Chapter 34 Chapter Four

Currier’s regime is a common phenomenon in history. Although it has the name of a republic, its rulers are even worse than autocratic monarchs—not only can it implement the reality of dictatorship, but it can’t be like an orthodox one. Like a monarch, the honor of the royal family must be considered everywhere, and he must be bound by court norms. The country's economy is not prosperous - the era of Galactic Empire rule is long over, and only silent monuments and dilapidated buildings remain, barely proving that this period existed.However, due to the iron-fisted policy of the leader, Asper Ago, Corell strictly restricted the activities of merchants and even prohibited the entry of missionaries. Therefore, the coming of the "base era" seems to be in the foreseeable future.

Now, the "Far Star" is moored in an old space station in Corell, and the dilapidated boathouse is filled with a decaying atmosphere, which makes everyone feel eerie.The accompanying Jaime Dull had nothing to do, and was vigorously playing a solitaire game alone. Huber Marlowe looked out of the bay window quietly, and then said meaningfully: "There are good supplies here, and some good business can be done." So far, the place Currier has been lackluster.This journey has been safe and sound. The starship squadron that took off to intercept the "Yuan Xing" that day is composed of some small old warships, either looking weak or riddled with holes.Those starships have always kept a distance from the "Far Star" carefully, and it has remained so until now. The two sides have been deadlocked for a whole week.Marlowe has already made a request to meet with local government officials, but has not yet received a response.

Marlowe repeated: "Business can be done here, it can be called a virgin land for trade." Dull raised his head impatiently, and threw the playing cards aside: "Marlowe, what the hell are you doing? Now the crew has started to complain, the officers are already worried, and I'm starting to suspect..." "Doubt? Suspect what?" "The situation here, and you, what are we doing?" "We're waiting." The old merchant snorted a few times, his face flushed red with anger.He roared loudly: "Marlowe, are you blind? The space station is already surrounded by guards, and there are starships hovering above our heads. Maybe they are about to be ready, and they may blow us to the ground at any time. "

"It's been a whole week, if they really want to do this, they will definitely not wait until now." "Maybe they are waiting for reinforcements." Duer's eyes were sharp and stern. Marlowe sat down suddenly: "Yeah, I've thought about that too, and you know, there's a big problem with it. First, we got here pretty well—but maybe that's meaningless, because Last year, more than 300 ships passed by here, but only three were destroyed. This rate is considered low. But then again, this may mean that only a few of their starships have nuclear power, so they dare not expose them lightly unless they wait until The quantity accumulates to a certain extent.

"But on the other hand, it could also mean that they don't have nuclear power at all. Or that they have it, but they don't show it easily, lest we find out. In any case, robbing lightly armed large space merchant ships, and harassing the official envoys sent by the base , are completely different things. The base will send a special envoy here, which is enough to show that we have become suspicious. "Combining the above points..." "Wait, Marlowe, wait a minute." Dole raised his hands and said, "I'm almost drowning in your saliva. What do you want to say? Please omit the analysis process, please?"

"You must listen to my analysis, Dole, or you won't understand. In fact, both of us are waiting. They don't know what I am here to do, and I don't know what their intentions are. But our side The strength is weak, because we have to fight against their entire world with our own strength, and the other party may have nuclear power. Even so, we must not show weakness. I know it will be dangerous, and it is true that we may be blasted underground at any time. We have known the danger from the beginning, but is there a better way to do otherwise?" "I don't... Hey, who is it?"

Marlow quickly raised his head and quickly adjusted the receiver, and soon the angular face on duty appeared on the picture board. "Sargeant, go ahead." The sergeant said, "Report to the captain, the crew has let in a missionary from the base." "What?" Marlowe turned pale in an instant. "Report to the captain, a missionary, he needs a doctor..." "You've done a good job that's going to send a lot of people to the doctor. Sergeant, get everyone into combat positions at once!" Five minutes after the order was issued, even the rest staff took up their weapons and took their positions—in the anarchic zone among the stars on the outer edge of the galaxy, the most important survival condition is efficiency, and the people under the Merchant Chief are outstanding. known for its efficiency.

Marlowe walked into the crew lounge slowly, looked up, down, left, and right the missionary carefully, and then glanced at Lieutenant Tint, who moved aside uneasily.Then Marlowe looked at Sergeant Daymon on duty, who was standing beside the lieutenant expressionlessly. Then, Marlowe's eyes stopped on Doer, and after a long thought, he said: "Okay, Doer, except for the navigation officer and the ballistics officer, bring all the other officers here quietly, and the rest of the personnel will stay here." Standby at the post." After Dull went out, Marlowe kicked open the doors of each bathroom immediately, and looked behind the bar counter, and then drew the thick curtains all over.Then he left for half a minute, and walked back humming a song as if nothing had happened.

Five minutes later, all the officers filed into the waiting room.Duer walked in at the end and closed the door gently. Marlowe said calmly, "First of all, I want to know who the hell let this man in without my permission?" The sergeant on duty took a few steps forward, all eyes were on him. "Reporting to the captain, this is not the intention of any one person, but everyone agreed to let him in. This person can be said to be our compatriot, and the foreigners here..." At this moment, Marlowe interrupted him: "I sympathize with and understand your compatriot love. Sergeant, are those crew members your subordinates?"

"Report to the captain, yes." "After this matter is over, let them confine them in their dormitories for a week. During this period, your command authority will also be temporarily lifted, understand?" The sergeant's expression remained unchanged, but his shoulders twitched slightly.He replied concisely and forcefully: "Report to the captain, I understand." "Okay, you can leave now, and hurry back to your gun positions." As soon as the door opened and closed, there was a noise outside. Dull couldn't help asking: "Marlowe, why are they being punished? You know very well that the Curriers will execute missionaries if they catch them."

"Any action, no matter what the reason is, as long as it is against my order, it is an unforgivable mistake. Without my approval, no one is allowed to get on or off this spaceship." Lieutenant Tingt murmured dissatisfied: "No action for seven days, how can you use this kind of punishment to maintain military discipline?" But Marlowe said coldly: "Of course I can. In an ideal situation, the value of military discipline cannot be seen. Only when life and death are at stake can it be shown its importance. Otherwise, this kind of military discipline is unnecessary. The missionary Where is the sergeant? Bring him before me." As soon as Marlowe sat down, the missionary in the red cloak was carefully helped over. "Master, may I ask your name?" "Ah?" The missionary turned to face Marlowe, his whole body was as stiff as a clay sculpture, his eyes were wide open, and there was a scratch on one temple.He remained silent, and Marlowe noticed that he was almost completely motionless as well. "Master, may I ask your name?" The missionary seemed to come alive suddenly, stretched out his hands in a hug, and said: "My child, my child, may the Holy Spirit of the Milky Way protect you forever." Dole came forward, with a troubled look, and said in a hoarse voice: "This man is injured, who will take him to rest? Marlowe, order someone to take him to rest, and then find someone to take care of him. He is so injured Very heavy." Marlowe pushed Dole away with a strong palm: "Don't meddle in this matter, Dole, or I will kick you out. Master, what's your name?" The missionary folded his hands suddenly and replied: "Since you are softened civilized people, please save me from this pagan country." Then he said in a panic: "Save me, those ignorant beasts are going to kill me and desecrate the Holy Spirit of the galaxy with their sins. My name is Jude Palma, I am from Anacreon, and I used to be in I received education at the base. I practiced the supreme teachings at the base and became a spiritual messenger. I came here because of the calling from my heart." He continued panting, "I have fallen into the hands of those ignorant savages. Since you are the children of the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Holy Spirit, please protect me." Suddenly a loud and shrill cry came from the emergency alarm box: "Enemy troops found, ask for orders! Ask for orders!" All eyes automatically looked up at the loudspeakers above. Cursing loudly, Marlowe pressed the answer button on the communicator at the same time, and shouted: "Continue to monitor! There are no other instructions!" Then he cut off the call switch, walked to the thick curtains, opened the curtains with a "shua", and stared outside with stern eyes. The enemy's troops—no, actually thousands of Keril citizens!These mobs of crowds swept towards the space station with overwhelming force.Under the cold spotlight, it could be seen that the crowd at the front was approaching sporadically. "Tinte!" Marlowe was so anxious that his neck was flushed, and he said without turning his head: "Turn on the loudspeaker outside, ask them what they want, and ask these people if there is any legal force representatives. Don't promise anything, and don't intimidate them, or I'll shoot you first." Lieutenant Tingt walked out immediately after receiving the order. At this moment Marlowe felt a palm on his shoulder, which was of course Dole, but Marlowe pushed it away without thinking. But Dole scolded in Marlowe's ear: "Marlowe, you are obliged to take in this man, otherwise we will not be able to maintain our reputation of justice and honor. He comes from the base, and after all he is...a priest, those outside Savage—did you hear what I said?" "I'm listening, Dole." Marlowe's voice was sharp: "I'm not here to apologist. I have more important things to do, and I will do what I want. Dole Sir, I swear to Seldon and Galaxy, if you try to stop me, I will crush your throat. Don't meddle in your own business, Dole, or today will be your death day next year." Then Marlowe turned and walked towards the missionary again, and asked, "You, Master Palma! Do you know that according to the convention, missionaries at the base are absolutely not allowed to enter Corell territory?" The missionary trembled all over: "My child, I only follow the guidance of the spirit. If those ignorant people refuse to accept softening, doesn't it prove that they really need it?" "That's not the problem, Master. Since you've come here, you've violated the laws of both Kiril and the base, and I can't protect you according to the law." The missionary raised his hands again, and his previous distressed appearance had disappeared without a trace.At this time, the communication device outside the spaceship was emitting harsh shouts, and the response from the angry crowd was transmitted into the cabin as a weak, one after another chatter. Hearing those voices, the missionary said like crazy: "Did you hear that? Why did you talk to me about legal issues? Laws are made by mortals, and there is a higher 'law' between heaven and earth. Didn't the Galactic Holy Spirit say : You must not sit back and watch your compatriots suffer harm; he also said: How you treat the humble and helpless today will be how others will treat them tomorrow. "Don't you have guns? Isn't this spaceship yours? Isn't the base your backing? Three feet above your head and in all directions, isn't there the Holy Spirit who rules the universe?" He said He said it in one breath before stopping. At this time, the loud shouting outside the "Far Star" stopped, and Lieutenant Tinte came back with a look of embarrassment on his face. "Report!" Marlowe said impatiently. "Report to the captain, they demand that Jude Palmer be handed over to them." "What if we don't hand over?" "Report to the captain, they have made all kinds of intimidation threats, but the specifics are not very meaningful. There are too many of them-and they all seem to be quite crazy. One person said that he is in charge of this area, controlling Police force, but behind him it's clear there are people manipulating." "Whether there's anyone behind him or not," Marlowe shrugged. "In any case, he represents the law. Tell the crowd out there that it doesn't matter if that person is Governor or Police Commissioner or any other official title, as long as he enters alone When the spaceship comes, it can take the priest Jude Palmer away." When Marlowe said this, he suddenly grabbed the nuclear gun in his hand, and then continued: "I don't know what disobedience is. I have never had this kind of experience myself. But if anyone here wants to teach me, I will teach me right away." His solution." Then the muzzle turned slowly, and finally aimed at Durr.The old merchant had no choice but to restrain his impulse. The muscles of his face gradually relaxed, and his tightly clenched fists also let go, but his breathing was still rapid and loud. Lieutenant Tint left again.In less than five minutes, a small figure broke away from the crowd and walked forward slowly and hesitantly, appearing extremely frightened.He tried to turn back twice, but both times he was driven back by threats and roars from the crowd. "Okay," Marlowe gestured with the nuclear gun in his hand: "Gron, Bird Pushu, you take him out." Immediately, the missionary let out a horrific scream. He raised his hands, fingers forcefully stretched upwards, and his wide sleeves slid down, revealing his thin, veined arms.At the same time, there was a faint light that was fleeting.Marlowe blinked contemptuously and gestured again. The missionary was held by two men, one on each side, and he kept struggling, shouting at the same time: "The traitor who pushes the compatriots into evil and death will die! The ears of those who ignore the helpless will be deaf! Ignore the voice of the wronged!" Eyes are completely blinded! Souls dealing with evil spirits will forever fall into the dark hell..." Dole quickly pressed his ears tightly with both hands. Marlow closed the safety of the nuclear gun, inserted it back into the holster, and then said to everyone in a calm tone: "Disband now, and return to your posts. After the crowd outside disperses, continue to maintain close surveillance for six hours." , and then maintain forty-eight hours of enhanced alert, and then I will give instructions again. Dole, come with me." The two of them came to Marlowe's bedroom, and Marlowe pointed to a chair, and Dull sat down, his short and fat body seemed a little timid. Marlowe looked down at him, and said in a mocking tone: "Dur, I'm very disappointed. You've only been in politics for three years, and you seem to have forgotten everything about business. Please remember, when I was at the base, maybe I was a democrat. But now I command this space merchant ship, I must be dictatorial, and I can't relax at all. I have never drawn a gun to my opponent before, and if you didn't go too far just now, I don't need to make an exception. "Dur, you were invited by me, and you don't have a formal position. In private, I will treat you as courteously as possible—but only in private. From now on, in front of my officers, soldiers and crew, you must also Call me 'Captain', don't call me 'Marlowe' again. If I give any orders, you'd better move faster than others, otherwise I'll handcuff you in the hold first, understand?" The party leader had no choice but to swallow his anger and said in a very reluctant tone: "I apologize to you." "I accept! Shall we shake hands?" So Dole's weak fingers were wrapped by Marlowe's thick palm for a long time.Then Duer said: "I persuade you out of good intentions. I can't bear to see you send that missionary to the hands of the mob and let him be lynched. The coward who came to pick up the man, no matter whether he is the governor or any official, he rescued him." Without that missionary, it would be murder." "I can't help it. Frankly speaking, this thing is a bit abnormal. Haven't you noticed?" "Notice what?" "This space station is located in the wilderness, but suddenly a missionary escaped here. Where did he come from? Is it a coincidence that he came here? And then a large number of people came after them. Where did they come from? Any city near here is at least a hundred miles away, but how did they get there in half an hour?" "How did you get here?" Dole asked. "Well, it is possible that this missionary is a bait, and was deliberately brought here and released. Our compatriot, Master Palma, seems to be insane at all, and his spirit seems to have never been normal." "This approach is too much..." Duer said angrily. "Maybe, maybe they did this to lure us to act bravely and protect this person desperately. He violated the laws of Kerrier and the base by coming here. If I insist on keeping him, it is tantamount to asking Corell declared war, and the base has no name to protect us." "This—this statement is too far-fetched." Before Marlowe could answer, the loudspeaker rang: "Report to the captain, just received a letter from the official." "Send it right away!" With a "snap", a glowing cylinder quickly jumped out of the transmission slot.Marlowe opened the cylinder and poured out a silver-encrusted paper roll. He rubbed it with his fingers playfully, and then said to Duer: "The letter sent directly from the capital is the leader's special letterhead." He glanced at the letter paper, and then smiled coldly: "You still think my idea is too far-fetched, don't you?" Then he threw the letter to Duer, and said: "Half an hour after we handed over the missionaries, we finally received this very polite invitation letter, asking us to meet the leader-after seven days of waiting, I think We've passed a test."