Theseyoungmenwereadifferentkindofprisonerfromthosewehadseenbefore.They-werebravehostile(怀敌意的)and_1__theywouldnottakeordersandshouted"Amandla!”ateveryopportunity.Theirinstinctwastoconfront(对抗)ratherthancooperate.Theauthorities②didnotknowhowtohandlethemandtheyturnedtheislandupsidedown.DuringtheRivoniaTrialIremarkedtoasecuritypolicemanthatifthegovernmentdidnotreformitselfthefreedomfighterswhowouldtakeourplace③wouldsome-daymaketheauthoritiesmissus.ThatdayhadindeedcomeonRobbenIsland.
Intheseyoungmenwesawtheangryrevolutionaryspiritofthetimes.Ihadhadsomewarning.OnavisitwithWinnieafewmonthsbeforeshehadmanagedtotellmethroughourcodedconversationthattherewasarisingclassofdiscontentedyouths④whowereviolentandAfricanistinbeliefs.ShesaidtheywerechangingthenatureofthestruggleandthatIshouldbeawareofthem.
Thenewprisonerswereshockedbywhattheyconsideredtheinhumanconditionsoftheislandandsaidthattheycouldnotunderstandhowwecouldliveinsuchaway.Wetoldthemthattheyshouldhaveseentheislandin1964.Buttheywerealmostasscepticalofusastheywereoftheauthorities.Theychosetoignoreourcallsfordisciplineandthoughtouradviceweakandunassertive(不果断).
ItwasobviousthattheyregardedustheRivoniaTrialists⑤,asmoderates⑥(温和派).Aftersomanyyearsofbeingbrandedaradical(激进的)revolutionarytobeseenasamoderatewasanovelandnotaltogetherpleasantfeeling.IknewthatIcouldreactinoneoftwoways:IcouldscoldthemfortheirdisrespectorIcouldlistentowhattheyweresaying.Ichosethelatter.
'thensomeofthesemensuchasStriniMoodleyoftheSouthAfricanStudents'OrganizationandSathsCooperoftheBlackPeople'sConventioncameintooursectionI__2____
Shortlyaftertheirarrivalontheislandthecommandingofficercameandaskedmeasafavourtoaddresstheyoungmen.Hewantedmetotellthemtobehavethemselvestorecognizethefactthattheywereinprisonandtoacceptthedisciplineofprisonlife.ItoldhimthatIwasnotpreparedtodothat.Underthecircumstancestheywouldhaveregardedmeasafolloweroftheauthorities.
(-adaptedfrom"Longwalktofreedom:Theautobiograph