下午,正如报纸上的天气预报所预测的那样,哥谭市下起了小雨.
坐在豪宅的书房里,席勒在窗外的雨声中找到宁静,就像最好的摇篮曲.
在略显凌乱的书桌上,一摞摞书在壁灯的照耀下投下摇曳的影子.墨水瓶和席勒眼镜的反射在昏暗的房间里显得格外明亮.他拿着笔,一丝不苟地用复杂而华丽的英文字体写下邀请函.
世界各地的习俗几乎是一样的.当一个人搬到一个新地方时,他们总是邀请他们的亲戚和朋友来参观.席勒计划这个周末邀请他在哥谭的几个朋友共进晚餐.
外面的雨越下越大.一些潮湿的空气通过窗户的缝隙渗入房间.在灯光的照耀下,可以看到微小的分子慢慢地飘落在桌子上.很快,大量的小水滴在靠近窗台的桌子边缘附近凝结,像红宝石一样反射着他们身后壁炉的光线.
天空渐渐变暗.较冷的雾气使玻璃结霜.席勒放下笔,揉了揉手腕.他抬起头.
从这个角度来看,哥谭市看起来与平时没有什么不同.然而,在雨中,它不仅变得更加阴沉,而且更加安静,散发出一种罕见的宁静感.
无论如何,与后来的信息社会相比,1980 年代的城市节奏要慢得多.席勒整个下午都在写信,直到管家来提醒他,现在是他离开书房之前的晚餐时间.
吃完晚饭后,席勒穿好衣服,拿了伞,离开了房子.此时,雨已经停了,但凉爽潮湿的空气仍然弥漫在城市中.
地上的水坑像小水银镜子,在灯光下反射成金色的碎片,像去年秋天没有带走的落叶.当席勒的脚后跟踩在他们身上时,光芒在轻微的涟漪和飞溅的水滴中消失了.
就像世界各地的习俗一样,当一个人搬家时,他们应该总是拜访邻居.
这里的公共安全很好.那些有能力买得起并维护这样一座豪宅的人,要么是富有的,要么是高贵的.虽然不如南方的富人区繁华,但褪色的老城区依然保留着慢节奏的老式魅力.
在距离席勒豪宅一街的地方,有一座歌剧院.然而,很少有剧团来这里演出,因此它已成为居民的社区中心.
席勒来到剧院门口.这里的服务员似乎不那么专业.只有当席勒走到入口的台阶上时,他们才会上前打开门.席勒摘下帽子走了进来.
虽然外面是一个寒冷的雨夜,但剧院内部却很温暖.席勒的眼镜起了雾.他把它们脱下来,走到前台,轻轻地敲打着桌子.
The headwaiter, who is dozing off, blinks and sits up straight upon seeing someone. He asks, "Do you have a reservation?"
"I am the new resident of Viscount Manor. All the drinks here today will be on my account. God bless everyone."
The headwaiter immediately becomes enthusiastic, "Oh, it's you. I just heard it yesterday.The largest Viscount Manor has a new owner. Your taste is truly unique. Only such a luxurious mansion is deserving of a generous gentleman like you."
"Don't worry, once everyone comes out later, they will all know how kind a gentleman you are."
Listening to the headwaiter's excessive flattery, Schiller calmly places a roll of dollar under the bell. The headwaiter promptly boasts, "There's no need for you to mind the appearance of this building,sir. This is the oldest theater in Gotham, so something wear and tear are normal, but our service is undoubtedly the best..."
As Schiller walks down the theater steps, he glances back at what might be the oldest theater in Gotham. It is full of traces of time. Many years ago, it welcomes one renowned theater troupe after another, and countless actors perform on its stage.
But now, it is downfall. The aged facade resembles a monument documenting the history of Gotham, marked with the signs of wind and snow. Perhaps it is more fascinating than those fictional plays, but not many people are willing to see it anymore.
After returning to the mansion, it is already late. However, there are still some things Schiller hasn't finished.
Thanks to the relatively slow pace of this era, Schiller doesn't need to guard against a barrage of text messages or phone calls. He has plenty of time to read books, search for the knowledge he needs from physical materials, and then write them down with a pen.
Suddenly, there is a faint noise behind him. Without turning his head, Schiller hums, "At least Gordon brought his gift for a visit. What about you? The uninvited Bat?"
The shadow of Batman casts multiple shadows on the wall from the sconce. He says, "It'll be here during the day."
"Gordon is getting married soon. Aren't you going to give him a gift as the tight freak? He's your partner."
"I have nothing to give as a gift." Batman's tone is always low and calm, making one feel drowsy in this late-night room.
"Why did you come, then?"
"To congratulate on your new home."
"I think you explore every room in this mansion before me. And if I'm not mistaken, you somehow manage to obtain the architectural blueprints."
Batman doesn't answer, seemingly accepting the statement. He never shies away from displaying his overly cautious, suspicious character in front of Schiller.
"Do you read today's newspaper? Do you see the news about the Iron Curtain?"
"It doesn't matter to me."
"But it matter the whole world."
"Gotham doesn't become any better or worse because of it."
They fall silent. Only the sound of Schiller's pen scratching the paper echoes in the quiet room. After a while, Batman speaks up, "The group that comes from Metropolis, they must be here to kill you."
"Then let them come. Or do you think the people of Gotham are scared of Metropolis?"
Batman remains silent once again.
"I guess you have an argument with your butler, don't you?"
No response from Batman, but Schiller continues, "There was once someone who would come out in midnight and drive recklessly because of an argument with their beloved 'butler'."
"Why were they arguing?"
"Because that person couldn't decide whether or not to marry their butler."
Batman stays silent once more.
"I suppose your butler is worried about your injuries. But he doesn't want to stop you from pursuing your passion, so he suffers it himself."
"But you notice his sadness. You don't want to give up your career, yet you don't want to hurt him either."
"Your extraordinary intelligence and meticulous logic don't work in situations like this, so you resort to late-night drives."
"Let me guess, your newly built Batmobile is parked outside my house. And until now, its overheated engine probably hasn't cooled down."
"Is mind reading really possible in this world?"
"Stop asking such foolish questions."
"If it were possible, could you tell me what Alfred is thinking?"
"You're much more straightforward than that person. But in addition to family, love also troubles him."
"Love... the most unpredictable thing. I offer to tell him the answer, but he refuses."
Batman's gaze falls upon the unnamed ring on Schiller's finger as he asks, "You married? Does your wife not come with you to Gotham?"
"Seems like you don't really want that answer."
"In that case, leave here. Go find Gordon to give you shelter. If you stay here, you only hear answers you don't want to hear."
Batman says,"This mansion is quite good, with a total of 36 rooms. You sleep in the master bedroom on the east side of the upper floor, leaving 35 other rooms."
"I won't give you the key."
"I don't need a key."
Schiller presses his finger against his forehead and sighs, "But if you don't come home at night, what should I do when your butler comes looking for me?"
"Why do you seem more afraid of him than I am?"
"It's difficult to explain. But I am really worried about your butler coming to ask me."
Seeing that Batman insists, Schiller reluctantly compromises, "Fine. If you want to stay here, I need permission from your guardian. Call him now. I must hear his consent before letting you stay overnight."
Batman remains silent.
"The phone is downstairs. Make the call or get out here."
Finally, Batman gives in. When it comes to matters involving his butler, he always acts like a child, similar to Stark when faced with Pepper.
Schiller doesn't mind Batman staying over. He also doesn't mind Batman thoroughly searching his new home. It is bound to happen sooner or later. The 18-year-old Batman may not do it, but when he turns 28 or 38, he will eventually do so. Nothing in Gotham can escape the Bat's eyes. Schiller is not the Joker. He doesn't have the time to play hide-and-seek with Batman every day.
After a while, Schiller finishes his thesis. It is already late at night. Outside the window, it has become dark black. Only the reflection of distant lights can be seen in the puddles formed by rainwater.
Soon, the servant reminds him that there is a phone call. Schiller picks up the receiver. Batman stands in the darkest corner of the living room, listening to him speak on the phone.
"Yes, that's right... Never mind, yes, I know. They are always like this. I have met many before..."
"Really? That sounds serious... I have a professional first aid kit here... Oh, I see. You truly are a responsible butler..."
"I think it doesn't matter..."Schiller glances at Batman for a moment. For some reason, Batman feels his heart beat faster, as though he is a pupil anxiously waiting to guess the level of their parents' anger from the teacher's vague words after being called by phone.
"Alright, please trust me... No problem. That's fine... Tomorrow morning, right?... I think it will be fine. Okay... Goodbye."
Schiller sees Batman open his mouth as if wanting to ask something, but in the end, he asks nothing.
Schiller says, "Your butler says you are injured. However, he should have already treated you."
After saying that, he looks at the grandfather clock next to him and continues, "It is too late now. Your butler said you should be in bed before nine o'clock, and it's already over three hours late. Now, take the key and go upstairs quickly."
"I don't need a key."
With these last words, Batman disappears. Schiller shakes his head and goes upstairs as well.
Schiller already knows Batman's true identity, so Batman doesn't sleep in his Batman suit. When Schiller knocks on his door, Bruce is already wearing his pajamas.
Typically, the serious Batman can only see a chin. But now, Bruce's demeanor is completely different from his usual self. This is a Batman with his full face revealed.
But it doesn't matter. When Bruce hears Alfred's please relayed by Schiller to return home for breakfast the next morning, he shows a rather conflicted and complicated expression.
"I strongly advise you to go back. If he comes looking for you, I won't help you. You should know that a teacher will always stand on the same side as the parents."
Seeing that Bruce seems reluctant, Schiller has to further threaten him, "If I really see Alfred tomorrow, then I will have to discuss your academic record with him. Although you barely pass the final exams this time, your ranking is in the lower middle. More importantly, you fail to submit your assignments six times this semester, and you don't write enough words for half of them."
"I have kept all the assignments you handed in. If you don't want your butler to see your nonsensical articles and worthless academic trash that only pollute others' minds, you better go to sleep quickly. Then wake up early tomorrow morning and get back Wayne Manor."
Without waiting for Bruce to say anything, Schiller slams the door to his room with a bang.
At night, Bruce lies in bed, recollecting recent events.
Thanks to Schiller's genius ideas in the industrial chain, the gang wars escalate lately, making Batman's work more difficult.
During the day, he is busy conducting various investigations in hospitals to tease out the complicated relationships between the gangs. At night, he has to keep an eye on the scenes of the gang wars to prevent them from becoming too reckless and causing excessive damage.
The police have become stronger with heavy weapons. However, this does not mean the gangs are completely defenseless. When the police suppress them with heavy firepower, the gangs naturally want to resist with even more ferocious firepower. This results in an escalating war, which also means that Batman, without having the opportunity to upgrade his various equipment, is getting involved in more intense conflicts with stronger firepower.
As a result, the Bat suit, originally prepared for handguns and cold weapons, can't defend against the damage caused by machine gun and grenades.
A few nights ago, Batman is hit by a machine gun bullet. This kind of injury is not comparable to a handgun bullet. Machine gun bullets are as long as a palm. Fortunately, Batman is only grazed on the shoulder. If that bullet had hit him directly, half of his lungs would likely have been completely destroyed.
However, it still causes him serious harm. It can be said that it is the most severe injury he has suffered during his time as Batman.
When he rushes back to Wayne Manor, he is losing consciousness. It's his extraordinary willpower that save his life to return to Wayne Manor.
Bruce has long known that he is not sensitive to certain painkillers and anesthetics, often waking up in the middle of anesthesia. It is the same this time. During the surgery, he is half-conscious and sees Alfred sitting alone on the edge of the operating table.
It is difficult for him to describe the expression on Alfred's face at that moment. It makes his heart, which hasn't gone wild for years, in knots.
He suddenly realizes, Alfred has changed a lot from his memory. He has aged a lot and seems more despondent compared to when his parents are still alive.
He only realizes one thing, the death of the Wayne couple has not only caused harm to himself.
And perhaps, when Alfred realizes that he is once again on the verge of enduring the same pain, he ages even more.
Bruce lies in bed, tossing and turning, his mind filled with blurry images of Alfred.
What makes him even more upset is that after he wakes up from the surgery, Alfred doesn't say anything. He doesn't stop Bruce from doing anything. He simply prepares breakfast, just like countless mornings when Bruce wakes up from nightmares.
Sitting at the dining table, Bruce can hardly eat. He is Batman, but he is still human. Very few people can eat calmly when faced with such intense emotional turmoil.
So he only takes a few bites hastily, like fleeing, and escapes from Wayne Manor.
In fact, the first place he goes to is Gordon's. It just happens that he runs into Gordon leaving in his car to go to Schiller's house.
He follows behind Gordon all the way, and even witnesses their entire conversation in the restaurant from outside the window.
He also witnesses Schiller sitting in a chair, smoking an entire cigar by himself.
This kind of professor feels unfamiliar to him. He has never seen Schiller like this before. He seems relaxed, but also very cold and sharp. Although Schiller would often be serious at class, it is completely different.
It seems like a different person, a stranger.
He thinks, maybe the professor he knew before was just a disguise, just like himself.
Two madmen in this crazy city, playing their respective roles. They appear in their ordinary social roles, playing the teacher and student troubled by trivialities every day.
Perhaps this is not a Pride and Prejudice, but a Self-Cultivation of an Actor.
In this deteriorating and decadent theater called Gotham, on the stage of Gotham University, the first act of this absurd drama seems strange and comical.
The first teacher Batman meets on his first day of school. Someone who appears strict and old-fashioned, someone who seems reluctant to cause any trouble for himself. In a psychological consultation with no motive, he gives him the answer he longs for.
And after the curtains of these acts fall one after another, the two actors finally meet backstage.
Setting aside their social identities, the composition of this absurd drama is not a coincidence. Madmen always attract madmen, and freaks often encounter freaks. This is just another manifestation of like attracting like.
Bruce lies in bed, feeling drowsy. In his half-awake state, he hears the muffled sound of the pendulum clock downstairs, infiltrating his dreams.
Apart from that, on this cold night in Gotham in 1987, the only sounds that can be heard are the almost imperceptible wind and the continuous burning of the fireplace throughout the night.