Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 431 The Meeting of Two Honest Men! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
In the following days, at the passengers' insistence, Lionel had to tell two more stories of "Pirates of the Caribbean".

He adapted the second film in the series, "Dead Man's Coffin," and the third film, "The End of the World."

He recounted how Captain Jack Sparrow faced a legal battle over a deal he made with Davy Jones, the captain of the Flying Dutchman.

The octopus-faced Davy Jones and the pirate ship that can travel underwater once again amaze everyone with Lionel's imagination.

Lionel also recounts the pain and choices Will went through in order to save his father, "Shoelace Bill"; and Elizabeth's leadership qualities as she was elected Pirate King after Jack's "death."
It tells the story of the demonic prison at the end of the world, the sealing and release of the sea goddess Corybusser, and the epic gathering and final battle of the nine pirate kings in Shipwreck Cove...

With each new story unfolding, the world of this pirate legend becomes increasingly grand, magnificent, and incredible.

From the Caribbean to distant Southeast Asia and Singapore, the story involves the intrigues of the East India Company, ancient maritime myths, and mysterious exotic cultures…

The audience was completely captivated by the pirate world created by Lionel, a world filled with incredible wonders and an atmosphere of freedom.

They marvel at Captain Jack Sparrow's tumultuous yet fortunate fate, are captivated by Will and Elizabeth's arduous love, fear Davy Jones and the Kraken, and witness the various forces vying for power in the vortex...

All of this constituted the main topic of conversation during the next two days of the Perel's voyage.

It can be said that this story embodies people's most ardent emotions and brings them the most captivating spiritual enjoyment.

The recreation room was always packed, and newcomers could only squeeze into the corridor and strain their ears to listen.

It wasn't until the last two days of the voyage that Lionel told a completely new story.

He recounted "the legendary story of a boy who, after a shipwreck, drifted for over two hundred days in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger."

This exotic story, filled with tension amidst coexistence with wild beasts, showcases humanity's reflections on faith, reason, and the meaning of survival in dire circumstances...

This story finally allowed the audience to escape the legend of Caribbean pirates, providing a certain relaxation for both mind and soul.

It's like a long, drawn-out prose poem, leaving you gazing longingly at the boundless sea outside the porthole, pondering humanity and divinity, reality and illusion.

The last story Lionel told the night before arriving in New York.

But this story is completely different from the previous ones; it is extremely concise and condensed, and it is also full of the grand power of ancient Greek tragedy.

The protagonist of the story is named Saint-Jacques, an old fisherman living on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. He has not caught a big fish for a long time and is in a predicament. He decides to try again and sets sail alone into the vast ocean in his fishing boat.

The outcome of this attempt was both fortunate and unfortunate—he caught a giant marlin and fought it for three days before finally subduing it.

However, on the return journey, the marlin's blood attracted sharks, and despite Saint-Jacques's desperate efforts to protect it, the marlin that was eventually dragged back to the fishing port was reduced to a skeleton.

At the end of the story, Lionel, in a calm yet firm tone, slowly utters the old man's immortal monologue:

"But man is not made for defeat. A man may be destroyed but not defeated."

As soon as he finished speaking, a solemn silence fell over the recreation room. His words struck a deep chord in everyone's hearts.

It washes away the strangeness and extravagance of all previous stories, and tells people who the real hero is in the simplest, most unyielding, yet most moving way.

As if to add a footnote to this declaration of human will, the moment Lionel finished speaking, the whistle of the Perel suddenly sounded, "Woo—"

The ship's horn sounded powerful and long, piercing through the evening sea fog, announcing the end of a journey and that people had finally arrived in a new world.

New York, here we come!
--------

The massive ship "Perel" slowly came to a stop, its chains rattling with a heavy clanging sound, and its huge anchor sank into the waters off Sandy Hook Sandbar.

This is the outer anchorage of New York Harbor, where the outline of the land in the distance is faintly visible in the evening mist.

Lionel stood by the porthole, watching the bustling scene outside.

Several small steamboats crisscrossed the area, and soon a small boat flying the American flag approached, and several uniformed officials boarded the Perel.

They are U.S. Customs and Health Quarantine officers.

New York conducts extremely strict inspections of ships from Europe, particularly concerned about the introduction of cholera, yellow fever, and smallpox.

The captain informed all passengers that due to complicated quarantine and immigration procedures and the large number of passengers, the Perel would be anchored here overnight.

After the steerable passengers have been checked, they will be picked up first and taken directly to the Castle Garden Immigration Station by a special shuttle boat. They will not enter the New York City area on the boat.

First-class and second-class passengers will disembark in Manhattan after passing quarantine and as the Perel officially enters New York Harbor.

Lionel returned to his cabin and began packing his carry-on luggage.

"Dong dong dong." There was a knock on the door.

Lionel assumed it was Zola or Maupassant, and opened the hatch while replying, "Coming."

Standing outside the door was a stranger, short in stature, thin, and pale-faced.

Lionel cautiously asked, "May I ask who you are?" while blocking the doorway.

The stranger spoke French, but with a British accent: "Mr. Sorel, excuse me for bothering you. I am Robert Louis Stevenson."

I am, well, a writer, I suppose, and I am British.

Lionel was stunned.

Robert Louis Stevenson? Robert Louis Stevenson of *Treasure Island* and *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde*?

He looked rather down on his luck; clearly, the works that would make him famous had not yet been created. He gave a friendly smile: "Mr. Stevenson? Please come in."

He stepped aside to make way, and Stevenson sat down somewhat awkwardly in the armchair.

Lionel closed the door, leaned against the desk, and asked gently, "Mr. Stevenson, what can I do for you?"

Stevenson nodded. "Yes, Mr. Sorel. I... I was sent by a newspaper."

They paid me to ride the 'Perel' and document your and your friend's journey.

He paused, then pulled a thick notebook from his old leather bag and handed it to Lionel: "This...this might be useful to you."

Lionel took the notebook and opened it; inside were dense, messy handwriting.

He quickly skimmed through a few pages, becoming increasingly astonished—the other party had actually recorded all eight stories he had told on the ship over the past few days!
From "The Legend of 1900" to "The Old Man and the Sea," he's done them all.

Although the handwriting is messy, the plot, dialogue, and even some key descriptions are recorded in considerable detail.

The notes were mainly written in French, with some English interspersed throughout.

Lionel looked up and exclaimed sincerely, "This... is so detailed. Mr. Stevenson, your French is quite good."

Hearing the compliment, Stevenson smiled shyly: "Thank you. My tutor when I was a child was a French lady, and she taught me a lot."

I've always enjoyed reading French books myself. In recent years, I frequently traveled to France and even lived in the south for a period of time…

For this, I also wrote two travelogues, one of which is called "Inland Navigation", which records my travel experiences on the Seine and Oise rivers;

There's also a book called "Wanderings on a Donkey," which is about my experiences wandering through the Ardennes and the Severn Mountains...

Lionel shook the notebook in his hand and asked, puzzled, "I am very grateful to you, Mr. Stevenson."

But this notebook, although it records my story, is also very important to you; with it, you can write several excellent reports.

Why are you giving it to me?

Stevenson lowered his head, a deep sense of guilt on his face: "Mr. Sorel, I witnessed your talent firsthand on this ship."

After listening to your stories, I reflected on my past and realized I'd been living a completely aimless and wasteful life.

He looked up, his eyes seeming to have found their way: "Especially the stories you told about 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' Captain Jack Sparrow, treasure, curse..."

It suddenly made me realize what I've always wanted to write deep down! It's definitely not what I'm writing now just to make a living..."

His voice became firm: "This notebook is what I 'owe' you. I know that a novel requires a lot of revisions and additions from oral narration to written form."

I think this record might save you some time, allowing these wonderful stories to be published sooner. Please be sure to accept it.

Lionel looked at the thin young man in front of him and was deeply moved: "Mr. Stevenson, I am very grateful to you."

I accept your kindness, and I believe you will definitely become a great writer in the future!

He reached out his hand, wanting to shake hands with Stevenson.

However, Stevenson jerked back as if he had been burned.

A blush crept across his face. "No, Mr. Sorel, you don't need to thank me. This...this is actually to make amends..."

To make up for a mistake I made with you in the past.

Lionel withdrew his hand, even more curious: "Mistake? What mistake? I don't remember us meeting before."

Stevenson struggled for a long time, but finally shook his head: "Please don't ask. My dignity doesn't allow me to say such shameful things out loud."

That would offend your ears and make me feel utterly ashamed.

Lionel did not press the matter further, and instead gave a forgiving smile.

He patted the notebook and said casually, "Alright, Mr. Stevenson, since you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."

But whatever you've done in the past, I choose to forgive you. I'll accept this notebook, and we'll be even. What do you say?

These words were like a pardon, sending a shiver down Stevenson's spine.

His eyes welled up with tears, and his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you! Mr. Sorel, thank you for your magnanimity!"
I assure you, I, Robert Louis Stevenson, will henceforth write clean articles and earn honest money!

He thanked them several times before leaving Lionel's cabin with a sigh of relief.

Lionel closed the door and carefully put the notebook into the bottom of his suitcase—an unexpected treasure.

He had just picked up another shirt, ready to continue tidying it up—

"Dong dong dong."

The cabin door was knocked on once again.

(Second update, there will be another update tonight, but it will be a little later.)
　For Robert Louis Stevenson's story, please see the previous bonus chapter, "An Honest Londoner";
　　Thanks to fellow reader tdebug for reminding me and correcting my ignorance about fishing, I have revised the relevant content of "The Old Man and the Sea".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)