8 The Storm

　　In July and August Wallis and the King sailed the Mediter－ranean． They met Prime Minister Metaxas in Greece，Kemal Ataturk in Turkey，and King Boris in Bulgaria． But that summer is famous for Edward's clothes．On the journey from Athens to Istanbul， the King took off his shirt to get brown in the sun． It was hot， and ten minutes later he was asleep．So he did not see the young photographer who was now taking pictures of the King…

　　When Edward returned from the Mediterranean，there was a letter waiting for him．

　　It was from Mr Albert Thompson of Birmingham， who wrote：'I saw a picture of you in the newspaper this morning and I felt very angry．I have never seen a King dressed as bad-ly as you were！ No shirt！ And no tie，no socks，no hat… and in short trousers！ How could you，Sir？'

　　Edward showed this letter to Stanley Baldwin，the Prime Minister．'What do you think of this？'the King asked．

　　'Mr Thompson is right， Sir，'the Prime Minister replied．'You want to be modern， but the people don't like it．'

　　Edward put the letter on the fire．'And do you think that divorce is “modern”， Mr Baldwin？'

　　The Prime Minister sat down．'Yes， Sir，'he began，'I've read about this Mrs Simpson．She has two husbands still alive．And you must understand what that means， Sir．She cannot marry a King．'

　　'But I cannot live without her，'Edward said．

　　'Then，Sir，'the Prime Minister replied，'I can see there's a storm coming．I have talked to your family and to Archbishop Lang， and we will not have this woman as our Queen．'

　　That night the Prime Minister and the King spoke for many hours． There were hundreds of questions， but only one answer． And so，in the early hours of the next morning， Ed-ward said：

　　'You tell me that Wallis cannot marry a King．So there is only one thing that I can do．I will give the crown to my brother， and leave England．I must follow my heart． You tell me that it's a crime to fall in love．You tell me that it's wrong to be happy．How strange this country is！'

　　An hour later Edward telephoned Wallis．'The Prime Minister says that a storm is coming，'Edward said．'So I want you to go away．'

　　Wallis packed her bags and left for France． Then Edward went to see his mother．

　　It was a sad， strange， and angry meeting．'Do you know what you are doing？'the Queen asked．'Look out of that window． Outside this palace there are 400 000 000 people who call you King．They need you．And you will leave all this for Mrs Simpson？'

　　'Yes，mother， I will． I'm in love．'

　　'Love？'Queen Mary shouted．'You're a King！You must love your country first！'

　　'But I'm also a man，'Edward said softly，'and there's nothing that I can do．'

　　That afternoon the King telephoned Winston Churchill， one of his closest friends．

　　'I have some sad news，'Edward began．'Last night Mr Baldwin came to see me． I have decided to go away next week．'

　　'Do you mean on holiday， Sir？'

　　'No，Winston，I'm leaving England．I'm never coming back．George will be King．'

　　'But that's not right， Sir．You're a free man．You must stand and fight．'

　　'No，' the King said．'I have seen war and it's a terrible thing．I don't want to fight again．'

　　'But the people love you．And they want Wallis to be Queen．'

　　'Perhaps they do，'Edward replied．'But she cannot be Queen． My enemies are stronger than I am．I am just a sailor．And when the winds change， the sea moves and it takes my boat away．'

　　8 风暴

　　7月和8月，沃利斯和国王游历了地中海。他们在希腊会见了梅塔克萨斯首相，在土耳其会见了卡迈勒·阿塔蒂尔克，在保加利亚会见了博里什国王。但那个夏天最著名的事情莫过于爱德华的着装风波了。在从雅典前往伊斯坦布尔的旅途中，国王脱去衬衫做日光浴。天气很热，十分钟后他就睡着了。所以他没有注意到，一名年轻的摄影师正在给国王拍照……

　　爱德华从地中海回国后，有一封信正等着他。

　　信是伯明翰的阿尔伯特·汤普逊先生写来的，他写道：“今天早上，我在报上看到一张您的照片，我很生气。我从未看到一个国王穿得如此糟糕！居然没穿衬衫！没打领带，没穿鞋，没戴帽子……还穿着短裤！陛下，您怎么能这样？”

　　爱德华把信交给首相斯坦利·鲍德温看。“您觉得这封信怎么样？”国王问。

　　“汤普逊先生是对的，陛下，”首相回答，“您想赶时髦，可人民不喜欢这样。”

　　爱德华把信烧掉。“那么，鲍德温先生，您觉得离婚'时髦'吗？”

　　首相坐了下来。“是的，陛下，”他开口说，“我读了关于这位辛普森夫人的事。她有两个丈夫，他们还活着。陛下，您必须明白这意味着什么。她不能嫁给一个国王。”

　　“但没有她我无法生活。”爱德华说。

　　“那么，陛下，”首相回答，“看得出一场风暴就要来了。我已经与您的家庭成员及朗大主教谈过，我们不会让这个女人做我们的王后。”

　　那天晚上，首相与国王谈了好几个小时。涉及的问题很多，但答案却只有一个。于是，第二天凌晨时分，爱德华说：

　　“您告诉我沃利斯不能嫁给国王。那么，我能做的只有一件事。我将把王位让给我的弟弟，然后离开英国。我必须依从自己的心。你告诉我与人相爱是罪恶。你告诉我幸福是错误的。这个国家多么奇怪啊！”

　　一小时后，爱德华打电话给沃利斯。“首相说，一场风暴就要来了，”爱德华说，“所以我想让你离开这儿。”

　　沃利斯收拾了行装，启程去法国。然后爱德华去见母亲。

　　这次会面伤感、奇特，而又充满火药味。“你知道自己在做什么吗？”王太后问，“向窗外看看吧。宫殿外有4亿人叫你国王。他们需要你。而你却要为了辛普森夫人抛弃这一切？”

　　“是的，母亲。我爱她。”

　　“爱？”玛丽王太后喊道，“你是国王！你首先要爱自己的国家！”

　　“但我首先是一个男人，”爱德华轻轻地说，“我无能为力。”

　　当天下午，国王给自己的一位密友温斯顿·邱吉尔打电话。

　　“我有坏消息要告诉你，”爱德华说，“昨晚，鲍德温先生来见我。我决定下周离开这儿。”

　　“您是说去度假吗，陛下？”

　　“不是，温斯顿，我要离开英国。永远也不再回来。乔治将成为国王。”

　　“但这样不行，陛下。你是一个自由人。你必须坚决同他们战斗。”

　　“不，”国王说，“我见过战争，那太可怕了。我不想再同谁打仗。”

　　“但是人民热爱你。而且他们希望沃利斯做王后。”