April 1, 2007
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quotes in stories
Occasionally I hear or read words that seem as if the writer somehow tore a hole in time and stuffed the words through them just so they could come unto me at a specific time when I needed to hear them. Often they are seemingly innocuous words, utterly irrelevant to the overarching plot of the story. Nevertheless they speak to me in a manner that makes me think that I would be a different person had I not heard or read them at that exact moment. Here are two such instances: (To avoid spoilers I’ll remove references of names so it will not be known from where they come)
“Captain, aren’t you tired?”
“Not particularly.”
“If anything happens, I can call you. So why don’t you get some rest?”
“It won’t make any difference if I’m sitting in my room or sitting up here. It’s physically the same.”
“Well, I suppose you’re right.”
“Does it bothr you that I’m sitting here?”
“No, not at all. I just remember something from the past.”
“The past?”
“Yes. When I first went out on trading I could have started out as a second navigator on a large ship. But instead, I borrowed money from my father and used that money to lease a ship of my own. Of course, it was only a small one. But I was so worried that I couldn’t leave the bridge.”
“Even when you slept?”
“Yes. The crew tried to warn me that it wasn’t good for me. But I stubbornly refused to pay any attention. When we reached our destination, and began business negotiations I couldn’t concentrate anymore. We lost quite a bit because of that.”
“But I sleep well in my room.”
“That’s better than I used to be.”
“It’s been five years since I was first appointed and it’s been over a year since I’ve been in actual battle.”
“If that’s the case you should take it easy on yourself.”
“So you also treat me like a child.”
“Certainly not! I just can’t stand to watch such a youngster.”
“You can’t stand to watch?”
“To be more precise. I think you are being overly enthusiastic.”
“Overly enthusiastic? You think so?”
“That’s how I see it.”
“I don’t do it intentionally. When I’m given a job to do, I want everything to go right. But I never really want to be a territorial ambassador.”
….
Captain: “So what do you do with yourself when you’re on your own?”
“That’s an awfully personal question.”
“Should I not have asked? Forgive me.”
“That’s okay. I have nothing to hide.
Let’s see…. I send a lot of letters.”
“Every day?”
“Yes. Every day. I write to everyone I’ve ever met and known. Plus I still have some business matters to attend to even though I’m out here in the service. So I have to spend some time on administrative work.”
“Do you get bored?”
“I enjoy receiving the replies more than writing. I only write letters to see the replies. It’s a godo way to keep a relationship from dying.”
“Relationship from dying?”
“Even though you’re close… without spending time together the friendship will eventually fade. Writing is a way of keeping connections when you can’t meet.
“You know, when I die… I want my funeral to be bright and cheerful. Even though I spend my time with all of you on board. I doubt you and many of the crew would make it there.”
“You could be right. If you die in battle… that’s when the ship is destroyed.”
“By the way aren’t you going to rest?”
“Talking to you like this seems to be a better way to relax.”*********************
“I actually don’t understand very much, but I’m sure they’re different.
At least, different from me and you. They’re not the ‘normal’ friends.”
“Why?”
<<laughter>>
“Me, I will become very happy just watching someone being very happy. I
like people who eat meals they cooked themselves with very big
mouthfuls. I don’t care if it’s someone I’ve never seen before. Un, so
when I see …’-nyan I feel very lucky. Even though I don’t know why
she’s like that, but she’s always especially happy!”
“Do you want to join them or something? Aren’t you lonely just watching from the side?”
“U–n, me, I feel that many movies I see have a deep meaning, but I
don’t ever want to film my own movie. Seeing’s enough for me. Whether
it’s the World Baseball Championship or the Pro Bowlers Association
World Championship, I always warmly cheer them on. But I never think
‘Uwah~ I want to play that too!’ and join them. Just watching those
people do their best makes me have a good mood already. Anyway, that
doesn’t interest me! So, I should just do what I can do!
“Like that, when I see [you five], I think it’s lots of fun. I like the appearance that
everybody’s busy! Apart from that, I also like the me standing off to
the side watching you!
“So I like where I am right now. I think …’-nyan knows as well, so
she hasn’t tried to drag me in. There’s five people, it must be crowded
already.
“It’s impossible to find out every secret for every thing on this planet. I’m busy enough with my own devices as it is.”
“…’-kun, you have to work hard. The future of mankind rests on you!”
<laughter>*************************************
Wanting everything to go right…
Keeping relationships from dying…
Becoming happy by watching others be happy…I am constantly awed and terrified by the power of language.
