Chapter 2 Chapter two

How Tang Mi survived that night, he himself is not very clear.He didn't even dare to look at Mrs. Brunken more than once.At dinner time, three more lodgers showed up.Among them were a middle-aged couple--the Carlyles--and a young mother, Mrs. Spurrow, a little lady who had come from London with her baby because of the situation, and had She had lived there for a while, and by now she was evidently tired of it.Her seat was arranged next to Tang Mi.Her dark gray eyes fixed on Tang Mi occasionally, and at the same time she asked him in a weak voice: "Do you think it's safe now? Everyone is going home, right?"

Before Tang Mi could answer this unskilled question, the beaded wife interrupted: "I thought we should never take any risks with our children. Your lovely little Bai Di, if there is It’s too late for you to regret it. You know, Hitler has said that Germany’s blitzkrieg against Britain is about to begin, and I think it’s probably a new gas.” Major Brechelle interrupted suddenly: "A lot of the talk about gas is extremely boring. They don't waste their time, where there is time to do gas, they are now using high-explosive bombs and incendiary bombs. That's how it is in Spain."

All the people present talked about this issue with relish.Qiu Peng's voice was high and high-pitched, with a slightly silly, self-satisfied tone: "My son Douglas said—" "Douglas," Tommy thought. "Why Douglas? I should know." Their dinner seems to be serious, there are several dishes that are not nutritious, but they all taste the same.After dinner, everyone went to the living room.The woolen ladies resumed their work.The major talked about his experience on the Northwest Front. His words were long and boring, but Tang Mi had to listen attentively. The bright-eyed, blond-haired young man stepped out, bowing slightly to everyone as he reached the door.

The major stopped talking suddenly, poked Tang Mi's rib with his hand and said: "The guy who just got out is a refugee, he got out of Germany about a month before the war." "Is he German?" "Yeah, but not Jewish. His father got pissed off for criticizing the Nazi government, and two of his brothers are in the camp now, and this guy got out just in time." At this time, Tang Mi asked Mrs. Carlyle to talk about her health again.She talked on and on from the beginning, and continued with such concentration and energy that she continued until bedtime, so that he had no time to escape.

The next morning, Tang Mi got up early and went for a walk in front.He walked quickly to the pier and came back along the waterfront playground.At this time, he suddenly saw a person coming from the opposite side, Tang Mi raised his hat and said: "Good morning, eh-- Mrs. Brunken, isn't she?" There was no one around.Qiu Peng said: "You're going to call me Dr. Livingston." "How on earth did you come here, Qiu Peng?" Tang Mi whispered. "It's a miracle—absolutely a miracle." "It's not a miracle at all—it's just a little brainstorming."

"Then, I suppose, your brains are quicker?" "You guessed right, you and that self-important Mr. Grant, hope this is a lesson for him." "Isn't it?" Tang Mi said. "Qiupeng, go ahead. Tell me how you managed to get here. I'm dying of curiosity." "It's very simple. When Grant talked about Mr. Carter, I knew what was going on. I thought, I'm afraid you won't be asked to take some office work. But when he said that, I understood, Probably didn't need me. So I decided to play a game of wits with you. I went out to get white wine, but I sneaked to Brown's apartment on the way to call Maureen. I told her to call me and told her to say something , she was very faithful and did everything according to her plan. In the telephone receiver, her high voice could be heard all over the house. So, I also performed my best trick. I pretended to be sad, and had to immediately The appearance of going out. I pretended that a friend had fallen and injured, and ran out in a hurry, showing a very anxious look. I deliberately closed the door with a 'bang', but in fact I was still inside. The door to the living room at the back is gently opened."

"So, you heard everything?" "I heard everything." Qiu Peng was very proud. Tang Mi blamed her and said: "But you never revealed it." "Of course not. I want to teach you a lesson and tell you and your Mr. Grant to be careful in the future." "Strictly speaking, he is not my own Grant. However, you really taught him a lesson." "If it were Mr. Carter, he wouldn't be so mean to me." Qiu Peng said. "I thought the intelligence department is not what it used to be." Tang Mi said seriously: "When we return to this position, the intelligence department can restore its former honor. Why is your name Brunken?"

"Why not?" "It seems strange to choose such a name." "It's the first name that came to my mind, and at the same time, it's very convenient to match my underwear." "Qiupeng, what do you mean?" "You idiot. Brunken starts with a B, and Bibow also starts with a B. My shorts and shirts are all embroidered with the letters BB, representing my full name, Prudence Bibfow. So, my pseudonym Prissia Brunken, doesn't it just fit? Why, then, did you call me Meadows? It's a stupid name." "First of all," Tang Mi said. "My trousers don't have a big B embroidered on them. The Ministry of Intelligence wants me to call me Meadows. Mr. Meadows has a glorious history. I can recite his past situation by heart."

"That's good," Qiu Peng said. "Are you married? Or single?" "I'm a widower." Tang Mi said proudly. "My wife died in Hong Kong ten years ago." "Why in Hong Kong?" "People always have to die in one place. What's wrong with Hong Kong?" "Oh, nothing, perhaps that was a very fitting place to die. I am a widow." "Where did your husband die?" "Does it matter where he died? Probably in a nursing home. I think he died of cirrhosis of the liver." "Oh, that's sad to hear. Where's Son Douglas, then?"

"Douglas is in the Navy now." "I heard that last night." "I have two other sons. Raymond is now in the Air Force, and my youngest son, Cyril, is now in the National Defense Volunteer Army." "So, what about these imaginary Brethren, if someone bothers to look into it?" "They're not named Brunken. Brunken was my second husband's last name. My first husband's name was Searle, and there's three pages in the phone book for Searle. Just look it up. Can't find out." Tang Mi sighed. "Qiupeng, your old problem is here again. You always like too much. Two husbands and three sons are too many. When people ask for details, your words will be inconsistent."

"No, it won't. I thought the sons' names might be of use. Remember, I'm not on anyone's orders. I'm a free agent. I do this kind of investigation for the fun of it. I'm ready to have a good time." "Probably." Tang Mi said.Soon, he said sullenly again: "This is a farce." "Why did you say that?" "This—you have lived in 'Xiaoyao' longer than I did. Among the people there last night, which one is an enemy spy, can you tell me honestly?" Qiu Peng said thoughtfully: "Things seem a little strange here. Of course, that young man is suspicious." "You mean Carl DeNemo? The police investigate where refugees come from, don't you think?" "Probably so. Still, he can manage to move. He's a very handsome lad, you know." "You mean, girls will tell him the news? But what girls? Miss Jiangmen has not wandered here. Maybe he will fall in love with the company commander of the Women's Auxiliary Brigade of the British Army." "Tang Mi, stop talking nonsense, let's be serious." "I'm serious. However, I just think this kind of pursuit is futile." Qiu Peng said seriously: "It's too early to say. There's nothing obvious about it. What do you think of Mrs. Pliner?" "Not bad." Tang Mi said thoughtfully. "I admit that there is also Mrs. Pliner. The origin of this person needs to be found out." "What about the two of us? I mean, how on earth are we supposed to work together?" Tang Mi pondered and said: "We must not be seen to be together often." "Yes. If there is any performance, people find that we are actually very familiar, it will be a disaster. What we have to decide is a matter of attitude. I think it is best for people to think that one of us is pursuing the other." "Pursue?" "Exactly. Pretend I'm after you. You've got to try to get away with it, but just pretending to be a chivalrous man doesn't always work. I've had two husbands and I'm looking for another. You want to play the widower being chased, and I will often entangle you in a certain place, for example, shut you up in a cafe, or drag you to the seaside. Then everyone will snicker and think It's funny." "It seems quite doable." Qiu Peng said: "The embarrassment of a man being chased by a widow has been passed down for many years. This kind of psychology is very useful to us. If people see us together, they can only laugh secretly and say: 'Look at that poor Meadows.'" Tang Mi suddenly grabbed her arm. "Watch," he said, "watch what's ahead of you." In one corner of an air-raid shelter, a young man was talking with a girl. They talked very seriously, not paying attention to everything around them. Qiu Peng said softly: "That's Karl DeNemo, who is that woman?" "Whoever she is, this girl is very beautiful." Qiupeng nodded, looking at the girl intently.The girl's face was brown and full of enthusiasm, and she wore a tight sweater with curves.She is talking seriously, and from time to time to strengthen the tone. De Nemo was listening quietly. Qiu Peng said in a low voice: "I think we can break up now." "That's right." Tang Mi agreed. He turned and paced in the opposite direction. At the end of the road, he met the major. The major looked at him worriedly, and said in a deep guttural voice, "Morning!" "morning!" "You're like me, you like to get up early," Brechley said. Tang Mi said: "Of course the habit was formed in the East. It was many years ago, but I wake up very early." "That's right, too," Major Brechelle agreed. "Lord! I hate the sight of these young men these days! They take hot baths and don't come downstairs until ten o'clock or later. No wonder the Germans are going to beat us. Our young men They have no energy, they are all weak little beasts! In short, the current army is not as good as it used to be. They dote on their subordinates. At night, they have to cover them with quilts and give them hot water bottles. Phew! It’s so disgusting !" Tang Mi shook his head sadly.Seeing that he agreed, the major continued, with extra effort. "Discipline, what we need is discipline! Without discipline, how can we win battles? Sir, you know? Some people wear sweatpants when they parade. I heard people say that. You can't hope to win like this. Humph! Sweatpants! Lord!" Mr. Meadows said with emotion that everything is different now from previous years. "It's all the fault of the democratic system!" Major Brechelle said melancholy. "One thing tends to go too far. I think they go too far with this democratic method. They mix the officers and the soldiers together and let them eat together in the restaurant-huh!-Mike Brothers don't like it, Doss. Brothers know. They always know." "Of course," said Mr. Meadows. "I myself don't really know much about the army.—" The major interrupted him, looked aside quickly, and said: "Did you take part in the last world war?" "Ah, yes." "I suppose so. I can see you've been trained. You can see it on your shoulders. In which regiment?" "In the Fifth Wing." "Ah, yes, in the port of Thessaloniki!" "yes." "I'm in Mesopotamia." The major was at once talking about the past.Tang Mi listened politely, and finally, the major said angrily: "You know they'll use me now? No! They won't use me. Too old. Too old for what? Fucking farts! I could teach them a thing or two about fighting, little brutes like that .” "Even if you teach them what not to do, it's better than their officials, isn't it?" Tang Mi said with a smile. "Ah, what did you say?" Obviously, a sense of humor is not Major Brechelei's trump card. He looked at Tang Mi incomprehensibly, and Tang Mi quickly changed the subject. "Mrs. Brunken—I think her name is Brunken? Do you know anything about her?" "By the way, her name is Brunken. She's not a bad-looking woman—a little long teeth, and too much talk. Nice, but a little silly. No, I don't know her. She's only here a few days, you Why are you asking this?" Tang Mi explained to him: "I ran into her by chance just now. I wonder if she is always as early as today?" "Don't know. Women don't usually have the habit of walking before breakfast.—Thank God!" he added. "Amen!" Tang Mi said.Then he added: "I'm not good at talking politely to people before breakfast. Hope I'm not too rude to her, but I want to exercise." The major was at once sympathetic. "I'm with you, Meadows, I'm with you. It's all right for a woman to take a walk, but not before breakfast." He giggled slightly. "Better watch out, old friend. You know that? She's a widow." "yes?" The major poked him hard in the ribs. "We ought to know what a widow is like. She's buried two husbands, and she's looking for a third. Be very, very careful with her, Meadows! Be very careful! That's my advice." At the end of the parade, Major Brechelle, in high spirits, turned around, changed to a lively gait, and went back to the hotel for breakfast. At this time, Qiu Peng continued to walk slowly along the seaside playground.She was very close to the young couple as she passed in front of the bomb shelter.When she walked by, she heard a few words, which were said by that woman! "Karl, you have to be careful. There's just something suspicious—" At this point, Qiu Peng couldn't hear him.What do these words mean?There are, however, several unhelpful explanations possible.So, with an attitude of not infringing others as much as possible, she turned around carefully and walked over again.It came from her ears again: "Conceited and disgusting Ying—" Mrs. Brunken raised her eyebrows slightly. She thought: I am afraid that such words are not very clever.Denimo is a refugee escaping from the persecution of the Nazis. Britain gave him political asylum and gave him a place to settle down. He actually agrees with what his girlfriend said. He is really not smart and ungrateful. Qiu Peng turned around again.But this time, before she reached the air-raid shelter, the young couple broke up suddenly.The girl crossed the road away from the waterfront, but Denimo came in the direction of Thupo. If she hadn't stopped and hesitated, he might not have recognized her.So, he quickly raised his heels together and bowed deeply to her. Qiu Peng whispered to him: "Morning! Monsieur Denimo, I call you that, don't you? It's a fine morning!" "Ah! Yes. The weather is fine." Qiu Peng went on to say: "This kind of weather is quite tempting to me. Before breakfast, I didn't come out often, but the weather is so good this morning, half of it is because I didn't sleep well last night. When a person goes to a new place, he often can't sleep. , it will take a day or two to get used to it." "Oh, yes. There is no doubt about it, it is so." "This kind of walk can really improve my appetite and make my breakfast more delicious." "Are you going back to 'Xiaoyao' now? If you want to allow, I want to go back with you." He walked side by side with her very seriously. Qiu Peng said: "You are also going out for a walk, hope you have a better appetite?" He shook his head gravely. "Oh, no. I've had breakfast and I'm going to work." "Work?" "I'm a chemistry graduate student." Qiu Peng thought: You are such a character!On the one hand, she secretly glanced at him again. Carl Denimo went on, his voice hard. "I came here to escape the Nazis. I have very little money and no friends. Now I try to find useful work." Keeping his eyes on the front, Qiu Peng realized that there was an undercurrent of strong emotion pushing him powerfully. She mumbled and whispered: "Ah, yes, I know, I know. That's very commendable." Denimo said: "My two older brothers were in the concentration camp. My father died in the concentration camp, and my mother died of sorrow and terror." Qiu Peng thought: "Hearing his tone of voice, it seems like he is reciting lines." She stole another look at him.His eyes were still looking straight ahead, and his face was expressionless. They walked in silence for a while.Two men walked by, one of whom gave Carl a quick glance.She heard the man say to his companion: "I bet that guy is German." Choppong noticed a flush on Cal De Nemo's face. Suddenly, unable to hold back his emotions any longer, and for a moment what was dormant within him surfaced, he stammered: "Did you hear that?... Did you hear that?... They said... I..." "Young man," Qiu Peng suddenly changed his attitude and returned to my true colors.Her voice is bright and aggressive. "Don't be stupid, you can't have both fish and bear's paw." He turned and stared at her. "What does it mean?" "You are a refugee, you have to suffer, you are still alive, that is the most important thing, and you are living a life of freedom. On the other hand, you have to realize that this is inevitable. We in Britain are at war. You It's German." She suddenly smiled. "You can't expect a passer-by on the street to be able to tell good Germans from bad Germans. Maybe I'm being too rough." He was still staring at her.His eyes are very blue and sharp, and it can be seen that he must be suppressing his inner emotions.Then, suddenly, he also smiled and said: "They used to say that when they talked about Indians, didn't they?—dead Indians are good Indians. Right?" He laughed. "To be a good German, I have to be on time for work. Goodbye." Another stern bow.Looking at his disappearing back, Qiu Peng thought: "Mrs. Brunken, you had a loophole just now, and you will have to strictly carry out your tasks in the future. Now go back to Xiaoyao Hotel for breakfast." The lobby door of the Xiaoyao Hotel was open.Mrs. Pliner was speaking vigorously to a man inside: "You'll tell him what I said about the margarine last time. Get cooked bacon at Quillie's. His bacon was twopence cheap last time, and be careful when you buy your cabbages—" When Qiu Peng entered, her words stopped suddenly. "Ah, morning, Mrs. Brunken. You got up so early. You haven't had breakfast yet. It's ready. It's in the dining room." At this point, she pointed to the girl she was talking to. "This is the little girl Sheila. You haven't seen her yet. She has been outside and came back last night." Qiu Peng looked at the lively and beautiful face with great interest.The sadness that I saw just now is no longer visible.It's getting a bit bored and resentful now. "This is the little girl, Sheila. Sheila Pliner." Qiu Peng whispered a few greetings, and then walked into the restaurant.At this moment there were three people in there having breakfast--Mrs. Spurrow and her little girl, and the "great" Mrs. O'Rourke. Qiu Peng said: "Morning!" Mrs. O'Rourke said heartily, "Good morning!" Mrs. Spurrow also greeted Qiu Peng.But her voice, like that of an anemic patient, completely overwhelmed Mrs. O'Rourke's. The old lady chatted with Qiu Peng in high spirits. "It's good to go for a walk before breakfast," she said. "This will improve your appetite." Mrs. Spurrow said to her children: "Baby, bread, milk, delicious!" She tried her best to coax her daughter, trying to sneak the spoon into her mouth when she was not prepared. But that kid was better.She turned her head suddenly, deftly avoiding her mother's hand holding the spoon.A pair of big eyes kept looking at Qiu Peng. She pointed at the newcomer with her milk-stained finger, and with a big smile on her face, she said, "G-G-G-Bao Qi." "She likes you," cried Mrs. Spurrow.She put on a smile and looked at Qiu Peng, as if she fell in love with someone at first sight. "She is sometimes very shy with strangers." "What did she mean?" asked Mrs. O'Rourke with interest. "She can't tell yet," said Mrs. Spurrow. "You know, she's just over two years old. I'm afraid she's talking nonsense nine times out of ten. But she can call Mamma, can't she, darling?" Betty looked at her mother thoughtfully, and then said with an air of final decision: "Garge, Piccolo—" "It's the cherubs' own language," said Mrs. O'Rourke in a low voice. "Baby Betty, call me 'Mom' now!" Betty looked desperately at Mrs. O'Rourke, frowned, and said emphatically, "Nose—" "Hey, it's really hard for her, what a cute child!" Mrs. O'Rourke stood up, smiled desperately at Betty, and walked out of the dining room with her heavy body. "Crack, grid, grid!" Betty cried out in satisfaction, knocking on the table with a spoon. Qiu Peng's eyes flickered and he said: "What the hell does 'naser' mean?" Mrs. Spruo blushed suddenly.She said: "You know what? If Betty expresses dislike for someone or something, she will probably say so." "I think so too." Qiu Peng said. Both of them laughed. "Honey," said Mrs. Spurrow. "Mrs. O'Rourke is kind to people, but she's kind of scary--such a thick voice and beard." Bai Di tilted her head and made a chirping sound to Qiu Peng. "She likes you very much," said Mrs. Spurrow. Qiu Peng thought there was jealousy in her tone, so he immediately tried to make up for it. "Kids like new faces, don't you think?" she said calmly. At this time, the door opened, and Major Brechley and Tang Mi came in.Qiu Peng's attitude immediately became smooth. "Ah, Mr. Meadows," she cried. "I beat you. I'm the first to arrive. But I'll leave you some breakfast." She slightly pointed to the seat beside her with her finger. Tang Mi whispered vaguely: "Ah, thank you!" and quickly sat at the other end of the dining table. Betty said: "Puqi!" The milk splashed on the major at the same time.The major immediately feigned embarrassment, but also pleasure. He pretended to be silly, and asked in a self-satisfied manner: "Ms. Peekaboo, how are you?" Then, he covered his face with a newspaper, and pretended to show it to her. Betty cheered happily. Qiupeng was full of suspicion, she thought: "It must have been a mistake. There can't be any espionage here, not at all." She thought that if Xiaoyao Hotel was a fifth-column stronghold, only the White Queen in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland would have such a mind!