Chapter 22 Chapter 21

(one) I really don't know how I'm going to spend the next few days, I now look like a shapeless, confusing kaleidoscope, Jin Qiao was sent to a private nursing home, I only saw it during visiting hours she. I figured her own doctor must have insisted on his opinion on the whole thing, that he must not understand what was going on.His diagnosis was clear-bronchitis caused by a cold, but with some slightly unusual symptoms.But he said, "it happens all the time, no one case is 'typical', and some people do not respond to antibiotics." Of course, he was right, Jin Qiao had bronchopneumonia.There was nothing particularly mysterious about her illness, it was just that she had contracted it all of a sudden, and it was very sick.

I met once with the psychologist in the "Family Section", a strange robin-like man who stood and sat and blinked behind thick glasses. He asked me a lot of questions, half of which didn't make sense to me, but he must have a point, because he nodded to my answers with seriousness.He would not make any commitments at all, and perhaps he was being clever in doing so.Occasionally, he also publishes a bit of his jargon.I think he tried several kinds of hypnotism on Jin Qiao, but no one would tell me more.Maybe it's because there's simply nothing to tell me. I avoided my friends, but felt lonely.Finally, in extreme disappointment, I called Barbie at the florist and asked her if she would come out and have dinner with me, and she said yes.

I took her to Fantasyland, where Barbie chatted happily like a child, and I found her comforting company.But I didn't ask her out just to feel safe and comfortable.After she had relaxed after a good meal, I began to carefully check her mouth.I think Barbie may know something, but she doesn't quite understand it herself.I asked her if she remembered my friend Kim Jo, and Barbie said, "Of course I do." Opening her big blue eyes, she asked me how Kim Jo was doing. "She's very ill," I said. "Poor thing." Barbie said, looking as concerned as she could.

"She's got an affair," I said. "I think she's asked your opinion on some 'white horse' thing that cost her a lot of money." "Oh!" Barbie's eyes widened, "So that person is 'you'!" For a moment, I didn't understand what exactly she meant.It occurred to me later that Barbie must have thought I was the man with the sickly wife who was getting in the way of Jinjo's happiness.She was so excited for me to confide in our love life that she wasn't too alarmed when I mentioned "white horse."She asked excitedly, "Is it working?"

"Something's wrong," I said. "The dog died." "What dog?" Barbie asked blankly. I've found that Barbie responds better to monosyllabic words. "That incident seems to be a bit counterproductive to Jin Qiao, have you ever heard of such a thing before?" She hadn't heard of it. "Of course," I said, "you know what they did in 'White Horse' in Diping Village, Horse District, right?" "I don't know where 'White Horse' is, but it's in the country anyway." "From Jin Qiao's mouth, I can't hear what they are doing..."

I waited carefully. "Light wave, isn't it?" Barbie said vaguely, "It's something like that. From another planet," she said, "like the Russians!" I think Barbie must be using her limited imagination. "Almost," I agreed, "but it must be dangerous, I mean, Jin Qiao is so ill." "But your wife is supposed to get sick and die, isn't it?" "Yeah," I said, acquiescing to the role Kimjo and Barbie had given me, "but things don't seem quite right—they're backfiring." "You mean—" Barbie tried her best to use her brain, "like the feeling of a numb electric shock?"

"Exactly," I said, "that's what it is, have you ever heard of such a thing before?" "Oh, not quite the same—" "How about that?" "Oh, I mean, if anyone doesn't pay afterward, I know one," her voice suddenly terrified, "killed on the rails—by falling off the platform in front of the train. .” "Maybe it was just an accident." "No, no," said Barbie in shock, "it's 'them'!" I poured some more champagne into the Barbie glass.I thought it might help me if I could just pull bits and pieces of fact out of that thing she called her brain.I also heard about one thing, and absorbed about half of it, and confused it together, but others didn't pay much attention to what she said, because that

"Just Barbie Says". What worries me is that I don't know what to ask her.In case I said something wrong, she would immediately shut up vigilantly and refuse to tell me anything. I said, "My wife is still very weak, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse." "That sucks," Barbie said sympathetically, sipping champagne. "What should I do next?" Barbie doesn't seem to know either. "You know, it's Kim Joe—'I'm not planning anything. Is there anyone I can get in touch with?" "There's a place in Birmingham," said Barbie incredulously.

"That's no use," I said, "you don't have any friends who know what to do?" "Irene Brandon might know—though I'm not sure." I was rather surprised by her accidental mention of Erin Brandon.I asked her who Erin Brandon was. "She's really unobtrusive," says Barbie, "with a rigid perm and 'never' wearing high heels." Adds: "I used to go to school with her—but she was very different back then." Fascinating. Her geography grades are fantastic." "What does she have to do with 'White Horse'?"

"It's not really related, it's just that she thought of the possibility, so she stopped it." "Stop what?" I asked confused. "Her job at C.R.C." "What is C·R·C·" "I don't really know. They just said that C. R. C. is probably surveying customers' reactions or something. It's just a small company." "Irene Brandon did something for them? What?" "Just asking people around what brand of toothpaste and what kind of soap they use is so boring. I mean, who cares about that!" "Of course it's C·R·C·," I felt a little excited.

The night Father Gorman was killed, he had gone to see a woman who worked for one of these institutions.And—by the way, Jin Qiao was also visited by that kind of person. There must be something to do with it. "Why did she quit? Is it because she's tired of doing it?" "I don't think so. The salary in that company is very high. But she thinks—things are not as simple as they appear." "She thinks that company might have something to do with White Horse, doesn't she?" "I don't really know, maybe it's about the same. Anyway, she's working in a coffee shop on Tudunham Road now." "Tell me the address." "She's not right for you at all." "I don't want to have sex with her," I said roughly. "I just want to know a little about the company she used to work for, because I'm interested in participating." "Oh, I see." Barbie was satisfied with my explanation. We finished our champagne since we couldn't find anything more from her.I walked her home and thanked her for a great evening. (two) The next morning, I wanted to call Li Jun, but I couldn't find him.But it took me a while to find Jim Corrigan. "What happened to that little psychiatrist you brought to see me last time? What did he say about Jin Qiao?" "That's a lot of talk, but I think he's really a little confused. You know, you know, people get pneumonia all the time, and there's nothing mysterious about it." "That's right," I said, "we know that a few people on that list died of bronchitis, gastroenteritis, brain tumors, epilepsy, or other medically certified diseases." "I know how you feel, but what can we do?" "She's getting sicker, isn't she?" I asked. "It's—yes..." "We must act." "For example?" "I've thought of a way or two, like going to the village of Dipping, March, to catch Setha Gray and threaten her to reverse the spell." "Well—that might work." "Alternatively—I could go to Wenabo—" Corrigan said sharply, "Winabo? But he's an outsider. He's a cripple. How could he have anything to do with it?" "I don't believe it. I might pull off the blanket on his leg to see if he really can't walk anymore!" "We checked them all—" "By the way, I met that pharmacy owner Osborne in Dipin Village, Horse District. I might as well tell you what he thinks." So I briefly stated Osborne's opinion. "That guy's going crazy," Corrigan said. "There's nothing wrong with the kind of guy he has to do himself." "But Corrigan, tell me, is there any chance he's telling the truth? It's possible, isn't it?" After a while, Corrigan said slowly: "Yes, I admit it's possible...but there must be several people who knew about it, and it would have to be costly to keep them secret." "What does that matter? Anyway, his money is rolling in, isn't it? Did Li Jun find out, how did he make so much money?" "No, not yet... I have to admit, there is something wrong with that guy, a bit of a bad past. It will take years to find out where all his money came from. I believe the IRS has been paying attention to Weinabo for a while It's time, but he's shrewd. What do you think he's playing? The protagonist of the scene?" "Yes, I think he planned all this." "Perhaps, he does seem to have that kind of mind. But he can't be cruel enough to kill Father Goldman with his own hands!" "Not necessarily. He might do it himself if he had to. Maybe he must get rid of Father Gorman before he can tell anyone else what he heard from that woman. And—" I suddenly stopped. "Hello—are you still there?" "Yes, I just thought of..." "What do you think?" "I haven't figured it out yet . . . just figured there's only one way to be really safe. Anyway, I gotta go. I've got an appointment at a coffee shop." "I didn't know you were already at Charles' Coffee." "No, to be honest, it's on Tudunhan Palace Road." I hang up the phone and look at my watch. I was about to open the door when the phone rang again. I hesitated, ninety percent, it must be Corrigan calling again, wanting to know what I was thinking. But I don't want to talk to him now. The phone rang annoyingly again. Of course, it could be from the hospital—Jin Qiao— I couldn't risk not answering her call, so impatiently I strode over and picked up the receiver. "Hey?" "Is that you, Mark" "Yes, who are you?" "Of course I am," said the voice accusingly, "Listen, I'm going to tell you something." "Oh, it's you," I recognized Mrs. Oliver's voice, "I'm in a hurry to get out now, and I'll call you when I get back." "No," said Mrs. Oliver firmly; "you must listen to me now, it is very important." "Okay, hurry up, I have a date." "Bah!" said Mrs. Oliver, "it doesn't matter if you are late for an appointment. Everyone is the same. The other party will value you more." "No, I really—" "Listen, Mark, this thing is really important, I can guarantee it!" Trying to suppress my impatience, I looked at my watch and said: "What's up?" "My Millie's got tonsillitis, she's sick, and she's going to the country—her sister's—" I gritted my teeth. "I'm sorry, but I really—" "Look, I haven't started yet. Where did I just say that? Oh, by the way, Millie's going to the country, so I called the—what's the name of the helper's agency—it was like— —” "I really should—" "Ask them if they can send someone? They say there's nothing they can do now--which they always say--but promise to try to find a way--" I never found Mrs. Oliver so crazy. "—As a result, a new servant came this morning. Who do you think she is?" "I can't think of it, listen to me—" "It's a woman named Edith Bings—very interesting name, isn't it?—and you know her too." "No, I don't know it, I've never heard that name before." "But you do know her, and saw her not too long ago. She worked at your godmother Hedges-Dubber." "Oh!" "Yes, when you went to pick up paintings at your godmother's house, she saw you." "Well, that's fine, I think you're lucky to have her. I'm sure she must be reliable, Min-gu said so too. But seriously, now I—" "Wait a little longer, will you? I haven't gotten to the point yet. She talked to me a lot about Mrs. Hedges-Dubeau, and how she died at last, and she finally spoke up." "Say what?" "One thing that caught my attention. She said: 'Poor lady, she has suffered so much. That thing in her head has killed her, and she has been in good health. Look at her in the nursing home, with her beautiful thick white hair. It's all falling on the pillow, what a pity, falling out in handfuls like that!' And then, Mark, I thought of my friend Marie de La Fontaine, who also kept losing her hair! And you said that in Charles The girl who saw a fight in a coffee shop was also grabbed by a lot of hair. In fact, the hair is very strong, and it does not fall off so easily. Mark, try to pull your hair to see, a little bit Well, uproot it! Try it! You'll find it unnatural to lose hair as easily as they do. It must be a very special disease—must be of some importance." I grabbed the receiver tightly, and my head started to feel a little dizzy.Some fragments of the news were all pieced together at this time.Rhoda on the grass with the dog - I saw an article in a New York medical journal - of course... of course! It occurred to me that Mrs. Oliver was still gleefully boasting. "God bless you," I said, "you're amazing!" I hung up the phone hard, picked it up again, and dialed another number.This time, I was lucky to find Li Jun directly. "Tell me," I said, "does Kim Jo's hair fall out in handfuls by the roots?" "It's—I think it is, probably because of the high fever." "It has something to do with the fever," I said. "Jin Qiao's disease is also the disease of those people. It's basically thallium poisoning. God help, maybe we'll have time..."