Chapter 16 Chapter 15 Boxing Champion

"Ladies and gentlemen listening to this station, you are hearing reports from the temple of sport, Mr. Mars' Oval in New York; on this fine Friday night, a boxing match Sai - I mean - the fight of the century is about to begin, lol!  … This report is honored to be broadcast by a broadcaster that will cover the airwaves across the country and across England, France, Germany... "The game is about to start, let me take a look, there are still twelve minutes to be exact, haha... Friends from Germany, I think you can hear the lively noise on the other side of the ocean, it seems that all New York and Most of the population of Chicago has gathered here to witness the most important event in the history of boxing... The oval arena that can accommodate 20,000 people is already full, and it seems that it is not enough. Many people also say that boxing has come to an end, haha Ha ha... But you don't say that when you see so many people crowded here, the gentleman sitting behind me said he paid a hundred dollars for the typical American entertainment in person, who Say our economy is in a recession, hahaha...

"I really hope the gentleman's hundred dollars was well spent, of course I don't mean to make fun of these devoted boxing fans, and besides, there is still eight minutes to start when Tommy Blake vs. old boxing champion Jack Huck's heavyweight championship challenge, people will feast their eyes... Friends who just turned on the radio, a broadcasting company and colleagues from the international broadcasting network company gathered together, and they are excited to report to you, but the scene is too much now. It's lively, I'm afraid I can't tell what's going on for a while? Haha... Oh! It turned out that the two boxers expressed their affection and friendship with each other. You will soon hear the competition procedure: the thirteenth round of the fifteen rounds The bell is ringing for the game, and this round will be between George Diggins, a black boy from Georgia, and Ben Riley, a good fighter from Boston. Riley looks like the odds, and you'll probably agree with me Judgment, forgive me I can't see clearly what's going on, and can't hear what, the audience is screaming like crazy, reminds you of the Democratic National Convention, hahaha...

"The ring is full of celebrities and stars tonight. Let me imagine it's like a night at the opera in the metropolis. It's like a fashion show in Paris. . . Let me see who's that? - is that The famous movie star Mara Gay, the famous Hollywood Orchid is still so charming and charming, accompanied by Julian Hunt, the famous socialite and Broadway nightclub owner also came to the ring Sit down... the big star Mara is here tonight to support Tommy Blake, I think you have heard about this California boy... next to Hunter is the famous sports promoter Tony Mars, also known as Tonight's Playing Ground - the founder of the magnificent sports temple... and there he is, Crazy Bill Grant, the legendary fighter of the Old West and his son Curley and Miss Horn, famous western movie star and... please wait a minute (hey, who's that tall, thin young man with pince-nez following Miss Horn... oh thank you), sonic boom Ellery Quinn, one of the Quinn fathers and sons on Central Avenue, is also here tonight, and it seems that many people from the police station have also come, because I have seen the respected old chief Walls standing on the other side of the boxing ring. Talk to Inspector General Crane on one side...

"According to the official announcement, the boxers were all weighed this afternoon. Black's scale showed a figure of 192 pounds, while the weight of the former champion was... "The boxer got into the rope ring, surrounded by the cheers of the audience, the old boxing champion Jack Harker in his striped jersey, accompanied by his manager Johnny Aldridge and his nurse. After the lap, Jack looks good tonight, rosy in the dark. It seems that he has been insisting on training until the moment before the game. He has shaved his beard as always, and he knows that this is his little superstition. Ah! Tommy Blake also entered The circle, immediately received the warmest welcome, the audience in front of the radio... Can you hear the thunderous cheers at the scene? Haha... This young man who is becoming popular is as strong as a calf, wearing a brand new black satin gown , two fists look like two hammers, one can imagine how exciting it is to bet on this big game, it will make people sweat until the last second. Now I understand that they are busy Counting the victories of the past, trying to figure out who won and who lost... Wait, wait, old Jim Stanker is going to announce...

"Oh, listeners, the fighters are all standing in the ring, waiting for the referee Henry Sumpter, Mr. Eagle Eye, to give the order to start the fight, and the two of them touched each other's boxing gloves... They all looked confident... …Tommy looks particularly confident, and at the same time, his expression and behavior are becoming more and more like the old boxing champion Maurer. Even the way of punching is obviously in the style of the famous Dempsey, and the strength of the fist is as strong as... "Time passed by, Tommy hit the opponent's first heavy punch accurately on the lower left collar, another hit on the right chest, and then rained down on the opponent's head... It seems that Jack Not badly injured, still smiling, the two of them seemed to be dancing around the boxing champion's throne looking for opportunities to punch, trying to figure out the intention of each other's actions, Tommy suddenly launched an offensive... too fast, like lightning, like lightning Lightning...Two left fists hit Jack's jaw, turning his head away greatly. Although Jack could still hold on, the expression on his face was already quite painful...Oh! Tommy is really fierce, the old boxing champion I haven't had time to make a move yet... oh, he's punching, a fast and heavy punch on Tommy's head... Luckily Tommy's head is out of the way in time, otherwise it must have been brilliant...

"Whoah! Wait, wait, wait...Whoah! Ladies and gentlemen, Tommy Blake threw eight straight lefts and right hooks in the face of the old champ, ex-champion Jack can't move, can't move, swaying...the body still swaying while holding each other...the referee is trying to separate the two, Tommy is fighting, he looks like a killer at the moment, but the old punch The king was powerless...the two separated again, Tommy showed his teeth and sneered, looking ruthless and fierce, and he rushed forward with a murderous look...yes! Another round of left and right bows... "Jack's down! . . . two, three, four, five, six, seven, he's trying to get up, eight, nine! . . . She, referee Henry Sumpter is also closely following the two...

"Woo-hoo! With a terrible bang, the former champion finally fell to the ground, and the crowd was in an uproar... Five, six, seven, eight, nine... ten! He is out, and a new heavyweight champion is born... …Ladies and gentlemen, winning the heavyweight title in just one round is a unique miracle in the history of boxing... "Tommy, Tommy, young man, come and say something to the audience, Tommy!" The event became the perfect occasion for a chain of events to follow.These events complement each other, set off each other, and are colorful.In Ellery's view, boxing matches are meaningless except for the disgusting display of animal cruelty. His attention is not on the fierce competition in the boxing ring at all, but more on observing the various people around him.Among the excited crowd around him, he watched with dispassionate glances at Julian Hunt's scowling frown, Tony Mars's calculating gaze, and Marla Gay's beautiful face, ecstatic at Blake's victory. , and there was Tommy Black—absolutely savage and ruthless, as the media blatantly bragged about—jumping up and down triumphantly, staring at his crushingly defeated opponent from time to time.

Ellery looked around calmly. There were indeed many signs worth observing here.With his keen insight, he caught all the slightest signs or clues. Tony Mars took advantage of the sensational aftermath of the boxing fight to announce that he would "have a big 'party' that night to celebrate the new champ at the Mara Club".Mars had promised to do favors to his old gamblers by throwing Tommy Black out for a loss; now that he had changed his mind mid-way, he had to appease everyone's grievances at the threat of such a fraud, so this A well-known iron abacus also made a gesture of impulsive generosity.If you want to be generous, you might as well make a big fanfare and invite all the gods here.Representatives of news agencies, reporters of famous sports newspapers, representatives of athletic associations, Grant and his son, Kit Horn, the entire cavalry troupe (cowboys also frantically came to join in the excitement of the boxing competition)... almost all of them All relevant people are invited.

At night, the Mara Nightclub is very lively.Normal business is temporarily suspended. Flower baskets and prizes appropriate to the occasion are displayed in the spacious store.Mars entertained all the guests with a calm, decent and tepid attitude.The waiters shuttled like flying, and the wine was poured into the glasses of the guests in a timely manner.At a large round table in the center of the hall, Tommy Blake is like a muscular Dionysus, grinning, unrestrained, and unscrupulous; an evening dress is tightly stretched on his huge torso, like a stiff plaster shell. Ellery weaves quietly.He looked around for signs of Bill Grant, but he didn't find it for a long time.He quietly inquired with Marth in private, only to find out that Grant had already politely left.The veteran entertainer excused himself by saying that he was exhausted and had to plan for the next night's opening ceremony.Curley is still there.Kit Horne——indifferent to everything at the reception, but with his eyes wide open, he talked and laughed when he said something, and more often stared at Julian Hunter coldly, as if he A disgusting and curious monster.

The hall is noisy and noisy, the corks of champagne are shot into the air from time to time;A group of supporters frolicked around Blake, the leader of which was naturally the dominant Mara Gay.The woman, wrapped in a translucent evening gown and slender figure, is too sexy to flaunt, not to mention already drunk - Blake's success, size and masculinity are better than the strength of strong wine, and she is already too drunk to hold herself up.The cowboys of Grant's Riding Troupe came here just for fun; they were pleasantly surprised to find that all kinds of drinks were continuously available, and they were extremely happy.However, even if they drink so much, these people are just blushing, slurring their tongues, shouting and shouting, and there is no sign of going out of the circle.

But Woody, the one-armed man with unique skills, suddenly stood up on the chair and sang with a straight voice: "Children! Send them the cowboy's condolences..." The weird and desolate singing voice was suddenly overwhelmed. The midnight banquet imbues an eerie, sombre atmosphere.Danu Boone couldn't hold it anymore, he simply lay down on the floor, crying with tears in his eyes; the reporters from all walks of life were still gentle, drinking alcohol calmly, and observing with professional eyes. Ellery continued to wander alone. After midnight, the guests began to gather and talk in twos and threes.Ellery saw the calm-looking Kit stand up irritably, whisper to Curley for a moment, and then go straight to the cloakroom; Curley followed obediently, and the two disappeared immediately. Blake survived all kinds of compulsory training with great difficulty, and he was extremely relaxed and comfortable.Ignoring the nagging warnings of his fat, diminutive manager, he guzzled champagne.It's inconceivable that such a strong athlete would be overwhelmed by a little beer.In less than ten minutes, the guy was quite drunk.After drinking to the third tour, Blake is no longer the object of the stars.The reason is simple, no one can remember what happened half an hour ago.Tommy Black's manager regretted that he had not been able to help him maintain a proper posture, and frustratedly took a small black wine bottle under his arm, walked to a corner, and silently got himself drunk. Ellery walked over to Blake's table and sat down.Mass was still drinking solo, seemingly deaf to the noise around him. "Look who's coming," said Blake disappointedly, eyeing Ellery suspiciously and maliciously, "Police, tell your father to keep his eyes open, boy, better watch out. But Tommy Black doesn't hold a grudge. Let's have a drink, buddy." Ellery smiled. "I've had enough, thank you. Let me hear from you. How does it feel to be the world champion?" "Beautiful!" Blake exclaimed, intoxicated, "It's so damn beautiful! You know, ha!" Suddenly a burst of laughter drowned out his roar. "Oh, hell, this is not the place to talk, let's find another place, and I'll tell you how I grew up." "Happy to accompany you," Ellery said blandly, looking around.Hunter and Marla Gay were now gone.He could guess where they were going. "Let's get a seat on the side, Tommy, and tell me how you got famous. Are you coming too, Mr. Mass?" "Okay, I'll follow." Mas said flatly, except for a little hesitation, he looked quite sober. The three of them made their way through the crowd to a group of carriage seats near the left wall for private conversation.Ellery made a point of directing them to one of the tables. After taking his seat, he knew he had chosen the right place, because a familiar voice had already been heard from the neighbor. Blake started chatting: "Let me tell you, my old man used to be a tinsmith, and my mother..." Suddenly he stopped talking and pricked up his ears; the neighbor was talking and laughing when his name was mentioned, "Who the hell is this ..." He roared and then stopped, sitting in the same place with no breath, his eyes narrowed fiercely, and most of the drunken blush on his face faded. Mars sat up nervously.Ellery kept his cool; scientists in the middle of an experiment had to be calm. "I said it, so what if I say it again, you abominable thing!" It was Hunter's hoarse voice, "You and that gorilla, Black, made me the laughing stock of everyone! I marry you When you came back you were just a normal slut, I put you up - see? I don't want to get your name flying around in the tabloids all day just because you're addicted to gorilla meat - —Understood? Lyons hinted long ago that you and Blake were not clear; and, my God, I should believe that scoundrel!" "That's slander!" Marla Gay screamed. "Julian, I swear—I tell you I didn't do that! He was just being kind to me..." "You've got a good word for it, 'good intentions,' huh?" Hunter sneered coldly. "Julian, don't look at me like that! Hey, I wouldn't do that, I never thought about it..." "You lied, Marla," said Hunter unmoved, "you've been lying to me about Blake; and you've been fooling around with other people for years without telling me, you dirty bitch. , Bitch..." Black's clenched fists were both on the table in front of him, and all the muscles in his body tensed up. Ellery assessed the situation warily.Julian continued to scold Mara calmly, ignoring her screaming, pleading and hysteria, and taunting her with ruthless and mean words... "I've had enough of you, Marla, you've cheated on me not only for those hairy-chested guys, but you've lied to me about a lot of things. Oh, and I admit, it probably doesn't do you much good to indulge your desire for men." On the contrary, if you spread the word, you may become more famous, and maybe your romantic art career will be more vigorous..." "Go to hell!" she screamed. "...But you're not without your faults, my dear, and your film fame won't necessarily save you. Let's see if we... Well, if I go to the middle of the hall and announce— —Mara Gay, the woman called 'Hollywood Orchid,' was just a..." "For God's sake, stop," she wailed.Tommy Black couldn't hold back anymore, jumped up suddenly and rushed towards the seat circle behind him. Ellery and Mars jumped up and followed.Together they grabbed Tommy's thick arms.Tommy raised his arms without looking back, and easily swung the two of them out at the same time.Mars was thrown far back, hitting his head hard on the floor; Ellery was also thrown far away, until he hit a pillar and couldn't recover for a long time. In a whirl, Ellery saw the new boxing champion stance as if he were in the ring.The evening gown stretched across the broad back like an armor; he grabbed Hunter by the neck, lifted him from his seat, grabbed him close and shook him violently, then threw him down on the floor .Mara Gay was so frightened that her face was pale, her mouth was open, her limbs were limp, and she didn't even have the strength to shout.Hunter rolled his eyes, looking like he was dying. Black raised his fist and aimed at Hunter's chin and smashed it down. Hunter lay on the floor without saying a word. Perhaps this was the spark that ignited a series of fuses.The second event that Ellery saw happened in the Mara nightclub—it became an explosive ammunition depot, people got into scuffles, fought, cutlery flew, and the sky turned upside down. In the chaos, Ellery escaped, woke up the stunned cloakroom waiter, took out his clothes, and went outside where the moon was shining and the stars were thin and the air was cool. He desperately took a breath, as if the stench in his nasal cavity could never be cleared away.He thought quickly, his eyes shining faintly under the night sky.