Chapter 27 26

Mary suddenly panicked.Are they going to part ways?But what can she do?She had no choice but to go with Kadin.Kadin led her through the camp to a tent.On the surface, this tent is no different from other tents except for its size.But once inside, the impression changed immediately.A dark wood table stands on an artsy rug on the sandy floor.On the table was an attractive meal, two sets of silver cutlery and a china plate, surrounded by four finely carved high-backed chairs.A transparent door curtain separates this from the compartment.The compartment is the bedroom, the bed is laid on the floor, surrounded by silk pillows.

On one side of the outer room stood a large desk, which must have been from the colonial period.On a stack of papers was a brightly colored booklet with a tall, slender skyscraper on the cover.Auduma got up from his sleek leather chair and closed his laptop. Good night, Miss Ashe!he said, holding out his gloved right hand.I wish I could have the honor of having dinner with you.He smiled kindly and said something in Arabic.After Kading bowed, he backed out.Only the two of them were left in the house. Mary clasped the outstretched hand in bewilderment, the one wrapped in leather that was unnaturally hard.

Please sit down! Mary's first instinct was that Auduma's apparent friendliness contradicted the contempt of his words.But her consciousness told her that it might be more practical to accept Auduma's invitation, and maybe she could win more freedom for herself and Raphael, so she hesitated to sit on the chair that Auduma indicated sit down. We rarely have female guests here.Auduma chatted easily, and even fewer charming ladies like you.After all, war is a man's business. Mary didn't know how to respond. Auduma hands Mary a glass of French red wine.You must be thinking, why should I bring you two to camp.Yes, I admit, at first I thought I could use you as hostages.But now, when I see you, I know right away that I cannot use you to make demands that simply cannot be fulfilled.

You mean, you're going to let us go? Auduma didn't answer, just raised his glass.I respect your health.He said, took a sip. Mary felt that this toast was too absurd for the situation in front of her.Still, she took a sip.The red wine left on the tip of the tongue is very mellow and moist, with an earthy aroma, it is a top-quality wine. Auduma had an apologetic smile on his face.Sorry, I can't let you go.As I said, I won't allow you to have my old friend Andre.Berger was sued.Do you know?He was a brilliant scientist, and his work meant a lot to our war and our people.Please dine!As he spoke, he scooped the fragrant rice and the chicken soaked in the orange-red gravy onto his own plate.

Mary did the same, scooping the rice and chicken onto her own plate.It tastes great. I regret that we met under circumstances that made you uncomfortable.But who knows, maybe one day you'll understand my point of view better, Auduma said.I don't expect you to share my opinion anytime soon, but I'd be more than content to change your mind about the wicked Arabs a bit.Those are good things done by your media and US intelligence. For a moment Mary forgot that she should be cautious.Are you trying to say that, in a way, the terrorists are just?To destroy the World Trade Center is to achieve your higher ideals?I know that people in Africa and the Far East have been treated very unfairly for many years.But being treated unfairly does not mean that what you do is necessarily right!

Instead of being angry, Auduma showed understanding.You are right.The 9/11 terrorist attacks are something to be proud of, but most of the things that make people proud are stupid things.Instead of arousing fear and fright in Western countries, it united the enemy and provided an excellent excuse, so our people have endured heavier pressure.I will never repeat such mistakes. If you're not planning a terrorist attack, what are you doing with Berger's findings? A faint smile played on Uduma's lips.Can you play chess? Mary nodded. How about this, after dinner, let's have a game.If you win, I'll tell you more.If you win me, you have to grant me one wish.Agree?

Mary was suspicious.desire?what wish? I will give you something.If I win, you must accept this gift. good. Mary is an excellent chess player.At the age of six, she began to learn chess from her father.At eleven, she beat him for the first time.Of course, before this, her father often let her win to encourage her, but Mary soon realized that those mistakes were made by her father on purpose.No school teacher was her match, but she didn't want to join the chess club, so she played against the computer.In her first match against the Commodore 64 computer, she quickly beat the highest level in it.On her sixteenth birthday, her father gave her a computer checkers, which quickly fell to her hands.With the rapid development of computer technology, the level of computer chess game programs has improved rapidly.When Mary was nineteen, an IBM computer defeated a current world chess champion for the first time.Within a few years, tabletop chess programs capable of beating grandmasters would become available.Mary played until two to three levels below the highest level.However, after she started working at Copeland, she never had time to play chess again.

They sat in silence.Mary felt better.Although she and Rafael are prisoners, it seems impossible to confirm whether they will be executed.Of course she didn't trust Auduma.Still, he was a considerate and charming host, and treated her with courtesy.In addition, although she was hesitant, she still had to admit that Auduma's face had a kind of exotic beauty, and the straight and curved bridge of the nose endowed him with an aristocratic air.There was something uncommon, hypnotic in the brown eyes.Only the hands in the black leather gloves made Mary uncomfortable and cold. Mary's expression could not escape Auduma's eyes.Auduma raised his right hand, as if responding to Mary's thoughts.You may be wondering why I keep wearing these gloves.Believe me, I also know it's inappropriate.But what looks underneath these black leather gloves will make you even more uncomfortable.I have to admit, sometimes I have a little bit of a good face.

Mary realized that his hand was related to a piece of history.This history deeply affected Auduma's personality.He would tell her about the experience.Perhaps, she will learn an important fact.Have you been injured? He looked at her silently.This was a long time ago.After a brief hesitation, he finally said, I don't want to bore you. Mary tried to smile encouragingly.You won't bore me.She replied, and had to admit in her heart that this was her sincere words.No matter how dire the situation, she was indeed enjoying the evening with this man at the moment.The man was firmly against her putting him on the devil's side.

He nodded earnestly.All right!That was in Afghanistan.At that time, I was only eight years old.My father was a Mudschahed, that is, a freedom fighter against the Russian invasion.We live in a small village in southern Kandahar.One day, a Russian helicopter flew close to my house.The next day, my little sister Nazia came home with a strange object, which she found in the fields outside.It was painted colorfully, like a crude doll made of metal.When my father saw it, his face turned pale with fright.Nazia, give it to me quickly.He yelled, it's a bad thing!Nazia was taken aback.I watched her throw the thing to the ground.I instinctively wanted to grab it, but not fast enough.It hit the ground and exploded.

He paused, as though his heart still ached just thinking about it until now.Mary waited quietly. Nadiya died instantly, and my hands have been deformed ever since.Auduma's face hardened.The Russians believed that killing our children would distract us.But they are wrong.From that day on, our resistance became more determined.Four years later, my father died too, killed when he planted a mine under a Russian tank.He used his life to make four enemies die with him.I also always wanted to be a liberal resistance activist.But by the time I was old enough, the war of liberation had already been won. Mary looked at the deep pain on his face and suddenly understood why he hated Westerners.She had no siblings of her own, but what could be more cruel than seeing her own sister's body torn to shreds?When Americans supported the Freedom Resistance Movement against the Russians, it was purely out of self-interest in order to gain an advantage in the Cold War.Auduma must have viewed the United States as cynical. What a horrible experience!she says. Indeed.Ulduma's eyes blazed with anger.I ask you, Mary, how depraved a man's morals must be to think of designing a bomb as a toy?Let innocent children become their weapons!Even the children of the enemy cannot do this! Mary didn't know how to answer. Auduma said something loudly in Arabic.An African came in and cleared the table.Apparently, he had been standing outside the tent. Auduma took out a wooden chessboard, and from an intricately carved wooden box, carefully carved pieces of ivory and ebony.He presented the two kings before Mary's eyes.You choose. Without hesitation, Mary picked up the white chess pieces. Auduma smiled.attacking party.You like to be in charge.good choice. Mary starts the game, the pawns in front of the queen take two steps forward: D2-D4.Auduma stared at her, seemingly unsure if this was a mistake, or a special opening carefully crafted.Usually the safe way to play white is to move the pawns in front of the king first.Auduma hesitated for a moment, and jumped the Cavaliers from G8 to F16.Mary pushes the pawn in front of the bishop two steps forward: C2︱C4, so that the queen can stretch.Auduma answered with G7-G6, opening the way for the bishop.Grunfeld style (Annotation: An opening method in chess, created by Austrian chess player Ernst Grunfeld, so called Grunfeld defense method) variation of the ancient Indian defense method (Annotation: also a classic opening method in chess) .It seemed that Auduma, like her, was an aggressive chess player who hated boring positional battles.It soon became clear that he was at least the same level of chess player as Mary. Mary became cautious and took more time to think.Auduma was careful not to fall into any of Mary's traps.On the contrary, it was Mary who did not realize until the last moment that what she thought was a well-planned move would lead to a fatal danger two moves later.Auduma smiled when he realized she recognized danger.Use your opponent's power to knock down your opponent.This is an ancient principle in Chinese martial arts Mary respected him spontaneously. Fifteen minutes later, the originally peaceful game turned into a stubborn fight.Sweat rolled down Mary's upper lip in big drops.She desperately tried to turn the chaos on the chessboard to her advantage.Auduma was equally nervous, constantly picking his ear with his gloved left hand. After a moment, Oduma leaned back.I don't like losing chess, so I suggest a draw. accept.Mary is also not sure whether it is really possible to win the game.Perhaps it's best not to know at all whether Auduma will be a crappy loser. This is the first time I've willingly let a woman beat me.Auduma said with a smile, not only that!It seems that you are an opponent of equal strength to me.I must tell you that I am very glad to have met you, although the current situation does not help us to form a long-lasting friendship. Friendship is voluntary. Auduma nodded.In this case, our prior agreement is abolished.It's a pity that I can't force you to accept my gift, only please allow me to show you my gift.After all, he disappeared into the cubicle bedroom.After a while, he held a cloth bag walk out.He opened the cloth bag and held up in his hands a bright dress of orange and red fabric: a pair of trousers, a long mantle, and a wide muslin scarf.The outer cover is delicately embroidered with pearls and decorations.This is the Kameez saree, the traditional dress of Afghan women in my hometown.Auduma said, If you will allow me, I will give it to you as a small compensation for the hardships I have caused you along the way. Mary thought of the process of her being kidnapped, the indecent treatment she received, and the fear of death. How could an oriental dress be a suitable compensation and make up for everything?But then again, the costume is absolutely stunning.She never cared too much about her appearance.For her, the most important thing about dressing is to feel professional and well-groomed.She has never bought such bright, traditional, modern and elegant clothing.She suddenly remembered, what would Rafael say if he saw this costume? She thought of Berg again, of that dastardly experiment.Suddenly, Auduma's friendliness seemed like a thin mask.He just wanted to win her over, to seduce her, just as he had seduced countless people, to make her die for him.She had to admit that Auduma had a strong appeal that made it hard for her to extricate herself.But if he thought Mary was so easy to take the bait, he was very wrong.Mary had known long ago what it meant to be out of control, and the story of her mother showed her nothing more than the consequences of being out of control.Sorry, I cannot accept your gift.she says. The look on Auduma's face showed that she had hurt his pride.In our country, refusing to accept a gift is an insult.But of course you can't know that, he said.I can forgive you.You at least fulfill my little wish, put on this suit!I want to see what it looks like on you. Mary suddenly felt the pressure of the little glass bottle under her bra.Once Auduma finds out no, I don't want to wear it.She said decisively, I am your prisoner, not your mistress! Auduma's face was pale, as if Mary had slapped him loudly.You are so courageous, how dare you refuse me! Mary didn't answer. After a long time, Auduma's thin lips squeezed out a faint smile.You must put this suit on me, Mary.His voice is very soft, and you only have two options.Either you put it on voluntarily now, and I'm the only one to see it.Or I'll call my men in and let them tear your clothes off.