Hôtel Chrysler Lyon, Saint-Denis:
John sat cross-legged on the bed, quietly looking at the cowhide-covered book on the bookshelf. There were five big words on it - hope for the future. Whether it was himself or this damn era, John really didn't know where the "hope" came from. This only exists in fairy tales, he thought. Even children now sneer at this empty word...
John stood up and walked to the bedside, looking through the window at an endless street. This scene reminded him of the main street in Reagan County - a road paved with neat wooden boards, with piles of wood cut by woodcutter on the side of the road. There may be a woman and a child squatting on the log, waiting eagerly for the man in the family to come home.
That was his family - Ashley and little Jason. This happy family of three was John's only spiritual home. It was just that John temporarily left his gentle hometown and traveled thousands of miles to eliminate the enemies of this family. Miller He once told him that to live a good life he must eliminate hidden dangers.
As far as the current situation is concerned, there is no greater threat than Detective Pinkerton. Although John has not been threatened much by Detective Pinkerton since he came to South Oakland, John knows that he cannot relax his vigilance in the face of the elusive detectives. , if he left the Van der Linde Gang and returned to Reagan County now, Pinkerton and the police would most likely encircle and suppress John at a hotel on the way back, at least in the era when Irving still held power.
Therefore, John Coster firmly believes that he should integrate into the gang, tie his interests with it, and find another way out...
"Ha, John baby!" Catherine suddenly burst into the room and slapped her fat hands to attract attention. "Do you want to do something exciting with me?"
"I have something to do." John said coldly.
Bang! Catherine slammed the door with her backhand, and the sound hit John's face like a slap. It was her response to him. John was startled, and before he could react, he felt a long-lost touch. Catherine's fat The hand had already advanced along John's neck towards the chest where the two wheat stacks were protruding.
"Don't make trouble," John said in a mocking tone.
Catherine ignored it, her hands still groping down the curve of John's body, like a torrent rolling forward, touching every piece of skin with unquenchable passion. Seeing that John didn't resist, Catherine put her chin on John's broad shoulder and spoke softly into one ear on her neck with her honey-soaked voice.
"If you're tired too, just take a break, honey."
At the same moment as Catherine was talking, there was a rush of footsteps, the sound of hard leather boot heels squeezing against the floor, followed by the creaking sound of the door opening, and John's room welcomed the second guest. .
"Um...excuse me. I admit that I didn't expect your relationship to reach this point." Dutch stood straight at the door and said.
Hearing what Dutch said, Catherine cuddled up to John coquettishly, as if she was happy to show this wonderful union to others.
"Miss, I have something to do with your husband. Please move your body a little."
Miss Catherine stood up reluctantly and said something.
"You men..."
After Catherine walked away, Dutch put away his polite tone and gesture and sat on the bed next to John.
"Brother Coster, I don't think you are taking the initiative. Let me tell you something that you may not like. Catherine may have done this to more than just you... I don't mean to offend, it's just..." Dutch glanced at John.
John nodded helplessly, not knowing what to say.
"However, I was right to arrange you two together. At your age, you should find the love of your life. A man cannot live alone forever, especially in this ever-changing world, you must find a way to continue your life and faith." Dutch He sighed and said, "I had a chance, but I took the road to death."
"So, Mr. van der Linde, have things progressed?" John asked.
"Oh, that's a bit of a sudden change of subject, but we've achieved some gratifying achievements, which should be enough to put an end to all the unpleasantness, don't you think, John?"
"Or those Prohibition laws?"
Dutch nodded: "Opportunity - is its real name, the opportunity for us to survive. John, before we carry out the big operation, we have to go see the mayor and get some connections from him. Let's be formal. Just do as the Romans do.”
"We are trying to get the mayor so early, so what should we do?"
"Fantasy has been visiting the rows of mansions on the southwest boulevard of Saint-Denis for the past two days. According to my understanding of this city, they are the residences of municipal officials. He discovered that a grand event is coming to the rich people of Saint-Denis. District - the quadrennial wine tasting festival, you should have guessed that bootleggers are most rampant at this time, so we asked the mayor for advice to see which shop these ghosts usually like to drink moonshine."
"Dutch, I have to say that this idea is very clear, but you have overlooked the fatal point: with our status, it is problematic to meet with the mayor." John sighed.
"Don't be discouraged. The mayor of Saint-Denis is relatively open-minded. He is willing to listen to anything interesting. Although he and I have had some misunderstandings, our relationship... is still developing as leisurely as before. Go down."
"A relationship based on money is like a cart without its mother-in-law, and cannot be considered reliable."
"I don't know anything else. If Mayor Lemieux still wants to make money, he must cooperate with me. On this point, you must believe me. My plan will work at any time." Dutch crossed his legs. Putting on a very proud posture, "I am above the law and he is not."
"I hope so." John shrugged.
"Cheer up, man, some country bumpkins like to watch us sink into the grief of our companions, but we have to see the hope of rising from the abyss, and hope that when your life and death are at stake, it is more useful than the passion of playing with women. , especially when the enemy is Detective Pinkerton. Be prepared! This is a rare opportunity."
After Dutch finished speaking, he stood up and looked at John intently. He kept doing this until he stepped out of the door. John looked back and found Catherine leaning on the threshold. Dutch tried his best to squeeze out the eyes from the corner of his eyes when he went out. With no disdain at all, he then patted her buttocks hard as she raised her hips in the sight of the two men, like urging an animal waiting to be fed by the fence.
"Fat pig, come in!"
