Chapter 16 Chapter fifteen

The first time I saw Inspector Li Jun, I liked him very much.He was the epitome of that quiet, capable type.I think he's also an imaginative guy -- willing to consider unconventional possibilities. He said: "Dr. Corrigan talked to me about meeting you, and he was very interested in it from the beginning. Of course, Father Goldman is well-known and respected in the local area. By the way, You said you have some special information to tell us?" I said, "Yes, it's about a place called 'White Horse'." "As far as I know, it's in Diping Village, Ma District, right?"

"yes." "Please tell me." I explained to him the first time I heard "White Horse" in "Fantasy Garden", I went to Roda's house, and was introduced to the "strange three sisters", and he said it as accurately as possible. The contents of the conversation with Cessa Gray that afternoon. "You were impressed by what she said?" I feel embarrassed. "Oh, you can't say that, I don't really believe—" "Really? Mr. Easterbrook, I think you seem to believe it." "You may be right. Anyway, people don't want to admit how naive they are."

Inspector Li Jun smiled. "But you haven't said anything, haven't you? When you went to Dipin Village in March, you were already very interested in this matter. Why?" "Probably wondering why that girl is so scared." "You mean the girl who works in the flower shop?" "Yes, she happened to say something about 'White Horse,' and then she seemed so frightened, so I thought there must be something—something to be frightened of. Then I ran into Dr. Corrigan again, and he told me about the list. , two people I knew died. There was another name that looked familiar, but I found out later that she was also dead. "

"Madame de la Fontaine?" "yes." "Please go on." "So I decided to find out the truth of the matter." "Then how do you go about it?" I told him I was going first to Mrs. Tuckerton, and then to Mr. Bradley at the Town Hall in Birmingham. He is now full of interest and reads the name after me. "Bradley?" he said. "So Bradley is involved?" "You know him?" "Yes, we all know him very well. He has given us a lot of trouble. He is a cunning businessman and never let us catch any tricks. He is very familiar with the law and can take advantage of any loopholes in the law, so he is justified Well, that kind of guy could write 'Get out of the law' or something like that. But murder—especially organized killing—wouldn't be his thing.”

"Now that I've told you what we talked about, can you act on that?" Inspector Li Jun shook his head. "No, first, there are no witnesses when you are talking, as long as he wants, he can deny it outright! Besides, he said that people can bet on anything. There is nothing wrong with him. He bet that someone will die, and whether he wins or loses, he has What crime? Unless we can actually prove that Bradley was involved in the crime — which, I guess, is not going to be easy." He shrugged, paused, and said: "When you were in Dipin Village, Ma District, did you ever see a man named Wenabo?"

"Yeah," I said, "one day I went with some people to his house for lunch." "Oh? Can you tell me what your impression of him is?" "Oh, very impressive, he is a very special man, crippled." "Well, polio?" "He can only move around in a wheelchair, but the limited mobility seems to make him determined to enjoy life better." "Tell me everything you know about him." I described Winable's house, his art collection, and his interests. Inspector Li Jun said, "What a pity." "What a pity?" He said flatly: "Unfortunately, he is a cripple."

"Excuse me, but are you absolutely sure he's crippled? Is it possible that he's - pretended?" "One hundred per cent. His attending physician was Sir Towdale of Harley Street, a man of absolute trust. Sir Towdale assured us that his feet were indeed paralyzed. Our little Mr. Osborne Perhaps it was certain that Winabel was the man who followed Father Goldman that night, but he was wrong." "I understand." "As I said, it's a pity that Mr. Winner is crippled. Otherwise, a person like him would really plan to plan a murder organization or something like that."

"Well, I think so too." Inspector Li Jun drew circle after circle on the table with his index finger, then suddenly raised his head and said: "Let's put all the information together, we can almost be sure that there is an organization that specializes in removing thorns in people's eyes. This organization does not use violence, it does not employ gangsters or gunmen... From the dead, it does not show any signs of sudden death. In addition to the three dead you mentioned, we also know that there are other people who died very naturally, but there are indeed people who have benefited a lot from their deaths. But don't forget, those people really So cunning, so cunning. Whoever came up with it was too clever. We only know a few names here and there, and God knows how many more—there's too much involved Yes. But so far we know only a few names that a dying woman accidentally uttered for peace of mind."

He shook his head angrily, and said: "This woman named Sesha Gray, you said she once boasted to you about her 'magic power'! Huh! She just did it with impunity! No matter what she claims her magic power can do, but legally speaking, she None of them are guilty. We investigated, and she never got close to the dead, nor sent them poisonous chocolate or anything like that. According to her own statement, she just stayed at home quietly and performed telepathy Humph! If you tell the judge that in court, there will be a lot of laughter!" I murmured: "But Lu and Engels didn't laugh, and neither did anyone in the kingdom of heaven."

"what?" "Sorry, I was just quoting a line from 'Moments of Immortality'." "Well, but it's true, all the devils in hell laugh, but the hosts of heaven don't laugh. It's an 'evil' thing, Mr. Easterbrook." "Yeah," I said, "we don't use that adjective anymore, but it's so appropriate here, so—" "Ok?" Li Jun looked at me questioningly. I blurted out, "I think there's only one way to get to know this better. A friend and I have a plan that you might find ridiculous—" "I'll judge."

"First of all, you just said that you also believe in the existence of the organization we mentioned, and it has indeed exerted some effectiveness." "good." "But you don't know how it works? I've figured out the first steps, my so-called 'customer' had heard a little about the organization and was ordered to find Mr Bradley in Birmingham and finally decided to let it go So I signed a contract with Mr. Bradley and was ordered to go to the 'White Horse'. But we don't know what happened next! What kind of tricks is 'White Horse' playing? Someone must go and find out in person." "Go on." "Unless we know for sure what Sesha Gray did, there's no way we can go any further. Your medical examiner, Jim Corrigan, said the idea is sheer nonsense—but is it? Inspector Li Jun, yes?" Li Jun sighed. "You know what I'd answer—and any sane person would—'Yes, of course.'—but I'm speaking to you now in a private capacity, and over the past few hundred years, There are many strange things. Seventy years ago, some people believed that after the clock on the clock tower of the Parliament Building in London struck twelve, they could hear it strike twelve again, and it was not a fraudulent act? But that clock only struck twelve Going through it once, not twice, the sound heard by the ear is caused by two different sound waves? Does anyone believe that sitting in the living room of their own home without wires, they can hear people talking thousands of miles away? ? Can you believe it—oh! There are too many things, things that even children are accustomed to now, but decades ago it was unimaginable." "In other words, there is nothing impossible in the world?" "That's what I mean, if you ask me, is there a way for Sesha Gray to move her eyes, go into a trance and kill people? I'd say 'impossible', but I'm not 100% sure, am I? Maybe She really caught a blind cat and a dead mouse, what kind of tricks did she catch—” "Yes," I said, "what is supernatural today may be scientific fact tomorrow." "Don't forget, what I said is not formal." Li Jun reminded me. "Brother, you're talking rationally. Anyway, I figured someone had to go and see what White Horse was up to - and I was going to try it myself." Li Jun stared at me. "The road is paved," I said. Then, I told him the plan I had made with Jin Qiao. After he frowned, he said: "I understand what you mean, Mr. Easterbrook, and your circumstances give you just the right opportunity, but I don't know if you understand that what you are going to do is very dangerous, because those people are dangerous. You may Dangerous—your friend is certainly more dangerous." "I know," I said, "I know . Li Jun suddenly said, "Did you say she has red hair?" "Yes." I said in surprise. "It's useless to distinguish people with red hair," Li Jun said, "I know this best." I was wondering if his wife had red hair.