A few people sat down in front of the bar. Some withered irises hung low on the lace silk cloth on the table. Si Lei followed its direction and looked into the distance. There were many bottles of wine that she couldn't name on the drinks cart at the bar. , she could tell that some of them were probably no ordinary glass - they were as clear as crystal.
The bartender, who has shaggy black hair and tan skin, asked in a low voice what the guests wanted. Anna smiled and replied: "A gin and tonic."
"Are there any requirements for the preparation?"
Anna crossed her hands and rested her chin on the back of her hands comfortably: "The ratio of tonic water to gin is three to one. Use Gordon's gin, plus three ice cubes and a little lemon peel." (1)
A slightly surprised look flashed across the bartender's face, and then he quickly laughed.
"...Is there anything special about it?" Si Lei asked.
"This is a code word." Anna said with a smile. "The guest said 'a glass of gin and tonic', the wine waiter asked 'are there any requirements for the mixing', and then the details I mentioned."
"I've been waiting for nearly...seven years, no, eight years." The bartender turned around and took down the beautiful gin from the wine cabinet. "You are finally here."
Si Lei's expression was stunned for a moment, but neither Anna nor the bartender continued talking. The sound of the ice cubes clashing mixed with the aroma of wine. Si Lei suppressed his curiosity and waited for their next step.
"please."
The clear gin and tonic was pushed in front of Anna, and Anna raised the glass. Her whole body seemed to be in trance, with a peaceful expression.
"How was it?" the bartender asked.
"very good."
The bartender looked at Si Lei, "What do you need?"
"I don't need anything." Si Lei leaned forward slightly, "I would like to ask, what will happen after facing the code word? What will you get?"
The bartender's expression turned confused, and she let out a long "Hmm..." before speaking uncertainly: "...will you get a nice gin and tonic?"
"What?" Si Lei tilted his head slightly, "I think I'm still——"
"I had a minor knee surgery eight years ago," Anna said softly. "For that surgery, I stopped drinking for... half a year?"
"Uh-huh." The bartender nodded, indicating that she was listening.
"While I was recuperating, someone sent me a book called "Toast in God's Land," and the first chapter of that book was 'Gin and Tonic.'"
Anna's ring finger and index finger gently turned the bottom of the glass. The light shined through the wine glass, casting a bright stream of light on the smooth marble table. She tilted the wine glass and moved it in front of Si Lei.
"see it?"
"What?"
Anna looked focused, "There is an emulsified layer. On the surface, there is an oily sheen."
Si Lei began to roll his eyes internally.
Anna drank the glass of wine quickly, with a gentle and relaxed expression on her face, "Are you unable to drink, or do you refuse to drink?"
"It doesn't matter. I won't drink any alcohol tonight anyway."
"Then I understand, I have a wine to recommend to you," Anna said with a smile, "A long time ago, there was a sommelier in the southern part of the third district. One day, when he was making a 'Negroni', he mistakenly added The sparkling wine was mistaken for gin, and it tasted surprisingly good—the result was the 'Mistake Negroni.'"
Si Lei looked at her quietly and didn't answer a word. Anna suddenly looked at her sideways, "Are you regretting coming down with me?"
"I don't know," Si Lei clasped his hands, "I feel like I will regret it no matter if I do it or not - I thought you really had something important to tell me."
"Of course."
"Forget it if it's all about your cocktail specials."
"My special tune is indeed important, but there are some things that are just as important as it," Anna held her cheek with her left hand, "It's about you."
"I?"
"For the decision you made today that you are destined to regret," Anna murmured in a low voice, "to relieve your guilt, and also for you not to hate me so much in the future... I want to talk to you, we should talk. .”
"You mean cutting the rope this afternoon?"
"Not exactly," Anna suddenly pointed to the wall on Si Lei's right, "Did you see the painting over there?"
Si Lei turned his head and saw a huge painting leaning against the dark wall not far away, with a thin black gauze covering it.
"What is that?" Si Lei asked.
"Oh, it's a painting that just arrived today," the bartender replied. "It was replaced by Mr. Robbeglier."
"Can I have a look?"
"Okay, we'll hang it up early tomorrow morning anyway."
Si Lei jumped off the chair briskly. She walked to the hanging painting that was more than half a meter taller than herself. She stretched out her hand and took off the black veil on it. On the painting was a naked and strong young man. He was holding three items in his left hand. A burning thorn, holding a skull in his right hand, his expression seemed to be angry, and his long curly hair was flying in the air.
A strong sense of familiarity surged into his heart, and Si Lei took two steps back, finally recalling the image in front of him.
"...Alecto?"
"It's Alek." Anna corrected.
For a moment, Si Lei recalled the badge of the Thorn Monks - it also had three spiked Thorn chains on it.
"Thorns are eternal roadblocks. As long as you want to move forward, they will catch fire." Anna said softly, "And fire, fire means purgatory. People believe that the pain of burning flames can bring purification and even spiritual recovery. Gain.”
In just a few words, Si Lei already understood.
"So... is this the spiritual totem of those 'Thorn Monks'?" She turned back to look at Anna, "A gender-transformed version of Alecto?"
"It's just the origin of 'thorns'." Anna replied, "Their concept of 'monks' is completely inherited from the historical 'boycott monks' - a male organization that flourished in the golden age, similar to a brotherhood. Boycott Monks advocate cutting off all their own resources that may be used by women in order to avoid supporting and protecting women. They refuse to enter into serious relationships, do not get married, do not have children, implement minimalist life, and resist consumerism - they are called 'monks'. That’s how it came about.”
Si Lei was thoughtful. After a while, she suddenly sighed: "I have a question that has nothing to do with this."
"Um?"
"...Why didn't you just tell me that you wanted to talk to me about the Thorn Monk when we were at Bishop's Restaurant just now?" Si Lei looked at her, "What's the point of going in such a big circle?"
"All conversations between you and me," Anna raised her head, "will only occur at the moment when both of us are willing to talk."
Si Lei was noncommittal, so she withdrew her gaze and looked at the painting again.
"...Who is the 'Arek' in this story against?"
"It's still Father God Urbai - Urbai felt his own aging and began to fear Kiya Rek's power, so he sealed him in the river of time... But sooner or later the aging Father God would be unable to control his territory. Therefore, Becoming a new father after killing his father is Alek's destined destiny and his mission." Anna said softly, "The two sides are hostile and unified at the same time, a typical paternal inheritance."
Si Lei's eyes moved slightly - maybe this is what is called regaining the glory of his father's generation.
——
(1) From "Drunkards and Saints" Lawrence Osborne
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