time enough for love-ʱ¼ä×ã¹»Äã°®(Ó¢ÎÄ°æ)-µÚ20ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
en¡¡awarded¡¡such¡¡blows¡¡through¡¡sheer¡¡sadism¡£¡¡David¡¡gritted¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡and¡¡accepted¡¡them¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to£»¡¡judging¡correctly¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡run¡¡out¡¡of¡¡school¡¡if¡¡he¡¡defied¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡authority¡¡of¡¡a¡¡first¡¡classman¡£¡¡So¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡the¡¡south¡¡end¡¡of¡¡that¡¡mule¡¡and¡¡endured¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡much¡¡greater¡¡hazard¡¡to¡¡his¡¡personal¡¡safety¡¡and¡¡future¡¡prospects¡¡of¡¡a¡¡life¡¡free¡¡from¡¡¡¨honest¡¡ilitary¡¡service¡¡included¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡a¡¡prospective¡¡officer¡¡must¡¡excel¡¡in¡¡athletic¡¡sports¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡ask¡¡why£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡more¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡rational¡¡explanation¡¡than'¡¡is¡¡any¡¡other¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡theology¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Plebes¡¡in¡¡particular¡¡had¡¡to¡no¡¡choice£¡¡go¡¡out¡¡for¡¡¡¨sports¡£¡¨¡¡Two¡¡hours¡¡each¡¡day¡¡which¡¡were¡¡nominally¡¡free¡¡David¡¡could
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡not¡¡spend¡¡napping¡¡or¡¡dreaming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡school's¡¡library£»¡¡but¡¡must¡¡perforce¡¡spend¡¡in¡¡sweaty¡¡exercise¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Worse¡¡still£»¡¡some¡¡¡¨sports¡¨¡¡were¡¡not¡¡only¡¡excessively¡¡energetic¡¡but¡¡also¡¡involved¡¡hazards¡¡to¡¡David's¡¡favorite¡¡skin£»¡¡¡¨Boxing¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡long¡¡forgotten£»¡¡utterly¡¡useless£»¡¡stylized¡¡mock¡¡bat¡¡in¡¡which¡¡two¡¡men¡¡batter¡¡each¡¡other¡¡for¡¡a¡¡preset¡¡period¡¡or¡¡until¡¡one¡¡is¡¡beaten¡¡unconscious¡£¡¡¡¨La¡¡Crosse¡¨¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mock¡¡battle¡¡taken¡¡over¡¡from¡¡the¡¡savages¡¡who¡¡had¡¡formerly¡¡inhabited¡¡that¡¡continent¡£¡¡In¡¡it¡¡mobs¡¡of¡¡men¡¡fought¡¡with¡¡clubs¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡missile¡¡with¡¡which¡¡points¡¡were¡¡scored¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡being¡¡sliced¡¡open¡¡or¡¡having¡¡bones¡¡broken¡¡with¡¡these¡¡clubs¡¡that¡¡aroused¡¡our¡¡hero's¡¡distaste¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡called¡¡¡¨water¡¡polo¡¨¡¡in¡¡which¡¡opposing¡¡swimmers¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡drown¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡David¡¡avoided¡¡that¡¡one¡¡by¡¡not¡¡swimming¡¡more¡¡than¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡school
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡required¡¡skill¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡swimmer£»¡¡having'¡¡learned¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡seven¡¡through¡¡being¡¡chucked¡¡into¡¡a¡¡creek¡¡by¡¡two¡¡older¡¡cousins¡but¡¡he¡¡concealed¡¡his¡¡skill¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡sport¡¡with¡¡highest¡¡prestige¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡called¡¡¡¨foot¡¡ball¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡first¡¡classmen¡¡sized¡¡up¡¡each¡¡new¡¡group¡¡of¡¡victims¡¡for¡¡candidates¡¡who¡¡might¡¡be¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡excel£»¡¡or¡¡learn¡¡to¡¡excel£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡organized¡¡mayhem¡£¡¡David¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡it¡but¡¡now¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡and¡¡it¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡peaceful¡¡soul¡¡with¡¡horror¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡As¡¡well¡¡It¡¡might¡£¡¡It¡¡involved¡¡two¡¡gangs¡¡of¡¡eleven¡¡men¡¡facing¡¡each¡¡other¡¡on¡¡a¡¡field¡¡and¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡move¡¡an¡¡ellipsoid¡¡bladder¡¡down¡¡the¡¡field¡¡against¡¡the¡¡opposition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡gang¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡rituals¡¡and¡¡an¡¡esoteric¡¡terminology£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡idea¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡sounds¡¡harmless¡¡and¡¡rather¡¡foolish¡£¡¡£¿oolish¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡harmless¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡as¡¡the¡¡rituals¡¡permitted¡¡the¡¡opposing¡¡gang¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡a¡¡man¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡move¡¡the¡¡bladder¡¡in¡¡a¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡violent¡¡ways£»¡¡the¡¡least¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to¡¡grab¡¡him¡¡and¡¡cause¡¡him¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡like¡¡a¡¡ton¡¡of¡¡brick¡£¡¡Often¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡hit¡¡him¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡inflicted¡¡indignities¡¡and¡¡mayhems¡¡not¡¡permitted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rituals¡¡but¡¡concealed¡¡hy¡¡the¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡bodies¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Death¡¡was¡¡not¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡result¡¡from¡¡this¡¡activity¡¡but¡¡sometimes¡¡did¡£¡¡Injuries¡¡short¡¡of¡¡death¡¡were¡¡monplace¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Unfortunately¡¡David¡¡had¡¡the¡¡ideal¡¡physique¡¡for¡¡success¡¡in¡¡this¡¡¡¨feet¡¡ball¡¨~¡height£»¡¡weight£»¡¡eyesight£»¡¡fleetness¡¡of¡¡foot£»¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡reflex¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡be¡¡spotted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡classmen¡¡on¡¡their¡¡return¡¡from¡¡mock¡¡sea¡¡battles¡¡and¡¡¡¨volunteered¡¨¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sacrificial¡¡victim¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡time¡¡for¡¡evasive¡¡action¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡only¡¡posSible¡¡way¡¡to¡£¡¡avoid¡¡¡¨foot¡¡ball¡¨¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡acceptably¡¡occupied¡¡with¡¡some¡¡other¡¡sport¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡one¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Ira£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡what¡¡¡¨swordsmanship¡¨¡¡is£¿¡¡Good¡I¡¡can¡£¡¡speak¡¡freely¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time¡¡in¡¡Earth's¡¡history¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡had¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡weapon¡after¡¡having¡¡been¡¡prominent¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡four¡¡millennia¡£¡¡But¡¡swords¡¡still¡¡existed¡¡in¡¡fossil¡¡form¡¡and¡¡retained¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ancient¡¡prestige¡£¡¡A¡¡gentleman¡¡was¡¡presumed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡use¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡and¡¡¡¡¨Lazarus£»¡¡what¡¡is¡¡a¡¡'gentleman'£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡What£¿¡¡Don't¡¡interrupt£»¡¡boy£»¡¡you¡¡confuse¡¡me¡£¡¡A¡¡¡¨gentleman¡¨¡¡is£»¡¡uh¡Well£»¡¡now¡¡let¡¡me¡¡see¡£¡¡A¡¡general¡¡definition¡¡¡My£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡think¡¡up¡¡some¡¡hard¡¡ones¡£¡¡Some¡¡said¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡accident¡¡of¡¡birth¡that¡¡being¡¡a¡¡disparaging¡¡way¡¡of¡¡saying¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡trait¡¡geically¡¡inherited¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡doesn't¡¡say¡¡what¡¡the¡¡trait¡¡is¡£¡¡A¡¡gentleman¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡prefer¡¡being¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡lion¡¡to¡¡being¡¡a¡¡live¡¡jackal¡£¡¡Me£»¡¡I've¡¡always¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡live¡¡lion£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡puts¡¡me¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡rules¡£¡¡Mmm¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡you¡¡could¡¡say¡¡in¡¡all¡¡seriousness¡¡that¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡tagged¡¡by¡¡that¡¡name¡¡represents¡¡the¡¡slow¡¡emergence¡¡in¡¡human¡¡culture¡¡of¡¡an¡¡ethic¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡simple¡¡self¡interest¡¡damn¡¡slow¡¡in¡¡emerging¡¡in¡¡my¡¡opinion£»¡¡you¡¡still¡¡can't¡¡rely¡¡on¡¡it¡¡jn¡¡a¡¡crunch¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡As¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡military¡¡officers¡¡were¡¡presumed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gentlemen¡¡and¡¡wore¡¡swords¡£¡¡Even¡¡fliers¡¡wore¡¡swords£»¡¡although¡¡Allah¡¡'alone¡¡could¡¡guess¡¡why~
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡These¡¡cadets¡¡were¡¡not¡¡only¡¡presumed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gentlemen£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡national¡¡law¡¡which¡¡stated¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gentlemen¡£¡¡So¡¡they¡¡were¡¡taught¡¡a¡¡bare¡¡minimum¡¡about¡¡how¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡a¡¡sword£»¡¡just¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡from¡¡slicing¡¡their¡¡fingers¡¡or¡¡stabbing¡¡bystanders¡not¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡just¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡from¡¡looking¡¡too¡¡silly¡¡¡¡to¡¡wear¡¡swords¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡But¡¡swordsmanship¡¡was¡¡a¡¡recognized¡¡sport£»¡¡called¡¡¡¨fencing¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡had¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prestige¡¡of¡¡foothall£»¡¡or¡¡boxing£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡water¡¡polo¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡list£»¡¡a¡¡plebe¡¡could¡¡sign¡¡up¡¡for¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡David¡¡spotted¡¡this¡¡as¡¡a¡¡way¡¡out¡£¡¡Under¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡physical¡¡law£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fencing¡¡loft£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡football¡¡field£»¡¡with¡¡sadistic¡¡gorillas¡¡in¡¡hobnailed¡¡boots¡¡jumping¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡Long¡¡before¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡classmen¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡school¡¡Plebe¡¡Cadet¡¡Lamb¡¡had¡¡established¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fencing¡¡squad£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡record¡¡of¡¡never¡¡missing¡¡a¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡look¡¡like¡¡a¡¡¡¨good¡¡prospect¡¨¡¡for¡¡the¡¡team¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡At¡¡that¡¡time¡¡and¡¡place¡¡three¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡fencing¡¡were¡¡taught£º
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡saber£»¡¡dueling¡¡sword£»¡¡and¡¡foil¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡tw&'used¡¡full¡sfred¡¡weapons¡£¡¡True£»¡¡edges¡¡were¡¡dulled¡¡and¡¡points¡£¡¡were¡¡bated£»¡¡nevertheless¡¡a¡¡man¡¡could¡¡get¡¡hurt¡¡with¡¡them¡even¡¡fatally£»¡¡though¡¡that¡¡was¡¡very¡¡rare¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡foil¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lightweight¡¡toy£»¡¡a~¡¡fake¡¡swcrd¡¡with¡¡a¡¡limber¡¡blade¡¡that¡¡bent¡¡at¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡pressure¡£¡¡The¡¡stylized¡¡imitation¡¡swordplay¡¡that¡¡used¡¡the¡¡foil¡¡was¡¡about¡¡as¡¡dangerous¡¡as¡¡tiddlywinks¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡¡¨weapon¡¨¡¡£»David¡¡selected¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡made¡¡f9r¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡highly¡¡artificial¡¡rules¡¡of¡¡foil¡¡fencing¡¡gave¡¡great¡¡advantage¡¡to¡¡fast¡¡reflexes¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡brain£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡£¡¡Some¡¡exertion¡¡was¡¡necessary¡but¡¡not¡¡much¡¡pared¡¡with¡¡football£»¡¡lacrosse£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡tennis¡£¡¡Best¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡it¡¡required¡¡no¡¡body¡against¡body¡¡pounding¡¡that¡¡David¡¡found¡¡so¡¡distasteful¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡games¡¡he¡¡was¡¡avoiding¡£¡¡David¡¡applied¡¡himself¡¡single¡mindedly¡¡to¡¡acquiring¡¡skill¡¡so¡¡that¡¡his£¿¡£haven¡¡would¡¡be¡¡secure¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡So¡¡diligent¡¡was¡¡he¡¡in¡¡protecting¡¡his¡¡sanctuary¡¡that£»¡¡before¡¡his¡¡plebe¡¡year¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡National¡¡Novice¡¡Foil¡¡Champion¡£¡¡This¡¡caused¡¡his¡¡squad¡¡leader¡¡to¡¡smile¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡that¡¡hurt¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡His¡¡cadet¡¡pany¡¡mander¡¡noticed¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡and¡¡congratulated¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Success¡¡with¡¡the¡¡foil¡¡even¡¡got¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡some¡¡¡¨punishment¡¨¡¡beatings¡£¡¡One¡¡Friday¡¡evening£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡beaten¡¡for¡¡some¡¡imaginary¡¡dereliction¡££»¡¡David¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Sir£»¡¡if¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡same¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡I'd¡¡rather¡¡have¡¡twice¡¡as¡¡many¡¡swats¡¡on¡¡Sunday¡because¡¡tomorrow¡¡we're¡¡fencing¡¡the¡¡Princeton¡¡plebe¡¡team¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡do¡¡the¡¡job¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡can¡¡do£»¡¡i~¡¡might¡¡slow¡¡me¡¡up¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡first¡¡classman¡¡was¡¡impressed¡¡by¡¡this¡¡because¡¡having¡¡the¡¡Navy¡¡win£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡time¡¡and¡¡for¡¡any¡¡purpose¡¡and¡¡in¡¡anything£»¡¡took¡¡precedence¡¡by¡¡Sacred¡¡Law¡¡over¡¡anything¡¡else£»¡¡even¡¡the¡¡righteous¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡beating¡¡a¡¡¡¨smart¡¡ass¡¨¡¡plebe¡£¡¡He¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡you¡¡what£»¡¡mister¡£¡¡Report¡¡to¡¡my¡¡room¡¡after¡¡supper¡¡on¡¡Sunday¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡lose¡¡tomorrow£»¡¡you¡¡get¡¡a¡¡double¡¡dose¡¡of¡¡the¡¡medicine¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡you¡¡win£»¡¡we'll¡¡cancel¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡David¡¡won¡¡all¡¡three¡¡of¡¡his¡¡matches¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Fencing¡¡got¡¡him¡¡through¡¡his¡¡perilous¡¡plebe¡¡year¡¡with¡¡his¡¡precious¡¡skin¡¡unmarked¡¡save¡¡for¡¡scars¡¡on¡¡his¡¡bottom¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡now£»¡¡with¡¡three¡¡easy¡¡years¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡fo~¡¡only¡¡a¡¡plebe¡¡was¡¡subject¡¡to¡¡physical¡¡punishment£»¡¡only¡¡a¡¡plebe¡¡could¡¡be¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡take¡¡part¡¡in¡¡orga¡£nized¡¡mayhem¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡£¨Omitted£©
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡One¡¡body¡contact¡¡sport¡¡David¡¡loved£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡ancient¡¡popu
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡lazily£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡back¡¡n¡¡Those¡¡bills¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fled¡¡from¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡played¡¡with¡¡girls¡¡and