death of hope

Chapter 2 "Flying to the windfall" (2) "Old Lame" bar

Pushing open the door, the bar was filled with smoke and noisy voices as always,

Cigarette butts and broken glass bottles all over the metal floor, cockroach infestation and unsanitary conditions.

The owner of this bar is Old Jon, a veteran of the Terra Federation, who is not rich but respected.

Old Jon was injured in the colonial war when he was young. His left leg was blown off by an alien induction mine. He underwent amputation and opened this small bar to make ends meet with a meager pension.

The old man used to stand by the bar,
He was wearing a worn-out Terra Federation military uniform, with a second-class Medal of Combat Honor on his chest, a neatly combed snow-white beard, a wig on his bald head, and a walnut cane in his hand. He had fewer legs than others, standing But straighter than anyone else.

"This old man is exactly the same as the image on the neon signboard. The craftsman who made the lamp is really amazing!" Roy said.

"Hello, old man."

"Just got off work, how are you doing today?"

"It's not good! It's so f*cking unpleasant!"

"Why, was the ankle bitten by a wild dog again?"

"I'd rather be bitten by a dog! Today was a hundred times worse than that, that nasty production line leader Diana!"
After getting along for so long, she still doesn't show mercy at all. She deducted my work points just because I went to the bathroom too much!This month's perfect attendance award is over! "

"Sounds really bad." The veteran smiled. "You have to get some alcohol to numb yourself. That's what we did in the army."

"That's right! Get drunk tonight!"

Roy walked to the bar and photographed two coins on the table.

"then!"

The coin slid out towards the bartender, and Roy's actions were chic, not like a poor guy, but like a son of a rich family.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Two flamingo depth charges, over ice, thanks, and two synthetic protein faux steaks, six-rare."

"Six mature?"

The bartender sneered at him: "Roy, you are really pretending!
Synthetic things are still six mature?Are you going to a fancy restaurant for dinner? "

"Hahaha!" The drinkers around laughed loudly: "Poor ghosts like to pretend to be garlic!"

"Why are you laughing! What's the matter with you? Then replace it with a real steak! Medium-rare!" Roy took out two more coins and slid along the bar.

The bartender caught the coin and swept it into the cash register drawer:

"I really don't understand that a bastard like you can find someone!"

As always, Anna came to the jukebox, put in coins, ordered a famous song by the hip-hop dog band, and watched the holographic projection villain singing and dancing.

With the cheerful rhythm, after supper and wine, the stress of the day is released, and there are more and more empty glasses on the bar.

The TV on the wall is broadcasting the news:

"Clashes broke out again in the urban area, and an illegal trade union organization held a large-scale rally in front of the headquarters building of Sakura Co., Ltd., wanting to increase wages.

The founder of the labor union wanted to meet Mr. Juhei Matsushita, the CEO of Sakura Co., Ltd., but was resolutely refused. The company security guards and demonstrators pushed and shoved each other, and then turned into a bloody conflict, and the two sides shot each other.

As of press time, the conflict resulted in the deaths of 13 trade union members, 5 corporate security guards, and more than [-] injuries on both sides.

The spokesperson of the police station declared that the demonstration was an illegal assembly. The trade union was an unregistered illegal violent organization and 326 people including the founder of the union had been arrested.

These thugs committed multiple crimes, including the crime of illegal possession of guns and ammunition, the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, the crime of destroying public and private property, the crime of blocking public roads, the crime of intentional homicide, and so on.

A spokesperson for the York City Police Department stated that they will crack down on illegal trade unions, confiscate illegal guns, and create a good law and order environment for our city..."

"It's all bullshit!" the bartender yelled:

"The company's security guards don't care about killing people with guns! The moths at the city police station must have taken a lot of money!"

The drinkers also cursed again and again, and someone threw French fries at the TV screen.

At eleven o'clock, Anna realized, Roy was drunk.

The veteran came over with a cane:
"Roy is a kid, he can't drink enough and he's always trying to be brave, to be honest,"

The veteran approached Anna's ear and whispered:

"Girl, this kid is not good enough for you."

"He loves me, I love him, and that's enough."

Anna laughed it off: "I have to go to work tomorrow, and I have to take this drunk home, but I'm too weak to carry him on my back."

"Don't worry, I'll make arrangements."

Old Jon called to the kitchen boys:
"Hey! Donny! Carry this dead pig back! Escort our lady home."

"Thank you!" Anna kissed the veteran's rough skin; "I'm sorry to trouble everyone."

"It's already twelve o'clock, the road is too dangerous, there are some hooligans and gang members wandering around." The veteran still felt uneasy, and stuffed an automatic pistol into the tavern clerk's hand:
"Hey, fat man, take it. It is a gentleman's duty to protect the safety of ladies. Remember how to shoot."

"Open the safety, aim, and pull the trigger." The chubby tavern guy said: "Don't worry, I'm good at video games, and I'm good at marksmanship."

"Stupid! You should play less games! You're out of your mind!" the veteran yelled.

Leaving the "Old Lame Bar",
The bartender carried Roy on his back, and Anna led the way,
The three of them walked through the dark and narrow alley and walked up the long stairs,
From time to time someone whistled at Anna on the road,
"Little girl? Come and play."

Anna didn't care either, she just smiled and avoided,

As a tall and beautiful girl who lives in a poor neighborhood where public security is worrying, she has long been used to all kinds of verbal harassment.

The jungle of tower-like concrete buildings is like a rusty cage for prisoners on death row. Even the best mood will be depressed by this environment.

The street lamps on the side of the street were used as targets for marksmanship practice. The road was dark, and there were people lying on the side of the drain, whether it was a drunk or a corpse.
A group of gangsters with guns in their waists gathers for a meeting, and the wise thing to do is to walk around and pretend you don't see it.

The three of them came to No. 0127, a giant low-rent residential building in York City. At this time, Roy was better and could be supported to walk.

The old elevator creaked and sounded like it was about to fall apart, but that didn't happen.

At the door of Room 140 on the 08th floor, Anna thanked the bartender.

"Thanks, Donnie."

"You're welcome, take care of yourself, I'm going back to play games."

The dirty corridor was full of noise, the neighbors were arguing, throwing things, occasionally children crying and dogs barking.

Using the key to open the iron door covered with spray-painted graffiti, Roy woke up suddenly, rushed straight to the toilet, lifted the toilet lid, knelt down and vomited, and then fell asleep on it in a daze.

"Hey, it's really worrying..."

As if serving a paralyzed patient, Anna helped him change his clothes and wash his hands, wiped himself clean and put on talcum powder.

There was a voice message on the phone, and it was the manager of the property management company of this low-rent housing building who was speaking rumors.

He expressed the cruel truth in very polite words. If the rent and management fee cannot be paid within 15 days, the tenant of No. 14008 low-rent house will be forcibly evicted to the street by the security guards.

Anna said to herself:
"It's okay. I'll call my mother tomorrow to borrow money. If I can't, I'll ask my elder brother for help."

Roy heard it all, his nose was sore, and he cried out.

"I'm sorry... honey, I'm really useless..."

"You drank too much, go to bed quickly."

"I'm clear-headed... I...

I heard what old Jon said in the tavern. He said I wasn't good enough for you. It's hard to say, but it's true. "

"Okay! Look at the one who wronged you!"

She put Roy's head on her lap as if coaxing a child:
"Don't cry, baby! I won't marry anyone but you! Everything will be fine, don't worry."

Roy's alcohol came up again, and he went to the toilet to vomit. When Anna helped him rinse his mouth and wipe his mouth clean again, he was half asleep and half awake, and said drowsily:

"Dear,

Someday
I'm taking you out of this damn place,

Immigrate to other planets and make a fortune! "

(End of this chapter)