Chapter 10 chapter Ten

Paris in 1941 was a good place for Germans to get rich, but for Jews, it became a hell on earth. At first, their dislike for this poor nation was only manifested in pranks, such as smashing window glass and forcing them to salute German soldiers on the road, but gradually the Gestapo was not satisfied with this. Confiscation of property, solitary confinement, and extermination of Jews in a step-by-step manner... On May 29, the government issued a new decree: "...all Jews over the age of six must use yellow cloth to make a hexagonal star with a black border the size of a palm, and sew it firmly on the conspicuous part of the left breast of their coat. The words 'Jews' are written in black pen on the top, there must be no violation of orders..."

What a disgusting order. So when I saw Lawyer Deya sitting in front of me wearing that thing with a haggard look, I couldn't help becoming angry—— "They're using this place as a slaughterhouse, those beasts!" "Chart." The kind old gentleman sighed very helplessly, "you know we have no ability to resist. They do this in every occupied area. I have understood that it will happen sooner or later since the day Paris fell. .” "Are you really going?" "Yes. I have asked someone to help open the joint, and I will take my family to North Africa next week, and then to the United States." Mr. Deya took out a few documents from his briefcase, "This is the completed transitional procedure: All your real estate and securities are assigned to the Countess, and only part of the profits and cash of 'Nightingale' remain in your hands."

"thanks." He smiled wearily: "This is the last job I do for you. Child, protect yourself." From the window, I watched Lawyer Deya disappear into the corner of the street, and locked the documents into the safe. The resistance was more intense than it had been the previous year, and since I started taking on some assassination missions I knew I had to do something for my mother and my friends so that I could feel at ease even if something happened to me.But the premise of all this is that they must not be allowed to know. I know how dangerous what I am doing, the Germans have too many means to deal with us, every action is like dancing on the tip of a knife; not long ago, the first batch of 12 telegraph operators who parachuted into France just found the horse They found the Gestapo waiting for them when they arrived at a safe house in Sebastian.After finding an address book from the pocket of a captured spy, the hounds crouched down to catch it.I don't want this to happen to me, so try to use one-line communication, including tonight's actions.

During a performance at the Valierettes, a commissioner from the German National Police and French Inspector Pierre Berny are to be targeted by snipers, a brazen traitor who has organized several The brutal extermination of Jews and resisters, so he cannot continue to live in this world.My job was to bring the sniper into the theater disguised as an extra, put him on a lighting stand above the stage, and send him out in the same capacity after the fact.All the steps have been rehearsed countless times. The people who will play today are all arranged by me in "Nightingale". If there are no accidents, then there should be no problem, but I always only play with a 60% chance of winning. The remaining 40% is down to luck and resilience...

I looked at the time, it was almost six o'clock.I picked up my hat and coat and told Pierre to prepare the car and go to the theatre. The Valierette Theater is not the best performance venue in Paris, but its hall is equally resplendent and magnificent, and the decoration of the box is full of luxury in the era of Napoleon III, plus the eagle shape specially embroidered on the wall to cater to the interests of the invaders Insignia, it can still receive German upper-ranking officers very decently. From the backstage side door, I saw a big swastika flag hanging outside the box in the middle of the second floor, with roses adorned around the armrest; looking in the direction of the stage, there was the same sign next to the overhead light facing the box, but in black There is a round hole in the middle of the swastika. When the light is turned on, no one can find a gun barrel and a pair of sharp eyes hidden inside.

"Sir," a female voice called my attention, "François has arrived in dressing room No. 4." "Oh, yes. Thanks, Daisy." I walked through the hallway full of actors and pushed open the door of dressing room 4.A tall, thin young man was putting on a wig in front of a mirror, and I closed the door to block out all the noise of singing and talking. "Half an hour before the show, are you ready?" I looked at his painted face and dusty overalls. "Okay, I've put on my costume inside." His bright black eyes showed a calm expression, "The Germans have just completed their routine inspection, and I'm going up now."

"Remember, get out of the small door as soon as you shoot, take off your wig and your clothes, get in among the song and dancers, and put your work clothes into Daisy's whalebone petticoat." "Okay." He blinked mischievously, "but she'll kill me if I accidentally touch her thigh." "That must be before you are captured by the Germans." I turned around with a smile and went out, really admiring how easy he was to accept the task for the first time. The "Madame de Valencia" performed this time is a three-act opera that Mr. Deiss has already published for me. It is a love story during the Great Revolution. The many characters and gorgeous costumes give us a good space for action.And Lafon and Simon are negotiating with the theater manager about some after-the-fact expenses, and they may not appear in the theater.

So much the better! I poked my head out and looked at the spectators who entered the arena one after another—the arrogant occupying army with charming women on their arms, the humble gentlemen cautiously, and the number of old French men suddenly increased, and it was difficult to see the shadow of young people. At this time, someone in a box near the right waved to me, my blond hair shone under the bright lights, and the black uniform on my tall and straight body was particularly dazzling. It turns out that this bastard is also here, and it really is a narrow road to the enemy. I glanced at him blankly, not intending to accept his greeting.He seemed to understand that he couldn't get the same response, so he returned to his seat very leisurely, and patted the hand of the black-haired beauty beside him.

What is he doing here?Date his mistress?I really don't want to have such an audience. I was in a bad mood, but I went backstage quietly; I couldn't let any hurtful emotions get to me. At eight o'clock, the curtain was raised on the stage, and I stayed in the special seat closest to the band and watched the box diagonally above.The mustache-wearing German commissioner and the bespectacled French traitor were already seated, enjoying the performance on stage, and Regina's coloratura soprano had enough charm to attract their attention. I took out my pocket watch and checked the time, counting how long it was until the gunshot, and hoped that François would not have any accidents.I turned my face and looked at the other box opposite, Major Portman was watching the performance intently.He is a factor that I didn't expect, this person is too shrewd, don't do anything bad!

As if sensing my gaze, that handsome face suddenly turned to look at me.Even in the dim environment, I still clearly felt that his blue eyes seemed to burn two holes in mine with terrible heat.My back felt cold, I quickly closed my pocket watch pretending to be unconscious, and looked away. Am I still afraid of him?How ridiculous! The singing and dancing on the stage anesthetized the people in the audience, but I was too awake, my hands were sweating more and more, and I seemed to hear the sound of the second hand ticking in my ears. Finally, at the moment when "Madame de Valentha" pounced on her lover, a bullet wrapped in a huge musical frenzy shot the head of the German commissioner, followed by another shot, Pierre Bernie The Inspector's right shoulder was painted.

Such a quick action, two shots within five seconds! I stood up all of a sudden, and saw the mess in the central box. Several guards quickly pressed the officer under him, and some immediately pulled out their guns and looked around for the target. The band played on its own, and the actors didn't know that there was a big mess up there.A guard fired two shots into the sky, everyone was petrified, and the theater fell silent. Then I noticed that Major Portman had stood up and was looking straight at me. I turned my face away calmly and sat down slowly, not looking at him. He whispered a few words to the woman beside him, then turned and went out, and appeared in the middle box after a while.Several SS men saluted him, and he shouted some orders.Five minutes later, three teams of soldiers with live ammunition entered through the main gate and the side door. A second lieutenant asked everyone to stay where they were, and then a dozen soldiers rushed into the background. The death of a German officer in public would cause an uproar, wouldn't it? I sat in my seat and watched the whisperers, their faces full of panic, whispering to each other.I just pray that François will follow the plan every step of the way. Major Portman quickly descended from the box and led the adjutant onto the stage, while the actors shrank back in awe, looking at the sullen, blond man. Well, it's time for him to perform!I secretly sneered: Did this person work as a secret guard?No wonder it's here today.He's not doing a great job! Soldiers who searched the backstage quickly brought up the gun on the overhead light stand, and the holed swastika flag.Major Portman's face was a little blue, he raised his head and glanced at it with a sneer. "Very well!" he exclaimed. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, you know what that means when your countrymen have murdered a German officer! Please show your papers, honestly. Stay in your seat and don't move." Soldiers began to check everyone's ID card, service call card, work card and ration card, and searched their bags, and some "suspicious people" were dragged out and taken away.Major Portman accepted the work of the soldiers, first let go of the audience and the band in the hall, and then ordered Sergeant Belken to call the theater manager and all the actors for questioning separately. It seems that there is no way to leave this place for the time being.But I feel a little relieved, because they didn't find the overalls that François changed, which shows that his operation was successful and he has safely mixed into the actors. If they didn't lift up the skirts of the ladies one by one, then Don't try to catch clues. I left my seat and went backstage. A soldier with a gun asked me to go with the others.I shrugged and followed his advice.After dealing with the babbling questioning of a second lieutenant with a mop of hair, I was finally allowed to go back to dressing room No. 1 to rest. "You can't leave here until you've been ordered," he told me stiffly. This is of course, they have to have time to face failure, by the way pull us to accompany. I sat in front of the mirror and lit a cigarette, staring at my face—even though I smoked for half a year, I still couldn’t get used to the bitter taste of nicotine. I really don’t understand why so many people can’t live without this stuff.The smog made my face blurry and I couldn't see clearly, but I still found myself thinner, the original soft lines became sharp, and the corners of my mouth always turned up vaguely, with a mocking expression ; Marisa's favorite blue eyes are getting lighter and lighter, as if they are gradually covered by thin ice; there are no bangs that hang down inadvertently on the forehead, and the black hair is combed back neatly, exposing the whole face. Is hatred really easy to change a person? I smacked out the cigarette in my hand, and the door was pushed open with a slam. "Your manners are getting worse, Major." I didn't even bother to look back. "I don't know who ignored my greetings before the performance?" He smiled and met my gaze in the mirror from behind. "My question is over. May I decline to answer if you have no new questions?" Major Portman ignored me, closed the door and sat down on the chair behind me: "I don't like looking at the back of other people's heads and talking." I moved the corners of my mouth and turned around reluctantly. "Very good." There was a satisfied expression on his straight face, "I like to see you clearly." He hasn't changed in the past six months, his blond hair is still so dazzling, his body is still so straight, but I still found a small scar on his cheek that is hardly visible. Why couldn't the knife go deeper? "You didn't come here to catch up with me, did you?" I can now control the tone of my voice in a stable range, and his expression is much better than the initial anger. "You are still so straightforward, Lord Earl." Major Portman took off his hat and threw it on the dressing table next to him. "It is really difficult for me to get used to the way you speak. Well, actually, I am here...to congratulate you of." "The show was not successful." "No, no." He smiled, "I don't mean things on the stage, you know what I mean." "Honestly—I don't understand." Did the man see anything?Maybe he was just testing me. Major Portman raised his eyebrows, as if he had expected my answer: "Although you can't prove that you are the mastermind, you must know the inside story, right?" "If you decide to frame me again and go to jail, there's nothing I can do about it." He stretched out his slender index finger and shook it: "Well, well, don't say that! Have you forgotten who was the first to realize what happened?" "Guard." I replied calmly. His face froze for a second, then a burst of laughter broke out, as if he was so happy, he even stood up and put his hands on my shoulders.I watched his broad shoulders trembling in front of me, and couldn't help feeling disgusted—crazy. "Please... please forgive me, Lord Earl." He managed to control himself, and looked up at me, "Oh, I didn't expect you to be joking too... Guard, yes, guard..." He looked like he was about to laugh again. "I don't see how it's funny." What the hell was this guy thinking? Major Portman took a deep breath and stood up straight: "Actually, my lord, when the commissioner was shot, you were the one who responded at the same time as the guard. You immediately stood up from your seat , and the sound of the music completely overwhelmed the gunshots at that time, no one would notice this; taking a step back, even if they heard the gunshots, who would know the location of the accident immediately? Instead, you immediately headed towards the middle box Looking over, could it be that your sixth sense is particularly developed? Well, it might as well be that you knew something was going to happen there in advance, right?" Cold sweat oozes from my forehead - I knew it would not be easy for him to show up! "Why do you say that? Have you been staring at me?" "Yes." He suddenly moved closer to my face, "You are absolutely right, I have been watching you, except for the first moment I watched the show, I have been watching you, all the time I see you take out your pocket watch from time to time, see you put your hand on the armrest and make a fist, see you look back at the box!" "..." There was no longer a smile on his face, and I thought there was something akin to flames hidden in his eyes, but it made me shudder. I unconsciously leaned back, turned my face and pushed him away: "... so what? This can only prove that I was on the scene at the time, and I was worried about this performance, and worried about whether your superiors would be satisfied— —” "Come on!" he interrupted me roughly. "You think these damn explanations will work for me?" The room was suddenly very quiet, and I thought he might think I was naive! I smoked another cigarette: "Well then, Mr. Major, please take me away and charge me with murdering a German officer." He didn't move, but frowned slightly when he saw me lighting a match: "Don't provoke me with words, you know I don't have evidence now; besides, it's just a dead pig with a fat head and gut, it's no big deal!" His last sentence made my eyes widen; doesn't this man have any respect for his superiors?He should know the seriousness of this kind of thing, besides, he seems to be the one responsible for the defense! "Don't look at me like that." He raised his lips frivolously, "That guy just came to Paris to hang around to show his dignity. An arrogant and incompetent fool, it's okay to die!" "What if these words got to the Gestapo's ears, Major?" I remember them as hot-blooded. The blond Nazi snorted and flicked the "SS" logo (short for SS) on his shirt: "'SS, your honor is loyalty.'" It was that cynical tone again, as if mocking everything around him.I gasped at his audacity. "The whole of Germany is crazy, and I still have a little sobriety!" He ignored my shock, "My lord, you also know how many clowns are arrogantly clamoring under that man's hands, and it would be nice to have one less now Is it?" I watched him, as if I understood what he meant.In fact, I have had this feeling for a long time. He is not a simple aggressor. He does not have fanatical worship of their head of state like most Nazis. He seems to regard what he is doing as a game. Laughing at himself and those involved in the game.His attitude towards fate was once again undisguised in front of me. "If you want to pretend to be innocent, don't tell me in this suit!" His hands were still stained with the blood of Professor Soler, Armand and Marisa! "No, you should understand. It would be dangerous for me to sit there neat and tidy while all the people are all painted over and screaming; not to mention the chance to indulge Not bad for a while." The way he was smiling was really weird.I can't even say a word of rebuttal. "Oh, my lord, our conversation has already gotten off topic." He walked up to my ear and said softly, "Anyway, no one else heard what I just said, so let's keep it as a secret between the two of us." .” His warm breath brushed against my skin, and a itchy feeling made me feel stiff all over.At this moment, I keenly felt that the atmosphere in the room seemed to have changed.