Chapter 77

Paul's eyes were very firm, and his resolute determination burst out with incredible light. He was no longer flustered, no longer afraid, no longer hesitated, no longer despair, as if all his confused thoughts were cut off in an instant, and his decisive strength had an irresistible momentum.

"My name is Paul Conroy. I'm an American citizen from Hastings, Michigan. I'm a truck driver for CTR. I'm taken hostage somewhere in Iraq."

Rodriguez's ear heard the cold and resolute voice, the bottom of his heart could not help a slight tremor, the voice did not have any hesitation, hiding a sense of determination to die, but the calm tone revealed the sadness of dying together. Rodriguez can't help shivering, recalling Paul's despair just now - his colleague's life is on the line, but at least there is still a chance of life, and he is trapped in the coffin under the desert, dark, and can do nothing but wait

He is also his colleague. It's a moral tug of war. The video he is recording now is his choice.

Rodriguez shivered again, and could not help biting his teeth. The almost suffocating dullness caught his heart firmly and could not make a sound.

"I need a million dollars before nine o'clock tonight in Baghdad, or I'll die in a coffin buried in the ground. They told me, as long as you give me money... "There was no sound fluctuation, as if even the most basic emotions had disappeared. The calmness made Rodrigo's bones start to chill, just like soaking in the sea water in the bitter winter. He could clearly feel the temperature disappearing from his blood bit by bit.

"Bang!" The sudden sound startled Rodriguez and almost jumped up. Paul's right hand clenched into a fist and smashed it on the ground. The ferocious gesture suddenly burst out and disappeared. Then he regained his calm again. He focused on the camera and continued calmly, "they said, as long as they give me money, they will let me go."

Rodriguez looked at Paul in disbelief. He didn't understand what was going on, but he was stunned for a moment. Maybe the flashlight didn't work, or maybe the fluorescent stick didn't shine enough, so Paul was adjusting the light to make sure the video had enough light.

Originally, it was just a small accident, but Paul's simple and powerful action broke out with a fierce force. That's what Paul really feels at the moment, isn't it? He is not a saint, nor a great man. He has no consciousness of sacrificing his life for righteousness, nor has he sacrificed himself to save all living beings. He just makes a difficult choice in a critical situation. If he can, he doesn't want to die. He wants to live on. But... The burst of energy released all the anger, reluctance, bitterness and cruelty in the heart.

A simple action, but in Rodriguez's mind set off a storm.

"If I don't give money, I'll die here." Paul continued to video as if nothing had happened just now. Speaking of this, he could not help pausing a little. "These threats are real and will be implemented." His voice revealed an imperceptible tremor, which came from the soul, hiding his helplessness and the desire for survival.

He stared at the camera, his dark brown eyes flapping behind the thick eyelashes, as light and fragile as butterfly wings; Lip slightly wriggled for a while, want to say something, but in the end or swallow down. Thumbs down the button, ending the video recording.

Calm down again, he operated the mobile phone, sent out the video, and then stood still in the same position, still, time seemed to stop.

Rodriguez hesitated for a moment. He was not sure whether the performance was over, whether he should make a voice or something. However, at this time, Paul's mouth has outlined a shallow arc, he, smile.

It was a warm smile, just like a wisp of warm sun falling on the white snow.

The smile stopped for a moment, and burst out again. With low laughter, it circled in the chest, like the thunder in the sky, but it easily attracted everyone's attention. The bitterness, helplessness, absurdity and depression in the smile reflected an indescribable anger. After the anger reached the extreme, it turned into powerlessness. The whole body strength was pulled away with the backbone in one breath, and the whole person was paralyzed. Except for the nihilistic smile, nothing could be done.

Smile closed, and finally disappeared in the corner of the mouth lonely; Eyes slowly droop, the last touch of light under the eyes are pinched out, the shoulder suddenly deflated, relaxed down, just did not feel the tension, suddenly surging out, let the air not from a tight. Then, he closed his eyes and gently put his face on the sofa. His shoulders, arms and trunk were all relieved. Fatigue swept in like the tide. All the pain, all the suffering and all the clutter were silent with the disappearance of the noise.

Rodriguez can hear the voice of heartbreak, not because of sympathy, but because of helplessness. Watching Paul do his best to save another life, but risking to give up all his life, the desire to survive hidden in the depths of his eyes was stiffly suppressed in the depths of his soul, which was oppressed heavily in his heart, so cruel that people could not bear to continue to watch.

Until now, even if Langley didn't speak, Rodrigo knew that the performance was over, and he finally understood the meaning of "two parts".

The first part is the fear, confusion and despair in the desperate situation; The second part is the collision between the desire for survival and reality. Paul is just an ordinary person, a member of the general public, he has his own problems, he also made his own choice, but in the crisis situation of life hanging on the line, every choice, every decision is defining his life. He is not a good person or a bad person. He is just an ordinary person struggling in life.

However, he became the victim of the war, or the victim of the government's interest game, the little shrimps in the "whale fight, shrimps suffer". What he carries is the dilemma of the whole society: they are paying for the decisions of the government and the elite. How could Paul's small, thin shoulders bear such a weight?

So, he failed.

Rodriguez suddenly remembered the ending of the movie "buried alive": Paul was really buried alive. Cold and cruel to cut off all life, there is hope.

”Are you ok““ Are you all right? "“ Is something wrong at home? "“ Do you want me to call the police for you? "“ Is it serious

The disordered voice disrupted Rodriguez's thoughts, and the heavy emotion couldn't get rid of for a moment, so that when he saw the concerned crowd, he couldn't feel the situation.

"Is that you? You're behind it, right? What are you up to? " Suddenly someone pushed Rodriguez's shoulder hard. Suddenly, Rodriguez didn't know how to explain.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Lan Li's voice came from the crowd, and he stood up again, smiling at strange faces, "I'm really OK. It was just a show The commotion calmed down a little, and Langley simply explained, "I'm an actor, he's a director, and I'm auditioning. So, I'm fine, and so is my family. "

Young people look at each other.

Just now, the situation was too real and cruel. The waves under the calm water seemed to break the strings at any time, so that they could not help holding their breath, worried that their rash actions might lead to irreparable consequences. The strong heart beat made everyone fall into panic.

Now they're told, is it all acting?

"True or false?" The voice of doubt immediately came out. A college student like blonde girl stared round her eyes and said inconceivably, "are you kidding? Was all that fake just now? Jesus Christ, I was scared to have a heart attack, but you told me, it's just acting? I thought your wife was kidnapped or something. "

Lanli turned his head and looked at Rodriguez beside him. A tall and strong man grabbed Rodriguez's collar and lifted him up. He looked at lanli with a fierce face, and his eyes were still shining with doubt. He seemed to be still worried that lanli had to say so because he was coerced.

"Look at me, I'm fine, my future wife... Should be fine, too." Lanli's humorous tone relaxed the atmosphere slightly. "I'm an actor, just now the situation is just acting." Lenley shrugged. "I'll take your reaction as a positive feedback. It shows that my performance is very successful, doesn't it?"

"Guys, guys, I can testify." The front desk staff of the youth hostel also came, "Rodrigo is really a director, he has lived here for two weeks; As for this one... "The staff pointed to Lan Li," don't you recognize it? He is really an actor, the rich young master in the Pacific War

We exchanged our eyes for a while, and then someone finally responded, "yes, yes, I just said how familiar he looks, he is the sledgehammer!"

"Eugene sledge?" Another person echoed that two out of eight people recognized Lan Li, which was too rare. Considering that this is only a Youth Hostel, the average age of the tourists is young, and most of them are foreigners, which makes it even more difficult and expensive.

Lan Li spread out his hands and nodded, "that's me."

After being confirmed, everyone was relieved and exclaimed, "God, your performance just now is really wonderful!"“ What kind of movie is this? I'm going to have a heart attack! "“ I can't believe it! I can't believe it

"Er... Excuse me, can you let me go?" Rodriguez patted the strong man on the arm and said with a sad face.