Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

one Tang Mi was in a coma, and after an unknown period of time, he gradually felt as if there was a fireball floating in space.The center of this fireball is a nuclei of pain, the universe has shrunk, the fireball shakes more slowly.At this time, he suddenly realized: the core of all this is his painful head. Slowly, he became aware of other things: he felt cold in his limbs, cramped, hungry, but he couldn't open his lips. The fireball was shaking more and more slowly...it was the head of Captain Bisford. His head was resting on solid ground.This is solid ground.In fact, it looks like a slate floor.

Yes, he was lying on a hard slate.He was sad, unable to move, very hungry, cold, and unwell. Although the beds in Xiaoyao Hotel are not particularly soft, this is definitely not... Isn't it, Haydack!Radio transmitter!That German servant!When he turned the corner at the entrance of Xiaoyao Hotel... Someone came up behind him silently and knocked him down.That's why he has a splitting headache now. He thought he had escaped safely.It turns out that Haidak is not a fool after all... Haidak?Haidak had walked back to the "smugglers' resting place" and closed the door behind him.Then, how could he come down the mountain in time and come to Xiaoyao Hotel to wait for Tang Mi?

This is impossible, if so, Tang Mi will not be invisible. So, is that the manservant?Did he go there first to ambush under the orders of his master?However, when Tang Mi passed through the hall of the "Smuggler's Rest", the door of the kitchen was not completely closed. Tang Mi clearly saw Apodo in the kitchen. Could it be that he just saw him in his imagination?This might be a possible explanation. Either way, it's irrelevant.The most important thing now is to figure out where I am now? His eyes had become used to discerning things in the dark.Now, he noticed a small, oblong, fuzzy light.Probably a window, or a small latticed window.The air in the house was damp and musty.He thought he was probably lying in a basement.His hands were bound, and his mouth was stuffed with a cloth, which was firmly covered with a bandage.

"It seems that the situation is bad." Tang Mi thought so. He tried very carefully to move his limbs or body, but he couldn't move. At this moment, he heard a creaking sound, and a door behind him was pushed open somewhere.A man with a candlestick came in.The man put the candlestick on the ground, and Tang Mi recognized it as Apodo.Arbodo went out again, and then brought in a plate of things, a can of water and bread cheese on the plate. He bent down, also tried to see if the ropes on Tang Mi's hands and feet were firm enough, and then touched the gag cloth. He said in a calm voice:

"I'm going to take this off so you can eat and drink. But if you scream, I'll put the cloth back in right away." Tang Mi wanted to nod, but couldn't.He had to open and close his eyes several times instead. Apodo took this as a sign of approval, and carefully untied the bandage. Now, there is nothing stuffed in Tang Mi's mouth.He let his mouth rest for a few minutes.Apodo put a glass of water to his lips, and it was difficult for him to swallow at first, but it became easier later.Once the water was down, he felt much better. He whispered laboriously: "That's better. I'm not as young as I was. Now, give me something to eat. Well, what's your name? Fritz—or Franz?"

The servant said calmly: "My name here is Apodo." He brought a piece of cheese-coated bread to Tang Mi's mouth, and Tang Mi took a bite like a hungry wolf. After drinking some boiled water and washing the food down his stomach, he asked: "What's your next show?" Apodo picked up the gag cloth again as an answer. Tang Mi said calmly: "I want to see Lieutenant Colonel Haidak." Apodo shook his head.He skillfully stuffed Tang Mi's mouth again, and walked out. Tang Mi was thinking about it alone, and fell asleep in a daze.Then someone pushed the door open again, and the sound woke him up.This time it was Haidake and Apodo who came in.They removed the cloth from his mouth and loosened the ropes binding his arms so that he could sit up and stretch his arms.

Haidak held an automatic pistol in his hand. Tang Mi didn't have much confidence in his heart, so he just started to act. He said angrily: "Hydak, listen! What do you mean? You attacked me—you kidnapped me—" The lieutenant colonel shook his head slightly. "Don't waste your time talking. It's not worth it," he said. "Don't think that if you are from our intelligence agency, you can—" Haidak shook his head again. "No, no, Meadows. You didn't let that lie, and you don't need to pretend now." However, Tang Mi didn't look embarrassed.He didn't think Haydack was really sure about his identity.If he continues to act—

"Who do you think you are?" he asked. "No matter how powerful you are, you have no right to use this attitude against me. I can keep my mouth shut about our secrets!" Haidak said coldly: "Your play is wonderful, but I can tell you that whether you're a member of the British intelligence service or a novice messing around—" "Your behavior is the most shameless—" "Shut up, Meadows!" "I tell you--" Haidak stretched out his head with a fierce look on his face. "You damn thing, don't talk! A few days ago, it was very important to find out who you were and who sent you. Now, it doesn't matter. The time is urgent, you understand? You don't have any Opportunity to report your new discovery to someone."

"As soon as the police get word that I'm missing, they'll be looking for me." Haidak suddenly grinned and said: "The police have been here tonight. They are my friends, and they are very nice! They asked me all about Mr. Meadows. They were very concerned about his disappearance. They asked: what happened to him that night?" How they looked, what they said, they never dreamed that the person they were talking about was down there. How could they think of that? You were clearly alive when you left this house, weren't you? So, It would never have occurred to them to come here for you."

"You can't lock me here forever." Tang Mi said angrily. "That's not necessary, my friend. We're only keeping you till tomorrow night. There's a ship scheduled to arrive at my little harbor by then, and we're going to take you on a sea voyage, to get some exercise—but, as a matter of fact, I Think, when the ship arrives at its destination, you probably won't be alive, or even on board." "I don't understand why you didn't take a blow to the head and kill me immediately." "My friend, the weather is very hot. Meanwhile, our sea traffic is occasionally hindered. If there is a dead body in this house, wouldn't it be giving away?"

"Oh, I see." Tang Mi said. He did get it.The question is clear.They will save his life until the ship arrives.Then they would beat him to death, or poison him, and take his body to sea.In this way, when it is discovered, there will never be any connection with the "smuggler's resting place". "I just came to ask." Lieutenant Colonel Haidak continued in the most natural manner: See if there is anything you want us to do for you-I mean, after the fact. " Tang Mi thought for a while and said: "Thank you, I will not ask you to cut a lock of my hair and send it to my wife. I will never ask for it. She may miss me when pay day comes. But, I believe, she You can find another friend." He felt that, at any rate, he had to give them the impression that he was acting alone.As long as they don't suspect Qiu Peng, they may still have hope of winning a battle, but by then, it will be impossible for them to participate. "As you please," said Haydack. "However, if you want to send a letter to your—your friend, we will take care of delivering it for you." It turned out that he was still eager to get some information about this strange Mr. Meadows.Well, then, let them guess. He shook his head. "Okay." Haidak nodded to Apodo with an air of indifference.Apodo then tied Tang Mi up again, and also gagged his mouth.The two of them went out and locked the door. Now leaving Tang Mi alone, he began to think that he felt very gloomy now.Not only did he know that he was not far from death, but he was also worried: although he found some information now, he couldn't leave any clues. He couldn't move his body.His mind was exceptionally dull.Haidak said he could leave a letter.So, can he use this opportunity to leave a little clue?He might be able to do it if he had a little more wit...but he couldn't think of a good way. Of course, there is also Qiu Peng.But what can she do?Just now Haidake pointed out: no one will link Tang Mi's disappearance with him.When Tang Mi left the "smugglers' resting place", he was still alive and well.The two witnesses can confirm this.No matter who Qiu Peng suspects, anyway, she will never suspect Haidak.Besides, she might not suspect anything at all, she might think that he was investigating according to a clue. Damn it!If only he had been careful! There was a ray of light in the kiln, which came from a high latticed window in one corner.If he was not gagged, he could call for help and someone would hear him.However, the possibility is not great. For the next half hour he was busy struggling with the ropes that bound him, and trying to bite the cloth in his mouth.However, it was all in vain.They are tied tightly. He judged that this time was probably approaching evening.Haydack might be out, he thought, because he couldn't hear anything up there. Damn it!He may be playing golf, and he may be thinking about what to say to Meadows when he is asked: "You had dinner with me the night before yesterday. It seemed normal at that time. Why did you disappear like this?" Tang Mi was furious, struggling desperately.snort!That feigned, hearty British attitude.Don't you all see that typical Prussian round head?I didn't see through it myself.He is really a top-notch actor, it is amazing that he can escape the eyes of so many people! Looking at him now, he is a complete loser!How shameful!His hands are tied behind his back, like a chicken with its wings tied to its body.No one can imagine where he is now. If only Qiu Peng had clairvoyance!She might be skeptical.Sometimes, she also has an incredible insight... What is that voice? He strained to hear a distant voice. It was just someone humming a tune. But what about himself?But it can't make a sound to attract the attention of outsiders. The humming singing sounded closer, very out of tune. However, even though the tune was out of tune, even though it was not easy to understand, he could still tell what it was.This song was popular as far back as World War I.In this world war it has been revived again: "If you were the only girl in the world and I was the only man in the world—" In 1917, he did not know how many times he hummed this song. This guy is damned!Why can't you sing in tune? The muscles on Tang Mi's body suddenly became tense.Why is this place so familiar to this person who doesn't know how to hum?strangeness!He remembered that when only one person hummed the tune, it was only in this place that it was wrong, and the wrong place was the same! "Ah, it's Albert! It must be him!" It was Albert who was swinging around the "smuggler's hangout".Albert is close at hand, but he himself is tied here, unable to move his hands and feet, and unable to make a sound... Wait, can he really not make a sound? Only one sound can be made now.Of course, it's not as easy to speak with your mouth closed as it is with your mouth open, but it can be done. So Tang Mi snored desperately.He closed his eyes, preparing to pretend that he had slept soundly in case Apodo walked down, snoring... snoring... Short snore, short snort, short snort—pause— Snoring, snoring, snoring—pause— Short snore, short snort, short snore... two After Qiu Peng left, Albert was deeply disturbed. Now that he is older, his thinking ability is slower, but he is still indomitable. Generally speaking, he felt that the current situation was not good. First of all, in this war, everything is wrong. In a sombre mood, and almost without bitterness, Albert thought to himself: "Those Germans!" Those who chanted Heil Hitler, straight-legged and knee-straight German goose, eating the world, bombing, Machine gun fire, do those lawless things.We must find a way to prevent them from following blindly like this!For this, there is no second way, but, so far, no one seems to be able to stop them. Take Mrs. Bi Zhifu as an example, she is really the best wife.Now she's in trouble too, and looking for more trouble.How could he stop her now, it seemed that there was nothing he could do.To do so, they had to fight the fifth column and all the formidable people.Some of them were born in England!What a shame! The wife is quite hasty in doing things. In the past, the master always came to dissuade her.But now, the master is gone. Albert felt that this situation was not good.Judging from the situation, it seems that the people who are in charge are "those Germans". Yes, things don't look good, and they are.It seems to be easy to catch one. Albert doesn't like to use profound reasoning methods to act. Most British people like to grope desperately. They always mess around for a while, and in the end, they always try to find a clue.Albert made up his mind that his master must be found, like a faithful dog, and set off at once to find him. He didn't go looking for it according to any fixed plan.Usually, if his wife lost her purse, or if she couldn't find her glasses, he had an old way of finding those important things.This is the method he is using now.That is to say, his method is to go to the places where these things were last seen. Everyone knew that the last thing Tang Mi did before his disappearance was to have dinner with Lieutenant Colonel Haidak at the "Smuggler's Rest", and return to Xiaoyao Hotel after the meal, and he was finally seen turning in at the gate. Therefore, Albert climbed up the mountain until he reached the gate of Xiaoyao Hotel.For about five minutes he stared hopelessly at the gate.He didn't feel that there was any clue, so he sighed and walked slowly to the top of the hill to the "smuggler's resting place". During that week, Albert also went to Huamei Cinema to watch a movie.And I was deeply impressed by the theme of the film "The Bard".Really romantic!He couldn't help but feel that his situation was very similar to his own.He's like that screen hero, Gary Cooper, a loyal servant looking for his imprisoned master.He was like that servant named Bland, who had followed his master to wars and wars in the past.Now, his master has been tricked by the enemy, and no one will come forward to find his whereabouts and bring him back to the arms of his lover, Queen Brengari, except the loyal servant Brand. The faithful servant searched under every watchtower, humming affectionately: Richard O monroi! (Richard, O my lord!).When Albert thought of this scene, he was very moved. It is a great pity that he has never been very good at learning singing tunes.It takes a long time to learn every tune.He formed his lips into a trial whistle and began humming the old tune.It is said that everyone likes to sing that old tune again: "If you were the only woman in the world and I was the only man in the world—" Albert stopped in his tracks and looked at the neat white-painted gate of the "Smuggler's Rest".By the way, this is where the master goes to have dinner. He walked up the mountain again and came to the grassland where the sheep were herding. There was nothing here, nothing but grass and a few sheep. The door of the "Smuggler's Rest" suddenly flew open, and a car drove out, and inside sat a large man in bloomers and carrying a golf ball.The man drove the car down the hill. That was probably Lieutenant Colonel Haidak.It's a pretty neat place.The garden is also very nice.The scenery is superb. With a gentle smile, he looked at the scenery. "I have endless sweet words to tell you." He hummed this tune softly. A man walked out of the side door, took a hoe, walked out of a small door, and disappeared. Albert had a lot of amaranth and a bit of lettuce growing in his back garden, so he was immediately intrigued. He approached the "smuggler's resting place" gently sideways, and walked through the open door.Yes, a neat little place. He slowly made a circle around the house.He saw a terraced vegetable garden below, accessible by steps.The person who came out just now is busy working there.Albert looked at him with great interest for a while.Then he turned to look at the house. What a neat little house.This is the third time he thought this way.Just where a retired naval officer would love to live.This is where the host had dinner that night. Albert walked slowly around and around the house.He was looking at the house, just as he was looking at the gate of the Xiaoyao Hotel, full of hope, as if he was asking the house, hoping it could give him a clue. He searched all the way, humming softly all the way.A twentieth-century brand, seeking his master. "I've got so much sweet stuff to tell you—I've got so much to do—" Is there something wrong with humming?He'd missed it before. Ah, how strange!It turns out that Lieutenant Colonel Haidak is still raising pigs here!Yeah?A long, pig humming sound reached his eardrums.strangeness!It seems to be coming from the basement.Strange, how to raise pigs in the basement? It won't be pigs.By the way, someone must be sleeping, snoring there.It seems that someone is sleeping in the basement for a while... The weather is just right for taking a nap, but it's strange how to go to that place to take a nap?Albert hummed like a bee as he walked closer. It was here that the sound came--from the latticed window.Uh, uh, uh, huh huh, huh huh, huh huh. —Uh, uh, uh.This snoring sound is really strange!Hearing this voice reminded him of another voice... "Oh!" Albert said. "It turned out to be this signal - SOS (distress signal) - short, short, short, long, long, long, short, short, short." He took a quick look around. So, he knelt down and lightly tapped a signal on the small iron window in the basement.