Read Online The Discovery Of Slowness by Sten Nadolny - Free Book Online
Authors: Sten Nadolny
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still a second possibility: that Matthew would show up after all and take John along.
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John was home again. Matthew continued to be lost. Nobody liked to talk about it, and did so only to dissuade John from going to sea. Just before the end of the summer holidays, the Franklins assembled round the large dining-room table. Father allowed the family to contribute to some decisions. He himself said the most important things, and the others said only as much as was required, giving the impression that they had said nothing.
âTo sea? Once and never again,â Grandfather said in a firm voice. Of course, he had to be reminded that he had never gone to sea.
But John needed no support, because something unexpected had happened: Father had changed his mind. Suddenly â as the only one in the family â he was most enthusiastic about a maritime career for John and went over to his side. It also seemed that John didnât have to convince Mother any longer. She looked so encouraging and cheerful; perhaps Fatherâs change of mind had been her work. She didnât have to speak, anyway, not even in a family council. John was too confused for a time to be able to feel pleasure.
Thomas said nothing; he only smiled slyly. And his little sister Isabella wept loudly, why nobody knew. With that the matter was settled.
âIf you donât understand an order at seaâ â Thomas spoke slowly â âthen simply say, âAye aye, sir,â and jump overboard. It would definitely not be wrong.â John concluded that he didnât have to think about such remarks.
He wanted to tell the news to Sherard. Sherard would be pleased about it, he knew that, but he couldnât find him. The estate manager said he was working in the fields with his parents and other people from Ing Ming. He didnât want to say where. He didnât want any interruptions during working hours.
It had grown late. The coach was waiting.
Just one more year of school. For someone like John that was almost as good as nothing.
5
Copenhagen, 1801
âJ ohnâs eyes and ears,â Dr Orme wrote to the captain, âretain every impression for a peculiarly long time. His apparent slowness of mind and his inertia are nothing but the result of exaggerated care taken by his brain in contemplating every kind of detail. His enormous patience â¦â He crossed out the last phrase.
âJohn is dependable with figures and knows how to overcome obstacles with unorthodox planning.â
The navy, thought Dr Orme, will be torture for John. But he didnât write that down. After all, the navy was the addressee.
John knows no self-pity, he thought.
But he didnât lower his pen to paper, for to be admired by a teacher rarely helps, and especially not in the navy.
Whether the captain would even read the letter before their departure ⦠It was John himself who was determined to go to war. And he was too slow, and only fourteen years old ⦠What could he write? Misfortune sits in its own shoes, he thought. He crumpled the letter and tossed it into the wastebasket, propped his chin on his hand, and began to mourn.
   Â
John Franklin lay awake at night and replayed the fast events of the day at his own slow speed. There were many of them. Six hundred men on such a ship! And everyone had a name and moved about. Then the questions! Questions could come at any time. Question: Whatâs your assignment? Answer: Lower gun deck and sail practice in Mr Haleâs department.
Sir. Never forget to say Sir. Dangerous!
All men aft for ex ⦠exe-cu-tion of punishment. That should be pronounceable! Execution of punishment.
All hands to the sails!
Receive arms.
Clear for action: a hard job to grasp the whole picture.
All guns loaded, sir. Run in to gunports. Secure guns.
Lower gundeck cleared for action! Anticipate everything exactly without question.
Take that manâs name,
   Â
John was home again. Matthew continued to be lost. Nobody liked to talk about it, and did so only to dissuade John from going to sea. Just before the end of the summer holidays, the Franklins assembled round the large dining-room table. Father allowed the family to contribute to some decisions. He himself said the most important things, and the others said only as much as was required, giving the impression that they had said nothing.
âTo sea? Once and never again,â Grandfather said in a firm voice. Of course, he had to be reminded that he had never gone to sea.
But John needed no support, because something unexpected had happened: Father had changed his mind. Suddenly â as the only one in the family â he was most enthusiastic about a maritime career for John and went over to his side. It also seemed that John didnât have to convince Mother any longer. She looked so encouraging and cheerful; perhaps Fatherâs change of mind had been her work. She didnât have to speak, anyway, not even in a family council. John was too confused for a time to be able to feel pleasure.
Thomas said nothing; he only smiled slyly. And his little sister Isabella wept loudly, why nobody knew. With that the matter was settled.
âIf you donât understand an order at seaâ â Thomas spoke slowly â âthen simply say, âAye aye, sir,â and jump overboard. It would definitely not be wrong.â John concluded that he didnât have to think about such remarks.
He wanted to tell the news to Sherard. Sherard would be pleased about it, he knew that, but he couldnât find him. The estate manager said he was working in the fields with his parents and other people from Ing Ming. He didnât want to say where. He didnât want any interruptions during working hours.
It had grown late. The coach was waiting.
Just one more year of school. For someone like John that was almost as good as nothing.
5
Copenhagen, 1801
âJ ohnâs eyes and ears,â Dr Orme wrote to the captain, âretain every impression for a peculiarly long time. His apparent slowness of mind and his inertia are nothing but the result of exaggerated care taken by his brain in contemplating every kind of detail. His enormous patience â¦â He crossed out the last phrase.
âJohn is dependable with figures and knows how to overcome obstacles with unorthodox planning.â
The navy, thought Dr Orme, will be torture for John. But he didnât write that down. After all, the navy was the addressee.
John knows no self-pity, he thought.
But he didnât lower his pen to paper, for to be admired by a teacher rarely helps, and especially not in the navy.
Whether the captain would even read the letter before their departure ⦠It was John himself who was determined to go to war. And he was too slow, and only fourteen years old ⦠What could he write? Misfortune sits in its own shoes, he thought. He crumpled the letter and tossed it into the wastebasket, propped his chin on his hand, and began to mourn.
   Â
John Franklin lay awake at night and replayed the fast events of the day at his own slow speed. There were many of them. Six hundred men on such a ship! And everyone had a name and moved about. Then the questions! Questions could come at any time. Question: Whatâs your assignment? Answer: Lower gun deck and sail practice in Mr Haleâs department.
Sir. Never forget to say Sir. Dangerous!
All men aft for ex ⦠exe-cu-tion of punishment. That should be pronounceable! Execution of punishment.
All hands to the sails!
Receive arms.
Clear for action: a hard job to grasp the whole picture.
All guns loaded, sir. Run in to gunports. Secure guns.
Lower gundeck cleared for action! Anticipate everything exactly without question.
Take that manâs name,
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