Chapter 2 white face

Countless gazes pierced me like invisible sharp arrows. Hundreds of reporters stared at me with their blood-red eyes wide open.Having said that, there is no way I would actually get cold feet, because meeting reporters is my job, and answering their questions is what my job is all about.If I had been fed up with these situations, the job of "Speaker of the White House of the United States" hadn't been my place in the first place. "On behalf of all reporters, I would like to ask the spokesperson of Xiaman a few questions." As soon as I came to the stage, a middle-aged reporter with silver-rimmed glasses hung on the bridge of his nose and immediately spoke.There is magnetic tension in his voice, and I nod in response.

"Go ahead, Mr. Sophie, and I will try to answer your questions within the capabilities of the White House spokesperson." "How is President Brad Foden, who was assassinated by Cuban exiles the day before yesterday, injured? Do we, the American people, have to be mentally prepared in advance for a new president to take office?" As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room was enveloped in a silence as heavy as lead, and hundreds of faces showed uneasy expressions.I took a deep breath, and then used words instead of blades to cut through the wall of silence. "Mr. Sophie, I think you are worrying for nothing."

I paused and said, "Mr. President is safe and well." "Oh..." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "Although the current physical condition is not good, the injury is recovering at a stable speed." The lead block seemed to disappear in an instant, and the joyful noise rippled irregularly in the room. When the ripples disappeared, the Sophie reporter asked again. "This is really exciting and good news for the American people. Please pass it on to Mr. President and all our reporters wish him a speedy recovery." "Okay, at the same time, on behalf of Mr. President, I would like to thank everyone for your concern."

"Speaker, there is one other thing. The two guards, McKenney and Cassie, who were shot at the same time as Mr. President, are currently injured..." "I must express my heartfelt regrets about these two." I just said this, but I felt that the uneasy emotions were like water gathering in one place, about to form a dark cloud. "We lost two presidential guards." There was a sigh of disappointment. "But the two of them did not die in vain. No, what I said is not just a superficial respect. In fact, Mr. President was saved because of the sacrifice of the two of them, especially the guard of Kexiu."

There was another clamor of doubts, and the reactions from various emotions were clearly seen in a short time. "Speaker, could you please elaborate on this point?" "Of course, I have exactly that intention, and there is one thing that must be understood first, that is, regarding Mr. President's appearance, Mr. President's appearance is somewhat different from the past..." Reporter Sophie was confused for a moment, and glanced at the colleague beside him. "You mean... Mr. President suffered a facial injury and underwent plastic surgery?" "No, Mr. President did undergo surgery. It was not plastic surgery but an organ transplant. As a result of the successful operation, Mr. President's appearance must be changed."

"Does organ transplantation lead to changes in appearance? May I ask what organ is transplanted? Heart? Kidney?" I wiped my dry lips with the tip of my tongue, and answered the question cautiously with a clear pronunciation. "Brain transplant." "The brain? You mean the brain?" "yes." "Brain transplant?" Reporter Sophie's voice was almost howling. Moans full of astonishment rushed towards me like a raging wave. "That's right. Mr. President was injured in this shooting except for his head and limbs. The most likely and fastest way to save Mr. President's life is to transplant his brain to another healthy body."

My tone was close to a snarl, the only way to combat the frenzy of astonishment. "'Fortunately' may be a misnomer, but Guard Keshew was just the opposite of Mr. President. His injuries were mainly concentrated on the head, but his body was unscathed. Therefore, the Clarence Morgan Memorial Hospital was responsible for repairing the knife. Dr Cross decided to do a brain transplant and it was quite successful." "This, in this way, President Brad Foden must use the body of Kexiu's guard from now on..." "This is the result of the world's first brain transplant operation, but Mr. Sophie and everyone present, even if the appearance has changed, President Brad Foden still remembers his own affairs."

"Speaker, please wait a moment!" Reporter Sophie's face was pale and his voice was weak. "I remember, I remember Kexiu guards are black..." Before I could give an affirmative answer, a shock swept across the scene like a storm. Excited shouts and the sound of seats falling to the ground followed one after another, and the distance between the heads of the reporters and the ceiling suddenly shortened. "This concludes today's press conference!" I immediately got up and announced. "The details will be discussed at another day——Thank you for today!"

I ran straight for the gate like a sprinter, followed by shouts and footsteps. "Wait a moment, speaker!" "Are you sure Mr. President's brain was transplanted to a black person? Could it be another guard McNeill?" "Are you concerned about human rights issues?" "Will there be sequelae?" "What do you do with Kesheu's brain?" I rushed out of the press conference and closed the door tightly, blocking a series of voices, voices, accusations and questioning. ※※※ "All in all, a brain transplant is less shocking to the journalistic community than the fact that Mr. President's brain was transplanted into a black person."

I explained the situation of the press conference to the person sitting on the bed. This person had a bandage on his head, dark brown skin, amber pupils and a strong physique.The body part is Casheu's bodyguard, and the brain is President Brad Foden, the political object to whom I have sworn allegiance. "This is also human nature. Brain transplant surgery has been recognized internationally as one of the technologies that will be successful. The winners are either the United States, Russia, Germany or Japan. Human beings will enter the 21st century in ten years, but no one thought that a black man would become the president of the United States."

I shrugged. "Science and technology are changing with each passing day, but human concepts cannot keep up with the pace of the times. The annoying racial problem will still accompany human society to welcome the coming of the next century." "Frank, are you going to change your job from White House spokesman to become a civilization critic?" Mr. President smiled and called me by my Christian name. His appearance and voice belonged to the black guard Larry Kesheu. I still can't get rid of this inexplicable sense of disobedience. "No, I'm just a part-time job. The treatment in the White House is relatively good, and the harsh boss doesn't make me want to change jobs." Just as I retorted, a man opened the door of the ward and walked in. He was Dr. Shocross, who performed the world's first brain transplant. "Mr. President, how do you feel?" Had an expert in physiognomy been present, seeing the Doctor's face might have concluded that he was a typical paranoid.The doctor has no outstanding features, but the intense gaze often leaves a bad impression on people.This nearly fifty-year-old doctor used to run a private hospital in Baltimore, but an unknown arson fire occurred in that hospital fifteen years ago, and the hospital was completely burned down, but Morgan Memorial Hospital affirmed that he studied the technology of brain transplantation , So hired him to the hospital resident.He is often called a crazy doctor, and rumors of him experimenting on human bodies have become semi-public facts. This operation is indeed a brilliant and brilliant achievement in the history of medicine, but it is a pity that it was not supported by anyone. Supported, and even a newspaper wrote maliciously: "If this operation is successfully performed by a doctor other than Dr. Xiucross, it must be honored." The reason lies in his extreme secrecy. After the joint press conference, a certain TV announcer deliberately praised the doctor as "Mr. No Comments."The doctor is usually the best at boasting, and once the problem gets to the core, he immediately and constantly uses the word "no comment".All in all, Dr. Shawcross is not a dangerous person, but he is a very suspicious character.As for me, the long association between President Brad Foden and the Doctor seemed like a nightmare. The doctor seemed to have nothing important to do. He was about to leave the ward after inquiring about the president’s condition and exchanging a few pleasantries. At this moment, he exchanged eyes with me who was accompanying me by the bed, and he couldn’t help but lower his head and meditate. "Have I met Your Excellency somewhere before?" I smiled wryly. "Since I became White House spokesperson, I have had countless opportunities to be exposed on TV, perhaps as high as one or two hundred times. Unless you live in the mountains of Alaska, it is impossible to have no impression of my face." After the doctor left, I turned to the president to vent my bitterness. "Mr. President, I hope you should choose your friends carefully. I am very worried that the doctor's bad reputation will hurt you." "Frank, do you want me to be an ungrateful person? He is my savior." Mr. President stared at his hand, and spoke after a short silence. "Looking at the dark skin on my body, I feel really out of place, but I have to get used to it sooner or later, and I have to get used to it. Whether it is white or black, I am who I am." My eyes also fell on my white hands, "Whether it is white or black, I am still myself." I can understand. At this time, another visitor came. In front of us is a young black woman.Her skin glowed with a rich dajiline black tea color, and her delicately carved facial features and slim body proportions seemed to be stone carvings by famous craftsmen. "Brenda." The president's voice seemed to be stuck in his throat. "I really don't know how to explain this incident to you..." I retreated to the wall and remained silent because I couldn't find an appropriate response. We had known this woman for years, Brenda Mathews, through her boyfriend, Larry Kesheu. She opened her mouth to speak without any gesture of panic. "I am relieved to see that you are safe, Mr. President." After speaking, she looked directly at the president. ※※※ "The president turned black? Well, it's better than turning red." It is said that a senator from the right wing of the Republican Party said so in front of journalists, but unexpectedly, one thing must have two things. "Brain transplantation is tantamount to a violation of the natural way given by God. It should be eradicated from this society together with abortion. The decision of life and death must depend on God's will." A certain religious person talked about nothing new with a bored expression, and the entire public opinion circle jumped like a chicken coop attacked by a fox.It sounds like a lot of flowers springing up after the rain, but the criticism of "fragmented agitation" is closer to the truth. "How can a nigger be the president of the United States and lead the world as the commander in chief of the democratic camp?" It is the Ku Klux Klan with a long history that is so openly clamoring, but intellectuals with "conscience" turn a blind eye to this matter. They only care about Mr. President's health problems, because they suspect that the President's body may not be able to handle it after undergoing major surgery. The heavy responsibility of the head of state and the highest executive head of a country.Although this group of people is not as racist and outspoken as the Ku Klux Klan, their doubts appear to be more insidious and cunning. However, President Brad Foden, who has the body of Larry Kexie, faced these criticisms instead. belly laugh. "Is there going to be a problem with my health? Are you kidding me? I am 22 years younger after the operation, which means that I have to stay in power for 22 years before I reach the age when I took office." Although Mr. President intends to refresh the record of Franklin Rosbet's inauguration, it is a pity that his ambition will eventually come to nothing. Not only will his failure in the presidential election two years later be obvious, but it will be difficult to qualify for re-election even in the party chairman election. "It seems that there is only an honorable retirement." As I said this after reporting the dismal poll results, a bitter smile crept across the president's tanned face. "22% of the people want me to race again, but 71% of the people who don't support me show that I am quite unpopular. Then again, what did I do wrong? I'm not like Nixon who specializes in eavesdropping, nor is I like Kennedy's sex appeal, nor is I like Harding's pedantic corruption and corruption of the government." "You've accomplished what no president has been able to do, Mr. President." I continue to produce other information. "Compared with the previous government, the domestic unemployment rate and crime rate have shown a tendency to decrease; the balance of trade with Japan has also greatly improved, and the negotiation with Russia on arms limitation has achieved great results; the achievements of domestic and foreign policies have been remarkable. Unfortunately, There is only one reason for the rapid decline in popular support.” The president was so excited that he knocked on the table. "Is it an unforgivable crime to undergo a brain transplant? I said that I didn't do it voluntarily." "Mr. President, I think everyone can understand this. The real problem is not the operation." "Please don't ignore the mood of voters who think they didn't vote for a black man; with all due respect, your political opponent can win you just because of your white skin." "Even if his ability and tolerance are worse than mine?" "If ability and tolerance can determine everything, then the world may look a little more pleasing to the eye." "—I see, you're right." The President was lost in thought with a serious expression, and suddenly he spoke. "I have an idea, listen to it. Since my dark skin is the main reason that hinders me from running, then I just need to make my skin whiter?" "Are you going to drink the bleach?" "I'm not kidding you, I'm serious, all in all, I could have another brain transplant and just change my body to a white person." I stared at the president's expression speechlessly. If there is a painting called "Seriousness" right now, he is the best model. "Frank, do you think my idea is good?" The president's voice matched his expression perfectly. "Mr. President, I admit that you have an extraterrestrial fantasy, but you don't seem like someone who would say such a thing. There should be a limit to wishful thinking. I can't talk to you anymore." I climbed out of the abyss of bewilderment and interrupted the conversation with a stern tone, and the President raised his eyebrows to reveal his surprise. "Frank, I know you think I'm delusional for wanting to get a white man's body, but there are so many people who donate corneas or kidneys when they die, and I'm just extending that..." "That's not what worries me." "Are you afraid of the failure of the operation?" "No, Mr. President, I would like to ask you to carefully consider the current percentage of public opinion that supports your candidacy. According to the data, it barely exceeds 20%, and the vast majority comes from black voters; once you are transplanted into a white body again, the black people who originally supported you You’re going to lose votes, and that doesn’t mean you’re going to get white voters; you’re going to end up with even worse support, and you’re just going to kill your political career.” As I talked, I was so angry that I couldn't understand it; because the Brad Foden I knew couldn't understand this, at least he never did in the past, and he wouldn't use such passive means to try to Restore prestige.I suddenly thought: "Could it be that the brain transplant operation will damage a person's political integrity?" But I immediately shook my head vigorously. Mr. President must be a little impatient, and the reason must be that simple.However, once this psychological tendency is manifested in actual behavior, it just gives the opposition party an excellent opportunity to attack and force the president to step down under the pretext of physical health and mental stability. "It's nerve-wracking." I heaved a sigh, as the President and I seemed to be heading into winter. ※※※ Every day is like sitting on the crater, and one day, less than a few days before the end of March, I received a visit from Brenda Mathews. "Nice to meet you." I sincerely welcome this beauty with dajiline black tea skin. On the one hand, because of her beauty and talent, on the other hand, I want to take a break from my busy schedule because of the many troubles I have had at work recently. The president's planned tour of the Sunbelt states, mainly in Texas, was aborted as the Ku Klux Klan threatened with their usual intimidation tactics: "Don't forget about Dallas. The second largest city in Texas, where President Kennedy was assassinated.) Lesson.” Therefore, the FBI and the Texas State Police all said that this trip is very dangerous, and the current manpower may not be able to bear the heavy responsibility of maintaining law and order.At the press conference, some reporters also asked: "Is it because of Brad Foden's 'transformation' that has triggered the strong racism in the Sunbelt?" In addition, a tabloid in the east once reported that the Secretary of the President in charge of trade issues had privately accepted a total of 750,000 dollars in bribes from the West German government and the auto industry group to actively pave the way for West Germany's interests. As a result, the person involved in the case completely denied it. Therefore, before the situation became clear at this time, I had to keep repeating the sentence "no comment". In addition, Japan's foreign minister also had a misfortune out of his mouth. He faced members of the opposition party in the parliament and asked him to express his opinion on the US president's brain transplant operation, so he replied in a daze. "I regret that President Brad Foden was transplanted into a black body. Fortunately, his brain is still white, so we don't have to worry about the deviation of the US policy toward Japan." As a result, the speech led to the opposition party slamming the foreign minister for racial discrimination. During the oil crisis in the 1970s, this person once said: "Arabs dare to use oil as a weapon to threaten the world. They are the enemy of all mankind." !” This talk immediately aroused the accusation of “full of courage” by European and American conservative media, and made this layman suffer from pointless criticism. Dismissed, fell heavily from the throne of the cabinet. "Spokesman Xiaman, please express your thoughts on this matter." "Excuse me, I have nothing to say." A Mexican immigrant suffered a severe blow to the head in a car accident and unfortunately became a vegetable.The family, who was too poor to afford the medical expenses, donated his father's body to a future brain transplant experiment, intending to save cumbersome treatment procedures, and asked the hospital authorities to discount the treatment fee. "Speaker, please express your opinion." "Excuse me, I have no comment!" An Italian production company that specializes in movies about zombies, ghouls, demons, etc. also released a film called "President Frankenstein", which described that Frankenstein and the President of the United States underwent a brain-swapping operation, causing the President's embassy to immediately issued a tactful protest, but the producer refuted that this was an act of infringing on creative freedom, (but the thought of being able to promote it for free made me happy.) French newspapers gloated and reported: "This well-meaning Frankenstein In the great war, who will the goddess of victory smile on?" "Speaker, please express your opinion." "Excuse me, I have no comment!" The racial problem in South Africa has reached the point where it cannot be controlled Mining activities were forced to suspend, and the mineral resource market institutions in the Western world could not operate smoothly. The President of the United States arranged a visit to South Africa to break the deadlock. If blacks and whites can face each other and gradually achieve legal racial equality, this is in President Brad Foden's foreign policy has been nothing short of a triumph, but the visit has been postponed indefinitely. South Africa's reason was that the president was unwell, but in fact it was because he did not want to welcome a black man as a state guest. Everyone was afraid of this abnormal phenomenon.Of course, it is impossible to directly refuse the president's entry, so the only option is to hide under the skirt of a lady named Pathogenic Bacteria. "spokesman!" "Excuse me, I have no comment!" As a result of similar situations happening again and again, the evaluation of me by the journalists group plummeted like the stock price of a sunset company, tending to surpass Dr. Shawcross. I don’t know when, I was also Crowned with the title of "Mr. No Comments". I had just fired a women's magazine reporter just before Brenda's visit.The young female reporter is a standard vase beauty, with a skull worth a million dollars on the outside and only twenty-five cents on the inside; she made an excuse that she wanted to do a personal interview with me, and she babbled a bunch of nonsense questions, and then Immediately shift the focus to the president's married life. "There are gossip and gossip everywhere now. I wonder if the spokesperson has heard of it?" "Tell me about it." "It is said that the wife of the president refused to share the same bed with the president, and the relationship between husband and wife has deteriorated." "Mr. President is five to eight years old, and Mrs. is fifty-one years old. It is not worth making a big fuss if a couple at this age does not share the same bed." "But Mr. President has a body of thirty-six years old, and he is a black man, a black man..." "What about black people?" She blushed and remained silent, probably because she realized that she had strayed from the topic arbitrarily, and the interviewee was not thinking about it at all.Family discord is a fatal scandal for the president of the United States. The president's family must be in complete harmony to create a model image of an American family.American presidents in the past seldom have any experience of divorce. In the 1884 presidential election, Cleveland was elected after a bitter battle. The rival candidate J. G. Bryan, who had repeatedly miscalculated, could have easily reversed the 60,000-vote gap. The rumor said by this reporter is very likely to be true. President Brad Foden's wife has always won the reputation of "the president's good wife" for her elegant appearance and rich knowledge. Now she does not live in an apartment surrounded by swamps. The president Mrs. must have had a hard time accepting a black husband.The president's two sons are studying in the UK and Italy respectively. They did not travel long distances and fly across the Atlantic Ocean for this matter, which makes their hearts as confusing as seaweed.Even the president can't bear his wife's long-term indifference to each other, not to mention that he also has an energetic thirty-six-year-old black body. Psychological depression coupled with mental instability is likely to lead to tragic results. "In short, I don't think it's up to us outsiders to intervene in Mr. President's housework, so let's stop here." "Then can the spokesperson express his personal opinion?" "Excuse me, I have nothing to say." — I was beginning to feel like I was becoming one of those strange creatures in Alice in Wonderland, and just when I was feeling distressed, Brenda Mathews showed up just in time. "hope I did not disturb you." "Where, I'm looking forward to receiving a normal-minded guest." "It seems that you are really busy." "I think every day of mine is like Friday the 13th, but Mr. President is even harder than me." It's hard to imagine how a white man who has his mind transplanted into a black body will feel. President Brad Foden's strong mental strength is really admirable. The tip of an iceberg on the surface of the sea is quite dangerous. "I want to talk to you today about Mr. President..." Brenda smiled. She was beautiful, charming and mysterious.A feeling almost trembling surged in my heart. In order to cover up my embarrassment, I lit a cigarette. "What's the matter, Mr. President?" "He's not Mr. President." With the cigarette in my mouth, I lit it with the lighter in my hand, and then threw the cigarette away because I lit the fire on the filter.So I held another cigarette in my mouth correctly again, carefully lit it, and said after exhaling white smoke with a capacity of about 2,000 cc upwards. "What did you say?" "He's not Mr. President." She repeated it clearly. "Who are you referring to as 'he'?" "Larry Keshew." "That's right, Larry Cashew was never the President of the United States..." She smiled again, like an oriental Buddha statue, but slightly sharper. "Frank, you're not fit to play a fool. You should understand that I'm referring to the brain in Larry's skull." "I see." I rudely press my bland cigarette against the ashtray. "You mean Larry Cashew's own brain in Larry Cashew's skull?" "yes." "There was no such thing as a brain transplant from start to finish." "yes." "Larry was just pretending to be President Brad Foden." "yes." "What a brilliant strategy." "indeed." I inadvertently crossed my fingers. "Of course, Dr. Shawcross cannot escape the suspicion of conspiracy." "He gained fame because he performed the world's first brain transplant and Larry became president of the United States." "Fame and power?" An unbearable bitter taste gradually spread in my mouth, and I seemed to return to the time when I was young and frivolous and first tasted cigarettes. What a simple and daring crime!Cashew and Dr. Shawcross were simply taking advantage of the chance that the President had been assassinated.The deeds revealed are at most a crime of fraud. This intelligent crime makes me sympathize with the exiled Cuban who assassinated the president and was shot dead by the police indiscriminately. There is no comment, and no distress can be seen on the president's face. "but……" I look at Brenda. "Why can you tell?" The third smile. "There's no reason or proof, I just know that Larry is Larry and nobody else." "..." "you do not believe me?" "No, that's not the case." I have to believe that there is indeed an invisible emotional line between men and women. I feel that this conviction is accompanied by a little heartache. "I have a question to ask you." "Please say." "Why are you telling me this?" She didn't answer immediately, but looked into the distance, examining herself inwardly; I stared at her slender fingers in a daze. Finally, she spoke helplessly. "Because I couldn't bear the fact that he abandoned me." "He abandoned you..." "Yes, the presidency of the United States is more attractive than mine." Her tone began to fluctuate. "If he coveted the position of the president from the beginning, then I have nothing to say, no, maybe I will help him achieve his ambition; but he is just taking advantage of the fire, the man I love is not such a short-sighted Opportunist, I don't want to see him continue to degenerate, he will only demean himself and betray me by doing so." "Do you want Larry to be punished?" "I look forward to it with all my heart." "But I need evidence." "I believe you must find a way to find it." I close my eyes and I see a river, it's the Robinkan River, and I know there's no other way but to cross it—no, I've known for a long time that I'm an opportunist too. "I will try my best." I replied that the farce was almost over. ※※※ I draw up a plan and take the necessary steps. This motel is often used by high-ranking party and government officials in Washington DC and foreign envoys to carry out secret business. It is located in an emerald pastoral area at the junction of Chesapeake Bay and Pathanco Mountain River. The customers are all vampires and werewolves. The relatives and friends of the family only visit at night, and the beautiful scenery is useless. In a room in the hotel, the dark-skinned president sat with me facing each other. On a slightly cold night, it was hard to distinguish whether it was rain or fog. The cold moisture wetted his hair, and the fuelwood was burning golden flames in the old-fashioned stove.It was a beautiful and cozy night, and both I and the other party regretted that we were not suitable for such a night. "I have reserved this hotel for the whole night, please rest assured." I said in prose, and the president smiled vacantly. "But this matter is still not suitable for talking about it openly and loudly, because this secret talk is related to the behavior of a guard pretending to be the president of the United States to deceive the world. I have heard a saying: Things that dare not be made public are bad things." "Isn't Montaigne the one who said that?" "I'm sure it's not Montaigne." "yes?" "Next..." The president feigned ignorance. "I want you to explain, what is the purpose of this meeting?" At the end of the sentence, he added a false sentence: "Frank." "I have something to tell you, and something to look at." "Really? Well, I'd like to see and listen, but before that, can you hand over the dangerous items in your inner left breast pocket to me?" His tone seemed to hide a piece of hard granite under the soft cotton. I hesitated for a moment before stretching out my right hand to my chest. "Slow down, Frank, slow down." The thing in my hand was fully revealed under the illumination of the lamp. It was an ugly black metal with an ominous luster under the lamp. "Suppressor gun, Big Cole Eight." A child might say it was an umbrella if they saw it, and the President whispered the weapon in his hand, and I whispered it too. "I didn't expect you to know..." "Why do you bring this thing to meet me?" "I suppose the same reason you took it from me, Mr. President." A sinister look shot at me. "—I'll listen to what you say first, what do you want to tell me?" My eyes fell on the flames of the fireplace, and after a few seconds I said, "Dr. Shawcross was killed." After I finished speaking, I turned my gaze back to the President, and his reaction was exactly as I expected.The president's expression was as stiff as if he had been installed with an instant freezing device, only the left half of his face was dyed with a swaying orange light and shadow. After a long few seconds, the closed mouth finally opened, as if the dormant volcano was active again. "Who killed it?" "I don't know. But the doctor seems to be related to a certain case, maybe other accomplices killed and silenced." "What kind of case?" "Not yet identified." I cheekily pretended not to know. "Why didn't you tell me this until now?" "I just learned of this news, and I will try to inform you as quickly as possible. The media and the cabinet are not yet aware of this news. It is guaranteed that it has just been released, but the details are still unclear. The only thing that can be confirmed at present is that the doctor was killed. In addition, all the materials related to the operation that the doctor kept privately were stolen, and what kind of materials are not known in detail, because the doctor likes to keep secrets." "..." "Because there are so many things that only the doctor knows, so as long as the doctor is killed, it can be effectively kept secret." The firewood pile inside the stove made a sound of collapse, the fire powder flew along with it, the flame shook, and the shadows of the two of us also danced along with it, and we saw two little ghosts dancing in the flames. "This is what I want to tell you, and this is what I want to show you..." I opened the paper bag folded in four, and there were two black and white photos as big as magazines.The president took the photo, with a suspicious expression on his face, he asked me with his eyes. "This is a tomogram of the brain." "Brain? Whose brain?" "Both are Mr. President, your brain." "mine……?" The whisper was almost a moan. "Yes, but they were taken at different times. These two photos are labeled A and B. A was taken five years ago when you were a senator, provided by the State Illinois Medical College; B was taken this time. After the brain transplant operation, it was naturally given by Laojia Morgan Memorial Hospital." "What's the difference between these two?" "It's difficult to distinguish the difference with the naked eye. I need to make a little explanation. The CT scan machine is used to take the brain tomography, which can also be called a computer tomography device. In short, this machine can see through the living person in three dimensions. Please see the photo, the gray part is the brain body, the black part is the cerebrospinal fluid, and the white part is the skull. The graphics are all composed of dots. The official name of these dots is pixels, and a pixel represents one by one by eight. centimeter cube." Still lingering in the valley of silence, the president gazed intently at the two photographs. "If I explain it this way, you should understand that the size of the brain volume can be obtained by calculating the number of these pixels through the computer." "..." "According to common sense, the human brain will shrink with age after adulthood, and the volume will gradually decrease; suppose a person has a brain volume of 100 at the age of 20, and only 94.5 at the age of 70. Ninety-five, the aging of the brain will lead to mental decline, and the volume will decrease sharply after the age of forty, assuming that the volume of the brain decreases by 5% in the thirty years from the age of forty to the age of seventy, which means that the brain volume The average annual reduction is 0.17 percent." "..." "The problem lies in the pictures A and B. Photo B was taken five years later than photo A, so the volume of the brain taken by B must be 0.8% smaller than that of photo A, although there are some errors , but it will never increase; if B's ​​brain is bigger than A's, then A's and B's brains must belong to different people." "..." "Mr. President, B's brain is 1.5% bigger than A's!" I stopped talking and watched the president—no, the man pretending to be the president, Larry Cashew, a witty and bold careerist, trying to become the first black president in the history of the United States. "I see." The fake president spoke. "Unexpectedly, there is such a trick." 声音里带著豁达的语气，完全没有一般罪犯落网时的沮丧与内疚。 “你调查得实在仔细，真服了你，这次算我完全败北，彻底落败。” 凯休没有败者的失意，反而给人一种如释重负、充满活力的印象。轻快取代了稳重，人格恢复年轻。疲劳的人反而是我，我扛著一肩的重担问道。 “你承认你不是布拉德佛登总统，而是赖瑞·凯休了吗？” “我不得不承认。” “总统先生死了吗？” "That's right." “一开始根本没有进行脑部移植手术……” “不不、发言人，你错了，当时的确动过手术，将总统先生的脑移植到麦肯尼护卫的身体里。” “麦肯尼？” 冒牌总统的琥珀色眼眸闪烁著嘲弄的目光，重重地点头。 “没错，就是移植到白人麦肯尼的身体里，麦肯尼也真倒楣，手术时他还活得好好的，因为脑波还没消失，心脏也还在跳动，只是一直昏迷不醒，如果搁下他不管他必死无疑；但是，切开活人的头盖取他的脑等于杀人，在修克罗斯博士的天秤上，一边是医生的良心跟护卫的生命，另一边则是美国总统的生命与医生的名声，不用我说，你也应该明白天秤是倒向哪一边吧。” 冒牌总统的笑声充满了辛辣味。 “但那个庸医居然手术失败，我可不认为他拿手术刀的手发生失误是出自良心的苛责，他一定在心里想像著自己未来备受尊荣的模样，兴奋之余才会失手；你想想，'完成全世界第一个脑部移植手术的权威多纳德·修克罗斯博士'、'挽救美国总统性命的名医修克罗斯博士'、'诺贝尔医学得奖人修克罗斯博士'！医学史会把他的名字镀金，大书特书。” He shook his head. “原本应该如此，但事实却是残酷的，在他眼前只有手边两具惨遭解剖的尸体，接下来就是面临法律的判决，即使他有办法推卸杀害麦肯尼的罪名，但毁损尸体的罪过是注定逃不过的，就在他进退两难之际，我的存在就等于救世主的降临。” “提议的是谁？” “这个嘛，你现在知道了也于事无补吧，重要的是我跟他利益一致，他如果继续活著就成了医神，而我就是美国总统；虽然扮演别人却无须改换造型或变声整容，只要留意饮食的口味与对音乐种类的喜好，尽量别露出马脚即可，就算出了纰漏，就拿手术后遗症、脑部与身体的意志与体质不一致等因素来搪塞，如果有人执意追究，我还有一个绝招。” “绝招？” “没错——这种人是种族歧视主义者，对黑人的憎恶导致他无法正确判断是非，我会要求他先消除旧时代的偏见再来——” "..." “我不认为美国国民就应该是民主主义者，他们只是摆出民主主义者的面孔想藉此获得肯定，他们根深蒂固地明白人种之间的优劣，却害怕公然面对这种指责，也因此我的绝招保证奏效，虽然我不曾用过。” 应该会奏效吧，我想。但这仅限短期，我对长期使用这招的效果另有一番见解，因为有太多人擅长以大义名份的糖衣包装卑劣的动机。不过凯休在毫无预谋的情况下单纯地扮演布拉德佛登总统至今，看出破绽的只有布兰达·玛休兹，也就是他的爱人。愈自认聪明的人们——也就是大多数的人反而愈容易掉进简单的陷阱，这是一项难得的教训。 “我真佩服你的细心。” 凯休再度开口赞叹。 “你对医学并不了解，居然能提出脑部断层扫瞄图当证据。” “你是指那两张照片吗？” 我苦笑道。 “我承受不起阁下的赞美，其实照片是假的。” 凯休露出彷彿被人掴了一巴掌的表情，我继续说道。 “有关ＣＴ扫瞄机的功用以及脑体积减少的理论部份是真的，Ｂ照片也是真的，但Ａ照片并不是布拉德佛登在五年前所拍的，是我想办法向摩尔根纪念医院借来的，布拉德佛登从来没拍过这种照片。” “我被你耍得团团转。” 语气听起来有钦佩之意。 “法兰克，想不到你也蛮会虚张声势的嘛，如果我一笑置之，还要你证明照片的真伪，那你怎么办？” “我认为你不会这么说。” “你可真有把握。” “有把握的不是我，是布兰达。” “布兰达？” 凯休倒吸一口气，火炉里爆开偌大的火花，在我眼前划过一道弧线。 “原来是她。” 凯休恍然大悟，和我当初一样，虽然她根本没有提出任何实质证据，仔细想想还真不可思议。 “冒牌总统的下场如何？享受逮捕、审判、入狱全套优待吗？这样也好，这可以写个回忆录赚一笔。” “不、你不会入狱的，赖瑞。” 我不疾不徐地说道。 “你这辈子永送会是布拉德佛登总统，一旦国际之间得知美国总统是个冒牌货，势必引来同盟诸国的质疑与共产集团的讪笑，我必须极力维护美国的威信不至于受损。” 凯休的双眼浮现了“怀疑”二字，但在我把话说完之后，又转变为“理解”。 “原来如此，你要杀我？” 他遏制怒气低语道，我报以沉默，但在他眼中反而显得更狡诈。 “不过我有我的做法，我身上有一把从你手中没收过来的武器，我不排除押你当人质流亡到古巴。” “你应该想想我为甚么会乖乖把武器交给你。” “不要白费力气，你再怎么虚、张、声、势我也不会上当，身为总统的贴身护卫必须精通枪枝与武术；我知道这把枪里头填满了子弹，绝非ＣＩＡ所制造的玩具，扣下板机子弹立刻乖乖地从枪口飞出来。” “赖瑞，武器技术的发达是日新月异的。” “是是，我知道我知道。” 凯休把枪口指著我嘲弄道，下一刻脸上突然换了一个表情。 “话又说回来，修克罗斯那个白痴天才真的被杀了吗？” "yes." "Who is the murderer?" “我认为是你。” “别傻了，你凭甚么认定是我？虽然我跟他连交情也沾不上，像他那种肤浅的俗人只知道自吹自擂，说甚么他以前早就动过一次成功的脑部移植手术，只不过担心遭嫉才缄口不提，甚么他甚至可以做出复制人，还有甚么修克罗斯这个名字将成为医学史上的分水岭，我的确是很讨厌他，但我没有杀他。” "Who would that be?" “喂喂、别忘了提出问题的原本是我，算了，现在没时间谈论这件事，以后找机会再说，请你站起来吧，发言人。” 我眼睛直视枪口，身体由椅子站起。 "where are you going?" “这一带散布著不少小型机场，我们就到其中一个包下一架飞机。” “你想得可真美。” “别忘了，我是美国总统，而你是白宫发言人，为了严守国家机密有时必须采取机密行动，凡是效忠美国的市民没有理由不帮忙。” “帮忙冒牌总统？” “如果我的身份被揭穿，伤脑筋的可是你们啊。” "..." “这叫作茧自缚，到外面去，你负责开车。” 他转到我背后，以枪口抵住我左边肩胛骨，这对我而言有些不便，于是我往前走了两、三步，让身体与枪口保持一些距离。也许是我的动作过于露骨，只听身后传来无奈的声音。 “这是做甚么？你以为这两、三步的距离就能降低我的命中率吗？” "yes?" 说话的同时，我随即转过半身，右脚放出一踢，那是部队战斗技巧的其中一招。可惜赖瑞敏捷地跳开闪过这一踢，我的脚只划过空气。 “法兰克，不要做困兽之斗！” 不愧是赖瑞，他的枪口仍然指著我，但我并非认真反击，只是摆摆架势罢了。 我手伸向左脚踝，抓起藏长裤底下的德林格大口径短筒手枪，凯休见状势必不得不开枪，但我比他更快扣下板机。 子弹没有射出。 随著一声惨叫，凯休高大的身躯猛跳起，一瞬间有如被一个隐形巨人拎起来挂在半空中，接下来的姿势像一个打算扑接的外野手，整个人栽向地板。 我站起身，擦拭额头的汗水，紧盯著黑人护卫的尸体。达成任务的手枪已经离开死者的手，横躺在地板上。只见一道薄薄的青烟由枪身四处窜起，宛如死亡使者的出现。 “这不是虚、张、声、势，赖瑞。” 我朝著前一刻还生龙活虎的男子说道。 “我说过武器技术的发达是日新月异的，这把手枪是国防部最近才研发出来，专门用来对付恐怖份子；里头崁进超迷你电脑，具有指纹识别系统，如果没有登录指纹的人扣下板机，就会有一股强大得可以致人于死的高压电流布满枪身，这就是我为甚么要与枪身保持距离的原因了。” 我以鞋尖轻触手枪。 “这股高压电流之大足以破坏枪支本身，所以只限使用一回，可说是一种昂贵的玩具，但现在又证明了它的确有实际功用。这种玩意儿可不是能随便拿出来做实验的，对付你这般高手只有采取这个手段了，也因此你成了弥足珍贵的被实验者。” 我打断自己的话，先前的饶舌是因为不想被沉默的墙压垮，但说完这段长篇大论后反而觉得受辱的是自己，不过我的确是自取其辱。 凯休的惨叫应该不会有人听见，要不然我就不必大费周章包下整家旅馆，百分之百相信隔音设备是相当危险的。我捡起受损的手枪收进口袋，另一把德林格手枪也藏回原来的地方，然后我走向位于房间一角的电话，按下号码键，把听筒搁在耳际稍待片刻。 一个男人接起电话。 “我是亚尔佛雷德·莫耳，哪里找？” “我是法兰克·夏曼。” “法兰克！事情办得如何？” “三杀，副总统，冒牌货已经死了。” “是吗？太好了——” 副总统拉高音量，他的声音沙哑如同包著过量脂肪的肉体，却掩藏不住喜悦之情。 “可是我们还必须善后，不知'凶手'是否准备妥当？” “当然，一个来自阿肯色州的白皮肤穷人，曾经参加三Ｋ党，在里头也只是个名不见经传的人渣，酒精中毒，喜欢撒谎，有伤害与抢劫黑人妓女的前科，又没有家累，这种男人死了也不会有人掉泪，名符其实的人渣。” 人渣吗？我在内心低语，那个男人如果是人渣，那么利用他求得权力地位的我们又是甚么呢？践踏者与被践踏者是适合的形容词。 “他将因为成为杀害布拉德佛登总统的凶手而名留青史，也算走运了。” 喜不自禁的声音从听筒彼端如同一股奔流不断涌现，这个副总统人材——外界评断他的政治才能只配当到副总统，连总统大选都沾不上边的二流角色，但他现在就要登上最高宝座，欣喜雀跃自然不在话下，对于自编自导自演的戏码更是热衷有加，由此可知，想叫一个平庸的人安份守己简直比登天还难。 “另一方面，杀害修克罗斯博士的'凶手'是否也准备妥当？” “嗯，这个人好像是某宗教团体的信徒，一群主张输血违反大自然准则的白痴之一……” “人渣”接下来又是“白痴”，第三个人大概就是“智障”或“饭桶”吧。 “我会尽快处理善后，我现在必须离开了……” “好，啊、对了，那女人你打算怎么办？” "Which woman?" “就是赖瑞·凯休的女人啊，我记得她好像叫做布兰达。” 我的手使劲握住听筒。 “她就交给我处理，希望您不要对她下手——总统先生。” “喂喂、现在还早呢，不过总而言之你是一大功臣，她就交给你处置，我不会让其他人动手的。” “多谢你，总统先生。” “小心不要陷得太深，你已有妻室，身为众议员候选人严禁闹出丑闻。” 我聆听下届总统亲切的忠告之后挂断电话，然后摸摸口袋，确定录下刚才对话的小型录音机安全藏在里头，我觉得我今晚好像灌了劣酒，心情烂醉如泥。 ※※※ 布兰达·玛休兹与我来到东波特马克公园的樱花树下，我们肩并肩坐在位朝河面的大理石长椅上，我想我们两个看起来大概不像情侣，而是一对即将离婚的夫妻。散落在河面的樱花瓣连成一排，有人曾将它形容成一串桃色珍珠项炼，在我看来却是系在奴隶身上那道染血的铁炼。 斜躺在河上的铁桥与四月的阳光相互辉映，河对岸的森林增添了几分新绿，但位于深处的美国国防部五角大厦却如同一只凶猛的獾耸著巨大的身影，内部一定有一群目光锐利的军事官僚们正沉迷于国际战略这项危险游戏当中。——最重要的是，我现在心里完全找不到欣赏明媚春色的闲情逸致，连一毫克也没有。 这是理所当然的，我之所以约布兰达来河边公园，并非为了与这拥有达吉琳红茶肤色的美女谈情说爱，而是要告知她情人的死亡以及藉请求之名命令她不准透露半点真相，这种不由分说的做法等于一个自杀的企业家留下债务要妻子偿还一般残酷。我向布兰达说著，脑海里可以想见心脏表面汗水涔涔的模样。 "I understand what you mean." 当她带著近似无情的冷静说出这句话时，我轻薄地大叹一口气。 "Really? Great." 我的声音因安心而变尖。 “谢谢你能如此明理，我一直觉得良心不安，因为这次事件得以解决，主要还是由于你所提供的情报，我们不但不酬谢你，还不准你张扬，道理上实在说不过去……” 我不自觉地叉起脚。 “不过我们不会这么忘恩负义的，下星期副总统即将就任，新政权就要展开，等政局安定之后我们会……” “派出ＣＩＡ的刺客对付我？” 瞄了哑口无言的我一眼，布兰达泛起轻笑，如同闪耀在叶稍间的阳光。 “别摆出这副表情，我只是开开玩笑而已，我也不相信美国政府会做出这么阴险的事情，毕竟这里是标谤自由民主的新大陆，民主政治的大本营，绝对是不同于俄罗斯与南非的，对吧？” "..." “话又说回来，你们的好意我心领了，我不记得我做了甚么值得你们褒奖的事，而且我就要离开华盛顿远赴他乡了，只求不要有任何人来打扰我就好了。” "But you..." 话说到一半，我看见她端丽的面容带若一种奇妙的表情，就像浮在水面上的一层油，当我还叉著脚时，她以平淡无奇的口吻说道。 “法兰克，其实我也不确定那个人是不是赖瑞。” "yes?" 我漫不经心地应答，然后愕然地发觉到她这句话的含意非同小可，就像在做蛋包饭时敲了一颗蛋，却发现里头冒出一只小蛇，令人感到吃惊又恶心。 “那你为甚么要告诉我那些话？” 我激动得颤声责问，附近一个玩踢皮球游戏的小孩瞪大蓝眼盯著我们。 “是你举发他的，说他外表虽是总统，但实际上你确定他就是赖瑞本人。” 我压低音量，但这样反而会让语气更为尖锐也不一定。 “总之，你很可能会诬告了正牌总统。” “可是结果证明他真的是冒牌的呀。” “我不管结果如何！我要知道的是你的动机！你诬告总统到底能得到甚么好处？” “可不可以给我一枝烟？” 她的语气沉著，我强忍遭人摆弄的怒气，取出雪茄盒。 “我是为了报复。” 布兰达随著一道香烟喃喃吐露心声。 “报复？” “我恨那个夺走赖瑞身体的男人。” 细长的香烟在她的唇指之间不断往返，令人无法忍受的是她抽烟的样子最为美丽。 “也就是说，无论赖瑞·凯休或是亚历山大·布拉德佛登，只要拥有那具身体的人都是你的仇人？从更偏激的角度来看，你只想找一个对象让你完成报复是吗？” “是的，你真聪明。” “如果是赖瑞，你无法原谅他为了权势野心出卖自己；如果是布拉德佛登总统，你也不能原谅他夺走赖瑞的身体，所以这两个人都该死。” “我只希望社会还我一个公道。” “结果全美国政府为了你总动员，为了满足你的尊严、独占欲与复仇心态。” 我感到不是滋味。 “你只须煽动我，就能借刀杀人，如意算盘打得真精，可是你有没有想过，如果我不相信你的告发怎么办？” “你不会不相信的。” “你倒是自信满满啊。” 我嘲讽道，但她不为所动。 “我的确指认赖瑞假冒总统，但我并没有提出任何证据，而你们却相信了，这不表示我所说的是事实，也不表示你们相信我，而是你们正希望出现这种结论。” 我感到自己突然被人痛殴一拳，她的声音轻轻流出唇边。 “没有一个美国人民希望由黑人来执政，除了黑人以外；所有的白人又气又恨，他们甚至希望总统最好那时当场毙命，修克罗斯博士简直是多此一举，这才是人民的心声，而赖瑞却不明白。” 我看到她夹著逐渐变短的香烟的纤纤玉指轻颤著。 “赖瑞太傻了，他是聪明一时，糊涂一世；小把戏玩得再多，只要种族歧视的观念存在一天，他的末路就是可想而知的，虽然对外发表他遭到种族歧视者暗杀是表面理由，但事实却也正是如此。” 香烟像只老死的飞蛾飘落地面。 “他死了之后，仍然有人要藉他的死大做文章……” 她咬住唇以鞋跟踩熄香烟，好不容易离地跟著又踏向往地面；接著她冷不防开口说道。 “法兰克，你要竞选众议员是吗？” “啊、是的。” “加油啰。” 她以深邃的眼神看著我。 “你一定要当选，如果你失败会有不少人出不了头天，为了他们加油吧。” I can't answer. ※※※ “总而言之，这是个自欺欺人的世界。” 在她离去后，我独自留下来盯著河面喃喃自语。 “她并不是唯一的说谎者，没有人有资格责备她。” 但是我无法制止凄凉的情绪。 樱花瓣点缀在河面上，我的倒影从河底看著我。栗色的头发，白里透红的皮肤，暗青色的瞳孔，我已经看了十五年的脸，但现在这张脸却泛起素昧平生的表情。 “我知道，罪魁祸首就是我。”