Part 14 (1/2)
Next day I impatiently glanced over the paper, the arrival of which I had been waiting with eagerness, but not a correction of the news or even a line of retraction could be found. I pressed the matter on Badger when I went to the school, and he said it might probably appear tomorrow. On that ”tomorrow” a line of retraction was printed in tiny types. But the paper did not make any correction of the story. I called the attention of Badger to the fact, and he replied that that was about all that could be done under the circ.u.mstance. The princ.i.p.al, with the face like a badger and always swaggering, is surprisingly, wanting in influence. He has not even as much power as to bring down a country newspaper, which had printed a false story. I was so thoroughly indignant that I declared I would go alone to the office and see the editor-in-chief on the subject, but Badger said no.
”If you go there and have a blowup with the editor,” he continued, ”it would only mean of your being handed out worse stuff in the paper again.
Whatever is published in a paper, right or wrong, nothing can be done with it.” And he wound up with a remark that sounded like a piece of sermon by a Buddhist bonze that ”We must be contented by speedily despatching the matter from our minds and forgetting it.”
If newspapers are of that character, it would be beneficial for us all to have them suspended,--the sooner the better. The similarity of the unpleasant sensation of being written-up in a paper and being bitten-down by a turtle became plain for the first time by the explanation of Badger.
About three days afterward, Porcupine came to me excited, and said that the time has now come, that he proposes to execute that thing we had planned out. Then I will do so, I said, and readily agreed to join him.
But Porcupine jerked his head, saying that I had better not. I asked him why, and he asked if I had been requested by the princ.i.p.al to tender my resignation. No, I said, and asked if he had. He told me that he was called by the princ.i.p.al who was very, very sorry for him but under the circ.u.mstance requested him to decide to resign.
”That isn't fair. Badger probably had been pounding his belly-drum too much and his stomach is upside down,” I said, ”you and I went to the celebration, looked at the glittering sword dance together, and jumped into the fight together to stop it. Wasn't it so? If he wants you to tender your resignation, he should be impartial and should have asked me to also. What makes everything in the country school so dull-head. This is irritating!”
”That's wire-pulling by Red s.h.i.+rt,” he said. ”I and Red s.h.i.+rt cannot go along together, but they think you can be left as harmless.”
”I wouldn't get along with that Red s.h.i.+rt either. Consider me harmless, eh? They're getting too gay with me.”
”You're so simple and straight that they think they can handle you in any old way.”
”Worse still. I wouldn't get along with him, I tell you.”
”Besides, since the departure of Koga, his successor has not arrived.
Furthermore, if they fire me and you together, there will be blank spots in the schedule hours at the school.”
”Then they expect me to play their game. Darn the fellow! See if they can make me.”
On going to the school next day I made straightway for the room of the princ.i.p.al and started firing;
”Why don't you ask me to put in my resignation?” I said.
”Eh?” Badger stared blankly.
”You requested Hotta to resign, but not me. Is that right?”
”That is on account of the condition of the school......”
”That condition is wrong, I dare say. If I don't have to resign, there should be no necessity for Hotta to resign either.”
”I can't offer a detailed explanation about that......as to Hotta, it cannot be helped if he goes...... ......we see no need of your resigning.”
Indeed, he is a badger. He jabbers something, dodging the point, but appears complacent. So I had to say:
”Then, I will tender my resignation. You might have thought that I would remain peacefully while Mr. Hotta is forced to resign, but I cannot do it”
”That leaves us in a bad fix. If Hotta goes away and you follow him, we can't teach mathematics here.”
”None of my business if you can't.”
”Say, don't be so selfish. You ought to consider the condition of the school. Besides, if it is said that you resigned within one month of starting a new job, it would affect your record in the future. You should consider that point also.”
”What do I care about my record. Obligation is more important than record.”