Rising Tide

By Naomi Campbell

It was not until now that I understood a saying: In life, persistence is valuable, but persistence is also devastating. What kind of feeling is that? It's like walking on a tightrope, you can only move forward, not backward. When there is no hope, you will fall into hell. That day, you asked, is it cold in winter? I don'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Operation Phoenix
• Release date: May 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869363022

Book preview

Chapter 1: Wandering Sabre

It was not until now that I understood a saying: In life, persistence is valuable, but persistence is also devastating.

What kind of feeling is that? It's like walking on a tightrope, you can only move forward, not backward. When there is no hope, you will fall into hell.

That day, you asked, is it cold in winter?

I don’t know how to answer this question. I just hold you in my arms, feeling your life slipping away, but I can’t say anything.

Is it cold in winter?

I still remember that time when we were running with bare arms in the endless snow, doing sit-ups in the freezing river water, and then washing our naked bodies with the snow water. But we didn’t feel cold at all, instead, our bodies were steaming like steam engines. I still remember that you would sink so deep into the snowy mountains with every step you took, but you still laughed so happily.

Is it cold in winter?

Cold! I am now alone in the middle of winter, covered with two quilts, and still feel cold in the middle of the night. I often stay awake with my eyes open until dawn. When I go out, I wear a thick cotton coat and a thick scarf, with only my eyes exposed. But it is still cold? What should I say? One day, I woke up from the cold under two quilts in the middle of the night and suddenly remembered a sentence a friend once said: When you are alone, no matter how much you wear or how much you cover yourself, you will still be cold.

Yes, they all said that my life would always be cold.

One day when I was about to go out, I accidentally opened a camouflage suitcase under the bed while doing housework. I looked inside curiously. In addition to two pairs of gloves and several sets of camouflage combat uniforms, there was also a cowhide box at the bottom of the suitcase. When I saw the cowhide box, I thought about what was in the box. I suddenly felt nervous.

There was a photograph and a necklace made of a bullet shell.

The film began to turn yellow, and the blood on the shell had turned black...

What kind of days are those?

Deserts, jungles, oceans, snowfields, tanks, helicopters, the whistling of bullets, crying, laughing, cursing...

In that same nightmare, I ran with her on my back in the snowy land. I heard nothing except her increasingly faint heartbeat. I felt nothing when the cold wind of more than 20 degrees below zero blew on my face. The last impression I had was her pale face and purple lips. Her beautiful eyes no longer had the brilliance of the past and began to blur...

I forgot what I was yelling about, what was flowing out after the snowflakes fell from my eyes, the pain and despair pressed down on me like an irresistible mountain.

I remember those hailstones bigger than fingernails hitting me hard. The cold air penetrated into my nasal cavity, making my lungs hurt so much. But all this could not be stopped, and gusts of biting whirlwinds followed to oppose it.

When I woke up, I couldn't fall asleep again...

In mid-December 2009, I ended my wandering life and moved from Guangyuan to Chengdu. The reason I came to this city was because of a comrade-in-arms, Heizi. I heard that this guy is doing well now, working in a very promising job called captain of the Chengdu Special Police Brigade.

When I got off the train, I couldn't help but shiver. Maybe there were too many people on the train, so I didn't feel cold, but it was different after I got off the train. Although there was a sun in the sky, the winter sun was not as warm as a small stove. I stood by the wall as usual and walked around, scanning the crowd, the overpass, the exit, the sidewalk, the waiting station, and everything else. I couldn't help but shake my head. Occupational disease, occupational disease, why can't I quit?

Not long after I got in the taxi, I heard the sirens starting to sound, blaring far away.

It seems something has happened again, causing such a big commotion. said the driver.

I didn't say anything, but I was attracted by the black police cars behind me because there were four big words printed on them: SWAT. It means special police are on a mission.

It seems that something really happened.

Oh, something serious has happened. Even the special police have been dispatched.

I immediately remembered that Heizi was from the SWAT team. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with ordinary people like me. But when I saw the police cars, a desire in my body seemed to be ignited little by little. I still tried to suppress it. At this time, several military vehicles drove by. They were armed police. If I guessed correctly, even the armed police were dispatched. It seemed that this matter was quite serious. I wonder who has the courage to cause trouble in this place. If it goes as I expected, roadblocks will be set up in a few minutes.

When I saw the soldiers on the military vehicle going away, wearing digital camouflage, bulletproof vests, 02-style helmets, and 95 assault rifles, I could no longer suppress the desire in my bones. Although I am no longer a soldier, my war instinct has not been lost. That feeling is hammered out day after day, year after year, and it is deeply hammered into my bones. Although I can no longer fight with my brothers like before, I can still hide in a far place and watch with dry eyes. Thinking of this, I asked the driver to follow the direction of the police car.

Sometimes I think that if I keep wasting time like this, maybe I will lose everything in a few years. But when I got off the car and started looking for a vantage point, it took me fifty seconds to move to the roof of a 20-story building. When I faced the howling cold wind, I seemed to be the same as before, without any change. The bone-piercing cold before had long gone away. My movements and body shape did not change at all, and my speed was still so agile. What the hell am I still a ** soldier?

How to say this? The incident happened in a bank. Just like all the movies and newspaper stories, the gangsters robbed the bank and took hostages. Although the bank is located in a busy city, it can be seen that the robbers are still very thoughtful. The traffic around is not crowded, which is convenient for escape. But there is a lot of traffic on the street, which makes the police feel very inconvenient. After all, it takes time to clear the crowd. Besides, Chinese people have the traditional habit of watching without fear of fatigue or death. So the police are embarrassed to shoot casually, right? If I am not mistaken, there must be a sewer below for people to pass through. Behind the bank are four alleys that are connected in all directions. There is no tall building 800 meters away from the bank, so the sniper will not play a big role. After all, there are not many people in the police force who can perform accurate sniping at a distance of 600 meters.

The police blocked the road. But outside the cordon, there were still many people craning their necks to watch the show. I would define them as people who are not afraid of death. The surrounding traffic began to be controlled, and armed police blocked the intersection with live ammunition.

I have to admire the intelligence of these suspects, but I also look down on their intelligence. Have you heard of a few successful bank robberies in broad daylight? Do you think you are filming a Hollywood blockbuster? Do you think there are no special police if the police can't deal with you? If the special police are not good enough, do you think the quick reaction force of the armed police is free? In fact, it is not easy to get some guns and ammunition in China. At this time, I began to imagine whether these guys wanted the police to provide them with helicopters or high-powered motor vehicles, otherwise they would kill a hostage in a few minutes. Or there are rocketeers on the periphery for backup? This is more in line with the scenes in the movie.

Where am I now? On the rooftop, nearly 900 meters away from the scene of the incident. I always carry a pair of infrared telescopes in my bag, the kind with a long range, which can see clearly places 2,000 meters away, including wind direction, temperature, and laser ranging. This is one of the three souvenirs when I retired from the army. This pair of binoculars was brought back from some military exchange abroad, so I didn't hand it in at that time. I began to scan the surroundings habitually, and saw the SWAT team's car stopped in the back alley of another street. A special attack team began to carry special bulletproof shields outside the bank. There is a SWAT sniper team on the rooftop at the three o'clock and six o'clock directions of the bank, and there is also a sniper team in a window on the fifth floor at the ten o'clock direction. There are two groups of police guarding in the alley behind the bank, and there is also a sniper team guarding under a large billboard above them. From a strategic point of view, this arrangement is seamless. Unless the suspects are supermen, they are finished. It seems that Heizi is still quite capable. Of course, I still think that if we meet top colleagues like us, the situation will be hard to say.

I saw a police inspector down below start negotiating with the people on the phone. From the shape of his lips, he said:

Don't be impulsive. The hostages inside are innocent. You have been surrounded. Your way out is to come out and surrender. Think about your family and your children. They are waiting for you to go home. You have a home and relatives, and so do we...

Damn! It's so uncreative, it's just like a formality. But how effective is it? Only God knows.

When I scanned unconsciously again, a flash flashed in a window of a seven-story building at the seven o'clock direction of the bank. Based on my experience, it must be the scope. If the wind had not blown the curtain at that time, it would not have been found. Now there are five sniper teams on the scene. It seems that the combat effectiveness of this bird special police brigade is quite good.

I saw Heizi through the telescope. Although he was wearing a black combat suit, I knew it was him because there were few people in the world with such exaggeratedly developed upper body triangles like him. We used to laugh that if he retired and became a bodybuilder, he would definitely win glory for the country. At this moment, he was facing the computer to display the 3D model of the bank and talking to his comrades beside him.

I took out my cell phone and dialed a number.

Black Panther, your phone is on the line. A SWAT team member called out.

On the walkie-talkie.

yes.

Hello.

Black Panther, I'm Hawkbeak, over.

Eagle beak? Sorry, I'm busy right now. I know you've arrived in Chengdu, so I'll come back to you after I finish my work. Over.

It seems that after being the captain for a few days, you have become more refined and don't use foul language anymore. I appreciate your kindness. Don't worry, I'm watching you now. Over.

The black man in the telescope looked around, and the special police officers nearby saw him looking around, and some of them followed suit.

Don't look anymore. I'm on the rooftop at your four o'clock position, nine hundred meters away from you. Your five sniper teams and your lines of action are all in my sight. Over. When I said this, I was just having fun. We had practiced such attack missions countless times a month.

What did you say? Did you just say five sniper teams? Over. Hei Zi was surprised.

Yes, five sniper teams. What's going on? Any problems? Over.

Shit, something serious has happened. I only have four sniper teams, and the extra one must be a suspect. Over. Heizi said.

Something serious was about to happen. I hurriedly told Heizi the location of the five sniper teams, and he was sure that the last group I spotted was definitely not theirs. The next thing was easy to do, just go over and kill him. Of course, this was none of my business. About five minutes later, the four SWAT sniper teams moved their positions at that moment, and at the same time, a gunshot was heard. I saw the curtain move.

That damn sniper is over.

At this time, the SWAT team started to attack, and after the flash bombs, tear gas was used. The attack team broke into the room at once, and then a burst of gunfire rang out from inside. It was a very standard operating procedure.

Five minutes later, the hostages began to be helped out one by one, and another team of police came in. The doctor began to get busy, and soon five bodies covered with white cloth were carried out.

It's time for me to withdraw, this process is just like a drill, except this is not a drill.

When I walked onto the street, the cordon had not been removed yet. The police were nervously watching everywhere, but people were still walking by as usual, as if what was happening on the other side of the street had nothing to do with them. When a gust of wind passed by, I shrank my neck.

It was so cold, that feeling came back to me all of a sudden.

Seeing the crowds passing by, I thought, I once protected them, and protected them with my life.

When I saw Heizi again in a restaurant, I didn't laugh out loud. When I saw his dark face and the gunshot wound on his left cheek, I felt like crying. After leaving that daunting place a year ago, I was like a wanderer, no, to be more precise, like an orphan wandering in the world. When I saw Heizi, I felt like my nose was sore. It was like seeing a close relative. Neither of us spoke, but we hugged each other tightly.

Damn it, I thought I couldn't hire you anymore? Heizi laughed. His laugh was forced, and his voice was trembling.

People like us are lonely once we leave the army. Because your experience and everything you have are kept secret. To put it bluntly, we have no past on our resumes. When you feel upset, who can you tell? Only when you face your comrades who have fought together with you, everything will be exiled.

Some things can never be changed. When they cannot be changed, you can either avoid them or face them. But no matter what, you will always be lonely when you are alone.

I'm here, right? Oh, I have nowhere to eat now. I'm not as happy as you are. You're the captain of the Chengdu Special Police Brigade. If you tell anyone about it, the criminals will pee their pants. How cool. I said with a smile.

Damn, you've learned how to flatter. One year of social experience has turned you into this?

People need to eat after all. Do you really think a gun can be a wife and bullets can be a meal? Can I be that kind of person?

No more words, thank you for what happened today. If it weren't for you, I don't know what kind of trouble would have happened. The sniper you found was a scout before. I don't know where he got a 85 sniper. The city attaches great importance to this matter. You are the unsung hero this time. I thank you on behalf of all our police officers. Heizi said seriously, because no matter what my purpose is, no country's police force likes to be clearly watched by others when they are on duty. If it weren't for Heizi's relationship, I guess I would still be drinking coffee in the police station or in the National Security Bureau. Of course, the chance of being invited is very small.

Damn, you're really being civilized. It's just a small favor, I just thought of it on a whim. If you really want to thank me, shouldn't you give me a red envelope?

Fuck, you really know how to climb a pole, how much do you want?

How dare I take your things? Forget it, I don't want the red envelope. I won't talk about the past. Drink, I'm going to make you vomit blood today.

It's all right. Whatever you want to do is fine. How about coming to my place?

I didn't say anything, just looked at him with a cold beer in my right hand.

Are you poaching people?

Do you still need digging now? I know you like freedom. How about this, I give you a military education consultant?

Hey, where's the military advisor? You really know how to joke?

Fuck, don't tell me you want a bigger job. After all, with this position, you can go to places that ordinary people can't go. It's considered a half-civil servant. A monthly salary of 5,000 is not bad. It's more or less a white-collar worker.

Civil servants? Half-baked civil servants, do they have medical insurance? Pension insurance? Retirement pension?

Come on, I'm too lazy to tell you. If you want to do it, do it. If you don't want to do it, forget it. Heizi said.

Well, let's have a drink.

No, I can't drink.

Fuck, he's just a captain, but he's acting so arrogant.

After drinking a few cups, my body started to feel hot and my head started to itch. I scratched it and some snow-like stuff fell off my head. It was dandruff. I realized that I hadn't washed my hair for three days.

How about a bald head? Heizi said with a smile.

I was startled, and a voice rang in my ears. The voice was very loud and a little hoarse, shouting:

Does your scalp feel itchy? Does it feel particularly itchy?

There were dozens of us standing there, and we didn't feel anything at first, but after he said that, we felt our scalps really itchy. The more we thought about it, the more we felt the urge to scratch it.

It's okay, just shave your head. It will save you from not having time to wash your hair for a few days. Things like sweat odor and hair dandruff are annoying. Can't you just wipe it with water every time? I say, right?

Everyone in the team couldn't help but smile.

I miss them so much. I blurted out. It had been a year, and it was the first time I