077 Amazing performance
Paul's eyes were extremely resolute, and that resolute determination burst out with incredible light. He was no longer panicked, no longer afraid, no longer hesitant, no longer desperate, as if all the chaotic thoughts were cut in half in an instant, and he was decisive in killing. The strength has an unstoppable momentum.
“My name is Paul Conroy, a U.S. citizen from Hastings, Michigan. I am a truck driver for CTR. I am a hostage somewhere in Iraq..”
Rodrigo heard a cold and resolute voice in his ears, and his heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. There was no hesitation in the voice, and there was a determination to look forward to death. The calm tone revealed the sadness of perishing together. Rodrigo Ge couldn't help but shudder, recalling Paul's despair just now - his colleagues' lives were hanging by a thread, but at least there was a glimmer of hope, and he was trapped in a coffin under the desert, in the dark, except for waiting stupidly. Nothing can be done outside.
He is still his colleague. This is a moral tug of war. The video being recorded now is his choice..
Rodrigo shuddered again, and involuntarily gritted his teeth. The almost suffocating dullness firmly trapped his heart, and no sound could come out..
“I need one million dollars before nine o'clock tonight, Baghdad time, otherwise I will die in a coffin buried underground. They told me that as long as they give me the money..." There was no fluctuation in the voice, as if even the most basic The emotions had all disappeared. The calmness made Rodrigo's bones start to feel cold, as if he was soaking in the biting winter sea water. He could clearly feel the temperature disappearing from his blood bit by bit..
“Bang! "The sudden sound startled Rodrigo, and he almost jumped up. Paul clenched his right hand into a fist and smashed it on the ground. The ferocious and cruel posture burst out and disappeared in an instant, and then appeared again. He regained his composure, looked at the camera intently, and continued calmly, "They said they would let me go as long as I gave them money..”
Rodrigo looked at Paul in confusion, not understanding what was happening at all, but after being stunned for a moment, he realized that maybe the flashlight was malfunctioning, or maybe the glow stick was not bright enough, so Paul was adjusting the light to ensure The video has enough light.
Originally it was just a small accident, but Paul's simple and powerful movements exploded with fierceness. This is what Paul really feels in his heart at this moment, isn't it? He is neither a saint nor a great man. He does not have the consciousness to sacrifice himself for righteousness, nor is he noble enough to sacrifice himself to save all sentient beings. He just makes a difficult choice in a critical situation. If possible, he does not want to die. He still wants to die. I want to continue living. But... the energy that burst out in that moment released all the anger, unwillingness, bitterness and violence deep in my heart..
A simple action set off a storm in Rodrigo's mind..
“If you don't pay me, I will die here." Paul continued to record as if nothing had happened. At this point, he couldn't help but pause for a moment, "These threats are real and will be implemented." His voice revealed a subtle tremor, the tremor from the soul hiding his helplessness and desire for survival..
He stared blankly at the camera, his dark brown eyes gently fluttering behind his thick eyelashes, as light and fragile as butterfly wings; his lips wriggled slightly, wanting to say something, but he swallowed in the end. Go down. Press the button with your thumb to end the video recording..
After calming down again, he operated his mobile phone and sent the video. Then he stayed still in place, keeping the same posture motionless. Time seemed to have stopped..
Rodrigo hesitated for a moment. He was not sure whether the performance was over or whether he should make a sound or something. However, at this moment, the corners of Paul's mouth curved slightly, and he smiled..
It was a warm smile, just like a ray of warm sunshine falling on the white snow.
The smile paused for a moment, then suddenly bloomed again, accompanied by a low laughter, swirling in the chest, looming like thunder on the horizon, but easily attracted everyone's attention. The bitterness in the smile, The helplessness, absurdity and depression reflected an unspeakable anger - after the anger reached the extreme, it evolved into powerlessness. All the strength in the body was taken away along with the spine in one breath, and the whole person collapsed, except for laughing in vain. , can't make any reaction.
The smile faded, and finally disappeared into the loneliness at the corner of the mouth; the eyelids slowly drooped, extinguishing the last light in the eyes, the shoulders suddenly became deflated and relaxed, and the tension that had not been felt just now suddenly surged out, The air couldn't help but tighten. Then he closed his eyes and gently pressed his face against the sofa. His shoulders, arms, and torso were all relieved, and exhaustion swept over him like a tide. All the pain, all the The torture and all the confusion became silent as the noise disappeared..
Rodrigo could hear the sound of heartbreak, not because of sympathy, but because of helplessness. Watching Paul try his best to save another life, but at the risk of giving up all his own life, the desire to survive hidden deep in his eyes It was forcibly suppressed deep in the soul. The depression was heavy on the heart, so cruel that people couldn't bear to continue watching..
Until this moment, even though Renly didn't speak, Roderigo knew that the performance was over and he finally understood the meaning of the so-called "two parts".
The first part is the fear, panic and despair in a desperate situation; the second part is the collision between survival/desire/desire and reality. Paul is just an ordinary person, one of thousands of ordinary people, and he has his own Problem, he also made his own choice, but in a crisis situation where his life hangs on a thread, every choice and every decision defines his life. He is not a good person or a bad person, he is just a person living a life. Ordinary people who are struggling.
However, he became a victim of the war - or, in other words, a victim of the government's interest game, a small shrimp in the "whales fight, shrimp suffers". What he is burdened with is the dilemma of the entire society: They are paying for the decisions of the government and elites. How can Paul's small and thin shoulders bear such a weight?？
So, he failed.
Rodrigo suddenly remembered the ending of the movie "Buried Alive": Paul was truly buried alive. Coldly and cruelly, all hope was cut off..
”Are you okay? "Are you okay?" "Is there something going on at home?" "Do you need me to call the police for you?" "Is it serious?"？”……
The messy sounds disrupted Rodrigo's thoughts. He couldn't get rid of the heavy emotion for a while, so that when he saw the concerned crowd in front of him, he was a little confused about the situation..
“Is that you? Are you the mastermind behind this? Say, what are you planning? "Suddenly someone pushed Rodrigo's shoulder hard, and Rodrigo was caught off guard and didn't know how to explain it..
“I'm fine, I'm fine." Renly's voice came from the crowd. He stood up again and smiled at the unfamiliar faces. "I'm really fine. It was just a performance." There was a commotion. After calming down for a while, Renly simply explained, "I'm an actor, he's a director, and I'm auditioning. So, I'm fine, and so is my family.".”
The young people looked at each other.
The situation just now was too real and too cruel. The turbulent waves suppressing the calm water surface were like strings that could break at any time, so that they couldn't help but hold their breath, worried that their rash actions might lead to irreparable consequences. , the strong heart beating made everyone fall into panic.
Now they are told that it was all an act？
“Real or fake? "Doubts came out immediately. A blond girl who looked like a college student widened her eyes and said in disbelief, "Are you kidding me? Was everything just false? Jesus Christ, I was so scared that I almost had a heart attack, but you told me that this was just an act? I fucking thought your wife had been kidnapped or something..”
Renly turned to look at the embarrassed Rodrigo next to him. A tall and strong man grabbed Rodrigo by the collar and lifted him up. He looked at Renly with a fierce look on his face. There was a flicker of suspicion - he still seemed worried that Renly was being coerced into saying what he said..
“Look at me, I'm fine, and my future wife... should be fine too." Renly's humorous tone relaxed the atmosphere slightly, "I'm an actor, and the situation just now was just acting." Lan Li's humorous tone relaxed the atmosphere slightly. Li shrugged, "I will take your reaction as positive feedback. This means that my performance is very successful, right?？”
“Guys, guys, I can testify." The front desk staff of the youth hostel also came over, "Rodrigo is indeed a director, he has been living here for two weeks; as for this one..." Work The staff pointed at Renly, "Didn't you recognize him? He is indeed an actor, the rich young man in 'Pacific War'.”
Everyone exchanged glances, and then someone finally responded, "Yes, yes, I just said why he looks so familiar. He is the sledgehammer."！”
“‘Eugene Sledgehammer? "Another person also echoed. Two of the eight people recognized Renly. This is really rare. Considering that this is just a youth hostel, the average age of the passengers is not only relatively young, but also Most of them are foreigners, which is even more valuable..
Renly spread his hands and nodded, "That's me..”
After receiving the confirmation, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and exclaimed, "God, your performance just now was so wonderful!" "What kind of movie is this? I'm going to have a heart attack!" "It's simply incredible. Dare to believe, dare not believe！”……
“Uh...please, can you let me go? " Rodrigo patted the strong man's arm and said with a sad look on his face..
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