Chapter 3 3. Cave of Ecstasy

The speedboat departed from Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, and drove southward, leaving the splendor on the shore behind.The sea was dark, with waves of phosphorescence shining from the ripples, and a white wave was left behind by the speedboat, which stretched back and disappeared into the darkness. Tiger Lu Gang is steering the helm himself.He is the owner and captain of the "Noah's Ark" private aerospace plane. He is 35 years old, of medium build, very tall, with thick and bristly eyebrows and beard, and a square jaw—the kind that can bite through iron cables. jaw.He didn't wear a hat, and the sea soul shirt with a round neck was tightly bulged by his chest muscles.Now he was holding a cigarette obliquely in his mouth, squinting his eyes and looking into the distance, the salty south wind whipped his cheeks.

"Look, I can see the lights already," he said. The other people on the boat immediately became excited and looked forward. The "Noah's Ark" just transported a shipment of nickel ore from the moon and returned to Earth yesterday.This Ruth-type aerospace aircraft has excellent performance and was once the leader in the world's aerospace transportation industry.But after twenty years of service, it has aged and weakened, and every space flight is a gamble, a kiss of death, so the one-night indulgence of returning from space has become a routine.Needless to say, all the expenses for this night were paid by Lu Gang.

The skinny old man standing next to Lu Gang is old Hozen Larry, a native of Barisal, Bangladesh. His face is deeply wrinkled, like a dried walnut, and his small eyes are sunken in their sockets. Shan, still has the sharpness of the past.He is 65 years old, and he should have retired long ago.He is an old man in the company of Lu Gang's father's generation. He watched Lu Gang grow up, and Lu Gang respected him very much.His hometown is on the fertile Ganges Delta, which used to be a famous granary, a place rich in rice, wheat and jute.But now there has long been Zeguo, and his relatives were killed or lost in the famous global flood, so he regards the "Noah's Ark" as his home.

"I will definitely die on the spaceship. When I close my eyes one day, you can wrap my body and push it out through the porthole. This kind of space burial is a rare sight, and billionaires will spend huge sums of money to pay for it. Make an appointment." He once said it half-jokingly and half-seriously, and Lu Gang smiled and agreed. On Lugang's right is Banks the hyena, a Galician from Spain, but his figure is not like a matador, but like a heavyweight boxing champion, with a burly figure, well-developed muscles, and two rows of white teeth. Light.Banks has inexhaustible energy, and when he is not flying, he spends his days in casinos and in the arms of girls.The last one is Little Rabbit Blake, a skinny Kikuyu from Kenya who often hums black folk songs with rhythmic jumps and depressing desolation.This is all the members of the Noah's Ark aerospace plane crew, and they are Lu Gang's life-threatening partners.

As the captain and owner of the famous Noah's Ark, Lu Gang has quite a lot of assets. Undoubtedly, he should be classified among "that kind of" people: those people wear white gloves, have delicate and ruddy skin, and neatly trimmed nails .They are socially calm and tactful, and they often pour out a little kindness generously to the poor.However, perhaps due to the ups and downs of his youth, Lu Gang still maintains the narrow and extreme of "poor people".He often felt uncomfortable when he had to hang around in this social circle, and even the crew he picked were mostly third-world countries.His personal lawyer, Mr. Pinto, a Brazilian, pointed this out astutely:

"You have a 'poor complex'." Mr. Pinto said, he was born in a noble family, with delicate and ruddy skin, neatly trimmed nails, and uncluttered silver hair. "So you have a natural affinity for the lower classes. It's not a bad thing, but I don't want it to make you hostile to the upper classes. That would ruin your father's career." Mr. Pinto is also Lu Gang's father's generation, an old man under his father's command.Lu Gang remembered Uncle Pinto's teachings sincerely, but he still couldn't change his love and hatred. The lights in front became brighter and brighter, and soon turned into a magical place with bright lights. This place used to be Qixingyan coral reef island, but now most of it has sunk into the bottom of the sea.During the day, through the clear sea water, you can still see the palm trees and cycads on the island, and now the coral fish are playing in the trees.There used to be many modern buildings on this barrier reef, which is famous for its tourism industry, but now only a few isolated half-block buildings remain.The madness of human beings has led to the madness of the mother earth. Human beings who have no regrets can only stop the car of civilization and make it gradually decline instead of being subverted immediately.

Fortunately, human nature is to go with the flow.These half-block buildings quickly became a cave of ecstasy.There are quite a few life-sized neon girls in the night sky. They take off their clothes repeatedly until their plump breasts and even women's secrets are exposed, and then they slowly put on translucent gauze clothes.At the door of the building are a few flirtatious women, wearing extremely revealing swimsuits, revealing most of their huge breasts, their eyes are dull, and their overindulgent faces look sluggish.But when they heard the sound of the steamboat, they immediately became excited as if they had been injected with stimulants. They quickly put smiles on their faces and greeted the guests.

Lu Gang smiled and said to the crew: "Let's charge, the old rules, I will cover all the expenses tonight." Banks and Blake had already started looking for old friends in the crowd, shouting strangely.After mooring the boat, Larry asked Lu Gang: "Bing'er wants to meet you here?" Lu Gang replied reluctantly: "Well, maybe it is. It's ten o'clock now, and she said to come at half past ten." Larry asked suspiciously, "How does she know about this place?" Banks turned around from the porthole and smiled, "She must have hired a detective to follow her brother every day."

Lu Gang smiled wryly, he couldn't take this as a joke, maybe that eccentric sister really dared to do that.Yesterday, the second day after the spaceship returned to Earth, he received a call from his sister. Her voice was still very sweet, but her tone was indifferent and irritable. At that moment, he immediately wondered if her sister had symptoms of illness again.He asked carefully: "Bing'er, are you in good health? What's the matter?" Lu Bing said wearily: "I am in good health and nothing is wrong. I want to see you." "Okay, when are you coming?"

"Tomorrow, at 10:30 tomorrow night." Lu Gang hesitated a little at that time, because this time happened to conflict with his arrangement.Lu Bing asked coldly: "Why, do you have any plans for tomorrow night?" "No, come on, I'll wait for you at the company..." "No, I know what you guys are going to do tomorrow night, I'll go there to find you, I also want to relax there and have fun." After she finished speaking, she hung up the phone. Lu Gang hesitated for a long time before deciding not to change the original arrangement.He didn't want Lu Bing to know about it, but if Lu Bing really came here tomorrow, it wouldn't make sense to hide it from her.Larry didn't know the twists and turns, and kept shaking his head: "You really shouldn't let her come to this kind of place, how can you allow her to come to this kind of place?"

Lu Gang didn't want to explain further, and said with a wry smile: "She insisted on it again and again. I don't want to push her too hard. You know, she is still a patient anyway." Larry looked at him, and couldn't say anything else. He was always worried about Lu Gang as a lawyer in Pinto. He had always been obedient to his surly and arrogant sister, which was not like his usual jealousy.But Larry is an old man in the company, and he knows that there are many hidden secrets that are contrary to common sense and inhumane in this family of spaceflight entangled by bad luck.He sighed and fell silent. Banks turned his head away from the launch and said with a smile: "Your sister is so beautiful! If she marries me, I promise that I will never touch any woman again in this life!" Larry knew that something was wrong, before he could speak, Lu Gang's face darkened, and he squeezed out a sentence: "Go to hell." Banks was flushed, and his eyes flashed with anger.In the past seven or eight years, he has become Lu Gang's life-threatening partner, obliterating the boundary between boss and employee from the bottom of his heart. He didn't expect such a joke to make Lu Gang turn his face.Old Larry hurriedly patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Banks, isn't that your little Ruth?" He turned his head and saw a woman blowing kisses to him. This "little" Ruth was not small at all. She was a mulatto woman with a tall figure and broad hips, looking like a Brazilian hippopotamus.Banks immediately forgot about the unhappiness, stuck his head out of the porthole, and shouted happily.Blake also found an old acquaintance, a petite Thai woman.The launch came ashore, the waiter fastened the cable, Banks and Blake jumped ashore, embraced their lovers and went in.Old Larry had long since lost his interest.He wandered over to a small bar, sat in a corner, ordered a glass of rum, and sipped it quietly.He saw Lu Gang leave the motorboat last, changed his clothes, and went to the luxurious restaurant on the top floor alone. Today is the weekend, and there are many customers in the nightclub.In the lobby on the ground floor, people were writhing frantically under purple swirling lights.To the left is the casino, where waiters in tuxedos are skillfully dealing cards.There was no trace of Banks and Blake, who had probably been dragged into their love nest by their beau, in rooms on the lower floors, that is, underwater, converted from submerged floors.These rooms have been remodeled ingeniously, sealing the original doors and windows with large pieces of glass, and customers can still look up at the fish playing in the water while making love.Lu Gang didn't stop at these places, he went up to the top floor along the spiral staircase. The restaurant on the top floor is a transparent building with a translucent light green ceiling, surrounded by polished floor-to-ceiling windows, and beautifully carved mahogany tables and chairs in the hall.Most of the customers here are high-ranking officials and ladies, their jewels are shining in the lights, and a few snow-white bar dogs are squatting on the chairs, watching everyone calmly.The Moonlight Sonata is being played in the orchestra pit, the musicians move slowly, and the sound is dreamlike. There are dozens of beautiful young waitresses in the restaurant, all wearing shoulderless tops and miniskirts, walking back and forth among the tables.Seeing Lu Gang coming in, a well-dressed male waiter hurriedly greeted him and led him to the reserved table.The dining table sits next to a window with brilliant reflections embedded in it.Lu Gang ordered, and soon a waitress brought an aperitif. "Hello, Tiger." She stared at Lu Gang affectionately, Lu Gang laughed and hugged her into his arms, kissed her white back, kissed her lips and eyes, Ah Hui resisted at first, but soon fell into a Passionate, he kissed back Lu Gang passionately. Ah Hui is a typical southern Chinese woman, with a small body, plump and moist lips, and eyes as bright as antelopes.Three years ago, she left a place in South China that had been reduced to Ze Country, and came to this cave of ecstasy.Fortunately, she met Lu Gang very soon, and from then on she poured her infatuation on this rough and unruly Chinese compatriot. The gentlemen around cast indifferent eyes.It is illegal to flirt with a waitress in a restaurant.There are other places for real gentlemen to have fun, where they can do dirty things that are not "gentlemanly" as they please, but they must wear a gentleman's tuxedo on certain occasions.A grizzled man at the next table whispered to his mistress: "See? This is the captain of an aerospace plane, Chinese Lu Gang." He forked a piece of veal and said contemptuously: "A rude barbarian. Think about it, in the 1970s, when When the human spaceflight dream was just realized, the astronauts were so outstanding! They were all human elites, highly educated, and their every word and deed were role models for human beings. What about now?..." He shook his head and didn't continue.The mistress is a blonde beauty with big breasts. She looked at Lu Gang curiously, and said with a low laugh: "I wish you'd kissed me like he did, right here. Dare you?" The gentleman said in a low voice, "No, I'm going to do something braver in the downstairs room." The two snickered quietly.Lu Gang heard their whispers, didn't bother to pay attention to them, hugged and kissed Ah Hui even more presumptuously.He's the big customer here, and no one comes to interfere with them.The owner of the restaurant is a Vietnamese. He knows that in the global economic recession, the pockets of the Chinese are relatively bigger, and those well-dressed Westerners are all strong outsiders, so he has been tacitly acquiescing and encouraging Ah Hui to use his tenderness to keep her. Lu Gang.Ah Hui put her arms around Lu Gang and said softly: "Tiger, you haven't come for several months." "I just took a space transport and I just got home the day before yesterday." "Tiger, I really miss you, if you don't come again, I'm going to go crazy." Lu Gang smiled and said, "I miss you too." Ah Hui said sadly: "You don't have time to think about me outside, I know. Tiger, do you still remember the first time we met?" "Of course, it was six years ago." At that time, Ah Hui had just come to this nightclub, and Lu Gang was the first customer she met.The Vietnamese owner of the nightclub said that Lu Gang was the big customer here and she had to take good care of him. At that time, she was full of fear of this rough-looking rich man.But that night Lu Gang just held her in his arms, chatted with her calmly, and asked her where her hometown was, how her parents were, and why she came to this place.Ah Hui was melted by his kindness, and poured out all the bitterness that had been in her belly for a long time.She said that my hometown is on the shore of Taihu Lake, which is a famous land of fish and rice.But the sea level is rising day by day, and it is pouring in through the Yangtze River.For a long time, her villagers have been wrestling with God, repairing dikes and dams. They did not believe that their ancestors' homeland would be taken away by the sea, but it was God's will.First, the groundwater table gradually rose, turning fertile land into saline-alkali land, and then the salinized groundwater poured back into the fields like an artesian well, watching the fertile land turn into a swamp, and the villagers were driven away step by step like ants.Only the grandfather and a few old people refused to leave. They said that this was no different from fleeing from famine in the past. How could there be so many people who lost their land?No, you have to die in your own hometown. "They used their remaining savings to buy motor sailing boats, and they changed from farmers to fishermen. My parents and fellow villagers immigrated to Gansu to reclaim wasteland. Life was very difficult. Now I have lost contact with my grandfather." She got into Lu Gang's broad arms, talking, crying, and fell asleep unconsciously.It was Lu Gang who woke her up the next morning. After waking up, she was the first to feel panic, because the guests spent money not to listen to a night of crying, and he would be angry.Lu Gang was already fully dressed, handed her a check, and said softly: "You take this money and settle down with parents and grandpa." After he finished speaking, he left, and Ah Hui was shocked to find that the amount on the check was 100,000 yuan! ...Since then, she has been anxiously waiting for Lu Gang to reappear. She didn't see Lu Gang until 10 months later. At that time, she immediately rushed to him and kissed him with tears. In the following six years, she always regarded Lu Gang as her husband.At this moment, she looked at Lu Gang's brows and eyes in a daze, and said slightly annoyed: "Tiger, when will you marry me? How long do you want me to wait?" Lu Gang was a little embarrassed.That's right, he likes the gentle and pleasant Ah Hui, and he hasn't dated any other woman since he met her.There was a fire in this demure-looking woman, a fire so intense that he had promised to marry her when he was bewildered—and he really intended to marry her, if he could.However, he knew that there was a deep-seated complex in his heart, a complex that he never showed to others, and even he didn't want to admit it, so he would never let Ah Hui take the position of the housewife of the Lu family. ...Maybe, now is the time to try to get out of Ah Hui's love net? He couldn't answer, so he blocked Ah Hui's mouth with a burst of passionate kisses.Suddenly he felt that the hall was abnormally quiet, no, the hall was already very quiet, only the faint and dreamlike music fell to the ground; but there was another layer of intelligible pause in the silence, Lu Gang Looking up, a fairy with a fluttering dress appeared at the entrance.She is wearing a silver fox fur shawl, a Chinese silk white dress, bare back and low cut, the left side of her body has smooth and dense folds, and the right side shows a lifelike body curve.A very thin necklace hangs on the breast, the workmanship is extremely exquisite, and a black diamond shines on the pendant.Her body is long and slender, her bust and arms are full, her skin is fair and rosy, which is the most fashionable natural color in the past ten years.She knew that she had the pride of gender, appearance, and even wealth. Standing at the entrance, she seemed to intend to make a momentary appearance, her eyes proud and calm.Then, she found her brother from among the many customers, and when she saw Ah Hui who was still in his arms, her eyes suddenly darkened. Lu Gang was very embarrassed, he didn't expect his sister to come so early tonight, so he almost roughly pushed Ah Hui away from his arms.Ah Hui looked at Lu Gang with hurt eyes, lowered her eyebrows, picked up the tray and walked away quickly.She knew that Lu Gang had a younger sister who was in college, but she didn't expect that it was this bejeweled, sexy and charming woman, and they had no similarities in appearance.Ah Hui wiped away her tears in the washroom before coming out to serve the guests. The waiter took Lu Bing's shawl and led her to Lu Gang's table.Lu Gang got up and pulled out the chair for her, settled her down, and asked her: "What would you like to drink? Is it iced tea or a Coke?" "No, I'm going to drink whiskey today, just like you." Lu Gang looked at her in surprise, ordered a drink for her with a smile, and then looked at his sister with a smile.The younger sister's eyes are clear and deep, but there is often a cloud floating in the two pools of autumn water, which makes her eyes a little confused.Lu Gang knew that this was the expression she often had after she got sick.Although sometimes he was angry at her surly arrogance, but when he thought of his dead parents and the bruises his sister suffered mentally, he also resolved his anger by himself.He would always remember his younger sister's appearance when she was a child: the chubby little girl, when she saw him come back, tied her hands together, mumbled "Coco, Coco" inarticulately, and rushed towards him. But today he couldn't help blaming his sister for dressing too out of line, unlike a college student, this dress alienated her from him virtually.He likes his sister to wear a pure and elegant white casual dress, or a light green student skirt, that is in line with his impression of his sister, or in line with the memory he has always kept in his heart.He also blamed his sister in his heart for not insisting on coming to such a dirty place.But he knew that his wayward sister would not listen to his reprimand, so he sighed and asked kindly: "How did you come from Xiamen? By plane?" "It's not an airplane, it's that kind of airplane ferry." "Oh, you're talking about ground-effect planes. There is one flight a day. It departs from Xiamen at 2 p.m. and can reach Kaohsiung in half an hour, right?" "Yes, I rented a speedboat from Kaohsiung and drove here." "Bing'er, you asked me to meet, what's the matter?" "No." "real?" Lu Bing said impatiently: "No really, I haven't seen you for a long time, I just want to see you." "Are you busy with homework in school?" "It's still the same. Anyway, I don't plan to be a pianist." "The 6th of last month was the anniversary of my father's death. Have you gone back to your hometown to visit the grave?" "went." "Did you give me flowers?" "Ok." On the 6th of last month, Lu Gang was still in the asteroid orbit.There was a small malfunction on the Russ spacecraft that day. One of the oxygen supply pipes of the hydrogen-oxygen battery was sealed and ruptured, causing a small fire, but fortunately it was quickly extinguished.Of course, this small accident may also cause the "Noah's Ark" to be buried in the cold outer space forever.He never told his sister these things, and he didn't want her to worry about him. In recent years, he has been looking forward to meeting his younger sister, but the conversation after the meeting is somewhat difficult. In fact, their lives are closed to each other. Except for the memories of the past, they don't seem to have much in common. It is very dangerous, and it is very likely to involve the sudden death of parents.Lu Gang hastily found another topic: "How is Yao Yunqi? This young man is very kind-hearted." Lu Bing said wearily: "Don't mention that poor thing." Lu Gang sighed inwardly again.Yao Yunqi is a young man with a weak personality, who is obedient to Lu Bing.With Lu Gang's personality, of course he wouldn't like such an unmanly man.The younger sister has lived with Yao Yunqi for more than two years, and she has always treated him as a slave who can be called around.This made Lu Gang sympathize with his contempt.But Yao's love for Lu Bing is very sincere and fanatical.As long as Lu Bing has a word, he can jump into the crater without hesitation, or cut out his heart.Love can make the weakest man a bit more masculine, and Lu Gang's opinion of him has also somewhat changed.he asks: "Is there enough money to spend? The cash flow has not been open for the past few months. Last month's business didn't make much money. There was a small accident on the spaceship, which cost a lot of maintenance expenses." Lu Bing still said wearily: "Barely enough." Lu Gang shook his head secretly.The space transportation industry is at the end of its strength, and the operation will only get worse. With his financial resources, it is already beyond his reach to spend 100,000 yuan a month for his younger sister, but my younger sister is never satisfied.Over the years, Lu Gang has been gritting his teeth to tighten his expenses, unwilling to reduce his sister's expenses.He couldn't live up to his parents' dying entrustment, and wanted to make up for his regrets. Lu Bing leaned on his seat, looking wearily at all kinds of people in the hall.Her nose bridge is straight, her eyelashes are long, and her bare shoulders are as moist as jade.Lu Gang looked at her, his eyes accidentally slipped to her plump white chest, to the deep cleavage, he couldn't help being shocked, and hurriedly looked away.Of course, this action did not escape Lu Bing's sharp eyes.She had long ago discovered that in her brother's affection for her, occasionally there would be something beyond brother-sister affection, so she hated and despised this rough man very much.Since her parents died suddenly, she suffered from severe amnesia, and she couldn't remember anything before that terrible day, and everything fell into a deep and terrifying hell.She no longer has any specific memories of the past, but she can still feel the affection of her parents floating above her memory, and the intimacy of Lu Gang's brother—but why in these vain memories, Lu Gang often has a relationship with a Linked to a vague horror? In the dead of night, she often forced herself to recall, but whenever she recalled the death of her parents, her consciousness screamed and fled in all directions, falling into darkness.The doctor said that this is the brain's self-defense reaction, that is to say, there must be some terrible disaster before this memory fault.The result of the recollection filled her with a desperate rage. Her river of memories continued from the day her mother died. She clearly remembered that the mother who was blind in one eye was panting, and took her hand and put it in Lu Gang's: "Son, Binger is entrusted to you, you You have to take good care of your sister, live a good life, and let your father and I rest in peace." 26-year-old Lu Gang agreed with red eyes.In all fairness, he did fulfill his promise in the next 9 years, but Lu Bing didn't know why, and always linked that entrustment with a vague and terrifying memory.Why is mother blind?Why did Dad die just then?Why is my brother and everyone so secretive about this?Who can tell her what terrible past happened behind the memory fault? At this moment, she was overwhelmed by the floating memories, and the hostility in her heart gradually increased.The scantily clad waitress was still staring at her brother, which annoyed her even more.She deliberately bent down to her brother to make the cleavage clearer, and asked coquettishly, "Brother, I specially wore the most beautiful evening dress today, and I am waiting for your compliment. Brother, am I pretty?" Lu Gang looked at her in bewilderment, his eyes were very painful, he looked away, and said very reluctantly: "I'm going to the bathroom." Lu Bing looked at his stiff back and smiled cruelly.She decided that the hideous man was trying to suppress her base desires.To be honest, Lu Bing insisted on this meeting place and deliberately wore this elegant and sexy outfit, subconsciously, hoping for such an ending.This gave her the thrill of a cat teasing a mouse. "Of course you are beautiful, you are too beautiful!" A man behind him took over.Lu Bing turned his head viciously, the harsh words welling up on his lips.She could torture her brother as much as she could, stir up the vile desires in his heart, and then let him fall into rational suicide.But she would never like outsiders to intervene.She glanced at him and stopped the words on her lips.This is a Chinese youth, about 35 years old, that is, the same age as Lu Gang, with yellowish hair, and seems to have some Caucasian blood.Dress casually, with T-shirts, jeans, and embossed leather shoes, obviously all made by famous artists.Wearing a heavy square ring on his hand, it is a souvenir from the Ivy League University in the United States.There was a careless smile on the corner of his mouth, and he was peeling off Lu Bing's clothes over and over again with sharp eyes.This kind of gaze is very similar to that of Lu Bing, it is the kind of gaze that is proud, aware of one's own superiority, and condescending to all living beings. On the whole, this is a handsome, manly young man.At the last moment, Lu Bing changed his angry face into a docile smile like a kitten, and said softly: "Thank you. I appreciate the compliment." The man brushed her whole body with unscrupulous eyes again, and exclaimed: "You are indeed beautiful! Eyes like deep pools of autumn water, moist lips, straight nose, plump breasts and sexy buttocks... Your beauty is very unique. In you, you combine the elegance and beauty of oriental beauties The sexy and unrestrained beauty of western beauties are inconceivably blended together, it's so rare! Tell you, I am a world-class connoisseur of women's beauty, and I will immediately recommend it to Mr. Bartley of Playboy magazine, and hope to see it next time You are featured in the nude photo on the cover of the first issue. This cover will definitely make 'Playboy' sell 100,000 more copies!" He laughed out loud, and many guests in the restaurant turned their heads to look at him indifferently.Lu Bing said with a slight mockery: "I don't seem to have entrusted you to be my agent." "Isn't it too stingy not to show such a beautiful body to the world?" He smiled and stretched out his hand: "Tang Shilong, English name is Hank Tang. It's an honor to meet you." Lu Bing hesitated a little, but still stretched out his hand and let him touch his fingertips.But she didn't announce her name, she just smiled and returned to her seat. Tang Shilong looked up and saw that Lu Gang had returned from the bathroom, so he went back to his dining table.After Lu Gang sat down, he saw that the young man who had just walked away from this table was casually playing with a wine glass, with a slight smile on his mouth, and a pair of eyes staring at Bing'er with fiery eyes without any scruples. Lu Gang glanced over gloomyly, he hated this guy instinctively.It may be that he is too beautiful, with three colors of beauty, this kind of playboy is the most unreliable.It may also be that he is too rich, and there is an invisible but distinct aura of wealth in him.Lu Gang is not a poor man, but his wealth is bought with his life and hard work, so he has an instinctive hatred for all the pampered and all the gentlemen who "wear white gloves". Maybe it's pure shady jealousy, though?This was something Lu Gang never wanted to admit, and it was hard for him to get rid of the guilt in his heart... Lu Bing turned his face and glanced at him with a knife-like gaze.Her shoulders and backs were as white as cream, and dense and thin cilia could be seen in the backlight.Lu Gang smiled bitterly, asked the waiter for a glass of whiskey, and drank it down. After that, the two didn't talk much, and ate the western food on the plate in silence.Ah Hui had been paying attention to this side when she was serving at each table. She already knew that this girl was Lu Gang's younger sister, so she was naturally very happy.But she frowned again soon, because there was an air of indifference between the siblings, and their conversation tonight must have been unpleasant.She really wanted to go over to comfort them, but finally shook her head in inferiority and gave up the idea. When it was almost 12 o'clock, Lu Bing stood up and said, "Brother, I'm leaving, please send me back to the shore." Lu Gang almost breathed a sigh of relief, he also stood up and asked, "Where are you staying tonight?" "I have already reserved a room on the shore, and I will return to Xiamen tomorrow morning." "Come on, I'll take you ashore." Ah Hui in front of the counter was hesitating, wondering whether she should go up to say goodbye to the tiger.Lu Gang raised his head and searched in the restaurant. He found Ah Hui, walked over purposely, and kissed her goodbye with a smile.Ah Hui raised her head in his arms, and saw that beautiful girl standing at the stairs, staring at them coldly, her eyes were full of undisguised contempt.Ah Hui smiled wryly and kissed Lu Gang, then gently pushed him away from her arms. The night wind is already very cold, and the last quarter moon is shining coldly in the sky.Lu Gang looked at his younger sister who was standing behind him with arms folded, and pulled his sweater from the side and threw it to her.Lu Bing did not refuse, she threw aside the silver fox fur shawl and put on her brother's sweater.The sweater was so wide and oversized that it almost covered the knees.Lu Gang squinted at her, with a smile evident on the corner of his mouth.Lu Bing tilted his head and asked: "why are you laughing?" Lu Gang looked back at her again.The large sweater made her body look very petite, and she became the thin hairy girl ten years ago.He said, "Nothing, I think you look beautiful in this sweater, much more beautiful than tonight's dress." Lu Bing smiled sweetly, approached his brother, and took his arm.They both felt that the indifference that had grown up between them during the dinner suddenly dissipated, and the mellow brother-sister relationship flowed quietly.This kind of family affection has continued from before the memory fault.As usual, Lu Bing somewhat regretted it. Every once in a while, she often wanted to come to see her brother, but she couldn't help but want to stab him when they met.When the hulking man was injured and hid in the dark and licked his wound quietly, she felt inexplicably depressed again.She cried softly: "elder brother……" Lu Gang turned his head to look at his younger sister. She raised her head, her eyes were shining, and she hesitated to speak.Lu Gang smiled and asked: "What's wrong? What do you want to say?" "You are the only relative I have in this world. Do you... hate me?" Lu Gang laughed loudly, holding the steering wheel with his left hand, and holding his sister tightly in his arms with his right arm.Lu Bing quietly leaned against him and stopped talking.As the lights of the port got closer and closer, Lu Bing suddenly said: "Brother, why didn't you tell me what happened 9 years ago? I can't always live in incompleteness." Lu Gang smiled wryly and said, "Bing'er, don't think about it, the doctor has repeatedly told you to forget that period of history, otherwise you will fall ill again." Lu Bing's mood turned bad again in an instant, and he said angrily: "I'm already an adult, I must know!" Lu Gang looked back at her again, his eyes were very complicated, he looked into the distance and whispered: "Actually, I couldn't resist your request two years ago, and I told you some things." Lu Bing trembled all over: "You said that?" "Yes, but...you really fell ill after listening to it, and then forgot all about it. Sister, don't think about it anymore, wait until the right time to talk about it." Lu Bing stopped talking, like a deer caught in a trap, with despair and confusion in his eyes.After the speedboat landed, Lu Gang tied the cable, accompanied Lu Bing up the watery steps, and sent her to the Lvyun Hotel.He stopped at the door of the hotel and said: "I won't go in, I have to go back to pick them up. You can go back to Xiamen by yourself tomorrow. Forget about those unpleasant things and live happily, do you hear me?" Lu Bing had already dispelled the cloud in her eyes, she said with a smile: "Okay, I will follow my brother's instruction." "Here, your shawl." "I don't want it anymore, give it to your lover. What's her name? Ah Hui? Although she is an inferior person, it seems that she is sincere to you. Let me exchange it for your sweater, okay?" She grabbed her brother's neck, kissed him on the forehead, and ran away with a smile.Lu Gang watched her walk into the revolving door before turning back. It was already 3 o'clock in the morning when he rushed back to the nightclub. In the background of gorgeous and weird lights, he saw a woman walking back and forth.It's Ah Hui.She had taken off her maid's clothes and put on a suit of long, dull-colored trousers.Lu Gang pulled her aboard and asked, "Are you off work?" Ah Hui said in a low voice, "No, I don't work here anymore. My mother has already returned to Taihu Lake and bought a motorized fishing boat with the money you gave me. I want to go back too. I waited until today just to see you again." She looked at Lu Gang obsessively, tears welling in her eyes.At the moment when the four eyes met, Lu Gang really wanted to say: Don't leave, come home with me... But he knew this was impossible, even if she married Ah Hui, he still had another woman in his heart.Ah Hui said bitterly: "Tiger, I'm leaving, I know I'm not good enough for you." She thought of sister Lu Gang's cold and sharp eyes, and the wound that those eyes cut in her heart might never heal in her lifetime.Lu Gang said angrily: "Don't say things like that! I just..." Ah Hui said with a strong smile: "Don't say it, I won't say it, and you don't need to say it. Tiger, I only have one request before I leave. I want to stay with you for one more night, okay? Look, it's already 3 o'clock, We don't have much time left." Lu Gang took her into his arms with pity, started the speedboat, and drove into the dark night. In the early morning, the exhausted crew returned to the ship one after another.Ruth sent Banks to the mooring, kissed his face all over with tears, and then returned happily with the banknotes in her pocket.班克斯见拉里大叔正用揶揄的目光看着他，便解嘲地笑道： “妈的，这只母河马，昨晚几乎把我吞到肚子里。” 布莱克也在泊船处与自己的泰国情人告别。老拉里手里还拎着酒瓶，他几乎喝了一夜的酒，不过目光仍然象猎犬一样清醒。他们看见阿慧从快艇的活动式船舱里出来，头发蓬乱，脸色疲惫，但眸子中流溢着奇异的光彩。班克斯挡住她的路，粗声说： “你是谁？叫什么名字？是不是在船上偷了东西？——肯定把鲁刚船长的心偷走了，快掏出来！” 阿慧没有说话，抿嘴笑笑，绕过他溜走了。她的表情很平静，只有老拉里饱经风霜的眼睛，才能在她的喜气中看出惨然和快绝。老虎鲁刚坐在后甲板上，懒散地靠着一只锚桩，身边随便地扔着那条昂贵的银狐皮披肩，嘴里叼着一支早已熄灭的烟卷，盯着天边的残星冷月。 老拉里问他：“冰儿呢？” “昨晚就把她送走了，我告诉她以后不要在这些地方见面。咱们也走吧，去见见平托大叔，听说有一笔大生意。” 在这幢大楼的底层有一个室内游泳池，唐世龙趴在池旁的榻榻米上，两个一丝不挂的绝色女子正为他按摩，两双小手柔若无骨，在他的大腿上、嵴背上轻柔地滑动。按摩到肩部时，一个女子俯下身在他脸上着着实实吻了一下，两个女人格格地笑起来。唐世龙没有任何反应，侧脸盯着窗户。那儿安着巨大的厚玻璃，在灯光的照射下，外面的海水显得绿幽幽的，各种海洋生物自得地游来游去。 一个随从走进来，唐世龙立刻从地上跃起来，急迫地问：“打听清楚了吗？” “打听清楚了，那个姑娘叫鲁冰，在厦门大学音乐系上学，今年大概是三年级。同桌的男人是她哥哥鲁刚，鲁氏太空运输公司的老板兼'挪亚方舟'号空天飞机的船长。他们的父亲鲁君健在9年前因车祸去世，几天后妻子也死了，听说是悲伤过度。还听说鲁冰在那之后患了失忆症，直到今天也没有痊愈，不过从她今天的言谈举止上根本看不出来。鲁氏公司是一个中等规模的公司，目前经营状况还算可以。” 唐世龙不耐烦地说：“说她本人的情况！我暂时还不打算认鲁刚作大舅，也不想打听她的嫁妆。” “她本人……是个野性十足的姑娘，鲁家上下都让她三分。不少豪门公子向她求婚，都被她骂走了，目前和一个姓姚的书呆子同居，不过看来她没打算让他作自己的丈夫。” “她眼下住在哪儿？” “鹅銮鼻的绿云饭店。要不要把她弄来？这事交给我吧。” 唐世龙笑骂道：“放屁，实在是放屁，那么一位美貌小姐，能容得你们去动粗？从明天起，派一个人紧紧盯着她，每天为她送一束鲜花，玫瑰、牡丹、茉莉、水仙，她喜欢什么就送什么。哪怕她把送的花都扔到阴沟里，也要照送不误。另外，你们不要出面，找那些长得机伶可爱的小男孩送给她，别让你们的尊容污了她的眼。” 随从讪讪地笑着说：“行，我们一定躲得远远的，还要躲到下风头，不能让她闻见我们的臭味。” 迈克走进这座半埋地下的办公楼时，看见杰克正从楼上下来。自从那天之后，杰克对他似乎一直是敬而远之，他的表情中既有畏惧也有冷淡。但今天一看见迈克，他就高高兴兴地打招唿： “哈罗，你好，老迈克。” "Hello." 他朝迈克扬扬手中的支票：“我要走了，咱们都要离开这具活棺材了。5000元的遣散费。多大方！” 他哈哈一笑，急急忙忙地走了。秘书雷切尔小姐仍然安静地坐在原位，看见迈克过来，笑盈盈地问候： “你好，迈克先生，汤姆逊先生在等你。” 迈克知道雷切尔小姐也是同样的命运，在遣散所有的工作人员后，她也要收拾自己的牙具。但雷切尔小姐对这一切安之若素，她的发型和十指上的蔻丹照样做得一丝不苟。迈克很欣赏她的镇静，笑着说： “雷切尔小姐，祝你很快找到更好的工作，对，还要找到一个好丈夫。” 雷切尔莞尔一笑：“谢谢。”她拿起内部电话说：“迈克先生已经来了。” 门打开时，汤姆逊才从窗外收回目光，说：“请进。” 老迈克迈着军人的步子走过来，不过左腿仍然稍瘸。他不等邀请便自己坐下来，仍然是军人般的坐姿。汤姆逊关心地问： “迈克先生，腿伤怎么样了？” “基本上痊愈了，谢谢你的关心，还要感谢你那天冒着生命危险下到库区救我。” “不必客气，是我应该作的。可惜G区和P区的管理员都殉职了，愿他们的灵魂能够安息。” “上帝保佑他们。” 汤姆逊在斟酌着下面的词句，迈克微笑道：“开始正题吧，汤姆逊先生，我想你刚才不会是和杰克寒喧天气。” 汤姆逊笑了，他咳了一声，开始同样的谈话： “迈克先生，我非常遣憾地通知你，接上边的命令，尤卡山核废料堆放场全部关闭，人员在三日内遣散完。地震学会已确认，西雅图-洛彬矶地震带进入了活跃期，并向西部延伸，估计这一带年内还有里氏七级以上的浅源地震……” 他看看老迈克的白发，觉得于心不忍。他已同其它人谈过话，他们多是耸耸肩膀，装上5000元遣散费后便拜拜了，因为他们早就腻歪了这份工作。但老迈克已经垂暮，孤身一人，这5000元够他去天堂的路费吗？不过，汤姆逊想，我只是一个执行者，马上也要从这里卷铺盖滚蛋，我无能为力。 老迈克显然很吃惊，他没想到是这样的结局，或者说，他虽然已经知道所有人都要被遣散，但没想到自己也是同样的命运。他坐在椅子上一言不发，陷于沉思。良久之后汤姆逊不得不咳嗽了一声。老迈克抬起头，问： “我可以用一用电话吗？” “当然，请用。电话前天已恢复。” 老迈克很熟练地拨了一个号码：“喂，是我，老迈克。” 2秒钟后，电话中响起了一个男人的声音：“迈克，你好，我知道你会来电话的。” 迈克简短地问：“尤卡山全部关闭？我也被遣散？” "right." “AD区的核废料呢？” “会有人去处理的。迈克，我知道遣散费太微薄了，我已经为你申请了一笔12000元的特别津贴，近期内就能办好。我会寄到你的账号上去。老迈克，请原谅，我只能办到这一点了。我常常留恋30年前，那时美国政府的财富似乎是无穷无尽的。现在呢，”他苦笑一声，没有说下去。 迈克不耐烦地说：“我不是说这个。我还有一些积蓄，俭省一点，够我去见上帝的旅费。我只是放不下AD区的东西，想留下来把它们处理完。” “谢谢你，迈克先生，但……” 迈克不快地说：“请放心，在这段工作期间，我不会向你们要工资的。你知道，AD区的那些玩意儿实际是我的孩子……” 那边打断了他的话：“谢谢你，老迈克，你不必费心了，我们会处理的。” 迈克脸色阴沉，直到这时他才（过于迟钝地）知道，自己确实被抛弃了，这位曾经显赫一时的核弹专家真的没用了，被历史无情地淘汰了。其实他早该想到的。温室效应使世界变得更加脆弱，核弹成了过于危险的武器。即使没有温室效应，在今天的世界中，恐怕也不会有人敢公开使用核弹或用核弹威胁。他一直视为生命的2250件核弹，实际上早成了一钱不值的垃圾。但他一直顽固地欺骗自己，就象一个守财奴死守着一堆早已作废的纸币。 他真的没用了，不仅是在一般人的心目中，而且是在权力机构的最上层——他曾固执地相信，这些人、只有这些人才认识他的价值。但今天呢？他们甚至不想费心对他来番虚假的安抚。其实，把他留下来处理完核弹再走，对他们说有什么损失？没有，一点也没有。但那些人却急于要他离开，他们不愿再看到这位旧时代的象征了。 迈克沉默了很久才说：“那好，我们就此告别吧。”他突兀地问：“是处理到拉格朗日墓场？” 对方显然没有料到这一问，停了一会儿，才不快地说： “我不知道，也许吧。” 汤姆逊看见老迈克放下话筒后仍在发愣，脸上逐渐浮出平静和决绝。他咳了一声，准备说几句安慰的话，但老迈克已从冥思中回来，客气地说： “再见，汤姆逊先生。再次感谢你那天冒着危险去寻找我，我马上就要离开此地。我的戏已经结束了。”他转过身，用微跛的军人步伐走出去。透过半开的房门，汤姆逊听见他同雷切尔小姐亲切地告别，说他要到圣弗朗西斯科去找自己的女儿，他已经近40年没有同她在一起了。 两个小时后，汤姆逊看见老迈克那辆白色福特车开过来。他连忙跑出去同他告别，但老迈克没有停留，只是远远地招招手，顺着被地震破坏的道路小心地开走了。 离开核废料堆放场，迈克有一种很奇怪的心境：有淡淡的悲哀和苍凉，也有莫名其妙的轻松。70年来，他一直在自己的人生之路上埋头往前，没有停下来喘息过，甚至没有回头看看身后的风景。现在，他的目的地忽然消失了，再也不用紧紧张张地往前赶了——那他又该干点什么？他该怎样度过他的余生？ 他没有直接向旧金山开去，而是首先向南，游览了科罗拉多大峡谷国家公园，站在科罗拉多陡峭的悬崖上，看着巨雕在脚下悠然自得地展翅滑翔。下意识中，他是在推迟与女儿见面的时间，推迟“新生活”的来临时刻，想在心理上先做一点准备。之后他驱车去亚利桑那州的彩色沙漠，欣赏着蓝色、紫色、白色、黄色和粉红色的砂砾在阳光下闪亮。几天后，他又到了太平洋的海滨，忧郁地盯着巨大的加利福尼亚红杉，它们在气温升高后正逐渐枯萎。 一个月后，他把福特车停在吊索式金门大桥的停车场上。身旁是直径一米的大桥吊索的样品，那是当年建桥者特意留下的。钢绳的外层已经锈迹斑斑，但断面处被观光客抚摸得亮光闪闪。金门海峡的水面已经显著升高了，轮船从桥下缓缓开过去，隐约可见海豹在水里翻花。观景台上，一个黑人妇女和她5岁的女儿在用面包喂海鸟，他不由联想想起自己的女儿。但他随即哑然失笑——那个“5岁的女儿”已经是40年前的事了。 明天就要见到女儿了。在夕阳和海风中，他终于承认了自己的惶惑，这是他一直不愿意承认的——他不敢确定女儿是否愿意接纳他。 在横跨1000公里的旅程中，他已经把自己的一生仔细梳理了一遍。想起他和妻子的离婚，他觉得内疚。他太沉迷于自己的“技术”了。好象谁说过，充分发展的技术无疑是上帝的魔术，而掌握这种魔术的人就会觉得自己有了上帝的权力。在蒙昧时代，巫师是用符咒和复杂的舞蹈语言代上帝施权，但那是虚幻的，而他手中的核武器却是实实在在的权力！ 而且，全世界50亿人中，有谁能比得上他与“核上帝”的亲近？核武器是由世界上最聪明的人研制的，核弹的安全措施则是更聪明的人制定的，这儿实行“双重核按钮”制，每一级执行者必须有两套密码指令，只有两套密码核对无误才能向下一级传达。值得一提的是，在最后一级执行者中，两个核导弹发射钥匙孔至少间隔3 米，以确保一个人无法启动。但这些被常人看得神乎其神的核按钮锁对他来说不值一哂，只要乐意，他可以越过参谋长联席会议和总统，轻而易举地让一支弹道导弹唿啸升空，让死神降临莫斯科、北京或旧金山。 当然，他不会这样做，但这足以使他保持上帝般的优越感。这种心境是普通人无法领会的……不过他仍然为妻子歉疚，她正是那种无法与其沟通的普通人。尤其是2022年全世界销毁核武器之后，他执意从华盛顿调往荒僻的尤卡山核废料堆放场，尽其余生守护那些文明的粪便，妻子卡箩终于忍无可忍了。她尖刻地说： “你是不是患了对核武器的单恋症？这些年来，你一直没有把妻子女儿放在心上，我们在你眼里远远比不上一枚B61-11核弹。我们一直尽量理解你，毕竟，这些武器是在守护着民主社会的安全——至少在你的心目中如此。但是，核武器现在已经销毁了，你可以脱身了，在这种情形下你还要让我当寡妇吗？”她冷淡的说，“请你决定吧，或者是我们，或者是那堆核废料。” 可惜那时他无法向妻子泄露核弹的秘密，绝望的妻子最终离他而去。这些年，他一直对妻子怀着歉疚，愿她的灵魂安息。 他在附近休息了一晚，第二天赶到南弗朗西斯科，女儿住在那里。他在郊外一个小镇上放慢了车速。右边是乡村小教堂，正响着晚祷的钟声。左边是一个乡村网球场，显然已废弃多年，疯长的野草透出满目茺凉。他看见路边有一个公墓，汽车已经开过去了，不知为什么，他又把车倒回来。路边的标牌上写着“仁慈公墓”，一条卵石小径向前延伸，黑色的大理石墓碑整齐地排列着，草坪修剪得非常精细。一个穿牛仔服的中年人正在拍纸簿上记着什么，这时向他招招手，高兴地说： “你好，从远处来的吗？” 迈克走下汽车：“从内华达来的，我女儿就住在前边。你是这儿的守墓人吗？” “对，我叫帕加诺·布鲁诺。” “漂亮的墓地，草地修剪得象姑娘的发型。” 帕加诺自豪地笑了：“谢谢你的夸奖，我手下有两个小伙子，负责照看三个公墓，我从来没有让他们有机会偷懒。你看，我正在检查这儿应该整修的地方。” 迈克四周看看，再次夸奖道：“漂亮的公墓，真是休息的好地方。我想就把这儿当作我的归宿。” 帕加诺笑道：“先生，你离死神还远着哪。不过，真到那一天的话，欢迎你来这里，我一定会让你满意。” 他同帕加诺先生告别，继续往前开。前边就是女儿的家了，是一幢普通的平房，木房顶，汽车库的大门久未油漆，门前的小枞树也疏于修剪，落日把余辉洒在树梢。 麦菲亚听见敲门声，打开门，是一个风尘仆仆的白发老人，手里举着一束鲜花。她愣了足足两秒钟，才认出这是父亲。毕竟，40年来，她基本上只是在照片上与他见面。 “爸爸！”她高兴地喊，埋怨道：“你该事先告诉我们一声，你是开车从尤卡山过来的？” 老迈克俯下身吻吻她，走进屋里，麦菲亚大声喊： “米斯，杰克，外公来了！” 两个孩子从里间出来，米斯今年16岁，很漂亮，但身体很单薄，脸色苍白得近乎透明。她用手挽着外公的脖项，亲热地吻了他的额头。杰克则脸色冷漠，过来简单地问候一句，帮他把汽车后衣箱里的旅行箱提到屋里，便回到自己屋里听猫王和甲壳虫的音乐。他妈妈似乎对儿子的表现已习以为常。 麦菲亚领父亲到卫生间洗漱完，为他端来一杯咖啡。迈克问：“哈丁斯呢？还没回来？” “他下班后还要到酒吧揽一份工，十一点后才能回来。爸爸，你先休息一会儿，我们马上吃晚饭。” 晚饭桌上，小米斯一直好奇地看着外公，问了很多核武器的问题：爷爷，你真的是最好的核弹专家吗？人们干嘛要制造核弹去杀别人？现在世界上还有核弹吗？杰克仍是满腹牢骚的德相，偶尔抬头看看陌生的外公，埋下头自顾吃饭。迈克告诉女儿，尤卡山已经关闭了，他终于在70岁上退休了。这一生他对家庭亏负太多，很想补回过去的遣憾，同孩子们在一起生活。麦菲亚说她为此高兴，但迈克发现她的笑容很勉强。 米斯只草草吃了两口便离席，萎靡无力地说她累了，想去休息。迈克低声问： “米斯有病？” 麦菲亚的眼眶里立刻涌满了眼泪：“白血病。”她苦涩地说：“手术费20万元。可是她没买医疗保险。” "why?" “不是我们的过错。保险公司早已查过咱家的基因，不愿接受她的投保，因为她体内发现了可导致白血病的'费城基因'。当然，这些我们是事后才知道的。” 迈克点点头，没有置评。他知道这是保险业的惯例。在过去，投保十万美元的30岁健康女性，每月交费20美元；但带有乳腺癌基因的则为39美元；若带有该基因又有三位血亲死于此病，交费就要上升到56美元。后来随着基因检测技术的日益完善，保险公司对投保人的各种遗传性疾病了解得更加清楚，若带有某些危险疾病的（如可引起脑细胞死亡的亨廷顿症）基因，保险公司干脆不再受理。 当然不必去指责保险业的残忍，正如不必相信保险业的仁慈。归根结蒂，金钱是至高无尚的上帝。 杰克冷冷地插嘴：“这就是科学。科学可以下这样的定义：它是一种魔法，可以预支子孙的幸福让今人享用，而使后人享受先辈的痛苦。”停一会儿他又说：“外公可以划到预支幸福的那代人吧，我们活该倒霉。” 母亲瞪了他一眼，于是他不再说话。迈克问：“家里的状况……比较紧张吧。” 麦菲亚勉强笑笑：“我们正给杰克找工作，我也想去揽一份零工。以后会好的，别担心。” 晚上，迈克在床上久久不能入睡。他一时还不能下决心断然改变自己的生活之路。夜里，他听到哈丁斯回来，他想应该同女婿见个面，便悄悄披衣下床。女儿女婿的门半掩着，泻出一条黄色的灯光，他听见女儿低声说： “……其实，我和这位父亲并没多少感情。近40年来，他对于我来说只是几张照片，几次电话，他从没有向外孙们倾注一丝感情。现在老了，无处可呆了，才想到这个家。但我仍然可怜他，如果他提出留下的话，我想是没办法拒绝的。” 哈丁斯不情愿地说：“我也很想留下他，让他能安度余生。说来说去还是那个可恶的钱，米斯的医疗费……” 妻子说：“等问清他的打算再说吧。你该休息了。” 迈克悄悄回到自己的房间，那晚他一夜没睡。 帕加诺从工具车上卸下割草机，告诉哈尔先把破损的栅栏钉好。走进墓地，他发现一个穿深色夹克的老人已经早早来到这儿，正低着头浏览众多墓碑上的铭文。他认出这个老人昨天来过，还说要在这儿找一片安息之地，便高高兴兴地同他打招唿： “早上好，内华达来的先生。” “早上好，帕加诺先生。” “你在看碑文吗？” “对，你看这条碑文写得多好：死神战胜了我，但我从此不用畏惧它了。” “对，写得很好。”帕加诺应答了一句，认真看看他，轻声问：“先生，我能给你什么帮助吗？” 迈克转向他，平静地说：“我昨天已经说过，我想在这儿找一块安息之地。我现在就把费用付讫，请你为我选一块墓地，把墓修好，用黑色大理石碑刻下这两句铭文。喏，给你。”他递过来一张纸片，上面写着： 帕加诺不知道他为什么自称战神，但在这段铭文中看到了不祥，他惶然看着他：“先生……” 迈克笑着打断了他的疑问：“不必担心，我没有准备自杀。但我马上要到国外去，这个世界一天天破落，一天天混乱，谁知道能不能在有生之年回到美国？所以我想先把自己'安葬'在这里。帕加诺先生，需要交多少费用？” 帕加诺从他手里接过现金，愉快地说：“请放心，我一定会把你的坟墓修得漂漂亮亮。也祝你长寿，10年或20年后回来为'自己的坟墓'献花。再见，迈克先生。” 晚上哈丁斯没有去加班，麦菲亚做了一桌丰盛的饭菜为父亲接风。米斯刚作过化疗，没有一点食欲，但她仍强自支撑着坐在外公旁边。迈克把她揽在怀里，不时用手抚摸着她因放疗变得稀疏的柔发。哈丁斯为他斟上白兰地，同他闲谈着40年的变迁，等着他提及今后的打算。但是一直到晚饭结束，迈克一直无意谈这件事。哈丁斯疑惑地看看妻子，试探地问： “迈克先生，你已经退休了，准备在哪儿度晚年？” 迈克淡然说：“我还没有考虑好，以后再谈这件事吧。” 晚饭后老迈克的兴致很好，一直同两个孩子玩耍。哈丁斯又去干夜工了，麦菲亚回到卧室，很晚还能听到客厅里米斯的笑声。第二天凌晨，哈丁斯还未回家，麦菲亚忽然听到了汽车马达声。她向窗外望去，见那辆白色福特刚刚消失在网球场背后。她赶紧回到父亲的住室，那儿已经人去室空，桌上放着一封短笺，两张已签字的支票： 麦菲亚追到镇子外面，久久怅望着福特车消失的方向，眼眶中充满了泪水。