Collected Short Fiction by V. S. Naipaul Page B

he rushed up and said, ‘I been thinking how this war could end. If Europe could just sink for five minutes all the Germans go drown—’
    Eddoes said, ‘But England go drown too.’
    Titus Hoyt agreed and looked sad. ‘I lose my head, man,’ he said. ‘I lose my head.’
    And he wandered away, muttering to himself and shaking his head.
    One day he cycled right up to us when we were talking about the Barbados–Trinidad cricket match. Things were not going well for Trinidad and we were worried.
    Titus Hoyt rushed up and said, ‘Silence. I just been thinking. Look, boys, it ever strike you that the world not real at all? It ever strike you that we have the only mind in the world and you just thinking up everything else? Like me here, having the only mind in the world, and thinking up you people here, thinking up the war and all the houses and the ships and them in the harbour. That ever cross your mind?’
    His interest in teaching didn’t die.
    We often saw him going about with big books. These books were about teaching.
    Titus Hoyt used to say, ‘Is a science, man. The trouble with Trinidad is that the teachers don’t have this science of teaching.’
    And, ‘Is the biggest thing in the world, man. Having the minds of the young to train. Think of that. Think.’
    It soon became clear that whatever we thought about it, Titus Hoyt was bent on training our minds.
    He formed the Miguel Street Literary and Social Youth Club, and had it affiliated to the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Association.
    We used to meet in his house, which was well supplied with things to eat and drink. The walls of his house were now hung with improving quotations, some typed, some cut out of magazines and pasted on bits of cardboard.
    I also noticed a big thing called ‘Time-table’.
    From this I gathered that Titus Hoyt was to rise at five-thirty, read Something from Greek philosophers until six, spend fifteen minutes bathing and exercising, another five reading the morning paper, and ten on breakfast. It was a formidable thing altogether.
    Titus Hoyt said, ‘If I follow the time-table I will be a educated man in about three four years.’
    The Miguel Street Club didn’t last very long.
    It was Titus Hoyt’s fault.
    No man in his proper senses would have made Boyee secretary. Most of Boyee’s minutes consisted of the names of people present.
    And then we all had to write and read something.
    The Miguel Street Literary and Social Club became nothing more than a gathering of film critics.
    Titus Hoyt said, ‘No, man. We just can’t have all you boystalking about pictures all the time. I will have to get some propaganda for you boys.’
    Boyee said, ‘Mr Titus Hoyt, what we want with propaganda? Is a German thing.’
    Titus Hoyt smiled. ‘That is not the proper meaning of the word, boy. I am using the word in it proper meaning. Is education, boy, that make me know things like that.’
    Boyee was sent as our delegate to the Youth Association annual conference.
    When he came back Boyee said, ‘Is a helluva thing at that youth conference. Is only a pack of old, old people it have there.’
    The attraction of the Coca-Cola and the cakes and the ice-cream began to fade. Some of us began staying away from meetings.
    Titus Hoyt made one last effort to keep the club together.
    One day he said, ‘Next Sunday the club will go on a visit to Fort George.’
    There were cries of disapproval.
    Titus Hoyt said, ‘You see, you people don’t care about your country. How many of you know about Fort George? Not one of you here know about the place. But is history, man, your history, and you must learn about things like that. You must remember that the boys and girls of today are the men and women of tomorrow. The old Romans had a saying, you know.
Mens sana in corpore sano
. I think we will make the walk to Fort George.’
    Still no one wanted to go.
    Titus Hoyt said, ‘At the top of Fort George it have a stream, and it cool cool and the water crystal