Read Online Footsteps by Pramoedya Ananta Toer - Free Book Online
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
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Excellency General van Heutsz and to all our invited guests. Good evening.”
Everyone stood to honor the VIPs as they left. But instead they did not leave straightaway. Both van Heutsz and van Kollewijn held out their hands to me.
“I was very happy to hear what you had to say,” said van Kollewijn.
“You speak clearly and with courage and honesty,” said van Heutsz.
“Who brought you here?” asked the official host.
“Perhaps we can have a more private talk?” said van Kollewijn.
“Unfortunately I am bound by my promise to the school director to catch up with my studies, Your Excellency.”
“I judge from your attitude, Mr. Minke, that you have experienced some tragedy and disappointment in your life. Would it be all right with you if I invited you for a discussion one day?”
“If the school director permits it, Your Excellency Mr. General.”
“Good. If I get the opportunity, I’ll try to arrange it.”
They left the club. As soon as the group broke up, the host from the club attacked Ter Haar.
“And I, representing both the management of the club and all its members, condemn you for bringing a Native here. You know the rules.”
“Be as angry as you like, sir. In any case, both van Kollewijn and the general appreciated the chance to meet Mr. Minke. They have even asked for another meeting.”
“But not in this club.”
“That’s up to them.”
“Get out!”
“Yes, Minke, we don’t need to stay here any longer. What for, anyway? We don’t want to hang around haunting the place. Come on, let’s go. And thank you to our host, who has been so kind. This is the first time a Native has set foot—other than as a waiter or coolie—inside this building which was built on the land of his own ancestors. Good evening.”
So we left the old man there, muttering.
In the delman, Ter Haar began again. “Next time you must be more careful when you start talking about things that touch upon power, that is to say, Sugar. You must be fully equipped before you go into the field of battle. We were lucky the old man knew when to end the session.”
“So you’re not angry with him?”
“No need to be angry. He knew he was breaking the club rules. It was against the rules for you to come into the club. Perhaps because of his age, or because he was hoping for some kind of praise from his guests, he didn’t comment on your presence even after he saw you there. Or perhaps we just outmaneuvered him!”
“So you had some scheme in mind when you took me to the Harmoni.”
“Forget it.”
“And what I said really did put me in danger?”
“It did worry me. You joined battle without knowing the lay of the land. Don’t worry. Yes, they’re free to interpret your story any way they like. Perhaps you were in league with those peasants. You might even have been the brains behind the uprising. But don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll be by your side.”
I listened carefully to what he said, making sure that I remembered it all. Just as I had made promises to people in the past, now Ter Haar was making such a promise to me. He was a friend. And people must have friends, said my mother. It was true—friendship was more powerful than enmity. Ter Haar had proved himself a Liberal who did not bow down to Sugar, but only to the principles of humanity. How beautiful was his spirit, like an orchard in the middle of this desert.
“Mr. Minke, mixing with the powerful is like going among wild animals. They fight each other; their hunger for victims is insatiable. Their hearts are like the Sahara Desert, dry and harsh. Even the ocean would disappear in that desert. I hope you’re not offended by my giving you this advice. It is very stupid to enter a den of wild animals unarmed.”
There was no traffic. It was after eleven o’clock in the evening. Only the gas lamps along the streets were there to look up at the moon.
You, O Remus, Romulus, drink up all you can from this wolf. So you may grow into
Everyone stood to honor the VIPs as they left. But instead they did not leave straightaway. Both van Heutsz and van Kollewijn held out their hands to me.
“I was very happy to hear what you had to say,” said van Kollewijn.
“You speak clearly and with courage and honesty,” said van Heutsz.
“Who brought you here?” asked the official host.
“Perhaps we can have a more private talk?” said van Kollewijn.
“Unfortunately I am bound by my promise to the school director to catch up with my studies, Your Excellency.”
“I judge from your attitude, Mr. Minke, that you have experienced some tragedy and disappointment in your life. Would it be all right with you if I invited you for a discussion one day?”
“If the school director permits it, Your Excellency Mr. General.”
“Good. If I get the opportunity, I’ll try to arrange it.”
They left the club. As soon as the group broke up, the host from the club attacked Ter Haar.
“And I, representing both the management of the club and all its members, condemn you for bringing a Native here. You know the rules.”
“Be as angry as you like, sir. In any case, both van Kollewijn and the general appreciated the chance to meet Mr. Minke. They have even asked for another meeting.”
“But not in this club.”
“That’s up to them.”
“Get out!”
“Yes, Minke, we don’t need to stay here any longer. What for, anyway? We don’t want to hang around haunting the place. Come on, let’s go. And thank you to our host, who has been so kind. This is the first time a Native has set foot—other than as a waiter or coolie—inside this building which was built on the land of his own ancestors. Good evening.”
So we left the old man there, muttering.
In the delman, Ter Haar began again. “Next time you must be more careful when you start talking about things that touch upon power, that is to say, Sugar. You must be fully equipped before you go into the field of battle. We were lucky the old man knew when to end the session.”
“So you’re not angry with him?”
“No need to be angry. He knew he was breaking the club rules. It was against the rules for you to come into the club. Perhaps because of his age, or because he was hoping for some kind of praise from his guests, he didn’t comment on your presence even after he saw you there. Or perhaps we just outmaneuvered him!”
“So you had some scheme in mind when you took me to the Harmoni.”
“Forget it.”
“And what I said really did put me in danger?”
“It did worry me. You joined battle without knowing the lay of the land. Don’t worry. Yes, they’re free to interpret your story any way they like. Perhaps you were in league with those peasants. You might even have been the brains behind the uprising. But don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll be by your side.”
I listened carefully to what he said, making sure that I remembered it all. Just as I had made promises to people in the past, now Ter Haar was making such a promise to me. He was a friend. And people must have friends, said my mother. It was true—friendship was more powerful than enmity. Ter Haar had proved himself a Liberal who did not bow down to Sugar, but only to the principles of humanity. How beautiful was his spirit, like an orchard in the middle of this desert.
“Mr. Minke, mixing with the powerful is like going among wild animals. They fight each other; their hunger for victims is insatiable. Their hearts are like the Sahara Desert, dry and harsh. Even the ocean would disappear in that desert. I hope you’re not offended by my giving you this advice. It is very stupid to enter a den of wild animals unarmed.”
There was no traffic. It was after eleven o’clock in the evening. Only the gas lamps along the streets were there to look up at the moon.
You, O Remus, Romulus, drink up all you can from this wolf. So you may grow into
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