Chapter 41 Chapter Forty
According to my usual observations, people from other provinces who crossed the sea and came to Taiwan in the 38th year of the Republic of China seldom described the details of life during the sea to their children.Most people who are good at recalling or describing will only use more adjectives to emphasize the chaos or thrill of the scene at that time, as if what he saw, heard, tasted, smelled, touched and thought during the journey can be attributed to Nominal things are lost and annihilated in excessive fear.For example: When a storyteller like Mrs. Peng mentioned this past event, he only said how strong the wind and waves were, how crowded the people were, and how close the Communist Party’s shells hit the hull. With a sudden jump, I jumped to the boat and docked. There were vendors selling bananas; the bananas were so sweet and so cheap.Everyone ate so full that it was so disgusting to see bananas in the future.
When I was still very young, I imagined: maybe one day when I grow up, I have to find an opportunity to ask my parents carefully: how did they come here?What ship do you take?How big is that boat?What is the shape?Have you bought a ticket?What does the ticket look like?How long is the sailing time?What about the equipment in the cabin?Is it the kind of hammock that appears in American TV series? …In fact, I have never seriously asked about these things. Maybe it’s because the family has always had an unbearable and secretive atmosphere about the escape. Maybe it’s because I’m not that curious, or maybe I always think it’s something you can get at your fingertips Fragments of life are not cherished; whatever, my father took the initiative to say it unexpectedly, instead of having the thrilling epic pattern and grandeur that I expected-it is full of humbleness, triviality, unbearable Looking closely at the chaotic details of contemplation; the action of crossing the sea itself is obviously a means to destroy the integrity of life memories.
Before starting to describe the hasty migration that seemed to be of great significance after that day, my father pointed to the bottom of the second-to-last line of "Bai Xie Pu", which is the two names before "Xiang Dihao"——Shi Pingcai He Kang Yongcai——continued the sentence "Sure enough, there is no escape between heaven and earth!": "These two people were originally bachelors in my old Cao Gang, and they were the subordinates of the "Old Man"; The seniority is not high, but the qualifications and prestige are not unusual because of being the servants of the "old man."
My father has always been tight-lipped about the fact that he was helping, but suddenly he said such a long list, I couldn't help but become tongue-tied.Especially the two names Shi Pingcai and Kang Yongcai on the Internet - aren't they the "two veterans" who straddle the two spheres of influence of the Gelaohui and the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense in Xu Laosan's Jianghu map?Aren't they the ones who were beaten up by Sun Xiaoliu on the top floor of No. 7, Lane 1, Meiman Xincheng (or even earlier in the warehouse of the tea garden)?
"I'm afraid they were the ones who sent me the picture of you and Ouyang Kunlun's daughter fighting with the goblin." My father pondered for a while, then grabbed one of his glasses legs and turned it like a drum shaft, saying: " It's hard to say whether they chased me from you, or chased you from me; in short, it must be reasonable to rub our father and son together. This has to be said from the end of May in the 38th year of the Republic of China rise."
On May 20, the 38th year of the Republic of China, Chen Cheng, Chairman of Taiwan Province and Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, declared martial law across the province.During the period of martial law, except for Keelung, Kaohsiung, and Penghu's Magong ports, which were open to ships under the supervision of the security headquarters, all other ports were closed.For my father and mother who were still in Qingdao at that time, this was an unimportant piece of news far away, and they couldn't even imagine that a small island thousands of miles away to the southeast began to check the population. nothing to do with them.
On that most important day in the future, one of my father's most important questions is worth nothing: should he participate in a birthday party for a fellow from Jinan, or should he participate in a birthday party held by the old Cao Gang for an important "friend"? Reception banquet.These two entertainments happened to coincide at six o'clock in the afternoon on the same day.If my father participated in the latter, he would have to go alone to a restaurant next to St. Emile's Church on the west side of Guanhai Mountain, the highest point at the northern end of Zhejiang Road—this trip was so secret that even my mother could not hear about it.If my father participated in the former, he could take his mother to Xingge Restaurant on Nancun Road in Xizhen, and then walk with the fellow villagers to the Tiancheng Grand Theater, which is only a stone's throw away.Because the two places are so far apart, it’s difficult to have both. My father was annoyed for a long time, and then my mother made up her mind, saying: Why don’t my father go to the Laocao Gang’s meeting by himself, and let my mother go to Nancun Road, Xijin, to participate in the birthday party. When the old Cao Gang disbanded, my father would go to the Tiancheng Theater to pick up my mother back to her residence. With such an arrangement, it could be regarded as two ends of the shore, at least everyone was polite.
Unexpectedly, as soon as my father arrived in front of St. Emile's Church in a rickshaw, two Lianjiazi who were as fast as the wind and moving like fire flashed forward, and said to my father: "That important "helper" person I am here, but I am not here to participate in any welcome banquet. There is no wine or food at the party that night, and there is no light meal; the purpose is only to ask "yes" with nods and shakes.Those who nodded were issued tickets immediately, and those who shook their heads bowed and said goodbye.When my father heard this, he was even more confused than if he hadn't heard it. He hurriedly interrogated the two Lian's sons in coded words. It is also called "Hum Ha Ercai".This "Hengha Ercai" knows that his father is a predecessor of the "Li" generation, he has been helping him for a long time and has a deep affiliation, so he should not be underestimated, so he is very respectful and answers questions in detail.However, my father has always been laid-back, he seldom intervenes in the affairs of the gang, and he is unwilling to rely on his qualifications and seniority to play unnecessary ostentation, so he asked in a low voice: How important is this joint?Why only ask a "yes or no" that is to decide to stay?Unexpectedly, the "hum ha two talents" put on a straight face and said: "I'm a "helper" to explain everything, so there is no need to talk too much. If you belong to the same family, you will naturally love each other, and the bachelors will do their best to help; , there is no need to help each other reluctantly, you can always make up your mind quickly."
When my father heard this, he burst out laughing, and said: "Is that reasonable? Nodding and shaking your head? You don't ask indiscriminately at all, teaching people how to do it, how to do it? Let me say it again: Even if someone Zhang nodded and took the What boat ticket? Where is this boat ticket going? Don’t you even ask me? Hey!” After saying this, he flicked his shirt sleeves, turned his head and walked away; A rickshaw, maybe you can catch up with the banquet at Xingge Restaurant.Unexpectedly, at this moment, a figure loomed from the door of the restaurant beside him.This person is of medium build, worthy of the shape of a hulking back. He is in his early twenties, and his shiny head adds a dash of heroic spirit.The man smiled and cupped his hands towards his father, and said: "I have heard for a long time that Mr. Qijing is unruly and unrestrained, and he is really outstanding when I see you today. Actually, there is no big embarrassment in today's meeting, but if you want to explain it, you don't like it." It’s superfluous. In short, the current situation is tense, and I happen to have a few boat tickets in my hand. I also heard that there are some poets and books on the ground in Qingdao who are full of knowledge and knowledge, and they are helping the predecessors; Your gang retains some talents, so I take the liberty to ask Brother Shi and Brother Kang to invite you on their behalf. I wonder if Mr. Qi Jing intends to travel south with the Guofu, to make a big deal? That's why I have this endless question——Qi Jing If you nod your head, the boat ticket will be offered immediately, and you must set off tonight. It is no small matter to travel thousands of miles; it is just that the matter is urgent and close, and Brother Shi and Brother Kang also have unspeakable difficulties. Please forgive me Mr. Qijing. "
Based on my father's experience in the gang, I could hear it immediately: the other party was the important "friend".The so-called "Bangpeng" is a kind of guest minister who is highly respected by bachelors in the Qing Dynasty.Such people are usually not in the gang, but they have a high status and special treatment.Generally speaking: only if one has a very deep personal relationship with the "old man" in the gang, or has made a very significant contribution to the gang, can one be included in the "friends of the gang".After the bald young man spoke, it seemed that he didn't reveal any inside information, but his words were generous and sincere, not only polite and solemn, but also obviously contained a bit of heart-shattering sincerity.My father nodded after hearing this, and said, "Can you tell me where the boat is going?"
"Well——" the bald young man glanced at the restaurant behind him, and said, "I'm sorry, it's not convenient for me to say. It's not Mr. Tu Qijing, even the few people who have already received the tickets to take their seats are all clouded and do not know what happened. Woolen cloth!"
"Ms. Zhang is in Anqing, so he shouldn't have any scruples. There is no place where he can't go to the ends of the earth. It's just—" my father pondered for a moment, and said: "Jiannei is now at Xingge Restaurant on Nancun Road, Xizhen; If I just board the boat and leave like this, I really lack an explanation."
"It's not difficult. Brother Shi and Brother Kang are both able-bodied people around the "Old Man"," the bald young man immediately continued: "I trouble you two to come and pick up my wife, but in a short time, it will be too late." The mission is over. I'm afraid Madam won't trust Brother Shi and Brother Kang as envoys for Master, so why don't you ask Master to entrust some kind of token? The two of them will leave with something, so there is a proof." My father thought for a while. Thinking about it, seeing the "Hum Ha Er Cai" frowning and smacking his lips, his expression was very impatient, so he took off a pair of deep myopia glasses, handed them over to the two, and followed the bald young man into the restaurant.
After eating a tasteless meal, it was more than nine o'clock on the foreign clock.A table of people crowded around each other to leave the table and went out, only to see the torch lights flickering on the square in front of St. Emile's Church on the right, and it was only when they got closer that they realized that there was a row of four black-painted cars approaching one after another.My father was originally a near-sighted man with foggy eyes, and he couldn't see clearly the movement within a few feet in the dark, but he heard the bald young man whispering in his ear: "Mr. Qi Jing, please don't worry, there are brothers Shi and Brother Kang. Take care, Madam must be able to get on the boat in time, absolutely safe. Let's get in the car and go to the pier first."
If my father had known that the destination of this trip was Taiwan, he would never have boarded any of those cars.I interjected and asked him: Is it because I didn't wait for my mother, the old man shook his head and said, "Without my glasses, I'm blind now, where can I go?"
As a result, the glasses were tightly held by my mother, and she and "Hengha Ercai" had already arrived at the pier one step earlier.Seeing her father, she couldn't stop trembling all over her body and said, "Why didn't you tell me where you are going? I thought you were kidnapped by someone!"
My father put on his glasses calmly, looked around for a while, and saw a warship moored on the shore, and the lights on the ship in the harbor were brightly lit, illuminating the hundreds of feet around like daylight.At this moment, besides the "hum ha two talents", there are more than a dozen people who only eat at the same table, but they are not familiar with each other after all, and everyone seems to be disheartened, dispirited, and all of them look gloomy and dejected. , how panicked?Boldly looking aside again, I saw soldiers in army and navy uniforms carrying food, guns, bags, boxes, and buckets filled with ammunition or other things, all of them grinning, as if they had all the strength The breath had already been exhausted, but he was still wringing his hands and squeezing it dry, looking like he was about to lose his strength and collapse at any moment.
After a while, the huge wooden doors of the two rows of warehouse buildings on the side of the pier were also pushed open, and one after another, large military trucks loaded with luggage drove over with two round headlights on. Two well-dressed guards who appeared from somewhere stood close to the outer door frame, pushing away the wire-wrapped barbed wire, which was about ten feet high, and refused the horse.If the horse was not put on the horse, the common people watching the excitement would only gesticulate and watch the fight on the mountain; once the horse was put on the horse, the people suddenly panicked.Some people ignored the thorns and barbed hooks, and desperately climbed up, as if they wanted to climb over to the pier.Reluctantly, he was only two or three feet away from the ground, and his body was already covered with skin and flesh, and blood gushed out.If so, there are those young men who don't know whether it is boldness or stubbornness, who are so savage, galloping forward from a long distance, wanting to jump over the top, but in all likelihood, they are hanging on by refusing to be entangled by the horse. Between the wires, you can neither go up nor down, and let those who later want to use their body to climb up trample and trample on them.Occasionally, a person managed to jump onto the top of the horse, but before his legs could stand still, he was stabbed and stabbed by the guards on the pier side with a long pole, and fell to the ground immediately, and his head was inevitably broken.
The dispute in this room intensified, and another accident occurred in that room—it turned out that a large truck was close to the ship's side either because it was overloaded or because of a mechanical failure. Without motivation, no matter what, you can't advance or retreat.There were at least seven or eight large trucks lined up behind this one, and it was so blocked that not only could it not get on the boat by itself, but the other trucks could only idle their engines on the spot, unable to move even an inch.This made the people outside Juma even more noisy; some scolded, some laughed, and in the end some applauded happily.Immediately, a general-level officer wearing a soft cap got off the gangway, asked the reason, bowed his head and pondered for a moment, and then sent orders to his side for a few words.The messenger immediately shouted at the side soldiers and my father's group: "The commander has an order! There are no idlers in the dock area. Comrades, let's work together to help unload the cargo, and hurry up!"
According to the commander's intention, it seems that the materials on the broken truck should be unloaded by manpower first, and then all the people will work together to push the empty truck onto the crane platform so that it can be hoisted onto the ship.This is a hopeless solution. Although it delays time, even the goods and vehicles are preserved.
The order was delivered unexpectedly, and before the commander could turn around and leave, a figure jumped out from the crowd of my father—it was the bald young man.Without saying a word, the man rushed to the rear of the truck in three or five strides, grabbed something that was either a hook or a ring with his backhand, and lifted the whole truck off the ground on two wheels.Not to mention, the bald young man seemed to have identified the route for a long time—but seeing him take a long lunge with his left leg forward, and pull his right leg and right arm in an arc, the truck suddenly let him go. Turned at a right angle of ninety degrees.It was too late to say it, but it was so fast, the bald young man took advantage of the situation and tightened his body, and made another move forward. He suddenly moved a few feet in the air, and the big truck behind him slid into the center of the crane board impartially.
All of this was just a snap of the fingers, but it really made the hundreds of thousands of people present stunned and tongue-tied.After pulling past the breakdown car, the bald young man clasped his hands and saluted the commander from a distance of several feet.The commander gave him a sideways glance, neither returned the salute nor made a sound, turned around and held on to the gangway to continue the rope, and went to board the ship.
At this moment, the surrounding area suddenly became silent.But on the barbed wire that kept the horse away, a person whimpered and hissed and shouted: "Since your honor is so good, why didn't you stay and fight the Communists? Instead, you ran away with them!"
The bald young man nodded when he heard the words, turned around and walked towards the man, walked up to him - only three or five feet away from my father, and said across the road: "Your Excellency, do you know that our ship is an escape ship, not a war ship?" Woolen cloth?"
"Those trucks are loaded with gold and jewelry, do you think we ordinary people don't know?"
My father used to be the section chief of the Fourth Military Station of the Qingdao Superintendent’s Department, and was in charge of the army’s supplies; earlier, when he saw trucks passing by one by one, he instinctively observed them for a while, and saw that the hood of the trucks was tightly covered, so he took a deep breath and tried his best. Sniffing it, you can naturally smell the pungent buttery smell—needless to say, all the large machines are on board; it seems that they are either artillery or heavy machine guns.To put it this way: Those ordinary people who were unable to get on the boat outside the horses clearly misunderstood or falsely accused them of creating such rumors about gold and jewelry.My father thought about it again: it's no wonder that the common people want to spread rumors and cause trouble; if there is really any combat mission on this voyage, why didn't the director general of Feitu notify him, but was informed by "Hengha Ercai" and the bald young man?This one.Furthermore, if a war is really going to start, how can my father make a special trip to pick up my mother, and it seems that he is about to board the ship with him?This second.In addition, it is the crane board on the pier that can lift everything.But seeing that above it are four chains, each with the thickness of a teacup mouth, which are respectively buckled out of the four corners of the truck chassis, and the hanging plate is then pulled upward by a steel pole as thick as a house pillar. A large truck was lifted up to a height of more than ten feet, circled in the air, and placed on the deck of a warship as easily as an eagle fighting a rabbit.As for the manipulators of the pole and the crane board, it was just three soldiers on the pier—one of them was pushing five or six iron bar handles with both hands, and the other two were shaking two circular turntables as wide as car tires. There are dozens of gears, large and small, which are engaged with each other, making grinding and grinding sounds from time to time.My father had only seen this incomparably powerful machine in his life. It was unpainted and had no batch number. It seemed that it was not equipment used in the army. How could it be doing the job of transporting military luggage here?This is the third.If you have this suspicion, you may not be able to say that this is not a combat mission, because except for the table of ten or so clueless guests from the old Cao Gang, almost all of them are wearing helmets and wearing armor. Soldiers and guards in military uniform and armed with live ammunition.
After the blood-soaked common people asked fiercely, my father involuntarily turned his head and glanced at "Huh Ha Ercai", that Shi Pincai seemed to understand, took two steps forward, and said: "This trip is very secret, I am afraid it will only be done after Qiding left the shore. Only then can I talk to you in detail. I don’t need to pay attention to the gossip of these idlers.”
The warship was moored after midnight, which was May 21st in the thirty-eighth year of the Republic of China.My father and mother were placed on a bunk about two seats in size between two large trucks on the deck, covered with white canvas at the front and back, and an oilcloth roof was hung above; Bowl and a thermos, said: "I have wronged you two. When I was young, the commander and the captain will be summoned. You should take care of them when you are old."
My father and mother didn't know at the time that they would never have the opportunity to return to this vast Asian continent for the next forty years, and they would never set foot on the beautiful port city of Qingdao again in their entire lives.Just because she is ignorant and unaware of the huge changes that are suddenly concealed in the future, my mother doesn't think the trip is so hasty, she just said: "Why is it that the military station arranges this business trip to miss me?" As he said that, he laughed happily.On the contrary, my father frowned tightly, muttering in his stomach: I'm afraid it's not a business trip.But he said calmly, "Isn't it? Is this the first time you've been on a warship?"
The freshness didn't last long, but the commander and captain's summons were delayed again and again.My mother once told me very briefly: the sailing in the past few days was slower than a snail climbing a tree. Sitting in the almost airtight space with three sides of cloth canopy and two sides of car boards, one could hardly feel the movement of the ship’s body one inch at a time. .Originally thought that if my father could see the commander or the captain, at least he would be able to find out the whereabouts and itinerary, but unexpectedly the canvas was covered with skylight, then darkened again, after several hours of darkness, the skylight again penetrated.After a few days and nights like this, except for going to the drain to pee, and the orderly delivering some meals and hot water regularly, people are like being imprisoned in a dungeon.Occasionally lifted a corner of the front and rear canvas, and all that could be seen were the exhaust pipes and headlights of the other two trucks.There was only one change: the food delivery orderly opened the back tarpaulin, and as usual brought a bamboo cage in order to adapt to the terrain and land on one knee.When I opened the lid, there were two triangular rice balls kneaded with large white rice inside, and there were still curling hot steam.The orderly said shyly, "Ma'am, it's the May Festival today, and there's no seasonal supplies on board. I've wrapped a few rice balls, which are rice dumplings; you—use it slowly." The tarpaulin was covered, My mother's tears fell, she turned her head and said to my father who was lying in front of him, "Are we fleeing?"
On the night of the Dragon Boat Festival, the long-awaited "summon" finally arrived.My father walked around the labyrinth-like cabin countless times with the order of a messenger in navy uniform, and came to the official hall. The door was open, and there were a table of people sitting and standing inside; The commander of the star, under the commander there are two school officers who wear the same army uniform as the commander. In front of the two school officers are several thick stacks of documents such as rosters and forms. On the other side of the table are The bald young man and the "Hum Ha Er Cai" stood there.The official hall is narrow and crowded, and it is said to be warmer than the deck; but when my father entered the door, he couldn't help gasping for air, and it was really frosty and chilly.
"Section Chief Zhang is here." The commander turned to the captain and said, "Section Chief Zhang is a civilian officer of the Fourth Military Depot. ?”
The captain's military rank is actually lower, but as the captain of the ship, there is another dignified politeness, and he immediately replied: "But it's up to the commander's arrangement."
Before my father could sit still, the commander blurted out: "Section Chief Zhang! The Fourth Military Station said you were on vacation. Is there such a thing?"
"Report to the commander: there is half a month's leave."
"When will the vacation be sold?"
My father counted on his fingers, but couldn't answer.
"Was it yesterday or the day before yesterday?" The commander has a habit of winking, the louder he speaks, the more he winks, just like the Monkey King in "An Tianhui".It seems that he didn't intend to ask my father for an answer at all, and then shouted: "The army is fighting the bandits on the whole front, what kind of melon frame (fake) did Section Chief Zhang repair (hugh)?"
"Reporting to the Commander: It is the superiors who have personally reported the income and expenditure accounts of each military station of the director's department over the years, not just the business of the fourth military station; in order to check supplies in and out of other military stations, not only to perform duties in the original unit—"
"What duties did you perform today?" The commander slapped the table violently: "I sentenced you to escape and threw you overboard. What can you, Section Chief Zhang, say?"
My father was silent, and heard the whispers of the two school officials, one of them said: "Report to the commander: Section Chief Zhang has no luggage with him. The director's department has also confirmed that the accounts and reports of each military depot were released on May 20th." The number has been submitted in the afternoon."
"You're really capable, Section Chief Zhang!" The commander sneered, and said, "It took you only five days to complete half a month's work; could it be that you knew that Qingdao could not be defended, so you got on our ship gone?"
My father was taken aback when he heard the words, and he lost his voice: "Qingdao has also fallen?"
"You're really enjoying your vacation!" The commander not only winked, but his steel teeth twitched, and even the veins on the forehead and forehead were bulging: "Let me ask you: the situation is tense, and the enemy is approaching, how do you feel?" What is the crime for leaving your post without any order?"
My father thought for a moment, and thought, "Joining yourself in the gang means that you have entrusted your life to the gang. How can this point of faith be explained clearly and explained with the loophole of not being in the gang?"The commander is also in charge of a large army law, the rules before the battle, and if Er wants to discuss the rules, there is no room for recovery; so he raised his face and said: "It's all up to the commander."
"That's quite simple." The commander nodded and said, "Then let me ask you one last thing: How much did you spend for the pass?"
At this moment, my father vaguely understood that the bald young man who yelled him to board the ship was not from the same crew as the officers and soldiers of the ship; what he said about "saving some vitality for the government" and "retaining some talents for the noble gang" was not the party. The position of any party, the government, or the military.In other words: This "helper" with extraordinary skills and unpredictable behavior is basically taking him, his mother and a table to help the predecessors board the ship.As for why them?It may be based on the fact that they belong to the same bachelors of the old Caobang Nunnery, or that these people really have some talents that are worthy of "saving and keeping", but for a while, my father has no time to delve into it.It's just that the commander is so aggressive, he can't even get involved with the same family, and said: "Report to the commander: I came to Qingdao from Jinan with Zhuo Jing to serve in the army. When you get on the boat, you only see the stamp of the director's department on the ticket, and the army's customs clearance, since these can't be faked, how can you use the "benefits" to get them?"
As soon as this remark came out, the commander pondered instead.The captain who was silent at the side turned his face to stare at the bald young man, and said: "This ship can only accommodate 1,300 officers and soldiers, and now there are almost 3,000 people on board; if we don't thoroughly investigate and deal with it decisively, I'm afraid we won't be able to pass through Shanghai." , the whole ship will be sunk. Who can bear this responsibility? You said that all the cadres who come up are loyal cadres, and who can be the guarantee? Aren’t all the cadres under the command of the commander loyal? They can’t get on the ship , do they deserve to be reduced to stragglers and serve as cannon fodder under the guns of the bandit army?"
"Commander, Captain," the bald young man swung his hands at the two officers seated below, and said, "I just said: I will be in charge of handing over the boat tickets under the order of the "Old Man", and the ones I personally handle are only fourteen. Zhang Er'er. The two of you have a responsibility to track down the people on board. This is also a reasonable matter according to the law. Since the ticket is authentic and the identity can be verified, why don't the two of you think that in the face of a national crisis, everyone should help each other? Come on, support each other as long as you can. Threatening to throw people overboard at every turn, wouldn’t it make loved ones hurt and enemies quickened?”
My father was very rude when he heard his words, and his spine felt chilly. He thought to himself: How can this bald young man be so arrogant and conceited, dare to speak to the commander and the captain like this?I didn't have time to turn my mind, but I heard the commander's "slap" and slammed his palm on the table: "My mother, you are a cunt! Ouyang Kunlun! Don't think that you have a sky on your head, and I will I dare not do anything to you!" But after scolding these two sentences, there was nothing left to say.From my father's ears, the commander really didn't dare to do anything to Fang.
But at this moment, the captain spoke again—this time, it was aimed at my father—every word with no expression on his face: "Chief Zhang, think about it carefully, when you boarded the ship that day, Are the two vouchers you handed in for inspection clearly printed with the words "Military and Harbor Affairs Section Personnel Certificate"? May I ask: When did the Xian couple work in this unit?" At this point, he suddenly turned to the bald young man and said: "You keep saying "boat ticket" and "boat ticket", can't you tell that this is a warship and not a passenger ship?"
"It's clearly an infiltrator!" The commander added, but the school officer at the side immediately moved his finger on the table towards him, and my father peeked at it. Judging from the half of the sheet exposed by the fingertips, it is the back.My father himself didn't remember noticing what words were written on the back of the "ship ticket" when it was handed over for inspection, but judging from the expressions of the school officer and the commander, it seemed that he suddenly found something on it.The commander's wrinkled eyebrows seemed to be covered with a layer of transparent glue, and he couldn't move anymore. He hurriedly moved his face close to the table, took a closer look, and then pushed it towards the captain with his fingertips.The captain's expression was almost exactly the same as that of the commander, and he was stunned for a long time before he said in a dry voice, "You, Your Excellency, too—"Bao" name?"
As soon as this remark came out, my father understood seven or eight points.It turns out that the name "Bao" refers to something else, and it is the Secret Service of the Ministry of National Defense.The origin of this unit is very early, and it can be traced back to the espionage department during the "Nanchang Bandit Suppression Headquarters", which was about 20 years ago in the Republic of China.In February of the 21st year of the Republic of China, the "Old Man" resumed his duties. After several years of rectification and expansion, the intelligence departments of the former local bandit suppression headquarters were incorporated into a huge spy agency system. On the eve of the Japanese Anti-Japanese War, a "Investigation and Statistics Bureau" under the Military Commission was established. The headquarters of the bureau was located in Sitiao Lane, Xihuamen, Nanjing, and it had three divisions under its jurisdiction. The duties of the two offices are separated. The former is under the command of the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Central Party Headquarters, and is called the "Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics." The latter is still called the "Statistical and Investigation Bureau of the Military Commission," and Dai Li, mentioned above, is actually in power.
On March 17th in the 35th year of the Republic of China, a group of seven people including Dai Li and Gong Xianfang, the director of personnel in the Bureau, took a special plane from Qingdao to Shanghai. Before the departure, it was reported that the weather in Shanghai was not good, so they brought 800 gallons of fuel , in case you cannot land in Shanghai, you can transfer to Nanjing or Chongqing.At 1:60 p.m. that day, the pilot on the plane called the control tower of the Nanjing Aviation Committee, saying that the Shanghai side could not be contacted. The plane had reached the sky above Nanjing, but the weather was bad and it could not land, so it had to turn back to Qingdao.But seven minutes later there was another telegram: "We are now descending through the clouds." After that, there was no more news.Three days later, a search plane sent by the U.S. Navy found the wreckage of the plane and thirteen bodies including six crew members on a hill twenty miles away from Banqiao Town, Nanjing.The farmer who witnessed the crash at the time testified that the fuselage was flying too low. It first slammed into a big tree and collapsed a propeller, then turned over three hills, hit another mountainside, and immediately exploded and burned Yunyun.Naturally, the air crash had a huge impact, and rumors and mysteries abounded for a while. It was said that Dai temporarily forced the driver to make an emergency landing on the plane so that he could rush to Shanghai to have an appointment with Li Li, the "Queen of Dancing Kingdom" in Yuntai.It is said that there were CCP spies lurking on the plane, and they died together with Dai by detonating the spare fuel—according to the death of the CCP’s Political Consultative Conference representatives Wang Ruofei, Qin Bangxian and others in the Heirongshan plane crash in Xing County, Shanxi Province one or two weeks later From the perspective of Ye Ting and others, Dai's plane crash and funeral all the more confusing because of their vivid revenge speculation.
However, the "Military Control Bureau" behind Dai Li immediately broke out intense internal fighting between factions in different regions.This internal struggle is actually due to the fact that in the early years when the spies were recruited, they strived to "develop the organization and recruit talents", but did not establish a detached and objective personnel system; thus, various organizations such as the party, 圑, society, and business camps joined the spies. Each of them leans on the top of the mountain, forming a situation of competition with clear barriers, and there is a situation where the Guangdong faction, the Zhejiang faction and the Hunan faction stand on top of each other.Not long after, whispers of "a certain faction is actually the culprit behind the instigation of the air crash" were still circulating among the various factions.
The "old man" knew that this situation was enough to disintegrate all the secret service systems that had not yet been institutionalized, so he abolished the "Military Command Bureau" in one fell swoop, and established a "Bao Bureau" in addition. This is the origin of the "Bao" name.
According to my father's future research, the Secrecy Bureau had its own special phased tasks when it was established.It is not only to replace the original military control bureau in traditional intelligence and political activities such as "military investigation and statistics", but also to take the opportunity to track down the cash, jewelry, products, ordnance and other things that Dai Li received from Japan in various places after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. civilian equipment.
In fact, there was originally a unit in charge of all the proceeds of Shengli's reception work, called the "Enemy and Puppet Property Management Bureau".However, the Bureau of Secrecy is directly under the peak of the Military Committee, so it is natural to intervene.In the calculation of the "old man", if he can use the power of the Bureau of Secrecy to cover all the properties received by the enemy and puppet property management bureau, he will be called a rich country.This has a crucial impact on the presidency that he will get at his fingertips later.So in June of the 35th year of the Republic of China, he summoned Zheng Jiemin, Mao Renfeng, and Tang Zong, the leaders of the Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hunan factions of the former Military Control Bureau, and at the same time appointed Mao Qingxiang, who had served as the director of the confidential office for many years by his side. Supervision and research: How to obtain a batch of receiving materials, industries and facilities through the Bureau of Secrecy in the shortest time, "and run enterprises, develop capital", the title is "to supplement national defense and strengthen the country's foundation".These four people took the literal meaning of "Three People's Principles, All Jianguo" and set up a "Three You Company".The Sanyou Company and the Secrecy Bureau are two sides of the same body—all the resources checked and obtained by the Secrecy Bureau are handed over to the Sanyou Company for disposal; and the profits obtained from the operation of the Sanyou Company can naturally be allocated and supplied with secrecy. Bureau's various expenses.This expansion activity of "doing business in the sea" more incidentally solved the initial personnel problem-once it is profitable, many spy chiefs who are fighting for power have a position that seems to be a cover for their identities, but in fact they can really reap the benefits. Director and manager titles, so the simmering infighting gradually subsided.
Sanyou has branches in Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Beiping, Qingdao, Chongqing and Kunming.Why these cities and not the rest?This is also related to the "acceptance of enemy and counterfeit industries" - precisely because these seven cities have set up a Type A station of the Field Service Department of the Security Bureau. This station has a huge establishment, with 160 posts; more importantly, The field stations classified as Type A all have a radio station that can directly communicate with the Security Bureau.这个电台不祇是军事或治安情报的传递中心，也是商业讯息的呈报单位。这也是为什么保密局外勤甲种站总是设在三有分公司隔邻、对街甚至同一幢楼房上下。至于电台的设备，便全数是由北平“四极无线电器材制造公司”生产；“四极”正是保密局接收了来、交付三有公司操控、原名“铃木”的日本工厂。
从“铃木”到“四极”这一类的例子不胜枚举，家父虽时有耳闻，总以为那是共产党造谣生事、中伤国府的惯技。不料那一夜在军舰的官厅里却果然见识到“保”字号的硬场面。
司令官也随舰长一般，一张横二霸三的绷脸像泄了气的皮球一样，登时垮了、皱了，嘴角也扬起来：“那么——请问老弟台：你这十四张凭证是“总署”那边发的、还是“处”里发的呢？”
光头青年大约是见对方低声下气起来，也相应以和颜悦色，微微笑道：“都不是，是“新社会”方面发的——对不住，请二位长官别再问下去了，在下成命在身，不方便多说。是不是请二位长官先把那九位开释了？免得有个闪失，当眞给扔下船去，就麻烦了。”
司令官没等他说完，已经朝一位校官比了一个手势；后者抢忙离座，奔出官厅。这厢舰长也亲自倾身上前，拉开右首木椅，意思显然是请那光头青年入座。
家父则在这片刻之间恍然悟出一番前情：首先，是这光头青年的部分背景。司令官口中所称的“总署”，其实是“警察总署”；而“处”则是指“稽查处”。“保密局”成立之后，“老头子”为了安抚不同派系的特务头子，特任湖南派的唐纵任全国警察署长。表面上警察总署归保密局指挥，事实上却能自行掌控人事，打着正规化的旗帜，培训一整批由警校出身的各级领导干部。“稽查处”则表面上辖属于各地警备司令部、卫戍司令部，骨子里却一向由保密局掌握，其主要任务是侦伺、防范两种犯罪活动；其一是各大城市和人口密集地区的刑事案件，其二是兵工厂内非国民党或亲共势力的渗透和颠覆。司令官这般问讯，不外是想弄清楚：光头青年在“保”字号儿里究竟隶于哪一个山头？
然而光头青年所答称的“新社会”却毋宁让在座诸人都吃了一惊。这个组织原名叫“人民动员委员会”，是戴笠生前亲率手下三大护法田载龙、王天木、胡抱一等人召募扩充而成的。据说这护法原有四位，但是在民国二十年代初折损了一员，此人姓居名翼，字伯屛。当年亲领“老头子”密诏，往赴山东公干——一说是联络军阀割据区内心向南京政府的革命志士，一说是去搜寻一部可敌十万雄师的军事秘宝；无论何者，此人去而不返，生不见踪迹、死不见骸骨。有谓遭江湖人物袭杀殒命者；然而戴笠倾尽全力、遍撒网罗，查察了五、六年，直到对日抗战开打仍无纤芥之功。对于一个致力发展特务系统、严密情治组织的谍报巨子而言，此事无疑是一极其重大的挫折和耻辱。于是戴笠索性假借着“老头子”号召全民抗日的题目，成立了一个企图将全国地方械斗团体一举结盟起来的大组织，名为“人民动员委员会”——所谓“委员”，便正是老漕帮和天地会系统各会党的领袖。由于委员之间不分高低大小，也就免除了孰尊孰卑、孰先孰后的争议。要之此会受军事委员会统计调查局节制——换句话说：也就成为该局的外围组织了。
无奈这祇是戴氏一厢情愿的想法，一旦付诸实行，却窒碍难通。原因很简单：老漕帮的“老爷子”万砚方对于抗战期间国府对该帮的几个“处分”十分不满，且不愿促成“清洪合流”的一统之局所致。传言有谓：万砚方曾经对前去游说老漕帮“动员”的人说过这么两句耐人寻味的话：“老漕帮为抗战一鼓作气、再而衰、三而竭，如何“动员”起来？”
所谓“一鼓作气”，指的是万砚方开立“离家出走”的规矩，纵令八千名庵清光棍弃帮参军，结果这八千子弟在淞沪会战中全数阵亡，成了刘罗公路上的孤魂野鬼。所谓“再而衰”，指的是行政院下令拆迁上海各工厂，支持后方工业。凡老漕帮所有物业则特令运往镇江和浑沌浦拆封清查。诸般机具设备经这一折腾，岂有不折损之理？至于所谓的“三而竭”，据说则是与哥老会怂恿执事要员向老漕帮逼缴三十二万公吨的油料以支应外债有关。
凡此三事，戴笠是否亲自向万砚方疏通或绾解？外间实无从得知。然而一直到抗战胜利，这个“人民动员委员会”的委员名单里始终挂着万砚方的名字，却始终没人闻见这位“老爷子”如何“动员起来”过。
一直到民国三十五年初，戴笠又把那委员会扩大成一个叫“中国新社会事业建设协会”的机构，利用农历新年大开名为春酒的宴会，邀请了一百二十多位“上席贵宾”，以及总人数达一千一棚百以上的“华筵豪客”，举行那协会的“筹备成立大会”。万砚方本人虽未到场，可是筵席所设之处乃在上海静安寺路丽都花园————此园正是老漕帮于胜利后重返根据地时购进的物业。江湖上这才又纷纷传言：万砚方是不是与“老头子”言归于好了？
然而万砚方动向如何尙未拨云见日，戴笠却坠机身亡。这简称“新社会”的组织随即于民国三十五年七月一日保密局成立之际成为一个十分神秘的机构。各界仅仅听说：“新社会”名义上由保密局副局长毛人凤监管，实际上则是由一个名叫“徐亮”的特务督控——也有人说：徐亮不过是个传令，眞正掌握“新社会”的是万砚方，而万砚方又是“老头子”跟前取代戴笠的亲信。不过，传言毕竟祇是传言，一旦渲染，面目便模糊起来；更有道听涂说指出：万砚方根本和“新社会”无关，幕后主其事的反而是哥老会的洪达展；而那些涉及万砚方的风风雨雨根本是洪达展为掩人耳目而煽放出来的烟雾。
家父入帮也不是一朝半夕，虽说身在齐鲁，从未与“老爷子”本人过从接晤，但是显见这“新社会”是个和政治以及特务活动密不可分的组织，便不该同万砚方有什么瓜葛。然而看那司令官先前色厉内荏的模样，说什么“头上顶着个天”之类的言语，分明是早已知悉了光头青年和老漕帮之间的关系，而不得不有所顾忌。继之这光头青年又以“新社会”发出凭证的话表明来历，则莫非老漕帮眞地成为保局的外围单位了？正狐疑间，司令官又问了一句：“那么，容我再问一句：谍报传说今年二月间有那么一宗“上元项目”，乃“新社会”同志鼎力襄助，才告成功，司其事的竟是一名身手不凡的年轻人。敢问那年轻人会是老弟台你么？”
这是十分微妙的一刻，家父偷眼窥看，见那光头青年一张眉目清秀的脸上忽地闪过一抹红潮，虽只一弹指顷，在白皙的皮肤上却显眼异常，似是有几分羞赧之意，口中则嗫嚅着说：“司令官这么盘问，在下实不方便多说。”
“这是什么话？任务已经圆满达成，各方称庆不已，有何不可言者？我听说主其事的青年是个秃子，又见老弟台顶上牛山濯濯、寸发不生，才有此一问的。”
光头青年一听这话，反倒开怀笑道：“既然司令官这么说，在下若再支吾其辞，反倒矫情了——不错，正是在下不才、略施薄技，动了点手脚。”
“这么说还是不够痛快。”司令官说着站起身，探出一只长臂、越过桌面，朝光头青年伸去，随即紧紧握了手儿，又环视诸人一圈道：“各位，这位老弟台功在家国，莫说邀荐十四位贵客前来，就是一百四十位，咱们也没有二话可说——是罢，舰长？”
舰长也跟着站了起来，道：“当然当然。“上元项目”是维护国本的一个案子，我仅知其梗概，久欲闻其详；既然老弟亲自参与了，倒可以在这航行途中说与咱们听听——”
“不不不——”光头青年摇着手丄寛有些窘急之状：“不値得说的、不値得说的，我也不会说、说不上来。”
倒是司令官好整以暇，又挤弄了一阵眉眼，示意大家复座，转脸低声同舰长道：“既然如此，那么这批同志便毋须“清点”了罢？”
舰长点点头，看一眼腕表，道：“马上就要过上海了，届时得全舰熄灯，否则岸上瞅见动静，来一个乱枪打鸟，咱们就断无活路了。这样罢——各位先请回铺位去，闯过了这道鬼门关，咱们再作打算。”
这么轻描淡写的三言两语，似乎就是端午节这天“夜审”的结论和判决了。家父当时祇知道个人逃过一劫，而国家和政府却正陷入一个大不知凡几的灾难之中。这个几乎可用“沦亡”二字形容的灾难弥天盖地而来，改变了数以亿万计的中国人的命运。然而在离开舰长官厅的那一刻，家父的肩膀上按过来一只温热厚实的大巴掌，他扭脸一看，与光头青年四目交接，听见对方低声说了两句：“一切不会有事的，请您老放宽心。”
家父当下愣了愣，祇觉那掌心传来一股源源不绝的暖意。在接下来有如行走于迷宫之中的几分钟里，光头青年告诉他：这艘军舰原本是要航向一个叫海南岛的地方，彼地隔绝于广东省雷州半岛徐闻港外海，应可作为国府秣马厉兵、养精蓄锐的复兴基地。若能在海南岛稍事喘息、再图反攻，大局当在三数月后略有转机——因为广东省毕竟是国民革命发源之地，黄埔建军、子弟皆出于此，料应在结合闽、桂、黔、川各省兵力之后培元固本，可效抗战时期拉长所谓“前后方战线”的攻守之略徐图剿匪。只不过此舰负载过于沉重，船身吃水太深，经不起一点风浪。且行进迟缓、燃油益耗，如此贴岸潜渡，虽然能节省一些油料，却要冒上极大的风险——因为沿岸港市之沦陷敌手者皆有海防重炮设施，一旦算计得不准，在白昼时分通过火网覆盖之地，便有遭敌击沉之虞。然而，光头青年却如此作结说：“吉人自有天相；在下是这么想的：既然能苟全性命到今天，就一定见得了明日！”
家父回到那两席大的小天地里，什么旁的话也没说，只对家母笑笑，抬手按了按家母的肩膀，道：“吉人自有天相；既然活到了今天，一定见得了明日。”家母则回了他一句：“你的手好烫，莫不是发烧了？”
家父在回忆到这里的时候突然顿了一顿，冲我苦苦一笑，眼角涌出两泡清亮的泪水来、哽着声道：“我既没生病、也没发烧，心里憋着一股子窝囊，跟谁也没法儿说——”
“什么窝囊？为什么不能说？”我有些慌，打心底发起怵来，生怕他一个忍不住掉下眼泪、或者放声哭了，那我还眞不会对付。
家父几度欲言又止，双唇抖颤开阖，彷佛也畏恐着一旦说出了什么，便控制不住自己的情绪。如此过了好几分钟，才勉强撑持住脸颊上的肌肉，反而“噗哧”一声笑了起来，口中连连“喀——噫”、“喀——噫”地喟了几下子，摇头道：“那司令官训斥得一点儿也没错，我、我……我是、我就是阵前脱逃！那位“帮朋”是个明白人，当然知道上了船就等于是逃命，所以在上船之前，才刻意隐瞒去向，这份心思，何等深刻？”
"I don't understand."
“试想：我当年在总监部处理的最后一件公事，正是为各兵站盘点物资、清查帐目，完了这份差事，怎么会不知道大军将有异动？”家父深深皱起眉峰处几道刀雕也似的山字纹，道：“又怎么会不了解部队糜损耗溃的状况？坦白说，我的确猜想过：青岛是守不住的；祇没料到启碇不过十天就沦陷了。可是话说回来：临行之前那位“帮朋”万一挑明了此行就是弃守、就是撤退的话；以我一个在职科长之身，我有脸上那艘船么？”
我没接得上腔，更不忍再看这忏悔着的老人脸上的表情——在这一刻，我并不知道他把我从一个又一个首尾残缺不全的故事碎片之间拉到如此令他椎心刺骨的内疚里去究竟有什么目的？也许——我想；也许他已经无法承受那恐惧忏悔的巨大寂寞了罢？
“我是擅离职守！我是临阵脱逃！我是贪生怕死！而且我还装胡涂！”家父并没有如我所料地哭泣，反倒“嗬嗬嗬嗬”笑了几声，喘两口气，继续说道：“要不是遇上了这位“帮朋”，你爸爸死在青岛原不足惜，绝了张家门儿的香烟也是命中注定；可是没走上后半辈子这一程，我便永远不会明白自己曾经是多么没出息的一个人——没能明白这一点，连前半辈子都是白活的。”
对于这个垂暮的老人而言，一生之中似乎有那么一个类似马拉松赛跑的折返点一样的东西，它卡在自青岛渡海南下的半个多月的航程上。如果一定要利用地图来标定那折返点的位置，我祇能猜测它在东海磨盘洋南方的韭山列岛和大目洋的台州列岛之间，也就是当那艘载着近三千名官兵的军舰趁夜悄渡上海港南水道的第二天，时値子夜，那折返点出现了。
当时家父一阵内急，巡遍前后甲板上的排水口——舰上称之为简易厕所的设备——其实就是以两块防波盾板作“L”型掩蔽，不论大解小解皆在盾扳外侧向风迎波、出之于排水口中。至于守候者则在盾板另侧自成一行伍蹲踞；据说正由于官兵人数太多，是以十二个简易厕所前终日蹲着人丁，蜚短流长、谣言臆说，皆自此处滋生。司令官放探子查谣源，逮住几个爱嚼舌的，给扔进了舟山和渔山列岛附近，仍不能平息这种“野谈稗说”。倒是有一伍人给突来的恶浪卷入海中灭顶，稍稍吓阻了些闲言碎语。
谣言却注定是迷人的。不多时又哄传全舰，其夸张：离奇、荒诞无稽者不胜枚举。有谓此舰的目的地并非海南岛，而是菲律宾吕宋岛。因为“老头子”早有先知卓见，见神州已成鼎沸鱼烂之势，遂遣特种舰队于数月前登陆吕宋之拉瓦格、维干，杀其主而自立；准备在彼地建一基地，待日后另谋反攻大举。
另一个谣言则说：此舰白昼由北而南徐行，等到夜深人静、灯火管制之后便掉转鹢首、由南而北疾驶。反正是伸手不见五指，又无人能上舰桥识别罗盘等仪器之定向，是以昼行虽长、夜行虽短，整个航程不过是在一片汪洋之中大绕圈子。至于为什么这样绕圈子？放话者无不沾沾自喜地说：司令官图的是保存精锐战力，不忍仓卒接敌、无谓折损，要俟陆上一场恶仗打得差不多了，再择期择地登陆，坐收渔利。
还有一则是这样说的：此舰其实是一艘谍报舰。胜利复员之后，举凡冀南、鲁东、皖北部队中的特务人员此番皆应召回军，登舰会师。白天无话，宵禁之后这批为数不下千人的特务便开小组会商讨、硏判，纠举同舰官兵中涉嫌通敌叛党之徒，随即出手处决，再将尸身投入波涛之中。这一则最为骇人听闻，却也流布最广、且颇符实况——因为它不但解释了舰上何以多出来将近两千口军民男女的来历，也坐实了每夜严格执行灯火管制、以及无端有人遭逮捕而抛掷入海的事件。此说一出，人人自危，争相转述——因为若不同他人一道渲染，便反而容易招致怀疑自己就是特务了。
对于置身于妖言妄语、如坠迷雾之中的这种境况，家父自然不能不惊心动魄，起码在他亲赴舰长官厅、往鬼门关前绕了一圈之后，对这一则怪谭有了独特的体会。毕竟，老漕帮究竟与保密局有什么样的关系？舰上除了那“帮朋”带来十三口人之外、还有多少帮会人物？此外，司令官和那“帮朋”应对之间所提到的“上元项目”又是什么？这个项目如系特务作业，是不是同舰上渲天涂地、漫东漶西的谣言有些不足为外人道的瓜葛呢？
家父怀着这一肚子狐疑和排泄物绕甲板周行数过，偏找不着一处闲置无人的简易厕所。待踅过舰尾，忽一眼瞥见离港前在码头上见过的那具吊车器械正端端杵在下层甲板上——但见那器械教六根粗大的钢缆给牢牢系住，底板伸出后舷五尺有余，前方则掩翳着一座丈许宽的绞盘、以及大大小小数十百个严丝合缝的齿轮装置。家父心想：若是能绕行至下层去，双手扶握钢缆、固稳身形，走出几步之遥，便可蹲踞在那车板末端，遂行方便。如此前方还有绞盘和齿轮装置的屛障，要比防波盾板更形隐密。
孰料正当家父蹑至舰尾、准备出个野恭之际，忽然听见有脚步声渐行渐近，杂沓间还夹着低言悄语。一个说：“脚下留神！风大，不好走。”
另一个接着说：“要不是人命关天，也不好吵扰老弟台一场清梦。”
“不妨事。可人是怎么卡住的？”
家父倾耳细辨，听出第一个说话的是舰长，第二个是司令官，第三个则是那光头青年——在那个夜黑风急的子夜时分，家父祇知他是那位“帮朋”，一时间还没想起他听过一次的那个名字：欧阳昆仑。
在那令人猝不及防也难以逆料的一剎那之前，家父祇听见这短短的三句话。事后回想起来，光头青年那句“可人是怎么卡住的？”以及司令官所谓的“人命关天”应该是指同一件事；也就是有人卡在船尾下方某处，亟待救援，舰长和司令官才将熟睡中的光头青年叫醒，前来助一臂之力。然而紧接着发生的一切却令家父惊骇莫名，一泡屎登时缩回腹中，凝结成岩坚石硬的满肠块垒，若非数日后军舰在基隆港暂泊之际、家父吃了一挂香蕉又喝了几升凉水而导致腹泻，则后果不堪设想。即使在溯忆时情景的当下，家父那一双原本略有些脱眶的眼珠却猛地聚拢了，彷佛看见一只飞天夜叉迎面扑来的模样儿，道：“那光头青年踩着小内八步，三两下跃至吊车板的后沿儿，倾出上半身朝下一打量，不料却在这个当口，从吊杆之上砸落了一方物事——”说到此处，他闭上眼皮，轻轻地摇起头来。
对于写了不知多少万字小说的我而言，实则也很难精确地描述出一个曾经折磨家父长达四十三年的惨烈场景，简而言之：在淡薄的月光敷泻之下，一块有如断头台上的巨大刀刃般的防波盾板在转瞬间切下了光头青年的脑袋，而那失去了意志和力量支撑的残躯也几乎在同时蹶落于浓黑如墨的滚滚浊浪之中。
舰长和司令官既未交谈、亦不曾停顿，双双不约而同地四下环视一圈，扭头便朝前舱的方向去了。家父早已吓得腿酸脚软，根本立身不住，只好蹲伏身子，两臂紧紧抱住舷边一根柱头，任由遍体上下的鸡皮疙瘩此起彼落，只巴望着赶紧打来一记大浪，劈头罩脸把这噩梦惊醒也就算了。
然而天不从人愿，浪头没来，那吊车里却倏地窜出另一条黑影——不消说：方才松动吊杆机关、凌空砸下那方盾板的便是此人了。这人身形极瘦、有如猿猴，步法更奇、可比鹘兔；才交睫间，便翻身纵出那障蔽层层的齿轮组具之外两丈多远，立于廊灯之下。这时，廊内伸出一只手来，指间夹着一支点着的香烟。这人接过烟，深吸两口，回头眺一眼先前光头青年落水的方向，便也闪身入廊，失去了踪影。若非那两口烟、一眺眼的短暂伫留，加之以昏黄凝聚的灯光，家父是不可能看清楚的：那人正是“哼哈二才”中的施品才。
折返点。家父充满懊悔和迷惑的一生之中最重大的转捩于焉浮现。他抱着那根冰凉的铁柱，瞑闭双眼，听见自己的脑袋瓜儿一下又一下地敲击着柱上的铆钉，却怎么也敲不去片刻之前那一幕残忍的情景。
可能就是在那个时刻，家父才赫然发觉：当初慌慌张张、匆匆忙忙上了船，既不是为“转进”、也不是为“反攻”，更不必美其名曰对党国的忠贞和对共匪的唾弃；其实纯粹祇是舍不得捐躯送命的一次逃亡罢了。根据我的揣测，目睹欧阳昆仑身首异处的整个过程，不但带给家父无与伦比的惊恐、骇怖