[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

r072

At that moment, Mei Tess found that the quiet moonlight seemed to have a magical power, because the captain looked completely different from the fortitude in the daytime, just like the Hylas who fascinated the water nymph in Waterhouse's famous painting, with a kind of gentle beauty.

There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity in her heart, but as the captain pressed against her back, with his arms around, holding her steering hand, this feeling was quickly replaced by another feeling.

The captain's scorching breath brushed against Mei Tess's neck, which made her heart beat faster involuntarily.Although she had tightly wrapped her chest with cloth strips, she was still afraid that the captain would find out something.

Fortunately, the captain was only concentrating on controlling the direction.As his iron-like arm exerted a slight force, Mei Tess could feel the Maiden Amelie slightly deflecting its direction under her control.

"A little further north." Commanded the captain.

"Which side is the north?" Mei Tess looked around, surrounded by the endless sea, not to mention the coastline, not even a single reef.

"Look at the sky," said the captain in a low, hoarse voice, "we can get our bearings by the Polaris."

"Where is it?" Mei Tess asked suspiciously.

"See those stars? Together they form the constellation Ursa Minor, and Polaris is located on the tip of the tail of Ursa Minor," said the captain patiently.

Plum Tess looked in the direction of his finger, but couldn't tell it apart at all. She stretched out her hand and pointed to a brighter star, "Is it that one?"

"No, that star belongs to the constellation Ursa Major, and in the east, people call it the Big Dipper." The captain gently took Mei Tess's hand and slowly moved it upwards, "It's that one."

"But that star is not bright..."

"Yes, but it always points in one direction and is the most reliable friend of our sailors," said the captain softly.

Plum Tess tilted her head too far, and when she saw the smile on the corner of the captain's mouth, she thought it was an illusion.This was the first time she saw the captain smile, and she didn't know that he had such a gentle side.

"Is it your favorite star?" asked Mei Tess curiously.

"For a person who lives at sea, the most important star is the North Star." The captain pondered for a while, "But I have heard a saying that all the stars are formed by the dead, and they will continue to live in the sky. Guard the ones you love. To me, all stars are equally beautiful whether they are bright or dim. What about you?"

"My favorite star is Venus," said Mei Tess, smiling, "she is the brightest star in the sky."

"She is beautiful indeed," said the captain's blue eyes.If his lover is also in the sky, she must have turned into Venus, watching him silently.

Polaris...Venus...Plum Tess suddenly remembered Wu Ji's prophecy.She wanted to ask about the fate of her fiancé Edmund, but Wu Ji stuffed the "Polaris" tarot card in her hand and told her that she would find him in the vast sea.

But now, Edmund is dead, and he did die at sea...

"I heard that Venus' orbit in the sky is in the shape of a five-pointed star. Will she meet the North Star one day?" Mei Tess asked suddenly.

"No, never," the captain shook his head, "it's like it's impossible for a person to have an intersection with someone who was 200 years ago."

No, she will.

But Mei Tess would not tell her own story, because it would be too bizarre.She thought for a few seconds, and then said again, "But if the thought of a person 200 years ago is brilliant enough, it will have a great influence on future generations, and even change their destiny. Just like the light of the Polaris, although it is weak , but one day they will reach the Venus star, this is the connection between them."

"That's really good." At that moment, a soft place in the captain's heart was touched. He just held her hand like that. After a long silence, he realized that the Maiden Amelie had deflected to the intended course, so he let go of it in embarrassment. open her.

"Mel, I can see the aristocratic airs in you, but I won't ask about your past. Everyone has secrets, and so do I," the captain said slowly, "but even if there are secrets, we still have them." You can be friends, can't you? I can see that you seem to have something on your mind these two days. If you have anything, you can tell me and don't be depressed. I can swear to you that I will always be your most loyal partner. I won't reveal half of your secret."

Plum Tess opened her mouth, but no sound came out.She suddenly remembered that she had confided a secret to another person, but became his dark star.

"Okay, let's start with the simplest question." The captain pondered for a while, "Mel, can you tell me why you want to be a sailor on the Maiden Amelie?"

"I have loved the sea since I was a child, and sailor's songs and stories. I always feel that life at sea is romantic..." Mei Tess murmured.

That's not all a lie, she spent her childhood in Rhode Island, a beautiful state of the ocean. It can be said that the sea played an extremely important role in her life.

But when she saw the captain's sincere eyes staring at her, she suddenly realized that he was by no means the same person as the Duke of Buckingham, "Well, actually, I came to the Maiden Amelie to find someone .This is a smuggling ship, and it will be convenient to inquire about news if it has to berth in various ports.”

"Can you tell me who you are looking for?" asked the captain.

Plum Tess silently took out the portrait of little Haidee. She wanted to go back to fetch the oil lamp, but the captain stopped her.He tentatively asked, "Is she your...sister?"

Plum Tess was amazed by his keen eyesight, although there was moonlight, it was still difficult to see a painting clearly.

The captain seemed to notice her puzzled expression, and explained, "Is this a talent I was born with, can you tell me who she is now?"

"She's not my sister, she's a princess," Mei Tess sighed softly, "I promised her father to protect her, but we got separated when we met the pursuers... .”

"Is she a princess of Greece?"

"How do you know?" Mei Tess widened her eyes.

"This painting was cut out from a wanted warrant," the captain replied, "and as far as I know, the country in Europe where war is still taking place is Greece."

Mei Tess marveled at the captain's insight, "Will you keep a secret for me?"

"I made an oath," the captain put his hand on Mei Tess's shoulder lightly, "but it's not enough to rely on one person's strength, if you trust me, I will help you find her."

Plum Tess hesitated for two seconds, then finally nodded.

The captain folded the painting carefully and put it in his arms.Early the next morning, he paid a commission himself, and sent his subordinates to hand over the painting to a painter in a nearby port for copying, using the network of smuggling ships to find it.

But to the outside world, he only said that she was his sister. If outsiders knew Hai Dai's identity, it was hard to guarantee that they would not have evil intentions.At the same time, he has been paying attention to the war in Greece and inquiring about the news there.

Until one day, he suddenly called Mei Tess into his cabin.

"Mel, was there a French count named Morcerf who served the Governor Ali of Greece at that time?" The captain's tone was different from the usual majesty.

"Yes," Plum Tess nodded.

"Can you tell me what he did?"

"He betrayed the governor of Ali, and brought the Turkish soldiers into Yanina," replied Meiser Tess.

This time the captain was completely relieved.After all, Maison Tess went to sea on a French ship, and the so-called Earl of Morcerf, that is, Fernand, served under Ali as a French brigadier general.He was afraid that she might belong to Fernand.

"Did you get any news?" Mei Tess asked eagerly.

"Yes," the captain nodded, "I did find out the whereabouts of the little princess. After she and her poor mother were captured by Count Morcerf, they were sold to two Armenian slave traders. Unfortunately, the clues It's broken here, and no one knows where the two slave traders went."

"What, Morcerf did such a despicable thing, will the French Army forgive him?" Masertes said angrily.

"Not only will he not be punished, but he will also be regarded as a hero," the captain said with a sarcastic smile on his face. "He returned to France with Ali's token, claiming that before his death, Ali paid a large sum of money to In return for his services, he left him his wife, now with the title of Lieutenant-General. He also donated to the Louvre a statue of Venus with a broken arm stolen from the palace of Yannina, Made a name for himself in arty high society."

Plum Tess clenched her fists tightly.If Fernand betrayed Ali before, then now, after Fernand has done so many despicable and shameless things, even if they are related by blood, she will never forgive him again, never meeting.

"Didn't someone come forward and expose him?"

"Among those who knew the crimes he committed, those with power and status all died in the war, and the remaining unknown people would be eliminated without him asking. This is the reality," said the captain with blue eyes. There was raging anger in his eyes.

"But you said that if you want to punish the wicked, you have to strip off their veils and expose their crimes to the broad daylight," Mei Tess said unwillingly.

"Yes, Mel. Please don't be discouraged," the captain comforted. "What we have to do now is to try our best to find out the whereabouts of the little princess. Only she can reveal the truth."