Chapter 2 2

In fact, I didn't let you get in the car on a whim.Carmen.Gurriel said. Li Qi's back was pressed against the car door, and the Cadillac was tilted to one side like a sinking ship, seriously falling to the side of the road, and the leather chair was very slippery, so Li Qi had no force to straighten his body.The woman put one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the back of Li Qi's chair, propping herself above Li Qi, her face was only a foot away from him, and the expression on her face was unreadable.She looked past Li Qi and looked at the dust in the gutter outside the window.

Can you get the car up there?he asks. She turned her head and looked up at the asphalt, the rough surface steaming from oil, about the same level as the bottom of her window. Can.she says.I hope I can. I hope so too.He said. She stared at him. Then why did you give me a ride? What do you think? I have no idea.He said.I thought I was just lucky, I thought you were such a nice person, reaching out to strangers. She shook her head.No, I've been looking for someone like you.she says. Why? I've probably loaded a dozen, she said, and seen hundreds.I've been doing just that all month, driving around West Texas looking for people who want to hitchhike.

Why? She shrugged and didn't answer, a slight movement that showed she didn't want to explain. The mileage the car gained, she said, was astonishing, as was the gas bill. Why?he asked again. She fell silent, unwilling to answer, and let the silence last for a long time.The door rail was against his lower back, and he hunched over, shouldering his shoulders, adjusting his posture.He began to wish he was being driven by someone else, a driver who simply wanted to get from point A to point B. He looked up at her.can i call you carmenhe asks. She nodded.Sure, please. All right!Carmen.He said.tell me what the hell is going on, ok?

She opened her mouth, then closed it, opened it again, and closed it again. At this point, she said, I don't know where to start. to what extent? She would not answer. You better tell me exactly what you want, he said, or I'll get off here, right away. The temperature outside was as high as one hundred and ten degrees. I know. People will die in such high temperature. I'm willing to take a gamble. You can't open your door.she says.The car is too lean. Then I'll break the windshield. She pauses.I need your help.She said it again. You haven't seen me at all.

Haven't seen it with my own eyes, she said, but your qualifications are met. What conditions? She fell silent again, with a mocking smile on her face.It's really hard, she said, I've practiced my words 10,000 times, but now I'm really not sure I can say them. Li Qi didn't speak, just waited silently. Have you ever dealt with a lawyer?she asked.They don't know anything but keep trying to make your money, ask you to spend more time, and then tell you there's only so much you can do. Then find a new one.He said. Already found four.she says.Within a month, four of them all had the same face.And it's too expensive to find them, I don't have that much money.

You drive a Cadillac. This is my mother-in-law's, I just borrowed it to drive. You have a big diamond ring on your finger. She was silent again, a shadow cast over her eyes.This is from my husband.she says. Li Qi looked at her and asked: Can't he help you? No, he can't help me.she says. Have you tried a private credit bureau? No, I'm a detective. They are nothing like that.she says.It's different from the movie, they just want to sit in the office and do things on the phone, or use the computer to check the database, and they don't want to go out and really do something for you.I also traveled all the way to Austin, and there was a guy there who said he could help, but he said he needed six people, and they were asking close to $10,000 a week.

do what? So I was anxious, my heart started to panic, and then I came up with this idea.I figured if I was looking for hitchhikers, I might find someone, and one of them might just fit the bill and be willing to help me.I pick hard and only pick people who look tough to park. Thanks, Carmen.Li Qi said. I don't mean to be critical.she says.I don't mean to belittle you. But doing so can be dangerous. She nodded.A few times it was really dangerous, but I had to take the risk, I had to find someone.I thought maybe I'd run into cowboys, or guys who work in the oil fields, just kind of gruff, brutish, maybe out of work, maybe some free, and I think they might be in a rush to make some money, but I can't afford it either too much.Will this be a problem?

Carmen, so far, has had problems with everything. She was silent again.I talked to them.And then went on to say: We chatted a little bit, talked about things, like me and you.I try to judge their conditions from the inner and personality, try to evaluate their characteristics, there are about twelve before and after!Neither is good enough, but I think you can. What do you think I can do? I think you are the best opportunity I have had so far.she says.Really, I really think so.You used to be a policeman and a soldier. No one else can compare to you. You are the best candidate. I'm not applying for a job, Carmen.

She nodded happily.I know, I already know.But I think it's better this way, to keep things simple, right?Helping for the sake of helping, there is no employment relationship, and your background is perfect, so you must help. He stared at her.No, not at all. You're a soldier, she said, and a cop, too, perfect.You are supposed to help the people, that's what the police do. We spend most of our time arresting people, and have never done any charitable deeds to help the weak. But there must be, this is the bounden duty of the police, and it is a basic task.The police in the army are even better, you said it yourself, you will do what you have to do.

If you need the police, go to the county sheriff.To Pecos, or wherever. Echo Town.she says.I live in Echo Township, just south of the Pecos. casual.He said.Just go find the sheriff. She shook her head.No, I can't do that. Li Qi didn't say anything more, just lying on his back, the tilted car pushed his body against the door.The engine was idling patiently, the air-conditioning was still blowing, and the woman was still propped up on top of him.She was silent, looked past him and looked out the window, blinked, as if she was about to cry, as if the tears were about to burst, and also as if she was extremely disappointed, maybe it was for Li Qi, or for herself.

You must think I'm out of my mind. Li Qi turned his head and stared at her from head to toe.She has slender and strong legs and arms, and she wears expensive clothes, with the corners of the skirt pulled up, revealing the white bra straps on her shoulders, which contrasts with the dark skin.Her hair was neatly combed, and her nails were trimmed and painted.She has a graceful and intelligent face, but there is a tired look in her eyes. But I am not.she says. Then she looked straight at Li Qi, with a look on her face, maybe it was pleading, maybe it was helplessness, or maybe it was despair. I've been looking forward to it for a whole month, she said, this is my last hope.It's a ridiculous plan, I think so, but it's the only hope I have left, and there's always a silver lining that it might actually work.And you showed up, I thought it would really work, and now I screwed up because I acted like a crazy woman. Li Qi paused for a long time, and for about a few minutes, he remembered a pancake shop he had seen in Lebo City, which was just opposite the motel.The place looked nice, and at the time he might have walked in across the street and ordered a large pancake with some bacon on the side, lots of syrup and maybe an egg.By the time he came out, she would have been driving for half an hour, so perhaps he was sitting next to a cheerful truck driver, listening to the radio and rock music.But he could also end up in a police cell, bruised and bloodied, awaiting questioning. Then do it again, he said, just tell what you have to say.But get the car out of the goddamn ditch first, I'm sick and I want a coffee, is there a place up ahead for a coffee? should have.she says.Yes, there is!About an hour's drive. then let's go!Let's go for coffee. You will leave me and run away.she says. Very tempting proposal!She stared at him for maybe five seconds, and then she nodded, as if finally making up her mind.She shifted the gear lever into drive and stepped on the accelerator.This car is a front-wheel drive, but the center of gravity is at the back, the tires can't grip the ground at all, so it starts idling.Gravel hit the chassis, hot khaki dust rose around the body, and then the tires finally grabbed the ground and the car was pulled out of the ditch and over the edge of the tarmac.She straightened the car, stomped on the accelerator, and headed south. I don't know where to start.she says. Start from scratch.He said.This is always the best way.Think back, tell me over coffee, we have plenty of time. She shook her head, looking out of the windshield, her eyes fixed on the shiny road ahead.She drove on in silence for a mile, at seventy miles. No, there is no time.she says.This matter is urgent. Fifty miles southwest of Aberlin, on a quiet country road, ten miles south of the main east-west road, Crown Victoria waited quietly on the shoulder, engine idling.The hood is pulled away from the body an inch to enhance heat dissipation.The surrounding area is endless, and even the curved arc of the surface can be seen, and the dusty dry bushes slowly disappear in every direction of the horizon.There was no traffic on the road, so there was no noise, just the rattling and murmur of idling engines, and the heavy crackling of the ground as it was mercilessly scorched by the sun. The driver adjusts the electric rear-view mirror outward to the maximum angle so that he can see all the road conditions behind him.The crown's own dust had settled completely, and visibility was about a mile away, just enough back to see where the paved road meets the skyline.At this juncture, the sun's heat twisted and transpired the object, turning it into a vision of silvery sparkle.The driver's eyes were focused on the distant focus, waiting for a blurry car to pass through. He knew what it would be, the prior briefing had made that clear.It was a white Mercedes, and it was driven by a man, going to an unmissable date.This guy will drive fast because he's going to be late, because he's late for everything.The three-person team knew when his appointment would start, and also knew that his destination was thirty miles ahead, so they could know the estimated time by simple calculation, and then set the ambush time accordingly.And that estimated time is fast approaching. let's start!Driving said. He got out of the car, braved the high heat outside, put the hood back into position, returned to the car, and took a baseball cap from the woman.It was one of three hats bought from a souvenir shop on Hollywood Boulevard for thirteen and ninety-five cents each. The jet black hat had the words FBI machine-embroidered on white cotton.The driver puts on his hat, with the brim pulled down to cover his eyes.The gear of the car was shifted to the forward gear, the foot was firmly pressed on the brake, the body leaned forward slightly, and looked intently at the rear view mirror. Really on time.He said. The silver phantasm was evaporating, shaking, and through it came a white shape, coming toward them like a fish leaping out of the water.Objects begin to take shape, settle on the road, move quickly, and cling to the ground.A white Mercedes with big tires and black windows. The driver releases the brake pedal, and the crown slowly moves forward through the dust.With a hundred yards to go he stepped on the accelerator, and the Mercedes sped by, the Coronet on the road, trailing in the hot air behind it.The driver turned the steering wheel straight and began to accelerate, his lips pursed into a smile.The Killing Team is at it again. The Mercedes driver noticed the flickering lights of the headlights in the rear-view mirror.He looked again and saw a sedan in the back, and two peaked caps could be seen from the front seat.His gaze automatically moved to the speedometer, which showed over ninety miles, and a chill ran through his chest.Oh shit!He let off the gas pedal, calculating in his mind how late he was, how far he had to go, and how he should deal with these guys.Be polite?Or is it my identity that you can't afford?Still have to pity each other, appeal to revolutionary emotions and say: Don’t be like this, brother, I also came out to make a living? After he slowed down, the car moved forward alongside him.He saw three people, one of whom was a woman, and the whole car was covered with antennas, but there were no lights, no bells, no ordinary police.The other driver signaled him to pull over, and the woman pasted the ID on the car window, with the word FBI printed on it in two inches.They also have the word FBI on their hats, and they all look serious. There is a tired look on the face of performing duties, and the car is also a standard duty car.He was a little relieved that the FBI didn't catch speeding, maybe it was another problem, or maybe it was a random inspection, and it would be reasonable if things thirty miles away were taken into consideration.He nodded to the woman, put on the brakes, turned to the right, and drove slowly onto the shoulder.Letting go of the accelerator, he coasted for a short distance and stopped, a cloud of dust kicked up behind the car.The Bureau's car also slowed down and stopped behind him, the light from its headlights dimmed by the dust. The trick is to keep them as quiet as possible, to live as long as possible, to delay all possible resistance, struggles will leave evidence, blood stains, fibers, and body fluids will get everywhere, so the three of them are not ill. Xu got out of the car, pretending to be an expert, and was reluctantly performing important duties, but it was not too urgent. Mr. Eugene?cried the woman.Al.Eugene is it? The Mercedes driver opened the door, got out of the car and stood under the hot sun.He was about thirty years old, not tall, dark-skinned, unsightly, not stout, and obese.He faced the woman, and the other party immediately saw his weakness. He had the innate respect for women in the south, which put him at an immediate disadvantage. Is there a problem?Miss.he asks. Is there no signal on your cell phone, sir?the woman asked. Eugene patted his coat pocket.There should be!He said. May I have a look at it? Eugene pulled the phone out of his pocket and handed it over, and the woman dialed a number with a look of surprise on her face. Seems to be ok.she says.May I borrow five minutes from you, sir? maybe!Eugene said.If you guys tell me what to do first. A little further ahead, we have a deputy director of investigations who wants to talk to you.I guess it should be urgent, otherwise we would not be sent over, and the matter should be very important, otherwise he would have disclosed the content to us in advance. Eugene pulled back his sleeves, looked at his watch and said: I have an appointment. The woman nods.We know, that's why you called first to help you reset the time without knowing.We only need five minutes. Eugene shrugged, can I see your papers?he asks. The woman handed the wallet over, it was worn black leather, with a milky white transparent plastic frame on the outside, inside was a photo of the Bureau of Investigation ID card, laminated, watermarked, and the printing was a bit old, very similar to what the federal government would use kind of.Like most people, Eugene had never seen the Bureau ID, so he assumed it was real. A little further?He said.All right!Then I will go with you! We'll drive you there.the woman said.There is a checkpoint in front, and the cars of ordinary people will make them nervous. We will drive you back immediately, and it only takes five minutes. Eugene shrugged again.All right!He said. The group walked back to the crown together, and the driver opened the front passenger door to let Eugene sit. Please sit here.He said.They list you as an A-level person, and if we put an A-level person in the backseat, we can't eat and walk around. They saw that Eugene's aura was slightly inflated because he was assigned to the front seat.He nodded and bent down into the front seat.Either he didn't notice that they didn't return his phone, or he didn't care.The driver closed the door for him, walked around the front of the car and returned to the driver's seat, while another tall man sat in the back seat with the woman.The Crown slowly skirted the parked Mercedes, turned left back onto the tarmac, and accelerated to fifty-five miles an hour. Front.the woman said. The driver nods.see.He said.no problem. There was a cloud of smoke on the road, about three or four miles away, and the breeze blew the cloud to the left.The driver slowed down, looking for a turn that had been surveyed thirty minutes earlier, and when he found his target, he turned left, crossed the opposite shoulder, and drove down into a depression where the road behind now looked like an embankment.He then turned right and drove behind a tall bush, giving the car complete concealment.The man and the woman sitting in the back seat took out their pistols, put their bodies forward against Eugene's neck, and pointed the muzzles at the acupuncture points naturally formed on the skull behind the ears, exactly the size of the muzzles. Sit down and don't move.the woman said. Eugene didn't dare to move. Two minutes later, a large black vehicle roared past above, it should be a truck or a bus.Dust floated all over the sky, and the moving air stirred the bushes below.The driver got out of the car and walked to Eugene's door, also with a gun in his hand.He opened the door, bent down, and held the muzzle of the gun to Eugene, just above the collarbone and just the size of the muzzle near the throat. get off.He said.Be careful. What?Eugene could only squeeze out the words. I'll tell you later.the woman said.get off. Eugene got out of the car, three guns aimed at his head at the same time. get out of the car.the woman said.Go in the opposite direction of the road. At this critical moment, Eugene turned his head at his limit, looking around desperately, his eyes almost jumped out, and his body twitched at the same time.He stepped away from the car, one step, two steps, three steps, looking around desperately. The woman nods.Al.she cried. Her two companions jumped aside and strode away while Eugene turned to look at the woman who called his name.She fired, and the bullet pierced Eugene's right eye, and the sound of the gunshot thundered out into the hot surroundings.The back of Eugene's head was smashed, and a big bloody hole appeared. He lay down straight and fell to the ground, his limbs were limp and intertwined.The woman circled around him, squatted down to take a closer look, and then stepped back, standing upright with her hands and feet spread out, as if she was about to accept the airport security check. examine.she says. Two men leaned over and examined every inch of her skin and clothes, hair and hands as well. pass.said the little dark man. pass.Said the tall and handsome man. She nodded and smiled slightly.There was no residue, no evidence, no blood, bone or brains on her body. very good.she says. The two men returned to Eugene, each grabbed an arm and a foot, and dragged them for ten feet before moving into the bushes.There they had previously found a limestone crevice about eight feet deep and a foot to a foot and a half wide, enough to squeeze a human body sideways, but not enough for the six-foot-wide wingspan of a vulture or turkey vulture.The two moved the corpse, first put the hanging hands and feet into the seam, and then slowly lowered it so that the body could enter.The guy was fatter than average, but they managed to get him in without getting stuck on the side rocks.After aiming well, the two let go, and the body was clamped tightly to a depth of seven feet. The blood stains had begun to dry and gradually turned black. They kicked the sand over to cover them, then grabbed branches to smooth out the footprints on the ground, and finally the three of them got into the car.The driver backed the car, rounded the bushes, drove over the roughness of the swale, climbed the slope back to the road, and galloped in the direction he had come, accelerating slowly to fifty-five miles.A few minutes later, Crown passed Eugene's white Mercedes, still parked where it had been, on the opposite side of the road, now looking as dusty as an abandoned vehicle. I have a daughter.Carmen.Gurriel said.I told you, right? You mean you are someone's mother.Li Qi said. She nodded at the steering wheel.I have a daughter who is six and a half years old now. Then she was silent for a minute. They named her Mary.Ellen.she says. them? My husband's family. Did they name your baby? yes!It seems that it is not convenient for me to come forward to stop it. Li Qi was silent for a while.What did you want to name her?he asked. She shrugged.It might be Gloria!I think she is full of brilliance (Note: The English name Gloria has the meaning of glory and brilliance). She fell silent again. But her name is Mary now.Ellen.He said. She nodded.They would call her by her nickname Ellie, sometimes Miss Allie. So she's six and a half now? But we haven't been married for seven years, I said, didn't I?So you can do the math, what could go wrong with this? count? Think about the meaning behind it. He shook his head at the windshield.No problem for me, where is the problem? Not a problem for me either.she says.But this explains why it is not convenient for me to come forward and say something. Li Qi did not answer. We didn't get along from the beginning.she says.I'm with their family. Her voice suddenly fell into despair, as if she was recounting a tragedy in the past, such as a car accident, a plane crash, or a diagnosis of an incurable disease, or as if she was about to tell about events that completely changed her life.She held the steering wheel, and the car seemed to drive forward by itself, a cool and quiet cocoon on a hot land. What's their last name?he asks. Guriel, she said, the old Echoshire family.They've been living here since it was stolen from Texas, maybe they helped a little during the theft. What kind of people are they? You should have guessed it.she says.The old white Texans, who were rich long ago, have spent most of it, but still have plenty left over.Oil ranches, ranches, river baptized Puritans, but that doesn't mean they go to church or think about what God has to say to them.Hunting is their entertainment.Papa is dead, Mamma is alive, two sons, cousins ​​all over the county, my husband is the eldest, and his name is Sloop.Gurriel. Sailboat (Note: Sloop originally means sailboat, here it is translated as Sloop.)?Li Qi asked. For the first time since leaving the gutter, she smiled.Sloop.She said it again. What kind of name is this? The name of an ancient family.she says.Probably a great ancestor who probably fought at the Alamo (Note: Alamo is a fortress that had major battles during the Texas War of Independence.) My ancestors fought. Sounds like a ship; what's the other brother's name?yacht?tug?ocean liner?Tanker? Rob.she says.Everyone called him by his nickname, Bobby. Sloop.Li Qi said it again.This is fresh. It's also the first time I've heard this name.she says.This whole marriage is a first for me, but I've always liked his name because it's different from other people. I think so too. I met him in California.Carmen said.We went to the same school, UCLA. away from their sphere of influence.Li Qi said. Her smile was gone.That's right, thinking about it now, it was because of this that the two of us had results.If you meet him here, everything will be laid out in the sun, and nothing will happen, absolutely impossible, I can assure you.I never thought I'd be here in my life, and I wish I hadn't. Her words stopped here, and she squinted to look at the big sun in front of her.A black road, with a shiny shape ahead on the left, gleaming aluminum luster, disintegrating into floating fragments, vaporizing upwards with the haze of the asphalt road. The restaurant has arrived.she says.I'm sure there must be coffee. It would be strange if it didn't.He said. There are many strange things here.she says. The restaurant stands alone on the side of the road, on a piece of compacted dirt with a slight bump in the middle, the restaurant is on top, and the side is used as a parking lot.There was a signboard on a tall pillar, there was no shadow at all nearby, and two trucks were parked randomly in the open space far apart. good.She started to slow the car and said, a little hesitantly, now that you're going to get away, you're already thinking those van drivers will give you a ride. He didn't speak. If you really plan to do this, please wait a while, okay?she says.Please, I don't want to be left alone in a place like this. She slowed down the car again, and after a jerk, the car drove onto the dirt ground and stopped beside the signboard, as if it were a tree that could provide shade from the sun.The signature thin shade runs across the hood like a long stripe.She shifted the gear into Park and turned off the engine, the air-con compressor hissing and rattling in the sudden silence.Li Qi opened the car door, and the heat wave outside hit him like a furnace in a steel factory, the heat was so high that he almost couldn't even breathe.He stood there for a second, waiting for her, and the two of them walked across the hot dirt together.The sun-baked ground was as dry and hard as concrete, and beyond the parking lot was a vast expanse of bushes and a blindingly white-hot sky stretching endlessly.Li Qi asked her to walk a little ahead so that he could observe her, her eyes were half closed, her head was lowered, as if she didn't want to look out, and she didn't want others to see her.The hem of her dress slid down to knee height, not too revealing, and her walking posture was also very elegant, like a dancer, her upper body was straight and still, and her bare thighs criss-crossed gracefully back and forth below. The restaurant had a small entrance with a cigarette machine next to it and a shelf full of flyers: real estate, car care, town events, shooting shows, and so on.The cool temperature returned behind the second door, and the two stood under the air conditioner, smelling the aroma of food for a while.There was a cash register by the door, and a dispirited waitress sat crookedly on a stool at the counter.A cook could be seen in the kitchen, and two men were eating in separate booths.Suddenly, the four people at the scene raised their heads and paused, as if they had something to say, but they were unwilling to say it. Li Qi's eyes rested on everyone for a second, then turned his head away, and took Carmen to the booth at the far end of the restaurant to sit down.Li Qi slid over the sticky plastic seat, tilted his head back, and let the cold air vents on the ceiling blow directly at him.Carmen sat down opposite and raised her head. This was the first time Li Qi looked at her face to face. My daughter looks nothing like me.she says.Sometimes I think it's the cruelest irony of it all, those big old Guriel genes smashing my genes, I'm sure of that. She has beautiful dark eyes with long lashes, slightly angled eyes, and a straight nose that forms an open Y below the eyebrows.The high cheekbones were surrounded by thick black hair, which turned a deep blue in the light.Small cherry mouth, light-colored lipstick, soft and refreshing skin, slightly brown, or rich honey color, and the skin is still shining.She looked whiter than Richie's sun-baked arm, but he was white and she wasn't. Who does Ellie look like?he asks. them.she says. The waitress came over with ice water, an order board, and a pencil, and stood beside her without saying a word, her chin raised high.Carmen ordered iced coffee, and Li Qi ordered hot coffee without sugar. It doesn't look like I was born at all.Carmen said.Pink skin, yellow hair, a bit fat, but eyes like mine. Lucky Ellie.Li Qi said. She smiled.Thanks, I would have wished her luck. She held the water glass against her face, then wiped the drips away with a napkin.The waiter brought the drinks, the iced coffee was served in a tall glass which spilled a little when set down.Li Qi's coffee was served in an insulated plastic flask, and the waiter pushed an empty mug beside the coffee.The waitress put the bill face down between two drinks and turned away without saying a word. You have to understand that I loved Sloop once.Carmen said. Li Qi didn't answer, and Carmen looked directly at him. Does it bother you to hear this?she asked. He shook his head, though honestly he did feel a little annoyed.The intimacy of strangers does not necessarily make lonely people feel comfortable. You made me start from the beginning.she says. That's right.He said.I say so. So I started talking.she says.I loved him, and you have to understand that first, and also that it's not very difficult to fall in love with him.He is tall, handsome, and always has a smile on his face. He is very easy-going and does not make people feel oppressed.And we were still students at that time, and we were both young.Los Angeles is a special place where it seems like anything can happen and it won't be a big deal. She pulled a straw from the box on the table and unwrapped it. You also have to know my family background first.she says.In fact, my situation is quite the opposite.I don't worry about whether the other white family will accept me as a Mexican. What I really worry about is whether my family will accept this white child, at least I think so.Our family is a big landowner in Napa, where our family has been rooted since the beginning of time, and as far as I know, no one has more money and the best culture.People in my family would be exposed to art, history, music, we would donate things to museums, we would hire white people, so I was worried about how my family would react to me marrying a white person. Li Qi took a sip of coffee.The coffee has been steeped for too long, and it is already a bit bitter, but it is barely acceptable. What do they say?he asks. They are going crazy.I thought they were stupid, but now I know they were right. So, what happened? She sipped her coffee through the straw and wiped her mouth with a tissue from the box on the table.There was some lipstick on the tissue. I am pregnant.she says.This of course made the situation ten thousand times worse, because my parents were very traditional, very religious people, so they kind of distanced themselves from me and cut ties with me.Sounds a bit like something out of the Victorian era, being kicked out of your house down the snowy steps and just throwing you a bag of tattered clothes.Of course, the difference is that there is no snow, and the bag with the clothes is actually a LV suitcase. what do you do then We got married but no one came except a few classmates.We lived in LA for a few months, then graduated, and we lived there until a month before the baby was born.It was kind of fun at first because we were young and we loved each other. Li Qi poured his second cup of coffee. But?he asks. But Sloop couldn't find a job.I began to find that he was not serious about looking for a job at all, and finding a job was not in his plan at all. He thought that after four years in college, he should return to his hometown to continue his father's career.His father was already planning to retire at that time, but I didn't like this kind of planning. I thought everything should start from scratch and rely on myself.We're both new generations and I figured I'd given up on that stuff so he should do the same, so we started fighting.Later, because I had a big stomach, I couldn’t work, and I didn’t have any private money of my own, so in the end I couldn’t pay the rent at all, so he won.We went back to Texas and moved into their big old house with a bunch of relatives and his brother, cousin, cousin.I still live there. The dullness of dying returned to her voice, and her life changed forever that day. Then?he asks. She looked directly at him.They treated me the way they treated other people, and it felt like the ground split open and I fell straight into hell.The shock was so strong that I couldn't react at all.From the next day, I suddenly woke up and realized that I had been a princess all my life, then became one of the thousands of cool guys and hot girls in LA, and finally became worthless Mexican garbage.They never said it, but it was clear enough that they hated me because I was the bloody whore who seduced their sweet baby.They were distant and cold to me, and I guess they hoped that one day Sloop would come to his senses and get rid of me.do you know?This kind of thing really happens in Texas. Many older and good babies were ignorant when they were young and wanted to eat something heavy. This seems to be a necessary process. After that, they will regain consciousness and reform.I know that's what's on their minds and they're very much expecting things to go that way, but it's a bolt from the blue for me, I never thought I'd get to this point, not at all, it just wasn't possible before , I don't have to face this situation at all.In an instant, the whole world was turned upside down, like falling into icy water, unable to breathe, think, or even take action. But obviously he didn't dump you. She looked down at the table. No.she says.He didn't dump me, but he started hitting me.The first time he punched me in the face, the next day was the day Ellie was born. The Crown Victoria had turned back into a normal Hertz cab, and the transformation took place behind a few trees eight miles off the main road, about the same distance from Aberlin and Big Spring.After the Virginia plates were taken off, the Texas plates were put back on, and then they kicked back the plastic wheel caps, ripped the cell phone antenna off the rear glass, put it back in the suitcase, and The radio antenna was also removed from the steel plate and thrown in with it.The baseball caps sold in the souvenir shop were stacked one by one and stored away with the pistols, and Eugene's phone was smashed with rocks and the debris was thrown deep in the undergrowth.Then they grabbed a handful of pebbles from the curb and sprinkled them on the front passenger seat, so the rental car company would have to vacuum up Eugene's hair and fibers along with it. Finally the big car returned to the tarmac, slowly circled back onto the highway, and headed west in a comfortable gallop.An unremarkable car carrying three unremarkable people.The car stopped again. This rest stop had the same name as the Colorado River. The three bought soda drinks here and made a phone call. Of course, they used an untraceable public phone.The call went to Las Vegas, from there to Dallas, and from Dallas to an office in a small West Texas town.The content of the call is to report that everything is going well so far, and the other party expresses his gratitude. He cracked my lip and crooked my teeth.Carmen.Gurriel said. Li Qi looked at her face. That was the first time.she says.He lost control for a moment, but immediately regretted it.He drove me to the emergency room himself, which was a long, hours-long drive.All the way he was begging me to forgive him and then begging me not to reveal the truth.他好像真的覺得很丟臉，所以我就同意了，可是其實我根本也沒機會開口，因為我一到醫院就開始陣痛，醫護人員直接把我送到樓上待產室，隔天愛莉就出生了。 Then what? 然後接下來就好了，她說，至少維持了一個星期。但他之後又開始打我，好像我做什麼都不對，花太多時間照顧小孩不行，縫合的傷口疼痛不想做愛也不行，他還嫌我懷孕之後變得又胖又醜。 Li Qi didn't speak. 他把我催眠得很徹底，她說，很長很長一段時間。你知道的，這種事都是這樣，除非你有很強的自信，才有辦法抵抗這種催眠，可是我在那種情況下沒有免疫力，他把我的所有自信都摧毀了。有兩、三年的時間，我以為這一切都是我的錯，於是我很努力想改過自新。 那他家人有什麼反應？ 她把飲料杯推開，杯中的冰咖啡只喝了一半。 他們都不知道。she says.接下來他爸就過世了，這讓情況變得更糟。他爸是唯一明理的人，人還不錯，可是現在只剩下他媽跟弟弟。他弟弟糟糕透頂，媽媽則是個賤人，可是他們還是不知道事實，一切都在暗地裡發生。房子很大，簡直算得上是個基地，所以我們對彼此間的事不那麼清楚，再說這一切都很複雜，他這個人太固執、太驕傲，抵死不會對家人承認自己錯了，所以他們越是排擠我，他就越要假裝愛我。他會誤導他們，也會買東西給我，這個戒指就是他買給我的。她舉起右手，手腕輕輕轉動，展示著那個鑲著大鑽石的白金戒指。看起來還真的挺嚇人的。李奇從來沒買過鑽戒，所以不知道行情如何，不過心想應該挺貴的才對。 他也買馬給我。she says.他們知道我想養馬，於是他就買給我，這樣一來他就可以在他們面前裝樣子，但實際上是想要掩飾我臉上的瘀傷。這是他的高招，也是永遠有效的藉口。他命令我要說受傷是因為從馬背上摔下來的關係，他們也知道我剛開始學騎馬。在這個常騎馬的地方，用這藉口可以解釋很多事情，瘀青、斷骨，這種事對他們來講稀鬆平常。 他打斷過妳的骨頭？ 她點點頭，開始伸手碰觸身上某些地方，在小小雅座的局限下扭轉身體，默默細數過往的傷痕，偶爾稍有遲疑，彷彿有些記不太起來。 應該先是我的肋骨，她說，我躺在地上時他用腳踢我。他抓狂的時候常這麼做，我的左手也被他扭斷過。還有鎖骨、下巴，嘴裡還有三顆重新植的牙。 李奇瞪著她。 She shrugged.急診室的人都覺得我是美國西部史上騎術最爛的騎士。 他們相信這種事？ 或許他們只是選擇這麼做。 他媽媽跟弟弟也是？ Same.she says.顯然沒人打算懷疑。 那妳為什麼賴著不走？為什麼第一次發生的時候不馬上走人？ 她嘆了口氣，閉上眼睛，把頭轉開。最後她雙手放在桌上，掌心向下，然後調過來朝上。 我不知道該怎麼解釋，她輕聲說，沒人能夠說得清楚，你要知道事情沒那麼簡單。我對自己沒信心，我的小孩又剛出生，我身無分文、沒有朋友、隨時還有人在監視我，我甚至連打通電話都沒辦法。 他沒說話，卡門睜開眼直直看著他。 最糟的是，我沒地方可去。she says. 家呢？he asks. She shook her head.我連想都沒想過。she says.忍耐總比抱著個金髮白人小孩爬回家好一點。He didn't speak. 如果第一次沒把握住機會，之後就不可能翻身了。she says.事情就是這樣，只會越來越糟。每次我一有這種念頭，就會顧慮到身上沒半毛錢，會想到我還有小孩。接著她就一歲了，然後兩歲、三歲，彷彿時機永遠不對。第一次留下來了，就永遠困在那裡。而我第一次選擇了留下來，雖然我希望不是這樣，可是我卻這麼做了。 He didn't speak.她看著他，露出懇求的神色。 你得相信我。she says.你沒辦法了解，因為你是個男人，長得高大強壯，如果有人打你，你可以打回去。你一個人逍遙自在，喜歡居無定所，可是我的情況不一樣，就算你不能了解，你也要相信我。 He didn't speak. 如果我能拋下愛莉的話，我早就走了。she says.史路普跟我說如果我把小孩留給他，他會給我機票錢讓我走。頭等艙。他說他會從達拉斯叫大禮車過來載我，馬上，直接載我到機場去。 He didn't speak. 可是我不願意。她靜靜地說。我的意思是，我怎麼可能走得開？所以史路普就覺得這是我自己的選擇，好像是我同意的，好像是我自己要的。於是他繼續打我、揍我、踢我、甩我巴掌。罵很難聽的髒話，每天都這樣，連他沒有對我不爽的時候也一樣。要是他真的很不爽，那整個人更是跟瘋子一樣。 silence.餐廳天花板的冷氣口吹出冷氣，廚房裡傳來模糊的聲響，卡門．古瑞爾低沉地呼吸著，桌上杯子裡的冰塊在溶解。他隔著桌子看著她，視線掃過她的手掌、手臂、脖子和臉。她的洋裝領口稍微往左滑落，李奇可以看到她的鎖骨上有塊凸起，那可以確定是斷骨復癒的痕跡。可是她的坐姿挺直，頭抬高，眼神中露出反抗的姿態。從她的姿勢似乎可以看出某些東西。 他每天打妳？he asks. She closes her eyes.嗯，幾乎每天。當然不是真的每天，不過通常一星期三、四次，有時更多，所以感覺起來差不多就是每天。 他很長一段時間沒說話，直直地看著她。 然後他搖搖頭。 妳在編故事。He said. 偷窺者依然堅守崗位，雖然已經沒什麼東西好看了。紅色屋子曝曬在太陽下，沒有任何動靜，只見女傭從屋裡出來，開著車揚塵而去，大概是去市場吧！馬房裡有馬匹活動的跡象，幾個無精打采的牧場工人牽著馬匹出去繞繞，洗一洗，再牽回馬房。馬房後面有間牧場工人宿舍，相同的建築樣式、相同的紅色油漆，看起來幾乎是空的。馬房中的馬數量不多，可能全部加起來只有五匹，其中一匹是小馬，給那小孩騎的。所有的馬差不多都在馬廄裡休息．因為外面的溫度實在太高了。 女傭回來了，拿著大包小包走進廚房。男孩在筆記本裡記了下來。她開車回來揚起的塵土慢慢落到地面上，兩個大人拿著望遠鏡看著，反轉棒球帽簷，讓脖子不會曬到太陽。 妳在說謊。Li Qi said. 卡門轉頭看著窗外，臉頰上浮現許多銅板大小的紅點。那是憤怒，李奇心想，但也可能是羞愧。 Why did you say that?她靜靜地問。 身體上的證據。He said.妳身上完全看不到瘀青痕跡，皮膚很乾淨，妝化得不濃，所以不可能蓋住什麼傷痕，而且很顯然不能掩飾妳臉上的通紅。妳現在看起來就像剛從護膚中心出來，而且活動能力正常，剛才走過停車場時活像個芭蕾舞者，渾身上下沒有任何地方在痛，也沒有僵硬不舒服的地方。如果他幾乎天天打妳，那他一定是拿羽毛在幹這件事。 她沉默了一會兒，然後點點頭。我還有話要告訴你。she says. 李奇把頭轉開。 關鍵部分。she says.重點。 為什麼我還要繼續聽下去？ 她拿了另一支吸管，撕開包裝，把包在外面的紙筒壓平，開始用食指跟拇指把它捲成螺旋狀。sorry.she says.可是我要你注意聽。 李奇把頭轉開，也看著窗外。太陽把凱迪拉克引擎蓋上的影子慢慢推移，彷彿時鐘上的指針。注意聽？他想起今天早上打開汽車旅館的房門，那是個全新的一天，他心裡已經準備好迎接所有可能發生的事。他想起鏡子裡出現的條子倒影，以及凱迪拉克在炙熱柏油路上減速，輪胎在他身邊發出黏稠的摩擦聲。 好，我注意聽。他看著外面的車子說道。 這些事持續了整整五年之久。she says.我發誓，真的跟我剛才講的一樣，幾乎每天。可是後來就停了，時間是一年半前。但我得從頭講，因為得先引起你的注意。 He didn't speak. 要對一個陌生人講這些事。她說：這不是件容易的事。 李奇把頭轉回來看著她。對聽的人來說也不容易。 她吸了口氣。你想丟下我嗎？ He shrugged.差一點，一分鐘前。 她又安靜下來。別這樣，她說，至少別在這裡。拜託，只要再聽一點就好了。 他直直地看著她。好，我在聽。He said. 可是你還要幫我嗎？ What help? She didn't speak. how do you feel?he asks.被打的時候。 感覺？她重複一次。 身體上。He said. 她把頭轉開，想了想。要看打在哪裡。she says. 他點點頭，她確實知道不同部位會有不同的感覺。 胃。He said. 會一直吐。she says.我很害怕，因為有血。 他又點頭，她知道胃部遭到攻擊時會有什麼反應。 我發誓我沒說謊。she says.整整五年。我為什麼要編故事？ 那接下來發生了什麼事？He said.為什麼他突然停手了？ 她暫停了一會兒，好像意識到可能會有別人看她似的。李奇抬起頭，看見很多人把頭轉回去廚師、服務生、坐在較遠位置的客人。廚師跟服務生轉回頭的速度比較快，另外那兩個客人則故意延宕了幾秒，臉上還帶著敵意。 can we goshe asked.我們得先回去，還有段很遠的路。 我要跟妳一起去？ 不就是為了這樣？she says. 他又把頭轉開，看著窗外。 拜託，李奇。she says.至少把剩下的故事聽完，然後你再決定。如果你不願意到回聲鎮的話，我可以讓你在佩科斯下車，你可以看看博物館，或看看克雷．艾利森的墓。 李奇看著長柱的陰影漸漸碰到凱迪拉克的擋風玻璃，他想，現在車裡一定像火爐一樣熱。 反正你也是要看的。she says.如果你真的在探索德州的話。 All right!He said. Thank you.she says. He didn't answer. 等我。she says.我得上洗手間，路程還很遠。 她溜出雅座，以沒有受傷的優雅姿態，低垂著頭走到餐廳另一頭，沒看左邊也沒看右邊。坐在桌旁的兩個人看著她，直到她幾乎通過時，又轉頭呆滯地看著李奇。李奇當作沒看到，把帳單翻過來，並從口袋裡掏出零錢丟在上面金額剛剛好，沒加小費。他心想不想講話的服務生應該也不會想要小費。李奇也滑出雅座，走到門口，那兩個傢伙一路看著他。李奇站在玻璃門前看著外面的停車場，觀察著外面曝曬在太陽下的平坦泥土地。他看了一、兩分鐘，直到她的腳步聲出現在他身後，李奇觀察到卡門梳過頭髮，也補了口紅。 我想我也上個洗手間好了。He said. 她往右邊看了一眼，視線落在兩個男人中間。 等我上了車再去。she says.我不想一個人留在這裡，其實一開始我們根本就不該來這種地方。 她推開門走出去，李奇看著她走到車邊然後上了車，接著車子震動，引擎發動後空調也開始運作。他轉過身走向男廁，裡面空間很寬敞，有兩個陶瓷尿斗和一個馬桶隔間。另一邊有個缺了口的洗臉盆，上面設置了一個冷水龍頭。一捲很大的紙巾放在紙巾機器上，看來不算乾淨。 他拉開拉鍊，在左邊的小便斗尿尿。門外傳來腳步聲，李奇抬頭看著沖水管上鍍鉻的活栓，雖然看起來很髒，可是是圓的，能反射後面的情況，就像個小小的安全鏡。他看見門打開，有個人走進來，然後門又關上，那個人隨即靠在門上。他是其中一個顧客，大概是其中一輛長車的司機。鍍鉻的活栓會扭曲影像，可是這傢伙的頭幾乎頂到門的上緣，身材不算矮小，而且他的手放在背後，不曉得在摸什麼。接下來，李奇聽到門鎖上的聲音，然後那傢伙又開始移動，兩手空空地自然下垂。他穿著一件黑色T恤，上面有寫字，不過李奇沒辦法倒著看出上面寫什麼，好像是某個團體的標誌，石油公司吧。 你是新來的？那傢伙問道。 李奇沒有回答，只是看著倒影。 我在問你問題。said the guy. 李奇還是不理他。 我在跟你講話。The guy said again. 你沒搞清楚狀況。Li Qi said.你以為我會很有禮貌地轉頭聽你講，然後尿得你鞋子上都是？ 那傢伙有點侷促不安、不知所措，顯然他原本準備了一套固定台詞。但這情況剛好在李奇意料之中，一點點隨性發揮就能讓他的步調慢下來，或許自己就有機會把握充分時間把拉鍊拉上，再好整以暇地對付他。結果那傢伙還是沒反應過來，還在想要不要馬上發難。 我想我應該要告訴你。He said.這種事總要有人出面。 他沒有採取行動，完全沒有臨機應變的天分。 講什麼？Li Qi asked. 講一下這裡的規矩。 李奇暫停了一下，咖啡唯一的麻煩就是利尿。 所以這裡的規矩是什麼？he asks. 在這裡，你不會把豆子佬帶進好人家的地盤。 What?Li Qi said. 你哪個地方聽不懂？ 李奇吐了口氣，大概再過了十秒鐘。 完全聽不懂。He said. 你不可以把豆子佬帶到這種地方來。 什麼豆子佬？Li Qi asked. 那傢伙往前跨上一步，使他的倒影變得更加扭曲腫大。 拉丁美洲人。He said.吃豆子的人。 豆子婆，李奇說，要說婆。性別很重要，這樣說才正確，而且她剛剛在喝咖啡，整天下來也沒見她吃豆子。 你以為自己很聰明？ 李奇尿完了，拉上拉鍊時嘆了口氣。他沒沖水，像這種地方，沖水不像是標準作法，所以他直接轉身到洗手台邊打開水龍頭。 this!我比你聰明。He said.這不用懷疑，可是還不足以顯示差距。這捲紙巾也比你聰明，聰明太多了，每一張拆開來看都能算是天才。跟你比起來，他們每一個都可以上哈佛、讀大學，每一個都可以拿全額獎學金，你卻還在為國民教育痛苦掙扎。 感覺好像在嘲笑恐龍，而且大概是雷龍之類的，因為這種龍的大腦距離每一個部位都很遠，聲音傳進去之後，要過一段時間才能接收到，然後加以理解。四、五秒鐘後，那傢伙臉上的表情才反應過來，再過四、五秒，他才揮出右手。這拳沉重緩慢，粗壯的右手臂末端掛著一團隆起的拳頭，沒有瞄準就朝著李奇的頭揮來。要是真的打中，應該會造成一點傷害，不過這拳並沒打中李奇。李奇用左手抓住這傢伙的手腕，讓揮出的拳頭停在半空中，然後一聲沉重的悶哼在廁所中迴響。 連這地板上的細菌都比你聰明。He said. 李奇將腰部側轉九十度，保護鼠蹊不受攻擊，手上同時施力擠壓他的手腕。以前有段時間他可以單用手就把人的手骨捏斷，其實力氣根本不是問題，純粹看你要不要而已。 可是這時候，他沒這股狠勁。 今天算你走運。He said.就我了解，你可能是條子，所以我打算放你一馬。 那傢伙睜大眼睛看著自己的手腕，看著它被李奇緊緊抓住，黏黏的手腕肌肉開始腫脹發紅。不過要先道歉。Li Qi said. 那傢伙還是繼續瞪著看了四、五秒鐘之久，就像恐龍的反應一樣。 sorry.He said.I apologize. 不是對我，混蛋。Li Qi said.是對那位小姐。 那傢伙沒說話，於是李奇加大力氣。他感覺拇指因為汗水而移動，往上滑到食指的指尖，那傢伙的腕骨開始發出聲響並彎曲，最後橈骨跟尺骨越來越接近，就快超過負荷。 good.那傢伙上氣不接下氣。快放手。 李奇放開他的手腕，那傢伙趕快把手縮回，用另一隻手托住。他喘著氣，一下看著手、一下看著李奇。 把你的卡車鑰匙給我。Li Qi said. 那傢伙用左手笨拙地伸進右手口袋，拿出一大串鑰匙。 現在到停車場等我。Li Qi said. 那傢伙用左手把門鎖拉開，走了出去，然後李奇把鑰匙丟在沒沖水的小便斗裡，再把手洗一次。李奇用紙巾仔細地把手擦乾淨，然後跟了出去。他看到那傢伙站在停車場，和凱迪拉克與餐廳門口之間的距離相等。 要客氣點。李奇對他叫道。就說你要幫她洗車什麼的，她一定會說不用，不過誠意最重要，對吧？發揮你的創意，你就可以拿回鑰匙，不然你就得走路回家了。 李奇透過上色的擋風玻璃可以看到卡門看著他們走來，完全不知道發生了什麼事。李奇揮揮手，做出繞圈動作，好像在轉動把手，要她降下車窗。她把車窗按下約兩吋，寬度只夠露出眼睛，眼神中流露著緊張與擔心。 這傢伙有話要跟妳說。Li Qi said. 李奇後退一步，那傢伙走上前，頭看著地上，然後回頭看著李奇，就像條鬥敗的狗。李奇點點頭，給他點鼓勵，接著那傢伙把手放在胸前，像個歌劇男高音或餐廳侍者總管一樣，身體稍微往前彎，好對著兩吋寬的窗縫講話。 Miss.He said.只是想跟妳說如果妳再次光臨，我們會竭誠歡迎。要不要順便幫妳洗個車？既然妳都把車開來了。 What?she says. 他們兩人同時轉頭看向李奇，那傢伙一臉求情，卡門則是驚訝萬分。 get out!Li Qi said.我把你的車鑰匙留在廁所裡。 又過了四、五秒鐘後，那傢伙轉身走回餐廳，而李奇繞過引擎蓋走到乘客座車門邊，把門打開。 我以為你要把我丟下。卡門說。我以為你叫那傢伙載你走。 其實，我比較喜歡讓妳載。He said. 維多利亞皇冠往南開，到了個人煙稀少的十字路口小村莊，右邊有家老餐廳，左邊有塊空地，路上的停止線已幾乎磨平。此外還有家破舊的加油站，加油站對面的學校只有一間教室，到處都是灰塵與炙熱的空氣。車子慢了下來，以步行速度通過十字路口，經過學校門口，然後突然加速急馳而去。 小愛莉．古瑞爾看著它飛奔而去。她坐在學校裡的木頭椅子上，靠在窗邊，正要把她大大的藍色午餐盒蓋打開。她聽到車子加速瞬間發出的尖銳聲響，轉過頭看著車子離去。她是個嚴肅、認真的小孩，喜歡默默觀察，大大的深色眼睛一直停在馬路上，直到塵土恢復平靜。然後她回頭看著自己正要做的事檢查今天的菜色，小愛莉心想要是媽媽在家幫她準備午餐就好了，因為幫她準備午餐的女傭是古瑞爾家的人，脾氣很暴躁。