Chapter four hundred and seventy first: an important task
It should.
Everyone has their own value. If it hadn't been for that accident, of course Colin would have encountered a career that could make his life truly shine sooner or later.
The number of people in the screening room gradually increased, and before we knew it, it was time to play the movie.
According to Cyril, in order to better help the audience get immersed in the film instead of just being accompanied by the noise of the projector, the theater will hire musicians to play music that fits the mood of the film at appropriate locations in the film.
A general screening hall will hire a pianist or organist, while large-scale theaters will be even more luxurious and equipped with a complete orchestra.
Verak was lucky enough to be brought into the latter's screening room by Cyril.
As the video begins, the music starts.
He put aside all distracting thoughts and immersed himself in the movie, which was composed of multiple scenes spliced together to form a complete story.
The story told in this movie is a well-known ancient legend.
The content of the legend is roughly that the protagonist heard that the king was tyrannical and unjust, and when he tried to eradicate the foolish king, he was arrested and sentenced to death by the king. The protagonist requested that the execution be postponed for a few days, and spent the last moment of his life to go home and settle down with his family, and used himself to
His best friend was left here as a hostage to take his place. The king agreed.
His request was complied with, so the protagonist returned home, spent a few days taking care of the family affairs, and went through many hardships before finally returning to the capital before the appointed time. His act of integrity impressed the king, and he was eventually pardoned.
The country was re-governed and people's lives returned to their former peace.
Verak was surprised that this kind of story he heard from books or from other people could be presented in a movie.
In addition, the film presents this legend in more detail, highlighting the mutual doubts and shaken trust between the protagonist and his best friend within the agreed time, making the fulfillment of the agreement even more rare and valuable.
Verak was inexplicably touched.
The situation of the comrades is somewhat similar to this story. They have sacrificed everything they have for a great ideal. During this period, it is inevitable that when there is no hope and setbacks, there will be some wavering and doubt whether this path is feasible.
But he believed that they would eventually fulfill this 'agreement'.
“I heard this story many times when I was a child, but it’s still great to understand it through watching it for the first time.” After walking out of the theater, Cyril said that he still had something to say.
"Yeah." Verak and Cyril had the same feeling.
After getting in the car, Cyril thought for a while and said: "Let's go have lunch first, and then we can arrange your afternoon schedule after eating?"
Verak nodded, feeling a little emotional in his heart.
He agreed with Teacher Keating to rest for a day or two, and the time passed so unknowingly. Tomorrow he will return to the Equality Building and continue to shoulder the heavy responsibilities one by one.
During this short vacation, he could not get a real sense of rest, but his tense spirit was finally relaxed.
When the next time like this will come, we still don’t know.
But I still have some hope.
"Then let's set off." Cyril started the car.
Soon, he found a restaurant nearby and the two of them had a simple lunch.
The citizens of Lezein did not seem to be very aware of the situation outside, and it was possible that they did not care, so the atmosphere was not as gloomy as Verak imagined.
The customers I met in the restaurant and the passers-by on the street were all still living their lives step by step, and there was no sign of any impact.
Living in such an environment, Verak felt that the anxiety in his heart was out of place.
"Where should we go next? Do you need me to help you find it?" Cyril asked when it was time to set off again.
"...Forget it, let's go to the Equality Building." Familiar friends either died or were busy in various places. Verak didn't know who to see. The only option left for him was revolution.
"Aren't you going to rest?"
"It's been a full day, and I've rested for almost a day, that's enough." Verak said.
In less than twenty-four hours, he met with the Carmine family, solved some remaining problems, pointed out a way out for them, experienced an assassination, and secretly visited Edith and Darlene's mother.
Female, enjoying a movie.
Lived quite a fulfilling life.
Sirini did not express his views and sent Verac back to the Equality Building.
After saying goodbye to the comrade who was by his side almost all the time, Verak entered the building and went directly to Keating's office.
Keating was packing up documents and putting piles of information into a suitcase. There was no surprise in his expression, as if he knew better than Verak himself when he would be able to cheer up: "
Are you back so early?"
"It's getting late. If it were later, you would have already left, right?" Verak walked closer.
"Evacuate the day after tomorrow at the latest and go to Lelist City in the northwest." Keating smiled back.
Verak wanted to help, but did not move for a long time: "What is the specific situation on the front line?"
"Retreating again and again, despite already suffering heavy losses, we are still trying to buy time for our rear. If we stay here for one more day, hundreds or thousands of more people on the front line may be sacrificed, so we must evacuate as soon as possible.
" Keating stopped what he was doing and took Verak to the reception area to sit down.
"The question is, because Laize didn't make any resistance, was he handed over to the government forces for free?" Verak asked.
"Objectively speaking, we can't defend Lezein even if we go head-to-head. So instead of making huge sacrifices, burying our last precious living force, and bringing such a city into the flames of war, it is better to strategically shift. Of course, this will be in vain.
It is really difficult to accept that everything is handed over to the government forces. Yesterday you mentioned that you wanted to stay and fight secretly as before. I think this idea is feasible and is our best choice at the moment."
"If we retreat to Lelist City, won't they take advantage of the victory and pursue us?"
Keating took out a terrain map and pointed to Verak: "It's easy to defend but difficult to attack over there. After we rebuild the defense line, we are quite sure that we can withstand the attack of the government troops. At the same time, we can recuperate, accumulate strength, and find the right time to attack again.
."
Verak stared at the map closely: "Do you want to use this to turn passivity into initiative?"
"It can be said that, but it is still relatively optimistic. After occupying Lezein, the government forces will be greatly supplemented and will be recognized by the international community again. By then, the enemies we will face will only be stronger than now.
"More." Keating said.
"After evacuating to Lelist City, do you have any other plans?"
"Accelerate research on pilot plants, improve people's livelihood, recruit soldiers, and strengthen the promotion of the idea of equality. In almost every aspect, the workload must be doubled on the basis of full power." Keating knew that the plan he was talking about was a plan.
It is an exaggerated idea, but it can be placed on the head of the International Equality Alliance, which has no choice. They must face the difficulties.
"Leave it to me to do the follow-up work of Lezerin's struggle." Verak mainly requested to be responsible for the most arduous and dangerous tasks.
Keating looked at Verak, and after a few seconds he spoke: "I support leaving a revolutionary force in Lezein to continue the struggle, but I think we need to discuss it carefully who will be responsible for leading it.
."
"We have come out of the most difficult days, and no one is more qualified for this job than me." Verak, who rarely had great confidence in his ability, approached Keating for the task.
"Do you know that with this face on your face, it's almost impossible to survive in an area controlled by government forces?" Keating reminded.
"I have been wanted for so long. If you want to catch me just based on my appearance, I can still stand here and talk to you? Furthermore, Lezein's revolutionary work, at best, proves to people that we are still there.
Dao said, I want you to lead a counterattack in the future to cooperate with the outside and establish the overall situation in the next battle. Who else can you propose besides me?" Verak grinned after he said this.
His struggle for so long was not in vain.
As a core member of the Equality Society and the International Equality Alliance, he has witnessed the entire process of the organization's rise. At the same time, he is the only person in the International Equality Alliance who has visited multiple punishment stations to inspect and guide work.
It can be said that no one understands the situation deeper than him. When faced with various crises, he is the leader most likely to be able to resolve them one by one.
Keating couldn't tell.
It is impossible to choose a comrade who can do a better job than Verak.
Verak's many experiences in the past seem to have been prepared for this moment. His rich experience can ensure the continuation and safety of Lezerin's revolutionary work to the greatest extent.
"I know you don't have a better candidate." Verak said.
"You are no longer the same as before." Keating did not put it too bluntly.
In the past, Verak was just an ordinary comrade. Even if he died, it would not affect the International Equality Alliance's continued progress. But now, he is the vice president of the International Equality Alliance, and he is the only remaining spirit in the hearts of comrades.
The pillars are the few remaining living flags of the alliance to the outside world.
He was not allowed to fall into danger as casually as before.
"I'm no different from before." Verak's words were very straightforward.
He is still the comrade of the Equality Association and the International Equality Alliance who dared to think and act, and was ready to sacrifice his life for the revolutionary cause at any time.
Before, he was just an insignificant individual.
Today, he still chooses to be an insignificant individual.
He refused to become the spiritual support of others, and refused to let the light of individuality overshadow the truth of equality.
"If you must sacrifice, then sacrifice." Verak's voice was firm, and he regarded death as home. "I don't want my death to eventually become a limitation for me, and I don't want to have such a useless influence. I know, you
I really hope that I can become a great person, but I hope that I can just be myself."
Verak's last words left Keating silent for a long time.
He has always intended to train Verak as his successor, and has a strong intuition that Verak's achievements will surpass his own, so he is willing to use his shoulders as a ladder to help Verak fly higher.
Could be wrong.
Keating thought this for the first time.
Should the greatness of a person be determined until the end?
By restricting Verak from doing dangerous things, protecting him, and allowing him to ascend to a higher position, will it make him a success or destroy him?
If it were true that Verak stayed in Lezein and died in the end, wouldn't he be a giant? Wouldn't he have reached that height?
"...You are right." Keating chose to face his wrong ideas and let Verak be himself.
"I'll stay." Verak felt like the dust had settled.
"The government troops will be stationed in Lezein in three days at the earliest and four or five days at the latest." Keating said, "There is not much time left for you to mobilize the backbone, form the Lezeine wartime action team, and do all the work to deal with the government forces.
Already."
"I can make preparations right away." Verak was about to get up.
Keating kept talking: "You went to the Thomas family's mansion last night and asked Carmine to hand over the house on his own initiative. This is not only to implement Comrade Chris's idea of equality, but also to save their family, right?"
"Well, in this way, the possibility of them being liquidated is very small. But it is not really safe. It depends on Carmine whether he wants to leave Lezein before the government troops attack, or adapt to the situation when the time comes.
Decision." Verak did not get up.
"I'm very satisfied that you can think of this and make a win-win arrangement. It's just that you ignored someone who faced the same situation."
"What's up?"
"Revolutionary Cemetery."
Verak was shocked.
Even Carmine has to be wary of being liquidated, let alone the martyr cemetery where Boyin, Morais, Diaz, Nord and others are buried!
It is absolutely impossible for the government forces to tolerate such a cemetery where comrades of the League of International Equality are buried within the scope of their rule, especially Lezeinli!
Once they evacuate, you can imagine what will happen to the Revolutionary Cemetery!
"Does the cemetery need to be moved?" Verak asked hurriedly.
"No transfer." Keating's answer made Verak feel a little uncertain. "The workload of transferring the cemetery is too large, and time does not allow it. And we will only transfer part of it, such as Boyne, Morais and others.
It is unfair to other people and will have a very negative impact."
"But staying here is more risky. How can the government forces just sit idly by and ignore the Revolutionary Cemetery? It is a perfect target! It is the best way for the government forces to re-establish their prestige and attack us!" Verak stood up.
"Yes, this is the most troublesome thing for everyone at the moment. At the meeting, there was a quarrel between those who did not support taking away only part of it and those who supported transferring as much as possible. Later, those who supported transferring as much as possible were wondering who should be transferred first.
There was a conflict over the issue..."
This is an extremely difficult problem.
There must be a basis for who to transfer first, but they do not have a reliable basis to implement this.
"You mean..."
"If you stay, you will also have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the revolutionary cemetery from being destroyed by government troops." To show the seriousness of the matter, Keating also stood up and looked straight at Verak and said.