Chapter 5 chapter Five

one It turned out that Lieutenant Colonel Haidak entertained the guests very kindly.He warmly welcomed Mr. Meadows and Major Brechley, and he must show Mr. Meadows his "little place" for a week. The "Smuggler's Rest" was originally a small house for several coast guards, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea.There is a dangerous cove below, and the entrance is full of dangers. Only the adventurous people dare to drive into it. Later, these houses were bought by a London businessman.He combined them into one house, and less enthusiastically started a garden.He occasionally comes here for a short stay in the summer.

The house was left unoccupied for many years.The house is slightly furnished and rented out to tourists in summer. "Then, in 1926," said Haidak. "The house was sold to a man named He En, a German. At the same time, let me tell you, he is an out-and-out spy." Tang Mi's ears immediately became alert. "This is very interesting." Tang Mi was sipping white wine, and now he said this while putting down the glass. "Those guys were very well planned," Haidak said. "At that time, they were already preparing for this war—at least that's my opinion. You can see the situation here. There is no better signal to the sea from here. The small bay below It can be landed by steamship. Due to the situation of the hanging rock, this place is completely isolated from the outside world. If you want to say that He En is not a German spy, I will not agree."

Major Brechley said: "Of course he was a spy." "How is he?" Tang Mi asked. "Ah," said Haydack. "His situation, speaking of it, is a little strange. He spent a lot of money on this house. For example, he built a road to the beach, and the steps are all cement, which is very expensive. Secondly, he has remodeled the house, and added bathrooms, and every expensive contraption imaginable. Guess who he got to do it? Not local, yes, it is said I’m looking for a company in London. However, many of the people who come to work here are foreigners, and some of them don’t understand a word of English. This situation is a bit strange, do you agree with me?”

"It's indeed a bit strange." Tang Mi agreed. "Back then, I lived nearby too. I lived in a bungalow. I used to hang around here and watch the workers work because I was interested in this guy. Now I tell you, they didn't Not happy, not at all, and once or twice they tried to frighten me with words, telling me not to hang around here. What do you think they'd do to frighten me, if everything was fair and square?" Brechelle nodded in agreement with what he said. "Actually, you should report it to the authorities," he said: "That's what I do, old friend. But it's annoying the police because I'm bothering them every day."

He pours another glass of wine. "What was the result of my painstaking efforts? They gave me a polite ignore. At that time, everyone in our country was deaf and blind. According to the situation at the time, we would have to fight Germany again. Impossible. Europe is already talking about peace, we had a good relationship with Germany at the time, and now everyone is talking about how to solve problems without forcing each other and asking for mutual consent. They think I am an old corrupt , war-crazed, stubborn old navy. Germany was indeed building the best air force in Europe at the time, but they didn't just fly around and have picnics. What's the use of pointing out that fact to them? "

Major Brechelle said like an explosion: "No one will believe what they say! Damned fools! In our time there is still talk of peace, of appeasement. It's all nonsense!" When Haidak spoke, he suppressed his anger, and his face was redder than usual: "'Warmonger!' That's what they call me. People like me, they say, are a stumbling block to peace. Huh! Peace! I see what Horn's fellows are up to! Watch out: they It was all prepared in advance. I concluded that Mr. He En could not do any good things. I doubted his group of foreign workers and the way he spent money on this house. I met people Scolding them endlessly."

"Brave!" Brechelle said appreciatively. "So, at last," said Lieutenant Colonel Haidak. "I'm slowly getting noticed. We have a new chief of police here. He's a retired soldier. He has brains. He listened to me, and his subordinates started to investigate. Sure enough, He En slipped away. One night, He slipped out and hasn't been seen since. The police came here with a search warrant and they found a safe built into the wall of the dining room. Inside they found a radio transmitter and some documents against him. .Meanwhile, under the garage, they found a big storage room with gasoline--in big drums, and I tell you, I'm so proud of this big discovery. Friends from the old clubs used to I made a laughingstock that I had a 'German spy complex'. Since then, they never talked about it again. In our country, no one suspects anyone at all. This attitude is ridiculously childish. At the same time, the problem lies in Here."

"No reason! Fools! We are all fools! These German refugees, why don't we detain them?" Major Brechelle, who had walked away from them, also interrupted. "The result: When the house sells, I buy it." Haidak continued.He was talking with relish, lest others change his topic. "Come on, Meadows, let's look around. Shall we?" "Well, thank you." As a landlord, Lieutenant Colonel Haidak was very enthusiastic like a child when he showed him around the house.He opened the large safe in the dining room and pointed to the place where the transmitter had been found.He also took Tang Mi to the garage outside to see where those big gasoline barrels were hidden.Then, he took a quick tour of the two beautiful bathrooms, special lighting installations, and all kinds of "exquisite utensils" used in the kitchen. Then, he led Tang Mi down the steep concrete steps to the small room below. bay.At this time, he started from the beginning again, saying that the whole design would be very useful to the enemy in battle.

Haidak also took him to the cave to have a look.The house was named after the cave, and he pointed out enthusiastically how to use the cave in battle. Brechelle did not accompany the two of them to visit, he sat quietly on the terrace and tasted wine.Tang Mi thought: The lieutenant colonel's successful spy detection must be the main topic of his usual conversation, and his friends must have heard it countless times. In fact, not long after, when they returned to the Xiaoyao Hotel, what Brechelle said to him was exactly what he thought. "Haydock, he's a good man," he said. "However, if you let him let go of something interesting, he will feel uncomfortable. We heard him say it over and over again, and we don't know how many times. In the end, everyone got tired of hearing it. .He takes as much pride in solving the conspiracy here, as an old cat sees a kitten."

This metaphor is not far-fetched, Tang Mi showed a knowing smile. The conversation then turned to Major Brechelle's own pride.He said he had exposed a courier scam in 1923.When he was talking, Tang Mi was thinking about his own thoughts in his heart, and only inserted a sentence or two at the right time.Such as: "Wouldn't it be?" "Wouldn't it be?" When Fakuhua was dying, he mentioned Xiaoyao Hotel.Now, the more Tang Mi thinks about it, the more he feels that this clue is correct.In this paradise, the enemy has already prepared for a rainy day.The presence of that German, Horn, and his extensive disposition, were sufficient evidence that the enemy had chosen this particular point on the coast as their point of concentration, the focal point of their operations.

Thanks to the unexpected reconnaissance activities of Lieutenant Colonel Haidak, the enemy's plot was shattered.The first-leg victory, then, belongs to Britain.But what if that "smugglers' resting place" was no more than the outpost of a complex plan of attack?That is to say, the "smugglers' resting place" represents a maritime traffic point.The beach, with no access except from above, would be of great use to the enemy's plans.However, this is just a move on the entire chessboard. This part of the enemy's plan shattered Haidak, so what was their reaction?Would they have to settle for the next best thing and start their activities from the next stronghold?That is to say, move the outpost to Xiaoyao Hotel?The Horn project was exposed about four years ago.According to Mrs. Pliner's words, Tang Mi felt that she returned to England and bought the Xiaoyao Hotel not long after the incident was revealed.Could it be that this is an action of the enemy? It seemed, therefore, that Lehanton must have been a center of enemy activity, where the enemy had been deployed and communicated. So, his spirits rose up.The atmosphere of melancholy created by the harmless and useless Getaway Hotel had disappeared.Although this place seems to be harmless, but this is only on the surface.There was some hilarious drama going on behind that innocuous-looking mask. According to Tang Mi's judgment, the focus of all this is Mrs. Pliner.Now, the first step is to learn more about Mrs. Pliner.On the surface, the activities of running the Xiaoyao Hotel seem to be very simple, but to see through the activities behind it, one must investigate her letters, her friends, her social activities, and her activities during the World War.Among these materials, it is not difficult to find out what her real activities are.If Mrs. Pliner is the well-known female spy M, then she is the one who controls the activities of the enemy's entire fifth column in Britain.Her identity must be known to very few people, probably only senior officials.However, she always communicated with her chief of staff.Then, what he and Qiu Peng must spy on is the information she has communicated with these people. As long as they have a small number of loyal comrades who are active inside the hotel, they can occupy the "smugglers' resting place" when the time comes.Tang Mi sees this very clearly. Now, the time is not yet ripe, but it may not be far away. Once the German troops control the channel harbors in France and Belgium, they can concentrate their firepower on the invasion of Britain.At present, the situation in France is really not good. The power of the British navy at sea is boundless, so if Germany attacks, it must be launched by spies from the air and from within the UK.If Mrs. Pliner had been manipulated by clues of internal rebellion, it was imperative to try to detect such a conspiracy. Major Brechley's words coincided with what Tang Mi thought: "You know, I've seen that the urgency is now. . . . " So he talked about how he had exposed the deception. Tang Mi was thinking: "Why did you start in Lehanton? Is there any reason? This is a place outside the mainstream - you can say backcountry, everything is conservative, old-fashioned. All these characteristics are exactly what they mean. Well, think about it." Look, is there another reason?" Behind Lehanton there was a flat field of farmland leading inland.There are many pastures there, so it is very suitable for loading army planes and landing paratroopers.But the same is true in many other places.It is also worth noting that there is a large chemical factory here, where Karl Denimo worked. Denimo.Is his condition suitable?Yes, it fits perfectly!Of course, he wasn't the real mastermind. At this level, Grant had already pointed out, he was just a cog in a cog.This person is very suspicious and may be detained at any time.But, in the meantime, he may have accomplished his task.He once told Qiu Peng that he was studying the problem of eliminating poisonous gas and the disinfection of certain poisonous gases. There is also the possibility of collaborating with the enemy in this regard. This possibility is very annoying when I think of it. Therefore, Tang Mi judged that Karl Denimo was also a figure involved in the Nazi conspiracy (however, he was rather unwilling to think so).it's a pity!Because he has a good impression of this person.However, he is serving the country and will die for the country if necessary.Tang Mi respected such an enemy.Of course, we absolutely must subdue him, so, in the end, execute him by shooting.But when you have to take on the task, you'll understand what it's like to work. Those who betrayed their country, those who turned from within, these were the ones who really aroused his anger.As soon as he thought of this, his heart slowly became excited: they must be punished! "This is how I unraveled the Nazi organization!" Major Brechelle ended his words proudly. "Pretty trick, isn't it?" Tang Mi flattered without embarrassment: "Major, I have never heard of such an ingenious method in my life!" two Mrs. Brunken was reading a letter, on a thin foreign paper, stamped "Certified." "Ramon!" she whispered. "He has been doing well in Egypt, and I am very relieved. Now it seems that there will be a big change. Of course, this is all very 'confidential'. He said in the letter, This can't be 'leaked'. He just told me that they do have a good plan and told me to wait and see, there will be an 'amazing big change' soon. Now I know where he is sent , I feel more at ease. However, I really don't understand why—” Brechelle snorted and said: "Surely such things are not allowed to be mentioned in letters?" Qiu Peng laughed disapprovingly, and then looked around at the people at the table. Meanwhile, she folded up the precious letter. "Ah! We have a special method." She said boldly: "Raymond is very clear, as long as I know where he is and is going to go there, I won't be very worried. Our communication method is also very simple, just a The letter of the word below is the initial letter of a place name. Of course, with this way of writing, sometimes a sentence looks funny, but Raymond is very smart. I believe no one will notice it. " Everyone at the table let out a low exclamation when they heard this.She picked the right opportunity, and this time, everyone in the hotel was present. Brechelle blushed a little, and said: "Mrs. Brunken, please forgive me for speaking bluntly. But you are really stupid for doing this. Our military operations are exactly what the Germans want to know." "Ah, but I'll never tell anyone," Qiu Peng said loudly. "I'm very careful." "That's still unwise. One day in the future, you mother and son will get into trouble." "Oh, I hope it doesn't. I'm his 'mother,' and you know a mother 'should' know these things." "That's true. I thought you were right." Mrs. O'Rourke said in a thunderous voice. "You will never reveal your son's secret. We mothers all know it." "The letter might be peeked at," said Brecheyley. "I'm very careful. I never throw letters around." Qiu Peng showed an air of hurt self-esteem. "I always keep my letters locked up." Major Brechelle shook his head suspiciously. three It was a leaden morning with a cold wind blowing from the sea.Qiu Peng sat alone at the end of the beach. From her handbag she took out two letters, which had been forwarded by someone she had just received from a small newspaper distributor in the city. She opened the letter.Mother: There are many interesting things I can tell you, but I can't.I think we're about to show our talents.Today, the streets and alleys are talking about the five German planes attacking in the morning, and everyone is talking about it, saying that our current situation is really bad.But, in the end, we will surely win. What really saddened me was the German machine gun shooting poor passers-by on the road, which made us all very angry.Agger and Ah Chuan both greet you, they are both in good health now. Don't worry about me, I'm fine.I will never miss this opportunity to show my talents. "Old man with red hair" (this is the nickname the son gave his father - Translator's Note) okay?Has the Combat Committee arranged work for him?Sincerely, Derek Qiu Peng looked at it several times, her eyes shining with joy. Then she opened another letter: Mom: How is Aunt Gracie?Are you in good health?You can bear it, I think it is rare.I can't do it. Nothing to report.My mission is very interesting, but it is very confidential, so I can't tell you.However, I really think it's worth doing.You don't have to worry about not having a war job, some older women are in a hurry to get things done, but what they really need is a young, productive guy.Don't know how the "old man with red hair" works in Scotland?I think maybe he just fills out forms every day, but if he can feel that he is not idle, he will be happy.Sincerely, Deborah Qiu Peng smiled. She folded the letter, flattened it with great care, then struck a match on the stone of the breakwater, and burned it all up, and did not rest until it was completely reduced to ashes. She took a pen and a small legal pad out of her purse and scribbled: Daughter of Deborah: It's so far from the battle here that I can't even imagine we're at war.It's interesting to hear from you and know that your work is interesting.I'm so happy! Aunt Gracie was getting weaker and more delirious.I live here and she is happy.She always talked a lot of old things, and sometimes she couldn't tell who was who, and thought I was her sister-in-law.They've grown more vegetables than usual, and I help old Sikes a little sometimes, which makes me feel like I've done something on this war day, too.Your father seems a little unhappy, but I think, as you say in your letter, that he is also relieved to have something to do.Alphabet She wrote another one.Derek Elle: I am very relieved to receive the letter!If you don't have time to write letters, you often send picture postcards. I'm staying with Aunt Gracie now.She is very weak, and she talks about you as if you were only seven years old.Yesterday she gave me ten shillings for your pocket money. I still don't have a job and no one needs my help these days.Your father got a job in the quartermaster department, I told you about that.He is somewhere in the north now, better than nothing, but this is not the job he wants to do.Alas, poor "red-haired old man", but I think we should humble ourselves, sit back, and leave the fighting to you young fools. I'm not going to say "take care" to you, because, I think, you'll just do the opposite of what I want.However, I advise you not to go, be smart.Alphabet She put the letter in an envelope, wrote the recipient's name and address, put a stamp on it, and mailed it when she returned to Xiaoyao Hotel. When she was almost at the foot of the cliff, she saw two people talking on the hillside not far ahead. She was suddenly taken aback.That was the woman she had seen yesterday, and it was Denimus who was talking to her.It's a pity that there is no place to hide, and it is impossible to get close and eavesdrop on what they are talking about without anyone noticing. Not only that, but at this moment the young German had turned his head and saw her.The two of them separated, as if quite suddenly, and the woman quickly walked down the hillside, crossed the road, and walked past Qiu Peng. De Nemo waited until Choppong came up to him. Then, he said "Good morning" to her solemnly and politely. Qiu Peng immediately said: "Monsieur De Nemo, the woman with whom you were talking looks very strange." "Yes, typical of Central Europeans. She's Czech." "Really? Is—is your friend?" When Qiu Peng spoke, he imitated the tone of Aunt Gracie's youth. "No," said Karl Denimo sternly, "never saw her before." "Oh, I thought—" At this point, Qiu Peng subtly paused. "She just asked me about something. I spoke to her in German because she didn't know much English." "Oh, so she was asking for directions?" "She asked me if there was a Mrs. Goteb living nearby. I didn't know, and then she said maybe it was a mistake." "I see." Qiu Peng said thoughtfully. Yesterday she spoke of Mr. Rosenstein, and today she spoke of Mrs. Goteb.She stole a glance at Denimo.He was walking beside him with a perforated front. For that strange woman, Qiu Peng felt really suspicious.At the same time, she felt that nine times out of ten, when she first saw them, they had been talking for a long time. Denimo? She suddenly remembered that Carl said to Sheila that morning: "You must be careful!" Qiu Peng thought: "I hope—I hope these two young men are not involved." She thought: My heart is too soft!Middle-aged people, their hearts are too soft!She is such a person!The dogma of the Nazis is the dogma of the young.Nine out of ten Nazi spies were young people, such as Karl and Sheila.Tang Mi said that Shela has a part, yes, but Tang Mi is a man, and Shela is so strangely beautiful, so amazing. Carl and Sheila, with the enigmatic Mrs. Pliner behind her.Sometimes this landlady is purely a well-spoken, ordinary landlady, but sometimes, in a flash, she is a bit of a tragic and intense character. Qiu Peng walked upstairs slowly to his room. That night, when Qiu Peng went to bed, she pulled out the long drawer of the desk.On one side of the drawer stood a small lacquered box, locked with a flimsy, cheap lock.Qiupeng put on his gloves, unlocked the lock, and opened the box.Inside is a stack of letters.The top one was the letter from "Raymond" that morning.Qiu Peng spread the letter very carefully, so she pursed her mouth coldly.The eyelash she had put in the folder of the letter this morning was gone. She went to the washbasin.There was a small bottle with a label on it, and on the note was written a few innocuous words: "Powder of Ash", and instructions on how to take it. Qiu Peng skillfully sprinkled the powder on the letter paper and the bright lacquer of the box.Neither of these items had fingerprints.Qiu Peng nodded coldly again, expressing his satisfaction.It turned out that there should be her own fingerprints on them.The servant might take out the letter out of curiosity and read it.Not likely, though, and at the same time, she would never bother to find a key to unlock it.However, if it was a servant, she would not have thought of breaking off her fingerprints.Is that Mrs. Pliner?Is it Sheila?Or someone else's?At least one person interested in British military operations. Four Qiu Peng's reconnaissance plan, the outline is very simple.First, she was going to weigh up the possibilities.In the second step, she would conduct an experiment to determine whether any of the people staying at the Xiaoyao Hotel were interested in military operations and were eager to conceal this fact. Step 3: She wants to ask: Who is that person? The next morning, when Qiupeng was still lying on the bed, she was thinking about the third action.At this time, everyone hadn't drunk the lukewarm cup of ink-like thing called "morning tea".At such an early hour, Xiao Baidi suddenly jumped in, slightly interrupting her thoughts. Betty is active and likes to talk.Now she already likes Qiu Peng very much.She climbed onto the bed, put a dilapidated picture book in front of Qiu Peng, and ordered her briefly: "Practice! (That's 'reading', a word for children who can't pronounce clearly.——Translator's Note)" Qiu Peng read obediently: Eunuch Goose, Granny Goose, where are you going? Upstairs, downstairs, in the lady's room. Betty laughed so hard that she rolled on the bed, happily following along. "Louxiang (that's "up", Xiaoeryu)—Louxiang—" her voice reached a climax; "Lou——" and with a "bang", she rolled down on the bed. She repeated the game several times until she got tired of it.Later, she crawled on the ground, playing with Qiu Peng's shoes, and was busy muttering to herself, all in her own special language. Only then did Qiupeng relieve the task, and her mind returned to her own problem, almost forgetting the existence of the child.She felt that the words of those two lullabies were mocking her. Eunuch Goose, Granny Goose, where are you going? Really, go there?Granny Goose is her, Eunuch Goose is Tang Mi.All in all, it's like what the two of them seem to be on the surface.Qiu Peng looked down on Mrs. Brunken, who he played.As for Mr. Meadows played by Tang Mi, she thought it was better, a dull, unimaginative, typical British character, and unimaginably stupid.She hoped that the two characters they played were suitable for the background of the Xiaoyao Hotel, and they were characters that might exist in this kind of place. However, those who hold this kind of work must not relax, because it is very easy to make mistakes.A few days ago, she made a mistake. Although it was not important, it was a warning that she should be very careful.She plays a woman who knits a sweater all day, always absent-minded, asking for advice on how to play.But, one night, she forgot.Her fingers inadvertently returned to the usual experienced movements, and the steel needles were busy non-stop, fully revealing the well-proportioned movements of the veteran.And the situation had been brought to Mrs. O'Rourke's attention.Since then, Qiupeng has been cautious and adopted a compromise method - not as stupid as at the beginning, but not as fast as she used to be. At this time, Bai Di asked repeatedly: "Are you proud? Are you proud?" "Good, good!" Qiu Peng said absently. "Pretty!" Betty was satisfied, and whispered baby talk again. Qiu Peng thought that her next step was quite easy to do.That is to say, if there is Tang Mi to assist in secret, she already knows how to do it. She lay on the bed thinking, time slipped by unknowingly.At this moment Mrs. Spurrow came running in, out of breath, to look for Betty. "Oh, here she is! I didn't think she'd go there. Oh, Betty, you naughty child. Oh, Mrs. Brunken, I'm so sorry." Qiu Peng is now sitting up on the bed.Betty looked innocent like an angel, staring at her own masterpiece. It turned out that she had untied all the shoelaces from the awning and soaked them in a glass water jar.Now, she is happily poking and playing. Qiu Peng laughed and interrupted Mrs. Spurrow's apology. "How interesting! You needn't worry, Mrs. Spurrow. It'll be all right when it's dry, and it's my fault. I should have noticed. She's pretty quiet." "I know," sighed Mrs. Spurrow. "It's a bad sign if the child is quiet. Mrs. Brunken, I'll get you some new ones in the morning." "Don't bother," Qiu Peng said. "Not yet." Mrs. Spurrow took Betty away, and then, Qiu Peng got up, and carried out her plan.