Chapter 5 chapter Five
The plane was due to take off from Helen Nikon Airport at nine o'clock in the morning.This is a Hawker aircraft.Catherine was surprised that she was the only passenger on the plane.The pilot's name was Pontris, and he looked to be in his forties, a jovial Greek.He will take care of Catherine and keep her safe along the way.
"We'll be flying in a few minutes." He came over to inform Catherine.
"thanks."
Catherine watched him enter the cockpit and sat down next to the passenger seat.Her heart suddenly started beating wildly.This is the plane that Larry flew.Was Noel Patch sitting in my seat?Catherine felt as if she was about to faint.The walls of the cabin began to press down on her, and she found it difficult to even breathe after she closed her eyes.That's all over, she comforted herself.Demiris was right, nothing of the past could be changed.
The plane's engines began to roar, and she opened her eyes.The plane is taking off and it is headed north to London.How many times has Larry experienced this kind of flight?larry.At the thought of the name, her heartbeat would be seized by an indescribably conflicted emotion.The past began to hit her again, some sweet and some bitter...
It was the summer of 1940, a year before America entered the war.After graduating from Northwestern University, she left Chicago and came to Washington to find a job. One day her roommate told her, "Hey, I hear there's a job you'd be interested in. There was a girl at the party last night who told me she was going to quit her job and go back to Texas. She was in William Frey Ze's staff, he's the head of the State Department's public relations department. I just heard about it last night too, so I figured if you applied for that fat job, you'd beat everyone else." When Catherine arrived there, she found Mr. Fraser's reception room full of candidates.I won't stand a chance, Catherine thought.The inner office was opened, and Mr. William Fraser came out.He was a tall, attractive man: blond curly hair with a touch of gray at the temples; bright blue eyes; a strong jaw line that gave a sense of inviolable majesty. He walked up to the reception secretary and said, "I need a copy of Life magazine, the one that came out three or four weeks ago. There's a picture of Stalin on the cover." "Then I'll try to order a copy from the magazine, Mr. Fraser." "Sally, Senator Paula is waiting on the phone and I have to read him a passage from that magazine. I'll give you two minutes to get me the magazine." He entered the office and Closed the door. The job-applicants gathered in the reception room looked at each other and shrugged. Catherine stood there thinking quickly.She then turned around and squeezed out of the crowded reception room, with a woman beside her saying, "Well, one is gone." About three minutes later, Catherine appeared at the door of the reception room holding an old "Life" magazine with a photo of Stalin on the cover.She went in and handed the magazine to the reception secretary. Five minutes later, Catherine was sitting in William Fraser's office. "Sally told me you brought a copy of Life magazine." "Yes, sir." "I suppose you don't happen to be so lucky to have that old magazine in your handbag?" "Yes, sir." "Then how did you find it in such a short time?" "I went to the barbershop. Because places like barbershops and dental offices usually have old magazines left there for fun." "Are you always so clever in what you do?" "No, sir." "We'll find out," said William Fraser. She was accepted.
Catherine had a great time with Fraser.He's a single man, and rich.He was socially active, knew almost everyone in Washington, and Time magazine once called him "the most eligible bachelor of the year." After Catherine worked with him for six months, they fell in love. In his bedroom, Catherine said to him, "I must tell you, I am still a virgin." Fraser shook his head in wonder. "It's almost unbelievable. How did I come across you, the only virgin in Washington?"
William Fraser said to Catherine one day, "We've been asked to do a call-up film for the Army Air Corps, and it's already shooting at MGM studios. I hope that during my visit to London , you are responsible for handling it." "Me? Bill, I can't even handle a Brownie camera, let alone a film." Fraser smiled and said, "It's the same for most people, but you don't have to worry. They have a director named Alan Benjamin. And the military plans to hire a group of actors to make the film." "why?" "I imagine they may have felt that the soldiers were not up to their role." "It sounds like being in the military." But Catherine still flew to Hollywood.
The studio was packed with extras, most of whom wore ill-fitting military uniforms. "Excuse me," Catherine asked a man passing her. "Is Mr. Alan Benjamin there?" "Is that little corporal?" He pointed and said, "It's right there." Catherine turned around and looked in that direction and saw a small man in a corporal's uniform yelling at a guy in a general's uniform. "Fuck that production manager. I've had enough of these stupid 'generals,' I need sergeants," he said, waving his hands in despair. "Everyone wants to be a chief, but no one wants to be an Indian." "Excuse me," Catherine introduced herself, "my name is Catherine Alexander." "Thank goodness!" said the little man. "Finally you're here to catch me. I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. I had a $3,500-a-year job on the editorial board of a furniture magazine in Dearborn. They made me a signal Bing, and then was sent to write some coaching film scripts. I have never done this kind of work as a producer or director. Well, here is everything for you." He turned and walked out in a hurry. Catherine stood there dumbfounded. A thin, gray-haired man approached her.He was wearing an undershirt and had a curious smile on his face. "Do you need help?" "I need a miracle right now," Catherine said. "Although I've been put in charge of this, I really don't know what I'm supposed to do." He smiled at her. "Welcome to Hollywood, my name is Tom Orlin, assistant director." "Do you think you can be a director?" She saw the corner of his mouth twitch. "I can try. I've done six films with Willie Wyler. It's not as bad as it looks. The only thing that's bad is the lack of organization. But the script is there and the sets are ready." Well arranged." Catherine looked around and said, "These uniforms they're wearing are terrible, we've got to do something to see if we can improve." O'Brien nodded approvingly, "You're right." They Binglang and the group of extras walked over.The noise here is almost deafening. "Be quiet, boys," O'Brien called to them. "This is Miss Alexander. She will be in charge of the film." Catherine called out to them, "Please line up so that I can see you clearly." O'Brien lined them up in a long line of bent sheds.At this moment, Catherine heard laughter and conversation not far away, which made her feel a little annoyed. There was a man standing in the corner chatting casually with the girls beside him. , They were teased by him to let out bursts of laughter.Catherine was outraged. "May I ask if you can stand in the queue?" Turning around lazily, he asked haughtily, "Are you talking to me?" "Yes. It's time for us to get to work." The man was extremely handsome.He has black hair, a slender and strong figure, and a pair of bright black eyes with a fiery light.The military uniform looked very energetic on him.He wears the captain's epaulets and a colorful military ribbon across his shoulders and chest.Kai Guanlin looked at it and said, "These medals and ribbons...?" "They're handsome enough, aren't they, boss?" There was a casual teasing in his tone. "Please take them off." "Why? I was expecting them to add color to the film." "One thing you may have forgotten. England isn't at war right now. Unless you won these medals at a carnival." "You're right," he accepted her opinion very modestly. "I really didn't think of that. I took some off." "They should all be removed," Catherine ordered forcefully.
After shooting in the morning, Catherine had lunch in the studio cafeteria.He came to her table. "I want to know how I behaved this morning, is it good enough?" Catherine was not impressed by his attitude. "Since you like to show off in front of girls in military uniform so much, why don't you consider enlisting in the army?" He was slightly taken aback. "So what do you guess? I think even a nursing child can guess that." Catherine couldn't hold it anymore. "I don't think you are worth guessing at all." "why?" "If you don't know why, then I don't need to bother." "Why don't you try it? Tonight, at your house. How about your cooking?" "You don't have to come here again," Caroline said coldly, "I'll let O'Brien pay your morning wages. What's your name?" "Douglas, Larry Douglas."
Catherine was so uncomfortable with this haughty fellow that she resolved to get him out of her mind.But for some reason, she found it difficult to forget him.
When Catherine returned to Washington, William Fraser told her affectionately, "I miss you so much, almost always. Do you love me?" "I love you very much, Bill." "I love you too. Why don't we go out and celebrate tonight?" Her instinct told her that he would propose to her tonight.
They went to the private Jefferson Club.In the middle of dinner, Larry Douglas walked in.He still wears the Army Air Corps uniform with all his medals.He went straight to the table and greeted Fraser, not her, familiarly.Catherine was really disgusted. Bill Fraser stood up and introduced, "Cathy, this is Captain Lawrence Douglas. Larry, this is Miss Alexander. Her name is Catherine. Larry has been stationed in the UK flying with the Royal Air Force. He's there Squadron leader of the United States. Then his boss insisted that he take command of an air force base in Virginia, where he mainly did pre-war training for the Air Force." In her mind, it was like a movie in Chongqing.She remembered that she had ordered him to take off the medals, and that he had obeyed her order so happily.How self-righteous she had been, how despised him... She had thought him a coward!Thinking of this, she wished she could get under the table.
The next day, Catherine received a call from Larry in the office, but she hung up immediately when she heard his voice.After get off work, when she walked out of the office building, she found him waiting outside.He didn't wear any medals or belts this time, and he had a second lieutenant epaulet on his shoulder. He walked towards Zhu with a smile and said, "Is this better?" Catherine looked at him. "If you follow the regulations, are you wearing the wrong shoulder badge?" "I don't know either, all I know is that it's up to you to decide." She met his eyes, but she realized that she was lost because there was something irresistible about him. "What do you want from me?" "Everything. I need you." She went to his apartment and made love to him there.It was a joy so extreme that Catherine had not even dreamed of it.It was a wonderful physical and mental collision that made her feel that everything around her seemed to vibrate together-until it finally exploded into a white-hot state that was almost insane.They climax again and again, lost and found again.Catherine lay exhausted, and her whole body seemed to be falling apart.She hugged him tightly, longing for him to stay by her side forever, immersed in this sweet feeling forever. Five hours later, they tied the knot in Maryland.
At the moment, Catherine is flying to London to start a new life.She sat there thinking: we were so happy.What is the problem with all this?The love songs in those romantic movies make us believe that there are couples who live together forever and loyal knights whose armor is always shiny, and what kind of love never fades.We actually believed that James Stewart and Donna Reed really lived a "good life"; Old, we shed emotional tears when Frederick March returned to Myrna Loyer in search of "the best time of my life" and we naively believed in Joan Fang Den certainly found true happiness in the arms of Laurence Olivier in "Rebecca."But all this is just hoaxes, pure lies.There are also those beautiful love songs: "I will love you forever." I really don't understand how men calculate time.Just use the timer on the time bomb, and ask "How deep is the sea?" What did Irving Berlin think?a foot?Or two feet?Or... go to his "Forever and Forever", they will only say in reality: I'm leaving, I want a divorce.He also sang about "a beautiful night", but he said to me: Let's go to the top of Mount Jumakha... and what about "you and the beautiful night, beautiful music" and so on, but I Tricked by him again: the hotel staff here told me that there are many caves nearby... Men are always singing "I love you from the bottom of my heart", but in that terrible late night, no one will find out... Just take advantage When she's asleep now...all this maybe is the "You're My Love" that guys sing all day long.We used to like to listen to these songs and watch these movies, thinking that such things were really happening in our lives.I trusted my husband so crazily, would I ever trust another human being the way I did before?What did I do that made him want to kill me? "Miss Alexander..." Catherine raised her head suddenly, she hurriedly collected herself, the scene in front of her was blurred. The pilot was already standing in front of her. "We've landed. Welcome to London."
A car was waiting for her at the airport.The driver said to her, "Let me arrange your luggage, Miss Alexander. My name is Alfred. Are you going to go straight to your apartment?" "My apartment?" "Yes, and it's pretty good." Catherine reclined in the comfortable sofa of the car.Thinking about it, it's a bit unbelievable that Constantine Demiris chartered a private plane for her to fly directly to London and arranged a comfortable apartment for her here.He might be the most generous man in the world, or...she couldn't think of another possibility.No, he is indeed the most generous man in the world.I have to find an appropriate opportunity to express my gratitude.
Her apartment is located on Elizabeth Street not far from Eden Square.This apartment is quite luxurious.Through the lofty foyer is the beautifully appointed living room with a chandelier.The four walls of the study are paneled with wainscoting.Ready-to-eat food is stocked in the kitchen.In addition to three elegant and comfortable bedrooms, there are several small rooms for servants. A middle-aged woman in a black coat greeted her at the door. "Good afternoon, Miss Alexander. My name is Anna, the housekeeper here." Of course, I should have a housekeeper.Catherine began to take it for granted. "Hello." The driver carried Catherine's suitcase into her bedroom. "My car is at your disposal," he told Catherine. "When you are going to the office, just let Anna know and I will come to fetch you." Naturally, this car should be at my disposal. "thanks." Anna came up and said, "Let me help you unpack. Let me know if there is anything that needs to be unpacked." "I can't think of anything." indeed so.
Catherine packed her luggage in Anna and wandered around various Tang news.When she went into the bedroom and saw the new clothes Demiris bought her in London, she was amazed: it was all a dream.There is always a feeling, as if none of this is real.Forty-eight hours before, he had been watering the roses in the garden of the abbey, but now he was suddenly living like a Duchess Yin.Bian Zang wondered what kind of job his daughter-in-law would face.I will work hard.I will never let you down.He was as stupid as a mountain to me.She suddenly felt tired, so she lay down on the soft and comfortable bed.I just need to lie down a little bit, she said to herself, and closed her eyes. Panting, she yelled for help.Larry was swimming towards her, and then grabbed her and pressed him hard into the water, and then there was the eerie cave, and swarms of bats were rushing towards her.They tore at her hair, and beat her face with cold, clammy wings.Catherine jumped out of bed, trembling all over. She sighed deeply and gradually regained her composure.I've had enough, she thought.it's already over.That was all yesterday.Today is today.No one can get away with hurting you anymore, no one can. Outside the bedroom, housekeeper Anna has been listening attentively to the shouts in the room.After the inside became quiet, she went downstairs and walked into the living room to pick up the phone.Constantine Demiris had her report.
217 Securities Street, not far from Piccadilly Circus.This was originally the seat of the government building, which was converted into an office building only a few years ago.The Greek trading company is located inside.The building is the work of a master, and its appearance is extremely elegant and magnificent. When Catherine arrived, she saw that the company's employees were already waiting for her arrival.About a dozen people were waiting at the door to welcome her. "Welcome, Miss Alexander. I'm Evelyn Kay. This is Carl... Tucker... Matthew... Jenny..." The names and unfamiliar faces in this company almost confused Catherine. "Hi there." "Your office is packed." "thanks." The drawing room looked chic, a low-back settee flanked by English Chippendale armchairs.Artwood tapestries hung from the walls, and carpets lined the long corridors.They passed a conference room.Inside was a large, shiny black conference table, with a mass of leather armchairs along the table.The walls of the conference room are clad in thick pine paneling. Catherine was sent to her office.The tables and chairs here are not new, but they give a sense of comfort. "This is all yours." "It's beautiful," she said to herself. She saw a bouquet of flowers on the desk. "Mr. Demiris gave it to you." He was so thoughtful. Evelyn Kay, a little pudgy, middle-aged, but pleasant-looking and well-mannered. "It takes a while for you to get used to the environment here. But our business is not complicated. This is one of the nerve centers of the Kingdom of Demiris. We are mainly responsible for coordinating business reports from various bureaucracies around the world, and then Send this information to the Athens headquarters. I am the office director here, and you will be my assistant." "Oh." I turned out to be the assistant to the director of the office.Catherine didn't have a clue about what she was supposed to do here.It was as if she was involuntarily thrown into a dream world: a private chartered plane, a luxurious car, a high-end apartment with servants... "Wim Fanding is our mathematical genius here. He can process all the data intelligence from all over the world, and then put it together to enter the financial master schedule. He can calculate much faster than the computer. I bring You go and meet him." They walked down the corridor to the end.Evelyn pushed the door open. "Wim, Wim! This is my new assistant." Catherine stood there blankly after walking in.Wim Fandin, about 30, looks thin, with a slack mouth and jaw, and a glazed expression.He was staring out the window in a daze. "Wim, Wim! This is Catherine Alexander." He turned around. "Catherine I's real name is Marlo Skolonka. She was born in 1684 and was a maid when she was captured by the Russians. Later, she married Peter I and became the Russian empress from 1725 to 1727; Catherine the Great was a German The prince's daughter, she was born in 1729 and married Peter III in 2762. In the same year, she murdered her husband and usurped the throne. Poland was divided into three parts and two wars broke out with Turkey..." He is like a piece of information Ku, talking endlessly. Catherine was dumbfounded. "This... this is so interesting." She said copiously. Wim Fandin acted as if he hadn't heard. Evelyn explained from the sidelines: "Wim is very shy around strangers." shy?Catherine thought to herself.The man's head is just incredible.Is he really a genius?What kind of work is that?
athens. Constantin Demiris was listening to Alfred's long-distance call from London in his office in Rue des Girondas. "I drove Miss Alexander directly from the airport to her residence, Mr. Demiris. I followed your instructions and asked her if she wanted to stop somewhere else, but she said 'no.'" "Has she not communicated with anyone outside?" "No, sir, unless she's on the phone from her apartment." Constantine Demiris is not worried about this.Because the housekeeper Anna will report to him at any time.He put the phone down, satisfied.She is currently not a threat to him, and her every move will be under his surveillance.She is alone in this world.No one will lend her a helping hand but her benefactor, Constantine Demiris, and I must arrange a trip to London as soon as possible, Demiris thought cheerfully.Must be as soon as possible.
Catherine is very interested in her work.She receives and processes business offers and documents from the Kingdom of Demiris sent here every day: there are bills of lading from the Indiana Steel Plant in the United States, and financial statements from the Italian Automobile Factory.Commercial invoices of the Australian Press Trust and various business reports of gold mines and insurance companies.After Catherine checked them one by one, they were directly handed over to Wim Fanding for unified accounting.Wem could input those data into his computer-like head with just a glance.In the blink of an eye, the company's profit or loss percentage on these businesses is instantly available. Catherine liked the people she met here at work and was always in awe of the old and magnificent building. Once when she mentioned this building to Eyinglyn Kay, Hamm introduced to her next to her, "This building was originally the British Customs House, which was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1721. London After the fire, Sir Wren redesigned fifty churches, among which St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Michael, St. Brad and other cathedrals are all products of that era. He also designed and built the Royal The Stock Exchange Building and Buckingham Palace. He died in 1723 and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. This building was converted into an office building in 1907. During the Nazi air raids in World War II, the government declared this building for official use air defense shelter." At that time, the air defense shelter was located in a large anti-explosion room in the building.There is a heavy iron door in the room leading to the basement.Catherine looked around this specially reinforced room, and she could imagine how those brave British men, women and children escaped the indiscriminate bombing of the Nazi Luftwaffe in this shelter. The basement is huge, covering the same area as the entire building.The building's heating boiler is located here.This is a behemoth filled with various electronic instruments and communication equipment.But it always breaks down, and Catherine has brought maintenance workers here several times to see it.But each time they would hit her casually a few times, and then leave after saying a few words to her. "This thing is dangerous," Catherine said. "Will it explode?" "God bless you, miss, of course not. See this safety valve? If the furnace gets too hot, this safety valve will automatically release excess steam. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Outside of work, Catherine spends her spare time in London.London... Every day there are a variety of wonderful plays, ballets and concerts, there are old bookstores like Hatchard and Foyer that make people linger, as well as museums, small antique shops and restaurants with different flavors .Catherine used to go to the Cecil Arcade to admire the prints there, and loved to walk from store to store along Harrods Street, Fortner Street, Mason Street, and Marks Street or Spencer Avenue.On Sundays, she usually goes to enjoy the afternoon tea at the Savoy Theater. But Catherine couldn't escape Larry's shadow during these days, and there were many things here that would remind her of this man: a voice...a word...a bottle of cologne...or a song.No, the past is gone forever.The future is what matters.She is getting stronger every day.
Catherine and Evelyn have become good friends.Sometimes they go out together.One Sunday, the two of them went to see an open-air art exhibition on the Thames Embankment.Many painters participated in the exhibition that time.Some are fledglings, and there are old painters who have been unhappy all their lives.But they all have one thing in common: they're all losers who can't show their work in galleries.The vast majority of these noodles are terrible.Out of sympathy, Catherine bought a painting. "Where are you going to hang it?" Evelyn asked her curiously. "The boiler room," Catherine replied.
When they walk the streets of London, they can often see some street artists painting on the sidewalk with colored pencils.Some of the paintings are really good, so I can often attract some passers-by to watch and throw them some coins.Once, Catherine saw an old man painting a landscape on the ground on the way back to the company after lunch. She stopped and watched him finish painting.But it happened to be raining at this time, and the old man could only watch helplessly as his works were washed away by the rain.It's a lot like my old life, Catherine thought with a sigh.
Evelyn plans to take Catherine to the Shepherd's Market for a stroll. "It's a fun place," Evelyn assured her. This place is really lively enough.There is a restaurant here called Diddy Dolls, which is said to have a history of three hundred years.In addition, there are magazine kiosks, shopping malls, beauty salons, bakeries and antique shops.The surrounding residences are all two or three-story buildings. The name plate of the house on the mailbox is also very strange.There is a sign that reads: "Helen", with the words "teaching French lessons" written underneath; and another house named "Rosie" has "teaching Greek" written underneath. "Is this the Cultural and Educational District?" Catherine asked Evelyn. Evelyn laughed and said, "In a way, I think maybe. It's just that the lessons these girls teach can't be taught publicly in schools." After hearing this, Catherine blushed suddenly.Evelyn couldn't stop laughing.
Catherine is alone most of the time, so she always keeps her schedule packed so that she feels less alone.She devotes herself wholeheartedly to her new life every day, as if she wants to retrieve the good times that have passed away in the past.She doesn't want to think about the past or the future.In her spare time, she visited Windsor Castle, the magnificent Cathedral of Canterbury and the ancient buildings of Hampton.The small hotel on the outskirts of London is quaint and full of fun, and Catherine often goes there alone to spend her weekends.It is also a pleasure to take a leisurely walk on the quiet country road. I'm still alive, she thought.No one is born happy.Everyone has to create happiness by themselves.I'm a near miss, I'm young, I'm healthy, and there are many good things waiting to be achieved. On Monday she threw herself back into her work, and was back among Evelyn, Wim Fantin, and the girls. Wim Fandin is simply an incredible character. Catherine had never seen such a weirdo as him.The company has 20 employees whose salaries need to be calculated, but Wim Fandin never needs those calculators and the like, because he can calculate each employee's salary, insurance number and all expenses that should be deducted. Remember it clearly.Although these data have ready-made financial accounts to check, he has entered all financial records of the company into his storage memory.He knows the cash flow of every department in the company inside out, and can compare them with the monthly flow of the previous month, or even five years ago when he first joined the company.
For Wim Fandin, as long as something has been seen, heard or talked about, it will never be forgotten.His knowledge is so vast that the moment even the simplest question about anything enters his head, it immediately triggers a cascade of data and information.Still, he never socialized with almost anyone. Catherine had talked about this with Evelyn. "I think Wim is too confusing." "He's a weirdo," Evelyn told her. "He's like this, you have to accept it if you don't accept it. The only thing this guy is interested in are those numbers. As for people, he has no interest." "Hasn't he any friends?" "not even one." "Did he never date? I mean with girls." "never." Catherine found that Wim Fanding seemed to be completely cut off from the world and alone.She felt that she had a sense of sympathy with him.
Catherine was often amazed by Wim Fanting's breadth of knowledge.One morning, she felt an earache. Weim said to her stiffly, "This weather is not good for your disease. You'd better see an ear doctor." "Thanks, Wim. I..." "The organs of the ear include the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and some small bone fragments—the malleus, incus, and stapes, as well as the tympanic cavity, semicircular canal, oval window, Eustachian tube, auditory nerve, and cochlear duct." Said. He walked away when he was done. Another day at noon, Catherine and Evelyn took Wem to a small hotel called Lamb Hyde for lunch.Some customers are playing darts in the back room. "Do you like sports, Wim?" Catherine asked him. "Have you ever been to a baseball game?" "Baseball," Weem continued, "a baseball has a circumference of 9.25 inches. It has a rubber cone at its core, wrapped with cotton yarn, and covered with white leather. The bat is usually made of hibiscus wood. not more than three and a half inches in diameter, and not more than forty-two inches in length." He has such a detailed understanding of the size of sports equipment, but can he feel the fun of playing? "Have you played any sports? Like basketball?" Catherine asked. "Basketball is played on the floor or on a concrete court. The circumference of the leather sphere is thirty-one inches. The inner rubber bladder is inflated to an air pressure of thirty-one pounds. It weighs twenty to twenty-two ounces. Basketball was invented by James Nasmyth in 1891." Catherine got such an answer.
At times, Wim would make a fool of himself in public.One Sunday, Catherine went to visit the ancient Scottish guillotine by the Thames River with Iyinglin and Wim.They went into a tavern called Complete Angler for lunch at noon. A waiter came over to them and said, "We happen to have fresh clams today." Catherine turned to Wim and asked, "Do you like it?" Wim immediately blurted out, "Clams can be divided into long clams and round clams. There are round clams in North America and slender clams. There are also shallow water clams, single shell clams, and blood cockles." The waiter looked at him for a while, then asked: "Would you like something, sir?" "I don't like that thing," he refused curtly. Catherine has always thought that the colleagues around her are very cute, but Wei Nai is a very special person in her opinion.他那个卓越的脑按已经远远地超出了她的理解力，但同时他又是如此地离群、孤僻。 一天，她问伊芙琳：“难道威姆就不可能过一种正常生活吗？他干吗不恋爱结婚呢？” 伊芙琳打了个哈欠。“你没明白，他这个人从来就没感情。任何人都不会爱上他的。” 但是凯瑟琳并不相信。她曾经有那么一两次从他的眼神里捕捉到某种感情的火花——有时表现出一种兴趣，有时流露出一种好感或者某种乐趣。她想帮助他走出那个自我封闭的怪圈。这会是一种幻想吗？
一天，她们办公室收到了在萨伏伊举行的募捐舞会的舞票。 凯瑟琳走进了威姆的办公室。“威姆，你愿意去跳舞吗？” 他看了她一会，说：“狐步舞采用4／4节拍并以一个半小节为一个节奏单位。男士以左脚起步，每次朝前进两步，女士则以右脚起步，每次朝后退两步。两个慢步以后，跟上一个快步，并同慢步保持直角。行屈膝礼时，男步仍以左脚向前起步——慢步——然后右脚跟进——也是慢步；然后再以左脚起步移向左侧——快步——最后跟进右脚并同左脚并齐——快步。” 凯瑟琳站在那里不知对他说什么好。他知道所有的事，但他并不懂得其中的含义。
已经很晚了，康斯坦丁·德米里斯打来了电话，凯瑟琳正想上床睡觉。 “我希望自己没打扰你，我是科斯特。” “不，当然没有。”她听到他的声音感到非常高兴。她一直想同他聊聊，以便能从他那里得到一些忠告。他毕竟是这个世界上唯一了解她的过去的人，因此她几乎把他当作一个老朋友。 “这些天里我总在想着你的事儿，凯瑟琳。我担心你在伦敦会感到孤独，因为你在那里毕竟连一个熟人都没有。” “有时我确实感到有点孤独，”她向他承认。“不过我正设法克服它。我一直记着你说的话，忘掉昨天，面向明天。” “那就对了，说到明天，我正好要来伦敦。我想在到达之后请你一起吃饭。” “我非常愿意。”凯瑟琳热情地说。她始终都在期望能有个机会向他当面表白自己对他的感激之情。 德米里斯挂上电话后得意地笑了。The opportunity has come.
里兹大饭店。这里的室内装潢和烹饪都是一流的。可是凯瑟琳由于过于兴奋，除了坐在她对面的这个男人，她根本无暇顾得上去欣赏周围的一切。此刻她觉得有那么多的话要对他说。 “你手下的职员很可爱，”凯瑟琳说。“威姆真了不起。我从没见过有任何人能……” 可是德米里斯并没在听她的话。他正在仔细地欣赏着她，内心不断地赞叹着她的美丽和纯朴。可我一定得沉住气慢慢地来，德米里斯暗自下着决心。不能冒失。我要慢慢地玩弄我的猎物，细细地品味那种胜利的愉悦。这将是对你和你情人的报复，诺埃尔。 “这次你在伦敦能多呆些天吗？” “只能呆一、两天。我还有些事儿在等着我去处理。”这倒是真的，不过他明白那些事儿完全可以挂个电话就能了事。他这次来伦敦的主要目的是要向凯瑟琳搞一次感情攻势。他要使她更靠近些，直至在感情上依赖于他。他向她靠了过去。“凯瑟琳，不知我是否同你谈起过我在沙特阿拉伯油田工作的那些日子……”
第二天晚上，德米里斯又请凯瑟琳一起外出吃饭。 “伊英琳告诉我你在公司里干得很出色，我打算给你提级。” “你对我已经这么慷慨了，”凯瑟琳推辞说，“我……” 德米里斯盯着她的眼睛说：“你还不知道我有多么慷慨。” 凯瑟琳有些窘迫。他仅仅是好心肠而巳，她告诉自己。我可不能因此而想入非非。
次日，德米里斯准备离开伦敦。“你愿意送我去机场吗，凯瑟琳？” "OK." 她发现他很迷人，甚至可以说是有一种令人难以抵挡的魅力。他的谈吐机智而又幽默，他的殷勤使她内心感到甜滋滋的。 机场上，德米里斯轻轻地吻了她的脸颊。“我很高兴我们能有机会呆在一起，凯瑟琳。” “我也是。谢谢你，科斯特。” 她站在机场上目送着他的飞机开始从跑道上起飞、升空。他很特别，她想。我肯定会想他。
It was the summer of 1940, a year before America entered the war.After graduating from Northwestern University, she left Chicago and came to Washington to find a job. One day her roommate told her, "Hey, I hear there's a job you'd be interested in. There was a girl at the party last night who told me she was going to quit her job and go back to Texas. She was in William Frey Ze's staff, he's the head of the State Department's public relations department. I just heard about it last night too, so I figured if you applied for that fat job, you'd beat everyone else." When Catherine arrived there, she found Mr. Fraser's reception room full of candidates.I won't stand a chance, Catherine thought.The inner office was opened, and Mr. William Fraser came out.He was a tall, attractive man: blond curly hair with a touch of gray at the temples; bright blue eyes; a strong jaw line that gave a sense of inviolable majesty. He walked up to the reception secretary and said, "I need a copy of Life magazine, the one that came out three or four weeks ago. There's a picture of Stalin on the cover." "Then I'll try to order a copy from the magazine, Mr. Fraser." "Sally, Senator Paula is waiting on the phone and I have to read him a passage from that magazine. I'll give you two minutes to get me the magazine." He entered the office and Closed the door. The job-applicants gathered in the reception room looked at each other and shrugged. Catherine stood there thinking quickly.She then turned around and squeezed out of the crowded reception room, with a woman beside her saying, "Well, one is gone." About three minutes later, Catherine appeared at the door of the reception room holding an old "Life" magazine with a photo of Stalin on the cover.She went in and handed the magazine to the reception secretary. Five minutes later, Catherine was sitting in William Fraser's office. "Sally told me you brought a copy of Life magazine." "Yes, sir." "I suppose you don't happen to be so lucky to have that old magazine in your handbag?" "Yes, sir." "Then how did you find it in such a short time?" "I went to the barbershop. Because places like barbershops and dental offices usually have old magazines left there for fun." "Are you always so clever in what you do?" "No, sir." "We'll find out," said William Fraser. She was accepted.
Catherine had a great time with Fraser.He's a single man, and rich.He was socially active, knew almost everyone in Washington, and Time magazine once called him "the most eligible bachelor of the year." After Catherine worked with him for six months, they fell in love. In his bedroom, Catherine said to him, "I must tell you, I am still a virgin." Fraser shook his head in wonder. "It's almost unbelievable. How did I come across you, the only virgin in Washington?"
William Fraser said to Catherine one day, "We've been asked to do a call-up film for the Army Air Corps, and it's already shooting at MGM studios. I hope that during my visit to London , you are responsible for handling it." "Me? Bill, I can't even handle a Brownie camera, let alone a film." Fraser smiled and said, "It's the same for most people, but you don't have to worry. They have a director named Alan Benjamin. And the military plans to hire a group of actors to make the film." "why?" "I imagine they may have felt that the soldiers were not up to their role." "It sounds like being in the military." But Catherine still flew to Hollywood.
The studio was packed with extras, most of whom wore ill-fitting military uniforms. "Excuse me," Catherine asked a man passing her. "Is Mr. Alan Benjamin there?" "Is that little corporal?" He pointed and said, "It's right there." Catherine turned around and looked in that direction and saw a small man in a corporal's uniform yelling at a guy in a general's uniform. "Fuck that production manager. I've had enough of these stupid 'generals,' I need sergeants," he said, waving his hands in despair. "Everyone wants to be a chief, but no one wants to be an Indian." "Excuse me," Catherine introduced herself, "my name is Catherine Alexander." "Thank goodness!" said the little man. "Finally you're here to catch me. I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. I had a $3,500-a-year job on the editorial board of a furniture magazine in Dearborn. They made me a signal Bing, and then was sent to write some coaching film scripts. I have never done this kind of work as a producer or director. Well, here is everything for you." He turned and walked out in a hurry. Catherine stood there dumbfounded. A thin, gray-haired man approached her.He was wearing an undershirt and had a curious smile on his face. "Do you need help?" "I need a miracle right now," Catherine said. "Although I've been put in charge of this, I really don't know what I'm supposed to do." He smiled at her. "Welcome to Hollywood, my name is Tom Orlin, assistant director." "Do you think you can be a director?" She saw the corner of his mouth twitch. "I can try. I've done six films with Willie Wyler. It's not as bad as it looks. The only thing that's bad is the lack of organization. But the script is there and the sets are ready." Well arranged." Catherine looked around and said, "These uniforms they're wearing are terrible, we've got to do something to see if we can improve." O'Brien nodded approvingly, "You're right." They Binglang and the group of extras walked over.The noise here is almost deafening. "Be quiet, boys," O'Brien called to them. "This is Miss Alexander. She will be in charge of the film." Catherine called out to them, "Please line up so that I can see you clearly." O'Brien lined them up in a long line of bent sheds.At this moment, Catherine heard laughter and conversation not far away, which made her feel a little annoyed. There was a man standing in the corner chatting casually with the girls beside him. , They were teased by him to let out bursts of laughter.Catherine was outraged. "May I ask if you can stand in the queue?" Turning around lazily, he asked haughtily, "Are you talking to me?" "Yes. It's time for us to get to work." The man was extremely handsome.He has black hair, a slender and strong figure, and a pair of bright black eyes with a fiery light.The military uniform looked very energetic on him.He wears the captain's epaulets and a colorful military ribbon across his shoulders and chest.Kai Guanlin looked at it and said, "These medals and ribbons...?" "They're handsome enough, aren't they, boss?" There was a casual teasing in his tone. "Please take them off." "Why? I was expecting them to add color to the film." "One thing you may have forgotten. England isn't at war right now. Unless you won these medals at a carnival." "You're right," he accepted her opinion very modestly. "I really didn't think of that. I took some off." "They should all be removed," Catherine ordered forcefully.
After shooting in the morning, Catherine had lunch in the studio cafeteria.He came to her table. "I want to know how I behaved this morning, is it good enough?" Catherine was not impressed by his attitude. "Since you like to show off in front of girls in military uniform so much, why don't you consider enlisting in the army?" He was slightly taken aback. "So what do you guess? I think even a nursing child can guess that." Catherine couldn't hold it anymore. "I don't think you are worth guessing at all." "why?" "If you don't know why, then I don't need to bother." "Why don't you try it? Tonight, at your house. How about your cooking?" "You don't have to come here again," Caroline said coldly, "I'll let O'Brien pay your morning wages. What's your name?" "Douglas, Larry Douglas."
Catherine was so uncomfortable with this haughty fellow that she resolved to get him out of her mind.But for some reason, she found it difficult to forget him.
When Catherine returned to Washington, William Fraser told her affectionately, "I miss you so much, almost always. Do you love me?" "I love you very much, Bill." "I love you too. Why don't we go out and celebrate tonight?" Her instinct told her that he would propose to her tonight.
They went to the private Jefferson Club.In the middle of dinner, Larry Douglas walked in.He still wears the Army Air Corps uniform with all his medals.He went straight to the table and greeted Fraser, not her, familiarly.Catherine was really disgusted. Bill Fraser stood up and introduced, "Cathy, this is Captain Lawrence Douglas. Larry, this is Miss Alexander. Her name is Catherine. Larry has been stationed in the UK flying with the Royal Air Force. He's there Squadron leader of the United States. Then his boss insisted that he take command of an air force base in Virginia, where he mainly did pre-war training for the Air Force." In her mind, it was like a movie in Chongqing.She remembered that she had ordered him to take off the medals, and that he had obeyed her order so happily.How self-righteous she had been, how despised him... She had thought him a coward!Thinking of this, she wished she could get under the table.
The next day, Catherine received a call from Larry in the office, but she hung up immediately when she heard his voice.After get off work, when she walked out of the office building, she found him waiting outside.He didn't wear any medals or belts this time, and he had a second lieutenant epaulet on his shoulder. He walked towards Zhu with a smile and said, "Is this better?" Catherine looked at him. "If you follow the regulations, are you wearing the wrong shoulder badge?" "I don't know either, all I know is that it's up to you to decide." She met his eyes, but she realized that she was lost because there was something irresistible about him. "What do you want from me?" "Everything. I need you." She went to his apartment and made love to him there.It was a joy so extreme that Catherine had not even dreamed of it.It was a wonderful physical and mental collision that made her feel that everything around her seemed to vibrate together-until it finally exploded into a white-hot state that was almost insane.They climax again and again, lost and found again.Catherine lay exhausted, and her whole body seemed to be falling apart.She hugged him tightly, longing for him to stay by her side forever, immersed in this sweet feeling forever. Five hours later, they tied the knot in Maryland.
At the moment, Catherine is flying to London to start a new life.She sat there thinking: we were so happy.What is the problem with all this?The love songs in those romantic movies make us believe that there are couples who live together forever and loyal knights whose armor is always shiny, and what kind of love never fades.We actually believed that James Stewart and Donna Reed really lived a "good life"; Old, we shed emotional tears when Frederick March returned to Myrna Loyer in search of "the best time of my life" and we naively believed in Joan Fang Den certainly found true happiness in the arms of Laurence Olivier in "Rebecca."But all this is just hoaxes, pure lies.There are also those beautiful love songs: "I will love you forever." I really don't understand how men calculate time.Just use the timer on the time bomb, and ask "How deep is the sea?" What did Irving Berlin think?a foot?Or two feet?Or... go to his "Forever and Forever", they will only say in reality: I'm leaving, I want a divorce.He also sang about "a beautiful night", but he said to me: Let's go to the top of Mount Jumakha... and what about "you and the beautiful night, beautiful music" and so on, but I Tricked by him again: the hotel staff here told me that there are many caves nearby... Men are always singing "I love you from the bottom of my heart", but in that terrible late night, no one will find out... Just take advantage When she's asleep now...all this maybe is the "You're My Love" that guys sing all day long.We used to like to listen to these songs and watch these movies, thinking that such things were really happening in our lives.I trusted my husband so crazily, would I ever trust another human being the way I did before?What did I do that made him want to kill me? "Miss Alexander..." Catherine raised her head suddenly, she hurriedly collected herself, the scene in front of her was blurred. The pilot was already standing in front of her. "We've landed. Welcome to London."
A car was waiting for her at the airport.The driver said to her, "Let me arrange your luggage, Miss Alexander. My name is Alfred. Are you going to go straight to your apartment?" "My apartment?" "Yes, and it's pretty good." Catherine reclined in the comfortable sofa of the car.Thinking about it, it's a bit unbelievable that Constantine Demiris chartered a private plane for her to fly directly to London and arranged a comfortable apartment for her here.He might be the most generous man in the world, or...she couldn't think of another possibility.No, he is indeed the most generous man in the world.I have to find an appropriate opportunity to express my gratitude.
Her apartment is located on Elizabeth Street not far from Eden Square.This apartment is quite luxurious.Through the lofty foyer is the beautifully appointed living room with a chandelier.The four walls of the study are paneled with wainscoting.Ready-to-eat food is stocked in the kitchen.In addition to three elegant and comfortable bedrooms, there are several small rooms for servants. A middle-aged woman in a black coat greeted her at the door. "Good afternoon, Miss Alexander. My name is Anna, the housekeeper here." Of course, I should have a housekeeper.Catherine began to take it for granted. "Hello." The driver carried Catherine's suitcase into her bedroom. "My car is at your disposal," he told Catherine. "When you are going to the office, just let Anna know and I will come to fetch you." Naturally, this car should be at my disposal. "thanks." Anna came up and said, "Let me help you unpack. Let me know if there is anything that needs to be unpacked." "I can't think of anything." indeed so.
Catherine packed her luggage in Anna and wandered around various Tang news.When she went into the bedroom and saw the new clothes Demiris bought her in London, she was amazed: it was all a dream.There is always a feeling, as if none of this is real.Forty-eight hours before, he had been watering the roses in the garden of the abbey, but now he was suddenly living like a Duchess Yin.Bian Zang wondered what kind of job his daughter-in-law would face.I will work hard.I will never let you down.He was as stupid as a mountain to me.She suddenly felt tired, so she lay down on the soft and comfortable bed.I just need to lie down a little bit, she said to herself, and closed her eyes. Panting, she yelled for help.Larry was swimming towards her, and then grabbed her and pressed him hard into the water, and then there was the eerie cave, and swarms of bats were rushing towards her.They tore at her hair, and beat her face with cold, clammy wings.Catherine jumped out of bed, trembling all over. She sighed deeply and gradually regained her composure.I've had enough, she thought.it's already over.That was all yesterday.Today is today.No one can get away with hurting you anymore, no one can. Outside the bedroom, housekeeper Anna has been listening attentively to the shouts in the room.After the inside became quiet, she went downstairs and walked into the living room to pick up the phone.Constantine Demiris had her report.
217 Securities Street, not far from Piccadilly Circus.This was originally the seat of the government building, which was converted into an office building only a few years ago.The Greek trading company is located inside.The building is the work of a master, and its appearance is extremely elegant and magnificent. When Catherine arrived, she saw that the company's employees were already waiting for her arrival.About a dozen people were waiting at the door to welcome her. "Welcome, Miss Alexander. I'm Evelyn Kay. This is Carl... Tucker... Matthew... Jenny..." The names and unfamiliar faces in this company almost confused Catherine. "Hi there." "Your office is packed." "thanks." The drawing room looked chic, a low-back settee flanked by English Chippendale armchairs.Artwood tapestries hung from the walls, and carpets lined the long corridors.They passed a conference room.Inside was a large, shiny black conference table, with a mass of leather armchairs along the table.The walls of the conference room are clad in thick pine paneling. Catherine was sent to her office.The tables and chairs here are not new, but they give a sense of comfort. "This is all yours." "It's beautiful," she said to herself. She saw a bouquet of flowers on the desk. "Mr. Demiris gave it to you." He was so thoughtful. Evelyn Kay, a little pudgy, middle-aged, but pleasant-looking and well-mannered. "It takes a while for you to get used to the environment here. But our business is not complicated. This is one of the nerve centers of the Kingdom of Demiris. We are mainly responsible for coordinating business reports from various bureaucracies around the world, and then Send this information to the Athens headquarters. I am the office director here, and you will be my assistant." "Oh." I turned out to be the assistant to the director of the office.Catherine didn't have a clue about what she was supposed to do here.It was as if she was involuntarily thrown into a dream world: a private chartered plane, a luxurious car, a high-end apartment with servants... "Wim Fanding is our mathematical genius here. He can process all the data intelligence from all over the world, and then put it together to enter the financial master schedule. He can calculate much faster than the computer. I bring You go and meet him." They walked down the corridor to the end.Evelyn pushed the door open. "Wim, Wim! This is my new assistant." Catherine stood there blankly after walking in.Wim Fandin, about 30, looks thin, with a slack mouth and jaw, and a glazed expression.He was staring out the window in a daze. "Wim, Wim! This is Catherine Alexander." He turned around. "Catherine I's real name is Marlo Skolonka. She was born in 1684 and was a maid when she was captured by the Russians. Later, she married Peter I and became the Russian empress from 1725 to 1727; Catherine the Great was a German The prince's daughter, she was born in 1729 and married Peter III in 2762. In the same year, she murdered her husband and usurped the throne. Poland was divided into three parts and two wars broke out with Turkey..." He is like a piece of information Ku, talking endlessly. Catherine was dumbfounded. "This... this is so interesting." She said copiously. Wim Fandin acted as if he hadn't heard. Evelyn explained from the sidelines: "Wim is very shy around strangers." shy?Catherine thought to herself.The man's head is just incredible.Is he really a genius?What kind of work is that?
athens. Constantin Demiris was listening to Alfred's long-distance call from London in his office in Rue des Girondas. "I drove Miss Alexander directly from the airport to her residence, Mr. Demiris. I followed your instructions and asked her if she wanted to stop somewhere else, but she said 'no.'" "Has she not communicated with anyone outside?" "No, sir, unless she's on the phone from her apartment." Constantine Demiris is not worried about this.Because the housekeeper Anna will report to him at any time.He put the phone down, satisfied.She is currently not a threat to him, and her every move will be under his surveillance.She is alone in this world.No one will lend her a helping hand but her benefactor, Constantine Demiris, and I must arrange a trip to London as soon as possible, Demiris thought cheerfully.Must be as soon as possible.
Catherine is very interested in her work.She receives and processes business offers and documents from the Kingdom of Demiris sent here every day: there are bills of lading from the Indiana Steel Plant in the United States, and financial statements from the Italian Automobile Factory.Commercial invoices of the Australian Press Trust and various business reports of gold mines and insurance companies.After Catherine checked them one by one, they were directly handed over to Wim Fanding for unified accounting.Wem could input those data into his computer-like head with just a glance.In the blink of an eye, the company's profit or loss percentage on these businesses is instantly available. Catherine liked the people she met here at work and was always in awe of the old and magnificent building. Once when she mentioned this building to Eyinglyn Kay, Hamm introduced to her next to her, "This building was originally the British Customs House, which was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1721. London After the fire, Sir Wren redesigned fifty churches, among which St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Michael, St. Brad and other cathedrals are all products of that era. He also designed and built the Royal The Stock Exchange Building and Buckingham Palace. He died in 1723 and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. This building was converted into an office building in 1907. During the Nazi air raids in World War II, the government declared this building for official use air defense shelter." At that time, the air defense shelter was located in a large anti-explosion room in the building.There is a heavy iron door in the room leading to the basement.Catherine looked around this specially reinforced room, and she could imagine how those brave British men, women and children escaped the indiscriminate bombing of the Nazi Luftwaffe in this shelter. The basement is huge, covering the same area as the entire building.The building's heating boiler is located here.This is a behemoth filled with various electronic instruments and communication equipment.But it always breaks down, and Catherine has brought maintenance workers here several times to see it.But each time they would hit her casually a few times, and then leave after saying a few words to her. "This thing is dangerous," Catherine said. "Will it explode?" "God bless you, miss, of course not. See this safety valve? If the furnace gets too hot, this safety valve will automatically release excess steam. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Outside of work, Catherine spends her spare time in London.London... Every day there are a variety of wonderful plays, ballets and concerts, there are old bookstores like Hatchard and Foyer that make people linger, as well as museums, small antique shops and restaurants with different flavors .Catherine used to go to the Cecil Arcade to admire the prints there, and loved to walk from store to store along Harrods Street, Fortner Street, Mason Street, and Marks Street or Spencer Avenue.On Sundays, she usually goes to enjoy the afternoon tea at the Savoy Theater. But Catherine couldn't escape Larry's shadow during these days, and there were many things here that would remind her of this man: a voice...a word...a bottle of cologne...or a song.No, the past is gone forever.The future is what matters.She is getting stronger every day.
Catherine and Evelyn have become good friends.Sometimes they go out together.One Sunday, the two of them went to see an open-air art exhibition on the Thames Embankment.Many painters participated in the exhibition that time.Some are fledglings, and there are old painters who have been unhappy all their lives.But they all have one thing in common: they're all losers who can't show their work in galleries.The vast majority of these noodles are terrible.Out of sympathy, Catherine bought a painting. "Where are you going to hang it?" Evelyn asked her curiously. "The boiler room," Catherine replied.
When they walk the streets of London, they can often see some street artists painting on the sidewalk with colored pencils.Some of the paintings are really good, so I can often attract some passers-by to watch and throw them some coins.Once, Catherine saw an old man painting a landscape on the ground on the way back to the company after lunch. She stopped and watched him finish painting.But it happened to be raining at this time, and the old man could only watch helplessly as his works were washed away by the rain.It's a lot like my old life, Catherine thought with a sigh.
Evelyn plans to take Catherine to the Shepherd's Market for a stroll. "It's a fun place," Evelyn assured her. This place is really lively enough.There is a restaurant here called Diddy Dolls, which is said to have a history of three hundred years.In addition, there are magazine kiosks, shopping malls, beauty salons, bakeries and antique shops.The surrounding residences are all two or three-story buildings. The name plate of the house on the mailbox is also very strange.There is a sign that reads: "Helen", with the words "teaching French lessons" written underneath; and another house named "Rosie" has "teaching Greek" written underneath. "Is this the Cultural and Educational District?" Catherine asked Evelyn. Evelyn laughed and said, "In a way, I think maybe. It's just that the lessons these girls teach can't be taught publicly in schools." After hearing this, Catherine blushed suddenly.Evelyn couldn't stop laughing.
Catherine is alone most of the time, so she always keeps her schedule packed so that she feels less alone.She devotes herself wholeheartedly to her new life every day, as if she wants to retrieve the good times that have passed away in the past.She doesn't want to think about the past or the future.In her spare time, she visited Windsor Castle, the magnificent Cathedral of Canterbury and the ancient buildings of Hampton.The small hotel on the outskirts of London is quaint and full of fun, and Catherine often goes there alone to spend her weekends.It is also a pleasure to take a leisurely walk on the quiet country road. I'm still alive, she thought.No one is born happy.Everyone has to create happiness by themselves.I'm a near miss, I'm young, I'm healthy, and there are many good things waiting to be achieved. On Monday she threw herself back into her work, and was back among Evelyn, Wim Fantin, and the girls. Wim Fandin is simply an incredible character. Catherine had never seen such a weirdo as him.The company has 20 employees whose salaries need to be calculated, but Wim Fandin never needs those calculators and the like, because he can calculate each employee's salary, insurance number and all expenses that should be deducted. Remember it clearly.Although these data have ready-made financial accounts to check, he has entered all financial records of the company into his storage memory.He knows the cash flow of every department in the company inside out, and can compare them with the monthly flow of the previous month, or even five years ago when he first joined the company.
For Wim Fandin, as long as something has been seen, heard or talked about, it will never be forgotten.His knowledge is so vast that the moment even the simplest question about anything enters his head, it immediately triggers a cascade of data and information.Still, he never socialized with almost anyone. Catherine had talked about this with Evelyn. "I think Wim is too confusing." "He's a weirdo," Evelyn told her. "He's like this, you have to accept it if you don't accept it. The only thing this guy is interested in are those numbers. As for people, he has no interest." "Hasn't he any friends?" "not even one." "Did he never date? I mean with girls." "never." Catherine found that Wim Fanding seemed to be completely cut off from the world and alone.She felt that she had a sense of sympathy with him.
Catherine was often amazed by Wim Fanting's breadth of knowledge.One morning, she felt an earache. Weim said to her stiffly, "This weather is not good for your disease. You'd better see an ear doctor." "Thanks, Wim. I..." "The organs of the ear include the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and some small bone fragments—the malleus, incus, and stapes, as well as the tympanic cavity, semicircular canal, oval window, Eustachian tube, auditory nerve, and cochlear duct." Said. He walked away when he was done. Another day at noon, Catherine and Evelyn took Wem to a small hotel called Lamb Hyde for lunch.Some customers are playing darts in the back room. "Do you like sports, Wim?" Catherine asked him. "Have you ever been to a baseball game?" "Baseball," Weem continued, "a baseball has a circumference of 9.25 inches. It has a rubber cone at its core, wrapped with cotton yarn, and covered with white leather. The bat is usually made of hibiscus wood. not more than three and a half inches in diameter, and not more than forty-two inches in length." He has such a detailed understanding of the size of sports equipment, but can he feel the fun of playing? "Have you played any sports? Like basketball?" Catherine asked. "Basketball is played on the floor or on a concrete court. The circumference of the leather sphere is thirty-one inches. The inner rubber bladder is inflated to an air pressure of thirty-one pounds. It weighs twenty to twenty-two ounces. Basketball was invented by James Nasmyth in 1891." Catherine got such an answer.
At times, Wim would make a fool of himself in public.One Sunday, Catherine went to visit the ancient Scottish guillotine by the Thames River with Iyinglin and Wim.They went into a tavern called Complete Angler for lunch at noon. A waiter came over to them and said, "We happen to have fresh clams today." Catherine turned to Wim and asked, "Do you like it?" Wim immediately blurted out, "Clams can be divided into long clams and round clams. There are round clams in North America and slender clams. There are also shallow water clams, single shell clams, and blood cockles." The waiter looked at him for a while, then asked: "Would you like something, sir?" "I don't like that thing," he refused curtly. Catherine has always thought that the colleagues around her are very cute, but Wei Nai is a very special person in her opinion.他那个卓越的脑按已经远远地超出了她的理解力，但同时他又是如此地离群、孤僻。 一天，她问伊芙琳：“难道威姆就不可能过一种正常生活吗？他干吗不恋爱结婚呢？” 伊芙琳打了个哈欠。“你没明白，他这个人从来就没感情。任何人都不会爱上他的。” 但是凯瑟琳并不相信。她曾经有那么一两次从他的眼神里捕捉到某种感情的火花——有时表现出一种兴趣，有时流露出一种好感或者某种乐趣。她想帮助他走出那个自我封闭的怪圈。这会是一种幻想吗？
一天，她们办公室收到了在萨伏伊举行的募捐舞会的舞票。 凯瑟琳走进了威姆的办公室。“威姆，你愿意去跳舞吗？” 他看了她一会，说：“狐步舞采用4／4节拍并以一个半小节为一个节奏单位。男士以左脚起步，每次朝前进两步，女士则以右脚起步，每次朝后退两步。两个慢步以后，跟上一个快步，并同慢步保持直角。行屈膝礼时，男步仍以左脚向前起步——慢步——然后右脚跟进——也是慢步；然后再以左脚起步移向左侧——快步——最后跟进右脚并同左脚并齐——快步。” 凯瑟琳站在那里不知对他说什么好。他知道所有的事，但他并不懂得其中的含义。
已经很晚了，康斯坦丁·德米里斯打来了电话，凯瑟琳正想上床睡觉。 “我希望自己没打扰你，我是科斯特。” “不，当然没有。”她听到他的声音感到非常高兴。她一直想同他聊聊，以便能从他那里得到一些忠告。他毕竟是这个世界上唯一了解她的过去的人，因此她几乎把他当作一个老朋友。 “这些天里我总在想着你的事儿，凯瑟琳。我担心你在伦敦会感到孤独，因为你在那里毕竟连一个熟人都没有。” “有时我确实感到有点孤独，”她向他承认。“不过我正设法克服它。我一直记着你说的话，忘掉昨天，面向明天。” “那就对了，说到明天，我正好要来伦敦。我想在到达之后请你一起吃饭。” “我非常愿意。”凯瑟琳热情地说。她始终都在期望能有个机会向他当面表白自己对他的感激之情。 德米里斯挂上电话后得意地笑了。The opportunity has come.
里兹大饭店。这里的室内装潢和烹饪都是一流的。可是凯瑟琳由于过于兴奋，除了坐在她对面的这个男人，她根本无暇顾得上去欣赏周围的一切。此刻她觉得有那么多的话要对他说。 “你手下的职员很可爱，”凯瑟琳说。“威姆真了不起。我从没见过有任何人能……” 可是德米里斯并没在听她的话。他正在仔细地欣赏着她，内心不断地赞叹着她的美丽和纯朴。可我一定得沉住气慢慢地来，德米里斯暗自下着决心。不能冒失。我要慢慢地玩弄我的猎物，细细地品味那种胜利的愉悦。这将是对你和你情人的报复，诺埃尔。 “这次你在伦敦能多呆些天吗？” “只能呆一、两天。我还有些事儿在等着我去处理。”这倒是真的，不过他明白那些事儿完全可以挂个电话就能了事。他这次来伦敦的主要目的是要向凯瑟琳搞一次感情攻势。他要使她更靠近些，直至在感情上依赖于他。他向她靠了过去。“凯瑟琳，不知我是否同你谈起过我在沙特阿拉伯油田工作的那些日子……”
第二天晚上，德米里斯又请凯瑟琳一起外出吃饭。 “伊英琳告诉我你在公司里干得很出色，我打算给你提级。” “你对我已经这么慷慨了，”凯瑟琳推辞说，“我……” 德米里斯盯着她的眼睛说：“你还不知道我有多么慷慨。” 凯瑟琳有些窘迫。他仅仅是好心肠而巳，她告诉自己。我可不能因此而想入非非。
次日，德米里斯准备离开伦敦。“你愿意送我去机场吗，凯瑟琳？” "OK." 她发现他很迷人，甚至可以说是有一种令人难以抵挡的魅力。他的谈吐机智而又幽默，他的殷勤使她内心感到甜滋滋的。 机场上，德米里斯轻轻地吻了她的脸颊。“我很高兴我们能有机会呆在一起，凯瑟琳。” “我也是。谢谢你，科斯特。” 她站在机场上目送着他的飞机开始从跑道上起飞、升空。他很特别，她想。我肯定会想他。