Jill comforted herself in her heart, Ben must have smelled some new clues, and forgot to tell her and chased after her.But she didn't believe it.She knew that Ben's success was due to his attention to detail.He remembered the birthdays of various people; if he forgot his gambling debts, he never forgot to scribble a note.Wherever he was going, no matter how urgent, he could—would—spend a minute or two on the way and leave her a recorded message.
He must have left me a message!During her lunch break, she called Ben's office to inquire, and his data officer and chief of staff, Osbert Kilgallen, affirmed that Ben had not left her a message or called.
"Did he say when he'd be back?"
"No. But we always save a few articles in advance, and we can take them out in case of emergencies."
"Um... so how did he contact you? Where? Oh, sorry, did I ask too much?"
"Never mind, Miss Boardman. He didn't call here. He just sent a telex to Paoli, Philadelphia."
Jill was not satisfied with such an answer, but what could she do?She sat alone in the nurses' cafeteria, fiddled with the food on the plate, had no appetite at all, and her mind was full of wild thoughts: Is something wrong?It's not like... Could it be that I fell in love with this idiot...
"Hey, Boardman! Why are you in a daze!"
Jill looked up and saw nutritionist Molly Wheelwright staring at her.She hurriedly replied, "I'm sorry. What's the matter?"
"I asked you just now, how did you transfer a poor patient on relief to a luxurious ward?"
"No."
"K-12 is on your floor, right?"
"Number K-12? She's on relief, she's a rich woman! She has so much money that she can't afford it. Come here to find a doctor and see if her nose is working."
"Hmph! Nonsense! Unless she got rich overnight. For seventeen months, she's been living in a ward of an old people's home."
"Which link is always wrong?"
"It's absolutely impossible in my place——I won't let the catering that I am in charge of go wrong. There are many specialties in catering, such as weight loss meals, conditioning meals, tonic diets, etc., with different combinations and different functions. Believe me, my dear, There is absolutely no similarity between who and what meal, just like human fingerprints, no two are the same." Saying that, Wheelwright stood up, "Girl, I have to go."
"What is Molly talking about?" a nurse nearby asked Jill.
"It's nothing, she mixed up the patient's catering." Molly's words reminded her: by checking the catering records of each catering site, you can find the ward where the Martian visitor is hiding.But she quickly dismissed the idea, because the hospital is too big, and it would take several days to inquire about the catering options of each floor and each department one by one.The Bethesda Emergency Center was originally a wartime naval hospital, but it was gradually expanded, and the number of patients admitted was not limited to naval officers and soldiers.Now, it has become a large medical center integrating medical treatment, health care, education, and welfare relief, and has become a small city that belongs to the Federation of the Free World.
There was, however, something strange about Mrs. Bankson's case.It stands to reason that the hospital treats all kinds of patients, self-funded, welfare relief and government-funded, but the wards are different.Jill's floor is full of luxurious high-end wards, which usually only receive members of the Federal Parliament and other high-ranking officials. Ordinary patients rarely live in this ward.
Perhaps the general ward was overcrowded and there was no room for Mrs. Bankson to be temporarily transferred to the superior ward.Yes, that might be the case.
Jill didn't have time to think about it, and got busy again - another new patient came in.Soon, she discovered the lack of an automatic lift bed.As usual, she called the supply department hundreds of meters away to urge, but there was also a temporary shortage of warehouses there.Jill thought of the empty bed she had seen in the K-12 break room, apparently vacated when the water bed was installed.She also reminded the guards not to sit on it.
The empty bed might still be there—maybe it could be used in an emergency.
The door to the k-12 break room was locked.Jill took the universal key and turned it, but it couldn't be opened.Maybe the lock is broken.She remembered that she had to notify the maintenance department for a while, and then went to the duty room of the custodial doctor next to her, wanting to ask Mrs. Bankson's custodial doctor about the empty bed.
The doctor was the same one I had seen before, Dr. Brash.According to his own statement, he is neither an intern nor a regular doctor here, but Dr. Garner has been invited to take care of Mrs. Banks.Seeing Jill looking around, Brash greeted immediately: "Miss Boardman! You came just in time!"
"Is something wrong? Is the patient okay?"
"She's fine," he replied, glancing at the monitor, "but I do."
"Trouble?"
"Would you do five minutes' shift for me, miss? Just five minutes. Don't tell anyone."
"It should be no problem. Just borrow your phone and say hello to my colleague, just say I'm here with you."
"No!" he cried. "When I'm gone, lock the door and let no one in until I tap the beat of "Barber and Shave" and hear it. Be a good girl, will you?"
"No problem, doc," Jill said doubtfully, "does the patient need anything?"
"No, no, you just sit and watch the monitor, don't bother her."
"Okay, if there is a situation, where can I find you? The doctor's lounge?"
"I'm going down the aisle to use the bathroom. Well, don't tell anyone—remember!"
Brash is gone.After Jill locked the door, she sat down and looked at the instrument or monitor from time to time.The old lady fell asleep, the instrument showed a strong pulse, and her breathing was smooth and normal.I really don't know why people need to watch it all the time.
After a while, she wanted to get up and go to the lounge of the main ward next door to see if the empty bed was still there.Although Dr. Brash ordered not to move around, nothing happened, and the patient would not be disturbed anyway.Having worked as a nurse for so many years, she has already learned how to walk on tiptoe in the ward.Besides, she understood a truth many years ago: it doesn't matter if you follow the rules and regulations of doctors, as long as you don't let them catch you.Thinking of this, she stood on tiptoe, gently pushed open the door of the main ward, and walked in quietly.
She glanced at Mrs. Bankson, who was in a deadly sleep, that lethargic sleep which is peculiar to geriatric patients.Jill walked through the ward like a shadow and came to the door of the lounge.The door was locked, she took out the key and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, Jill saw the bed.But there are people in the room!There is a person sitting on the chair, with a picture book spread out on his lap-it's a visitor from Mars!
Smith looked up, and when he saw Jill, a baby-like smile immediately appeared on his face.
Jill just felt dizzy.Valentine Michael Smith?he is hereHow is it possible, didn't he transfer out? "Hospitalization Diary" is clearly written!
A series of events connected together, revealing the ugly truth: the "guest from Mars" on the TV news, the counterfeit...the dying old woman, the smoke bombs that blind people...the door on the other side of the lounge, which was fine, but the universal key suddenly I can't open it... Maybe late at night, without anyone noticing, a hearse drove in like a ghost, and the corpses covered by the white cloth were not one, but two!
Jill panicked, a great sense of dread coming over her.She stumbles upon a terrible secret.
Smith awkwardly stood up from the chair, stretched out his hands, and called out, "Brother Water!"
"Um... hi! How are you?"
"Okay, I'm happy." He murmured some strange words that he couldn't understand, and then spoke English word by word: "You are here, my brother. You leave and come back..."
In Jill's heart, half was water-like tenderness, half was ice-like terror, and the two phases fought fiercely, tearing her heart apart.Smith didn't realize it, and said to himself: "See? I'm walking! I'm gaining strength." He took a few steps, stopped, panting, but very proud, smiling.
Jill forced a smile on her face, "Yes, you've made progress and become more and more powerful. It's great! But I can't stay for long—I just came to say hello to you."
His expression suddenly became frustrated, "Don't go!"
"Oops, I have to go!"
Frowning, Smith added sadly, with absolute certainty: "I hurt you. I don't know."
"Hurt me? Oh, no, nothing! But I must go—no delay!"
There was no expression on his face. "Take me away, my brother." It was more of an announcement than a request.
"What? Oh, I can't. I have to go, now. Remember, don't tell anyone I'm here, please."
"Don't you say Brother Shui has been here?"
"That's right, don't tell anyone. Well... I'll be back. Be a good boy and wait for me. Remember, don't tell anyone." Smith pondered carefully, and then said solemnly: "I will wait. I will not say."
"Good job!" thought Jill, wondering if he could keep the promise.Her eyes fell on the door leading to the corridor on the other side, and she realized that the lock there was not broken.Added an extra latch to the door!Conventionally, although the doors of toilets and lounges in hospitals are equipped with door locks, they can only be locked from the outside and cannot be locked from the inside. They can always be opened from the outside with a universal key, so as not to prevent patients from locking themselves in the room inside.Here, the locks kept Smith out, and the bolts kept hospital people out, not even with the master key.
Jill pulled the latch and said to Smith, "You wait, I'll be back."
"I wait."
When she returned to the monitoring room, Jill heard the door knocking signal of "Duk! Duck! Di-Duk...Duk, Tuk!" from outside the door.Brash is back.Jill opened the door quickly.
Brash rushed in and shouted angrily, "Where are you going, Miss Nurse? I've knocked three times." He stared at the door of the main ward, full of doubts.
"Your patient turned over," Jill lied, rolling her eyes, "I went to make her pillow."
"Damn it, didn't I just tell you to sit down and leave everything alone?"
Jill suddenly realized that this person was very scared, so she deliberately retorted coldly: "Doctor, your patient is under your care, and it has nothing to do with me. But since you entrusted her to me, I will do my duty. You If you are not satisfied, we can go to the superior supervisor for comment."
"What? Don't, don't—forget it, forget it."
"No, doctor. Such an old patient will suffocate to death lying on the water bed. Some nurses can be scolded by the doctor. I can't bear it. Go to the supervisor."
"What? Look at you, Miss Boardman, I just said a few random words on the spur of the moment. Are you really angry? Okay, I'm sorry, I apologize, I apologize."
"Well," replied Jill stiffly, "is there anything else, doctor?"
"Huh? No, thank you, thank you for your help. Just... don't tell anyone about it, okay? Promise?"
"I won't say it, I promise." Of course I won't say it, but don't worry!But what should I do now?If only Ben had been in town!She returned to her office, pretended to look through the duty records, and then found an excuse to send her assistant away. She tried her best to calm down and concentrate on thinking about countermeasures.
Where the hell is Ben?If you can reach him, take a ten-minute break to call him, push the trouble on his broad shoulders, and everything will be fine.But this damn book wandered somewhere, and let her hold such a hot potato!
Is he really wandering around?A hidden worry that had been wandering in the depths of her subconscious surfaced.Even if Ben had something to leave, he would first tell her the result of his request to see the visitor from Mars.She was his accomplice and knew the outcome was her right - and Ben always did what was right.
Ben's words sounded in her ears again: "—If something happens, you are the secret trump card in my hand...Baby, if you don't hear from me, you have to do it yourself."
At that time, she didn't think much about this sentence, and she didn't expect anything to happen to Ben at the time.But now, she started to think seriously.There comes a time in everyone's life when he or she has to gamble "life, happiness, and sacred honour."Jill Boardman's moment has finally arrived.At 3:47 that afternoon, she accepted the challenge.
After Jill left, The Man from Mars sat down.He didn't pick up the album again, just waited.That kind of demeanor can only be barely described as "patience" in human language, which is difficult to properly describe Martians.He sat motionless, full of quiet joy, as his brother said he would come back.He was ready to wait like this, without moving or speaking, without doing anything, waiting for several years.
He couldn't tell when he shared water with this brother last time. First, because of the time distortion and space distortion in this place, it was extremely difficult to comprehend the various phenomena and sounds that happened here.More importantly, in his native culture, the grasp of time is extremely different from that of human beings.Not only is it a relatively long time, such as a lifetime accumulated in the "years" of the earth, but even the basic attitudes and concepts towards time are completely different.Words like "slower than you think" cannot be expressed in Martian language, and Martians cannot understand this concept.There is no such thing as "haste makes waste" in Martian language, but it is not because it is incomprehensible, but because it is a basic concept of Martians, and there is no need to express it at all, just like bathing a fish.There are also some human idioms that are in perfect harmony with the ideas of the Martians, such as "whatever the past is, there will be the present and the future", which is easy to translate, even easier than "two plus two equals four" (on Mars, "two plus two makes four" is not an axiom).
Smith waited.
Brush came in and looked at him, saw that he was motionless, turned and left again.
Smith heard the key turn.He remembered that he had heard this sound before Brother Shui came in last time.So he changes his internal metabolism to prepare for events that may follow in sequence.The ward opened a crack, and Jill slipped in silently.He was taken aback.Before this, he had never known that there was actually a door there.But he immediately realized this fact, and then, joy filled his body and mind.Only with Nest Brothers, Water Brothers can there be such a fulfilling happiness.In some specific cases, the arrival of the spirit elder can also play this role.
But the happiness soon faded, because he noticed that his happiness was not shared by the water brother.On the contrary, Brother Shui appeared extremely nervous, and he would only be so nervous when he encountered helplessness or failure and had to choose to disintegrate.But by this time Smith had learned that, emotionally, these creatures could endure unimaginable pain without dying.His brother Mahmad, who suffers drunken misery five times a day, not only does not die, but sees it as a bodily necessity.His other brother, Captain Van Tromp, often lost his temper and looked extremely painful.By Smith's standards, that kind of thunderous fury, every time, led to an immediate disintegration to quell the conflict.But as far as he knew, that brother was still intact.
So he ignored Jill's anxiety.
Jill handed him a package and said, "Here, put it on. Quick!"
Michael took it and waited.Jill looked at him and said, "Oh, my God! Come on, you take off your clothes first, and I will dress you."
As a result, she had to do all the dressing and undressing.All he wore was a hospital gown, a bathrobe, and slippers, not because he liked the outfit but because he had been ordered to wear it that way.Now he can dress and undress himself, but the movement is too slow, and Jill gets impatient, so he strips him naked in two or three strokes.Fortunately, one of them is a nurse, who is familiar with it; the other is as ignorant as a child, who has never heard of taboos or shame—even if he has, he can't understand it, so there are many unnecessary tweaks.The "fake skin" that Jill put on his leg made Smith feel very comfortable, but she didn't give him time to enjoy it, and just glued the stockings to his thigh-no garter belt, had to tape it That's it.Jill borrowed this set of nurse uniforms from a bulky colleague, saying that a cousin was going to a masquerade ball.Jill also put a nurse's vest on him and pulled it toward his neck to cover his Adam's apple—or so she hoped.The most difficult thing is the shoes, too inappropriate.In this gravity well, Smith found it difficult to walk barefoot, let alone put on the ill-fitting shoes.
But she somehow wrapped Smith up.Finally, she pinned a nurse's hood over his head. "Your hair isn't long enough," she said worriedly, "but some girls have short hair, like yours .He tried to make his hair longer with his own thoughts, only to realize after a while that this kind of thing took a lot of time.
"Listen," said Jill, "listen carefully. Don't say a word about anything. Understand?"
"No. I won't."
"Just follow me, I will hold your hand. If you know any prayers, pray hard now!"
"pray?"
"It's nothing! Just follow me, don't talk." Jill opened the side door, looked out first, and then led him to the corridor.
The situation in the corridor made Smith panic to the extreme.All kinds of images came one after another, making it impossible for him to concentrate.He staggered forward, his eyes and other senses almost completely unhooked, so that his mind would not be disturbed by the chaos.
She pulled him to the end of the corridor, onto an electric passage that rolled forward.He stumbled, but luckily Jill caught him and kept him from falling.A cleaning lady glanced at them.Jill felt unlucky in his heart, and at the same time had to carefully help him down the electric passage.They got to the top of the building, taking the elevator instead of the faster tubes.Jill knew that with Smith's clumsiness, she would never be able to take him on the drop tube.
After arriving at the top of the building, there was another crisis, but Smith didn't know it.Seeing the sky again, he was extremely happy in his heart.He hadn't seen the light of day since leaving Mars.The sky was overcast with gray clouds, a typical Washington day.Jill looks around for an air taxi.There was no one on the roof, the nurses who got off work went home, and the relatives and friends who visited the patients also left.It was exactly what she was hoping for.The problem is, the taxis are gone too.It was too conspicuous to take the sky bus, and she dared not take the risk.
Jill was about to call to rent a car when an air taxi flew in, and she immediately called out to the waiter: "Jack! No one rents this one?"
"I called that on behalf of Dr. Phipps."
"Oh! Jack, please call me one as soon as possible. This is my cousin Maggie, from South Court, who has laryngitis and can't blow the wind."
The waiter scratched his head and said, "For your sake, Miss Boardman, you can use this one first, and I'll order another one for Dr. Phipps."
"Oh, good Jack, it's very kind of you! Don't talk, Maggie, I'll thank him for you. I'm sorry, Jack, she's lost her voice, she can't speak, and I'll have to get her some rum later, Maybe it will get better."
"Yeah, it's time to give her a few sips. My mother always said that the old formula works best." Jack said, reaching into the taxi, entering Jill's code, and trying to help them into the car. .Jill stepped in quickly, so that Smith, who was not familiar with the etiquette, would show his feet. "Thank you, Jack, thank you very much."
The air taxi took off, and Jill breathed a sigh of relief, "You can talk."
"What should I say?"
"Huh? Say whatever you want."
Smith considered it carefully.To such a generous invitation, he must make an answer worthy of it, an answer worthy of brotherhood.He thought about a lot of words, but he couldn't express them in the language of the people on earth, so he had to give up.In the end, he only said one sentence, although it was a bit bland, but it could always convey the friendship that should be felt between brothers who are getting closer day by day. "Let our eggs share a nest."
Jill was taken aback. "Huh? What did you say?"
The answer was nothing like that, much to Smith's dismay.But he blamed himself.He realizes sadly that, time and time again, he has upset these Earthlings when his intention is to merge with them.He made another attempt, re-selected words and sentences in his limited vocabulary, and expressed his thoughts in another way. "My nest is yours, and your nest is mine."
This time, Jill smiled. "Oh, that's great! Darling, I dare not say that I fully understand what you mean, but it's been a long time since this is the sweetest request I've heard." She paused, then said, "But , We have too many troubles now, and we are almost buried in our ears. So, let's talk about it later, shall we?"
It was difficult for Jill to understand what Smith meant, and it was equally difficult for Smith to understand what Jill said.However, he caught the happy look on Brother Shui's face; he also understood the meaning of asking him to wait.Waiting is easy, just sit.The communication with Brother Shui was very good. He was satisfied and began to enjoy the scenery along the way.
Everything in front of him was novel, Smith had seen it for the first time in his life.There are so many new things to enlighten on both sides.It suddenly occurred to him that the illusion technique used in his hometown could not create such a spectacle no matter what.Before he knew it, he began to compare the different methods of Earthlings and Martians.The result of the comparison is obviously not conducive to the spiritual elders in their hometown.His mind avoided that conclusion in panic.
Jill was silent, trying to figure it out, and finally realized that the air taxi was almost at her apartment.This is the worst place to be.Once it is discovered who helped Smith escape, her home will immediately become the primary target of tracing.She didn't understand what the police were doing, but she also knew that she must have left fingerprints in Smith's room, and besides, she had met so many people along the way.She also heard that there is a tape inside the air taxi, which keeps the flight records of the taxi, including time, place, and course.A technician can interpret this tape.
So Jill snapped a button on the control panel, clearing the flight to her home.The air taxi rose from the lawn and circled in the air.Where should I go?Where to hide this big man, this half-idiot who can't even dress himself?But this guy is the most concerned person in the world!Ah, if only Ben were here!Ben... where are you?
She grabbed the phone and pressed Ben's number in desperation.A man's voice on the other end of the phone, Jill perked up—and then went limp again.It wasn't Ben on the phone, it was his assistant. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Kilgallen. I'm Jill Boardman. I'm sorry, it was a typo. I thought it was Mr. Ben Caxton's house."
"Yes, you called from his home number. I transferred his home number to the office after he didn't show up for twenty-four hours."
"So he hasn't come back yet?"
"Yes. Are you all right?"
"Oh, no. Don't you think it's odd that Ben just disappeared, Mr. Kilgallen? No worries?"
"Huh? No, not at all. He left a message saying he didn't know how long it would take."
"Isn't that strange?"
"In view of Mr. Ben Caxton's career, it is not surprising, Miss Boardman."
"Really? But... I have a strong premonition that his disappearance is very abnormal! I think you should report this situation to all news organizations in the country and the world!"
The phone in the air taxi wasn't visible, but Jill seemed to see Kilgallen sit up straight. "Excuse me, Miss Boardman, but I'm afraid I must take my boss's instructions in my own light. Well... pardon me, madam, when Mr. Ben Caxton is away, there is always one of Mr. Ben Caxton's Friends' called, desperately asking for his whereabouts."
Some pretty chick always asks where he is.Jill thought angrily.And this one sees me as his current "baby".With this thought, she suddenly didn't want to continue to question Kilgallen.Jill hung up the phone.
Where should she go?Suddenly, an idea appeared in Jill's mind.She figured that if Ben had disappeared—and the authorities had done it—then it would never have occurred to them to search his apartment for a runaway Valentine Smith...unless they connected her to Ben—that sort of thing. relationship, they are unlikely to know.
Go to Ben's, at least there's something to eat, and some clothes to change for the idiot child she is.Jill entered the name of Ben's apartment, and the air taxi immediately selected a route and flew forward.
When they arrived at Ben's apartment, Jill put her face close to a small box on the door and said the password again: "Open Sesame!" No response.Oops, damn it!Ben changed the password.Jill stood there feeling weak in her knees and turning her face away from Smith.What if Ben is at home?She identified herself to the small box that controlled the door and speaker: "Ben, I'm Jill!"
The door is open!
The two entered the house.Behind him, the door closed automatically.At first, Jill thought that Ben was at home, and he opened the door remotely to let them in, but soon realized that she accidentally gave out his new password... This is what he did on purpose, to please She—she would rather not have his fawning, as long as she doesn't have to be so frightened.
Smith didn't say a word, standing by the edge of the lush green grass, staring blankly.What a novelty, he was completely unable to comprehend for a while, but it made him suddenly feel joyful.Not as exciting as the flying thing I was riding in, but the grass is gentler and more suitable for containing myself.He looked with interest at the picture window across the room, but didn't recognize it as a window.He regards it as the kind of living painting in his hometown... His ward in the Bethesda Emergency Center is located in a side building and has no windows, so he still has no concept of "windows".
He found with admiration that the "painting" had flawless depth and movement—it must be the work of some master artist.Before that, nothing he saw on Earth made him feel that the people here had mastered art.This new experience greatly deepened his understanding of the people on Earth, and he felt a warm feeling in his heart.
Out of the corner of his eye, something swayed, and when he turned his head, it turned out that his brother Shui was peeling off a layer of fake skin from his leg.
Jill let out a long sigh of relief, and wiggled her toes among the grassy leaves. "My God! My feet hurt!" She looked up at Smith.On that baby-like face, those curious eyes were staring at her with uneasy eyes, "You come too, you will like it."
He blinked, "How?"
"Oh, I can't always remember. Come here, I'll help you." Jill helped him take off his shoes, tore off the tape on the chaff, and took off the long wipes, "Okay. Are you comfortable?"
Smith cautiously stuck his toes into the grass, moved them, and said timidly, "But it's alive!"
"Ah, of course it's alive. Grass, real grass! I spent a lot of money on maintenance to make it look like this. The lighting system that simulates sunlight alone costs more than my monthly salary." .Go up, take a good walk, and enjoy yourself.”
Most of what Jill said, Smith didn't understand, but he understood when Jill said that the grass was a living thing and asked him to go up and walk. "Walking on a living thing?" he said in shock.
"Ah? Why not? This grass is not broken by stepping on it. It was originally cultivated as a carpet."
Smith kept reminding himself: Brother Water would not instigate himself to do bad things.He summoned up his courage and stepped onto the grass for a walk.Sure enough, the fun was extraordinary, and the living things under his feet did not protest.He strengthened his senses in this area to the limit, and found that Brother Shui was right: this kind of grass is for stepping on.He made up his mind to just let himself be in and appreciate the feeling.For humans, it's the equivalent of hardening your heart to appreciate the benefits of cannibalism—a practice of cannibalism that Smith is perfectly fine with.
Jill breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I can't play on the grass. After all, I don't know how long I can stay here safely."
"Stable?"
"We can't stay here for long. At this moment, they may be strictly investigating everyone and vehicles leaving the emergency center." Jill frowned, thinking hard.Not at her house, not here.Ben wanted to send Smith to Jubal Harshaw.But she didn't know Harshaw, or where he lived.Ben said he lived somewhere in the Poconos.Well, look hard!Other than that, she had nowhere else to go.
"Why are you unhappy, Brother Water?"
Jill came to her senses and looked at Smith.Alas, the poor baby doesn't know anything yet!She tried to think about it from Smith's point of view.She couldn't do it, only realized one thing: he had no idea they were running away... what?Policemen?Hospital authorities?In fact, she herself couldn't tell what she had done and what law she had broken.All she knew was that the result of her actions was to make her confront big shots and big bosses.
Who are they fighting?I am still confused about this question, how can I explain it clearly to this visitor from Mars?Does Mars have police too?Talking to visitors from Mars is half the time yelling into a bucket of rainwater.
Are there barrels on Mars?Is it raining?God.
"Nothing," she said calmly, "just do as I tell you."
"yes."
It was an unconditional acceptance, an abiding commitment.It suddenly occurred to Jill that if she told Smith to jump out of the window, he would.
She was right, Smith could really dance.He will accept disintegration without reservation, without fear, without resentment, and even enjoy every second of falling from a twenty-story building.Of course he knew that falling from such a height would kill him, but he had absolutely no concept of fear of death.If a Shui brother chooses such a strange disintegration method for him, he will accept it frankly, cherish it, and work hard to realize this process.
"This place can't stay for long. I have to get food, and I have to change your clothes, and then leave. Take off everything on your body." After Jill finished speaking, she turned and went to rummage through Ben's closet.
Jill picked out a travel outfit, a beret, a shirt, a pair of underpants, and a pair of shoes.Turning around, Smith was entangled, like a clumsy kitten playing with a ball of string and letting it get bound.His head was wrapped in a nurse's skirt, and one arm was also bound tightly, making him unable to move.He didn't even take off the nurse's hood before taking off his skirt.
"Oh, my God!" cried Jill, running to help.
She untied him and shoved the nurse's uniform into the garbage shaft that ran straight to the bottom of the building.She didn't want the police to catch any clues.As for the owner of the clothes, Etta Schell, I just need to pay him some money in the future. "Boy, look at your dirty body, they didn't take good care of you. Ben's clothes are clean, you can't wear them like this, you have to take a shower first. Come, come with me." Jill As a nurse, she has long been accustomed to all kinds of unpleasant body odors; it is also because she is a nurse that she has an almost morbid obsession with soap and water.Apparently, no one has bathed the patient in a while.It wasn't really smelly, but the smell reminded her of horses on a hot day.
Smith watched happily as Jill filled the tub.Ward K-12 also had this kind of deep and long sink. He had seen it before, but he didn't know its purpose.The bathing he knew was nothing more than lying on the bed and being wiped.Even that opportunity doesn't come often.He was often disconnected from the outside world, as if in a coma.At times like this, it was difficult for them to scrub him.
Jill tested the water temperature and said, "Okay, let's go in."
Smith looked bewildered.
"Come on!" Jill said dryly. "Get in the water."
He knew the words used, and Smith did as he was told.He was shaking with excitement.Brother Water asked him to immerse his whole body in the water of life!In his life, he had never received such an honor, and he had never even heard of anyone enjoying such an honor.He vaguely felt that these aliens had much more opportunities to touch the water of life than them.In this regard, he has not yet fully understood, so he can only accept it.
Trembling, he gently lowered one foot into the water, then the other...sliding slowly into the water until he was under the top.
"Oops!" Jill screamed, pulling his head out of the water.She was shocked to find that Smith was lifeless in her hands, like a corpse.Oh God!Impossible to drown, such a short time, absolutely impossible.But she was still scared out of her wits.She shook him and cried, "Smith, wake up! Wake up!"
从遥远的地方，史密斯听到了水兄弟的呼叫。He is back.眼睛不再呆滞无神，心脏重新加快搏动。他开始呼吸。
“你没事吧？”吉尔急切地问道。
“我很好，我很幸福……我的水兄弟。”
“你把我吓坏了。听着，再别躺到水下！坐着就好，就像现在这样。”
“是，我的兄弟。”史密斯又叽叽咕咕说了几句吉尔完全听不懂的话，掬起一捧水，像捧着什么珍宝，捧到口边。他的嘴唇轻轻触了一下捧着的水，然后举到吉尔面前。
“喂，这是洗澡水，别喝！我也不喝的。”
“不喝？”
他是这么无助、难过，吉尔不知如何是好。她犹豫了一下，然后低下头，嘴唇触了触史密斯捧着的水，“谢谢你。”
“愿你远离干渴！”
“也愿你永远不渴。行了，别闹了。要喝水，我另外给你倒，不许再喝洗澡水。”
看样子，史密斯满意了，安安静静坐在水里。吉尔这才明白他从未洗过盆浴，也不知道接下来该做什么。她当然可以教他……但时间紧迫，耽误不得。
唔，好吧！总比当年在精神病房伺候疯子强。把史密斯的脑袋拽出水面时，她的上衣肩膀全湿了。她脱下上衣挂好。她穿的是出门的衣服，里面还有一件小小的衬裙，长不过膝。她低头瞧了瞧。裙褶虽然是定型的，但打湿了也不好。她耸耸肩，褪下衬裙，身上只剩打湿的胸罩和裤衩。
史密斯盯着她，眼神像个好奇的婴儿。吉尔吃惊地发现自己竟然脸红了。她本来以为自己早已不受这种不健康的羞耻心的困扰，毕竟十五岁时就开始参加集体裸泳了。尽管这样，这种孩子般的盯视仍然让她十分不安。她决定留着湿漉漉的内衣，而不是一脱到底，尽管后者更合情合理。
她用急促的动作掩饰自己的不安。“咱们动起来，刷刷你这身皮。”她跪在浴盆边，给他身上喷上浴液，用力搓洗起来，搓出一身泡沫。
就在这时，史密斯伸出手来，摸了摸吉尔的右乳。吉尔急促地向后一缩。“喂！别来这调调儿！”
看他的模样，好像脸上挨了一巴掌。“不？”他可怜兮兮地问道。
“不可以。”吉尔态度十分坚决。她看了看他的表情，语气缓和了许多，“其实也没什么。只是我现在很忙，别打扰我。”
为了节省时间，吉尔尽量简化步骤。她一边放掉浴盆的水，一边把人拉起来，用淋浴喷头清洗。然后她打开暖风机吹着史密斯，自己则开始穿衣服。热风吓得史密斯直哆嗦，吉尔告诉他别害怕，只管抓住一旁的把手就行。
她扶着他跨出浴盆。“怎么样？闻上去好多了，我敢说你自己也感觉好多了。”
“感觉好多了。”
“好，我帮你穿上衣服。”她把他领进本的卧室。还没来得及讲解、示范、劝说他穿上内裤，突然响起一个男人的吼声，吓得吉尔魂飞魄散。
“里面的，开门！”
吉尔手里的内裤掉在地上。他们怎么知道里面有人？肯定知道他们在里面，否则决不会上这儿来。那艘该死的空中出租车把她出卖了！
该回答呢，还是来个装死不理？
吼声又重复了一遍，声音是通过门上的对讲机传进来的。吉尔小声对史密斯说：“待在这儿别动！”然后来到客厅，“谁呀？”她叫道，尽量保持声音的镇定。
“我以法律的名义，命令你开门！”
“以哪条法律的名义？得了吧你。你究竟是谁？不说我叫警察了。”
“我他妈就是警察！你是吉尔·博德曼吧？”
“我？我是菲利斯·奥图尔，在这儿等本·卡克斯顿先生的。我要叫警察了，告你们私闯民宅。”
“博德曼小姐，我们有你的逮捕证。快开门，不然有你好受的。
“我不是什么'博德曼小姐'，我这就打电话叫警察！”
外面再没有回音。吉尔等着，咽着唾沫。很快，她感到脸上一阵灼热，只见门锁逐渐变红，继而发白。一阵吱吱噶嘎声后，门慢慢开了。外面是两个男人，其中一个跨进门来，咧嘴一笑：“就是这位宝贝儿！约翰逊，去搜，把他给我搜出来。”
“遵命！伯奎斯特先生。”
吉尔挡住去路。那个叫约翰逊的把吉尔推到一边，径直冲进卧室。吉尔尖叫起来：“你们的搜查证呢？这简直是暴行！”
伯奎斯特安慰道：“别闹腾，宝贝儿，配合着点，他们说不定会从轻发落你。”
吉尔一脚踢向对方小腿，那家伙敏捷地一闪。“真淘气，真淘气。”他嘻皮笑脸地说，“约翰逊！找到没有？”
“他在这儿，伯奎斯特先生，一丝不挂，光溜溜的像只牡蛎。他们打算干什么好事？让你猜三次。”
“别管那个。把他带出来。”
约翰逊反剪着史密斯的一只胳膊，推推搡搡走了出来。“他还不想出来呢。”
“总会出来的。”吉尔避过伯奎斯特，朝约翰逊猛冲上去。约翰逊一巴掌把她抽到一边，骂道：“少来这一套，你这小骚货！”
约翰逊这一下不算重，比不上他打老婆的劲头（在老婆离开他之前），更比不上他打那些不愿招供的犯人。这之前，史密斯一直全无表情，一句话都不说，由着别人推搡他。发生的这一切，他一点也不明白，于是尽量什么都别做。
然而，看到水兄弟被这个异族人殴打时，他猛地一挣，摆脱控制，朝约翰逊伸出手去。
——约翰逊消失了。
草地上，一双大脚留下的脚印还在，倒伏的草叶还没抬起头。只有这些能证明这里刚刚站过一个大活人。吉尔瞪眼看着那地方，觉得自己马上就要晕过去了。
伯奎斯特的嘴巴闭上了，又张开，哑着嗓子说：“你把他怎么了？”他的眼睛瞪着吉尔。
“我？我什么都没做！”
“少装蒜！地板上有个活门？还是别的什么机关？”
“他到底上哪儿去了？”
伯奎斯特舔舔嘴唇。“我不知道。”他从大衣下掏出一把枪，“但你别想把你那些花招玩到我身上。站在这儿别动——我要带走这个人。”
史密斯已经复归常态，温顺地等待着。他不明白眼前发生了什么事，所以只做出了不得不作的最少一点行动。但枪他见过，初登火星的地球人手里就握着枪。这把枪的枪口正对着吉尔的脸。他不喜欢这把枪在吉尔脸上激起的表情。他灵悟到，这是个体成长过程中的一个关键点，在这种时刻，冥想必须引发正确的行动。只有这样，个体才能继续成长。他行动了。
灵老们教过他，他们教得很好。他朝伯奎斯特走去。枪口迅速转过来，对准了他。他伸出手——伯奎斯特不见了。
吉尔尖叫起来。
史密斯脸上一直毫无表情，现在却陡然一变，充满惊恐与绝望。他意识到，在这个关键点上，他作出了错误的选择。他用乞求的目光望着吉尔，身体开始发抖，两眼一翻，慢慢瘫倒在地，像胎儿一样蜷成一团，一动不动了。
吉尔的歇斯底里顿时无影无踪。病人需要她，现在不是发泄感情的时候，也没工夫猜测那两个人为什么消失了。她跪在地上，开始检査史密斯。 没有呼吸，也没有脉搏。她把耳朵贴在他肋部。吉尔本以为史密斯的心跳停止了，但是，过了好久，她听到了很慢很慢的一声“噗通”，四五秒钟之后，又是一声。
这情形让吉尔想起了患自闭症的精神病患者，但像这种近于昏厥的自闭，她却从来没有见过，即使在催眠麻醉的演示课上也没见过。她听说在印度，有的修行者能达到这种类似死亡的境界，但她以前从来不相信这种传说。
一般情况下，处于这种情形的患者，她是不会急着弄醒的，而是让医生来处理。但现在不是一般情况。刚才发生的事不仅没有动摇她的决心，反而让她更加坚信：决不能让史密斯重新落入当局之手！但是，用尽她知道的所有办法抢救了整整十分钟之后，吉尔知道，自己无论如何也唤不醒他。 她来到本的卧室，翻出一个破旧的大行李箱，就是作普通手提箱太大、作衣柜又太小的那种。她打开箱子，发现里面塞满录音笔、洗漱包和衣服之类，甚至包括一条可以插入电话的语音链接线。总之，一个记者紧急外出所需的一切物件，无不配备停当。吉尔心想，就凭这个箱子，也说明本并非如他的助手卡尔加伦所想的那样，出差去了。但这会儿不能浪费时间细细琢磨。吉尔将箱子里的东西尽数倒出，把空箱子拖进客厅。
史密斯的体重比吉尔重得多，但长期对付体重两倍于她的病人所练就的肌肉好歹还是让她把史密斯塞进大行李箱。要关上箱子，她只能把他对折起来。史密斯的肌肉很僵硬，但轻轻推压之下，很容易就折了起来，像橡皮泥一般。箱子的空当处，她用本的衣物填实了。本来她还想在箱上钻几个小孔，作通气用，可箱体是玻钢制成，奈何不得，只好作罢。她心想，史密斯处于休克状态，代谢活动低下，不需要多少氧气，应该不会窒息的。
箱子实在太沉，吉尔两手用劲才勉强提起来，提着走是绝对不可能。幸好箱底装有“红帽牌”小脚轮，可以拉着走。她把箱子拉到门口，那几个小脚轮在草地上留下几道难看的辗痕。
这一次，空中出租车是坐不得了。吉尔没有上楼顶，而是下了楼底地下室，从一条供维修工用的通道出来。一路无人，只在地下室碰到一个维修厨房给水管道的年轻人。见有人推着偌大的箱子过来，他挪开身子。“嘿，妹子，箱子里装着什么宝贝啊？”
“尸体一具。”吉尔没好气地回答道。
年轻人耸了耸肩，“问个屁问题，得个屁答案。我真得学乖点才行。”
Notes:
Notes: