Hunter and Hussar

Chapter 9 Mirror Maze and Number 23

When I woke up, I found that I was walking on the road. The mirror-like walls towered on both sides, and there were turns in the front, back, left, and right.The high wall was too smooth to climb, and the body reflected on it was only a black shadow, and I couldn't see my own face.Finger poking the shadow in the mirror is like touching a foggy car window in winter, leaving a round spot on the wall, and the temperature spreads from the fingertips.Immediately after the fingers were removed, the wall returned to its original shape.

Where am I?A maze of mirrors?I didn't run or cry out, I wasn't afraid, but I wasn't comfortable either.Instinctively, I wanted to find an exit.Putting your hand on the wall, looking for an end along it, the warmth of your palm draws a long trace on the wall, as if painting on the foggy car window again and again.I think, before all the walls are traced by me, I can find the destined exit.But every time you walk around a corner, you can't know what's behind you.How much is left of the long line created by the touch of the hand?After the temperature I left cools, it may dissipate like the dot poked by the fingertip, leaving nothing behind.Maybe it disappears as much as I walk, but I haven't seen and confirmed it yet.

I don't know how long it took, but I didn't find the direction to leave the maze, but it seemed that I was gradually going deeper into it.I am not anxious because I don't know what I am waiting for.I didn't despair, after all, I didn't have any special expectations for anything in my heart.I just walk and walk with my feet, and row and row with my hands.There are no footprints on the road, and I don't know how many traces are left on the wall.My shadow does the same on the front, back, left, and right mirrors, and likewise leaves nothing behind as it scurries by.

So I closed my eyes, stopped looking at the reflections of nothingness, and moved on.At first, he walked slowly, with one hand stretched out in front of him, afraid of bumping into something.However, the wall in front of me has never been touched by my palm. I may have passed through it, or it may not exist.So I gradually let go of my hand and let the road continue, as if it was not me but the road that was moving, fast and slow, and I was taken by it to an invisible distance.Doesn't make a sound, but feels the echo fills the air.There is no wind blowing, and the hair and clothes are still shaking slightly.

There seems to be a sheep, which is hitting the mirror wall blankly.Perhaps it took that shadow, the mirrored self, as a provocative enemy.It bumped repeatedly, kept bumping, I couldn't see it, I couldn't hear it, I only knew that it didn't stop for a moment, never changed and resolutely rushed towards the shadow that I couldn't understand.

When I opened my eyes again, I came to the shore of a lake.It is wide and far-reaching, and I can't see the other shore, but somehow I know it is a lake rather than a river or sea, and it seems to be programmed in my mind in advance.Sparkling, like broken mirrors and dim stars, every fragment has my reflection, although as dim as a black and white photo, or even almost undeveloped film, but that is me, no longer suspended on the wall shadow.

"You can take off your shoes and socks and take a walk in the lake. You will think of more things, but don't go too deep." With singing words, I saw a girl standing by the lake with a slightly familiar face , seems to be a classmate I met in the literature club, with a strange pen name.It is difficult for me to remember other people's faces. I have been in the wandering maze of mirrors for too long, and I seem to have almost forgotten my own appearance.

I listened to her, took off my socks and carefully stuffed them into my shoes.The lake water is as cold as glass that melts into water, sticking into the toes, greedily sucking the body's warmth.Gradually, I couldn't feel the feeling of the soles of the feet, and then the whole foot, and then even the calves were swallowed up.But my memory wakes up like spring, the flashing figure, the trampled beetle, the nail on the wall, the flashing light of a medal, the pillow that retains the smell of sleeping, folded but still The crumpled quilt, the fingers cut by the blades of grass, the gray wall with sweat stains behind the back, the breath left by lying on your back on the plastic track.The deeper I go, the less broken water lines I see, the more I can see myself in the reflection, and those scattered debris are picked up one by one in the rising water.

"Go further, and you will see your brother." The voice on the shore reminded me, like a long song.

I didn't answer.That's fine, I can barely remember what he looks like.I want to see him.

"But you will become one with your reflection in the water. That means, you will find yourself, sink and die at the same time."

I turned around.

"Is there no other way?"

"do not know."

"Where am I?"

"Death, that's the direction you were going just now, and it's also the name of this lake."

"Where was I before?"

"In the labyrinth of your life. Those walls should have been hung with lush vines, and the roads covered with bluestone and flower petals, like the paths and gardens of childhood. Over time, everything will gradually peel off, and one will see the bareness There is no shadow of your own face in the mirror. Some people take a long time to see, some people flash there before sinking into the lake, and you are just a little bit earlier."

"Is there a world out there?"

"Maybe. The outside, the labyrinth, and this lake, together they are life."

"What's it like outside?"

"The flock, the wind, the Milky Way, the larger lake or the garden, or the abyss into which one steps forward, I don't know. But if one stands still, one never goes there."

The echo surged under the unseen feet, a dark sound originating from the depths of the earth trembled endlessly, and the mind gradually became dizzy, turning into a chaotic cloud, and the eyes were as pale as a miserable mural...

"Ke Ke, wake up, wake up."

"It's almost time for class, you'll be late if you're sorry!"

"Little lazy cat, get up, I'm sorry I'm angry!"

Someone is pinching my face, like playing with clay, trying to knead it into various shapes.

When I woke up again, I was in a daze, not really sure if what I was seeing was reality or just another chaotic dream.I slept too long, and any long nap would rob my ability to think and judge.All the roommates left long ago, but fortunately Mi Le was still there, otherwise I would have been lethargic on the bed for the whole afternoon.He said that I was like a sleepy cat that day, and it was hard to wake me up.

"It would be great if there was no class, I can bully you for a long time below. You are really soft when you fall asleep, and you don't respond at all."

In fact, for more than 20 minutes after waking up, I also felt like a rag doll, with heavy hands and feet, dizzy, much weaker perception of the outside world, and everything I touched was soft, only the cold sweat on my back made me extremely bored .

It's Friday again, the third week of school.In the club class in the afternoon, Ye Ruiyang led me to the football club.

"A new student in the first grade of junior high school, please introduce yourself, which class you are from, and where you play. Come one by one, two or three sentences are enough." Teacher Wang Feng said to everyone standing in a row.Behind her are several physical education teachers who serve as teaching assistants.Everyone calls her coach in private, but she still asks everyone to call her teacher. After all, her main job is to teach geography.It’s also amazing to say that I thought that the teacher called Coach Wang was a middle-aged uncle with a serious face and a little bald head. In fact, she is about the same age as her mother. She often wears a sun hat and sunglasses and speaks with a Northeast accent. , very "gas field".

"Hi everyone, I'm Ye Ruiyang from the third class of the first year of junior high school. I can play as a central defender and a midfielder. I am very happy to join the football club and the school team. I will work hard. Please take care of me!" He was indeed the first The one who went up said, "By the way, I love watching games. I watch the Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League. I also watch basketball."

"Li Baichuan, the second class, the midfielder, thank you everyone."

"Hi everyone, I'm Zhang Taotao from class three, as long as I play I will work hard." Taotao was a little restrained.

"Hello, students. I'm He Mingming from Class [-]. I can play as a center back or as a left back. I will defend seriously."

"I'm Huang Minxue from Class [-]. I play in the midfield and can also play on the left and right sides. I'm very happy to be teammates with everyone. Please bear with me." While talking, he glanced at us and nodded politely.Everyone applauded as usual, and I also clapped twice.

His voice and eyes are quite sincere, and his smile is no different from ours, with the clarity of a child.He looks very polite.

"Hi everyone, I'm Mu Zheng from class six. I'm solemn and strong. Xuexue is my best friend. We have a good understanding. I'm a striker." Mu Zheng didn't wear a hat today. His dark and thick face is full of vigor under the sun, and his smile is also very trustworthy.However, as a player who is too good, I am a little more in awe of him than I love him. It seems that even his name reveals seriousness.Perhaps this is the temperament of the players who are regarded as the core?
In this week's class match, Classes 4 to 4 faced Classes [-] to [-]. There was a goal battle between the two sides. The final score was [-]:[-], and Mu Zheng scored three goals.And although we play around our opponents here, we have been unable to score for a long time.Fortunately, before the end of the game, Ye Ruiyang shot the goal in a hurry and hit the opponent's player. The refracted ball bounced off the post, hit the goalkeeper's calf and entered the net.After the game, I asked my sister if she had seen the three-dimensional pinball-style goal. She said confidently that the gods were fighting next door and scored more goals than a basketball game. She ran over to see it. Here to see a frog boiled in warm water?

The only good news should be that Zhao Rui was poured four balls, thanks to Mu Zheng.Now I have conceded one goal in two games, and he has conceded four goals in two games.

But Miller still couldn't play.

"I'm Yan Xi from Class [-] of junior high school. Yan is Yan Wang's Yan, don't be afraid, I'm not worthy of my name. Xi is hope's Xi. I can do everything except heading." This is the first time I met Yan Xi, although I was next door before, but because I had to focus on the game, I didn't go to see how divine he is who scored five goals in two games.He is about the same height as Mi Le, not so white, and looks like a primary school student. It is really difficult to connect this kid with the outstanding striker that his sister said.

"Hi everyone, I'm Zhao Rui, the goalkeeper of Class [-]." It's his turn, "I'm very glad to see my elementary school classmate here today. I used to be his substitute all the time. We have a very good relationship. I hope we can get along together." Shine for the team." As he said that, he looked at me with the host's welcome expression, and patted my shoulder because I didn't reach out to give him a high-five.

"Let's welcome the new students. He didn't come to the trial training last class because I didn't make it clear when I recruited the seniors. I'm sorry." The speaker was Kuang Hao, who was in the second year of junior high school and our captain this year.He had clean and loose hair, came over to pat me on the back generously, and led me in front of everyone.

The seniors of the second year of junior high school all wore the team uniforms of No. [-] Middle School, white jerseys, dark blue ball pants, simple blue lines on the shoulders, and a school badge on the chest.

"Hello everyone, I'm Ke Peiwei from class three, and I'm the goalkeeper. Thank you..." I looked at the ground, and I was still not used to speaking in front of everyone, although I could feel that these gazes were all kind.

"Three classmates told me earlier that you played well, but you still have to try." The coach touched my head, "Sakushi, lend him your gloves."

This senior named Zeng Shuoshi was the only one wearing a green long-sleeved jersey. It could be seen that he was the main goalkeeper because of his tall stature.

I said I had gloves and was on the sidelines.The coach nodded and motioned me to get it.

I don't know which three people told the coach?One of them should be Ye Ruiyang.

"Pe Wei, come on. Senior Kuang Hao scored three free kicks in the Mayor's Cup last year. If you can save one, the coach will definitely consider you as the main goalkeeper." Before I walked on the field, Zhao Rui came over to ask me specifically.

"Call me Keke."

I stood in front of the door and raised my hands habitually.Senior Kuang Hao placed the ball on the right side of the penalty area, stepped back a few steps, and told me loudly to hit a close corner.

You shouldn't lie to me.

He ran up, shot, and the ball whizzed towards the gate with a slight arc.Being told where it would appear in advance, I didn't hesitate at all. I stretched my arms as much as possible when I was in the air. The ball hit the glove like a heavy fist, and then deviated from the track and landed behind the goal.

"So flutter!" I heard everyone shouting from the sidelines, and now I can gradually distinguish who made it.I stood up, the glove that was hit still retained the power of the ball, and it surged in my palm, which made me very excited.

"One more!" I shouted to the captain.

This time he hit a low ball that clung to the turf and went straight to the far corner.Before the shot, he also told me the direction, and when I was on the ground, I slightly changed the displacement of the ball with my fingertips, and it rubbed against the goal post and went out of the baseline.

"Good job!" The captain seemed happier than scoring a goal.

I tried a few more times, and although there were two missed balls in the back, one of them hit the crossbar and missed the net, and I only lost one.The tryout was a success.After Zhao Rui picked me up, he looked at the coach proudly and asked if what he said before class was true.

It appears that the other person is him.Seeing me coming, I must know that I have to be a substitute obediently again, so I might as well sell a favor.

Who else is there?I didn't ask any more, I only know that I am now the goalkeeper of the Jiang Yuanyi Lieutenant Colonel's team.

When the class was about to end, the coach gave our first-year junior high school players a list and asked them to fill in their jersey size, desired jersey number and the printing on the jersey.This is the most anticipated moment of this class. A simple number not only means that you have become a member of the team, but also represents an opportunity to express yourself through numbers.After the sport has accumulated a long history, different numbers have also been given their own meanings.

"No. 1 is generally a goalkeeper, No. 2 to 5 are basically defenders, No. 6 can be a defender or a midfielder, and it is more defensive. No. 7 may be responsible for appearance, such as Beckham. No. 8, in my impression It is the engine of the midfield, and it is necessary to be able to control the rhythm of the whole team. No. 9 is the striker of Zhengyin, who must destroy the city. No. 10 is the core of doing my part. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, and most people dare not wear it. No. 11 is also an offensive player , I kind of want to wear it!"

"Having said so much, why did you choose No. 23?"

"Because there are 23 people in the World Cup squad, and No. 23 is not a fixed number. Anyone in any position can be chosen. It is full of possibilities. Football games are changing rapidly. Of course I want to choose such a number. By the way, brother, what number do you like?"

"I like No. 3. But you said the goalkeeper wears No. 1, so I can't choose it?"

"Why not? Brother, I support you even if you wear size 10!"

"I don't want it, I want number three."

Ye Ruiyang grabbed the pen and the list and was about to write it, Brother Chuan reminded him without losing the opportunity to ask the seniors what numbers they have already used.Senior Kuang Hao is No. 8, Wang Xiaoliang is No. 10, the center forward is No. 7, the wide player Xu Xiang is the owner of No. 3, and the No. 1 jersey I want has been taken by Yuan Yikong, who plays central defender.In addition, 2, 15, 20, 5 are also attributed.Seeing that the No. [-] jersey was empty, Ye Ruiyang was satisfied, as if he had bought the limited-edition toy he had always wanted.

But in the second year of junior high school, we must give priority to choosing jerseys.At that time, Mu Zheng will probably become our captain.

"Ke Ke, you haven't chosen yet." Zhao Rui handed me the list.Patronizing in a daze, it was just me and him.Brother Chuan chose No. 4, which was next to Ye Ruiyang, but it was obviously No. 6.Tao Tao picked No. 24, which seems to be more sought-after on the basketball court.Mu Zheng was 23, his friend asked for 18, and Yan Xi took the number 14.

The names everyone wants to print are all kinds of strange, Ye Ruiyang is Sol, I don't know what it means.Brother Chuan's Rivers is worthy of his name "Baichuan".What Mu Zheng wants is Poet, I don't quite understand, but that Lennon knows who it is at a glance.Only Mingming, Taotao and Yan Xi honestly printed their names.

I want to choose No. 3 or No. 23, but one belongs to the senior, otherwise, the other belongs to the best player of our class, and I definitely don't expect to get it.When "33" is written, the freshness of joining the team seems to be completely removed.

useless.

I still wrote Coco on the name I wanted to print.Zhao Rui was the last one to write it. He thought about it and filled in the number 12. It printed Alba, which seemed to be the name of a player, and I didn't bother to care.

We have 17 players now, which doesn't look like a lot.But the coach said that if there are still students who can play football, you can ask them if they are interested in joining the football club, because the squad for each game of the Mayor's Cup is 18 people, and she wants to fill the squad.She also told her not to ask her classmates in the third grade of junior high school.The participating schools seem to have a tacit understanding that they will not "recruit" third-year junior high school students.And in the third year of junior high school, there seems to be no club class.

It would be great if Xianxian was there, so it's hard to say who owns the No. 23 jersey.

I suddenly wanted to put his name on the list. Anyway, the size is the same as mine. At most, I will pay for two jerseys.

But the list was taken away by the coach.Zhang Taotao leaned over to talk to her, the voice was not loud, but I still heard it.He asked how much the jersey was and when it was due.The coach told everyone that the money for the jerseys is paid by the school, and the school team has funding after all.In addition, we have certain subsidies for training and competitions, although not a lot, about 20 yuan for a game, and a little more if we win.

20 yuan can't even eat a meal of fried chicken.

I didn't think of Mi Le until I was walking to the dormitory after class.Can't he play football?Why didn't you come?Maybe it's because I don't know that you have to join the football club to enter the school team, and no one like Ye Ruiyang came to tell him.

Too slow, I don't even ask about my friends.

I want to catch up with the coach, pay extra to order a Xianxian jersey, and order another set for Mi Le.However, I don't know what name Mi Le wants to print, nor what size he wants to wear.It turned out that I was still far away from this guy who woke me up after a long time in the dormitory, even though we were fined to stand for 5 minutes because we were late before the first class in the afternoon, he stood at the back door of the second class, and I stood at the third class The front door is only two steps away.

(End of this chapter)