horror effect

The process of eating bread and drinking black tea at Theolos' house is quite pleasant, because the hostess's craftsmanship is very good, and what's more, the content of their conversation has nothing to do with troublesome history and legends.Julian didn't want to talk about unpleasant things while eating at other people's homes. Besides, he asked all the questions that should be asked, although he didn't ask anything.

After bidding farewell to the Theolos and his wife, Julian returned to the Cedar Hill Inn, tapped the keyboard for a while, recorded the conversation, and then fell asleep.At three o'clock in the afternoon, he woke up, walked out of the hotel again, and walked along the mountain road to the Four Calendar Tavern.

There were quite a few people in the tavern, half of the seats were full, and a person was reading a newspaper at a table in the corner, most of his face was covered.After confirming this, Julian walked to the counter and greeted Father Collivan and Micah as if they were old acquaintances.

"How are you doing?" Collivan asked him nonchalantly.

"It couldn't be better."

Julian ordered a mug of beer, carried it through the hustle and bustle of guests, and took a seat at the newspaper reader's table.The two of them seemed to have never noticed each other, and each went about his own business: Julian was sipping beer after sip, and the newspaper reader was quietly reading the newspaper.A few minutes later, the newspaper was laid flat, revealing Stephen Breumontrost's blond hair and gray eyes from behind.

This way of meeting makes Julian feel a little funny, just like the black and white spy movies of Hollywood in the 50s and [-]s, and since the newspaper was invented, its history as a tool for communication began almost at the same time.What kind of human brain would have thought to use such an old-fashioned method?Stephen probably just thought it was funny, right?When Julian was thinking this way, Stephen spoke first. "... how?" he asked.

"As you expected." Julian grinned.

"That means nothing was asked."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Julian continued, taking a sip of beer, "you get nothing, which is also a kind of knowledge, just as chemists put iron and gold together and nothing happens, but they get both The knowledge that the elements don't react."

"Then what did you get?" Stephen looked at him with some amusement.

"The Theoros couple are also hiding something, but they are not only hiding something about the white lion, they are also hiding their own experience, which is different from Colleven's father, he is willing to tell his own story."

"Hmm..." Stephen propped his chin with his fingers, "Two conclusions can be deduced from this phenomenon: The Theolos couple know something about the white lion, and at the same time they have something to hide in their past, but the two are not the same. Or, their past and the legend of the white lion are intertwined. If it is the former case, we can investigate in depth without compromising their interests, but if it is the latter case, it will be troublesome. Once Linked to self-interest, people can always try to keep their mouths shut."

Julian slumped his shoulders in disappointment, wrapping his arms around the beer glass. "Who else can investigate? I'd rather lose the reputation of my reporters if I can get them to say something useful."

"I'm afraid it's gone. You've interviewed the Theoros, the painter Malme, the priest Georgi, the innkeeper Wernstein, the tavernkeeper Colleven, and they haven't told you anything, or Said only tell you stuff that everyone knows. What about me? I've talked to almost everyone of any age in town and they've either been vaguely clueless or vaguely clueless Refuse to say."

"Sister Tofana?"

"I've tried it a long time ago." Stephen shrugged helplessly, "They didn't see any of them."

"Where is the financier Bouilly? He has lived here all his life, and now his wealth is enough to ensure that he does not have to fear all kinds of rumors."

"As in previous years, he is currently vacationing on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Do you want to interview him?"

"...Are you kidding me?"

The two fell silent.They all felt that the investigation had reached an impasse, that every possible avenue was blocked.Julian poured all the beer into his mouth, and the bitterness of the hops was amplified by the warm temperature, flowing down the tip of his tongue and into his throat.Could it be that only by seeing the white lion, the "he" in the dream, can he know the secret?But the appearance of the dream was all controlled by "him". Julian was in the most passive position. He didn't know when he would see the white lion next time, and he didn't even know if there would be a next time.However, just once, he will find ways to uncover the secret.

"Just let me see him, just let me see him..." Julian said.

"That's not up to you..."

Before Stephen finished speaking, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Julian's arm, which surprised the latter. He looked up at Stephen, only to find that his eyes were fixed on the door.Julian's seat was facing away from the door of the tavern, and he had to turn around to see the situation clearly, and when he turned around, he saw Elena Theoros greeting him.

Irina Theoros walked across the tables toward Julian, her beauty and smile lighting up the dimly lit tavern.When she passed by, the carpenters, stonemasons, and repairmen next to them lifted their heads from their beer glasses or pate bowls, stared at her, whispered about her in their mouths, and touched her with invisible hands in their hearts. body.They all felt a sour mixture of envy and jealousy as she came up to Julian and bent over to talk to the Englishman.

"See you again, good afternoon," she said to Julian, then nodded to Stephen.

"What would you like to drink?" Julian asked her, raising his hand to greet Micah.

Elena stopped him.

"No. I'm not here to drink, it's your men's business, where you meet friends and exchange messages, while we women prefer to talk about it by the cradle, by the bakery oven. I'm here to pay Theoros The wine money owed."

"Look at what you said, I won't forget the smell of freshly baked bread so quickly, sit down and have a drink." Julian said and ordered another glass of beer.Elena sat down at the table, looked at them, and said, "I guess you have something to ask me."

Julian and Stephen glanced at each other, they were both a little embarrassed because Irone saw through them, but at the same time, they were also hesitant because of the doubts in their hearts.At last Julian said, "In the woods this morning, I was talking about the white lion..."

"Hey! So this is it!" Elena spoke so loudly that the guests at the neighboring tables looked at them in surprise. She took the opportunity to turn around and said to the people in the tavern: "We are talking about the legendary As for the white lion, this British tourist is very curious about it, please tell us what you know."

This move of Irina surprised Julian, Stephen, Papa Collivan and Micah behind the counter, all four pairs of eyes were fixed on the woman who caused the commotion. Among the four, Papa Collivan His expression was the most gloomy. It was conceivable that he didn't like this woman, let alone the topic she brought up.However, other people in the tavern became active because of this. They usually live in the shadow of legends, and they really want to tell others about their confusion, but they suffer from no chance. , each expressing their opinions and debating with the guests sitting next to them, the tavern was filled with discussions for a while.

"It is said in the Bible that the devil will turn into a lion to devour human beings. Now the world is full of evil, and the devil is rampant."

"Then the white lion is the white devil?"

"Only the devil kills with magic."

"Wizards, zombies, vampires, there are many legends about ghosts in our place."

"I think the white lion might be like the Egyptian sphinx, with a lion's head and a human body."

"If so, I'd want to shoot it in the nose, like Napoleon."

……

Julian felt like a swarm of bees buzzing in his head as he watched people discussing loudly with each other.What was supposed to be a serious research suddenly turned into a joke. Who else in this town can take his investigation seriously?Future investigations will definitely become more and more difficult.He glanced at Stephen, who was just as angry, gnawing his fingernails.

The instigator of the chaos, Irina, drank the wine in the glass with a sarcastic smile, and then slowly walked to the counter with the glass between her fingers. "My husband owes 176 levs for drinks, right?" she said to Collivan.

"It seems so." Dad replied stiffly.

Elena put the wine glass and the money on the counter, the wine glass was taken away by Micah, and the money was picked up by Colivan, who threw it into the cash drawer without looking at it. "You shouldn't be doing this." Dad lowered his voice, but the anger in his words still radiated.

"If I really trouble you, then the British have obviously troubled you. Am I right?" Elena smiled slightly, "He is not a simple reporter, although the foreign Travelers will have some interest after knowing the legend, but few people really pay attention and investigate it. Mr. Raymond is obviously interested in it. I did not grow up in this town, and I am also an outsider. I I'd love to know that secret, and I'd love to see the consequences of everything that happens from now on."

After finishing speaking, she turned around, walked past the people who were still discussing, and left the Four Calendar Tavern.Father Collivan looked at the direction where her back disappeared, and muttered in his mouth: "Ignorant stupid woman."