Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Sudden Attack

Mr. Diplomat Bothroyd is of course appointed by the authorities, and most of his subordinates, except for civilian technicians, are also members of the authority.But Tucker told me that Bothroyd probably had no part in the kidnapping plot.Tucker thought he was honest and stupid.Because of this, Tucker and his group did not believe that the Imperial Prime Minister Kwazig had a part in this incident. They believed that this incident was done by a secret gang in the party who called themselves "activists" and planned the operation. The background is those people who make a lot of money at any time.

Personally, I can't tell who's who, or who's good and who's bad.But as soon as we landed, something happened that made me wonder about the man in Bothroyd.Makes me wonder if he's as honest and stupid as Tucker thinks he is.Although the matter is small, if such a small matter is not done well, it will often expose my diorama and make everything I play fail.The diplomat greeted me, of course because I was playing a first-class guest.However, no formal ceremony was arranged for me, because "I" -- "Penfort" is only a member of Parliament and has no administrative duties, and this time is a private trip.Except for an assistant and a girl of fifteen or sixteen, there was no one else accompanying her.

I had seen Bothroyd in photographs, and knew him somewhat, for Roger Clifton and Penny had given me a detailed account of him in the spaceship.I shook hands with him, asked him if his sinus was all right, thanked him for receiving me on my last visit and for giving me a good time, with that manly kindness that Penfort is good at. Attitude chatted with his assistant for a few words.Then I—Penfort turned to the young girl, and I knew that Bothroyd had children, one of whom happened to be our age and sex; but I didn't know—maybe Roger and Penny Not sure--whether I've seen her.I—Penfort—was at a loss for what to say when Bethroyd himself relieved me. "I don't think you've seen my daughter Deirdre yet, and she insists on coming with me."

In the films I have researched, I have not seen Penforte dealing with young girls, so I can only self-direct Penforte's role in this situation.A bachelor in his fifties, with no children or nieces; perhaps inexperienced with teenage girls, but with a wealth of experience with strangers of all kinds.So I treated her like a lady twice her real age and I kissed her lightly on the hand.She flushed and looked very happy. Bothroyd said with indulgence: "Well, my dear, just ask him. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" She blushed more and more, and she said, "Sir, could you please autograph me? The girls at our school are collecting autographs. I have Mr. Kwarog's autograph... I should have too." Your autograph." She took out the small book hidden behind her.

I'm like a helicopter pilot who leaves his license in another pocket at home; embarrassing when someone checks it.I had studied and prepared this performance carefully, but I never expected to have to forge Penfort's signature.How the hell is it possible to be foolproof in two and a half days? ! But Penfort would never refuse such a request—and I am Penfort.I smiled happily and said, "You already have Mr. Kwarog's autograph?" "Yes, sir." "Only his autograph?" "Yeah! Oh, and he wrote 'good wishes,' too." I gave Bothroyd a wink and said, "Just 'good wishes', well, for the young lady, I'd at least put 'with my love'. I'm going to tell you... "I took the small book from her hand, opened a few pages and looked at it.

"Boss," Tucker said eagerly, "we're pressed for time." "Don't worry," I said without looking up. "If necessary, the whole country of Mars can be used to serve a young lady." I handed the book to Penny and said, "Please measure the size of this book. Remind me to give a photo suitable for sticking in it, of course with Sign your autograph." "Yes, Mr. Penfort." "Is that all right, Miss Deirdre?" "Great!" "Good! Thank you for your request. Captain, we can go now. Is that your car, Mr. Diplomat?"

"Yes, Mr. Penfort." He shook his head sarcastically. "I see you've made a member of my family a believer in your expansionist heresy. It's no joke. Hey, for others." Good job, right?" "That's what taught you not to let her hang out with the bad guys! Eh, Miss Deirdre?" I shook her hand again. "Thank you for your reception, Mr. Diplomat. I think we really have to go now." "Yes, we should. Have a nice day!" "Thank you, Mr. Penfort." "Thank you dear." I turned around slowly and walked away.Fortunately, the three-dimensional TV does not appear to be in a hurry.Surrounded by photographers, some engaged in TV video, some special stills, and many journalists.Bill kept the journalists away from us; as we turned to leave, he waved, "Goodbye, Chief," and turned away to talk to a journalist.Roger, Tucker, and Penny followed me into the car.As usual, the airport in the air was crowded, not as crowded as the airport on Earth, but crowded enough.So long as Bothroyd doesn't see a flaw, they needn't worry about them--although there must be some of those present who know I'm not Penfort.

However, I also don't let these individual people bother me. If they want to trouble us, they have to break the law and ask for trouble. Our car was a pressurized Rolls-Royce SUV.I didn't take off my oxygen mask because everyone else was wearing it.I sat on the right-hand seat, Roger next to me, Penny next to me, and Tucker with his long legs crossed in one of the camp chairs. The driver glanced back through the partition and started driving. Roger said calmly: "I was worried about being there for a while just now." "There's nothing to worry about. Please don't talk now. I'm going to go over my speech."

In fact, I want to see the scenery of Mars, and I have already memorized that speech by heart.The driver took us north of the airport.Passing many warehouses, I saw the signs of Forways Trading Co., Deanna Airline Co., Samsung Co., and Pigment Industries Co., etc.At a glance, there are almost as many Martians as there are Earthlings.We Earthlings have the impression that Martians move like snails—and on our more gravitationally powerful planets, such as Earth, they do.But in their own world, their bodies are as light and agile as stones skimming water. Through the plain to the south of us, to the right, is the Grand Canal.It is located very close to the horizon, so the outline of the two sides cannot be seen.Right in front of us is the mythical small city where the "ka" tribe lives.Just as I was staring at the city, fascinated by its tiny beauty, Tucker suddenly moved his body.

We were well past the corner of the warehouse by this time, and we saw a car approaching.I saw that car too, but didn't pay much attention.But Tucker was carefully prepared to deal with the unexpected. When the car approached, he suddenly smashed down the partition between the driver and the passenger, put his arms around the driver's neck, and grabbed the steering wheel.The car turned sharply to the right, just passed the oncoming car, and then turned left again, clinging to the edge of the road.It was very close, and dangerous, because we were now over the fields, and here the road was close to the canal.

Tucker scrambled to steer the car as he leaned forward from the right seat.The driver lost his balance first, and now he was desperately trying to get the steering wheel back. I couldn't have been much of a help to Tucker in that fight at the Eisenhower Hotel the other day, because I didn't have a gun with me and didn't expect any trouble.Today, I'm still unarmed, really unarmed.However, I rushed forward, grabbed the driver's neck with my left arm, put my right thumb on his spine and said, "One move will kill you!" I used the voice of the villain in The Gentleman on the Second Floor, and this is the character's line.My captive became docile and obedient.Tucker said anxiously: "Roger, what are they doing now?" Roger Clifton, looking over his shoulder, replied, "They're coming round again." Tucker replied, "Okay, chief, I'll crawl over, and you point the gun at that guy." He crawled forward as he spoke.Because of his long legs, the car was crowded and he struggled to climb. After he sat in the driver's seat, he happily said: "I don't believe that other cars can surpass a Rolls on the road." He slammed on the damper, and the car shot forward like an arrow. "How was my driving, Roger?" "They just turned around." "Okay! What to do with this guy? Throw him out?" My prisoner was flustered, and he said anxiously: "I didn't do anything bad!" I immediately poked hard with my thumb, and he immediately shut up, not daring to say anything more. "Oh, nothing," Tucker said in his tone, keeping his eyes on the road, "you just wanted to crash so that Mr. Penfort couldn't make it to his appointment on time. If I didn't see you slowing down to protect yourself , then you might have done something bad and kept it under wraps. Coward, hey?" He made a tight little turn and the tires screeched immediately as the rotary wheels still struggled to keep us straight. "How's it going, Roger?" "They stopped chasing." "That's it." Tucker didn't slow down the speed of the car, our speed must have been above 300 kilometers per hour. "I don't know if they're trying to bomb us. Is that so, man? Are they going to blow you off too?" "I don't know what you're talking about! You're asking for trouble!" "Really? The four of us decent people are enough to keep a criminal like you under control, aren't you? Aren't you an exile? Anyway, Penforte would rather I drive for him. Of course." , and you'd love to do something for Mr. Penfort." On the glass-smooth highway, we hit something the size of worm droppings, and my captive and I almost flew off the roof of the car. go out. "Mr. Penfort!" said my captive cursingly. Tucker was silent for a moment.He finally said, "Boss, I don't think we should kill this guy. I think we should get him out of the car and take him to a secluded location. I think we can get him to tell the truth." The driver wanted to run away.I pressed harder on his neck and poked him again with my thumb knuckle.The joints may not be able to give the feeling of the muzzle, but who would think to figure it out? He softened, but said angrily: "You don't dare to kill me." "Hey, we dare not!" Tucker replied in a tone of surprise. "That's illegal. Miss Penny, do you have a bobby pin?" "Oh, of course, Tucker." She replied, a little puzzled, and I didn't quite understand what Tucker was going to do.But Penny's tone wasn't panicked at all, and I was a little taken aback. "Okay, buddy, have you ever tasted what it's like to drive a little hairpin under your nails? People say this thing is so broken that it's a kind of hypnotism that makes people not tell the truth, and it can directly affect people's will. The thing is that the man makes the most unpleasant howls. So I'm going to take you to the dunes to do it. You won't bother anyone but desert scorpions there. After you tell the truth of the conspiracy, yes , if you really say it, we will release you, don't want you to look good, just let you walk back to the city. But listen carefully now! If you are really reasonable, there will be a reward. We will let you wear Oxygen mask walked back." After Tucker finished speaking, there was silence for a moment, and then a wail was heard in the thin Martian air.A human in good physical condition can barely walk two hundred yards on Mars without an oxygen mask.I remember reading an instance of a man who walked almost half a mile before dying. I glanced at the taximeter and knew we were about 23 kilometers from Goddard. The prisoner said slowly, "To be honest, I don't know what happened. It's just that someone paid me to crash the car." "Then let us stimulate your memory!" The gate of Mars City was right in front of our eyes, and Tucker began to slow down the speed of the car. "Boss, get out of the car right here. Roger, hold the gun and let the boss let go of our guests." "Yes, Tucker." Roger moved beside me and poked a knuckle in the man's spine as well.So I moved my body away.Tucker immediately braked and stopped the car directly opposite the gate. "Four more minutes," he said cheerfully. "That's a nice car. I wish I had one. Roger, come over a little so I can get out." Clifton let go and stepped aside, only to see Tucker slash the driver's neck cleanly with the edge of his palm, and the guy's body went limp. "In this way, you can tell him to be honest when you leave. This way, there will be no troubles under the eyes of the Ka's. Now let us all check our watches." We checked the table.It was about three minutes before I had to be there. "You have to go in on time, understand? It must be neither too early nor too late, exactly on time!" "Exactly," said Clifton and I in unison. "It takes about half a minute to walk up the slope from here; with three minutes left, what are you going to do?" I sighed and said, "Calm down!" "That's no problem, you did a good job just now, get on your nerves, man. You'll be home in two hours, full of money for the night! We're running the last lap, and we're going to sprint gone." "I hope so. I've been nervous, Tucker?" "yes?" "Come here for a while?" I got out of the car and motioned for him to come with me, keeping a short distance behind. "What if I make a mistake there?" "Oh?!" Tucker first showed a surprised expression, and then laughed. "You made a mistake? Nope. Penny told me you knew that stuff by heart." "Yes, I have recited it, but what if I slipped my mouth?" "You won't say anything. I understand how you feel right now. I also felt the same way during my first solo training. However, as soon as I got on the field, I was just busy getting everything done. There’s no time to think about what went wrong.” Clifton called, "Tuck! Are you keeping track of the time?" His voice was faint in the thin Martian air. "It's still early! There's more than a minute left." "Mr. Pennfort!" was Miss Penny's voice.I turned around and went back to the car.The underground car stretched out a hand and said, "Good luck, Mr. Penfort!" "Thanks, Penny." Roger shook hands with me, and Tucker patted my shoulder, "There are thirty-five and a half seconds left, we can go." I nodded and started walking up the slope.When I got to the top of the hill, it must have been a second or two from the appointed time, because when I got to the door, just as the door was opening in front of me, I took a deep breath and secretly cursed the damn oxygen mask. Then, I started to perform on stage. A new play opens, on the first night, the curtain rises, and the moment you take the stage, your breathing and heartbeat seem to stop completely.No matter how much stage experience you have, you are all the same, and you will have this feeling.Of course you know your lines very well, that goes without saying.Of course, the theater manager also counted the audience and told you.You have prepared for all this in advance.However, it is still not very useful.As soon as you step on stage, you know that the whole audience is staring at you, expecting you to speak, waiting for your act, maybe even waiting to see your tongue-in-cheek embarrassment, man, You will definitely be nervous.This is why the troupe uses prompters regardless of whether new or old actors are on stage. When I looked up and saw my audience, I wanted to run away.For the first time in thirty years, I had stage fright. At a glance, the compatriots of the "ka" tribe have formed a long snake formation in front of me.A passage formed in front of me, and thousands of people stood on both sides, crowded together like asparagus on the shore.I knew that the first thing I should do was to walk slowly through the middle of the passage until I reached the end, and then descend the slope into the inner hall. Yet my legs froze. I thought to myself, "Hey, boy, you're John Joseph, Penfort! You've been here a dozen times before, and these guys are your friends. You're here because you're here yourself, Also because they want you to come. Walk along the aisle! 51.11... Sing the wedding march, the bride is coming!" ① [①This is the theme tune of the famous composer Wagner's Wedding March.The author uses it to describe the inner monologue of the protagonist when he encourages himself——Annotation. 】 So I began to feel exactly like Penfort again. Yes, I am Uncle Joe Penfort, and for the honor and welfare of the people and our planet, and our Martian friends, I am determined to make this matter as good as possible.I took a deep breath and took the first step with great energy. This one deep breath I took really helped, and it gave me that wonderful aroma.Thousands of Martians are packed tightly together. To me, the smell is like someone knocked over the whole box of perfume. I am sure that I smell this intoxicating perfume. It smelled the same as the one I smelled during the exercise on the spaceship. The fragrance burst into my nostrils, which made me involuntarily turn my head to see if Penny, who was wearing this perfume, followed me and came in.I seem to feel the warmth of shaking her hand in the palm of my hand. I began limping along the passage, trying to imitate the pace of a Martian walking on his own planet.The crowd gathered behind me.From time to time, children broke away from their elders and swiped in front of me.The so-called children actually refer to the new Martians produced by division and reproduction. Their volume is about half that of adult Martians, and their height is no more than half of an adult.They have never been born, so it is easy to forget that there are little Martians on other planets in the universe empire.After a Martian divides his reproduction, it takes about five years like a man on Earth to return to his original figure and fully restore his brain and all his memories. In this transformation process, he is an idiot transitioning into an imbecile .The genetic rearrangement caused by fission, and later regeneration, renders them incapable of normal activity for a considerable period of time.Penfold had a set of tapes of lectures on this subject, with music in not-so-good stereo, I remember. Children are lively and lovely "idiots", they don't talk about etiquette, and they don't have to abide by various regulations.But they were quite a crowd pleaser. Two of the smallest children, who seemed to me to be identical, flashed before me and stopped abruptly, like clumsy puppets standing in a traffic artery.I either stopped in my tracks or stepped over them. I decided to stop and not go.They moved towards me, getting closer, completely blocking my path, chattering and sticking out prosthetic limbs.I had no idea what they were talking about.Don't understand what they are going to do.They quickly grabbed my clothes and stuck their little claws into my sleeves. The crowd was so close I could barely get around them. I have been in a dilemma.First, they're so cute, I'd love to see if there's a candy tucked somewhere for them... But most importantly, I know the acceptance ceremony is like a ballet soundtrack, and the exact timing and seconds can't Difference.If I didn't continue down that passage, I would commit the heinous crime that young Cagglar committed against Shangyi. But the little Martians didn't let me go right away; one of them even touched my watch. I sigh.So I risked a bet on myself.I'm sure that kissing a child is universally applicable to all planets in the galaxy, perhaps even more important than the etiquette.Immediately, I got down on one knee, about the same height as them, stroked them for a while, and patted them.Then I stood up and said carefully, "That's it, I have to go." These two simple sentences have used up most of the basic Martian language I have learned. The little ones still clung to me, but I moved them aside carefully and gently, walking on through the crowd at a quicker pace, to make up for the time I had lost dealing with the little Martian.I didn't get killed because of it, thank goodness.I was desperate, hoping that this episode and my adventurous maneuver did not offend their decency, and that it would not lead to a death sentence.When I reached the top of the slope leading to the inner hall, I walked straight down. The row of asterisks above represents the acceptance ceremony.Why, because it means that only members of this card family can pass.This is what Mars calls the house rules. The Martians usually come and go freely, and they can visit each other's home—however, only members of their own family can enter the inner hall.Even several of their spouses are not necessarily accorded this privilege.I have no right to tell the details of the acceptance ceremony, just as a member of an association is not allowed to speak casually about the internal situation to outsiders.Suffice it to say. Ah, my guarantor, Penforte's oldest friend from Mars, Creach, greeted me at the door, but at the same time, strangely enough, he threatened me with his amulet.I begged him to kill me immediately if I did any breach of the contract.To be honest, although I have carefully studied his photos, I can't really recognize him. Due to the needs of the ceremony, this person must be recognized. They allowed me to go in after I recited the words I prepared a long time ago to support and abide by their social morality and so on.Creachi directed me to worship all fourteen Nasu crucifixes, and I was questioned and answered in detail.Every word and every gesture is drilled, strictly in Martian fashion, or I'm doomed.In fact, most of the time I didn't know what they were talking about, and half of the time I didn't quite understand my own responses.I just judge by appearance and adapt to circumstances.This kind of performance is not easier because Martians prefer dim lights and slurred speech.I was groping in the dark with great difficulty. It's like walking on eggshells. During this time no fewer than half a dozen staves—deadly weapons—were pointed at me. The time seemed to have passed for several days, but the ceremony did not take long.We started fasting.I don't know what it was that I ate, but anyway, I did not get poisoned to death after eating it. After that, it was finally time for the elder to give a speech.I also gave an acceptance speech in response.They gave me a name and gave me a talisman.I became a Martian. I don't know how to make a weapon like the Armor Staff, give a name that sounds like a leaking faucet, but from this point on, it's my legal name on Mars.Legally, I'm a blood kin to most of the noble families on the planet - just 52 hours after my unlucky soul spent the last half a gold in the hotel bar buying Tucker a drink. I think this just goes to show that one should never speak casually to strangers.I was unlucky to have this experience. I managed to get out as quickly as possible.Tucker had already made up a speech for me in advance, declaring that I must leave immediately.They were reasonable enough to let me go.I was almost like the only man in the fraternity room, nervous because there was no ceremony to guide me.I mean, even in any social activity, there are all kinds of unexpected customs, and it is very easy to go wrong.I simply don't know what to do next.So I finished reciting that speech, excused myself, turned and walked out.Creachi and another elder accompanied me.Once outside, I ventured to play with another pair of children—perhaps the ones I met on the road—and pretended to be very relaxed and easygoing, but I was really panicking.When I walked to the gate, the two elders said goodbye in English that I couldn't understand, and the voice was very harsh.I went out the gate alone.I breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind me. The Rolls car was already waiting at the place where they had told me to get off, so I hurried over.When I opened the door, I was surprised to find Penny alone in the car.However, she didn't seem unhappy.So I yelled, "Hey curly-haired girl, I made it!" "I knew you would succeed." I pretended to perform a sword salute with my amulet, and said, "You can call me Ka'aier from now on!" Since the pronunciation of the Martian language is very strange, when I pronounced the second sound, my saliva also spewed out. "Hey, watch out for that stick!" she said uncomfortably, obviously aware of the power of the weapon. I sat briskly into the front seat and asked, "Do you know how to use this stick?" By this time, my nervousness, excitement had clearly passed, and I was beginning to feel exhausted.But, to tell the truth, he was very happy inside.I'd love to have three quick drinks, eat a big steak, and wait for the critics. "I don't know. But be careful!" "I think you just need to press it here." I said, and a two-inch square hole appeared in the windshield window, and the car was no longer pressurized. Penny immediately began to pant.I said, "Oops, I'm so sorry. I'll put it aside and let Tucker tutor me!" She was panting heavily. "It's nothing. Be careful, don't click again." She started the car.I found her clumsy, not much better than Tucker. The wind howls through the little hole I punched.I said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I still need a little time to study the lines at the press conference. Did you bring it? Where did the others go?" I already took the driver we caught on the road Forget it all.From the time I stepped into the door of the "ka" family, I didn't think about anything else, let alone the driver. "Not coming! They can't come." "What's going on, Penny? What the hell is going on?" I don't know if I can handle a press conference without anyone telling me what to do next.If no one came to guide me, maybe I could tell them a little bit about acceptance, which I don't have to make up. I was nervously thinking about what to do next when Penny said. "That's because Mr. Penfort—they've found him."