The Palace at Four A.M.
The Palace at Four A.M. (第1/3页)
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.
"Ihadnotwipedthelastcrumbsofthespinachpiefrommywhiskerswhensomethinglaydownbes
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