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Bullock-cart wheels were screamingpeacefully in the distance. Something quite
ordinary, quiteaccording to precedent; but still dingy, cowardly,
dishonouring.
He was growingadult, tiring of boyish pleasures, learning to
think for himself,almost willy-nilly. As each tick was detached Ko Sla put it
on the floor andcarefully crushed it with his big toe. Is the water in your
well good to drink, thugyi-min? Feeling better after the gin, heshaved
himself.
Sepoyswill weep like children when their colonel retires.
Not thatthat
mattered greatly; no Englishman ever feels himself in realdanger from an
Oriental.
He was too young to realize what this life was preparing for
him.
Meanwhile, Flory had signed a public insult to his friend. He led the way
back to the track, and Flory climbed on to theflat, uncomfortable bullock
cart.
He must take somekind of exercise before the sun went down. It is good,
most holy one, chorused the prisoners.
Shoals of silvery mahseer, no bigger
than sardines, camenosing and nibbling at his body.
Presently the
bullock-cartwheels screamed nearer, taking a parallel course. Sneaking,idling,
boozing, fornicating, soul-examining, self-pitying cur.
His tongue was also a
size too largefor his mouth.
At the gate anold Indian, the colour of earth, was
cropping grass with a tinysickle. He ran round the compound fence and into the
jungle, Flo following. All other kinds of freedom are permitted. He had dodged
military service, which was easy to do andseemed natural at the
time.
Meanwhile, Flory had signed a public insult to his friend.
In the end the
secrecy of your revolt poisons you like a secretdisease.
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