Undead

Zhou Rong's soul seemed to be floating in the void, looking coldly at his body standing on the ground.

Whether the cuffs are neat, whether the seams of trousers are straight, whether the angle of the line of sight, the appearance of the tense cheek muscles, are completely in line with the etiquette training received back then, and are accurate to the point that there is no slightest error.

——To achieve the level where he can directly go up to the flag to perform the flag raising when he pulls it out at any time, he suddenly remembered such a ridiculous standard in his memory.

"Open it and take a look," the old man said again.

Zhou Rong saluted and stepped forward to open the freezer.The chill came out vigorously, gradually revealing the two dark red antibody test tubes fixed on the bracket.

The old man nodded, showing no emotion: "Just for this, the military has sacrificed so many people this year."

Zhou Rong said: "When we entered the underground research institute of the military region, we sent a satellite communication, saying that we would try our best to find information and go to the South China Sea. Why did the military still..."

"After receiving the communication, the military has been looking for you." The old man sighed with emotion: "But the short-wave communication from Hubei, Hunan to the coastal areas of Guangdong has been completely cut off, and there is a vast expanse of scorched land. Where can I find your traces? The two shelters in Guangxi and Yunnan were filled entirely with the lives of soldiers."

Zhou Rong closed his eyes silently.

"If we can't find you, the military won't know whether the information in the B military region has been brought out, so they dare not carry out missile bombing." After a pause, the old man said again: "According to the calculations of the General Staff, you have successfully penetrated into the B military region, and the possibility of rushing back to the South China Sea with the information is less than 1%.”

This is true.

If they hadn't met Si Nan, there would only be five special forces left, and the journey southward from City B would be enough for them to die ten or eight times casually.

But on the other hand, if Sinan hadn't met them, even if he had three heads and six arms, it would be difficult for Sinan to survive to this day.

The encounter on that autumn afternoon in T City, a one-in-a-million chance coincidence, was enough to change the established track of many things and the fate of many people in the dark.

"But you have indeed created a miracle. When you were transferred to the special forces, you never thought you would be here today."

Zhou Rong wanted to speak modestly, but that was a reaction within the regulations. The old man interrupted him: "Old Zheng told you about reinstatement?"

coming.

Zhou Rong thought for a while, and said: "Yes, General Zheng told me that 118 has been abolished."

The old man nodded and said nothing, Zhou Rong looked at him and said sincerely: "Chief, I hope that the Military Commission will consider rebuilding 118. If there are no more soldiers, you can recruit again. As long as I am the captain, the establishment of the sixth squadron will be there, and 118 will still be there. 118 is established. Although the time is not long, he has made countless amazing military exploits..."

The old man didn't interrupt him, and there was no sign of approval or disapproval in his expression. It was not until Zhou Rong finished speaking that he suddenly asked: "Two years ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs went to 118 to select people, you know?"

Zhou Rong froze for a moment, "I know."

"Why didn't you sign up?"

Zhou Rong pondered for a long time before saying, "I feel that in the current situation, I can do more for the country as an ordinary major in the special forces."

Si Nan is right about one thing, Zhou Rong is a character who talks nonsense when he sees others, and he can always find the most appropriate words to express the meaning that is not very pleasant.

A little smile flashed across the old man's cloudy eyes, and he obviously felt the same way as Sinan, and said, "No, Colonel. I heard that you were cured by serum antibodies. I think you should stay in the military until the vaccine is developed. Headquarters will play a bigger role."

Zhou Rong said: "Yes, but..."

"The 118th Brigade made indelible feats at the beginning of the virus outbreak, but there are still many troops that have been abolished due to the annihilation of the entire army. The 118th is just one of them, and it will be recorded forever in the military history of the Republic together with its brother troops. .”

Zhou Rong wanted to say something else, but the old man keenly saw his thoughts: "The chances of sacrifice on the front line are too great, Colonel. How can a man who doesn't even care about his family talk about the country?"

Now Zhou Rong was speechless for an instant, and stood there stiffly.

At this time, a person who looked like a cadre hurried in, bent over the old man and whispered a few words.The old man raised his hand to signal that he understood, and then patted the edge of the table to Zhou Rong: "Okay, you have to go back!"

Zhou Rong was puzzled, and the old man sighed lightly.

"You don't know yet, do you? Old Guo is gone, what happened when he was transferred from the B military region. You go to see his grandson, the relics have just been delivered to him."

When the B military region was destroyed, the Military Commission organized a large-scale retreat, and Vice Minister Guo voluntarily stayed to take command, but he missed the last helicopter to take off.

Zhou Rong nodded and thanked the guards who led the way. At the end of the corridor was a small cafeteria, and it was not yet dinner time. At the moment, it was empty and there was no one there. Only Chuncao and Ding Shi stood at the door and looked inside nervously.

"Brother Rong..."

Zhou Rong put his index finger on his lips, beckoning them both to keep silent, and then walked in.

Guo Weixiang was lying at the dining table, facing the corner, and he was the only one sitting there in the whole canteen.Seeing from the back that he was burying his face in his palms, Zhou Rong walked past him, went to the vending machine on the other wall and bought a bag full of beer and cigarettes, turned around and piled them on the dining table, and pulled away the vending machine in front of Guo Weixiang. folding chair.

"Come on," he opened a bottle of beer, pulled Guo Weixiang's left hand involuntarily, and stuffed the beer can into his hand: "This is all the cash you have on Brother Rong. I will risk my life to please you today."

Guo Weixiang's eyes were red, and he wanted to cover his eyes with his right hand, but Zhou Rong forcibly stuffed the root softly.

"Brother Rong..."

"How did the old man leave?"

Guo Weixiang burst into tears again, choked with sobs and shook his head for a while.

"The virus suddenly broke out from the research institute, and there was a lot of chaos during the retreat. He insisted on asking others to leave first, and took the code and key to close the security gate on the third basement floor... He is almost eighty years old, and there was nothing wrong with him at first. Yes, come out temporarily to apply for emergency permission."

Vice Minister Guo is indeed about to retire. In recent years, he no longer handles many affairs by himself.If he hadn't stood up and made a strong request, it would be impossible to entrust an old man who is nearly eighty years old to do this kind of rear-end mission that is destined to be sacrificed.

"I didn't even have time to say goodbye to him." Guo Weixiang said with a red nose, "The day before I left, a military vehicle drove past the gate of the compound. You asked me if I wanted to stop and give me 5 minutes to go in and say goodbye to the old man... ...But I was always afraid that people would think I was special, so I insisted not to. Why didn't I go in? Why didn't I go in once, and I didn't even meet the last time..."

Zhou Rong lit a cigarette for himself and lowered his eyelids in the white mist.

Guo Weixiang had a gray iron box in his hand, the size of an ordinary shoe box, sealed with a red and gold ribbon.Zhou Rong knew what it was—a relic box, which contained bits and pieces that Vice Minister Guo had used during his lifetime.

Pens, manuscripts, reading glasses, and at least half a box of heavy meritorious service certificates and military medals.

"You are 118," Zhou Rong said in a low voice, "The old man has been showing off this to others, and he will rest in peace."

Guo Weixiang cried and shook his head, saying Brother Rong, you don't understand, you don't understand.

"He originally wanted me to do something else, but I insisted on taking the special forces exam...I wanted to prove myself, to win, and yelled at him that I wanted to realize my ideals...but he actually just wanted the only The grandson stayed by my side safely, and never expected me to have any great promise..."

Guo Weixiang's voice was not high, and it was even a little hoarse because of crying, but Zhou Rong seemed to be stabbed by something sharp, and he couldn't speak for a while.

"If I had been with him all the time, he wouldn't have died." Guo Weixiang held a cigarette between his hands, resting the heels of his palms on his flushed forehead, and murmured, "If I had been there at that time, I would never have let him do this. An 80-year-old man is going to close the gate, and I must..."

Zhou Rong patted Guo Weixiang's arm, as if transmitting some kind of power, and pressed it heavily: "Don't think so. If you live so long, you will have nothing to do, and you will have nothing serious except to accompany the old man all day long. How can Vice Minister Guo go on the road with peace of mind when he is doing his job?"

"Your grandfather is actually happy when you tell him that you want to pursue your own ideals." Zhou Rong said again, "You don't understand, Xiangzi. The old man must be very relieved when he leaves. He knows that you are promising and don't need to rely on anyone gone."

Xiangzi gasped for breath, his nasal cavity made a sharp cracking sound, and finally it turned into crying bitterly.

Ding Shi walked over cautiously, and Chuncao followed him lightly.Four people sat around this small dining table, Ding Shi patted Guo Weixiang on the back vigorously, and couldn't help comforting him in a low voice, the latter's wailing finally gradually turned into a hoarse and deep sob.

"Brother Rong," Chuncao asked softly, "Are you sure about the abolition?"

Zhou Rong spit out a mouthful of white mist, and seemed to smile wryly, but couldn't see clearly.

Chuncao and Ding Shi looked at each other, as if they didn't want to believe it, "But... Our No. [-] Squadron is still there. Doesn't it mean that as long as there is a captain, there will be an establishment? How can we withdraw..."

Zhou Rong didn't answer.

Chuncao wanted to ask again, but Ding Shi touched her hand and motioned her to look down with his eyes.

——I saw Zhou Rong smoking cigarettes one after another with his left hand, while holding a can of unopened beer in his right hand.He may not realize how strong his hands are, but the aluminum can has been deformed, and his fingernails have scratched deep marks on the smooth body of the can.

Chuncao's heart skipped a beat and she didn't say anything.

"What is your ideal?" After a while, Zhou Rong suddenly asked in the white mist of tobacco.

Chun Cao and Ding Shi looked at each other in blank dismay.

"My ideal is to really do something real." Zhou Rong seemed to be talking to himself, saying, "It's not about paying attention to whether the seam of the trousers is straight, whether the collar is straight, whether it is photogenic when standing in front of the camera, and whether the subordinates Have people ever lost face in front of the cameras of foreign media? It’s not about thinking about the meaning of someone’s eyes all day long, how many layers of meaning are hidden in which sentence, and how many inextricable interests are involved with which faction... I just I want to do something real, even if I get up early to help the orphanage shovel a little snow like the People's Liberation Army troops back then."

He wiped his face, turned his hand to put out the cigarette butt, and smiled sadly.

Guo Weixiang unconsciously forgot to cry, and whispered, "Brother Rong...?"

Zhou Rong responded, and answered the wrong question: "That's it, it's good, everyone is on the road to realize their ideals."

He stood up under the inexplicable gaze of the crowd, exhaled with all his strength, as if he had finally finished a difficult battle, and patted the shoulders of the three comrades one by one in the gap between the artillery fire: "I am proud of you."

He showed a short smile, turned and walked out of the small cafeteria.

Sure enough, Si Nan didn't cooperate, he just rested on the bedside of the intensive care unit, and no one dared to disturb him.He didn't sit up straight until he heard Zhou Rong's footsteps coming back, and his state seemed to be slightly relaxed in an extremely imperceptible detail.

The supplies on the aircraft carrier were okay, and Zhou Rong came back with meals and sweet soup.The sky over the sea quickly dimmed, and when night fell, they ate with their heads leaning against each other on a small table in the ward.

"Is the big cock all right?" Si Nan asked without raising his head.

"It's okay." Zhou Rong said: "Don't go to him, give him some time alone."

Si Nan nodded thoughtfully.

After a while, Zhou Rong saw him open a lunch box that he had just sealed up next to him, and started to eat two pieces of braised chicken legs and half a bowl of sweet soup inside, and suddenly understood why Sinan had to keep this lunch box alone before eating— — not to save for tomorrow's breakfast.

He wanted to take it as a gift to see Guo Weixiang.

Zhou Rong burst out laughing, and Si Nan spat out the chicken bones expressionlessly: "What are you laughing at?"

"No, it's nothing." Zhou Rong waved his hands again and again, and most of the dark clouds in his heart suddenly dissipated.

After eating, the nurse finally dared to draw blood. Zhou Rong watched carefully from the sidelines. Unexpectedly, he did not draw too much, and the 100CC stopped.He asked why, and the nurse's attitude was very good: "Dr. Ning from the Research Institute of the Strategy Department said that he had only had 800CC pumped a few days ago, and he was afraid that too much blood would affect the body, so we must insist on long-term sustainability..."

The nurse slipped her tongue when she said that, and her face flushed immediately.

However, Si Nan didn't know much about the basic state policy, so it was rare for him to take the initiative to ask, "What's going on?"

The nurse ran away in a hurry.

As soon as the door was closed with a click, the ward filled with orange-yellow light became a small bedroom.Zhou Rong took a hot shower and came out. His black hair stood up in a mess after being wiped with a towel. The water droplets flowed down his strong back muscles. He leaned over and put his hands on the side of the pillow, staring at Si Nan who was lying sideways on the bed. .

Si Nan had a very full dinner - although it was just a few pieces of chicken legs and Yuanxiao sweet soup, it could be seen that he was very satisfied.

This is the best meal he has had since meeting him, Zhou Rong thought.

No need to chew compressed biscuits, no need to drink cold water in winter, no need to worry about wolfing down half of the food when you are extremely hungry, and suddenly have to pick up weapons to fight zombies.

But all this is not what I can give him, I have nothing.

Zhou Rong swallowed, an indescribable sourness filled the base of his tongue, Si Nan moved: "What?"

"...It's nothing," Zhou Rong whispered, and kissed the white and soft gauze in front of his eyes.

The next moment, the back of his neck was held down by Si Nan's hand.With a bang, Zhou Rong's back hit the bed board heavily. Before he could even react, the two exchanged up and down. Si Nan sat on Zhou Rong's strong waist with his thighs, condescendingly facing his face, and raised his eyebrows and asked: " What's the matter with you, you want to find me?"

Zhou Rong pushed his crotch up threateningly: "Who fucks who?"

Simon: "..."

Zhou Rong said viciously: "Comrade Si Xiaonan, the organization hopes that you will face up to the gap in hardware. When have you ever seen someone using a Type [-] pistol and an anti-tank rocket launcher to bombard each other?"

"It's an anti-tank pile driver." Sinan smiled, and groped for the thing with his backhand: "Anyway, the user experience is not good, so forget it..."

Zhou Rong hastily pulled his hand over, forced Sinan into the quilt tube, rolled it into a pancake and hugged him in his arms.

The two of you poked me and I scratched you. After arguing for a long time, Zhou Rong was so hard that he clamped Sinan tightly between his thighs to prevent him from struggling. He slapped off the light and ordered: "Don't play anymore, go to sleep!"

Simon: "Ear."

Zhou Rong then rubbed and kneaded Sinan's ear tips with his fingers, making him very comfortable, breathing slowly and deeply.

You can't see your fingers in the ward, and the surroundings are quiet, as if the sound of waves hitting the beach came from afar.Zhou Rong opened his eyes in the dark, and he didn't know how long it took before he stopped.

"The boat will dock tomorrow..." He said almost silently, whether he was asking Sinan or himself: "What will we do next, eh?"

There was silence for a while.

"Cooperate with the research, make a vaccine, and go out to continue fighting zombies." Suddenly, Sinan's sober voice sounded from his arms, and he mocked unabashedly: "Sleep, Miss Zhou?"

Zhou Rong: "..."

The corner of Zhou Rong's mouth twitched, and Si Nan shrank comfortably towards his chest, and ordered after a long while: "Ear."