Human disqualification

Chapter 4 Let's run!Mellors

Melles was very angry, and he wanted to get rid of the cruel king.

Melles is the sheep herder in the village, and he plays the flute every day to keep company with the flock.He doesn't understand politics, but is very sensitive to evil.

Before dawn, Melas came to the Syracuse Market, ten miles away from the village.There is a mountain and a plain between the market and his village.He did not marry a wife, his parents are no longer alive, and there is a 16-year-old younger sister at home, who is very introverted.Recently, my younger sister is going to marry a responsible shepherd in the village.

Seeing that the wedding was about to take place, there was nothing prepared at home, so Mellas went to the market to buy the bride's clothes and wedding banquet items.After shopping, he wandered the streets of the capital.Here is Selinutius the stonemason, his son.The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, so he planned to visit this boy.

Walking on the street, Mellas suddenly felt something was wrong.Now that the sun has set, the street has become dark, which is nothing, but the surroundings are too quiet, and the whole street presents a strange atmosphere.This made Mellas, who had always been very laid-back, become anxious.

A young man passed by him. He grabbed the young man and asked, "What happened? I came here two years ago. It is very lively. Even at night, there are singing and dancing, and people come and go." The young man did not Talked, shook his head and left.Going forward, Mellas met an old man.This time he asked in a more emphatic tone, but the old man still didn't answer.Mellas held the old man's shoulders with both hands and shook vigorously, and asked again.

The old man replied in a low voice, "His Majesty the King wants to kill someone."

"Why kill?"

"He said that someone coveted his throne and plotted against him, but in fact, no one had such an idea at all."

"Has the king killed many people?"

"That's right. At first it was His Majesty's brother-in-law, and then His Majesty's son, sister, nephew, His Majesty the Queen, and the virtuous Lord Alex was also killed."

"Killing so many people, is the king crazy?"

"He's not crazy, he just doesn't want to trust others. Recently he began to doubt the ministers. As long as anyone lives a little extravagant, he will order them to hand over a hostage. Those who disobey will be directly crucified and killed. Today Already killed six."

Melles was furious: "There is no such king in the world, we can't let him continue to live, otherwise everyone will be killed by him."

Mellas is a simple and kind man.He walked slowly towards the palace carrying the things he had just bought. The patrolling guards grabbed him and found a dagger from his arms, so the guards took him to see the king.

"What do you want to do with the knife?" The brutal monarch Dionys asked calmly with a pale face and deep wrinkles between his brows.

Melles acted neither humble nor overbearing, and said to the king: "I will drive out the tyrant and rescue the people of the whole city."

The king laughed contemptuously and said, "Only you? I'm afraid you are dying of illness. You don't understand how lonely I am."

Melles roared angrily: "Shut up! The most shameful thing in the world is to doubt others, and you, as the supreme ruler of this country, actually doubt the loyalty of your subjects."

"It was you who taught me that doubt is the right attitude. People's hearts are full of all kinds of selfish desires, and they are unreliable." The tyrant said indifferently, sighed, and continued, "Actually, I also hope to live in peace with my subjects."

"The peaceful coexistence you're talking about is just to keep your own throne?" Melles sneered, "Killing innocent people indiscriminately is also called peace?"

"Shut up, you bastard!" the king raised his head and yelled sharply, "I've seen clearly the crooked ideas in other people's minds. You speak nicely, but I don't have time to listen. I'll crucify you right now. on the cross."

"Hmph, you self-righteous king! I was prepared to die before I came here, and I certainly won't ask for your life. But—" Mellas looked at the things at his feet and continued, "Can you I can’t extend my time for three days, I have to take my things to the village and watch my only sister get married smoothly. Once the wedding is over, I will definitely keep my promise and return here within three days.”

The tyrant sneered, and whispered in a hoarse voice: "Joke! Could it be that the bird that was let go will fly back by itself?"

"That's right, 'it' will fly back by itself. Please give me three days, and I will definitely keep my promise. My only good friend Selinutius is a stonemason in this city, and I can keep him As a hostage here, if I don’t arrive within three days, you can hang my friend. Please, please promise me.”

When the king heard what Mellors had said, he thought to himself, "That's very nice of you. But I can take the opportunity to promise him, let him go back, and kill the scapegoat three days later. It will be very interesting. I can also say that He didn't talk about integrity, so he killed the double, and it can also deter those guys who keep their promises."

"I agree to your request, you call your substitute. If you don't come back before sunset on the third day, I will kill your substitute. You should come a little later, so that I can spare you."

"What did you say?"

"Haha. You'd better come back later. It's important to save your life. You can't hide it from me. I know exactly what you're thinking."

Mellas stomped his feet angrily, and he didn't want to say a word.

The king summoned Meles' son Selinutius overnight, and the two friends who hadn't seen each other for many years met again in front of the tyrant Dionysus.Meles related the whole thing to Selinutius.Selinutius didn't speak, just nodded and hugged Meles tightly.For friends, that's enough.Selinutius was tied up.The night sky in early summer is full of stars.Mellas didn't have time to appreciate the beautiful night scene, so he hurried back to the village.

He drove ten miles overnight, and when he returned to the village, it was already the next morning, and the villagers had already gone to work.Mellas's younger sister also went out to herd the sheep for her brother, and she was startled when she saw him staggering towards him.She wraps around her brother and asks him what the hell happened.

Mellas tried his best to force a smile, and said to her, "It's nothing. I have to rush back to the town immediately, so I will hold a wedding for you tomorrow. Good things should be done as early as possible."

The younger sister's cheeks were instantly flushed.

"I bought you beautiful clothes, how are you? Are you happy? Hurry up and let the folks know that the wedding will be held tomorrow."

Mellas staggered back home, decorated the altar, and prepared all the things needed for the wedding banquet.When it was done, Mellas fell to the floor and fell asleep.

It was already night when he woke up, and Mellas hurriedly got up to visit the groom.He told the groom that for some special reason, he hoped to hold the wedding tomorrow.Shocked, the groom said he hadn't prepared anything and told Mellas to wait until the grapes were in season for the wedding.Mellas said he couldn't wait, the wedding had to be held tomorrow.The groom was also very stubborn and refused to agree to anything.Mellas coaxed and lied all night before the groom agreed.

At noon, Mellas held a wedding ceremony for his sister.The bride and groom swore their oaths. As soon as the two spoke, the sky was covered with dark clouds. After a while, it began to rain lightly, and then slowly turned into a downpour.Although the villagers who attended the wedding banquet felt a little unlucky, they were still very happy.Crowded in cramped rooms, people clapped and sang in the humidity and heat.Surrounded by joy, Melas temporarily forgot about the agreement with the king.As night fell, the atmosphere of the wedding banquet became better and better, and people had already forgotten the heavy rain outside.Melles really wanted to live with these kind villagers for the rest of his life, but he knew that all this was just fantasy.

Mellas urged himself to set off quickly, but it was still a long time before sunset tomorrow, so he wanted to sleep for a while before starting, not to mention that the rain outside the house might become less after waking up.Mellas longed to be home, if only for a little while.Even a person like Melles still feels reluctant to give up on his family. He looked at the happy bride, slowly approached her, and said, "Today is your big day, congratulations. I'm a little tired and want to sleep After a while, wake up and rush to the town immediately. Your husband is a trustworthy person, and I can safely hand you over to him. Even if I am not by your side in the future, you will not feel lonely. You should be very clear, What my brother hates most in this life is to suspect others, and the second is to lie and deceive others. So you and your husband must face each other calmly. These are what I want to tell you. I should be regarded as a man with an open heart, and you should feel for me pride."

The bride was confused, but nodded obediently.Mellas turned and patted the groom on the shoulder.

"I only have this younger sister and those sheep in my family. Starting today, I will give her and them all to you. In addition, you are now my brother-in-law of Melos, and you must be proud of that!"

The groom rubbed his hands in embarrassment.Mellas greeted the villagers with a smile, got off his seat, got into the sheepfold, and fell asleep again.

It was almost dawn when Mellas awoke.He jumped up thinking, did he oversleep?Not yet, hurry up and leave now, and you will definitely arrive within the agreed time.Today the king must see the integrity of others, even if he has to stand on the cross, he must smile.Mellas calmed down and began to prepare for departure. The rain outside seemed to be getting lighter.After packing up, Mellas rushed into the heavy rain like an arrow leaving the string.

"Tonight I will die for justice. To save my friends who stood in my way, to crush the king's schemes, I will run. I must do this, and when I get there, I will die for justice. When I was young I must keep my reputation. My hometown, if there is an afterlife, I will come back again." Infinite melancholy flooded Melles' heart, which made him feel very painful.

He wanted to stop several times, but he thought about his friend who was suffering for him in the town far away, so he gave a loud drink and continued to run forward.Mellas ran out of the village, across the fields, through the woods.When he ran to the neighboring village, the rain had stopped.The sun is high in the sky, the earth is gradually heating up, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter.Mellas clenched his fists and raised one hand to wipe the sweat from his brow.He thought that since he had come here, he should no longer miss his hometown.His younger sister and brother-in-law will definitely become a very loving couple. Thinking of this, he has nothing to worry about, so he slows down, humming a little song leisurely and walking slowly.

Mellas continued to walk two or three miles, and at this time the distance was over half.My God, Mellas saw the river in front of him flooding, the river rushed downstream violently, and the only small bridge on the river was also knocked down.The torrent of the river rushed forward, washing the fallen leaves on the skeleton of the small bridge.Mellas' mind went blank, and he stood there dumbfounded.He looked around and shouted a few times, but all the boats were washed away by the heavy rain, and the boatman disappeared.The flowing water in the river was clamoring, as if to wash away everything around.

Mellas knelt down by the river, raised his hands, and prayed to the sky in tears: "Time is passing by every minute, let this crazy flow stop quickly. The sun has risen to the center, if I can't be in the sun If I arrive at the king's city before the mountain sets, the king will kill my best friend."

The water in the river became more and more urgent, and the sound seemed to be mocking Mellas.Time passed slowly, and the waves were still rolling.Mellas made up his mind to swim over, otherwise it would be too late.

"God, please be careful, I will exert the power of love and greatness, which is not inferior to the turbid current." Mellas jumped into the river with a plop, and began to fight against the surging waves.He didn't take the surging torrent seriously at all, but poured all his strength into his arms, flicking the flowing water desperately.Perhaps the desperate spirit of Mellors moved the heavens, and he was engulfed by the current and finally hugged the tree trunk on the opposite bank.luckily.

After landing, he shook off the water on his body vigorously, and continued to gallop forward like a fierce horse.

The sun was already sinking towards the west, and there was no time to waste.Mellas bravely climbed the cliff, when he climbed to the top of the cliff and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a group of bandits suddenly appeared in front of him.

"stop."

"Let go of me quickly, I must reach Wangcheng before the sun goes down."

"Leave all the money on your body, and we will let you go."

"I have but one life, and I shall leave it to the king."

"What we want is your life."

"Are you sent by the king?"

The bandit raised the stick in his hand, Melles rushed towards the bandit beside him, and snatched the stick from the opponent's hand.

"Don't blame me, I have to fight for justice." Melles exerted his strength and knocked down the three bandits.The rest of the bandits didn't expect this man to be so fierce, and the sticks they held in their hands stopped in the air.Mellas took advantage of this opportunity to rush down the cliff.At the bottom of the cliff, Mellas felt very tired, and because of the scorching sun in the afternoon, he felt a little dizzy.No, you can't fall down yet.So he took two or three steps forward, and finally fell to the ground.Mellas looked up at the sky, feeling very remorseful in his heart, and couldn't help crying.

"Ah! Melos, the real warrior, bravely crossed the turbulent river, and then defeated three bandits. But now he finally got here, and he was too tired to get up. Melos, think of a friend who trusts you so much Don’t you feel embarrassed that I’m about to die for you?” Melas scolded himself as a person who didn’t keep his word, and told himself that if he continued like this, the king’s plan would succeed.He fell on the grassland by the side of the road, limp and without any strength, and now his spirit was as badly damaged as his body.

"Forget it, it doesn't matter." He sighed softly in his heart.

"I desperately want to get to Wangcheng before sunset. As God can testify, I have tried my best to keep my promise. I am not a perfidious person, but I really have no strength. If I can, I am willing to use a knife to cut my chest Come on, let me show you my heart full of love and honesty. Now it's the most critical time, and I don't have any strength. I broke my promises, I cheated on my friends, and others will laugh at me and my family. If I collapse here, everything I have done before will be in vain.

"Maybe this is my fate. I'm sorry, Selinutius. I know you trust me very much, and I have never lied to you. We are good friends who are honest with each other and have never doubted each other. Selinutius Tius, you are waiting for me to rescue you at this moment, thank you for your trust, I am very sad when I think of it. The most valuable treasure in the world is the trust between friends. Selinutius, I It's been running and never stopping. Believe me, I never meant to deceive you. I bravely crossed the rushing river, broke through the siege of bandits, and ran all the way to get here. Ah, only I can do it At this point, please don't expect me to do more. It doesn't matter, well, I lost, just laugh at me.

"The king once said to me, let me go back later, so that he will kill the double and let me go. I hate the king's despicable methods, but now I can only let the king laugh. I shouldn't be able to catch up Go back. The king may humiliate me and let me go. It is worse than death for me. I will be a traitor all my life, Selinutius, let me go with you Die, you are the only one in this world who believes in me.

"Maybe this is just my own idea. I might as well be a traitor once. I think the villagers in the village, my sheep, and my sister and brother-in-law will not drive me out. Thinking about it carefully, justice, integrity, and love are fundamental It’s nothing. Isn’t the law of the world just to kill others and just survive? Oh, everything is so stupid, so be it, I’m a hateful traitor—” Mellas stretched his limbs and lay on the ground Doze off.

Suddenly, the sound of water flowing in Melas' ears.He listened attentively, and found that there seemed to be a spring of clear water flowing under his feet.He barely stood up, and saw a clear spring flowing from a crack in the rock.Mellas squatted down as if obsessed, took up the spring water and drank it all.He breathed a sigh of relief as if he had just woken up from a dream.My feet can move, and the hope of completing the mission and protecting the reputation gradually rises in my heart.

The rays of the setting sun shone on the leaves like a raging fire.There is still a little time until sunset. "There are still people who have hope in me, and there are still people who are waiting for me to return to the town. Apologizing for death is nothing but high-sounding empty words. My life is not worth mentioning. I want to fulfill my promise and not let others down My trust. At this moment, there is only one belief in my heart: run, Mellas!"

"There are people who trust me so much, and people who trust me so much. It was like a dream just now, and that demonic whisper was just a nightmare. Forget it. People have nightmares like that when they're tired. Mellas, Forget what just happened, it's not your disgrace, you're a true warrior. Don't you run wild again now? Fortunately, I can die for justice. Ah, the sun keeps going down. God, Please wait a moment. From the day I was born, I was a righteous person, please let me die for justice!"

Mellas ran wildly on the road like a black whirlwind.He shoved passers-by, crossed feasts in fields, kicked wild dogs, and crossed streams.He ran at full speed ten times the sun's westward tilt, and people were amazed when they saw it.When he passed by a group of people, he heard ominous words: "That person is receiving the punishment of division."

"Ah, I ran all the way to save that person. Mellas, hurry up, don't delay for a moment, and don't let that person die. You must let the world see the power of love and integrity." Mellor Almost all his clothes are gone, and now he has no regard for decency.Two mouthfuls, three mouthfuls, he kept spurting blood from his mouth.He could barely breathe.He could already see the towers of Syracuse.The tower shone brightly in the setting sun.It's not far away.

A whine sounded from around him: "Lord Mellas."

"Who?" Mellas asked as he ran.

"I am Philostoratos, apprentice of your friend Selinutius." The young stonemason ran after him and said, "Master is hopeless, so stop running."

"No, the sun hasn't quite set yet."

"The king is executing the master, I hate you, why didn't you come a little earlier?"

"The sun hasn't completely set yet." Mellas stared at the sun in the sky, he just wanted to run with all his strength, other than that, he didn't think about anything else.

"Please don't run away anymore. You should cherish your life even more now. Master was very calm when he was dragged to the execution ground, and he still trusted you very much. The king repeatedly mocked him, but he always replied 'Meles will come', His convictions are strong."

"Then I should stick to it. It's not a matter of time at all, nor is it a matter of whether he is alive. I feel that my running is for something greater, Philostoratos, come with me!"

"Are you crazy? Then you have a good run, maybe you can catch up."

No need to say too much.The sun hadn't quite set yet.Mellas ran desperately.His mind was blank, and now there is a mysterious force pulling him forward.The sun was about to sink below the horizon, and the sky was gradually losing its luster, when Mellas rushed into the execution ground.Thank goodness he caught up.

"You can't kill him. Mellas is back at the appointed time." Mellas tried to open his mouth, but his voice was hoarse and he could only make a weak sound.

No one noticed his return.Selinutius is tied to an erected cross, which is slowly rising.

Melles fought his way through the crowd and rushed to the execution ground.

"Punisher, kill me if you want to kill me. I am Melles. He took the punishment on my behalf. Now I am back." Melos shouted and rushed towards the scaffold, clutching his friend who had already been hung up. feet.

His arrival was like dropping a bomb in the crowd, and the people were instantly ignited, shouting "That's great" and "Leave him alone".Finally, the rope tied to Selinutius was untied.

Melos said with tears in his eyes: "Selinutius, hit me hard. I had a nightmare on the road. If you don't hit me, I'm not qualified to hug you."

Selinutius seemed to know what happened a long time ago, he raised his hand and hit Meles on the right cheek fiercely, the sound of the fist could be heard throughout the execution ground.

Then he said with a smile: "Meles, you have to punch me like you did just now. During these three days, I have also doubted you. This is the first time in my life that I have doubted you. If If you don't hit me, I'm not qualified to hug you."

Melos punched Selinutius in the face.

"My friend, thank you." The two said this at the same time, and wept with each other after speaking.

There was a sigh from the crowd.The brutal monarch Dionysus watched them closely from behind the crowd.After a while, he blushed and walked to the two of them.

"You have fulfilled your wish and conquered my heart. Integrity is definitely not a fantasy. Let me join you too, and I hope you can fulfill my wish."

The crowd burst into warm applause and cheers.

"Long live His Majesty the King!"

A girl came to Mellas with a crimson shawl.Mellas panicked for a moment.His good friend reminded him: "Meles, put on your cape quickly. Don't forget, you are still naked. That lovely girl doesn't want others to see you naked."

The face of the warrior Melas instantly turned crimson.

(End of this chapter)