Infinite Life: Trapped in a lifetime

The news agency's branch in Kelna is in the capital of Kelna, so there is no need to change planes again.

But it is quite a distance from the airport.

Lu Hong, the driver of the branch, drove the car, picked up Mo Dao, and returned to the branch.

Along the way, the car passed through the capital city of Kerna,

Mo Dao looked at some scenes along the way and talked to Lu Hong at the same time.

"Reporter Mo, are you tired on the way here? If you are sleepy, you can take a nap. We estimate it will take about an hour to arrive."

"Already slept on the plane."

Although news agencies are required to reimburse only economy class air tickets,

But Mo Dao was not short of this little money, so he would not treat himself badly and bought a first-class ticket at his own expense.

"Okay, then reporter Mo can take a look at the scenery along the way. Although it is not as prosperous as our place, it is still a bit exotic."

The driver Lu Hong smiled and said to Mo Dao,

Mo Dao also responded with a smile. Through the car window, he could actually see some old buildings with distinctive architectural styles. The paintings on some of the buildings were very beautiful.

"Reporter Mo, is it different from what Kellner thought before you came here?"

"Um."

"It's actually pretty good here. Most of the time, wars don't come here. The people here don't just fight every day, they also have to live. Everything that a normal city should have, we actually have here. Earlier. There was a museum in this capital in 2011. The architectural collections were very beautiful, but it was a pity that it was bombed earlier. It was gone when I came here. I just saw it in the photos.”

"Of course, if you want to say it's not as safe as in our country, the government departments and police departments here basically don't play a role, and guns and the like are also abundant. When I first came here, I was robbed every time I went out. Once."

"So while Reporter Mo is here, it's best not to go out alone, especially in chaotic places."

"When we go out for interviews, we usually communicate with the Kerner government forces here in advance, and usually nothing happens."

Listening to Lu Hong's words, Mo Dao nodded from time to time and looked out the car window.

Outside the car window, on the street and on both sides of the street,

As Lu Hong said, it's actually not bad.

There are many vehicles driving on the street, and there are also many people coming and going. You can see some vendors setting up stalls in some streets and alleys, selling vegetables, snacks and daily necessities.

It's just that it's a little different from the Taiping places in China.

For example, the tall buildings seen from a distance here are basically surrounded by a wall with thorns and iron mesh on the wall.

Mo Dao saw a luxury hotel. There was a tower-like place inside the outer wall of the hotel. There were people inside with machine guns patrolling the outside of the wall.

"It's also because the security here is relatively unstable. Some hotels and larger places like to hire their own security guards. The situation at our branch is better. It's next to our embassy and the place is more prosperous. But there are also walls. Surrounded."

Lu Hongduo seemed to notice what Mo Dao was looking at and explained.

"Um."

"Reporter Mo, I heard that you applied for it on your own?"

"Yes, Brother Lu just calls me Mo Dao."

"Then let me call you Brother Mo. I am barely two years older than you, Brother Mo. This is what you are, Brother Mo!"

Stretching out a hand, Lu Hong gave Mo Dao a thumbs up.

"Brother Mo, don't look at what I just said. If you can transfer me back to the headquarters, or back to China, I will pack my things and go back immediately. Needless to say, this place is still unfamiliar to me. It’s hard to communicate with my half-baked local dialect, and there’s not much to eat here. There are some specialties, but there are just a few of them, and I won’t be able to bear it for a year or two.”

Lu Hong said again,

"Maybe it's because my newborn calf is not afraid of tigers."

Mo Dao said with a smile.

"Brother Mo is speaking modestly. But our branch is not without benefits."

"Our branch only has drivers, editors, and reporters and photographers, and there are only about ten people in total. There are not too many rules, and there are not many things to talk about. It is easy for everyone to talk, and we feel quite comfortable."

"In addition, even though our branch is in a war-torn area, the wage subsidy is still good, which should be higher than that of the head office."

After saying a few more words, Lu Hong looked towards the front of the car window and said again,

"Brother Mo, we are almost there. Don't open the windows on this stretch."

Ahead, there seemed to be more and more passers-by, and the car carrying Mo Dao was forced to drive slower like the other cars.

Outside the car window, you can hear the harsh honking of other cars.

The car drove forward slowly for a while,

Mo Dao saw the reason why Lu Hong had warned him in advance not to open the window.

"Boom..."

On the roadside, there was a ragged child with shabby bones, barefoot and squeezed to the side of the car.

While holding the car, his eyes were ashen, he knocked on the window mechanically, and then spread his hands to pray.

The vehicle moved forward a little, and the child staggered along, repeating this action.

"Beyond here is a more prosperous place. Our embassy and branch are also there. But there is a bayonet in front, so these people can't get in, so they are all here."

Lu Hong looked towards the car window, sighed and said,

"These are refugees from other places in Kelna. Some are orphans in the war... They look very pitiful. But there is nothing you can do. If you give him something to eat here. Or lower your car windows." When you get down, he will put his hands in and grab something, and then a bunch of people like everyone else will come around and block you here, unable to move.

Either you gave him money or food, and then someone else rushed over and asked you for it, or took away what you gave the child..."

After listening to Lu Hong's words, Mo Dao nodded.

He didn't say anything, he just looked out the car window. The child's skinny and numb face was so close and silent.

Finally, probably understanding that the car would not open, the child's skinny figure disappeared out of the window.

And the car moved slowly for a while, and the speed picked up again.

Just like Lu Hong said, there is a bayonet ahead, and someone is guarding the road with a gun.

Lu Hong handed over his ID for inspection, and the guard let the car pass.

After passing this checkpoint,

After driving for about ten minutes, we finally arrived.

It's a small yard.

Outside is a high wall with iron nets and spikes on top.

Inside the high wall, separated by the front yard, are some bungalows connected in a row.

There are two doors inside and outside. The iron door on the high wall is kept closed all year round. It is only opened when people in the branch go out or come back.

The door in the middle of the row of bungalows inside was open.

In addition, there is a sign hanging beside the high wall door that reads "Kerner Branch of Huaguo News Agency".

There is also a national flag raised and flying in the front yard inside the high wall.

It seems that I saw a car,

The iron door opens from the inside,

The car carrying Mo Dao drove directly into the yard and stopped.

"Here we are, Brother Mo. This is it. This is our branch."

Lu Hong smiled and greeted again,

Mo Dao got out of the car and looked around the branch.

As Lu Hong said before, the branch is next to the embassy, ​​and in the courtyard here, you can see another national flag flying over the embassy.

Then, Mo Dao heard another shout,

"A new colleague is here..."

Perhaps it was because the branch had really not had a new member for a long time, so Mo Dao felt the enthusiasm of these colleagues.