it is to be regretted that ...; it is a pity that ...; it is unfortunately that ...
apathy; indifference; listlessness; athymia
wooden figure; wooden doll; puppet; blockhead; good-for-nothing; fool
shades of evening; dead of night
overlooking; looking down at; having an overhead view; having a bird's-eye view; having a high-angle view
storage room; storeroom; lumber room
going to bed; retiring (for the night)
staying the night; lodging (at)
separate building; outbuilding; outhouse
to bear; to stand; to endure; to put up with
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
foreign enemy; outside invader
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
several times; several degrees
to know; to understand; to be aware of; to consent; to agree
the south; southward; southern direction; countries in the south (esp. Southeast Asia and the pre-WWII South Pacific Mandate)
barrier; checkpoint; checking station
permanent stationing; staying permanently; resident (program, file, etc.)
to take command; to give direction
together; mutually; fellow
child born to one's current wife
to train; to discipline; to teach manners
how; in what way; how about; questionable
leaving open; leaving ajar; outspoken; frank
to profit; to benefit from; to take advantage of; to make good use of
to accompany; to go with; to go together
chaos; turmoil; pandemonium; havoc
in full force; in great numbers; in droves; large-scale project; grand plan
to compose; to put together
visiting a shrine or temple to give thanks; settling scores
to take the initiative; to forestall; to beat to the punch
hidden ball trick; ace up one's sleeve; secret weapon
predominance; superiority; ascendancy; advantage; supremacy
(making, launching) concentrated attack (on, against)