第17部分(第3/6 頁)

。　He　took　one　of　my　books，the　thickest　one，in　his　hands　and　upon　opening　it　exclaimed；　“Now；　the　words　are　so　tiny　and　there　are　millions　of　them。　How　can　you　possibly　finish　reading　it？”

生活的啟示（2）

I　explained　to　him　the　importance　of　learning　to　read　well　and　to　make　the　best　out　of　the　lessons　that　he　was　learning　at　school；　and　that　teachers　like　me；　were　specially　sent　to　teach　special　children　like　him　so　that　someday　they　could　read　great　books　like　the　one　he　was　holding。　He　left　my　room。

When　the　other　pupils　learned　that　Sanggat　always　volunteered　to　sweep　my　room；　they　wanted　to　do　the　same　and　soon　it　became　an　almost　daily　ritual　which　ended　up　with　my　buying　more　brooms　to　maximize　participation。　And　Sanggat　would　never　fail　to　show　them　my　books；　each　time　adding　a　little　mentary　of　his　own　about　them　in　the　Iban　language。

I　did　not　realize　the　impact　my　words　had　on　him　until　the　day　I　slipped　into　the　river　and　broke　my　neck。　I　was　to　be　paralyzed　from　my　shoulders　downward　for　the　rest　of　my　life。

I　was　carried　into　a　speedboat　and　transported　back　to　civilization。　As　I　lay　motionless　and　exhausted；　I　noticed　that　the　whole　school　had　gathered　by　the　riverside　to　bid　me　farewell。　A　gaze　at　their　faces　told　me　that　I　was　going　to　miss　them。　Then；　as　the　engine　of　the　speedboat　started　to　roar；　there　was　a　little　motion　by　the　river。

I　could　see　Sanggat　making　his　way　to　the　boat。　With　tear…filled　eyes　he　approached　and　in　between　sobs　he　asked；　“Sir；　are　you　ing　back？　Perhaps　not？”

Then　after　a　short　pause　he　said；　“Sir；　if　you　cannot　e　back；　I’ll　see　you　in　the　university；　ya？”

My　heart　was　profoundly　touched　and　as　the　boat　moved　away；　I　realized　an　important　lesson　of　my　own：　Teachers　must　never　f