Chapter 13 end

So what happened to the story?How did it end?Where were Thomas Levin and Palmena?Who was it that told us all of his adventures?How on earth did we discover the most secret event of our time?To answer these many questions, it is necessary to let a person who is hidden in the background of life due to professional needs come out of the shadows. This person is me, the author of this book.It is I who dedicate to you the account of the adventures of the romantic spy Thomas Levine, who flew to America in August 1958 at the commission of the publishing house.The publisher wanted me to stay there for a month, but I stayed for four months.I went to America to collect material for a novel.As a result, the novel that was scheduled was not written at all, but this story was written!This is something that even I didn't expect.Because it was there that I found its clues.The beginning of this thread is a person, who else can it be?Stunning girl.

For various reasons I cannot name the city where I first met the girl.It was a day in September, and it was a fine day at noon.I just feel hungry after work, a reporter friend introduced me to a snack bar, and I saw her on the way to the snack bar.She was walking ahead of me in high heels and a beige bodycon dress.She had navy blue hair and a beautiful, curvaceous figure, and I quickened my pace to catch up to her.She forgot hunger all at once... I hope my dear Lulu will forgive me.She has touched the man's heart.She knew men looked around like this when they were traveling alone.As I walked, I started to mess around.I walked in front of her for a while, and walked behind her for a while.The more I look at her, the more adorable she is.Forgive me, dear Lulu.Forgive me, you know I only love you!Of course the lady sensed what I was up to, but instead of being angry, she smiled at me.Later we walked to the door of the snack bar that my friend introduced to me.I really didn't expect that she would walk into this snack bar.So I thought to myself, let's just go in and talk about it!I caught up with her in the cloakroom, where she was standing in front of the mirror, arranging her hair. "Hello." I greeted her in English.She smiled at the mirror and said, "Hello." I bowed, introduced my name, and said, "Ma'am, you must know that I was born shy. I never thought I'd strike up a conversation with a stranger."

"Really?" she said, turning around. "Really. But when I saw you today, I suddenly felt more courageous! Ma'am, I must thank you very much! So we should have a drink to celebrate. I heard that the food in this small shop is very good. .” At this moment, she gave me a serious look and said, “Yes, the chicken here is very good.” "Then can I show you the way?" I said as I walked towards the restaurant.She actually followed me away. This is a small snack bar. When we entered, it was full of customers and very lively, only one table in the corner was still vacant.On a small sign on the table was written two words already ordered.I pulled out five dollars and stuffed it into the hand of my partner who came running and said, "Thank you for keeping this table for us for so long." Then I paid attention to this charming girl.She said: "We'd like two chicken breasts, Henry. A bowl of crab tail soup and an aperitif. What would you like to drink, Mr. Simul?" Goodness!Fortunately I have the backing of a generous publisher.Ordering like her, the meal does not know how much it will cost!So I said softly, "May I have a small whiskey?"

"I like whiskey too, so two doubles, Henry," said the girl. "Okay, lady boss." Henry said and left. "What did he say?" I asked, "Did he call you the landlady?" "yes." "why?" "Because I'm the proprietress here." She smiled and said, "Actually, you don't need to reward him with five dollars!" "It doesn't matter, all the money I spend can be reimbursed by my publisher." "Publisher? Are you a writer?" "Some say yes, some say no. Your name is..." "Thomson. Palmena Thomson." Then she began to look at me seriously. What's the matter?I said: "Why do you suddenly look at me seriously, Miss Thomson?"

"Because I now know that you are a writer, Mr. Simur. I have a preference for writers." "It's wonderful, Miss Thomson." Let's cut the long story short, ladies and gentlemen, but the crab tail soup is very good, and the chicken breast is delicious.Of course I was eloquent.It goes without saying that I try to appear quick and knowledgeable.During the meal, when it was time to drink coffee, she must have been impressed by me, and even agreed to go to the movies with me. "Okay, Mr. Simur, let me get tickets. I know the owner of the movie theater. The show starts at 8:30, can you come and pick me up?"

"With pleasure, Miss Thomson." "Then make an appointment to come to my house at 7:30, okay? We can have something to drink..." "Seven-thirty? Great." Man, I must have a huge attraction to women!Damn, why didn't I think of becoming a movie star? That afternoon I went to the barber's for a haircut, then went to buy two beautiful bouquets of orchids, and put on my beautiful dark blue suit.At half past seven, I rang the doorbell of her house on time.After a while, someone came to open the door.I never expected that it was a man who opened the door.The man was about fifty years old, tall and slender, with a narrow face.A pair of quick-witted eyes, and the rather high sideburns are already graying.He had a straight, noble Greek nose, and a mustache.

"I think you are Mr. Simul, aren't you?" he said. "Come in, please. It's a pleasure to meet you. My wife has already told me about you." "Your... your wife?" "Yes, my wife, my name is Thomson, Roger Thomson." While speaking, only footsteps could be heard behind him.Palmena, my lovely Palmena has come into the little parlour.She was wearing an open-chested cocktail dress topped with baby green arabesques.She greeted me with a calm and cheerful attitude: "Oh, you are here! My God, what a beautiful orchid! I don't think you will object to my husband going to the movies with us, right?" When telling this story, she almost died laughing.She said, "It's wonderful, it deserves it!"

I felt so uncomfortable in the movie theater that night, I kept banging my knee against the wall of the box.It was so hot and stuffy in the movie theater, I was really on pins and needles, and I even felt a headache afterwards.What embarrassed me most was when Mr. Thomson and Mrs. Thomson held hands affectionately shortly after the movie started.I cursed in my heart that today is really unlucky!It's asking for trouble! But I was wrong again!Who would have expected that this evening would be the best experience I had in the United States. After watching the movie, we went to have dinner together.To Thomson's snack bar, of course.Oh my God!Unexpectedly, Mr. Thomson actually cooked the cold cuts and dishes himself.For a while Pamena was alone with me. "Angry?" she asked. "Ah, where?"

"Listen, I think you are very nice this afternoon. You are very pleasant. . . . I like everything you say." "What did I say?" "You say you eat well and you like being around beautiful women. You say you never want to wear a uniform again. You say that you are home everywhere and that you belong wherever your friends are..." "My dear lady, I have a few words to say to you." "What do you want to say?" "I... I... I think your husband is also very nice and lovable..." Hearing what I said, she smiled even sweeter: "It is true, he is so! Oh, you don't understand He, you don't know what I went through with him, you don't know what he thinks. I value love very much, but I don't love men with mediocre ideas. As for Roger, I fell in love with him at first sight, the most important thing in my life Sincere love..."

"But . . . but why did you invite me to your house again, Mrs. Thomson?" "Just call me Palmena." "Why did you invite me, Palmena?" "Because you are a writer, you will understand the matter. But everything depends on him." "Did you do everything he said?" "Yes." She stared at me with piercing eyes and said, "He will do what I say! It's always like this. He has to discuss everything with me. Of course, sometimes he has some problems like other men. Affair, but it will always come back to me. I am confident that I am the only woman he wants to live with. As a woman, it is proud to be together at this point... right?"

Life is so elusive!My initial wish was not fulfilled.I did not get what I expected from Palmena, but I got a better gift, the friendship of her and her husband.For the next three weeks, we were together almost every day.We had so much fun, we seemed to see exactly the same about everything! I often noticed that Thomson was watching me thoughtfully while I was talking.Later, I noticed that he always liked to ask about my experience, my point of view, my experience, and especially my views on life.But he himself has been tight-lipped, not talking about himself at all. Several times I left the city to collect material for my proposed novel elsewhere.And every time I leave the city, I look forward to coming back soon, because the Thomsons have to pick me up at the train station or the airport every time.Later, I thought that I had collected almost all the materials, so I booked a plane ticket across the Atlantic to Frankfurt.The flight time was 20:45 on October 29, 1958. On October 28, Roger Thomson called the hotel where I was staying. He said: "I heard that you are leaving us, and I would like to prepare a light farewell meal for you." "That's great, Roger." "Then set it at nineteen thirty tonight, okay?" "Nineteen thirty? All right." "Oh, there is one more word...you call the airport and refund the ticket you booked for tomorrow." "why?" "Because I'm sure you'll be here a while longer." "It confuses me, what's going on?" I heard him laugh.He said: "Tonight, you will understand everything. This time, please don't bring two bouquets of orchids!" So I took three bouquets of orchids, Palmena never looked so radiant as that night, and Rogiel looked extraordinarily handsome.The food he cooked that night was also more delicious than ever.The pre-dinner course was fried pudding, surrounded by pan-fried oysters, and served with a fine hollandaise sauce with caviar. "I've never had this kind of dish," I admitted. "I'll have to write this recipe for my wife..." "It's not just my cooking that needs to be written down," said Thomson gravely.I looked at him, then at his beautiful wife, and they were both smiling at me.Roger Thomson said: "My dear, I have no doubts in Palmena's eyesight. From the first moment Palmena saw you, she felt that you were a reliable person. You must know that I am a person who must be cautious in every way and always Be careful……" "Careful? Why must it be so?" "That's right! Why does it have to be like this?" Thomson forked a piece of fish and said with a smile, "Mario, I didn't always run a snack bar, and my name wasn't Roger Thomson. I lived a savage life for a while, how about some caviar?" "Don't gossip," Palmena said, looking at me. "My husband has indeed had a rich experience, strange and touching, and many people should know what happened to him." "The question is just..." said the man who called himself Roger Thomson, "if I tell you my story, will you promise not to tell anyone my real name and real address?" "Okay. I promise you!" So I stayed in the United States until January 2, 1959.When I boarded the plane to take off, I had sixteen double-sided tapes in my suitcase.The rudiment of a new novel has gradually become clear in my mind, and that is The Adventures of Thomas Levin, the Merry Spy.It is true that his name was neither Roger Thomson nor Thomas Levin, and I have never mentioned in the novel the name of the city in which they both now live.I hope readers can understand this point. When the plane I was in was skidding faster and faster on the runway, and slowly raised its head and flew towards the distant sky, I saw from the window that the man who called himself Roger Thomson and his wife came from the airport. The balcony of the building waved to me frequently, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in my heart.Farewell, Palmena!Farewell, Roger!Take care, both of you... I have written everything you have told me, and I hope you will be satisfied.The last stanza of the last tape was spinning in my tape recorder, and it contained Thomas Levin's words.I shall now conclude my book with this passage of his. "Never in my life have I ever really believed in the so-called rhetoric or the so-called heroes. I don't love the national anthem, I don't love the uniforms, I don't love the so-called strongmen, my old friend Bastian has settled down again in Marseilles. Now he is doing very well, as the foreman of the stevedores. He has to deal with many people Chinese, Germans, French, Corsicans and Arabs. Whatever No matter which country he is from, Bastian likes them, and they all like him. Everyone calls him a good guy. They also say that no matter what, they can sit down and discuss with him calmly. In my small restaurant, I do the same. I have to deal with a lot of people. White, yellow, black. Among my customers some are Jewish, some are Christian. Some of them are Mohammedans and buddhists. may one day all people on earth get along with each other like bastien's friend and me, the snack bar customer. those dock jobs all praise my friend bastien as a Men of reason. Yes, I believe we can live in harmony if we all lead with reason. Since dear God has endowed us all with the ability to think, let us have less faith Some, think a little more! If we can think a little more, there will be miraculous results. Then there will be no more wars. For since it is human beings who start wars, human beings must be able to stop wars. For this reason I raise my glass to drink with you a cup of fine wine, to human reason! May this human reason accompany us out of the valley of fear and into the world of peace and joy. Heaven!"