Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Insufficient Manpower

I can't believe it, it's only been seven days since Murray last called him to assign an assignment!Seven days ago, he had no idea what a "triangle" was, or Margaret Montoya, or who Martin Brubeck was.Seven days ago, his partner wasn't lying in this damn hospital bed either, yes, that damn hospital bed!It was Du who harmed him. Seven days ago, Murray called Du.They used to fight side by side, but they never chatted.Whenever Murray called, it meant one thing—something else to do.Some... not so easy jobs.It was laborious and undignified work, and it was something Murray, the well-dressed officer with manicured nails, would not do himself.But at any rate, they had been through life and death together. Although Murray had already held an important position in the CIA and was no longer the lieutenant in the Vietnam War, Du would always answer Murray's calls.

It was seven days ago that Du had only met this red-haired secretary in her twenties, and secretly speculated whether Murray was having an affair with her. She raised her watery green eyes and smiled sincerely. "What's the matter with you, sir?" Well, what about the Irish accent, Du thought, even if he didn't get her, at least he tried, Lao Mo couldn't be impotent. "I am Du Phillips. Mr. Longworth is waiting for me." "Oh, come in, Mr. Phillips," the red-haired girl whispered. "You're a few minutes late. He likes to be punctual." "Really? Didn't I just hit the muzzle of the gun? I have to be prepared."

Du walked into Murray's spacious office.The room was largely bare except for a bullet-riddled American flag on one wall.On another wall, pictures of Murray and five previous presidents are lined up.Like a stop-motion animation, the photographs chart Murray's life, from a stocky lad standing next to a smiling President Jimmy Carter, to a heavily fattened mass next to a smiling President George Bush, Only that gaze is still like a torch. Du noticed that none of the photographs showed Murray in military uniform, uniform or overalls.Murray wanted to forget that time, his former self, his experiences.But Du couldn't forget—and he didn't want to.This is just part of his life experience, and he has completely let go of it and started a new life.It should be said that most of the time he no longer thinks about that experience.

Of course he still remembers the national flag on Murray's wall, and he, Murray and five other brothers were the only ones left in the whole company at that time. did the last fight.It was a battle at the end of World War I, and brothers fought side by side in wet sandbag trenches before reinforcements arrived by helicopter.At two o'clock in the morning, the stars hid behind the dark clouds, and the torrential rain poured down instantly, turning the entire fire base into a muddy ocean. Murray Longworth sat behind a large oak desk, which was empty unless the computer was an ornament.The table tops are shiny and tidy and spotlessly clean.

"Hello, Lieutenant," Du said. "You know Du, I'd be happy if you didn't call me by my nickname. I've told you more than once." "Of course." Du said, "Look at my memory." "sit down." "This place is really nice. Have you been in this office for five years? Finally got a chance to see it." Murray said nothing. "It's been like seven years since the last time we sat down and chatted like this, Lieutenant? It's been seven years since you asked me to fix that shit for you? Your career is in trouble again, isn't it? ? You have to ask your dear good brother Du to help you 'wipe your ass' again? So that you can stay out of trouble, right?"

"It's different this time." "Yes, Lieutenant, you are right! I am too old and weak to do your dirty work anymore!" Du stood in front of the national flag.There was a small brown stain in the upper left corner of the flag that Murray told everyone who asked about it was mud from the Mississippi River.But Dolby knows that it's not mud.This national flag used to fly high on a flagpole, and Du held this flagpole, like a wild man of a primitive tribe, and pierced the bronze spear into the chest of the enemy.There is also a stain on the lower right of the flag, which was when Du tried to stop the blood gurgling from the throat of 18-year-old Corporal Quint Woerman after he was shot by an AK-47 rifle left.

They didn't fly that flag to boost morale, because they weren't fully patriotic then.The flag happened to fly over their last held position, where they defended to the death until a helicopter showed up to save them.Murray was the last to board the plane, and he wanted to make sure all the brothers got out safely.They were all seriously injured, as was Du.Before boarding the plane, he grabbed the flag that was bloodstained, full of bullet marks, and soaked in flames of war and gunpowder smoke.No one knows the reason for Murray's move, probably not even Murray himself.But when they finally realized that it was over, that they had escaped death, leaving behind the corpses of friends and enemies alike, the flag quietly took on a special meaning.

Du stared at the banner of Survival After the Catastrophe, memories flooded his mind, and it took him a while to realize that Murray was calling his name softly. "Du? Du?" Du turned his head, blinked a few times, and quickly returned to the real world, seeing Murray invite him to sit at the table.Desperately trying to annoy Murray, Du pulled up a chair and sat down. Du took out a chocolate candy from his jacket pocket, peeled it off and threw it into his mouth, then threw the candy wrapper on the floor.He chewed for a while, looked at Murray, and asked, "Have you heard about Jimmy Tillamock?"

Murray shook his head. "Killed himself. With an old-fashioned revolver—brains burst." Murray hung his head in silence, and let out a long sigh, "God, I don't know." "You know," Du said, "the last four years of his life he didn't go to rehab a few times, and he was depressed, Murray. He was totally broken, and he needed his friends." "Why didn't you call me?" "will you come?" Murray's silence gave Du the answer.He raised his eyes to meet Du Bing's cold eyes, "It's just the two of us." "Yes," Du said, "it's just the two of us. It's not easy for us to keep in touch after so many years. Now we can rely on each other. Let's get down to business, Lieutenant, what's going on this time ?”

Murray took out a portfolio and handed it to Du.The label reads "Jigsaw Puzzle Project." "This incident is extraordinary." "Really? Going to 'wipe your ass' again, Murray? Whose mess is this time?" "president." "Murray, if this time it's the kind of shitty thing where I take a gun and you get promoted, I won't do it." "I told you it wasn't like this this time, Du. I mean it." Du opened the portfolio and began to browse through the files.There were only four files: three case reports and one fact sheet.Du read the briefing over and over again three times before looking up, his face was solemn, and his eyes were full of doubts.He looked down at the report in his hand, and began to quote some of the absurd words in it.

"'Biomanipulative behavior?' 'Artificial biochemical organisms?' 'Contagious terror weapons?' Murray, you're not using these to fool me, are you?" Murray shook his head. "This is all bullshit," Du said. "You think terrorists have created... look here... created 'artificial biochemical organisms' to cause human insanity?" "That's not exactly it, Du, we've got three cases so far. All were normal people who became hysterical shortly after being infected with the growth. We can't say for sure if this was a terrorist act, but I think you'd agree We take action and plan ahead. We can't just sit back and get caught." Du continued to look through the documents.A photograph attached to Charlotte Wilson's report clearly shows the blue triangular imprint on her shoulder.The photo attached to Gary Ryland's file is of a frowning old man.His wrinkled face was full of disgust and suspicion.His displeasure was accentuated by the blue triangular bump on his neck. "Is this what turned these people into murderous monsters?" "It caused a 70-year-old grandmother to kill her son with a butcher knife, a father to kill his wife and two young daughters with a pair of scissors, a 57-year-old man to set fire to his hospital bed, He burned himself to death and harmed three other patients." "Could this be a coincidence? Have you checked the background of these people? Are there any mental problems?" Murray shook his head, "It's all been investigated, Du. I wouldn't call you if it wasn't for a reason. In the three cases, the victims had no history of violence, medical history, or mental problems. Friends and Neighbors say they are good people. In fact, the only thing they have in common is the sudden onset of acute madness and these triangular growths." "Are there any such cases abroad? Is there any country dealing with similar incidents?" Murray shook his head again, with a serious expression on his face. "No. We checked, Du, we did everything we could. As far as we know, these cases are only in the United States." Du nodded slowly, now he understood why Murray thought it was a conspiracy hidden under a massacre. "But how did the terrorists come up with such a thing?" "I don't think terrorists invented this thing," Murray said. "Terrorists didn't invent nuclear warheads, sarin gas or jetliners, they just used them. What we have to do is find this growth." inventor, this is the most important." Du read the report again.If this thing is really a weapon of terror, then it is really amazing.Car bombs and aerial hijackings pale in comparison: just think about it!Friends, neighbors or colleagues around you will suddenly go crazy at any time and kill everyone they see.In such a country, people will no longer work and carry a pistol with them whenever they go out.Anyone is a suspicious killer to you.hell!If parents can cut their own flesh and blood with their own hands, then what is the so-called safety?Such a weapon of terror can paralyze an entire country. Du took out another chocolate candy, "Murray, wouldn't this be one of the weapons we developed ourselves? It got out of hand because of a small 'accident'?" Murray shook his head desperately before Du finished speaking, "No, it's impossible. I checked everything, and I didn't miss any clues. This is not our weapon, Du, I swear." Du peeled off the candy wrapper and threw it on Murray's tidy carpet. "How do the growths show their power?" "We're not too sure. We infer that the growth produces toxic substances and releases them directly into the bloodstream. It's like an addict injecting heroin into a vein with a hypodermic needle." "How many people know about this?" "Some people know bits and pieces, the details are clear from beginning to end, just myself, the director, the president, and the two doctors from CDC mentioned in the report. We have a meeting later, everyone except the director Everyone is there." "I'm going to meet the President?" Murray nodded. "Wow, that's great! I can't wait to tell that smug guy how bad he is at controlling crime." Murray's face turned pale immediately, "Du, I'm afraid it's inappropriate to say this now—" "Just kidding, Lieutenant. I'll be a good boy, so now I'm part of your little VIP club. Why me?" "Because I need you, Sergeant." This appellation had as much impact on Du's psychology as "Lieutenant" had on Murray.Sergeant — short for Army Sergeant Major, the rank he served under Murray during the Vietnam War.For years he had been called Sergeant Sergeant, an awe-inspiring title.Everyone used to call him a sergeant—and now the only person who knows that title is Murray, but this guy is trying to pretend like the Vietnam War never happened.The reality is so ironic, Du couldn't help but feel a little sad. "I don't care about your age, Sergeant. In my eyes, you are still the best agent in the business. We need someone who will not hesitate to complete the mission. Although you still have doubts, you will definitely help us as soon as possible Find out the truth." Du stared into Murray's face.He has known this face for more than 40 years.Over the years, he has long been able to see through this face whether it is lying or not.Murray asked him to help a lot, and Du knew it well every time, these were the weights for Murray to be promoted.But Du will still help him, just because he is Murray, because he is a lieutenant... because he has fought with his brothers in the most difficult times.But this time the situation is different... The lieutenant has no interest in this matter.He was really frightened this time, and he was so frightened that he was at a loss for what to do. "Okay, count me in, but I have to bring my partner." "Absolutely not. I'll arrange one for you. I don't know Malcolm as absolutely loyal as you." Du couldn't help being surprised that Murray knew his partner like the back of his hand. "What kind of loyalty do you need in this, Lieutenant? You just need a guy who pulls the trigger at your beck and call, and alas, that guy is me. I've been with Malcolm for 12 years, and he won't join Then I won't do it either. Believe me, he's trustworthy." Murray Longworth was a man used to doing things his own way, used to having others do his bidding, but Doo knew he was also a statesman.For politicians, sometimes you get what you pay for—a game that Du never got to grasp, and Murray has mastered it. "Well," Murray said, "I trust your judgment." Du shrugged, "Then what shall we do next?" Murray stared out the window. "We're waiting, Sergeant," he said. "Waiting for the next case. There's nothing we can do right now." He's been waiting ever since then, until now.Seven days ago, he had been waiting for something to happen, wanting to see if this crazy jigsaw puzzle plan was real, or if it was another weight that could help Murray get promoted.However, now, what he has to wait for is the news of his friend's life and death. If Du hadn't been stubborn and insisted on letting him join, perhaps death could have been avoided. After the rest, he was still exhausted all over his body. He didn't feel refreshed after waking up, but he only felt anger rising continuously.Du sat alone in his hotel room, with a mobile phone tucked between his shoulder and ear.The mobile phone is not the usual small plastic case, but a large metal body with a black steel paint body.The most advanced encryption program is installed in the mobile phone. Du knows nothing about these advanced things, and of course he doesn't care at all. "Is Johnson still in danger?" Murray asked. "Yeah, still alive or dead. He's dying." On the table in front of him was a yellow cloth with a military-style Colt .45 automatic pistol with its magazine removed.The smooth, gray metal gleamed deep blue in the hotel's blinding lights. "The doctor at the bureau still looking after him?" Murray asked. "Night and night," Du said, "that CDC woman came to see him too. Is she so eager to see the dead, Murray?" "I sent her there, Du. You know, she needs all the information she can get, and we won't let go of any life-saving straw." "So what important information did she get?" "I'm flying over on Saturday. I'll let you know as soon as I get firsthand information. You'll have to be patient." "How is it outside now? Is there anything new?" Du had already oiled and assembled the gun.He put the gun aside and dragged two boxes, one full of empty shell casings, the other full of Colt .45 revolver cartridges. "It's all right," Murray said. "Looks like there's no war on the Western Front. Don't worry about any new developments. You need to rest well. I'm going to find some help." Du skillfully picked up the pistol, mechanically pushed the first bullet into the magazine, and then began to load the second round.He sighed, as if his next words would decide his good brother's fate.But work is work after all... "Malcolm probably won't make it, Murray. As much as we hate to admit it, it's true." "I have found a partner for you, and I will tell him the truth." "I don't need a partner." "Shut up! Du!" Murray's calm tone suddenly became extremely violent.Murray is a person who is good at hiding his emotions, but now, his frustration is obvious. "Can you stop being against me all the time? This time you have to agree with me. The situation is serious now, and someone has to help you." "I said no partner. Murray." "You must obey orders!" "Well, every time you send a partner I'll shoot him in the knee," Du said. "You know I walk the talk." Murray was speechless. Du's voice sounded a little stuttered with emotion, and he continued: "Malcolm is my partner, but what's the difference between him and a dead man now? I witnessed that crazy scene with my own eyes, Murray. Once infected with this Shit, even normal people can go crazy. That's what I saw firsthand, so I know what we're dealing with. I also know that Margaret desperately needs more samples. I'm totally fine on my own , Otherwise, I have to re-run with my new partner, and it will be a drag. Murray, I have to do it alone from now on." "Du, this matter has nothing to do with personal grievances. Don't cloud your judgment because of a momentary mood." Du had already pushed the second round into the magazine.He stared at the bullet in his hand, the pointed bullet tip shone with metallic luster. "I'm not looking for revenge, Murray," Du said. "Don't be stupid. The person who made Malcolm like this is dead, and who can I turn to for revenge? I can do better without a partner." Murray was silent for a while, and Du didn't care whether Murray agreed or not—he had already decided to work alone. "Okay, Du," Murray said softly, "remember we need a living." "Call me when you arrive." Du hung up the phone.Obviously, he was lying.How could this have nothing to do with personal grievances?If you carefully weigh the ins and outs of things, every detail has a reason.Sooner or later he'd find out who made the damn triangle.Malcolm is dead, someone has to pay. He put another round into the revolver, loaded it, and went into the bathroom.Holding the handle of the gun tightly with his right hand, stroking the trigger with his fingers, Du carefully examined himself in the mirror.He wasn't stupid enough to shoot himself like Brubaker.His skin is very healthy, but from the corner of his eyes, he can vaguely see some small red spots, and when he looks closely, they seem to disappear again.Some thoughts kept wandering in his mind.If he was infected with the damn virus, would he survive until the day they solved the mystery?Or, he doesn't have to hold on so hard—just pull the trigger and it's gone. Du went to the bed, ejected the bullet from the gun, put it on the bedside table, and then pressed the gun under the pillow again, lay on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep. He had a dream of burning houses, rotting corpses, and Sinatra whispering in his ear: "I got you, in my skin."