Chapter 21 Chapter 21

For the next three days I never saw the major again, and he made no attempt to tell me what he was doing. I force myself to take my medications on time, eat more, and get enough sleep.So my body recovered very quickly from the second day onwards. I tried my best to get myself back to the best condition except that my physical weakness could not be compensated. Because I can intuitively feel that the major has made a certain decision in his heart, but he is unwilling to tell me. By the third night, I was even more certain of my guess. "You need to move somewhere," he told me as he lit his cigarette, his blue eyes dimmed by the smoke.

"Where are you going?" I shrugged. "You should know that both my house and the troupe are under surveillance." "Go to the suburbs of Paris, or seek out your guerrilla friends. I don't think they've completely eradicated the 'Swan', have they? They haven't even caught the most important ringleader, so there must be some minor characters who slip through the net .” I stared into his eyes: "What? You can't protect me anymore? Or are you already under investigation?" The major shook his head, his voice was very calm: "I will go to Versailles on Sunday, and I will not be in Paris for a while, so I hope you can find a safer place."

His complexion didn't improve as mine did, but he was calm, and his appearance was in keeping with his usual decorum: well-fitting uniform, neat blond hair, straight torso; if I wasn't mistaken, he concealed it too well.I stared at him intently, but unfortunately, I didn't let him show the slightest sign of wavering. "Understood..." I nodded slowly, "Do you want me to avoid it?" His eyebrows frowned slightly, and I simply cut to the chase: "What did Sergeant Belken tell you?" "Chart!" the major raised his voice disapprovingly, "I think you ought to stop these speculations."

"If I hadn't been through the twists and turns of the past two years, I think I would, but now you can no longer think that I will be stupid enough to believe that you really have no secret actions! Rostock, that is 'my' relatives and friends!" He crushed the cigarette fiercely and threw it out, but the expression on his face was forbearing, and even his voice remained steady: "I don't know what's going on in your mind, Shaerte. I said I would try my best, I promised you that!" "That's why I'm more worried!" His face turned livid all of a sudden, and it took a while before the corners of his mouth curled up strangely: "Yeah, that's what you said... My credit is indeed in question."

I really want to bite my tongue off! "I'm sorry..." I explained annoyedly, "You know...that's not what I meant. I just... just didn't want you to go on an adventure alone!" The major's face was blank for a moment, and then an expression of disbelief emerged. "Uh..." I realized that my words were too concerned, "...I mean, if I really want to save them, I am also responsible, and I can't completely hide away! Then I really become a coward!" The major turned his head and coughed a few times, and I saw that the corners of his eyes seemed to be full of smiles.

"I can understand, Shalt." The lines on his face softened again, "but you have to understand that you can't do anything now, and it's hard for you to protect yourself." "That's not the point!" I stood up and walked in front of him, "The important thing is that you can't hide anything from me!" The major looked down, and I saw him cover his mouth as if he was... laughing.This weirdo, did my expression make him think I was joking? "I understand, I understand." He finally raised his hands as if surrendering, "Let me tell you, is it okay?"

The coffee in the hotel is particularly bad, but I am willing to endure the bitter taste and warm my hands with a steaming cup when there is no heating. The major didn't even wear leather gloves, letting the white cigarettes burn between his fingers. "You said there was no chance of them being released?" I repeated his words with a frown. "Yes." The major nodded. "Heinrich has told me very clearly that no matter whether they are members of 'Swan' or not, those arrested this time will be sent to concentration camps after interrogation!" "Why?" So tricky!There is almost no room for maneuver.

"Of course it's for insurance! Letting go of a suspicious person will cause more trouble, not to mention that this operation is a springboard for him to be promoted from a sergeant to a captain. The bigger the better! If you can be caught again, It's even more perfect!" "Did he turn me down when you talked to him?" "No, he just told me that it is impossible to rescue your mother and friends like Miss Guied was released on bail last time!" "Is there no hope at all?" I speculated cautiously. "Is he really going to kill them all?"

The major hesitated for a moment: "Not exactly... Next Wednesday, they will transfer the prisoners from the police station to the Breton detention center. A fork in the road, and there is a slope..." My heart tightened: "You mean... hijacking a prison car?" "That's not what I meant. Heinrich proposed it on his own initiative. What he can do is to change the person in charge of escorting the prison van and replace it with someone who can cooperate with you, for example... I..." That redheaded man can't be so generous!It's the Major he's been trying to target, not me!

"What condition did he propose to you?" "Inheritance." The major said flatly, "As long as I sign the transfer agreement on Sunday, he can arrange everything." I was dumb for a moment, unable to say anything, I just bit my lip and held the coffee cup tightly. "You can also guess that he will do this, right? After all, it is something he has dreamed of all his life!" The major raised the corners of his mouth in disdain, "Unfortunately, to me, that thing is worthless!" I could guess what answer the Major had given him, and I knew it was contrived to say "thank you" by now, but it was impossible to ignore his sacrifice myself.

"I said don't take it so seriously!" The blond man seemed to see through my complicated thoughts, "This should be regarded as a matter of values, I think we took advantage of it! A piece of waste paper for a few Ten lives, and your gratitude, are worth too much to me!" I forced a smile: "...So, can you take me to the meeting on Sunday?" "No need." The major didn't agree, "It's dangerous for you to go out now, and I can't guarantee whether Heinrich will go crazy temporarily." "Then can you guarantee whether your brother will play tricks on you? I also want him to talk about the arrangements at that time in detail." "Well, if you insist." The major drew a pistol from his body. "Take this with you. I won't be here for two days. If I show up here too often, I will be found." "thanks." "Don't walk around, take care of yourself." "Ok." With three days until Sunday, I certainly wasn't going to lock myself in my room to get moldy. After putting on the spectacles and hat I had ordered the hotel boy to buy me, I put on my overcoat, put the gun in my pocket, and, disguised as a dull clerk, walked to the Valierettes. The performance here has been stopped because of being implicated. I knocked on the reception room and told the concierge that I was looking for Philip Nacilus. "I am, sir." The gray-haired gatekeeper looked at me warily, "Who are you?" I lowered my turned-up collar and took off my cap and glasses. "God!" he exclaimed in a low voice, "my lord count, why are you here?" "Glad to see you're all right, Philip." The older man stuck his head out to look around, then closed the blinds, pulled the door lock, and asked me to sit down on the chair. "I heard that something happened to the 'Nightingale' troupe two days ago. My lord, Mr. Maybervesy and Mr. Luchel have been arrested, as well as François and Lou Wangceau." "Yes, I know, but fortunately Daisy is not on the arrest list." "She escaped through the back door that day, and I helped her go to Marseille." I stretched out my body in relief and asked, "Have you not been questioned here?" "No, my lord. You set this place as the most secret contact point. You have hardly been here except during performances. Of course they can't find out, so neither Mr. René nor I are in any danger." "Great." I'm thankful for the prudent considerations I've made in the past. "Listen, Philip. This is a mess, and if nothing happens, there's only one chance to save them. I need you to do me a favor right now." .” "No problem, my lord." There was a very trustworthy expression on his wrinkled face. "Go to the liaison office of the Machi guerrillas tonight, and hand over this letter to them, and—" I took out another prepared envelope from my close-fitting clothes, "This one with the name on it must be To give it to a young man named Joseph Guied, he must receive it as soon as possible." "Okay, my lord." Philip put the two letters in his arms, "Don't worry." Three days had been made long by the wait, and when the major did come to take me to my appointment, I found myself feeling an inappropriate sense of relief. "You don't look like you're worried about anything." The major asked me as the car sped through the picturesque suburbs of Paris. "Why, are you sure that Heinrich will keep his promise?" "No," I shook my head, "I just want to save my mother and the others quickly, nothing else matters." The meeting place was chosen by Sergeant Belken, a banker's suburban villa, which is now an empty house waiting to be auctioned.Surrounded by tall and dense pine needle forests, some dead roses and tulips fell on the ground, and a gray car was parked beside it.The windows were fastened well with wooden battens, but the door was wide open, and a yellow light could be seen inside. The major glanced at me, and I touched my pocket unconsciously. There was a very spacious drawing-room in this house, well furnished except for a table and four chairs.Sergeant Belken took off his hat and sat down at the table. "It's still on time, Rostock." He waved his hand at us, "And you, Mr. Earl." I saw his red hair play different shades in the light, and there was a sickly smile on his normal-featured face.Why didn't I find out that besides being unable to make people feel good about him, he also has the trait of easily arousing anger. "You are welcome, please sit down, you are welcome." He pointed to the chair. "Is it impatient to wait?" The major graciously sat with me opposite him. "I've always been a very patient person, you should know that." The major unscrewed the pen: "Where is the thing, take it out." The sergeant took from his pocket a neatly folded piece of paper, all in German.The major simply entered his name in the last column.I saw the man's eyes calmly watching the nib slide across the paper, and then suddenly met my eyes. For a moment my heart beat violently: the malice in that gaze made me shudder. "It's really straightforward, Rostock." The sergeant let me go, and raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction, "If you were so straightforward earlier, we would have saved a lot of trouble." He reached out for the paper, but the major pressed it faster.Sergeant Belken's face turned black all of a sudden: "What do you mean?" The major tilted his head towards me: "It seems that you forgot what you should say!" The sergeant's eyes turned to me again, and the disgust was very explicit: "Oh, yes. I forgot to tell your little beauty what to do in the next few days. Seriously, Rostock, even if the Count is so beautiful, I don't understand why You will be in heat with the same body as yourself!" Dirty stuff, I really want to slap him. I replied coldly: "Your upbringing really fits your status, Sergeant Belken." The muscles of his jaw twitched, and he clicked his tongue: "It's really spicy! But you better not make me angry now! Listen, I just want to say it once." He rubbed his fingers on the edge of the table, "Next Wednesday At noon, we transferred all the suspects arrested this time to the Breton Detention Center according to the order, and it was about 5:00 pm when we passed the entrance of Eilat Lane. There are two cars, each with ten people, and I will arrange for the Countess There is a car in front. There are about five soldiers in the car, plus three motorcycles, it should not be a problem for you. By the way, I let Rostock sit in the first car, so it is more convenient !" It sounds simple, but—— "How do I know if you will keep your promise? What if you think it would be better to catch me again then?" "Oh," he shrugged frivolously, "then get the hell out of here, and wait for your mother to be imprisoned in a concentration camp, and your friends to be hanged! Sober up, my lord, you didn't bargain Qualifications!" My face was flushed red with anger, I have never hated a person so much! Fortunately, the major held me down and didn't make me stand up: "Stop talking, Chartre!" He picked up the paper in front of him and threw it to the sergeant, smiling very contemptuously: "Take your treasure quickly! Don't forget about the old man, even if I give up the right of inheritance, I have to make him willing to give up the title and property Just leave it to you! Those things are worthless to me, but you have to worry about it!" If the sergeant was still taunting us just now with the ease of winning, at this moment I clearly saw the almost vicious hatred emerging from his light blue eyes!That look almost made me think that he would jump on the major and kill him in the next second. "Your mouth is too annoying, Rostock." He quickly regained his composure, and slowly leaned his back on the chair, "You don't have to think about this issue, because I've already thought about it—" Before I could realize what he was saying, the table suddenly tipped over towards me and the major, and we were knocked to the ground by surprise.Before I could stand up, I put my hand into my pocket, but just as my fingertips touched the cold handle of the gun, that annoying voice yelled "Don't move" from the opposite side! Sergeant Belken pointed the black barrel of his gun at us, with a grin on his face. I panicked for a while, and the major squatted on the ground, looking at his brother in surprise. "Heinrich, you're crazy!" His voice was calm, but I saw his brows furrowed slightly. The sergeant's skin turned white from the light, and his eyes were as cold as a snake: "Don't talk to me in that tone, Rostock! I'm afraid I won't be able to resist shooting. You should have known, I dreamed kill you!" "Of course." The major was not afraid, "Don't you think I've been standing in front of you? But you should also know that even if I die, the old man won't even look at you!" "Shut up!" the sergeant yelled, and kicked the major in the chest. He hit the fallen chair. I heard him grunt and clutch his right shoulder—— Oops, his gunshot wound must have opened! Sergeant Belken's eyes were red, and he stared at the major: "You bastard! It's all because of you, all because of you! If it wasn't for you, my father would have given me the right to inherit! Do you know that I have been doing this for a long time? Work hard, I force myself to keep studying, to be the best in everything! I gave almost everything! And you came, you don’t have to do anything, you just have the surname Rostock! Father only recognizes you!" Cold sweat broke out on the major's forehead, and he ignored the sergeant's clamor. The muzzle of the gun was pressed against his forehead even more excitedly: "I hate you like this! I hate your face! A worthless slut who easily got something that didn't belong to him, and put on a look Cynicism! What the hell are you?" The blond man smiled, and I was surprised to find that when he spoke, his voice was still as contemptuous as before: "Come on, Heinrich, you know that there is only one difference between us: you treat that surname as It's a treasure, and I treat it as garbage. You hate me not because I took away your things, but because I don't look down on everything you value most!" I clenched my fists and really wanted to cover his mouth; now that the sergeant is in a rage, it's too dangerous to provoke him like this! The man with the gun was clearly in control, and his heavy breathing made me shudder. After a while, Sergeant Belken let out a dry laugh: "You are right, kid, maybe so. I used to foolishly think that if I could get rid of your father, I would still notice me, so I paid A lot of thought! But now I don’t think so, the Third Reich has given me a chance to climb up, as long as I can gain status, my father will look at me with admiration; and you, just degenerate into a disgusting place ! No matter how much he likes you, it is impossible for a homosexual to inherit his title!" "Then will he let a man of quarter gypsy blood succeed him?" "Major!" I almost screamed! "It's useless to say what you say now!" The sergeant's face was a little distorted, "As long as you are dead and I have your transfer agreement, then father will agree - he has no choice! Oh, right If he doesn't want others to know that his son died in love with a French man, he will be more willing to amend the will!" I gasped - he was crazy! The sergeant backed away a few steps slowly, but the gun did not vibrate. He looked at me: "As for you, Earl, I am very sorry! I once wanted to use your hatred to hurt my infatuated brother, but you seem to be stronger than I imagined." It's easy to soften your heart! What a pity for your beautiful fiancée!" "Marisa...it's really you..." "A total of eleven men! Of course I won't let go of such a good opportunity!" He showed his white teeth, "She is really very delicious..." My fingertips sank deeply into the flesh, and my heart hurt like being pierced by an iron nail! "Okay, okay! I don't want to waste any more time for you." He pulled the safety of the pistol. "Actually, you should thank me. At least you two can die together at the same time. It's so happy..."