Chapter 5 Chapter Four

Sarah.Jason cursed softly.Why does the market suddenly become extremely hot whenever she wants to leave early?She stared at the rows of numbers on the ticker, which seemed to flicker more vigorously under her gaze.She cursed again, cut off the power abruptly, and with a gasp and a silver light, the screen went dark.While she was packing her handbag, David.Reed looked at her in amazement. You can't go yet, Sarah.It was only two o'clock.The market is unstable, and the market has not yet calmed down.He pretended to be very annoyed.This is a double reed often played by two people.He liked her rebellious behavior that resonated with him, and she appreciated his active cooperation.

I can go.She retorted that the current market is making me feel bad, and whenever I feel bad, I lose money.You know that.She shrugged her shoulders resignedly, so I had to leave.The deadpan look on her face was about to give away, so she turned away quickly and if anyone wanted to tell them I'd call back tomorrow. David sat back, defeated by her logic.Don't forget, he yelled after her leaving, you're having lunch with Carter tomorrow.From past experience, he knew that her low mood was what she said could last for days. The Waitrose supermarket on the King's Road is filled with mothers with babies, retirees and disheveled artists.Sarah has always believed that these artists deliberately dressed to be depressing.She doesn't usually get such customers because, like most salaried people, she works from 9am to 5pm or in her case 7am to 5pm.She felt that she liked the motley crowd at 2:30 better.Going shopping after six o'clock often risked being knocked over by the mob of hyperactive, prim, newly liberated desks as they took out their inner boredom on the wheels of their trolleys.

She lingered at the fresh meat counter for a while, turned the beef wrapped in plastic bags over and looked closely at the blood flowing inside.She picked out the tenderest crimson bloody tenderloin she could find.Next, she picked out some potatoes for roasting, tomatoes for baking, a few clusters of sprouting cauliflower, and a handful of reddish-green lettuce. She wheeled the cart to the dairy department and loaded it with some heavy cream, some heavy cream, and half a dozen free-range eggs.After finishing shopping in the supermarket, she came to the Chelsea Farmers Market not far from the King's Road with big bags and small bags.

She bought a small packet of vanilla beans from a health food store called Niles Field, then stopped by a take-out restaurant and hunched through the low door.The storefront of this well-reputed takeaway hotel is small, but there are a lot of varieties. Even if the salespersons in it don't know everything, they are very friendly.She leisurely selected three bottles of red wine and two bottles of champagne.Then she rode back home. When Sara walked in, Alex and Eddie were sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, intently examining a large crumpled map.They were so engrossed that they did not notice her return for some time.Sarah watched them silently.Her precious brother Alex is twenty-five years old, brave and kind.In her eyes, he has always been an innocent child, bright and bright, but not cynical.He was naturally jovial.He was only six years old when his parents died, and he was far less affected than her.He is sad, he misses them, he is alone and afraid: his feelings are limited to the normal range of human emotion.Besides, he has his elder sister and aunt who live in England to take care of him.From them he took comfort, and within a few years he was a happy, normal child.He devoted his energies to outdoor activities, especially mountaineering.Like Sarah, he also went to Cambridge, but he spent most of his time climbing and graduated with mediocre grades.He doesn't care.As long as he has the time and money to spend climbing, he is content.He had time and Sarah had money.Alex goes hiking for nine months of the year and lives in Sarah's apartment the rest of the time.This way of life was satisfactory to him, and Sarah was intoxicated with his happiness.Just a year ago, he met Eddie, a twenty-nine-year-old Austrian, while climbing the Alps.They formed a team on the mountain and went back to Sarah's apartment together.A friendship slowly develops between Eddie and Sara.Four months later, they became lovers.

Like Alex, Eddie was tall and thin, with the strong, unobtrusive muscles of a cliff climber.Eddie is shooting a documentary for Austrian television.He used the time between filming to engage in mountaineering.Like most men Sarah liked, he was brunette.But what sets him apart from most of them is his kind and gentle personality.He has a strong, almost acerbic sense of humor, though this is more a product of intellect and nationality than malice, for he is rarely suspicious and never feuds with anyone.Sara went up to him and kissed him, thinking that the only flaw in their relationship was that he had traveled so much in the mountains that he rarely saw each other, and that parting was always a nightmare, and she missed him all the time, Worried about his safety in the mountaineering.

Both men smiled as she stepped forward.Eddie reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him for a kiss. So you managed to sneak out? She smiled and sat between the two of them, ignoring the large and small packages overturned on the floor, tubes of cream and bottles of wine rolling out. Show me where you are going again. Alex draws a line. So, you think the trek will take about six weeks, and then, a few weeks of general exploration, with a short stop in Kathmandu, and then a month of traveling through the jungle on a given route, don't you? Roughly so.Eddie said. Sara held them close to her with open arms, and what would I do without you for three months?Her tone was light and cheerful, but they sensed the sadness in her heart.They had observed this many times in the past when they had left her.Behind her confident exterior lurks a nagging vulnerability that Alex is well aware of and that Eddie is increasingly aware of as well.Sarah tried her best to hide it, and might never admit it to them, but all three of them knew it.Alex tried not to think about it, because it worried him, made him flustered.And always like this.She is his older sister who always takes care of him.She's supposed to be strong, but there's something unstable about her, and sometimes leaving her alone scares him.She's been doing a lot better since Eddie showed up.Her mind was greatly stabilized.For the first time in years, maybe for the first time in his life, Alex felt that she was happy, even settled.He stared at her.wrong.Not to mention stability.He wondered if she would be settled; if she could be content to be.He saw her laughing with Eddie.But she was happy, he had no doubt of that.

Come out and come with us.Alex blurted out. Yes, why not? Sara smiled, and moved her purchases into the kitchen.As she opened the big and small bags, she thought to herself: This time it won't work.But she assured herself: it won't be long.soon. At six o'clock the alarm clock rang.Sara turned sideways to turn off the alarm, then turned to hug Eddie.He hugged her tightly, buried his face in her hair, kissed her neck, her face, her eyes.After a few minutes, he slowly moved away, gently brushing the hair away from her face. I meant it last night.You can come with us.In terms of the logistics of several locations, it's doable, and you know we would very much like you to come along.

Sarah looked into his honest eyes and smiled. I knew I would go someday, but not yet.If I go with you and taste the sweetness of freedom, I don't think I'll ever be able to return to work. It's not that scary, is it? I can't give up easily just yet.Sarah said simply. Eddie pulled her towards him and kissed her again.He knew he could not win this argument.She would say it was because of the money.She only needs to work for another year or two, and she will have enough money to stop working.But he thinks it's more than that.He felt that, despite her rebellious personality, she had a desire to represent a normal life, and that she found solace in her repeated complaints about the urgency of her day-to-day work and her tight schedule.He sees it as a wish of the orphans for a safe and orderly life.Given what he knew of her, the analysis was plausible, incomplete but correct in itself.

They left at nine o'clock.Sarah stood at the door, watching their taxi disappear from view.Her stabilizing factor had left her.She turned and went back inside and took a long, hot shower. It was five in the morning when Sarah and Eddie went to bed.After platefuls of tenderloin steak, followed by copious amounts of crème brûlée, they sat and drank, chatted and laughed, and played noisily one game after another.They only slept for about half an hour.So she stepped out of the shower feeling weak in her legs, weak from fatigue and emotional reasons.As she stood drying herself, she looked in the mirror.Her eyes were sunken and listless.She looked at her image in the mirror for a long time, then smiled faintly and turned around.

They're gone, but they'll be back.She has to believe it.Yet their departure also carried an element of uncertainty that unsettled and frightened her and, paradoxically, satisfied some secret longing.Although she avoids uncertainty, she also needs it, has an unconscious desire to subdue it, and is also attracted to it.It destabilized her more than anything else, but she still had to pick it out and bring it into her life. Sara rummaged through the closet for what to wear.Remembering her client lunch, she picked out a sleek, stately black suit.She felt it was perfectly in line with her mood at the moment.The black suit made her already pale face look even more pale.She went into the bathroom and put on some makeup, touch-up color on her cheeks and lips, and some cream eyeshadow under her eyes to cover the dark circles.She figured she could hide it from them as long as she had enough coffee.

Sarah.Anthony.Barrington is with John.Carter chatted.He saw her walking towards him.She was about five feet nine, he guessed, maybe six feet with those shoes.She strides with confidence.In his eyes, she was like an outstanding Amazon, despite her attempts to hide her charm.She was dressed in somber colors, as if she were going to a funeral.If she brushed her hair back so that it didn't hide her face, the overall effect was very calm, even aggressive, though not in his eyes. He thought it was an effect of the shape of her face.More specifically, the eyes and mouth, the contours of the jaw, the cheeks and eyebrows: all of these parts express femininity and beauty.The unpretentious hairstyle and clothing are just as a foil.But when she walked up to him and stood there for a while, he was not surprised to find that there were some net lines around her eyes; they were still relatively thin, not really wrinkles, but they were not common for people of her age .She held out her hand to him, a smile formed on her face, and the lines curled up accordingly.This is the face of a brave man.She held his hand, her eyes glowing, and she greeted him in a deep, round voice, but suddenly there was a look of nothingness on that beautiful face, an emotional emptiness and then a return to enthusiasm. .Barrington shook her hand and, studying her smiling face, got the impression that she had no interest in meeting him. Out of the corner of his eye Barrington saw Carter looking at him strangely.He immediately turned his attention to his old friend, realizing that he had been talking to him.He believes that honesty is the best policy. Excuse me, old chap, I was only paying attention to Miss Johnson just now.You didn't prepare me mentally beforehand. Not for the first time, Carter made a face at Sarah.Blame me.He finished with a smile and turned back to Sarah, which I totally understand. Sarah smiled politely, as if listening to a well-worn joke. any drinks?Carter moved toward her. Red Mary mix.She smiled sweetly.He nodded slightly and turned quickly to Barrington.Barrington ordered the same wine.Then Carter was busy preparing the wine.On a Saturday morning, a red mary.It's all a thing of the past.He started mixing drinks, the usual proportions for himself and Barrington, and some Tabasco for Sara: an unacceptable Cajun appetite.He chuckled to himself, then turned to them both with a relaxed smile.Barrington was watching Sarah carefully.Sarah didn't sip her wine, but drank it in long gulps.She stood by his side, looking at the row of roofs below the window.They were now on the top floor of the Finlays Bank building.It is a modern tower building, and the old buildings of the city, including the Bank of England building, are all visible below it. The scenery is pleasant, Barrington nodded and said, it can be called the best scenery in the financial city. Sarah turned around, didn't she.I like to stand here and enjoy looking into the distance.These buildings are so different in style that they look almost vulnerable from this angle.There is no busy scene here, no security guards, only a large number of exposed roofs.She grinned. If I was going to rob a bank, I'd do it from the roof. The two men laughed. By the way, thank you for the tip, the president said, if there is a case of skimming the roof and robbing the bank, we will know who the suspects are. Oh, don't get too excited, President.You can't catch Sarah at all.Carter said.The two laughed again.Sarah smiled out the window and lit a cigarette. The butler appeared at the door and signaled Carter cautiously that lunch was ready. Thank you, Fred.let's start.Carter said.He gestured for Sarah and Barrington to take their seats.He sat first, Barrington on his right, Sarah on his left.Fred served a plate of warm chicken liver salad. Did you go to Cambridge University?Barrington swallowed a big mouthful of food as he spoke.Sara nodded yes, feeling tired and bored at the same time, and replied mechanically: 1985-1988, Trinity College, Department of Mathematics. Outstanding student in double subjects.Carter added. It's not the same kind of people as us.Barrington laughed. Sarah smiled politely. Is it pure mathematics?Barrington continued to ask. Yes, but I've also done a couple of philosophy papers. Fantastic mix. is the perfect combination.A combination of heart and brain, says Sarah. Work in the City of Finance?Barrington leaned across the table to her, raising one eyebrow. Yes.Not very logical, right? There was a silence as the two men waited for her to explain further.She shrugged, wasn't it obvious? Barrington looked a little embarrassed.He coughed, yes, but was there no reason other than money?Don't you just love forex trading? Sarah laughed, but held it back out of courtesy, and I hate to say I liked it.Like this word I use to describe mountaineering, skiing or reading.Forex trading interests me.I love poker luck, and rather oddly, the forex market is a mix of heart and brain, logic and emotion.On Black Wednesday, or on the night Gorbachev stepped down, emotion played as big a role as logic.Take into account market sentiment, psychological factors, efforts to manipulate the market, and at least other traders.Yeah, it's fascinating, like a big game. Barrington was silent for a moment.Carter saw him watching Sarah.Barrington interrupted his thoughts and said again: "Game?"It has serious consequences. Oh, and I never said the consequences weren't serious.Yes, some people make a lot of money, some people lose a lot, hundreds of millions, billions, the government's economic policies come to naught, and their political careers are over. Listen to your tone, this kind of thing has nothing to do with you!The governor said somewhat excitedly. It's none of my business, Sarah replied, or at least there's nothing I, a foreign exchange trader, can do.My job is to make money for my employer.No compromises.As a person, I certainly care about economic policy, about people's career ups and downs.But as soon as you enter that arena, this is what happens.It could easily have happened to me.If I made a few mishandlings and lost millions of pounds, John would not hesitate to fire me, and he was right to do so. It doesn't look like you're worried about that prospect.Barrington said. how do I say this?Sarah shrugged. Carter suddenly said: As far as I know, Sara can be regarded as the top foreign exchange trader in the City of Finance.She's the one who won't worry about being fired. Barrington leaned back in her seat. Was she really that good?he asked with a smile. She is just that good.Carter replied. Dishes were brought up and removed one after another.Fred served a plate of chocolate custard.To Barrington's delight, Sarah took her own share with relish. I was surprised to learn from Carter that you were born in New Orleans.He turned to her and said.To his dismay, he noticed that she shuddered a little at the sound of New Orleans, and it occurred to him that her parents had died there.He blamed himself secretly.How could he be so insensitive?However, her face quickly returned to normal, which surprised him for a moment, wondering if the reaction he saw just now was his imagination.She answered with a smile. My mother is originally from New Orleans.Her family were early French settlers from Nova Scotia.She was beautiful, darker than me, with jet-black hair, dark brown eyes, and tiny. My father met my mother on vacation in New Orleans and never left.Sara spread her hands, and now you know my background.She lowered her eyes, reached for her glass, and drank some more red wine. Ah, now I understand.Barrington was anxious to introduce some lightheartedness. Sarah raised her eyebrows in bewilderment. I mean your skin color.said Barrington with the pompous tone of Poirot. Earlier it was the Cajun, settlers from France and Spain.Intermarriage, Sara explained, with Italians and possibly blacks as well.So our skin is darker than the average French.She smiled slightly, as if recalling something from the past.For the first time her face was radiant.Barrington was almost shocked to notice the blazing light in her eyes. Lunch is over.Barrington nodded to Carter, then shook Sarah's hand warmly.She smiled and said goodbye.He was pleased to note that she was somewhat puzzled.She didn't try to hide the feeling.She just wanted him to understand that she knew she was being used as a show, and that there was no point in asking him about the real intentions of the lunch.She acted patiently, more or less, as if she'd find out someday, as if she always found out sooner or later. What an extraordinary woman she was, he thought to himself as he walked back to the bank.After returning to the quiet office, he called Bartrop. I think I've found you the spy you want. Bartrop dismisses the sarcasm, huh.Tell me about his situation. The he you're talking about is actually a she, with wit, brains, and looks.Seriously, it seems to be the top foreign exchange trader in the city. Sounds promising.what is her name? Sarah.Jason. What about the full name? Bartrop heard a rustle of paper, Sarah.Louise.Jason. I presume she is British. Yes, she is a British citizen, but her mother used to be American, and Has her mother died?Bartrop interrupted him. Yes.And her father.They died in a car accident when she was eight. Bartrop hurled a series of questions about it. She's not what you would call an ordinary person, is she?Born in New Orleans, bereft of parents, raised by an aunt, of Cajun blood.Sounds like a recipe for disaster, President. You may think so, Bartrop, but you haven't seen her.She's as normal and as adaptable as anyone you meet. Well, if you think so, then I believe you are right, President.First, though, we have to go through a couple of scrutiny.Women of foreign origin tend to have more complex backgrounds. Well, go ahead and review it.I'll send someone to send you her resume.Maybe it helps. Thank you, President.It will provide some material for our next work.Bartrop hung up the phone, triumphant at his closing remarks