669小说网

第11章 致加西亚的一封信（第2页）

SomesaidtothePresident，

"TheresafellowbythenameofRowanwhowillfindGarciaforyou，ifanybodycan。

"

RowanwassentforandgivenalettertobedeliveredtoGarcia。Howthe

"fellowbythenameofRowan

"tooktheletter，sealedituinanoilskinouch，straeditoverhisheart，infourdayslandedbynightoffthecoastofCubafromanoenboat，disaearedintothejungle，andinthreeweekscameoutontheothersideoftheIsland，havingtraversedahostilecountryonfootanddeliveredhislettertoGarcia—arethingsIhavenosecialdesirenowtotellindetail。TheointthatIwishtomakeisthis：McKinleygaveRowanalettertobedeliveredtoGarcia；Rowantooktheletteranddidnotask，

"Whereisheat？

"

BytheEternal！Thereisamanwhoseformshouldbecastindeathlessbronzeandthestatuelacedineverycollegeoftheland。Itisnotbook-learningyoungmenneed，norinstructionaboutthisandthat，butastiffeningofthevertebraewhichwillcausethemtobeloyaltoatrust，toactromtly，concentratetheirenergies：dothething—

"CarryamessagetoGarcia。

"

GeneralGarciaisdeadnow，butthereareotherGarcia。Nomanwhohasendeavoredtocarryoutanenterrisewheremanyhandswereneeded，buthasbeenwell-nighaalledattimesbytheimbecilityoftheaverageman—theinabilityorunwillingnesstoconcentrateonathinganddoit。

Slishodassistance，foolishinattention，dowdyindifference，andhalf-heartedworkseemtherule；andnomansucceeds，unlessbyhookorcrookorthreatheforcesorbribesothermentoassisthim；ormayha，GodinHisgoodnesserformsamiracle，andsendshimanAngelofLightforanassistant。

You，reader，utthismattertoatest：Youaresittingnowinyouroffice—sixclerksarewithincall。Summonanyoneandmakethisrequest：

"PleaselookintheencycloediaandmakeabriefmemorandumformeconcerningthelifeofCorreggio。

"Willtheclerkquietlysay，

"Yes，sir。

"andgodothetask？

Onyourlifehewillnot。Hewilllookatyououtofafishyeyeandaskoneormoreofthefollowingquestions：Whowashe？Whichencycloedia？Whereistheencycloedia？WasIhiredforthat？WhatsthematterwithCharliedoingit？Ishedead？Isthereanyhurry？ShantIbringyouthebookandletyoulookituyourself？Whatdoyouwanttoknowfor？

AndIwilllayyoutentoonethatafteryouhaveansweredthequestions，andexlainedhowtofindtheinformation，andwhyyouwantit，theclerkwillgooffandgetoneoftheotherclerkstohelhimtrytofindGarcia—andthencomebackandtellyouthereisnosuchman。OfcourseImaylosemybet，butaccordingtotheLawofAverage，Iwillnot。

Now，ifyouarewise，youwillnotbothertoexlaintoyour

"assistant

"thatCorreggioisindexedundertheCs，notintheKs，butyouwillsmileverysweetlyandsay，

"Nevermind，

"andgolookituyourself。Andthisincaacityforindeendentaction，thismoralstuidity，thisinfirmityofthewill，thisunwillingnesstocheerfullycatchholdandlift—thesearethethingsthatutureSocialismsofarintothefuture。

Ifmenwillnotactforthemselves，whatwilltheydowhenthebenefitoftheireffortisforall？

Afirstmatewithknottedclubseemsnecessary；andthedreadofgetting

"thebounce

"Saturdaynightholdsmanyaworkertohislace。Advertiseforastenograher，andnineoutoftenwhoalycanneithersellnorunctuate—anddonotthinkitnecessaryto。

CansuchaonewritealettertoGarcia？

"Youseethatbookkeeer。

"saidtheforemantomeinalargefactory。