"You are calm enough. People like you must have been mentally prepared to sacrifice."
Verak said nothing.
"You didn't set up any ambush at the Martyrs Cemetery, right? So many comrades who are extremely important to you were not transported away simply because time was tight and you were too late." The conversation was almost over, Serge
I specifically asked him about the focus of his next breakthrough.
"Let me just say, you couldn't have called me here just for a casual chat." Verak heard from Selt's words that the other party wanted to attack the Martyrs Cemetery.
"It's just a casual chat, but we have to find something to talk about." Selt's eyes were blazing, waiting for Verak's reply.
"I have no comment on this, and I don't care what you do next."
After hearing such a reply, Selt felt more confident.
There are very few comrades of the International Equality League stationed in Lezein, and the move of the main station is extremely urgent, so the attention paid to the Martyrs Cemetery must be limited. He analyzed it repeatedly, through his observations during this period, and his conversations with Verak
, has basically concluded that the action team’s apparent lack of concern for the Martyrs Cemetery is just a bluff.
"You think we didn't do anything to deal with it?" Verak asked back.
"Yes, this is quite obvious." Salt nodded.
Now his state of mind and identity are completely different from before. His desire to recreate the miracle of the past can only be regarded as a beautiful fantasy.
"It's not that easy." Keating sighed, "With so few people in the action team, it would be difficult to do anything in Lezein."
"Then we can't just watch them being tortured and executed. To put it more selfishly, if it's them today, then it might be us tomorrow. Not abandoning or giving up on our comrades is essentially giving up to us who may encounter danger in the future.
A chance of survival." Evans said with a sullen face, flicking ashes into the ashtray filled with cigarette butts from time to time.
"Do you admit that you took no precautions at the Martyrs Cemetery?" Selt focused on another important point.
"Of course, doing this will not only attract people from your action team, but also deal a blow to your International Equality Alliance. Is there any reason why I don't do it?" Selt smiled.
Verak's straightforward admission made Selt feel a little unsure. He frowned: "You mean, my attack on the Martyrs Cemetery won't have any effect?"
"No."
"This is different. Those at the main station have all been arrested a long time ago. What we are doing now is an immediate arrest. In the final analysis, it is still a routine rescue method. Moreover, it is meaningless to argue about whether it is special or not. Comrade Verak and others can make it out alive.
Nothing matters."
late at night
Lelist City, International Equality Alliance Office Building, Keating et al.
"Lezein's action team has brought reporter Capa and Comrade Bella to a safe place, and has begun to prepare a plan to rescue Verak and other comrades. I believe that good news will come back soon. You'd better go and rest first.
." Winston said after reporting the progress of the pilot plant with Keating.
"First, the plan may not go smoothly. Second, the execution of the plan will take a long time. Third, even if the plan succeeds, we are not yet at the point where we can reoccupy Lezein. Fourth, we have occupied
Lezein, the government forces can also escort Verak away." Keating made four points, declaring that the affairs of the Equality Army would not affect Verak's safety.
Selter was not in a hurry to speak. He glanced at the bespectacled officer Holt Ward who was waiting aside.
"I heard that Comrade Joseph and Comrade Adel are formulating a new action over at Fetier's defense line. If the action goes well, it may open up a certain situation and turn passivity into initiative. Do you think this matter may affect
Comrade Verac? Or, does the Equality Army have any hope of counterattacking back to Lezein?" Winston had relatively little experience in military matters, so he humbly put forward his own ideas and asked Keating about the feasibility.
Verak was taken back to the prison cell.
Keating shook his head to himself, lost in thought.
On the way back, he applied to Holt Ward, who was responsible for escorting and guarding him, to see Murphy and others, but as expected he was rejected.
Unfortunately, from enthusiasm to silence, not a single hopeful idea appeared in the dozens of minutes.
"In any case, don't think about attacking by force or confronting us head-on. The prison's defense must be unprecedentedly strong. We can only start from other aspects."
After confirming that Celtic really wanted to attack the Martyrs' Cemetery, Verak no longer pretended: "We had so much manpower and material resources at the beginning, but we didn't do anything to the Martyrs' Cemetery. Do you think there are only a few people left now, and it's me and a few people?"
If two team leaders are arrested, will they come forward as you wish?"
"I admire this very much, but you have to understand that it is a miracle that the International Equality Alliance has a chance to rise. This time it was broken up. The possibility of replicating its success again is slim. So I have to fight for a slim
Possibly, a deal that is destined to be unrewarding for many years, risking your life to cover for you?" In Selter's eyes, if the International Equality Alliance missed this opportunity for a comprehensive victory, it would never be possible again.
It's a pity that this plan that Verak despises actually has no chance of success.
"He must have revealed our location to you." Verak said.
Evans patiently listened to the conversations of other comrades and analyzed the feasibility of various ideas.
The government only arrogantly stated in the telegram that there was only one way left for Verak and the International Equality League, and that was to surrender immediately.
——
"You seem to believe that Comrade Verak's life is in danger. What are your considerations? According to common sense, as Verak is one of the most important people in our International Equality Alliance, the government should not act rashly, right?" Wen Si
He asked again.
A few months ago, this deal would still have been a good deal.
"It would be best if we had more time. Firstly, we need to reintegrate the strength of the action team, and secondly, the headquarters can also send more support to us." A comrade said.
Now that he is in this position, he must take responsibility and make a breakthrough.
"Then let's come here first. When I make some progress, I'll come and chat with you." Selt left with a full harvest and satisfaction.
"How long will it take to dig a tunnel? If we get too close, we may be beaten by the government troops. In my opinion, it is better to take several important figures of the government troops hostage and force them to release Comrade Verak."
"Okay, okay, I think we should end this simply whimsical topic." Verak's words failed to move Selt, "Besides, the words you said reminded me of a person, Duke Hall.
——
"He helped us a lot. If he hadn't helped us get the camera, before we met reporter Capa, we would have been helpless in the public opinion war." Verak must have some feelings for Hall in his heart.
Angry at the compromise, but calm down and think about it, they still have too high requirements for a collaborator, and have fallen to this point. If they only look for problems in others, it will only be a matter of time before it happens again.
Everyone looked around and saw Capa, who they had secretly snatched out of the warehouse, with his hands raised.
"But we have contacted the government and they refused to exchange hostages. We can only place our hopes on other comrades in the action team." Winston wanted to stabilize Keating, but he didn't know what to say.
Selt smiled: "Yes, you have found the wrong partner."
"With your body, don't think about carrying out the mission. And with your identity, if you go to prison, they may stir up some public opinion. What's more, we don't have a clear idea of the current plan to select the people who go to prison.
It's too early." Evans drew everyone's attention back to himself, "Don't be anxious, everyone. Verak and the others are the leaders of the action team. The government should at least spend some time trying to pry it out from their mouths.
Intelligence, that is to say, their lives will probably not be in danger in the short term."
"You mean, you hope that I won't do anything to the Martyrs Cemetery in exchange for a favor that your International Equality Alliance owes me?" Selter frowned even deeper.
A dozen comrades headed by Evans gathered together to discuss a plan to rescue Verak and others.
Lezein, in a utility room at the end of a small alley
"Isn't that different from the original intention of the main station? Comrade Verak and others refused to exchange hostages because they didn't want to be special."
"Yes." Verak said.
Holt Ward understood and left the room, leaving only the two of them talking.
"Do you still remember what I said to you during the day? The support from the Dunman people is coming. Whether your Fetier defense line can last for seven days is a question. Do you think the favor of the International Equality League is of any use?" Serge
Very disapproving.
"Objectively speaking, it will indeed have a certain impact on the International Equality Alliance and dampen our momentum." Verak said matter-of-factly, "However, do you think that defeating our momentum will have any significant personal benefits for you?"
People in the government are not as united as comrades in the International Equality Alliance. For them, personal interests are greater than, or even far greater than, collective interests.
He never gave up on Verak. Even though Verak said he refused to exchange hostages, which chilled other comrades, he still contacted the government as soon as possible after the meeting.
Winston saw the critical nature of the situation from Keating's analysis.
Evans saved Capa twice. He waved to others to quiet down: "Say."
Keating took a sip of water and looked with heavy eyes: "If we are evenly matched with the government forces and Boyin and Morais have not been sacrificed, Verak's value to the government will be great, so naturally he will not easily
But now, in the eyes of the government, we will be wiped out soon, and important leaders such as Boyne and Morais have been sacrificed one after another. So instead of letting Verak, who has absolutely no chance of revealing any important information to them, alive,
, it is better to execute him, and then give us a heavy blow after Boyin and Morais, like the straw that broke the camel's back."
"You can think about it carefully. It would be more beneficial for you to move the Martyrs Cemetery, or it would be more beneficial for you not to move. The International Equality Alliance owes you a favor." Verak tried to make a deal with Selt.
"Why don't we rent a house near the prison and dig a tunnel to get in?"
…
"Would you like me to call him over to have a chat with you?" Selt suggested in a wicked way.
Evans stubbed out his cigarette butts: "Everyone has his or her own opinions. We need to collide with each other's ideas."
"The Equality Society, the predecessor of the International Equality Alliance, had only a few dozen comrades left during its worst days. They didn't even have enough to eat. Do you think the difficulties now are comparable to those then?" Verak asked.
"Then you still want to attack the Martyrs Cemetery?"
This is why miracles are called miracles.
Taking advantage of this weakness, the Equality Association and the International Equality Alliance have been able to develop rapidly over the years and grow to where they are today.
"Then do you think we have the ability to capture important figures in the government forces? How can we ensure that they are not discovered after we capture them? How can we successfully negotiate a deal with the other party?"
"The main station wants us to try our best, but how can we try our best? Even if the action team gathers together, we can't break through the prison door, right? Even if we can break through, is it worth it to kill and injure hundreds of people?" An older man said
Comrades are a little pessimistic.
"I have a proposal that's not quite a proposal." A weak voice came in from the corner of the room.
“The growth of the International Equality Alliance is inevitable. So far, I have not seen the fundamental problems of all contradictions being solved, let alone the government’s determination to solve them. When problems arise, they don’t think about solving them;
People who asked the question, what do you think is going to happen?" Verak said the opposite.
Now, the International Equality League's favor is a joke.
If the government forces could capture Verak and the others, how could they not prepare for the rescue by other comrades of the Preventive Action Team?
Evans, who was temporarily appointed as the captain of the action team, was unwilling to do so.
This is actually what everyone expected.
"No matter what rescue method we use, we need to let Comrade Verak know the plan, right? Only by cooperating inside and outside can we exert our greatest strength. This means that we need to send people into the prison and communicate with Comrade Verak
They got in touch." Capa slowly said his thoughts under the care of Comrade Bella, "I think I can go. My situation is very special. If I can go to prison, I should be able to be taken seriously by them."
This method has become almost normalized in the confrontation between the International Equality Alliance and government forces.
With the support of the Dunman people, the government forces will objectively defeat the International Equality Alliance in the near future.
Verak refused to leak information to the death and refused to show the value of his life in front of the government. Now that the overall situation has been decided, killing him would be better than keeping him.
"us……"
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm just trying my best to struggle." Keating patted Winston in turn and comforted him, "We can't change the result, we can only choose to face it."