptheirgreatballoonswithyourbreath——

    "Shewasconfusing,Ithought,severalissues,butmyGod!shewaswarmandshapely.YetIdeemedherastrangepieceofgoods,andmadethemistakeofsayingso.

    "Sir,sheanswered,Iwouldnotventureuponwhatsstrangeandwhatsnotstrange,ifIwereyou,andwentontosaythatifIdidnotabstainfromfurtherimpertinenceshewouldcommitsewerpipe.Shedroppedofftosleepthen,andIlaybackupontheground.Notachild,Icouldtell,ratheratinywoman.Abogle."

    TheKingwishesyoutoknow,Hannahbella,thathefindsthispassagesingularlymovingandthathecannotreaditwithoutbeingforcedtotakesnuff,violently.Similarlythenext:

    "What,precisely,isadonkey?Asyoumayimagine,Ihaveresearchedthequestion.MyLaroussewasmostdelicate,asiftheeditorsthoughtthematterblushful,butyieldedtwoobservationsofinterest:thatdonkeyscameoriginallyfromAfrica,andthatthey,orwe,aretheresultofmuchcrossing.Thisurgesthatthepartiestothebirthmustbeill-matched,andinthecaseofmyroyalparents,twasthunderouslytrue.Thedinoftheircalamitousconversationsreachedeveryquarterofthepalace,ateveryseasonoftheyear.MymothernamedmeDuncan(var.ofDunkey,clearly)andwentintospasmsofshrinkingwhenever,youthfully,Idofferacheekforakiss.Myfather,incontrast,couldsometimesbringhimselftoscratchmyheadbetweenthelong,weedlikeears,butonly,Isuspect,bymeansofamentalshift,asifhewereaddressingoneofhishuntingdogs,thewhich,incidentally,remainedfirmlyambivalentaboutmeevenafterlongacquaintance.

    "IexplainedapartofthistoHannahbella,forthatwastheboglesname,suppressingchieflythefactthatIwasaprince.Sheinturngavethefollowingaccountofherself.Shewasindeedabogle,asemi-spiritgenerallythoughttobeofbadcharacter.Thiswasalibel,shesaid,asherownsterlingqualitieswouldquicklypersuademe.Shewas,shesaid,oftheutmostperfectioninthefemaleline,andtherewasnotawomanwithinthebordersofthekingdomsobeautifulasherself,shedbeentolditathousandtimes.Itwastrue,shewenton,thatshewasnotofastandardsize,couldinfactbecalledsmall,ifnotminuscule,butthosewhoobjectedtothiswereloutsandfoolsandmightusefullybestewedinlead,fortheentertainmentofthecountryside.Inthematterofrankandprecedence,themeanestbogleoutweighedthegreatestking,althoughthekingsofthisearth,sheconceded,wouldneveracknowledgethisbutintheirdottysolipsismconductedthemselvesasifboglesdidnotevenexist.AndwouldIliketoseeherallunclothedsothatImightgleansomerudeideaastothetruenatureofthesublime?

    "Well,Iwouldnthavemindedabit.Shewaswonderfullycrafted,thatwasevident,andheldinadditionthefascinationsurroundinganyperfectminiature.ButIsaid,No,thankyou.Perhapsanotherday,itsabitchillthismorning.

    "Justthebreaststhen,shesaid,theyrewondrouspretty,andbeforeIcouldprotestfurthershedwhippedoffhermannikinstinyshirt.Ibuttonedherupagainmeanwhilebestowingbucketsofextravagantpraise.Yes,shesaidinagreement,thatshowIamallover,wonderful."

    TheKingcannotrereadthissection,Hannahbella,withoutbeingreducedtotears.Theworldisawilderness,hesays,civilizationafollyweentertaininconcertwithothers.Hehimself,athisage,isbeyondsurprise,yetyearnsforit.Helongsfortheconversationsheformerlyhadwithyou,inthedeepesthoursofthenight,heinhisplainerminerobe,yousimplydressedasalwaysinasmallscarletcassock,mostbecoming,amodestsupperofchicken,fruitandwineonthesideboard,onlythepairofyouawakeinthewholepalace,atfouroclockinthemorning.Thetaxevasioncaseagainstyouhasbeendropped.Itwas,hesays,ahastyandill-consideredundertaking,evenspiteful.Heissorry.

    TheKingwonderswhetherthefollowingparagraphsfromhisautobiographyaccordwithyourownrecollections:"Shethenbegan,aswewalkeddowntheroadtogether(anowlpretendingtobeabsentstandingonatreelimbtoourleft,alittlestreamsnappingandgrowlingtoourright),explainingtomethatmyfathersadministrationoftherealmleftmuchtobedesired,fromtheboglepointofview,particularlyhismadinsistenceonfillingtheforestswithheavy-footedtrufflehounds.Standing,shecametojustahandabovemywaist;herhairwasbrown,withbitsofgoldinit;herquitewomanlyhipswereencasedinrust-coloredtrousers.Duncan,shesaid,stabbingmeinthecalfwithhersharpnails,doyouknowwhatthatmanhasdone?Nothingelsebutruin,absolutelyruin,thewholeoftheGatterFenwithagreatroaringelectricplantthatmakesathingthatwhointheworldcouldhaveauseforIdontknow.Ithinktheyrecalledvolts.Twosquaremilesoffirst-classfenpavedover.Weboglesarebeingsqueezedtoourknees.Ihadasuddenurgetokissher,shelookedsoangry,butdidnothing,myhistoryinthisregardbeing,asIhavesaid,infelicitous.

    "Duncan,yourenotlistening!Hannahbellawasnamingthechiefinterestingthingsaboutbogles,whichincludedthefactthatinthemaintheyhadnothingtodowithhumans,ornonsemispirits;thatalthoughshemightseemsmalltomeshewastall,forabogle,queenly,infact;thattherewasatypeofbloodseassuperiortoroyalblood,andthatitwasbogleblood;thatbogleshadnomagicalpowerswhatsoever,despitewhatwassaidofthem;thatboglesweretheverybestloversinthewholeworld,nomatterwhatclassofthing,animal,vegetable,orinsect,mightbeunderdiscussion;thatitwasnottruethatboglesknockedbowlsofmushfromthetablesofthedeservingpoorandcausedfarmerscowstobecomepregnantwithbigfishes,outofpuremischief;thatfemalebogleswerethemostsatisfactorysexualpartnersofanykindofthingthatcouldeverbeimaginedandwereespeciallykeenforlargeovergrownthingswithasssears,forexample;andthattherewasasomethingintheroadaheadofustowhichitmight,perhaps,beprudenttopayheed.

    "Shewasright.Onehundredyardsaheadofus,plantedsquarelyathwarttheroad,wasanarmy."

    TheKing,Hannahbella,regretshavingsaidofyou,inthejournalVu,thatyouhavetwobrainsandnoheart.Hehadthoughthewastalkingnot-for-attribution,butasyouknow,allreportersarescoundrelsandnottobetrusted.HeasksyoutonotethatVuhassuspendedpublicationandtorecallthatitwasneverreadbyanyonebutservingmaidsandthemostinsignificantmembersoftheminorclergy.Heispreparedtogiveyouamedal,ifyoureturn,anymedalyoulike——youwillrememberthatourmedalsarethemostgorgeousgoing.Onpageseventy-fiveofyourarticle,herequiresyou,mosthumbly,tochange"monstrousover-reachingfueledbyaninsatiableifstillchildishego"toanykinderconstructionofyourchoosing.

    TheKingsautobiography,inchaptersalreadywrittenbutwhichIdonotenclose,goesontorecounthowyouandhetogether,bymeansofacleverstratagemofyourdevising,vanquishedthearmybarringyourpathonthatdaylong,longago;howthetwoofyoujourneyedtogetherformanyweeksandfoundthatyoursoulswere,inessence,thesamesoul;theshrewdmeansyouemployedtoplacehiminpower,againstthearmedoppositionofthePartyoftheLily,onthedeathofhisfather;andthemanysubsequentcampaignswhichyouenduredtogether,mountedonasinglehorse,yourarmorbangingagainsthisarmor.TheKingsautobiography,Hannahbella,willruntomanyvolumes,buthecannotbringhimselftowritetheendofthestorywithoutyou.

    TheKingfeelsthatyourfalling-out,overthematteroftherefugeesfromBrise,wastheresultofamiscalculationonhispart.Hecouldnothaveknown,hesays,thattheyhadbogleblood(althoughheadmitsthatthefactoftheirsmallstatureshouldhavetoldhimsomething).ExchangingtherefugeesfromBriseforthetwenty-threeBishopsofHocapturedduringtheaffairwas,hesaysinhindsight,aseriouserror;morebishopscanalwaysbecreated.HemakesthepointthatyoudidnottellhimthattherefugeesfromBrisehadboglebloodbutinsteadexpectedhimtoknowit.Youroutragewas,hethinks,apretext.Heatonceforgivesyouandbegsyourforgiveness.TheChairofMilitaryPhilosophyattheuniversityisyours,ifyouwantit.Youlovedhim,hesays,heisconvincedofit,hestillcannotbelieveit,heexistsinaconditionofdoubt.Youarebothold;youarebothforty.ThepalaceatfourA.M.issilent.Comeback,Hannahbella,andspeaktohim.

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