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Heroes is a 1998 novel written by Robert Cormier. The novel is centred on the character Francis Cassavant, who has just returned to his childhood home of Frenchtown, Monument (in Massachusetts), from serving in the Second World War in France and has severe deformities as a result of an incident during the war. The structure of the novel involves the use of flashbacks to Francis's childhood in Frenchtown and the events in Frenchtown following the war, when Francis returns. ==Plot== Francis Joseph Cassavant has returned to Frenchtown following the war for a purpose, to kill Larry LaSalle. LaSalle is classed as a social good-doer when he encourages Francis to take part in activities at the 'Recreational Centre' to bring him out of his shell. He is shown to bring out the best in people and uses his talents to teach others to dance and play sports. He introduces Francis to the sport of table tennis and teaches him how to play. Francis goes on to beat LaSalle in a table tennis competition and becomes well known as a 'table tennis champion'. His success in this sport at the Centre gives Francis a feeling of confidence and accomplishment, something he had not previously experienced. However, Larry had simply let him win. A new girl arrives at St Jude's School with whom Francis immediately falls in love, Nicole Renard. She had moved from Albany, New York, and Francis described her as "the most beautiful girl" he had ever seen despite the fact that he is around twelve years old at the time. His relationship with Nicole Renard and the way he interacts with her reveals that Francis is an extremely dramatic character and describes emotions well beyond what most boys his age would experience. Shy and 'timid', Francis had thought of Nicole constantly but never had the courage to talk to her until she started dancing at the 'Wreck Centre'. Nicole immediately becomes an important figure in the life of Francis. They begin to date and often visit the Plymouth (the local cinema) together. Their relationship is innocent and gentle, emphasizing their youth and inexperience in love. However, the main plot of the story destroys their love when Larry sexually assaults Nicole in the 'Wreck Center', the local community center, one night on furlough. The 'Wreck Centre' had previously been a wedding hall until a disastrous event happened: a woman called Marie Blanche Touraine was murdered during her wedding reception by her ex-boyfriend. The hall was later re-opened as the Recreation Centre, the locals of Frenchtown immediately referred to it as the 'Wreck Centre' instead, a name that foreshadows the assault. Francis is pressured to leave the 'Wreck Centre' by LaSalle so he could have "one last dance" with Nicole and does so because he always did what "Larry LaSalle told them to do". Despite the fact that Nicole specifically asks him to stay, Francis leaves, as he trusts LaSalle and has been manipulated into doing whatever Larry LaSalle tells him to. Francis is nevertheless concerned about Nicole and so stays outside the hall until it was over. However, Francis then heard noises and realizes the assault. In a major panic, Francis has no idea what to do, perhaps out of cowardliness or innocence and does not go to help or protect Nicole. After the attack, Nicole, distraught, sees that Francis is still there and was extremely horrified by the thought of Francis not saving her. She feels extremely betrayed by Francis, whom she previously regarded as her protector. Since Francis had told her that he would "never leave" her, their relationship breaks down at this point. For weeks afterwards, Francis tries to apologize to Nicole, but Nicole will not give him a chance to explain his actions. Therefore, Francis sees their relationship entirely broken and heartbroken himself, decided to enlist for the army in World War II. Underage at fifteen or sixteen (his age is never specified in the novel but if he is based on Cormier as he seems to be, he was born in 1925, and if he joined the army in 1941, that would make him sixteen), he forges his birth certificate and goes to fight in France. During his army experience in France, Francis obtains his facial injuries by jumping on a grenade, saving many men's lives. After receiving a Silver Star Award for his bravery, he returns to Frenchtown with "plenty of money" but no happiness. In the end, when he meets Larry, LaSalle is surprised that Francis is distraught about what happened to her, as he was previously unaware that Francis had knowledge of the events between LaSalle and Nicole. LaSalle, however, claims that "we all love our sins" and appears to show no remorse or regret for his actions, opting instead to accept his flaws. Although Francis has already planned his actions and words against LaSalle, he cannot bring himself to kill Larry and walks away. As he leaves the building he hears a gunshot from Larry's room, implying that Larry has shot himself. After the ordeal, he visits Nicole, who has moved back to Albany, New York. She no longer wants to be a nurse but a teacher of English. Nicole had never told anyone about the attack but tells Francis that staying in touch is a bad idea because of the memories that it will bring back to both of them. They both know that the affection that they once shared has now been lost anyway, so Francis decides to leave Nicole. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Heroes (novel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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