Chapter 18 Three, boss

He came into the house like a man who was desperate to get his way as quickly as possible. He must have slowed down before, delayed by memories flooding in from all directions, and in this childhood environment he had regained his awareness of himself and of the things that greeted him. He stands at the door.He came home, and he was the master of this long-lost home.Nathalie, looking at his calm, one could say blissful face from the front, thought of Jean de Provanec in the photograph, not of the often pathetic image of Alan Roque. . A gust of wind brought the bells of the church to praise the Eucharist.The old clock struck eleven, and the room was filled with a low, warm jingle.Alan Rock stood in place and looked around, carefully examining the walls, furniture and supplies. The old days appeared in front of his eyes, and he felt great joy, small pains and sincere love at the same time in his heart, just like A wave of healthy waves is awakening and invigorating things that are still sleeping in the brain.What a relief!What an exciting new life this is!

He took a few steps forward with determination, knowing exactly where he was going and what he was going to do. He walked over to the table, picked up the picture of his mother and looked at it again and again.His lips were moving slightly: "October 30th, 1914...the anniversary of her death...yes, this is the news I got while I was in captivity...Dear Mrs. Provaneck ..." He continued to survey his surroundings, linking himself to the distant past.He picked up the open book and read where it was marked: What was it about this chief that the pirates admired so much? ... He didn't read on, but remembered suddenly and murmured: "Almer... Almer de Aneris."

He unconsciously picked up the pencil, dipped the pen barrel, the neatly organized paper, and various supplies on the desk.Driven by a sudden thought, he quickly took out a key from a box, opened one of the drawers, and saw the parchment document at a glance.He spread out the document, stood upright, and read aloud: "Jean de Prouenec, Viscount de Bretagne, Count of Normandy, Knight of Jerusalem, in view of the King's Guards at the Third Crusade Great exploits in the expedition, Prince Jericho by the King of St. Louis." He repeated uneasily: "Prince Jericho ... Jericho ...".He stared blankly in thought.The distant bells slowly faded away.

At this moment, Natalie had a sudden, terrible feeling, as if the finale was coming. Jean de Prouenec would not stay long in the middle of the house, an irresistible inner urge prompted him to revisit the old places, but this was only part of the whole itinerary.Either he'll walk up to one of the windows and get a view of the ruins, so he'll spot her, her, Natalie...or he'll walk up to the platform, so he'll bump into the three bandits! Inevitable tragedy... Every second on the wall clock means that tragedy is approaching.Natalie stared at the curtain at the door.The murderers are behind.They are ready.The curtain moved a little, revealing the barrel of the gun between the curtain and the door frame.It was too late, but soon, two things happened almost at the same time: Natalie's shout and the sound of gunshots, one gunshot after another.

"Alan Rock!" cried the girl, rushing forward. Two simultaneous shots rang out in the house, and luckily, however short the interval, the cry preceded Forville's attack.Alan Rock had a cat waist, and two bullets hit the wall between the two windows, smashing the glass mirror hanging above the one-legged round table. The progress of the incident is rapid and orderly, just like the development of the plot under the director's arrangement.Although they meet unexpectedly and the characters are in an irrational impulsive state, they still perform with confidence, as if they have been rehearsed repeatedly.

Alan Rock didn't expect that Natalie would get involved, and he stepped back to find a place to hide, but, at a glance, he recognized Natalie, Forville and his two followers at the same time , Immediately rushed out desperately.On the contrary, Natalie called Aaron Rock out of desperation. Surprised, instead of running forward, she stood still. The hesitation on both sides was fatal to them.The three plotters rushed towards them at the same time without even discussing it.Boniface pointed a gun at Aaron Rock.Falwell strangled Nathalie's neck and yelled, "You, if you meddle in your own business, it will kill you."

She was strangled tightly by the other party, unable to resist.Falwell ordered Boniface and Rudovic to keep an eye on her, and he held out his arms, turning to Alan Rock. "Put your hands up!" Allen Rock ignored his orders.He said to Natalie, "You saved me, miss, and I thank you." Then he said to Boniface: "So it was you, Lieutenant Boniface? You conspired with that moth, Falville? You already beheaded me once and threw me into the sea." , isn’t that enough? Alas! You are so greedy!” "Hands up!" Falville repeated the order. "It's not necessary," Aaron Rock said, "I've already lost."

Hearing Alan Rock's admission of defeat, Forwell became proud and straightened up. "I lost." These were the words from the person he was most afraid of.Falwell had won the whole line, and his inner pride and vanity swelled up sharply. He stretched out his hands and ordered again: "Hand over the gun!...Hand over the gun right away...throw the gun on the ground... ..." Alan Rock shrugged and sat down as if nothing had happened. "I don't have a gun. How could I have thought you, allied with Boniface, ambushed me here?" The other party pressed forward step by step, with the gun in his hand pointed at him.Allen Rock's calm demeanor irritated him.The muscles in his face contorted and became horrific, and he murmured, "You're done, boy! I'll do what I want with you, or I'll shoot. Do you hear me, bastard? If If you don't accept my terms, I'll kill you like a dog."

"What conditions?" Allen Rock said. "The first thing is to hand over the materials!... Don't threaten me anymore!... Give me back my absolute freedom!... Don't report me... Besides, the most important thing is to give me half a million francs." "Is that all you're asking for?" Allen Rock said. Falville slammed his fist on the table and shouted frantically: "Half a million francs! That's my offer! . . . 500,000! . . . " Adjutant Boniface came over, his eyes suddenly lit up, the huge amount dazzled his head, and he also shouted with Forville: "500,000 francs per person! Not a penny less! This is my share! You squeezed enough of me when I was under your hand! . . . Half a million francs!"

"Do you want gold?" Allen Rock sneered. "Gold!" replied Falville foolishly.The victory in front of him made him forget what he was doing, and he no longer knew what to say. "Okay," Alan Rock stood up and said, "Looking at the incoherent appearance of the two of you, I know that without my help, you have nothing to do." Seeing the tall figure of Alan Rock standing in front of him, Forwell felt guilty after all. Apart from threatening to shoot again, he told Boniface: "Go away! Go and hold Natalie. Little If the girl dares to move, you will cut her neck."

Boniface hastened back to his spot, and pointed his dagger at the girl.Falville repeated those few words on the sidelines: "Half a million francs. Two checks for half a million francs! ... Guaranteed by Nathalie! ... Well! That's it, Nathalie, you Guaranteed?...Give me back those materials...Not yet? You say not, Alan Rock? Hit me, Boniface! A stab in the throat..." Alan Rock said calmly: "Miss, don't talk... don't move, and don't be afraid." "Call me, Boniface. I've shot." The muzzle of the Browning pistol lightly touched Alan Rock's face. "Repay, or not, Alan Rock? Don't talk nonsense! But, don't be silent. Repay, or not?" "not return." "Then, I'll shoot... Boniface, are you ready? I'll count to three..." He counted very slowly. "one two three……" Alan Rock is composed.Under the threat of the knife, Natalie, although her face was pale, still stood straight and indifferent, her eyes were fixed on Alan Rock, motionless just like him.A few seconds passed.There was no sound of gunfire. "Huh?" Allen Rock joked, "Why not? Are you both scared?" He waited for their answer.Falwell and Boniface maintained a menacing posture, as if frozen.He gestured to Boniface. "Let go of Miss Manoelson, and give her a chair." Then he said to Falwell: "Falwell, don't waste your energy. Your time for arrogance is over, young man. You have used up all your strength in two consecutive shots just now. If you didn’t hit me, it’s your bad luck! It’s over now. This kind of thing can’t happen a second time.” Forville took a step back, took a breath and prepared to make a comeback.A table is between them.Alan Rock propped his hands on the table, staring into each other's eyes, and said calmly: "You don't even want to get a penny...you can't get those materials either. Catch a villain like you , will never let go! The material is kept in a very safe place. If you kill me just now, the law will come to you tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. So, what is the use of that? Now, I want to conclude Yes. This is the second time we've met. It's different from the time at Versailles. This time, you'll have to roll off the steps on your head." Falwell was trembling from the scolding.He came around the table to Aaron Rock and challenged him head to head. "You're the one who's going to throw me out?" he said, trying to match the mocking tone of his counterpart. "Why get my hands dirty?" Allen Rock said. "Someone do these things for me." "Call them." "No. They're close at hand." Falwell glanced stealthily at Boniface and Rudovic. "You're crazy," he said. "Ha! Ha! You're starting to feel guilty." "I?" "Of course! You know very well that I won!" "Really!" "For God's sake, I did win, without shooting a knife, in a gentle way." "What are you bragging about?" The other party seemed uncomfortable and said. "I'm not bragging. I'm talking. That's where you're wrong, understand? Now that you've got me talking and acting, the situation has completely changed." "Ok?" "Indeed! Do you think I've been wasting my time these few minutes, fool, do you think I'm talking to you?" "If you don't tell me, who will you tell?" "It was for the two of them." Alan Rock pointed to Boniface and Ludovic. "I am here to fight, my identity is not a defeated one, my identity is a leader." "Whose boss?" "Boniface, my comrade-in-arms, recognized my voice. Oh, really, ten years under Jericho would never deny Lord Alan-Rock! When Rico led, Boniface obeyed. Why wouldn't Alan Rock? I'm not quite sure he's figured it out! What does that matter! He obeys my voice, It was the chief's voice that made him obey. I said to him just now: Bring a chair to Miss Manoelsen. You see? Boniface and Rudovic immediately brought the chair. Come, Foo Erweiler, your problem is solved. It was three of you against me just now. Now three of us are against you. There are two more people. You are ready to jump." Falville hesitated, watching the two accomplices closely, trying to compose himself.He whispered: "Always bragging. My friend and I, we're in solidarity. Don't you, Boniface? Well, Rudovic? We're all in step, aren't we?" Boniface and Rudovic did not answer.All of a sudden, Forville felt clearly that something was wrong, and he became a prisoner of the man at gunpoint.He made a decision without hesitation and rushed towards the platform. Boniface, like a sentry, was there. He turned and rushed to the window. Rudovic blocked his way. Alan Rock yelled happily: "Is the exercise over? It's a perfect stage performance! Ah! These two good guys... don't need to direct, they know how to do it." He stood himself in front of the small door.All three exits were secured.Things have been foolproof.He ordered: "Guys, take ten steps forward!" They walked in unison and surrounded the stench of the beast. "Great! OK!" Boniface and Rudovic walked forward unhurriedly, and Alan Rock said in a mocking tone: "Okay! You're caught now. Ha! It's not like Versailles here, Well! Anyway, you ran pretty decently then, and this time, you've got to get out." Falwell cursed obscenely, running and jumping around the room like a caged beast.He stamped his feet angrily, he cursed Aaron Rock, he picked up the gun and tried to load it with trembling hands.Finally, exhausted, stumbling, sweat beaded, he stood in front of Alan Rock and stammered, "Well, we'll die together. If you tell me, I can tell you too. Falville is in prison, yes; but Jericho can't escape either. Well! This is called a catch. Pirate Jericho... what awaits you is the guillotine." He danced on tiptoe, taking turns, as if in a psychotic state, yelling, "Guillotine, yes . . . guillotine!" Then a very simple thing happened.Like moving a chair, Alan-Rourke grabbed his hulking opponent by the collar and lifted him lightly, placing him in the outstretched arms of Boniface and Rudovic. "Quick! Start diving, use your strength!" Shameless rolled down the steps, and then came the sound of cursing and receding threats.