Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Raid in Chicago

Lieutenant Mark Crowdy of the Chicago Garrison looked not far away, yawned slowly, and felt an indescribable sense of boredom in his heart.He had just completed two years of service on Earth and was eagerly awaiting transfer elsewhere. In any other corner of the galaxy, it is much easier to maintain a garrison than on this terrible planet.In other worlds there has always been some degree of camaraderie between soldiers and civilians, especially female civilians.In addition, there is no lack of feeling of freedom and openness. But here, the station is like a prison.They live in radiation-resistant barracks, breathe an atmosphere that filters radioactive dust, and wear lead-filled clothing—the kind of clothes that are cold and heavy, but they must not be taken off, otherwise they will bring great danger to themselves. .As a result, camaraderie with the local population is out of the question (even if, due to loneliness, warriors would desperately want to socialize with the "Earth Female").

So what else is there to do but hum a little, take a long nap, and slowly go crazy? Lieutenant Colaudie shook his head, trying to clear his head, but of course it didn't work.He yawned again, sat up, and began to put his shoes on slowly.He looked at his watch and decided that it was not nearly dinner time. Then, suddenly, he jumped up, and although he had only put on a shoe and was absolutely aware that his hair was still uncombed, he couldn't care less than to raise his hand in salute. The colonel looked him up and down with contemptuous eyes, but did not directly address the issue.On the contrary, he simply issued an order: "Lieutenant, it is reported that there is a commotion in the business district. You immediately lead the pollution elimination team to Danghan Department Store and take charge of the command. Make sure that the personnel under your command are fully protected and must not let Anyone with radiation fever."

"Radiation fever!" cried the lieutenant. "I'm sorry, sir, but . . . " "You'll be ready to go in fifteen minutes," said the colonel in a stern tone. Aiwadan saw the thin man first, and the man made a small gesture of greeting, and he couldn't help but feel his whole body stiffen. "Hey boss, hey big man, tell this girl there's no need to burst into tears." Paula jerked her head up and took a deep breath.She naturally leaned towards Alvadan, feeling that his tall body could protect her.And he, too, pretended to be his protector, putting an arm around her.This time he did not expect that this was his second contact with a woman from Earth.

He asked sharply, "What are you going to do?" The thin man with sharp eyes came out timidly from behind the counter full of goods. His tone was flattering and cheeky at the same time. "There are strange things happening outside," he said, "but don't worry about it. Miss, I will help you bring your people back to the institute." "What research institute?" Paula asked knowingly with a guilty conscience. "Oh, come on." The skinny man said, "My name is Nat. I'm the one who stands at the fruit stand across the street from the Institute of Nuclear Energy. I've seen you there many times."

"Let me ask you," Avadan said suddenly, "what's going on here?" Nat was very happy, his thin body kept shaking: "They think this guy has radiant fever..." "Radiation fever?" Alvardan and Paula shouted in unison. Nat nodded: "That's right. Two taxi drivers had dinner with him, that's what they said. This kind of news spreads the fastest, you should know." "Those guards outside," Paula demanded, "were just looking for a man with a fever?" "That's right." "And why aren't you afraid of fever?" Alvadan asked him suddenly, "In my opinion, the relevant units evacuated this department store because they were afraid of the spread of the disease."

"Of course, and the relevant units are waiting outside and dare not come in at all. They are waiting for the alien's decontamination team." "And you're not afraid of fever, are you?" "Why should I be afraid? The fellow isn't sick at all. Look at him, where's the sore on his mouth? His face isn't red, and his eyes are all right. I know what a fever looks like. Come on, miss , then let us stride out.” But Paula panicked again: "No, no, we can't. He's...he's..." She couldn't go on. Nat obliquely said, "I can take him out, no questions asked, no registration card..."

Paula couldn't help but yelled softly, and Avadan said in a very disgusted tone: "How do you have privileges?" Nat let out a hoarse laugh, and turned his lapel: "No one will come to question me as an errand of the Ancients." "What are you trying to figure out?" "Money! You're cornered, I can help you, there's nothing fairer than that. It's worth your spending, say, a hundred credits, and it's worth my earning a hundred credits. Pay now Fifty points, and the other half will be paid after the matter is completed." But Paula was terrified, and said in a low voice, "You'll give him to the ancients?"

"For what? He's useless to them, but he's worth a hundred points to me. If you wait for the aliens to come, they'll probably kill him before they figure out he doesn't have a fever. You too Knowing those aliens, they wouldn't care less about killing a human. In fact, they kind of like it." Alvardan said, "You take this lady with you." But Nat stared at a pair of sharp and cunning little eyes, and replied: "Oh, no, boss, that won't work. The risks I take are all so-called calculated. I can take one person through, and take two." Maybe not. Since I can only take one with me, it's worth taking that one with me. Don't you think that's reasonable?"

"Suppose," said Alvardan, "that I take you up and tear your legs off? What then?" Nat flinched in fright, but quickly regained his composure and forced a laugh: "Ah, then, you're an idiot. They'll catch you anyway, and you'll be on the death list...well, Boss, take your hands away." "Please," said Paula, pulling Alvardan's arm, "we'll have to take our chances. Just let him do what he says... You'll keep your word with us, won't you, Mr. Nut? " Nat pouted: "Your big friend twisted my arm. He didn't have to do that, and I don't like being forced to do anything. For this, I'll charge another hundred points, total It's two hundred."

"My father will pay you..." "A hundred points in advance." He replied in a strong tone. "But I don't have a hundred points." Paula cried again. "It's okay, Miss." Alvardan said abruptly, "I can handle it." He opened his wallet, took out a few banknotes and threw them to Nat: "Let's go!" "Go with him, Schwartz," Paula whispered. Schwartz obediently obeyed, said nothing, felt indifferent at all.At this moment, even if he was asked to go to hell, he would not have a stronger reaction. Then, there were only the two of them left, staring blankly at each other.Perhaps Paula hadn't really looked at Alvardan until now, and she didn't expect him to be tall and handsome, with a clear face, calm and confident expression.Before that, she only regarded him as an inexperienced, unmotivated righteous man, but now... She suddenly became shy, and what happened in the past hour or two was in a mess in her mind, her The heartbeat also unknowingly accelerated a lot.

They don't even know each other's names yet. She smiled and said, "My name is Paula Schechter." Alvadan had never seen her smile before, and found himself very interested in her smile.Her face seemed to start to light up, as if reflecting a ray of light.It made him feel... But he suddenly threw this thought behind him, a woman from Earth! Therefore, perhaps not as sincerely as he intended, he said, "My name is Bel Avadan." He held out a bronze palm and grasped her small hand for a moment. She said: "You have helped me so much, I must thank you very much." Aivadan shrugged his shoulders and said it was nothing: "Should we go? I mean, since your friend has already left, and I believe he left safely." "I think we'd hear a commotion if they got him, don't you think so?" She pleaded for his support with a look that he resisted, not softening the temptation. "Should we go?" Her tone also became a little cold: "Yes, why don't you go?" Unexpectedly, there was a sudden whine in the air, which was a piercing whistling from the horizon.The girl opened her eyes wide, and suddenly withdrew her outstretched hand. "What's going on now?" Alvardan asked. "It's an imperial man." "Are you afraid of them too?" The one who said this was Alvadan, an archaeologist from the Sirius region, who felt that he was not from Earth.Prejudice or no, no matter how rhetoric, the presence of an imperial army always signifies soundness and humanity.Now he could take this opportunity to show her kindness, so he became a little more cordial. "Don't worry about those aliens," he went so far as to adopt their term for non-terrestrials. "I'll take care of them, Miss Schector." She suddenly expressed concern: "Oh no, don't try to do that kind of thing. Just don't say a word to them, do what they say, don't even look at them." Alvadan's smile grew stronger. When the two were still some distance away from the main entrance, the guard saw them.The guards backed away immediately, making a small space, and became surprisingly quiet.Now, the sound of military vehicles has almost come to the front. Then, several armored vehicles appeared in the square, and a group of soldiers wearing spherical glass helmets jumped out.The nearby crowd scattered in panic. In the chaos, there were crisp roars and the stabbing sound of the nerve whip handle from time to time. The leader was Lieutenant Colaudie, who was walking towards an Earth Guard standing at the main entrance: "Okay, you, who has a fever?" His face looked distorted from the glass helmet filled with pure air.In addition, his voice has a bit of metallic quality, which is the result of the radio amplifier. The guard bowed his head respectfully: "Report Your Excellency, we have isolated the patient in the department store. The two people who were with the patient are now standing at the door in front of you." "They, eh? Good! Let them stand there. Now—priority, I want the rabble out of here. Sergeant! Clear the square!" The action that followed was ruthless and efficient.By the time the crowd melted into the darkened air, the night had gradually enveloped the entire city of Chicago, and soft artificial lights began to shine on the streets. Lieutenant Colaudie slapped his heavy leather boots with the handle of the nerve whip: "Are you sure that sick Earth boy is inside?" "He hasn't left, Your Excellency, he must still be inside." "Well, let's just assume he's still around and don't waste any time. Sergeant! Thoroughly sanitize the entire building!" A task force wearing airtight protective clothing and completely isolated from the earth's environment rushed into the building immediately.A long quarter of an hour passed slowly, and Alvadan had been observing all this with full attention.This is a field experiment in the interaction between different cultures. Based on his professional curiosity, he is absolutely unwilling to intervene. The task force ran out of the building again, and when the last soldier appeared, the entire department store was engulfed in darkness. "Close all doors and windows!" After a few more minutes, with the help of a remote control device, several cans of disinfectant on each floor were turned on.After the steel tanks scattered in every corner of the building were opened, thick smoke rolled out immediately, climbing up the walls, not letting go of every square inch, seeping into the air, and then entering the most secretive cracks.No protoplasm—from bacteria to humans—survives this smog.In order to eliminate the contamination of the disinfectant, the most expensive chemical agents are finally required. Now the lieutenant was walking towards Alvadan and Paula. "What's his name?" There wasn't even a trace of coldness in his voice, it was just a tone of utter indifference.Killed an Earthling, he thought.However, he also swatted a fly just now, so he killed two animals in total today. He didn't get an answer, Paula bowed her head meekly, and Alvadan looked around curiously.The imperial officer didn't take his eyes off them, he made a casual gesture and said, "Check if they are infected." They were approached by an officer wearing the insignia of the Imperial Medical Corps, his examination not at all polite.With his gloved hands, he rubbed them hard under their armpits and pulled the corners of their mouths away so he could examine the insides of their cheeks. "Not infected, Lieutenant. If they had been infected this afternoon, the symptoms would be evident by now." "Well—" Lieutenant Colaudie carefully removed his helmet.It is a pleasurable experience to come into contact with "living" air, even the air on Earth.He held the ugly glass ball under the armpit of his left arm, and said roughly, "What's your name, Mother Earth?" The title itself was insulting, and his tone was utterly contemptuous, but Paula showed no resentment. "Pola Schechter, sir," she whispered back. "Your credentials." She reached into the small pocket of her white coat and pulled out a pink booklet. He took the certificate, flipped through it with the light of the flashlight in his hand, and threw it back after flipping through.The booklet clattered to the floor, and Paula immediately bent over to pick it up. "Stand up." The officer ordered impatiently, while kicking the certificate far away.Paula turned pale with fright, and quickly withdrew her fingers. Alvadan frowned, deciding now was the time to step in.He said, "Hey, listen to me." The lieutenant turned his head suddenly and grinned at him: "What did you just say, Earth boy?" Paula quickly stood among them: "Report Your Excellency, this person has nothing to do with what happened today. I have never seen him before..." The lieutenant pulled her away: "I said, what did you just say, Earth boy?" Avadan stared back at him with a steady gaze: "I said, listen to me. Now I have to say, I don't like the way you treat ladies, I advise you to improve your attitude." He was so angry that even though the lieutenant misunderstood his star registration, he didn't think to correct it. Lieutenant Craudie smiled coldly: "Where did you grow up, Earth boy? When you talk to others, don't you know how to address them as 'Your Excellency'? You don't know your identity at all, do you? Well, it's been a while since I've lectured a big male on Earth, and I miss the fun. Come on, how about this-" He suddenly stretched out his palm, as quickly as a poisonous snake spitting out a letter, and slapped Avadan on the face.He bowed left and right, once, twice.Avadan backed away in surprise, his ears buzzing.He immediately grabbed the arm that attacked again, only to see that the face of the other party was distorted and deformed by surprise... The muscles in his shoulders twisted slightly. Immediately the lieutenant fell to the pavement, and with a loud bang the glass helmet shattered.The lieutenant was lying on the ground and couldn't get up, while Ai Huadan showed a fierce smile, clapped his hands lightly, and wiped off the dust on his hands: "Which bastard here thinks he can treat me to sesame seed cakes?" Unexpectedly, a sergeant had already raised the nerve whip and pressed the switch the next moment.A dark purple light shot out quickly, rolling towards the tall archaeologist like a tongue of flame. Alvadan felt an unbearable pain, and every muscle in his body froze.He slowly knelt down on the ground, and then his whole body was paralyzed, and his eyes were dark. When Aiwadan gradually regained his sanity, he first felt a chill on his forehead, which made him very comfortable.He tried to open his eyes, but the lids seemed to be hanging on rusty hinges.He had no choice but to continue to close his eyes, and raised one arm in front of him with an extremely slow movement (every movement of a muscle brought pain like a needle prick all over his body). A soft, wet towel held in a small hand... He barely opened one eye, and there was a haze of fog in front of him. "Pola," he said. Immediately there was a cry of surprise: "Yes, how do you feel?" "It seems like I'm dead," he said in a low voice, "but the pain hasn't gone away... What happened?" "The army van brought us to the base. A colonel was here and they searched you - I don't know what they're going to do, but - oh, Mr. Alvardan, you really shouldn't have attacked that lieutenant , I think you broke his arm." Avadan squeezed out a weak smile on his face: "Great! I hope it's his spine that was broken." "But resisting an Imperial officer is a capital offense," she whispered, her voice full of fear. "Really? We'll see." "Shh, they're back again." Aivadan closed his eyes, and his muscles relaxed again.Paula's cry sounded unreal, as if it was far away from his ears.Later, when he felt the hypodermic injection, he couldn't move a muscle at all. Soon, the blood vessels and nerves in his whole body felt very comfortable, and all the pain disappeared without a trace.His arms were no longer knotted, and his back, which was like a hard bow, was gradually returning to normal now.He quickly lifted his eyelids, and then pushed hard with his elbows, and the whole person sat up. The colonel was looking at him thoughtfully, and Paula looked worried but also amused. The colonel said: "Well, Dr. Alvardan, there seems to be an unpleasant accident in town this evening." "Doctor" Alvardan, Paula noticed, she knew so little about him, not even his profession... She had never felt like this. Aivadan smiled coldly: "You said it was 'unpleasant', I don't think this adjective carries enough weight." "An imperial officer who was on a mission had an arm broken by you." "The officer who attacked me first did not have the duty to humiliate me roughly, verbally as well as physically. He did not deserve to be considered an officer and a gentleman. A free citizen of the Empire, I have every right to express my outrage at such outrageous treatment, let alone unlawful treatment." The colonel coughed dryly, as if he didn't know how to answer.Paula opened her eyes wide, looking at them both in disbelief. At last the Colonel said softly: "Well, I don't want to say how unfortunate I think the whole affair is. It is clear that the pain and humiliation on both sides has been evened out, and it may be best to forget about it." "Forget? I don't think so. I'm the administrator's guest. He might be interested to hear how his garrison maintains order on Earth." "Listen, Dr. Alvardan, if I assure you that you will receive a public apology..." "Go to hell! What are you going to do with Miss Schechter?" "What do you suggest?" "You release her immediately, return her papers, and express your apologies - now." The colonel blushed, and said reluctantly: "Of course." He turned to Paula: "I hope this young lady can accept my sincerest apologies..." They finally came out of the dark walls of the base.It only took ten minutes to return to the urban area by taxi, and neither of them spoke during the journey.Now, they were standing at the door of the empty and dark research institute, it was already the early morning of the next day. Paula said, "I don't think I understand much. You must be someone important, and it seems really confusing that I don't know your name. I never thought that aliens would respect a human being so much." Although Avadan felt extremely unwilling, he had no choice but to take the initiative to dismantle this illusion: "I am not from Earth, Bora, I am an archaeologist from the Sirius region." She quickly turned her head to stare at him, her face pale in the moonlight.After a long time, when she could count slowly from one to ten, she finally broke the silence: "Then, the reason why you dare to fight those soldiers is because you are not in danger at all, and you know it very well. And I I thought—I should have thought of that earlier." Her tone became filled with indignant sarcasm: "I humbly ask your forgiveness, sir. If at any time today, through my ignorance, I should show you any disrespectful intimacy..." "Pola," he cried angrily, "what's the matter? So what if I'm not from Earth? How do you think I'm different now than I was five minutes ago?" "You can tell me earlier, Your Excellency." "I didn't ask you to call me Your Excellency, don't be like the rest of them, okay?" "Like who else, sir? Those other disgusting animals that live on Earth? ... I owe you a hundred credits." "Forget it," said Alvadan in a disgusted tone. "I can't. If you give me your address, I'll send you a money order for that amount tomorrow." Ai Vadan suddenly became furious: "You owe me far more than a hundred points." Paula bit her lower lip and said again in a low voice: "I owe you a great deal, sir, and this is all I can repay. What is your address, please?" "State Guesthouse." He replied without turning his head, and disappeared into the night. Paula found herself in tears again! Schechter meets Paula at the door of his office. "He's back," he said, "and a little man brought him back." "Very good!" She even had difficulty speaking now. "He asked me for two hundred credits, and I paid him." "He should only need one hundred points, but forget it." As she brushed past her father, he said guiltily: "I'm terribly worried. That commotion nearby—I dared not even ask; I might put you in danger." "It's all right, nothing happened...let me sleep here tonight, Father." However, although she was exhausted, she couldn't sleep for a long time, because something had happened.She meets a man, and he's an alien. But she has his address, she has his address.