Chapter 26 bet

I knelt on the bank of the creek cleaning the squat fish I caught that day, wrinkling my nose.It's really strange, how other people's fish smells more fishy than your own.A burst of laughter came from the wooden house on the hill behind me. It was my uncle's laughter, loud and loud, just like his people. Uncle and his good friend Jizier played a game of twenty-dollar cards.Both of them saw money as blank paper.This morning they bet fifty dollars on who would catch a squat, and Basil won. Then they competed over who caught the biggest fish at noon that day, and Zizir won again.Uncle just smiled foolishly and handed over the money obediently.

It's the same every year, Uncle and Zizir meet up here for vacation, and Uncle will throw a few dollars to my mother to tidy up the place, and I become their free private slave. It wasn't like that when my dad was alive.Since his death, everything has gone from bad to worse.The cow got lost on the road and got hit by a truck and broke a leg; the last time the wind blew off half of our roof and the entire north fence collapsed; my old truck needed a major repair.Things piled up and I couldn't cope with expenses from morning till night. The worst part of it all was being the uncle's servant.He is arrogant and conceited, bosses everything around, and is superior.

Uncle earns more money in two hours than I earn in sixteen hours a day.It doesn't seem fair. I filled the pot with fresh, clean water and brought the fish into the cabin.Uncle and Basil were still at the side tables, each on their own, playing cards so intently that neither looked up. Basil drew a card from a deck, turned out a preserved egg, and overwhelmed the card his uncle had laid out on the table. They were playing three points, and this time he won again.Uncle took out a crumpled twenty-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over without a word.As he stroked his neat mustache, the diamonds on his fingers shone. "John, is dinner ready?" he asked. "Almost." I said.Basil grinned and said at the same time. "Well, maybe you play a game or two later." I just stared at him, and Basil knew I had no money.

"Well, Basil? Uncle patted the pile of bills in his pocket." We have a few more games to play. " "I've never seen anyone so eager to lose money," said Basil, blowing a puff of smoke at the ceiling. "It's a deal, it's a deal." When I was frying squat fish and making cornbread, my uncle lost four more games, not only twenty yuan each.But losing money did not affect his appetite. I cut a lot of firewood and put it in the firewood box.They ate and bragged about the money they won in the city, the women they played with, and talked with gusto, and I almost turned my stomach.

They swim where I've never been and do things I've never done.For that, I hate them. After they finished their coffee, I cleared the tables and washed the dishes.They gambled again. This time the luck was in the uncle's favor; he not only won back the money he had lost, but he had won Basil's money as well. Watching them push the money around makes me wish it was mine. "I'm going home," I said, "I have a lot to do tomorrow." Uncle looked around and said, "Okay, John, see you later. Also, tell your mother we'll be leaving in a day or two." I nodded sullenly.

Basil stood up and stretched. "Let's take a rest, anyway, it's time for you to take medicine." "Basil, you look like an old woman," said my uncle grumblingly, but with his left hand he began to fumble in an ancient little chest for his pills, while I went out on the porch. It was cold and dark outside, and I stood by the truck, listening to the sounds of the various animals in the night. It's the best part of the day, when I feel relaxed, and reach into my pocket for a half-smoked cigarette. Basil put his hand over my shoulder and lit a heavy lighter, gold.

I turned around and bent over to light the fire. "Thank you." I whispered. Basil lit a tuba himself, leaned against my truck, and said, "John, why are you staying in a place like this?" I live here, and probably always will. " "Have you thought about living somewhere else?" He looked at the end of the cigarette, "Maybe Las Vegas?" "Yeah," I sniffed, "I've thought about it, I don't want to spend money." "A smart man like you can make a living anywhere." "I think so." "Of course you can," Basil approached me, "Think of Las Vegas or Reno City, and maybe take 10,000 yuan with you to play, John, wine, beauties...everything you haven't tried."

I threw away the cigarette in my hand and stomped it out. "Old Basil, what are you going to do?" He looked at me quietly for a long time. At this time, there was a strange bird calling by the stream. "John, if I tell you now, if you dare to publicize it, I will immediately deny it and give you a good look." His voice was low and flat, "Do you doubt me?" "Don't beat around the bush, say what you have to say or shut up," I whispered, "I'm too tired to hear a lot of nonsense." "Okay," he laughed, "Okay, I just want you to understand, I'm serious."

"Okay, you're serious." He glanced quickly at the wooden house, "I'll tell you, if your uncle is 'absent', I'll pay you 10,000 yuan." I didn't speak, but I frowned, showing hesitation . "Why so surprised? Admit it, John, you hate his guts, and you hate him, and you hate me!" "Maybe I don't like him," I said, "but there's no reason to kill him." "There is a reason of ten thousand yuan, and besides, I didn't say anything to kill him," he patted me on the shoulder, "You know your uncle's heart attack, once again, just..." As he said, he squeezed his fingers ring.

Basil opened the door of my truck. "John, you consider my decision, and then inform me of yours." I was so upset that it took me a while to start the car, and then I lay in the room too hot to fall asleep. I tossed and turned on the sweat-stained bed. I thought about it until 5 a.m., and I thought about the use of 10,000 yuan. At that time, I was on tenterhooks, worried that the truck would break down.The roof can be repaired with money, and the fence can be hired for help. It was just dawn when I quietly closed the front door. I threw some tools into the truck and headed north as the world came to life.

After noon, I found something lurking in the shadow of a huge boulder, a snake lying there curled up like a thick spring with shiny scales.The vile, wobbly thing lay coiled there, ready to bite. I grabbed a head-sized rock and held it high, ready to smash the hissing thing into the dirt. The snake let out a frightened cry in a hurry, staring at me with its small black eyes, and sticking out its tongue. Time stood still as I gazed at the reptile. I held a heavy, sun-dried stone in my hand, and sweat dripped into my eyes, but I felt cold all over my body.The thought of ten thousand yuan flashed into my mind again, and I threw away the stone in my hand. I ran back to the truck at full speed and grabbed a sack and a pickaxe from it. The snake was crawling away and almost got into a crevice in the rock.I hacked at it with the hoe and it curled up and started attacking, thumping against the hoe, and I pinned it down before it could wax back.It rattled violently when I stepped on its head. The thing moved wildly and exhaled a smell like ripe apples.I can feel that hideous head squirming under my battered boots. I bent over and reached out to grab the snake's head, and the snake's body coiled around my arm, and I almost let go.My hands felt slippery, the snake was so strong I couldn't hold it for long. It is quite difficult to pull the coiled snake body apart, and it is even more difficult to stuff it into the bag.I lifted the bag, quickly knotted it, and got down on my knees again, my shirt wet with sweat. When I reached into my pocket for a cigarette, I heard the sound of the pocket tearing.Cursing softly, I sat down wearily and waited for peace, because my hands were shaking. The sack finally stopped hissing, and only occasionally could something move inside.I sat there staring at it, wondering if I could really do it.Of course I don't like my uncle, but he is a person, he has feelings like anyone else, and he is my uncle.I threw the snake bag onto the truck. As my old truck rumbled up one of the trail's high places, the cabin looked empty, with the front door open and no one in sight. When the truck started to go downhill, I cut the engine and let the car slide down to a stop in front of the porch.Uncle's voice came from the brook, and then I heard Basil's answer.I think they're betting again. I gently opened the screen door and entered the house, the sack held far away, away from my feet. Because if I want to do this, I have to do it well, and there must be no mistakes.This thing must be placed where only uncle will touch it.I can't let anything happen to Basil - not yet. The room was a mess, and I looked it over slowly: the remains of breakfast dishes were scattered on the table, the bed was not made, cigarette butts were thrown on the floor, the firewood box was empty again. It's all in my hands, but it'll have to wait.I found a suitable and needed one: Uncle's chest. I opened the clasp of the box, and the dented lid was lifted silently. Inside the box were two clean changes of clothes, half a dozen unopened playing cards, almost full packs of cigarettes, and small bottles of medicine.This is exactly the place. I could feel myself shaking again as I carefully unknotted the sack and watched the snake slowly emptied into the case. I slammed the lid shut.Big beads of sweat rolled from his forehead and splashed on the metal box like summer rain on a barn roof.My head was spinning, but I stayed calm. I strode towards the door, stopped to look, it was not too late, I could turn around and no one would know. Step outside, letting the screen door slam shut behind you.The trail to the creek winds its way through the woods. The forest is cool, dark and full of thorns.I remember that this was my favorite place when I was a child, and it is still the same now. I walked slowly, listening to the birds chirping, and wished I had just touched a pack of uncle's cigarettes. The forest suddenly opened up at the creek. I saw the two of them standing in the waist-deep running water, their fishing rods waving gracefully, and my uncle skillfully cast the fishing line under the low-hanging willows.Then he saw me, waved his hand, and spoke loudly that I couldn't understand. Basil waded in and said, "John, how are you?" "I need a cigarette," I said, and he shook out one while handing me the lighter.I lit a cigarette and stood beside him, playing with the shiny golden lighter in my hand. Basil was fumbling with the tackle, ready to hook and cast. "Have you considered our conversation last night?" He chose to use a long tail type. "I've considered it," I picked out the long-tailed hook from his hand, and handed him a dry bait, "I have considered it." "The result?" I nodded and returned the lighter to him. "You mean, are you willing to do it?" "Ten thousand yuan is not enough." Basil looked at me as if I was one of the baits in his hand. "Fifteen thousand?" "Twenty-five thousand." A waterfowl screamed in the dead silence.Basil and I stared at each other in the same way I had stared at the snake an hour earlier.Finally, he shrugged. "Okay, John, I agree, what are you going to do?" "Don't worry about it," I said, "it's already ready, as long as you don't touch his box." "Did you really do it?" Basil shook his head slowly. "Isn't that exactly what you want? When can I get the money?" "After the matter is over, you can get it!" He didn't hide the disgust in his voice. I turned and started walking back down the path.Fuck his Basil, he has no right to belittle me, it's all his idea.When I climbed into the truck, I was still unhappy.The days seemed endless. Broke two fingers, made me quit the fence job, and waste the rest of my time thinking about that money.Twenty-five thousand is a fortune to me, more than my savings in three lifetimes.Yes, it was hard on Uncle, but he was a complete gambler himself, and he would be the first to admit that you can't keep winning. It was late when I returned to the cabin. The night also brought the cold to the mountains, and I wrapped my ragged jacket tightly.The truck started slowly, and I began to crawl away, regretting my delay.The closer I came to the end of the path, the more I dreaded what was waiting for me. Basil was sitting on the porch smoking a cigarette when I pulled up.I wished so much that this was over, that I searched Basil's face for signs.He just shook his head. I silently passed him and entered the cabin.Uncle, who was winning a solo game, smiled as if pleased to see me, and I took a chance to glance at the metal box. "Is there a fish cleaning?" I asked. "We caught a few small fish and threw them all back." He offered me a cigarette, and I took it, pulling a chair away from the mouth of the metal box. I'd better get this over with quickly, I can't take it anymore: he has to open the box with his own hands. "Mum asked how you are." "She's always a mother," he said with a smile. Watch your heart." Uncle touched his face with his hands involuntarily, and looked at me sadly, "You have never been close to me, we should get to know each other better." As he said, he leaned over and pulled the box in front of him. I sat up straight, wondering if he could hear the voice inside.There was no sound from inside, so I forced myself to sit back, took a deep drag on my cigarette, and waited. When my uncle bent over to open the box, my mouth felt dry. It was strange why I hadn't noticed before that there were so many mottled hairs on my uncle's head. "Uncle!" My voice was too loud.Uncle straightened his back and looked at me strangely. "It's nothing," I said, "I didn't mean to be loud." "John, you work so hard, you should go on vacation and relax." The cigarette was almost up to my fingertips, and I said, "I'm going on vacation, and I'm going soon." The screen door slammed and Basil entered, and I almost jumped out of my chair.He gave me a contemptuous smile. At that time, I hated him ten times more than my uncle. "I've never seen anyone so embarrassed," my uncle looked at me with concern, "what's the matter with you tonight?" Zizir laughed and said, "Maybe he's working too hard." "Why don't you shut up!" I turned to him and said, "No one talks to you." He just smiled at me. "I'm sorry," the hat crumpled in my hand, "I'm tired and I apologize for my behavior tonight." "Don't be sorry, little guy, we're always tired." Basil laughed openly, stretched out his wrist to show his uncle the watch, and tapped the watch lightly at the same time, "Shouldn't it be time to take your medicine?" Uncle let out a faint laugh: "You'll never forget, eh?" "No," Basil looked at me, "I'll never forget." When my uncle opened the clasp of the iron box, I stood In front of uncle.The lid of the box lifted slowly, and the hair on the nape of my neck stood up.I watched my uncle's expression.Without changing his expression, he calmly reached out to take out the pill, swallowed it, and then closed the lid of the box.Dear God, that snake slipped away! Where did it slip into the house?My eyes flicked in horror behind tables, chairs, and woodboxes. How did it slip?When my uncle put his hands together and spoke loudly, I jumped up.He said, "Okay, John, get a chair and sit down." "No! I have to go! I have work tomorrow!" Basil grabbed my arm and said, "Don't do that, little guy, play a little Disk." "No!" I broke free from his arm and rushed to the door.I couldn't help wondering: How did the snake slip away?When the night wind pierced my sweaty clothes like a knife, a burst of cold passed through my whole body. I fumbled to open the truck door, and by the time I heard the frantic rattling and fruity smell from the seat, it was too late.A thick body slid past quickly.I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my arm. I jumped out of the truck in horror and stumbled back to the cabin, tearing my sleeves like paper, my arms shaking in terror. "Snake bites!" I pulled my uncle's shirt and shook him.He didn't seem to get it, so I added, "I got bitten by a snake!" Uncle put one hand on my face and pushed me away violently.I hit the wall and the windows rattled.My injured arm hurts even more.He said softly, "You fickle bastard! He slapped me and pushed me back against the wall." John, I just bet on you. "His fist landed on my face again." Uncle, help me! "I beg him." Basil bet me that he could persuade you to kill me, my own nephew! " Uncle knows everything, he is ready to give up on me.I have to use my own brain!truck!I can go to the city to seek medical treatment, I can't die! I rushed for the door, but stopped when Basil shook the key in front of me.A low-pitched sound was like a stick in the throat, and every twitch of the arm was like a hammer beating.I held out my hand for the key. "Please——" Basil walked around me, and said, "Old man, tell you, I'll give you a chance to win back your money." "How to win?" Uncle stared at me. "He's a big, strong guy," said Basil, "but as he looks scared, I bet he won't make it through the morning." Uncle kept his eyes on me as he reached for his purse. He said, "It's a bet."