Chapter 3 third chapter

It was after dinner when John returned home. The maid Vicky took the coat and said with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Robertson." "Hi, where's Donna?" "Napping upstairs, she is in a bad mood today." "why?" The maid shook her head: "I don't know. The doctor came in the afternoon and checked the lady's body. There was no new problem. Mr. Hillard called and said that Miss Suma's operation went well. But the lady has been very dull." John nodded : "Okay, I'll go see her." He gently pushed open the oak door of the bedroom. His wife, Donna, was taking a nap on the large double bed. Against the snow-white coverlet, her face was even more gloomy and sluggish.A sprig of jasmine at the head of the bed exhales its fragrance, and the jacquard curtains flutter in the cool breeze of early autumn.John walked over and gently closed the window.When he turned around, his wife had already opened her eyes.John said apologetically, "Sorry for waking you up."

The wife smiled and said, "No, I was just dozing off. Suma's caesarean section went well?" "Yeah, a 9-pound little black person was born. Did you read the evening paper? The press is going crazy!" John gleefully recounted the press's comments, but his wife didn't respond emotionally.After a long silence, she asked abruptly: "You want to replace me with a cloned human liver? There are such speculations in the newspaper. John, I can't agree to do this, it's too... ugly, it's like I murdered own grandson." John immediately denied: "No, those are pure conjectures. What will be replaced with an artificial liver, you already know. The company has been working on this for 8 years, and it will be successful soon."

Although Donna was skeptical, she finally nodded with a smile.She knew that this research had already started. It used degradable biomaterials as the skeleton, soaked in the nutrient solution, and allowed the patient's liver cells to multiply in the nutrient solution and be shaped according to the skeleton.After a while, the skeleton automatically degrades and disappears, and the artificial liver can be implanted into the human body.She also knew that her liver disease was at an advanced stage and this artificial liver was her only hope.Seeing that his wife didn't ask any more questions, John immediately got up, kissed his wife on the cheek and said, "I have to work in the study for a while, you should rest first."

He closed the door gently and came to the Chinese-style hut.There are three Chinese characters at the door: Jing Si Zhai.The furnishings in the house are antique and full of oriental sentiment.A bouquet of Tibetan incense smoke is lingering, exuding a clear fragrance. Whenever he needs to think quietly, he often comes here, and the atmosphere here can really make him calm down.I cheated on my wife, he thought, but it was a good deception and God will forgive.It is true that the technology of artificial organs has basically matured, but such organs manufactured by "semi-mechanical methods" are not as delicate and reliable as "natural" organs.He has already prepared an artificial liver for his wife, but as long as his wife's body lasts for another two or three years, he still intends to (secretly) replace her with a cloned liver.

Currently, he is urging Hashimoto to create a second batch of cancer patients.He didn't intend to use the organs of little Hella.Due to various factors, Hela's relationship with her family has become too close. He couldn't bear to do anything to her, just like he couldn't bear to hurt a pet, a Pomeranian or a Persian cat that clung around his knees all day long.However, starting from the second batch of cancer patients, he had to rule out these emotional factors in advance.For example, surgery can be used to create "brainless children", or artificial wombs can be used to replace women to conceive.When these products increasingly distance themselves from the scope of human beings and are marked as "inhuman", the opposition in society will slowly melt away.

He lightly tapped the armrest of the pineapple wood chair, frowning and thinking hard.When he appeared in front of the company's staff, Mr. Robertson was a president with a steely will, never hesitating or hesitating.But when I was alone in the dark room, some annoying thoughts crept out from the shadows.The two Mr. Robertsons began to wrestle in their heads. One Robertson asked: Old John, do you really have no conscience for using the organs of cancer patients? Another Robertson said firmly: no.I know this is a cliff that is difficult to cross, but as long as you step up it with a hard heart, there will be a smooth road ahead.Now, it is "moral" for doctors to cut off organs from brain-dead people; but 200 years ago, it was also a treasonous evil, which was strictly prohibited by the religious court.Now there are living people who voluntarily donate their organs. They are willing to save their relatives with one kidney and one eyeball.But self-sacrifice does not alter the bloody nature of the practice.

The first Robertson asked: Is there no smell of blood when cutting organs from living cancer patients? The second Robertson replied: Somewhat, just like we butcher pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks.However, even the most fanatical animal protectionists admit that the slaughter of pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks is justified, because we can think that human breeding has helped them continue the race, and in return they provide humans with flesh.Doesn't this statement apply to cancer patients?We didn't even just help them perpetuate their race, we created it.In return, they should be willing to donate an organ or two.

Well, excellent answer, strong arguments and clear thinking.you win. John smiled.There is no doubt that the second Robertson is always the winner because his powerful logic is based on $800 billion. This 800 billion plan is being implemented smoothly.Of course there was resistance and hostility, but generally speaking, the official and public opinion circles did not react strongly.Because there is an obvious logical black hole here, PPG can confidently ask those critics: Gentlemen, are you going to issue human ID cards to cancer patients?Won't.Well, you've acknowledged its inhumanity.So please keep your mouth shut and don't bother PPG with humanitarian accusations!

Of course, there are also a few fierce opponents who threaten to execute cancer patients to maintain the purity of human beings.Robertson watched the actions of these people carefully, but he did not believe that these people could control the situation. The buzzer rang, and John pressed the call button. The butler, Claus, said, "Please see Mr. Rains, he is in the living room." John looked up at the Chinese-style chime clock, and it was already 10:30 in the evening point.He thought, what important things could Paul not say on the phone, and hurried from 100 miles away?He said to the intercom, "I'll be right there. No," he changed his mind, "you bring him here."

Klaus led Paul to this small conference room, opened the door, nodded to the owner, and then left silently.John came up to shake hands with Paul, led him to sit on a Chinese-style carved chair, and asked with a smile: "What would you like to drink? Is it whiskey or Chinese green tea?" "Have a cup of green tea." John gave an order to the intercom, and the maid brought two cups of hot tea a few moments later.John said: "I only drink Chinese green tea in this house, because Chinese tea is very suitable for the oriental atmosphere here. Do you know what the three Chinese characters outside the door mean? Jing Si Zhai. Whenever you need to meditate I'm coming here."

Paul, who was sipping tea, looked up at him and sarcastically said, "Mr. Robertson, do you feel bad conscience?" This sentence did not make John angry.He even smiled: Well, that's exactly what the first Robertson asked.If Paul had come a little earlier, I wouldn't have had to argue with myself.He wasn't going to argue with Paul, so he coughed lightly, adding a bit of majesty to his kindness: "You came from the laboratory so late, is there anything important?" Paul put down the celadon teacup from Jingdezhen, China: "Of course." He briefly described Mr. Knight's threat. "My intuition tells me that this man is serious." He recalled the helplessness in the man's voice when he said, "We can't take it anymore."The tone didn't sound like a cold-blooded killer, but it was the resignation that convinced Paul that he would carry out the threat. "Therefore, I solemnly request the company to provide strict protection for Miss Suma and Xiao Hela, especially Xiao Hela, whether you think she is human or not. I think, for the sake of 800 billion dollars, you will not ignore my warning .” John pretended not to hear the nail in his words, and said with emotion: "Please rest assured, this is our obligation. In addition to strengthening internal security, the company is also planning to hire private detectives. Thank you for your sense of responsibility." The two talked about some specific issues related to the security work. Paul got up and was about to leave, but he clearly hesitated.John asked kindly: "Anything else? You're welcome." "Sir, I have a request. I want you to give me a promise: no matter what time, don't pull any thoughts on Xiaohai. We let her come into this world by accident, let her go through this quietly For the rest of my life." There was determination in his politeness, and he was actually telling John that my request could not be backed down.But John was very happy.Because he heard Paul's subtext: leave Hella to me and Suma, I will never let her get hurt.But I don't necessarily have to play a hard-line naysayer about what the company has done since then. This is probably the attitude of most people.They are ready to retreat, ready to admit the reality of cancer, but before retreating they need a small victory.John very straightforwardly agreed: "No problem. Paul, I have made a similar promise, and I might as well repeat it now. In this life, I will not disturb the quietness of little Hella. But for the cancer patients produced in the future with special purposes, I won't make any promises." He found, to his satisfaction, that at his last words Paul looked very distressed and very dull, but he did not openly object.John said kindly: "Don't go back tonight, I'll let Klaus arrange a place for you." "Thank you, but I'd like to hurry back. Good night, Mr. Robertson." The butler sent him to the car on behalf of the master.The rainstorm is over, the dark blue night sky is very clean, and the parking lot is covered with golden leaves.The digital clock in the car reads two in the morning, and there is very little traffic on the interstate.Paul stomped on the accelerator and headed back the same way at 120 mph.I'll be back at the hospital in an hour.Mr. John Robertson's promise reassured him, and his mood began to clear up like the night sky after rain.But in the depths of consciousness, there is still a vague ominous sound, which is very faint and intermittent, but stubbornly refuses to disappear.It'll be all right, Paul reassures himself, but he's still racing anxiously toward Little Tinycum.At this time, he didn't know that the two uninvited guests had already arrived at the PPG experimental building and the company hospital. They were sent by the "Alliance for Human Purity", including the chairman of the alliance, Harlan Knight. At two o'clock in the morning, Harlan Knight and Nicholson parked their car in the shadows not far from the experimental building and waited patiently.All the lights in the building were extinguished, only the guardhouse on the ground floor was brightly lit.Two company guards, sober and conscientious as robots, sat behind the observation window, staring intently at the door.There is also a patrol unit that patrols the yard every 40 minutes.There must also be a patrol unit in the building, because through the dark windows, you can see the bluish-white glare shining regularly between the floors. But Knight and Nicholson didn't take them to heart.Most of these well-dressed company guards lack practical experience. To put it harshly, they are like scarecrows in a wheat field, thinking that just standing here is enough to scare off crows.Knight and Nicholson, ex-Marines, are confident they can handle these small characters. Three days earlier, at Veterans Headquarters in Kentucky, the first congress of the National League for the Preservation of Human Purity had been held, with 83 people in attendance.Representatives came from all walks of life, including blue-collar workers, small farmers, company managers, priests, and a few scientists.Despite the complexity of the members, the voices at the meeting were surprisingly unanimous, that is: we can't take it anymore, we can no longer stand by!The biologist Joy, a Catholic, a good man with steady eyes, said bitterly: "The birth of the cancer man is a very clear example of the daring of scientists. If drastic measures are not taken to stop it, the I believe that within 50 years the earth will be full of cancer people, werewolves, leopard people, shark people, and eagle people. The end of mankind predicted in the Bible is coming.” He emphasized, “Don’t count on the government, don’t count on the self-discipline of the scientific community, As an insider, I have seen through them a long time ago. They are too indecisive, too advocating empty talk. When the relevant ethical issues are clarified, the 'non-human' race has long been firmly rooted on the earth and cannot be shaken! We must act, act now!" Geneticist Aldur introduced the current status of genetic engineering technology: "Mr. Joy is right. At present, the progress of genetic engineering has become a threat to nature. As we all know, biological reproduction has always followed the law of species isolation , Different species cannot interbreed. Even if they can barely interbreed, their offspring will not have the ability to reproduce, like horses and donkeys, lions and tigers. This is a natural protection formed in the evolution of creatures for billions of years, and it can be said to be the arrangement of God. But now, in the hands of geneticists, these interspecific barriers have long been broken. Genes can be spliced ​​​​at will, lions and eagles, tomatoes and fish, humans and polar bears, etc. Everyone knows that a few years ago The "luminous mouse" is to splice the gene of luminous jellyfish into the mouse. So far, the reason why human-animal hybrids have not appeared is only because of the self-discipline of the scientific community and the power of public opinion. But if cancer people open size, this balance will be broken overnight!" His introduction made the audience's hair stand on end. The speeches of the two gentlemen set the tone for the conference, and the discussion thereafter focused on how to take action.The conference decided to set up an action committee, chaired by Knight, responsible for killing cancer patients and eradicating relevant scientific research institutions.A legal committee was also formed, chaired by attorney Harrison.The operatives will inevitably violate the law when they act, and Harrison's task is to rescue them from the net of the law.Harrison said: "I can't promise that you will be completely exonerated, but I promise to turn this trial into a protracted trial of the century and turn criminals in the legal sense into heroes in the public mind. Because, you were originally He is the hero, Heracles who rescued mankind from the hooves of scientific demons!" Today is the league's first action. Knight looked at the luminous watch. At 2:30 in the morning, the outdoor patrol passed here rigidly like a robot, and the sound of footsteps disappeared behind the building.Knight patted his companion on the shoulder, and the two slipped to the corner of the building like civet cats.Nicholson squatted down to make a ladder, and Knight stood on his shoulders, clasped the corner of the building with his thighs and arms and climbed up. Soon he began to be out of breath-after all, he was not 20 years old, but he finally Stick to the balcony on the third floor.Hearing that there was no movement in the house, he crossed the balcony and lowered the rope to pull Nicholson up.Lie on the floor and listen, the indoor patrol team just finished their routine inspection on the second floor and went down to the first floor.This is their last patrol tonight.The two pushed open the balcony door and moved lightly in the corridor.The equipment related to human cloning is concentrated on the third floor. Knight opened the door lock with an alloy steel wire and scanned it with a flashlight.His first impression was that the experimental equipment here was so simple that it was hardly worth wasting his C4 explosives.When the alliance met, the biologist Joy once said: "Blowing up the laboratory is only a symbolic action. Because the main factors that lead to the success of human cloning are not equipment, not money, but the skills and determination of scientists. Therefore, if If we really want to stop this research, the only reliable way is to kill Paul, Hashimoto and anyone who wants to do it." He smiled wryly, "Of course we don't want to go this far, and we won't let our colleagues get infected. blood, and hopefully this explosion will scare them off." According to Joey's account, they glued a piece of plastic explosive on every important piece of equipment. After 20 minutes, they slid down the rope to the ground, slipped out, got into the car, and drove out of the shadows. At the entrance of the company, he squeaked on the brakes and rolled down the windows.Two guards watched the car suspiciously from the window, and one of them walked over cautiously with a pistol on his waist.He bent down and stared at the two people in the car, and asked politely, "What's the matter, gentlemen?" Knight smiled happily, stretched out his hand from the car window, pointed a remote control at the building, and said jokingly: "We are here to inform you, please watch a fireworks show." He pressed the remote control, and an earth-shattering explosion sounded immediately. Dozens of windows on the third floor turned bright red at the same time, and a huge flame burst out, throwing aluminum alloy window frames, glass shards, and indoor utensils.Countless sparks scattered in the night sky, really like a grand fireworks show.Amidst the noise of falling utensils, the guard froze for two seconds before waking up.He drew his pistol, but the black Ford was already gone.The guard frantically shot at the rear wheel, took out his whistle and blew violently, and shouted to the guard running over angrily: "Call the police, black Ford, the car number ends in 284!" At this time, the Ford car had driven 500 meters. They admired the gorgeous flames on the building from the rear window, high-fived each other, and left here with smiles.At 2:40 in the morning, Suma was suffocated by the milk and woke up. She looked down at her chest, and two pieces of pure cotton underwear were soaked.The nurse hadn't brought her in yet, and Dana was on duty tonight, so she must have fallen asleep.Suma yelled twice, but there was no response, so she lifted off the towel and quilt, put on her slippers, and walked towards the nursery. daughter.She chewed the word sleepily, feeling sweet in her heart.Little Haila is really a glutton, sucking milk desperately, her small body grows rapidly.Now she is only 18 days old and her weight has doubled.Fortunately, I have enough milk, she thought proudly, I was born to be a hero mother. Nurse Dana sat at the door of the nursery, leaning on the back of the chair with her head tilted.Suma was still in the laziness of waking up from a deep sleep, and didn't notice that the nurse's sleeping posture was a little strange.Without alarming the nurse, she gently pushed open the half-closed door and walked in. The fluffy carpet absorbed the sound of her footsteps.Then when she saw that scene, her eyes widened immediately, the adrenaline suddenly accelerated, and her heart beat with overload.A man in black night clothes stood in front of Hela's window, with his back to the door, bending over to observe the baby.Suma's gaze shifted to his right hand, and she couldn't move it away.It was a thick man's hand, the back of which was covered with body hair, holding a gleaming dagger in his hand, the tip of the knife was at Hela's throat.Hela was awake, with a sweet smile on her face. In the weak footlight light of the nursery, her pair of big eyes embedded in her black face were exceptionally bright.She was lying on her back, and her feet exposed under the swaddling robe kicked a few times from time to time. One is a ferocious god in black night clothes, and the other is a baby wrapped in white swaddling clothes. Between the two is a dagger gleaming with cold light.These make up an abstract painting of strong contrasts and ferocious tones.Suma was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to act.The man in black slightly raised his right arm, moved the tip of the knife towards the baby's cheek, and touched her cheek.Haila mistook the tip of the knife for her mother's nipple, quickly turned her face to this side, pursed her small mouth, and searched eagerly.She couldn't find the nipple, so she grinned angrily and began to cry very loudly in the still night. Before Hela wailed, Suma was anesthetized by fear and stood in the frozen frame.The daughter's cry dispelled the magic on her at once.She wants to act and save her daughter from the murderer!She scanned the surroundings anxiously, looking for a usable weapon.There was a marble paperweight on the nurse's desk, she turned around and grabbed it lightly, and sneaked towards the man in black with light steps.Her heart was pounding (hope the murderer didn't hear the heartbeat), and the man in black was still watching the baby intently, unaware of the assailant behind him.Suma held up the paperweight... Suddenly the man in black spoke wearily: "Miss Suma, please put that thing down." Suma froze, and the man in black turned around.It was a white man in his 40s with a rough face and a cold expression, and the tip of his knife was still shaking in front of Hella.The sound in the room made Hela quiet for a while, listening attentively, and crying again after a while.Suma threw down the paperweight tremblingly, tears came out of her eyes, and begged: "Sir, please spare little Haila, she is a baby who has only been born for more than ten days, what is the crime? How can you bear to lay hands on her?" The man in black shouted angrily: "She is a little cancer! She will mess up the human lineage and turn humans into devil bastards!" He glared at Suma, his eyes blazing with anger. Drenched in frustration and despair.It was only after the storm passed that Suma realized that his anger was mainly directed at himself.The man said bitterly: "I stood in front of this bed for 20 minutes, and I couldn't do anything anyway. I am such a useless idiot!" He shook his hand, and the dagger pierced deeply with a howling sound. On the closet, the handle of the knife was still quivering slightly.When Suma withdrew her trembling gaze from the dagger, the man in black had disappeared.Suma chased to the balcony and saw that the man was going down the rope quickly and disappeared under the shade of the trees.Half a minute later, a black car slid out of the shade and drove towards the gate. Hearing her mother's voice, little Haila cried even more confidently, bouncing her little arms and legs vigorously.Suddenly there was a heavy explosion in the night sky, and the window panes of the ward shook.Little Hila stopped crying immediately, and seemed to be listening.Dana woke up with a start and stumbled to the bed.She was anesthetized just now, and her limbs are still limp and uncontrollable at the moment.She saw the dagger on the closet, and saw Suma who had just returned from the balcony with a pale face, and asked in a panic, "Suma, what's the matter? What happened?" Suma quickly hugged Haila, hugged her tightly, and sat down on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks.There were hurried footsteps in the corridor, and Paul was heard shouting as he ran: "Suma, take a snapshot to see Hela!" Paul arrived at the hospital at 2:50. After parking the car at the gate, he hesitated for a while.In the dead of night, it seemed a bit reckless to break into the hospital at this time, which would inevitably disturb Suma's sweet dreams. After all, he just received a threatening call. Even if they took action, it would not be today.But he remembered that Suma would breastfeed her daughter at 3 o'clock as usual, so let's go up there to get rid of this trouble.He opened the car door and got out.Suddenly, a black car slid out of the shadows, drove over quickly, and stopped beside his car.The driver rolled down the window and yelled, "Is that Paul Raines?" Paul went around suspiciously, and saw a white man in night clothes inside the car, staring at him fiercely.Paul took two steps back vigilantly, and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? What are you going to do?" The driver didn't talk to him, threw a stack of papers out of the car, swears a bad word, and the car drove away.Suspiciously, Paul picked up one, and glanced at one of the sentences: "The Alliance for Human Purity is responsible for this explosion and murder. We can't take it anymore!" Immediately there was a loud noise in the night sky, and the ground trembled. The sky is glowing red, it's not neon lights.Hospital guards ran out, frantically waving pistols.Paul rushed into the gate from the outside, shouting loudly: "The laboratory building was bombed, Hela may be killed, hurry up and call the police!" He shouted and rushed upstairs. Suma hugged Hela tightly, her face was pale, and her shoulders trembled slightly.Dana's face was also pale, staring at the balcony with lingering fear. A climbing claw was stuck on the railing, and a white nylon rope was hanging from it.Hela had already found the nipple and was swallowing gurglingly, looking calmly at everyone in the room from the corner of her eyes. Paul had expected to see one or two bloody corpses after rushing into the house, but suddenly he relaxed and sat on the bed wearily.Suma looked at him, tears welled up again: "Paul, a dagger! He put the dagger on Hela's face, look!" There was indeed a bloodstain on Hela's left cheek, very thin and shallow, but it still looked very ferocious when scratched on the baby's very delicate and fragile skin.Paul tried his best to comfort her: "It's okay, it's just a scratch. Suma, don't panic, it's over. Can you tell me what happened?" Dana, who was still terrified, said intermittently: "I was I was on duty outside the door, and I seemed to hear movement in the house, so I went in to check. As soon as I entered the house, someone covered my mouth with a towel, and I didn’t know anything from now on.” Suma also talked about the situation at that time: "Fortunately, it was a soft-hearted murderer, otherwise Hela would have died." Paul couldn't help recalling the strange expression of the murderer: anger and shame.He understood why.The murderer came with hatred for the cancer demon, but when he faced a cute baby, these hatreds could no longer be gathered, and he must be ashamed to go back to work.Therefore, Hela took her life under the knife.Paul's heart was very heavy, because this kind of luck would not be repeated, and they would not send such a person next time.Dana is out.Hela had already emptied one breast and kicked it angrily, but Suma didn't notice it at all. She raised her face slightly, thinking steadily, her expression showing determination.Hela didn't get a response from her mother, so she cried angrily. Suma woke up from her meditation and hurriedly stuffed the other breast.She whispered to Paul, "I decided to take Hella and escape, and raise her incognito." Paul sighed.In fact, he already knew that this road must be taken.He said dully: "Suma, this is a thorny road." "I know, but I won't back down." "You let her be a female Robinson Crusoe for life?" "No, she's not Robinson Crusoe. She has a mother by her side. When she grows up and has the ability to defend herself, I want her to return to human society in a dignified way." Paul sighed again: "Okay, I'll go with you." Suma's eyes immediately brightened, which was exactly what she secretly hoped but dared not hope for.But she immediately thought of Paul's wife and children, her eyes dimmed, and she said hesitantly, "No, you have your own life..." Paul waved his hand: "Stop persuading. Strictly speaking, I am more responsible than you to protect her, because I created this life. It's just..." It's just that I still don't know where this road leads, whether my decision is right or wrong, whether this cancerous man will be a blessing or a curse to mankind after he becomes powerful.I am very envious of women's thinking, they only act on intuition, and never have my inner torture... He smiled and said: "That's the decision. Keep this plan secret, except for the inevitable farewell with your family Besides, don't tell anyone about it." Two police cars screamed and drove to the downstairs of the laboratory, and Officer Thorne, who had been here last time, struggled to squeeze out of the seat.He is a 50-year-old old police officer with a burly build and a slight limp on his left leg. He looks at the explosion site with eyes like a hawk under thick eyebrows.The windows on the third floor became black holes, and fragments of various instruments and equipment were hung on the branches of trees and scattered among the flowers.He said to Paul and Hashimoto who came to greet him: "I have come twice in two weeks, it seems that your troubles are far from over." Paul could hear the gloating in his words, so he held back and didn't say a word.He and Hashimoto led the police officers to check the scene on the third floor.Thorne praised: "Well, it was done by experts. All kinds of equipment were completely destroyed, and the walls and floors were only slightly damaged. It must be done by experts. They intended to warn rather than hurt people." Paul said coldly: "They also sent killers to the hospital, but they failed because of an accident." "Really?" Thorne asked politely, "However, it is still uncertain whether this thing cloned from cancer cells is a human being. Therefore, in a legal sense, I cannot call those people human beings." For the murderer." Paul and Hashimoto looked at each other.There is no doubt that Thorne's views are consistent with the "Alliance for the Maintenance of Human Purity", and he may be one of them.Malcolm, the company guard, didn't understand Thorne's likes and dislikes, and was still recounting the situation last night in detail.He said: "I wrote down the license plate number of the vandal and informed the police on the phone. Mr. Police Officer, has this number been found out? Is it the real number?" Thorne said coldly: "It's a real number, but it's useless. The three people last night have surrendered to the police, and a huge team of lawyers has promised to help them fight the lawsuit to the end. Mr. Raines, Mr. Hashimoto, You're going to be in trouble for your company, and you're asking for it. I don't understand why you're bothering to study cancer people, are you freaks?" Paul had lost all respect for Officer Thorne. He was no longer expected to handle the case fairly.He said in a nonchalant manner: "Mr. Police Officer, this question is beyond your level of knowledge, so it is normal for you to have some doubts. Let's talk about these later, and now please take the necessary measures to protect us from threats." .” "Please rest assured that I will strictly abide by the duties of the police." After seeing off Thorne and his men, Paul and Hashimoto looked at each other with wry smiles.Paul muttered under his breath, "Maybe we're really wrong?" Maybe I shouldn't have come to PPG; maybe I shouldn't have had the technical skills to do it any more than a 3-year-old shouldn't be given a match.Paul thought, I was just laughing at the ignorance of the police uncle, but what about me?I really know everything, can I ignore God?There was deep distress in his eyebrows.Hashimoto looked at him, feeling guilty in his heart.Among several researchers, he was the only insider.In fact, it was Ian who set up a trap with him and let Paul fall in... But let's take care of the weeds in his own garden first.Just this morning, after the explosion woke him up, he received a phone call. The anonymous person said sternly: "Mr. Hashimoto, please withdraw from this research immediately, and don't be a sinner of mankind. When we have to, we can only deal with evil with evil." , please don't force us." The anonymous person listed the names, addresses and jobs of Hashimoto's parents, wife and children one by one, and then hung up the phone with a snap.This threat is so dangerous that Hashimoto is still uneasy.Maybe it's time to say goodbye to the boss? The annual salary of 120,000 is indeed attractive, but the lives of relatives and oneself are more precious.There was a howling sound outside the window, and a helicopter circled and landed on the tarmac. Hashimoto looked at his watch. At 6:30, he said to Paul, "Mr. Robertson must be here, let's go to meet him." At this time the phone rang, and Paul picked up the receiver: "I'm Paul, who is it?" He moved the receiver away and said to Hashimoto: "It's my wife, you go first, I'll be there soon." On the phone, his wife's questioning flooded like a flood: "Paul, I have seen the report on the TV station, and I have called your apartment and office more than a dozen times but no one answered. Are you injured? Why don't you call me?" I have a safe call? Don't you think how worried I will be when I hear the news? " With great difficulty, Paul cut off his wife's words: "I'm fine, only some equipment was damaged here, and there were no casualties." The wife was worried and annoyed and said, "However, your actions have aroused public outrage! They are everywhere. Talking about your cancer, full of angry scolding. Do you know this situation?" "I know. We didn't expect such a violent reaction." "Paul, stop doing it. Come back." Paul did not answer for a long time, and asked loudly through the microphone, "Did you hear what I said?" Paul swallowed, and said with difficulty: "Victoria, I was just looking for an opportunity Let me tell you, I’m afraid I won’t be able to go home in two or three years. Suma decided to flee with her daughter, and I have no choice but to stay with her. After all, Hela’s life was created by me, and she and grandma are directly related by blood .” The wife was silent for a long time before suppressing her anger and asking: "Mr. Raines, is this decision for Hella or for that beautiful Miss Suma? How much weight do Jimmy and I have in your balance?" Paul said bitterly, "I'm sorry that you have such thoughts. You will understand me in the future." He still wants to explain a few words, but his wife has hung up the phone.Paul was stunned for a long time, and the resolute hang-up sound echoed in his ears.Then he shook his head, got rid of these thoughts, and hung up the hospital: "Is that Pamela? Ask Suma to answer the phone. Hello, Suma," he said in a low voice, "I think it's time to go now. I just When I met the police, their attitude was very unfriendly. If the police let you and Hela be protected, the situation would be even worse. We should make a quick decision." The other side replied in a low voice: "Okay, I will pack some belongings more or less But... do you really want to come with us?" "Yes, you don't have to hesitate. Get your stuff ready, I'll be there in 15 minutes." Journalists crowded the gates as company guards struggled to push them outside.John, Albert and Ian were all at the scene of the explosion on the third floor, looking at the messy house.罗伯逊先生显得很镇静，表情淡然地听着桥本的叙述。最后桥本壮着胆子说：“我们事前没料到，社会上有这样强烈的反应，甚至可以说是敌意。是否慎重考虑一下今后的计划？”约翰听出了他的胆怯，和阿尔伯特交换着眼神，但没有说话。伊恩似乎被这个事变震晕了，神情沮丧地沉默着。门外响起脚步声，保罗匆匆走进来。老约翰忙笑着迎过去，同他紧紧拥抱：“你好，毁了几台设备没关系，只要你们安然无羔就是幸事。” 保罗压低声音说：“我能同你单独谈谈吗？” 约翰看看他：“好的。”他领保罗走到隔间，关上破损的房门：“有什么事？”保罗低沉地说：“苏玛已决定带着海拉逃亡，逃到一个偏僻的地方，直到社会上平静之后再回来。我打算陪她一块去。” 约翰犹疑地说：“不必吧。事态不致如此严重。公司此后会提供绝对安全的保护。”保罗坚决地说：“苏玛的决定已经不可更改了。如果事态向好的方向转化，我们就很快回来。”约翰沉思了10秒钟：“好吧，你们先避避风头也好。需要我作什么吗？” “请尽快给我们准备10万现金，就算是我预支的年薪吧，到隐居地后，我们不想使用信用卡，也不准备同你们建立联系。我想，只有这样才是最安全的。” “没问题，这10万元由公司来出。” 保罗看看楼下的直升机：“苏玛让我代她向夫人告别，时间紧迫，她就不过来了。另外，请用直升机送我们一程。” “可以。”约翰感伤地说，“我不去同苏玛道别了。我给你一个秘密电话号码，如果需要我帮忙时请打电话。祝你们好运气，也希望你们早一点回来。咳，我该怎样同多娜讲这件事啊。” 直升机刚在医院停下，苏玛就抱着海拉跑出来，帕米拉在后边提着一个硕大的旅行箱。海拉睡得正熟，小脸蛋上漫溢着圣洁的微笑。帕米拉不知道苏玛的计划，以为她只是回家将养，她兴高采烈地同苏玛告别，喊道：“苏玛小姐，过些天我到特伦顿去看你！” 苏玛含煳地答应着，爬进机舱，保罗关上舱门，帕米拉退出旋翼的范围，直升机轰鸣着离开地面。驾驶员回头笑道：“苏玛，你好。”苏玛正在同地上的帕米拉挥手作别，这时收回目光，高兴地说：“你好，克里奥叔叔。” 直升机已经拔高，城市的高楼缩小成了积木玩具，白色的特拉华河蜿蜒而过。克里奥问：“现在该往哪儿飞？” 苏玛和保罗相视苦笑。虽然已经上了直升机，他们对这个问题还没有认真考虑过呢。该往哪儿去？哪儿是安全之地？这次逃亡何时才能结束？这些都在未定之数。保罗耸耸肩膀，笑着说：“让海拉来决定吧。就按海拉此时的右手方向——这个方向应该是西南吧——向西南直飞300英里，然后你返回，我们再去闯荡。” “好的。”克里奥调整了方向，直向西南飞去。 直升机擦过蔚蓝的切萨皮克海湾，沿着阿巴拉契山脉的东麓一直向西南飞去。下午，他们越过群山向西，在里奇伍德市郊停下。克里奥让他们呆在机舱内，自己叫了一辆出租车匆匆走了。半个小时后，他开着一辆半旧的克莱斯勒车返回，车窗上的售价＄4200还没擦去。他把苏玛母女扶下机舱，安顿到汽车后排。海拉已经醒了，不哭不闹，两只眼睛溜圆溜圆地盯着克里奥。克里奥不禁低下头吻吻她。他是公司的老人，苏玛第一次乘坐他的直升机时，正是海拉这个年纪。现在，苏玛要带着女儿逃亡，此去是吉是凶？他感伤地吻吻苏玛，声音喑哑地说：“我要返回了，祝你们好运气。” 苏玛动情地揽住他的脖项，同他再次吻别：“再见，回去代我向我的父母问好，请母亲保重身体。”她想到身患重病的母亲，不知道此一去还能否见面？浓浓的离愁如海潮般涨起，淹没了全身。她哽咽着重复道：“再见，也许要不了两个月我就会回来的。” 保罗从前窗探出身体向克里奥道别，庄重地说：“克里奥先生，这一路的情形不要向外人泄露。” “放心吧，除了罗伯逊先生和夫人，我不会告诉第三个人。” 保罗开上车走了，克里奥也迅即登机，在天上盘旋了两圈。克莱斯勒在向西开去，车窗玻璃上映着金黄色的夕阳余辉。他们看见了直升机，从车窗里伸出手同他挥别，还拉着小海拉的手伸到窗外挥着。克里奥压低机头从汽车右侧掠过，算作告别，然后拉起机头飞进云层。等他再回头张望时，那辆汽车已经缩为一只金背甲虫，很快融入车流，再融入夕阳余辉中。克里奥叹息着，向来路返回，一路上怏怏不乐。他在心里为苏玛担忧，只怕她从此与麻烦解扯不开了。他的估计没有错。保罗和苏玛的这次隐居长达三年，而且，他们竟然把家搭到了狼窝附近，麻烦一直紧紧地缠着他们。