Chapter 298: Deadly Music (2/2)
Captain Zhang held out his hand and said, ”Xiao Cheng, I haven't seen you for a while! Look at you, Director-General of the city bureau. You’re doing really well!”
As soon as Director-General Cheng shook hands with him, Captain Zhang slammed his shoulder into the man and quickly pulled out the gun from his holster. Mindful of Xiaotao’s deterrent, he knocked her over and tried to flee. ”Don't be impulsive!” I shouted.
Captain Zhang raised the gun, tears streaming down his face. ”I’m sorry I let you down. I’m in so much pain, I don't want to live.”
”That’s not what you really think!” I yelled. “It's just the voice controlling you. Don't be swayed by it, put down the gun!”
His face wet with tears, Captain Zhang shook his head desperately and slowly slid the muzzle inside his mouth.
”Zhang, you despicable coward!” roared Xiaotao. “Weren't you just bragging about your strong willpower? How can this little thing affect you?! You’re a disgrace! When you’re gone, I’ll erect a monument in your name and inscribe the words, ‘The Great Coward Zhang!’”
However, my soft-soaps and Xiaotao's goading did little to persuade the man. ”I never realized how ugly and deplorable my heart was,” he cried. “I hate myself. I don't deserve to be a policeman. Let me die!”
”No!” bellowed Xiaotao.
But it was too late; Captain Zhang already had the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. To our surprise, the expected gunshot didn’t go off. Captain Zhang took the gun out of his mouth and checked the safety in consternation.
”Lao Zhang, sorry to disappoint you,” said Director-General Cheng. “I expected an accident so I removed the bullets in advance.”
Then, turning to the officers, he ordered, ”Stop him!”
“Why won’t you let me die!” Captain Zhang roared like a startled bear gone mad. Even his voice sounded off-pitch as if he were possessed.
As soon as he threw the gun aside, he turned and ran towards the busy main road, fast as lightning, putting distance between us. Xiaotao and I as well as the other officers dashed towards him, trying to overtake the man. ”Shoot him in the leg!” blurted Xiaotao.
Meanwhile, she came to an abrupt stop, standing still with both hands on her gun and opened fire. Bang, bang, bang! Several shots were fired in Captain Zhang's direction, one of the bullets successfully hitting him in the thigh. However, Captain Zhang persisted, staggering as he continued to run.
The other officers fired several shots. Captain Zhang received four shots in the leg, but still he ran like a wild horse, driven by the drug-like impulse to commit suicide. His resolution was truly shocking.
Before we could catch up to him, the man was already standing in front of a speeding truck, waiting for death. Seeing this, the driver quickly slammed the brakes and steered the vehicle sideways. Inertia sent the entire truck upside down, metal grating against gravel as it smashed Captain Zhang into a human patty.
Traffic on the road was paralyzed for an instant, sending vehicle after vehicle colliding into each other, the sound of screeching brakes filled the street.
Everyone just stood there motionless, and for a long time, no one spoke. Alerted by the loud crash, the officers in the station ran out, including Officers Xun and Luo, both of whom were under the bureau’s protection. Meanwhile, Director-General Cheng stared into the distance, chewing his lips bloody.
Right then, a melodious tune filled the air, drifting into our defenseless ears. ”Quick! Shoot your guns beside your ears!” instructed Xiaotao. “That way you won’t be able to hear the music!”
Xiaotao raised her gun to make the shot but I quickly interjected, ”Wait a minute! That isn’t the tune we heard earlier!”
Upon careful listening, the man was actually playing the tune ”Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” According to Zhang Jiulin, only a specific tune would be effective at influencing the listener. At the end of the tune, a gloomy voice began to speak, and much like wuxia novels, his voice was able to reach us from miles away though each word remained extremely clear–