Chapter 3 third chapter

one Miss Minton was knitting on the covered verandah outside. The young lady was so skinny that the veins on her neck were all exposed.She was wearing a light sky blue pullover blouse and a bead necklace.Her skirt was tweed, and the back of it trailed on the floor.As soon as she saw Qiu Peng, she greeted her immediately. "Good morning, Mrs. Brunken. I must have slept well last night." Mrs. Brunken told her that she never slept well the first night or two in a new place.Miss Minton said: "Is it strange to you? I am the same." Mrs. Brunken said, "What a coincidence! What a beautiful pattern you weave." Miss Minton was so happy that she blushed. "Yes, this kind of stitching is a bit unusual, but it's actually very simple. If you like it, I'll tell you and you'll understand."

"Oh, Miss Minton, it's very kind of you! I'm stupid, and I can't knit very well. I mean, I'm not good at knitting other people's patterns. I can only knit simple things, like mountain hats. That's Well, I'm afraid I'm knitting wrong now. I don't know why, but I always feel that there is something wrong with the weaving, don't you think?" Miss Minton skillfully looked at the pile of light green hair work, and then she gently pointed out what was wrong.Qiu Peng thankfully handed her the broken hat, and Miss Minton showed infinite kindness and love. "Oh, it's all right, it's no trouble at all. I've been knitting for many years."

"Before the Great War, I hadn't knit." Qiu Peng said. "But we always feel like we should do something, don't you think?" "Ah, yes, indeed! Do you really have a son in the Navy? I remember you saying that last night." "Yes, that's my older son. He's a wonderful kid—though I'm afraid a mother shouldn't say that. I have another son in the Air Force; my younger son is in France." "Ah, ah! Then you must be very worried." Qiu Peng thought to himself: "Oh, Derek, my darling son! . . . He's out there suffering--and I? Playing a fool here--what I'm playing is really what I feel . . . "

Then she said, in the most earnest of tones: "Let's all be brave, don't you think? We hope the Great War will be over soon. I heard one day from the most reliable sources that the Germans can't stand for another two months." Miss Minton nodded desperately, the necklace around her neck was shaking. "Yes, indeed—" At this point, she lowered her throat pretending to be mysterious. "It is true that Hitler has fallen ill—absolutely incurable—and will be in a coma by August at the latest." Qiu Peng quickly replied: "This blitzkrieg was Hitler's last struggle. I think the Germans must be short of supplies, and the workers in their factories are very disgruntled. The Nazi government will soon collapse."

"What did you say? What did you say?" The Carlyles also came out on the balcony.Mr. Carlyle was impatient when he asked this, and settled for a chair while his wife covered his legs with a blanket.He asked impatiently: "What were you talking about?" "We're talking about—" said Miss Minton. "This war will be over by autumn at the latest." "Nonsense," said Mr. Carlyle. "This war will go on for at least another six years." "Ah, Mr. Carlyle," said Choppong. "You don't really think so, do you?" Carlyle looked around anxiously.

"Isn't it," he whispered. "Is it windy? Perhaps it would be better to move the chair to the corner." And so the work of relocating Mr Carlyle began.His wife was a worried woman.Her purpose in life, so to speak, was to look after Mr. Carlyle, and nothing else.She took the chair cushions for a while, and covered the blankets for a while, and asked from time to time: "Alfred, is this comfortable now? Do you think this is okay? I'm afraid you'd better wear sunglasses? The sun is too strong this morning." Mr. Carlyle said impatiently: "No, no, Elizabeth, don't be a fool! Do you have my scarf? No, no! I want the silk one. Oh, that's all right, I think that's all right. Let's do it this time. But, I don't want to warm my throat too much. Such a sun, woolen scarf—oh, you'd better get another one." Now he turned his attention to the general trend of the world. "yes,"

He said. "This battle, I say, will last for another six years." So the two ladies contradicted him.He listened to their discussion with great interest. "You women are too fond of wishful thinking. I know Germany, and it can be said that I know Germany very thoroughly. Before I retired, because of business, I kept running around. Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, all of them. Familiar. I can assure you: Germany can support it indefinitely. And Soviet Russia will back it—" Mr. Carlyle was very proud, and he continued to talk incessantly.His voice was sometimes high and sometimes low, both happy and worried.He paused only when his wife brought the silk scarf.He took the scarf, wrapped it around his neck, and continued.

Mrs. Spurrow took Betty out and made her sit down and play.She handed her a stuffed dog with one ear missing, and a jacket worn by a puppet. "Be good, Betty," she said. "You get the dog dressed for a walk. Let mommy get ready before we go out." Mr. Carlyle's voice was monotonous and deep, and he kept talking, and he kept reciting statistics, which were very boring.His monologue was mixed with Bai Di's chirping from time to time.She was speaking to her puppy in her own language. Betty said, "Chock—Chuckley—Slap Bart!" Then, when a little bird landed in front of her, she stretched out her lovely hand to catch it, giggling.The bird flew away.Betty looked back at everyone present, and said clearly:

"Dicky!" Then nodded very satisfied. "It's remarkable that the boy is learning to talk!" said Miss Minton. "Beidi said: Tower! Tower!" Betty looked at her coldly, then said: "Glac!" So she forced one of the toy dog's front legs into its fur cape.Then, she staggered to a chair, picked up a cushion, and pushed the toy dog ​​Fatty behind the cushion.So, she giggled with joy, and said with difficulty: "Tibet! Treasure-five-hidden!" Miss Minton, acting as interpreter, said proudly: "She likes to play hide and seek, she always likes to hide things."

Then, suddenly, with exaggerated astonishment, she said: "Where is Fatty? Where has Fatty gone? Where will Fatty go?" Then, Betty suddenly fell to the ground, laughing happily. Just now, Mr. Carlyle was talking about German raw material substitutes with relish, but now that everyone's attention has been diverted, he looked very angry and coughed deliberately. Mrs. Spurrow came out with her hat on, and she took Betty into her arms. Then, everyone's attention returned to Mr. Carlyle. Qiu Peng said: "Mr. Carlyle, where did you just talk about?" But Mr. Carlyle, feeling greatly insulted, said coldly: "That woman is always going to leave the baby and expect it to be taken care of for her. Madame, I think, I'd better wrap that woolen scarf around it. The sun is gone again."

Miss Minton begged him: "Oh, Mr. Carlyle, go on, you're very interesting." Relieved, Mr. Carlyle resumed his high-spirited speech vigorously, drawing the scarf around his thin neck still tighter. "I just said that the Germans finished—" At this time Qiu Peng turned to Mrs. Carey and asked: "Mrs. Carlyle, what do you think of the war?" Mrs. Carlyle was taken aback. "Ah, what do you think? What do you—what do you mean?" "Did you think it would take six years?" Mrs. Carlyle said hesitantly: "Oh, I hope not. Six years is a long time, isn't it?" "Yes, a long time. What do you really think?" Mrs. Carlyle seemed taken aback by her question.she says: "Ah—I—I don't know. I don't know at all. My husband thinks so." "But you don't think so, do you?" "Oh, I don't know. It's hard to say, are you right?" Qiu Peng felt a little annoyed.She thought: Look at that chattering Miss Minton, that domineering Mr. Carlyle, and that stupid Mrs. Carlyle—do these people represent her people?Look at that expressionless Mrs. Spurrow with dark gray eyes. Will she be better than them?Qiu Peng asked himself again: what can she find out here?Undoubtedly, none of these people— Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted, and she felt a figure, which was cast by the sunlight behind her.She turned her head quickly. It was Mrs. Pliner standing behind her, and her eyes were on everybody, and there was an expression in those eyes--sneering, wasn't it? An air of contempt that makes one cringe.Qiu Peng thought: I need to find out more about Mrs. Pliner. two Tang Mi is trying to make friends with Major Brechley, and they have already talked very speculatively. "Meadows, did you bring your golf clubs?" Tang Mi repeatedly pleaded guilty, saying that he forgot to bring it. "Ha! I can tell you what my eyes see is pretty much the same. It's wonderful! We've got to play some golf together. Have you ever played golf here?" Tang Mi answered in the negative. "It's not a bad place here--not at all. It's just a little short. But it's got a nice view of the sea and it's not crowded. Let me tell you, how about going to see it this morning? We might We can have a fight." "Thank you for your kindness, of course I am happy to accompany you." "I'm so glad you're here," said the major as they climbed the hill. "There are too many women in that place. It's unbearable. Now there is another male guest who can save face for me. Carlyle can't count. That man seems to be a living medicine shop. When talking, it's not about his health. , that is, what remedies he has tried, what medicines he has taken. Apart from these, he doesn't know anything. If he throws away the medicine box and runs out every day, walking ten miles, the situation will be different. Another man with a manly face It's De Nemo. But, to be honest, I'm not very sure about the man." "Really?" "Yes. Take my word for it, our business of hosting refugees is dangerous. If I had my way, I'd detain them all, you know, safety first." "It might be a little too drastic to do that." "It's not violent at all. A war is a war. I have all sorts of doubts about this Master Karl, for example, that he's clearly not a Jew. Also, he's only been here for a month—only a month, mind you— — when he came, the war had not yet broken out. That is somewhat doubtful." Tang Mi set his words and said: "So, do you think—" "Spies—that's his little trick!" "However, this area is of no military importance." "Oh, man! That's his way. He'd be watched if he was in or around Plymouth. Nobody paid him any attention in such a quiet little place. But the place, though Small, it's on the coast too, isn't it? In fact the government is too lenient with these foreigners. Anyone who wants to come here, with a sad face, and talk about the brothers in the concentration camp. Look at that young man, his face is full of arrogance He's a Nazi—that's what he is—a Nazi." Tang Mi said happily: "All we need here is a witch doctor or two." "Ah, what did you say?" Tang Mi explained solemnly: "I want the witch doctor to come and smell it, and see who is the spy." "Haha! That's a good way to say it—very good. Smell it—yes, of course." Their conversation ended there because they had already reached the club.As a temporary member, Tang Mi registered his name and paid the membership fee.The major also introduced him to the general manager of the club.The gentleman was a dazed old man.Then, the two of them went to the golf course. Tang Mi doesn't play golf very well.However, he found that his ability was almost suitable for playing with the major.The Major was ahead by a point, and it turned out, very well. "A good opponent! A good opponent! You had bad luck in that hard shot, and at the last moment, you turned to another direction. We should come to practice more often. Come, let me introduce you to a few friends. Generally speaking , are all very good; but some are more appropriate to be called old women, you know what I mean? Ah, this is Haidak, you will like him, he is a retired naval officer. Our hotel on the hill He owns the house next door. He's also our air defense monitor." Lieutenant Colonel Haidak was a tall, cheerful man.He has a weather-beaten face and blue eyes.He has a habit of shouting loudly when he speaks. He greeted Tang Mi friendly. "Oh, so you were going to stand for Brechelle at the hotel? He must be very happy to have a gentleman company with him. There are too many women there, aren't there? Brechelle?" Major Brecheley said, "I'm not good at serving ladies." "What," said Haydack. "But it's not your type of women that live there, man. They're all old women who live in flats. Don't know anything but talk and knit." Brechelle: "You forgot Miss Pliner." "Oh, Sheila! She's a pretty girl. I thought she was a beauty!" "I'm a little worried for her," Brecheyley said. "What do you mean? Meadows, have a drink? Major, what are you drinking?" After ordering drinks, they sat down on the balcony of the club.Haidak repeated what he had just asked. Major Brechelle said rather vehemently: "I mean the German boy, she's too close with him." "You mean, have a crush on him? Well, that's not good. He's a handsome boy, of course, but that's not going to work, Brechelle. That's not going to work! We can't have that sort of thing." That's the same as dealing with the enemy. Where's the girls—their patriotism! We have plenty of decent patriotic youths." Blakely said: "Sheila is a strange girl, she has a fit of temper and hardly talks to anyone." "Spanish," said the lieutenant colonel. "Her father is half Spanish, isn't he?" "I don't know. I think—it's probably a Spanish name." The lieutenant colonel looked at his watch. "Perhaps it's time to report the news. We'd better go in and listen." There wasn't much news broadcast that day, not much more than in the morning papers.The lieutenant colonel praised the recent glorious combat performance of the British Air Force.The brothers are all first-class men, as brave as a lion.After such praise, he continued to make use of the topic proudly.Sooner or later, he said, the Germans would surely try to land at Lehanton.His reason: Lehanton was an unimportant location. "Not even an anti-aircraft gun, this place is so depressing!" His argument didn't go any further, because the major and Tommy had to hurry back to lunch.Haidak politely invited Tang Mi to visit his little place another day.He said that the place was called "Smuggler's Rest" and "the scenery is very beautiful-my house is right by the sea, and there are all kinds of small gadgets in it, and they are very useful. Brechley, take him another day." Come." For the sake of quantity, we made an appointment that the major and Tang Mi would go to his place for a drink tomorrow night. three A quiet time after lunch at the Xiaoyao Hotel.Mr. Carlyle went to "rest", and was served by the loyal Mrs. Carlyle. Miss Minton took Mrs. Brunken to the supply station to help pack the package and write the name and address of the recipient so that it could be sent to the front. Mr. Meadows walked out slowly, walked to Lehanton, and walked along the seaside road.He bought some cigarettes and, as he stopped by Smith's, picked up a recent copy of the humor magazine Punch.Then, he didn't leave immediately, obviously hesitating.Finally, jump on a bus to the old pier. The old pier is at the end of the promenade, and real estate agents know that it is a very unpopular place.The old pier is Sealyhamton, and most people don't pay much attention to this place.Tang Mi paid two pence, then walked towards the pier.It was an insignificant, weather-beaten place.There were several Penny in-the-slot machines that were dying, far apart from each other.Several children were running around calling, and their voices echoed the calls of the seagulls.There is another person sitting alone on the pier fishing.Also, no one. Mr. Meadows walked to the end of the pier, staring down at the water.Then, he asked softly: "Did you catch any fish?" The angler shook his head. "It's not much of a bait," Mr. Grant said without turning his head, as he shook the fishing line. "Meadows, how is your harvest?" Tang Mi said: "There's nothing to report, sir, I'm breaking into society here." "Good! Tell me the details." Tang Mi sat on a wooden stake next to him, overlooking the entire pier. Then, he starts reporting: "I think I've managed to get in. You probably have a list?" Grant nodded. "Not much to report at the moment. I've made friends with Major Brechelle. We played golf together this morning. He seems to be a very ordinary, typical ex-officer. If there is anything suspicious, then It's just a little too typical. Carlyle seems to be a real hypochondriac. It's easy to fake, though, by his own admission, having spent a lot of time in Germany in recent years." "Keep your credit!" Grant said simply. "Also there is De Nemo." "Yes. Meadows, I probably don't need to tell you. You know that De Nemo is the one I pay the most attention to." "Do you think he is N?" Grant shook his head. "No, I don't think so. As far as I know, N can't be German." "So, not even refugees from Nazi persecution?" "No. We monitor all foreign enemies in our country. They also know that we are watching them. Not only that--Bi Fufu, this word must be kept secret--all foreign enemies residing in our country, from 16 Those from the age of sixty will soon be detained. Whether the enemy already knows about it or not, they would have imagined that it might happen. They will never take the risk of having us detain the head of their organization Therefore, N is either a person from a neutral country, or an Englishman. Of course, the situation of M is the same. My understanding of De Nemo is this. He may be the contact person of this chain organization, and N or M may not be in the Xiaoyao Hotel Carl De Nemo is there, and by him we may find our object. It seems very probable. For I can see no reason to prove that the other residents of the Xiaoyao Hotel are the people we are looking for. Therefore, I think De Nemo is more likely." "I suppose you've made some inquiries about them?" Grant sighed--a quick sigh of sudden annoyance. "No, that's exactly what I can't do. Of course I could have someone from the intelligence department spy on them, that would be easy. But, Bisfu, I can't do that. Because, you see, the intelligence is the problem. The Ministry itself. If I show my attention to the Carey Hotel, they'll know right away. That's why I asked you to investigate—because you're an outsider. That's why you have to operate undercover, without our help. It's the only thing we have chance - I dare not risk alarming them, there is only one person I can investigate." "Who is that?" Grant smiled. "It's Karl De Nemo. It's easy, it's a routine job. I can send someone to investigate him—not from the point of view of the Inn, but from the point of view of foreign enemies." Tang Mi asked curiously: "The results of it?" A strange smile crossed the other man's face. "Master Karl is exactly what he says he is. His father was accidentally arrested and died in a concentration camp. Karl's older brothers are in concentration camps now. A year ago, his mother, out of grief, He also passed away. He fled to England a month ago, before the war broke out. He expressed his desire to assist the United Kingdom. His work in a chemical research institute was very good, and he was immune to certain poisonous gases. Contributed both to research and to experiments on the removal of poisonous gases in general." Tang Mi said: "So, he's all right?" "Not necessarily. Our German friends are well known for their work. If Karl De Nemo had been a spy sent to England, they would have taken great care to make sure that his records were as good as he himself said. Everything can match. Now there are only two possibilities: one is that De Nemo's family is a spy, and they have conspired with each other. Under the Nazi rule, this is not impossible; the second is, This person is not Karl DeNemo, but plays the role of Karl DeNemo." Tang Mi said slowly: "Oh, I understand." Then, he added another sentence that was not coherent with the previous one. "He seems like a good young man." Grant sighed and said, "That's the way it is—almost the same. Our business is a strange life. We respect our enemies, and they respect us. You tend to like Your opponent—even when you're trying to knock him down." Then there was a moment of silence. At this time, Tang Mi was thinking about this strange paradox in combat.Then, Grant's voice broke his contemplation. "However, there is another kind of people, we neither respect nor like this kind of people - this is the rebellion in our ranks - they are willing to betray the country for glory." Tang Mi said emotionally. "My lord, sir! I agree with you. It's a rotten business." "There should also be a fate that will last forever." Tang Mi said suspiciously: "Is there really such a man--is there such a pig?" "It's everywhere. As I told you, in our intelligence department. In the combat units, in the parliamentary seats, in the senior officers of the ministry. We have spies. We have to search them out. Get out. We gotta search it out. And fast! We can't do it from the bottom. The little people, the public speakers in the park, the newspaper sellers, they won't know where the big guys are. We're going to Those who are looking for are those big people, they are the ones who cause endless harm, unless we find them in time, they will cause great harm." Tang Mi said confidently: "Sir, we will search for this kind of person as soon as possible." Grant asked: "How can you say it with such certainty?" Tang Mi said: "Didn't you just say that? We must search them out as soon as possible." The angler turned and looked straight at his man for a minute or two, and then took another look at his firm jaw.He developed a new love and recognition for the man he saw.He said calmly: "Good cadre!" He continued: "How are the women who live here? Is there anything that arouses your suspicion?" "The proprietress of Xiaoyao Hotel is a little strange." "Mrs. Pliner?" "Yes, don't you know anything about her?" Grant said slowly: "I can see if I can manage to investigate her history, but, as I have told you, it is dangerous." "Yes, it's best not to take any chances. She's the only one there, and I think something suspicious. There's a young mother, a fussy spinster, and that melancholic, brainless Ma'am, and a timid-looking old Irish woman. On the surface, these people seem to be no danger." "It's all these women, isn't it?" "No, and Mrs. Brunken--she was here three days ago." "Ok?" Tang Mi said: "Mrs. Brunken is the wife." "what?" Grant raised his voice when he heard this unexpected announcement.He turned around, with sharp anger in his eyes. "Bi Cifu, didn't I tell you not to say a word to your wife?" "That's right, sir. I didn't reveal a word, please listen to me—" He succinctly described the situation.He dared not look at his officer.He was cautious, lest he reveal the complacency in his heart in his voice. After he finished telling the whole story, he was silent for a moment.The other party couldn't help making a strange sound. It turned out that he was laughing loudly for several minutes. He said: "I take my hat off to her! She's a real one!" Tang Mi said: "I think so." "Essendon would laugh too if I told that. He warned me not to leave her out. He said if I left her out, she'd show me something. I wouldn't listen His words. However, this shows how careful we have to be. I thought that with all precautions, no one would overhear us. I have made sure in advance that only you and your wife are at home. I have indeed I heard the voice on the phone asking your wife to come over immediately. She used that old trap to deliberately slam the door shut, but she was still at home. But I fell into her trap. Yes Yes, your wife is a very shrewd person!" He was silent for a while, then said: "If you tell her to me, just say that I bowed down to her, okay?" "So, now she can work too?" Mr. Grant made a meaningful grimace. "Whether we like it or not, she's already at work. You tell her we'd be honored if she'd come down and work with us." Tang Mi grinned and said, "I'll tell her." Grant said seriously: "Can't you persuade her to go back and stay at home?" Tang Mi shook his head. "You don't know Qiu Peng." "I think I've grown to know her. I just said that because—this—it's a very dangerous mission. If they find out you or her—" He didn't finish what he said next. Tang Mi said seriously: "Sir, I understand that very well." "But I don't think even you can persuade your wife to avoid such dangers?" Tang Mi said slowly: "I don't know if I would really do that. You know, my relationship with Qiu Peng, it's not like that, we do things - all together!" He still remembered the words he said several years ago, during the last battle: take risks together... In the past, his life with Qiu Peng was like this, and it will always be like this in the future - taking risks together...