chapter 26
Jiang Li fled toward Carriage No. 05.
As she ran for her life, she scanned around, but didn’t spot a single empty Seat!
Back in Huaguo, the Intelligence Department was in a panic.
Director Xia Guofeng kept urging the investigators:
“Hurry, hurry, hurry, is the Seat information still not out? Quickly!”
The investigators typed furiously, sweat beading on their foreheads.
The assistant beside him, though anxious as well, could only try to comfort him:
“Director, we’re looking through twenty years of records. It really does take some time. Please try not to worry!”
Xia Guofeng paced anxiously. If he knew how to operate the tech, he’d have done it himself.
“Got it!” the technician replied at once. “The empty Seat information is out!”
Xia Guofeng immediately ordered, “Use a Communication Opportunity now!”
Meanwhile, Jiang Li was pulling Xia Xiaoqiang as they sprinted.
Xia Xiaoqiang was struggling to keep up, almost out of breath.
Behind them, the Man in Red Vest was walking faster and faster!
His cheerful steps and light humming were closing in on them.
At that moment-
Jiang Li received a message from the Huaguo Intelligence Department in her mind:
“Empty Seats: Carriage No. 06, Seat 19; Carriage No. 07, Seat 03; Carriage No. 08, Seats 27 and 28…”
Jiang Li hesitated for a moment.
If she weren’t bringing Xia Xiaoqiang, she could go straight to Carriage No. 06 and sit down.
But with Xia Xiaoqiang, if she wanted two Seats together, she’d have to risk heading for Carriage No. 08.
No, the Man in Red Vest was almost upon them!
If they didn’t sit down now, they’d both die.
Jiang Li dashed quickly into Carriage No. 06.
“You take 19! Hurry!” Jiang Li let go of Xia Xiaoqiang’s hand; it was much easier without another person to worry about.
She ran off at full speed.
Xia Xiaoqiang dropped into Seat 19, and the Man in Red Vest instantly flashed in front of her.
Xia Xiaoqiang was so frightened she froze.
Looking at the man’s face right in front of her, and those blood-red Eyes, she nearly burst into tears on the spot.
Fortunately, Xia Xiaoqiang had already sat down.
The Man in Red Vest lingered in disappointment for a few seconds, then went off after Jiang Li.
Jiang Li took advantage of those few seconds to quickly head for Carriage No. 07!
She spotted the empty Seat 03 and sat down quickly and surely.
She had just sat down when the Man in Red Vest appeared in front of her-practically face-to-face.
Jiang Li’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
“What a pity, just a little bit late,” said the Man in Red Vest, looking disappointed.
He reached out and patted the Red Infant on Jiang Li’s shoulder, said this, then walked away dejectedly.
Jiang Li was still rattled.
Her face was flushed from running, and she took several deep breaths.
Once she caught her breath, she finally noticed the odd looks from her seatmates.
Seat 03 was at a four-person table.
Next to Jiang Li sat a man with glasses, reading a newspaper.
In front of him was an empty wine bottle and an extra newspaper.
Across from Jiang Li sat a mother and daughter.
The mother watched Jiang Li warily, holding her child tight.
“Mom, this big sister looks so tired.”
The little girl reached out and pointed at Jiang Li.
The mother immediately pressed down her daughter’s finger. “Don’t point at people. Have you forgotten what Mommy taught you?”
“Okay, I won’t point,” the little girl replied obediently.
Though she retracted her finger, she still blinked her big round Eyes, staring at Jiang Li with curiosity.
A melodious piece of pure music played on the Train’s broadcast.
Then, the familiar voice of the Announcer came on:
“Attention passengers, the current time is 8:50. The lights will be turned off in ten minutes.
Passengers who have not found an empty Seat, please proceed to Carriage No. 09 before lights out.
Carriage No. 09 is the Dining Car, and has plenty of empty Seats. You can rest there overnight without worry.”
The Announcer repeated the message two more times.
About two or three minutes later,
The Migrant Worker from Carriage No. 04 arrived.
The Migrant Worker looked alive, yet seemed dead inside.
Just moments before, the Man in Red Vest had seized him.
After catching him, the Man in Red Vest leaned over his neck and drained his blood.
Now, the Migrant Worker was pale as death, like a walking corpse.
The broadcast told him to go to Carriage No.09 Dining Car, so he went.
As the Migrant Worker passed Jiang Li, she picked up an extra newspaper and pretended to read, keeping her eyes on the page as she murmured to herself.
“Seats 27 and 28 in Carriage 08 are empty.”
Jiang Li gave the reminder casually.
She still couldn’t help feeling sorry, seeing such a kind person reduced to this state.
But there was little more Jiang Li could do.
Her reminder was already the greatest help she could offer.
She didn’t know if the Migrant Worker would go looking for those empty Seats.
In any case, she had already warned him.
The rest was up to his own fate.
One thing Jiang Li was sure of: Carriage No.09 Dining Car was definitely a place where people were killed without a second thought. Those who went never returned.
After the Migrant Worker left, several other rule-breakers – people with Seats who weren’t sitting properly – also passed by Jiang Li.
They too had been drained of blood by the Man in Red Vest.
These people were almost certainly doomed.
Soon, it was 9 p.m.
The bright lights suddenly went out.
Inside the Carriage, only moonlight from the windows let people barely see.
Jiang Li was tired too. She closed her eyes to rest.
About thirty minutes later, the broadcast sounded again in the carriage.
It was still the familiar voice of the female Announcer.
“Attention passengers, seeking medical assistance! A passenger in Carriage No.09 Dining Car is injured and bleeding heavily. Since there is no medical staff on board, if any passenger is a medical professional, please proceed quickly to Carriage No.09 Dining Car to assist with diagnosis and treatment. Thank you!”
This announcement caused quite a stir in the carriage.
“I’m a doctor, I can go take a look,” said a male doctor on vacation, standing up to reassure the passengers nearby.
Then, several young women spoke up: “I’m a nurse, I want to help!”
“I’ll go too.”
“Me too, I want to help!”
One after another, people stood up.
Just in Carriage 07, there was already a doctor and three nurses volunteering.
Jiang Li recalled the second rule of the Passenger Code:
[The Train operates from 7 p.m. today until 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow. All Carriages will turn off the lights at exactly 9 p.m. After lights out, do not trust any sound, including mine.]
A chill crept through Jiang Li’s heart.
How cruel the Strange Tale World was, using people’s kindness to kill them.
She thought of the Migrant Worker who gave up his Seat for a pregnant woman, only to be drained of blood.
Now, she would have to watch this group of well-meaning doctors and nurses lose their lives one after another…
Just as Jiang Li was feeling chilled to the core, the Announcer’s voice sounded again.
This time, it was a frantic cry for help.
“Ah! Who are you? Don’t come any closer!”
“Take your filthy hands off me, don’t touch my clothes, get away! You pervert!”
“Help… help! Someone please help me, I’m in Carriage No.10, save me… ah! Let go of me!”
The broadcast was filled with the crackle of static.
Then, silence.
Hearing these sounds, everyone could guess what had happened.
Immediately, several strong young men stood up. “This is outrageous! I’m going to save her! Who’s with me?”
“I am!”
“Me too, damn it, let’s catch that pervert!”
“Let’s go, together!”
Jiang Li watched as four or five young men stood up.
With righteous indignation, they strode resolutely toward the end of the carriage…