Zhao Pengcheng hid in the dark carriage, feeling the bumps of the vehicle and silently counting the numbers in his mind. Every time the vehicle stopped, his heart stopped beating as well. He knew there was a door there, and the vehicle was being inspected.
He vaguely heard the driver roll down the window, take out the pass and the signed registration form to show the guard, and exchange a few pleasantries with the guard.
According to normal procedures, the guards have the right to inspect the vehicle, but in this bitterly cold night, clearly no one is willing to do so. Besides, the driver is already familiar with the route, has all the necessary paperwork, and hasn't encountered any problems.
The vehicle passed through the first two gates smoothly, but it lingered a bit longer at the last gate. The driver and the guard were chattering away, which Zhao Pengcheng couldn't hear, but he did hear two barks from a dog.
Then the rear door of the carriage opened with a bang, and a beam of flashlight light shone in through the gaps between the stacked cardboard boxes, leaving dappled light on the interior wall of the carriage next to Zhao Pengcheng.
The barking of dogs grew louder, accompanied by drooling sounds. Judging from the sounds, at least two dogs were lying at the entrance of the carriage.
Zhao Pengcheng held his breath, trying not to make a sound, but he couldn't hide the smell on his body.
He heard the driver's voice. "It's the same cargo every day, all the paperwork is in order, what's there to check? What's wrong today?"
Another voice said, "Do you think I wanted this? It's this dog that's barking so hard, and when it barks, we Decha."
The driver complained, "This dog is really something, barking like that in this freezing weather, I don't even have any meat bones in my car." Suddenly, it cried out, "Oh dear!" "Could it be because of this...?"
Zhao Pengcheng heard the sound of footsteps, and the driver's voice came from near and far, "I still have half a roast chicken in my car, did the dog smell it?"
Another voice said, "Why do you have roast chicken in your car?"
"Hey, with the food you guys provide, dinner is just pickled vegetables and steamed buns Tiantian. I also have to move and unload goods, how can I stand it! This dog has a really sharp nose, it can smell it even when I put it in the truck."
It didn't bark when you came.
"The plastic bag that held the chicken hadn't been opened yet, so maybe the smell wasn't too strong," the driver chuckled. "You know, it's such a small thing, I'm really sorry to have troubled you all! Here, here... I have a few packs of good cigarettes here, you can take them..."
The car started again, and the sound of a heavy iron gate slamming shut came from behind.
Zhao Pengcheng let out a long breath, his tense muscles relaxing. Only then did he realize that his clothes were soaked through. In the cold night, the sweat quickly turned icy cold, clinging to his skin. He couldn't help but think of that laboratory where the temperature could be infinitely close to absolute zero.
The driver in the cab hummed a lighthearted tune:
On a dark desert highway,
(On a dark and desolate highway)
A cool breeze in my hair.
(A cool breeze tousled my hair)
Warm smell of colitas,
(The comforting scent of marijuana)
rising up through the air.
(Rising gracefully in the air)
Last thing I remember,
(The last thing I remember)
I was running for the door,
(I ran towards the door)
I had to find the passage back,
(I must find the way I came)
I was there before.
(Back to where I used to be)
"Relax", said the night-man,
(The night watchman said, "Don't worry.")
We are programmed to receive.
(We are just accepting guests as usual.)
Zhao Pengcheng stretched his stiff arms and legs and kicked a large bag in the corner. He guessed the bag might be for him, so he groped to open it. Inside were a few pieces of clothing and a hard, machine-like object, the nature of which was unknown in the darkness.
He found a cell phone in a hidden compartment of the bag. He turned it on and shone the light on it, only to discover that there was a small handheld cutting machine inside. This kind of cutting machine has a built-in lithium battery, DC power, and is small and convenient. Its disadvantage is that the power is very low, but it was still easy to cut open the shackles on his feet.
He took out the cutting machine, pressed the switch, and the metal cutting blade on the disc started spinning with a hissing sound.
This was his first time operating such machinery, and he had to cut the iron rings binding his own legs in the dark, so it was inevitable that he would be nervous. However, when the cutting blade and the iron shackles rubbed together and sparks flew, and the high-pitched, ear-piercing cutting sound rang out in the carriage, a strange and indescribable excitement rose in his heart.
The shackles were removed.
Zhao Pengcheng's eyes stung from the sparks and he couldn't open them for a moment. After adjusting to the darkness for a while, he started changing his clothes. Then he put his phone in his pocket.
The truck stopped. Crates of goods were unloaded, revealing an opening just large enough for one person to pass through.
Zhao Pengcheng climbed out of the car and saw the driver's honest face.
The car headlights pierced the darkness ahead, illuminating a few clumps of grass. Only the distant sky was already emitting a hazy white light.
The driver smiled at him and said, "The old ferry crossing is just across the small road ahead. This is the best I can do for you."
Zhao Pengcheng smiled, said "thank you," and then darted into the side path without looking back. The shadows of the trees quickly concealed his figure.
A Crow swooped down from the treetops, Guagua twice as if it had completed its task, and then flew off toward the still-lit city lights.
The truck drove away, the night was quiet, and everything returned to calm.
Zhao Pengcheng walked along the alley for about half a mile and saw a minivan parked at a three-way intersection ahead. He walked up to the minivan and gently knocked on the window three times. The window rolled down, and a middle-aged man he didn't recognize sat in the driver's seat, looking at him and asking, " Huang Liang?"
"I am Huang Liang," Zhao Pengcheng replied.
The middle-aged man got out of the car and opened the door for him. "Get in, Comrade Huang Liang."
Zhao Pengcheng got into the car, sat in the back seat, let out a long sigh, and slowly closed his eyes. He knew that he was finally free, but he might never be able to use the name " Zhao Pengcheng " again.
The middle-aged man sat back in the driver's seat, handed over a briefcase, and said, "I'll take you to the airport; your ticket and documents are here."
Zhao Pengcheng took the bag, opened it, and looked inside. Inside were his ID card and passport, both bearing the name Huang Liang. There was also a plane ticket to Amsterdam, along with some RMB and USD.
The middle-aged driver added, "I haven't had time to get a SIM card yet, but don't worry, there's still plenty of time before boarding. I'll buy you a phone and get you a SIM card when we get to the airport, so it won't delay your trip."
"No need," Zhao Pengcheng said, taking out his phone from his pocket.
He swiped the screen and saw a folder named "Ghost" lying in the corner of the second page.
In the basement of the laboratory building, Qingmu connected his phone to one of the servers using a data cable. Soon after, a "Ghost" folder appeared on his phone.
Qingmu unplugged his phone, sighed softly, and muttered to himself, "It's convenient this way, but will you know everything I do with my phone from now on?"
Awakening and training Ghost —this might be a Pandora's box, and no one knows what the outcome will be. Although he knows that beyond this Ghost, there is an even larger, more terrifying, omnipresent, God- like colossal Ghost that constantly scrutinizes the world.
One day, we will meet, he thought.