Silas Timberman Read Online Free Page B

call—and he remembered, in this brief passage of complex thought, how often he thanked all fate that Brian was only six years old. Yet that was only natural, and he resented Lundfest’s implied monopoly of patriotic passion. In Silas’ formative years, patriotism, when it went deeper than the cheap patter of politicians, was considered something reserved to a man and his conscience and rather embarrassing when bared to the public gaze; patriotism was a word one used rarely and judiciously, and certainly, since 1945, he himself had been rather painstaking with the word. Like many men whose years in the army had been a mixture of discomfort, boredom and doubt, he rarely referred to his own part in the war; however, he was almost prompted to ask Lundfest where his patriotism had been at that time. That he did not do so was a tribute to his own balance and judgment; for here it was not yet ten o’clock in the morning, and both tension and trouble had intruded upon a fairly normal and satisfactory pattern of life.
    â€œPerhaps,” he admitted, unable to think of any other reply both noncommittal and less than humiliating.
    â€œNot that I blame you, Silas,” Lundfest went on. “You’re our average American, and certainly no one should be dressed down for that. But these are not average times, and we have to get over being average people.”
    â€œDoes he listen to himself?” Silas wondered. “Does he hear himself? Here is the head of my department at a great university, a leading figure in a college of fine arts—can he talk like that and hear himself?” The problem grew upon him, and he stared at Lundfest with a fascination which the other mistook for respect.
    â€œI think we can begin to get over it this afternoon, at convocation,” Lundfest nodded. “In my discussion with President Cabot, it was felt that if one group took the lead in volunteering for civil defense, there might be an overwhelming response, a sort of bandwagon effect, so as to speak. Believe me, Dr. Cabot is under no illusions as to the apathy on campus, and because he was not willing to face an inexplicable and unforgivable default, he consulted with me in terms of our department. I assure you, I was flattered and honored, not for myself of course, but for the department. He suggested a unanimous enrollment of the entire department for civil defense. Naturally, I agreed with him.”
    Silas continued to stare at the man, with increasing wonder and a sort of marvelous disbelief. “You don’t mean the entire English Department?” he asked.
    â€œI do, Silas.”
    â€œBut how could you commit the whole staff?”
    â€œBecause I had no doubts as to their patriotism.”
    â€œBut is this a question of patriotism?” Silas asked slowly. “Really, Ed, I don’t want to get into a foolish argument on a matter like this, but it’s not an open and shut thing by any means.”
    â€œIt isn’t? Just how do you see it, Silas?” All the warmth went out of his voice now. He put his hands in his pockets and squared his shoulders, staring somberly at Silas, his head up, his massive body posed rather strikingly.
    â€œBefore I say another word,” Silas replied evenly, “I’m going to spell out your attitude and protest it. I’ve known you a long time, Ed, and you know me. If you have an opinion on Mark Twain, you’re entitled to it, and I respect it. If I have an opinion on civil defense, I am also entitled to it, and I think you should respect it. I am not a communist, and I have nothing but hatred for totalitarianism. You know this very well indeed, and as for my patriotism, I gave three years of my life in that direction. I don’t like to bring that up, but you force me to, and I will not accept any implication that there is anything disloyal or unpatriotic in what I may say.”
    Lundfest looked uncomfortable, broke his pose, and