one Tang Mi Bi Cifu took off his coat in the hallway of the apartment, and hung it on the hanger very carefully.He moved very slowly, and the hat was carefully hung on the hook next to it. His wife was sitting in the living room, knitting a mountain hat with khaki wool. He straightened his shoulders, put on a bold smile, and walked in. Mrs. Bi Fufu glanced at him quickly, and then knit desperately again.After a minute or two she said: "Any news in the evening paper?" Tang Mi said: "The Blitz is coming, long live! The situation in France is not good." "The current international situation is very dull." Qiu Peng said.

After a while of silence, Tang Mi said: "Why don't you ask me? You don't have to be so tactful." "I know," Qiu Peng said, "it's a bit unpleasant if people can see the tactful attitude. But, if I ask you? You will also feel unhappy. Anyway, I don't Need to ask, it's all on your face." "I don't feel like I'm showing any signs of depression yet." "Honey, no." Qiu Peng said, "You have a stubborn smile on your face, which is heartbreaking to see. This is the first time I have seen such a smile in my life."

Tang Mi grinned and said: "Oh, is it really that bad?" "It's more than that! Let's tell the truth, then. Didn't it work out?" "No. They don't need me for that kind of job, and I tell you, it's a little hard for a man of forty-five to feel like an old man who can't walk. Hey , the land, the air force, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs all said in unison: I am old. In the future, 'maybe' I will be needed." "Well, so do I. They don't need people my age for nursing jobs. 'Thank you, we don't.' Like me, from 1915 to 1918 People who have held various jobs have nothing to do. I worked as a nurse in the surgical ward and surgical classroom, as a truck driver in a trading house, and later as a driver for a general. These kinds of jobs, I can say with certainty: all of them have excellent grades. However, they would rather hire a yellow-haired girl who has never seen a wound and has no experience in disinfection. Now, I am a poor and annoying middle-aged woman. Sitting quietly at home knitting sweaters, but I don't bother to do so."

Tang Mi said sadly: "This war is deadly." "Wars are bad enough," Qiupeng said, "But not being allowed to even take part in any work is the worst." Tang Mi comforted her: "Ah, no matter what, Deborah already has a job." Deborah's mother said, "Oh, she's all right, I think, and she'll do the job well. But, Tommy, I'm just as good as she is." Tang Mi grinned. "She doesn't think so." Qiu Peng said: "My daughter is really embarrassing sometimes, especially when she is always so filial to you." Tang Mi said in a low voice: "Little Derrick gave me money on a monthly basis, which is really embarrassing. Seeing his 'poor old dad' expression, I feel very sad."

"Actually," said his wife. "Our children are very good, but they can be very annoying." But at the mention of her twins, Derek and Deborah, her eyes light up with tenderness. "I think," Tang Mi said thoughtfully. "It's hard for us to find out that we have reached middle age and have passed the age of being productive." His wife snorted angrily, and raised her shiny brown head, spinning the ball of wool on her knees. "Are we really past the age of being useful? Or is everyone suggesting that we are useless? Sometimes, I feel like we have not been able to do anything before."

Tang Mi said, "I'm afraid it is." "Maybe. But anyway, we used to think we were great. But now, I'm starting to feel as if everything in the past didn't really matter. Is there anything, Tommy? You've broken your head before, And was kidnapped by German spies; we tracked down a ferocious prisoner and finally caught him; we rescued a woman and obtained important secret documents; later, my compatriots thanked us, thanked us, me and you. This Isn’t everything true? But now, now people look down on us, and no one needs us. This is what happened to Mr. Bi Fufu and Mrs. Bi Fufu.”

"Well, my dear, stop talking. It's not going to help." "But," said his wife, fighting back tears. "I still feel very disappointed in Mr. Carter." "He wrote us a very kind letter." "He didn't have a plan - didn't even give us any hope." "He—he's out of public office lately. Like us, he's getting old. Lives and fishes in Scotland now." Qiu Peng said dissatisfied: "They can get us to do something in the Ministry of Intelligence." "We may not be up to the task," Tang Mi said. "Maybe, I don't have that kind of courage now."

"Who knows," Qiu Peng said, "we won't feel the same way. But, like you said, when it comes—" She sighed and said: "I wish we could find a job. A man with too much free time is only thinking about it, and it's not a good thing." Her gaze was momentarily projected onto a picture of a young man in an Air Force uniform. The grinning and smiling expression of the middle-aged man is exactly the same as Tang Mi's smiling expression. Tang Mi said: "It's worse for a man. A woman can knit, after all--help with bandages, or help at the Army Welfare Society."

Qiu Peng said: "I will not be too late to do this kind of thing in another 20 years. I am not too old, how can I be content with this kind of work. What is this?" The doorbell rang, and Qiu Peng stood up. They lived in a small apartment where the kitchen servants shared. She opened the door and saw a broad-shouldered man with a red face and a thick blond mustache on his upper lip standing on the slate in front of the door. "Mrs. Bilford?" "yes." "My surname is Ge. I am a friend of Sir Issendon, and he asked me to come and see you and Mr. Bilford."

"Ah, great, come in." She led him into the living room. "This is my husband, this is, oh, Capton—(Captain—)" "Mister (Mr.)." "Mistergard. He's a friend of Mistcarter—oh, Sir Issendon." The alias of the former Minister of Intelligence "Mister Cutson" blurted out because he was used to it.This is more affectionate than the official title of their old friends. The three of them talked for a few minutes, in a most pleasant manner.Grant was a pretty guy with an easygoing manner. Soon, Qiu Peng went out.A few minutes later, she brought a bottle of white wine and some glasses.

A few minutes later, when there was a pause in the conversation, Mr. Grant said to Tommy: "I heard you're looking for a job, isn't it?" Tang Mi's eyes shone eagerly. "Yes. Could it be—" Grant laughed, then shook his head. "Ah, not that kind of thing. I'm afraid that kind of work is reserved for the young and active, or for those with years of experience. All I can suggest is tedious work, sitting in an office, handling paperwork, putting It is this kind of work to tie up the documents with red tape and file them in different categories.” A look of disappointment appeared on Tang Mi's face. "Oh, I understand." Grant encouraged him: "Ah, this—it's better than nothing. Anyway, come and talk to me in my office when you're free. I'm in Quartermaster, Room 22. We'll make a job for you," The phone rang, and Qiu Peng picked up the receiver. "Hello—yes—what?" the other party chirped with excitement, and Qiu Peng's face changed. "When? Ah! My dear - of course - I'll be right away..." She put the receiver down. She said to Tang Mi: "It's Maureen calling." "I think it's her—I can hear her voice." Qiu Peng said out of breath: "Mr. Grant, I'm so sorry—I must go to this friend. She fell and sprained her ankle. There's no one else in the house but the little girl, and I've got to take care of her, and Find someone to take care of her. Please forgive me." "It doesn't matter, Mrs. Blessing, I understand it very well." Qiu Peng smiled at him, picked up a coat on the sofa, put it on, and left in a hurry.Then, I heard the front door slam shut. Tang Mi poured another glass of white wine for his guest. "Thank you." The guest took the cup and sipped silently for a moment.Then, he said: "You know, it's a good thing that Mrs. Madam let someone call you away. It can save a lot of time in this way." Tang Mi stared at him, puzzled. "I don't understand." Grant said calmly: "You know, if you come to see me at our Ministry, I have the right to suggest a job to you." Tang Mi's freckled face slowly turned red again. He said, "Are you—" Grant nodded: "Essendon suggested you," he said, "and he told us you were the right man for the job." Tang Mi took a deep breath. He said, "Tell me." "Of course, this is absolutely confidential." Tang Mi nodded. "Even your wife, don't let her know. Do you understand?" "All right. If you say so, of course I will. But we have done this kind of work together before." "I know, but this time the task is completely up to you alone." "Oh, all right." "Apparently, you have been appointed by the government - as I have just said - to serve as a clerk - to work in the Scottish office of the Ministry of Munitions. The place where you serve is a restricted area, and your wife is You can't go together. You're actually going to work in a very different place." Tang Mi could only wait for him to continue. Grant said: "Have you read about the Fifth Column in the newspaper? You can know what the term means. In any case, you can always get some crude information." Tang Mi said in a low voice: "It's the enemy within." "That's not bad at all. Bi Zhifu, this war started in an optimistic atmosphere. Ah, what I'm referring to is not those who really know the enemy's strength. Because those people deeply know the enemy's work efficiency How high is the strength of the air force, how determined is it, how well-planned the battle is, and how coordinated the various departments are. In fact, we always know what kind of enemy we are encountering. I mean ordinary people, that is, Good-hearted, but muddled democrats. They are full of wishful thinking. They believe that Germany will collapse, they think that there will be revolutions in Germany, they think that German weapons are made of lead, and at the same time, Their soldiers are undernourished, and if they try to march, they will fall when they set out. That's all they believe. It's what they call: wishful thinking. "That's not the case with this great war, though. It started out badly, and it went from bad to worse. But the brothers are good. Whether it's on the ships, in the planes, or in the trenches, they're all heroic ...but we are poorly managed and poorly prepared—perhaps a flaw in our nature. We don't need war. We don't think seriously about operations, and we're not very good at preparing for war. "The worst experience is over now, we have corrected our mistakes, and we have slowly placed the right people in the right positions. We have gradually learned how to fight. At the same time, we can win. This, There must be no mistake. But as long as we don't lose at the outset. The danger of defeat does not come from outside—not from the power of the German bombers, not from Germany's offensive advantage by capturing neutral countries The relationship between the two sides—but the enemy within us. Our danger is the crisis of ancient Troy—the wooden horse within our walls. Call it the fifth column, if you like. This enemy is in Here, among us. There are men and women, some in high places and some in the middle of nowhere. But they all really believed in the Nazi dogma and wanted to replace it with that harsh, efficient dogma. The muddled and casual 'freedom' of our democratic government". Grant leaned forward and said, still in the same unfeeling tone: "However, we don't know who they are..." Tang Mi said: "But, it must—" Grant said with a touch of impatience: "Ah, those brats, we can catch them, and quite easily. But the other spies are the problem. We know a little about these people. We know at least two of them held high positions in the Admiralty, and one was General G is an important member of the General Staff Headquarters. In the Air Force, there are at least two or three; and there are at least two people who pretend to be our intelligence department. They have insight into the secrets of our cabinet. We can know from several recent events , it must be so. The leakage of information—is the fault of the senior officials, and from this we can understand." Tang Mi's amiable face revealed a look of embarrassment, and he said helplessly: "But how can I help you? I don't know them." Grant nodded. "Exactly. You don't know him—and they don't know you." He paused a moment to let his words penetrate the other's heart, and then went on: "These high-level people are very familiar with us, so the intelligence will never escape their eyes and ears. I am at the end of my wits. I will ask Issenton. He has left the intelligence department now, and Still sick, but his mind, I thought, was unprecedented. He thought of you. You haven't served in the intelligence department for nearly twenty years, so your name has nothing to do with the intelligence department. You No one knows his face. What do you think? Are you willing to take on the role?" Tang Mi was overjoyed, he couldn't close his mouth from laughing, because of this, his face was almost split in two. "Would you like to do it? Of course I would. However, I really don't know how I can help. I'm just a fancier intelligence agent." "Bi Fufu, what we need is an intelligence agent with fancier status. In this regard, our professional intelligence agents have encountered obstacles. We want you to replace one of our best colleagues, who was our best in the past I am afraid that there will be no one like him in the future.” Tang Mi looked at him questioningly.Grant nodded. "Yes. He died last Tuesday at St. Bridget's Hospital, run over by a lorry. He was brought to the hospital and lived only a few hours. Apparently accidental, but it wasn't." Tang Mi said slowly, "Oh." Grant said calmly: "So we thought that Fakuhua must be on a mission, and he must have discovered the enemy's secret. He didn't die in a car accident. Based on this, I can conclude." Tang Mi's expression expressed a doubt. Grant continued: "Unfortunately, we know almost nothing about what he found. He has been very methodical, following one clue after another to investigate. However, there are no results." Grant paused for a moment, then continued: "Fakuhua has been in a coma. It was only a few minutes before he died that he regained consciousness. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't speak clearly. He only said a few words: 'NorM SongSusie (N or M, song, Susie )' Tang Mi said: "It doesn't seem to understand." Grant smiled. "Better than you think. You know, the term 'N or M', we've heard it before, referring to two important German spies who were highly trusted by the German government. The country has encountered them and knows some details about them. Their task is to organize the fifth column in a foreign country and serve as an intelligence liaison between the country and Germany. We know that N is male and M is female. About These two people, all we know is that they were Hitler's most trusted intelligence officers. We dug up some information in a coded letter. At the beginning of the war, there was something like this: 'It is recommended that N or M be in charge of Britain Aspects. Carte blanche—'" "Oh. So, Fakuhua—" "As far as I know, he must be after one of them. Unfortunately, we don't know which one." 'Song, Susie' sounded mysterious.However, Fakuhua's French pronunciation is not very good, and we found a round-trip ticket to Lihanton in his pocket, which may provide some clues.Lehanton is a place on the south coast - a new city like Pourmouth or Torquay, where there are many hotels and guesthouses, one of which is called SansSouci (which means 'happy' - translated Note)—” Tang Mi said: "Song Susie——Sans Souci, I understand." Grant said, "Really?" "You mean—" Tang Mi said. "Should I go out there and—well—look around." "That's what I mean." Tang Mi smiled again. "It's kind of hollow, isn't it?" he asked. "I don't even know who to look for." "I can't tell you either, and I don't know. It's all up to you." Tang Mi sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I could try it, but I'm not very smart." "You used to do a good job, I've heard them say it." Tang Mi said quickly: "Ah, that's pure luck." "Well, what we need, so to speak, is luck." Tang Mi thought for a minute or two, then said: "About that place, the Xiaoyao Hotel—" Grant shrugged. "All this may seem important, but it's really meaningless. I'm not sure. Fakuhua may have thought it was 'Sister Susie sewing clothes for the soldiers.' That's just speculation." "Also, what about Lihanton?" "Like any other place of this kind, there are plenty of them. There are old women, old colonels, old maids of impeccable character, suspicious characters, people of unknown origin, and a foreigner or two here and there. A place full of people and everything." Tang Mi asked suspiciously: "Is N or M among these people?" "Not necessarily. Maybe someone connected with N or M is there. But it's also very likely that it's N or M himself. It's an inconspicuous place, a boarding house in a seaside resort." "Don't you know whether I must seek a man or a woman?" Grant shook his head. Tang Mi said: "Then, I only have to try." "Good luck, Bilbo. Now—for the details—" two Half an hour later, Qiu Peng barged in, out of breath and with a curious expression on her face.At this time, Tang Mi was sitting alone in the easy chair and whistling, with a hesitant look on his face. "How is it?" In these three short words, she put infinite affection. "Find—a job." "What kind of job?" Tang Mi made a face. "Sitting in an office in the Scottish wilderness, confidential business, it seems that the situation is not very exciting." "Shall we go together? Or just you?" "I'm afraid I'm going alone." "Damn! Why is old Carter so mean?" "I think, for this type of work, they have to separate men and women. Otherwise, it's too distracting." "Is it shooting ciphers? Or translating ciphers? Is it a job like Deborah's? Be careful, Tang Mi. People who hold this kind of work often become very weird and can't sleep at night. Walking up and down all night, constantly humming, constantly chanting numbers like 978345286. In the end, they all have nervous breakdowns and are sent to nursing homes." "I won't do that." Qiu Peng said sadly: "Sooner or later you will be like this. May I go with you? Not to work, but to walk as a wife. Maybe someone will put your slippers in front of the stove for you, or let you go home after a hard day. A hot dinner." Tang Mi showed a disturbed look. "Honey, sorry, sorry! I really don't want to leave you—" "However, you think you should go." Qiu Peng recalled the past with emotion. "In short," Tang Mi said weakly. "You know, you can knit, too." "Knitting yarn?" Qiu Peng said. "Knitting?" She grabbed her knitted mountain hat and threw it to the floor. "I hate light green yarn, and I hate dark blue yarn and light blue. I want to knit something magenta." "The word sounds military. Almost reminiscent of the Blitz." He was really upset.However, Qiu Peng is a very strong woman, she is very brave, she said she does not care.She added that she had heard that the ambulance station needed a woman to clean it, and that she might be able to do it. Three days later, Tang Mi left for Aberdeen.Qiu Peng went to the station to see her off. Her eyes were bright, and she only blinked once or twice, but she always maintained a determined and cheerful look. When the car drove out of the station, Tang Mi watched her lonely appearance and walked down the platform silently.Only at this moment did he feel like there was something in his throat.Whether he is fighting or not.He feels that he has abandoned Qiu Peng now... He tried his best to pull himself together.what!Commands are always commands! The day after arriving in Scotland on time, he took the train to Manchester.On the third day a train took him to Lehanton.He first went to the major hotels in the area to have a look.The next day, he went on a tour of hotels and guest houses one after another, looking at the houses while inquiring about the conditions for long-term stay. The Runaway Hotel is a crimson, Victorian villa.The villa is built on the side of a hill, overlooking the sea from the upstairs windows.As soon as I entered the hall, I could smell a slight smell of dust and cooking fumes.Also, the carpet was worn out, but, compared with other places he had just seen, it was in good condition.He was talking in the office of the landlady, Mrs. Pliner.It was a small untidy room with a large desk full of messy papers. Mrs. Pliner was a middle-aged woman, a little unkempt herself, with thick, ugly black curly hair, a little smudged make-up, and a determined smile on her face, He smiled showing his white teeth. Tang Mi whispered to her that he had an elderly cousin, Miss Meadows, who lived in Xiaoyao Hotel two years ago.Mrs. Pliner remembered one person very well, and she said that the old lady was very nice, very lively, and had a good sense of humour--perhaps, she wasn't really old. Tang Mi spoke very cautiously, he said yes, he knew: Miss Meadows is a real person, and the Ministry of Intelligence has carefully investigated such details. Mrs. Pliner asked her: How is Miss Meadows? Tang Mi said sadly: Miss Meadows has passed away.Mrs. Pliner was very sympathetic, clinking her teeth together, exclamating, and showing the necessary sadness on her face. Soon, she was talking eloquently again.She said she had a room there that would surely please Mr. Meadows.From that room you can overlook the beautiful sea view.She was right in thinking that Mr. Meadows was leaving London.She knew life in the city was dull these days.Of course, after a bout of flu— Mrs. Pliner led him upstairs to see the room, still talking incessantly.She mentioned the amount of the weekly rent.Tang Mi pretended to be very disappointed.Mrs. Pliner said that prices had gone up terribly lately.Tang Mi said: It's really unfortunate, firstly, his income has decreased recently, and secondly, the taxes are so heavy—— Mrs. Pliner snorted: "This terrible war—" Tang Mi also said: He thought that the guy named Hitler really should be hanged.madman!This man is really crazy! Mrs Pliner said yes too.She added that it was partly because the rations were too small, and partly because the butchers had difficulty supplying their needs--sometimes with great difficulty--and sweetbreads and livers were hardly to be seen at all.Therefore, being in charge of the house is really hard work.However, since Mr. Meadows is Miss Meadows's family, the rent can be reduced by half a guinea. Tang Mi hurriedly beat the drum to withdraw the troops, and he promised to go back and think about it before making a decision.Mrs. Pliner followed him all the way to the gate, still talking eloquently.At the same time, she also appeared very cunning, which surprised Tang Mi.He admitted, in one respect, that she was beautiful.However, which country is this woman from?Must not be British?Is her last name Spanish or Portuguese?That was her husband's last name, though, not hers.He thought she must be Irish, though she had no Irish accent, perhaps because of her vigor. It's finally settled; Mr. Meadows decides to move in tomorrow. The next day, Tang Mi calculated the time and moved in at six o'clock.Mrs. Pliner came out into the hall to meet him.She gave a long list of instructions to a maid who looked like an idiot, telling her how to pack her luggage.The maid opened her mouth and stared at him.So Mrs. Pliner let him into a room she called the lounge. "I always want to introduce the tenants to each other." There were five people in the lounge, each of whom cast a skeptical look.Mrs. Pliner smiled resolutely, and said: "This is our new lodger, Mr. Meadows—this is Mrs. O'Rourke." It was a mountain-like woman with small bright eyes and a mouth He also has a beard.She beamed at him all over her face. "This is Major Brechelle." The major glanced at him appreciatively, then nodded stiffly to him. "Monsieur De Nemo." It was a young man with fair hair, blue eyes, and a very rigid manner.He stood up and bowed to him. "This is Miss Minton." Miss Minton was an elderly woman with many beads on her body.She was knitting with light green wool and giggling. "And Mrs. Brunken." Another knitter—a woman with wild brown hair.She was knitting a woolen mountain hat with her head down, and now she looked up. Tang Mi suddenly held his breath; he felt the house spinning in circles. Mrs Brunken!It turned out to be Qiu Peng!It's unimaginable - Qiupeng is actually sitting in the lounge of Xiaoyao Hotel, knitting calmly. Her eyes met his--the polite, indifferent, stranger's eyes. He couldn't help admiring secretly! Qiu Peng!