The King of Apemama
THUS all things on the island, even the priests of the gods, obey the word of Tembinok’. He can give and take, and slay1, and allay2 the scruples3 of the conscientious4, and do all things (apparently) but interfere5 in the cookery of a turtle. ‘I got power’ is his favourite word; it interlards his conversation; the thought haunts him and is ever fresh; and when be has asked and meditates6 of foreign countries, he looks up with a smile and reminds you, ‘I got POWER.’ Nor is his delight only in the possession, but in the exercise. He rejoices in the crooked7 and violent paths of kingship like a strong man to run a race, or like an artist in his art. To feel, to use his power, to embellish8 his island and the picture of the island life after a private ideal, to milk the island vigorously, to extend his singular museum — these employ delightfully9 the sum of his abilities. I never saw a man more patently in the right trade.
It would be natural to suppose this monarchy10 inherited intact through generations. And so far from that, it is a thing of yesterday. I was already a boy at school while Apemama was yet republican, ruled by a noisy council of Old Men, and torn with incurable11 feuds12. And Tembinok’ is no Bourbon; rather the son of a Napoleon. Of course he is well-born. No man need aspire13 high in the isles14 of the Pacific unless his pedigree be long and in the upper regions mythical15. And our king counts cousinship with most of the high families in the archipelago, and traces his descent to a shark and a heroic woman. Directed by an oracle16, she swam beyond sight of land to meet her revolting paramour, and received at sea the seed of a predestined family. ‘I think lie,’ is the king’s emphatic17 commentary; yet he is proud of the legend. From this illustrious beginning the fortunes of the race must have declined; and Tenkoruti, the grandfather of Tembinok’, was the chief of a village at the north end of the island. Kuria and Aranuka were yet independent; Apemama itself the arena18 of devastating19 feuds. Through this perturbed20 period of history the figure of Tenkoruti stalks memorable21. In war he was swift and bloody22; several towns fell to his spear, and the inhabitants were butchered to a man. In civil life this arrogance23 was unheard of. When the council of Old Men was summoned, he went to the Speak House, delivered his mind, and left without waiting to be answered. Wisdom had spoken: let others opine according to their folly24. He was feared and hated, and this was his pleasure. He was no poet; he cared not for arts or knowledge. ‘My gran’patha one thing savvy25, savvy pight,’ observed the king. In some lull26 of their own disputes the Old Men of Apemama adventured on the conquest of Apemama; and this unlicked Caius Marcius was elected general of the united troops. Success attended him; the islands were reduced, and Tenkoruti returned to his own government, glorious and detested27. He died about 1860, in the seventieth year of his age and the full odour of unpopularity. He was tall and lean, says his grandson, looked extremely old, and ‘walked all the same young man.’ The same observer gave me a significant detail. The survivors28 of that rough epoch29 were all defaced with spearmarks; there was none on the body of this skilful30 fighter. ‘I see old man, no got a spear,’ said the king.
Tenkoruti left two sons, Tembaitake and Tembinatake. Tembaitake, our king’s father, was short, middling stout31, a poet, a good genealogist32, and something of a fighter; it seems he took himself seriously, and was perhaps scarce conscious that he was in all things the creature and nursling of his brother. There was no shadow of dispute between the pair: the greater man filled with alacrity33 and content the second place; held the breach34 in war, and all the portfolios35 in the time of peace; and, when his brother rated him, listened in silence, looking on the ground. Like Tenkoruti, he was tall and lean and a swift talker — a rare trait in the islands. He possessed36 every accomplishment37. He knew sorcery, he was the best genealogist of his day, he was a poet, he could dance and make canoes and armour38; and the famous mast of Apemama, which ran one joint39 higher than the mainmast of a full — rigged ship, was of his conception and design. But these were avocations40, and the man’s trade was war. ‘When my uncle go make wa’, he laugh,’ said Tembinok’. He forbade the use of field fortification, that protractor of native hostilities41; his men must fight in the open, and win or be beaten out of hand; his own activity inspired his followers42; and the swiftness of his blows beat down, in one lifetime, the resistance of three islands. He made his brother sovereign, he left his nephew absolute. ‘My uncle make all smooth,’ said Tembinok’. ‘I mo’ king than my patha: I got power,’ he said, with formidable relish43.
Such is the portrait of the uncle drawn44 by the nephew. I can set beside it another by a different artist, who has often — I may say always — delighted me with his romantic taste in narrative45, but not always — and I may say not often — persuaded me of his exactitude. I have already denied myself the use of so much excellent matter from the same source, that I begin to think it time to reward good resolution; and his account of Tembinatake agrees so well with the king’s, that it may very well be (what I hope it is) the record of a fact, and not (what I suspect) the pleasing exercise of an imagination more than sailorly. A., for so I had perhaps better call him, was walking up the island after dusk, when he came on a lighted village of some size, was directed to the chief’s house, and asked leave to rest and smoke a pipe. ‘You will sit down, and smoke a pipe, and wash, and eat, and sleep,’ replied the chief, ‘and to-morrow you will go again.’ Food was brought, prayers were held (for this was in the brief day of Christianity), and the chief himself prayed with eloquence46 and seeming sincerity47. All evening A. sat and admired the man by the firelight. He was six feet high, lean, with the appearance of many years, and an extraordinary air of breeding and command. ‘He looked like a man who would kill you laughing,’ said A., in singular echo of one of the king’s expressions. And again: ‘I had been reading the Musketeer books, and he reminded me of Aramis.’ Such is the portrait of Tembinatake, drawn by an expert romancer.
We had heard many tales of ‘my patha’; never a word of my uncle till two days before we left. As the time approached for our departure Tembinok’ became greatly changed; a softer, a more melancholy48, and, in particular, a more confidential49 man appeared in his stead. To my wife he contrived50 laboriously51 to explain that though he knew he must lose his father in the course of nature, he had not minded nor realised it till the moment came; and that now he was to lose us he repeated the experience. We showed fireworks one evening on the terrace. It was a heavy business; the sense of separation was in all our minds, and the talk languished52. The king was specially53 affected54, sat disconsolate55 on his mat, and often sighed. Of a sudden one of the wives stepped forth56 from a cluster, came and kissed him in silence, and silently went again. It was just such a caress57 as we might give to a disconsolate child, and the king received it with a child’s simplicity58. Presently after we said good-night and withdrew; but Tembinok’ detained Mr. Osbourne, patting the mat by his side and saying: ‘Sit down. I feel bad, I like talk.’ Osbourne sat down by him. ‘You like some beer?’ said he; and one of the wives produced a bottle. The king did not partake, but sat sighing and smoking a meerschaum pipe. ‘I very sorry you go,’ he said at last. ‘Miss Stlevens he good man, woman he good man, boy he good man; all good man. Woman he smart all the same man. My woman’ (glancing towards his wives) ‘he good woman, no very smart. I think Miss Stlevens he is chiep all the same cap’n man-o-wa’. I think Miss Stlevens he rich man all the same me. All go schoona. I very sorry. My patha he go, my uncle he go, my cutcheons he go, Miss Stlevens he go: all go. You no see king cry before. King all the same man: feel bad, he cry. I very sorry.’
In the morning it was the common topic in the village that the king had wept. To me he said: ‘Last night I no can ‘peak: too much here,’ laying his hand upon his bosom59. ‘Now you go away all the same my pamily. My brothers, my uncle go away. All the same.’ This was said with a dejection almost passionate60. And it was the first time I had heard him name his uncle, or indeed employ the word. The same day he sent me a present of two corselets, made in the island fashion of plaited fibre, heavy and strong. One had been worn by Tenkoruti, one by Tembaitake; and the gift being gratefully received, he sent me, on the return of his messengers, a third — that of Tembinatake. My curiosity was roused; I begged for information as to the three wearers; and the king entered with gusto into the details already given. Here was a strange thing, that he should have talked so much of his family, and not once mentioned that relative of whom he was plainly the most proud. Nay61, more: he had hitherto boasted of his father; thenceforth he had little to say of him; and the qualities for which he had praised him in the past were now attributed where they were due, — to the uncle. A confusion might be natural enough among islanders, who call all the sons of their grandfather by the common name of father. But this was not the case with Tembinok’. Now the ice was broken the word uncle was perpetually in his mouth; he who had been so ready to confound was now careful to distinguish; and the father sank gradually into a self-complacent ordinary man, while the uncle rose to his true stature62 as the hero and founder63 of the race.
The more I heard and the more I considered, the more this mystery of Tembinok’s behaviour puzzled and attracted me. And the explanation, when it came, was one to strike the imagination of a dramatist. Tembinok’ had two brothers. One, detected in private trading, was banished64, then forgiven, lives to this day in the island, and is the father of the heir-apparent, Paul. The other fell beyond forgiveness. I have heard it was a love-affair with one of the king’s wives, and the thing is highly possible in that romantic archipelago. War was attempted to be levied65; but Tembinok’ was too swift for the rebels, and the guilty brother escaped in a canoe. He did not go alone. Tembinatake had a hand in the rebellion, and the man who had gained a kingdom for a weakling brother was banished by that brother’s son. The fugitives66 came to shore in other islands, but Tembinok’ remains67 to this day ignorant of their fate.
So far history. And now a moment for conjecture68. Tembinok’ confused habitually69, not only the attributes and merits of his father and his uncle, but their diverse personal appearance. Before he had even spoken, or thought to speak, of Tembinatake, he had told me often of a tall, lean father, skilled in war, and his own schoolmaster in genealogy70 and island arts. How if both were fathers, one natural, one adoptive? How if the heir of Tembaitake, like the heir of Tembinok’ himself, were not a son, but an adopted nephew? How if the founder of the monarchy, while he worked for his brother, worked at the same time for the child of his loins? How if on the death of Tembaitake, the two stronger natures, father and son, king and kingmaker, clashed, and Tembinok’, when he drove out his uncle, drove out the author of his days? Here is at least a tragedy four-square.
The king took us on board in his own gig, dressed for the occasion in the naval71 uniform. He had little to say, he refused refreshments72, shook us briefly73 by the hand, and went ashore74 again. That night the palm-tops of Apemama had dipped behind the sea, and the schooner75 sailed solitary76 under the stars.
The End
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1
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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meditates
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的第三人称单数 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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embellish
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| v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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mythical
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| adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的 | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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genealogist
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| 系谱学者 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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portfolios
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| n.投资组合( portfolio的名词复数 )；（保险）业务量；（公司或机构提供的）系列产品；纸夹 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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avocations
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| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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44
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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45
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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46
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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48
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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49
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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50
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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51
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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52
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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53
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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60
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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64
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
levied
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| 征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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genealogy
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| n.家系，宗谱 | |
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71
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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72
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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