This is a clean and warm room with curtains and two lights-one for her and the other for the empty chair opposite her. There are two glass goblets, a bottle of soda and a bottle of whisky in the sideboard behind her. The incubator is full of freshly beaten ice.

Mary maloney is waiting for her husband to come home from work.

She looked up at the clock again. She is in no hurry. On the contrary, she happily thinks that every minute in the past is getting closer and closer to her husband's time to go home. All she did was smile calmly and gently. When she rolled up her needle and thread, the knitting needle fell to the ground. This tiny sound made the room seem unusually quiet at this moment. I am pregnant for six months, my skin is white and red, and my lips are soft. Under her calm manner, her eyes seem to be darker and bigger than before. The clock struck ten minutes to five and she listened. After a while, as usual, she heard the sound of tires rubbing against the sand, the door opened, footsteps through the window, and the sound of keys turning the lock on time. She put down her needlework, stood up and bent down to kiss her husband who had just entered the room.

"Yes, dear." She said.

"Very well, dear." He replied.

She picked up his coat and hung it on the hanger. She went to the sideboard, poured him a slightly strong whisky and herself a light one. Then she sat back in the chair and picked up her sewing. He sat opposite her, shaking the goblet with both hands, making the ice clink on the glass wall.

For her, this is the happiest moment of her day. She knew that he didn't want to talk until he finished his first cup. And she herself, after staying at home alone all day, is content to sit quietly and enjoy the time with him. She was immersed in the feeling that her husband was around, just like sunbathing. When they are alone together, her husband is her bright sunshine. She likes his relaxed and comfortable posture in the chair, the way he walks through the door, and even the way he strides across the room. When she looks deep into his eyes, she prefers to find her own image in his eyes. And the lovely outline of his mouth, especially his demeanor of never complaining about hard work, and his habit of sitting quietly drinking whiskey.

"Honey, are you sleepy?"

"Yes," he said, "I'm so sleepy." He made a strange gesture when he spoke: he raised his glass and drank at least half a glass of wine in one breath. She didn't stare at him, but judging from the sound of his arm hanging down and the sound of ice sliding to the bottom of the empty cup. He paused for a moment, sat up straight, then stood up, walked slowly to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of wine.

"Let me pour it for you." She jumped up and said.

"You sit down." He said.

When he came back, she noticed that the newly poured wine was mixed with dark amber whiskey.

"Honey, can I help you with your slippers?"

"No need."

She watched him start sucking the dark yellow liquid. Because of the high alcohol concentration, she could see a small golden vortex rolled up in the cup.

"I think it's really sad," she said. "When a policeman reaches your age, he has to patrol the streets all day."

He didn't answer. She shook her head and went on knitting. Every time he raised the cup to his lips, she could hear the sound of ice hitting the glass wall.

"Honey," she said, "shall I get you some cheese? Today is Tuesday, and I'm not ready to cook dinner. "

"No." He said.

"If you are too sleepy to go out," she continued, "it's not too late. There is a lot of meat and food in the refrigerator. You can sit in the chair and eat later. "

Her eyes looked at him, waiting for an answer. Just smile and nod gently. But he didn't do anything.

"Well," she went on, "I'll get you some cheese and biscuits first."

"I don't want to eat." he said

She sat back in her chair with difficulty and looked at him with wide eyes. "But you must eat! I want to cook anyway. Eat if you like, forget it if you don't like it. "

She stood up and put her needlework beside the lamp on the desk.

"Sit down," he said. "Just a few minutes. Sit down. "

Until now, she hasn't felt so nervous.

"Come," he said. "Sit down."

She bent down slowly and sat back in the chair, still looking at him with big confused eyes. He has finished his second glass of wine, and now he is staring at it with a frown.

"Listen," he said, "I have something to say to you."

"My dear, what is it? What's wrong? "

He doesn't want to move now. He hung his head, and the light from the desk lamp beside him shone on his forehead, but his chin and mouth were buried in the shadow. She noticed a slight twitch in the corner of his eye.

"I'm afraid the news will surprise you a little," he said. "But I thought of a good idea, and I decided to tell you now. I hope you don't blame me too much. "

He told her. Before long, four or five minutes at most, she listened carefully and watched in horror that every word he said was far away from her.

"That's it," he went on. "I know this is not the time to tell you, but there is no other way. Sure, I'll give you the money and see you later. There's nothing to make a fuss about, at least I hope so. But it will be very helpful for my work. "

She instinctively couldn't believe it at first and denied it. Before he finished, she had guessed what was going to happen. Maybe, she thinks she can go back and do her thing and pretend that she didn't hear anything. Then when she wakes up the next day, she will find that none of this has happened.

"I'll make dinner," she whispered. He didn't stop her this time.

When she walked across the room, she didn't feel herself standing on the ground. She can't feel anything-except slight nausea and vomiting. Now everything is mechanically numb-go downstairs, press the light switch, open the freezer, check out the first thing you encounter and take a look. It was wrapped in paper and she tore it open and looked at it.

That's a leg of lamb.

That's it. Let's have mutton for dinner. She went upstairs with a leg of lamb and one end of the bone in her hands. When she crossed the hall, she saw him standing at the window with his back to her, so she stopped.

"Damn it," he heard her, but he didn't turn around. "Don't prepare dinner for me, I'm going out."

At this moment, Mary maloney came up from behind him, waved the leg of frozen mutton without hesitation, and hit him hard on the head with all her strength.

She seems to have been hit by an iron bar.

She stepped back and waited. Incredibly, he still stood for at least four or five seconds, then shook himself gently before falling down on the carpet.

When he fell, he knocked down the small table and made a loud noise before she recovered from the shock. She approached slowly, feeling desolate and surprised. She stared at his body in surprise, still clutching the ridiculous leg of lamb.

It's okay, she said to herself. I ... killed him. ...

Her mind suddenly became clear. She began to think quickly. As the wife of a detective, she knows exactly what the punishment for murder is. So what? It doesn't mean anything to her. In fact, serving a sentence can be said to be a relief. However, what about children? How will the law treat an unborn child? Will they put the child and the mother to death together? Or will you wait until October to get pregnant? What on earth will they do?

Mary maloney really doesn't know. But she doesn't want to gamble.

She took the meat to the kitchen, put it in the pot, set the oven to the highest temperature and put it in for roasting. Then she washed her hands and ran back to the bedroom upstairs. She sat in front of the mirror, combing her hair and moistening her skin. She tried to smile. That smile is really weird. So she tried again.

"Hello, Sam." She said happily and loudly.

The sound still sounds strange.

"I want to buy some potatoes, Sam. Well, there is also a can of green beans. "

That's better. Smiles and sounds are more natural. She reviewed it several times. Then I ran downstairs, grabbed my coat, went out the back door, crossed the garden and came to the street.

It's not six o'clock yet, and the street lamp is still shining in the department store.

"Hello, Sam." She said happily, smiling at the young man behind the cashier.

"Good evening, Mrs. maloney."

"Sam, I want to buy some potatoes, thank you. There is also a can of green beans. "

The young man turned around and reached for the green beans on the shelf behind him.

"Perdue was tired today, so she decided not to go out for dinner." She told the young man, "You know, we usually eat out on Tuesdays. Now he actually said that there is no food at home. "

"Mrs. maloney, do you need meat?"

"No, I have it at home, thank you. There is a good leg of lamb in my refrigerator. "

"Oh."

"Sam, I don't like cooking frozen food very much. I'm going to gamble this time. What do you think? "

"In my opinion," said the young man, "I don't think there is any difference. Do you want these Indian potatoes? "

"Well, all right. Enough, just two. "

"Is there anything else?" The young man cocked his head and looked at her happily. "After the main course? What dessert are you going to prepare? "

"Well ... Sam, do you have any good suggestions?"

The young man visited his shop for a week. "How about a big pancake? I think he will like it. "

"It's perfect." She said. "That's what he likes."

When the food was packed and she paid for it, she smiled brightly at the young man and said, "Thank you, Sam. Good night. "

"Good night, Mrs. maloney. Thank you for your patronage. "

Now, she told herself that she would go back at once, and that's exactly what she did. Now that she has just come home, her husband is still waiting for her to cook dinner. She must cook delicious food, especially for a tired man. If, when she comes home, she finds something abnormal, perhaps a tragedy or a terrorist incident, she should naturally be surprised. Her heart went crazy with sadness and fear. It is worth reminding that she should not know anything that happens at home. She just bought vegetables to go home. Mrs. maloney only bought vegetables at home on Tuesday night to prepare dinner for her husband.

That's it. She said to herself. Everything is done just right, naturally, there is no need for any unnecessary pretending.

When she entered the kitchen through the back door, she cleared her throat and smiled slightly.

"perrin!" She cried. "Honey, what's the matter with you?"

She put the small bag on the table and walked into the hall; She was really shocked when she saw him fall to the ground with his legs crossed and one hand bent under him. Past love and longing for his feelings slowly rose in her heart. She ran and knelt beside him, almost crying her eyes out. It's simple. There's no need to pretend.

After a few minutes, she stood up and walked to the telephone. She knows the telephone number of the police station very well. A man's voice came from the other end of the phone. She screamed, "Hurry! Come here quickly! Perdue is dead! "

"Who is reporting the case?"

"I'm Mrs. maloney."

"You said Poerxiusi maloney was dead?"

"Probably," she hesitated. "He fell to the ground. I think he's dead. "

"I'll be right there." The man said.

The bus will arrive soon. When she opened the front door, two policemen came in. She knows both of them-she knows almost everyone in the police station-and then she sits in the chair. Finally, she stood up, walked up to one of the policemen named o'malley and knelt beside the body.

"Is he really dead?" She cried.

"I'm afraid so. What the hell happened? "

She told the police briefly that she went to the department store and found him lying on the ground when she came home. Tears kept flowing when she told the story. Norman found a small piece of coagulated blood on the back of the body. He told o'malley what he had found, and O 'Malley called immediately after reading it.

After a while, other policemen also came to the house. First the doctor, then two detectives, the name of one of them. Then there are police photographers shooting the scene and experts who know how to identify fingerprints. People were whispering around the body and the detective kept asking her. But they are all very friendly to her. She told the story again, starting with Pepperta's coming home and her knitting. He is very tired, so he doesn't want to go out for dinner. So she said she was going to have a barbecue-"well, it's in the oven, cooking." Then she went to the department store to buy food, and when she came back, she found him lying on the ground.

"That department store?" A detective asked.

She told the detective, and then the detective turned and whispered to another detective, and the other detective went out at once.

Fifteen minutes later, the detective came back with a small piece of paper and whispered to his companion. She sobbed and vaguely heard a few words-"... this is normal ... very happy ... I want to cook him a delicious dinner ... green beans; Beans; Green beans ... pancakes ... can't be her ... "

After a while, the photographer and the doctor left, and two others came to remove the body. The fingerprint expert has left. There are only two detectives and policemen left. They were so friendly to her that Jack Norman even asked her if she wanted to go somewhere else, such as her sister's house or his wife's house, so that they could take good care of her at night.

"No need." She said. She can hardly walk a yard now. They shouldn't mind her staying in the chair until she feels better. It's really hard for her. It's really hard.

"Would it be better to let her lie in bed?" Jack Norman asked.

"No." She said. She just wants to stay in the chair, that's all. After a while, she may feel better before she can walk.

They agreed to let her sit in the chair, and then continue to do their thing and search the house. The detective comes to ask her a question or two occasionally. Jack Norman sometimes comes to say hello. Her husband was killed by a blunt object in the back of the head. Norman told her that it was a big piece of metal. They are looking for the murder weapon. The murderer may have taken the weapon, but it is also possible that he threw it away or hid it.

"This is a strange thing," he said. "As long as we find the murder weapon, we can find the murderer."

Then, a detective came up to her and asked her if she knew anything in the house could be used as a murder weapon. Ask her if she would mind walking around to see if anything is missing, for example, a heavy metal vase.

"There are no heavy metal vases at home," she said.

"Where's the big wrench?"

She doesn't think there is a big wrench at home either. These things can only be put in the garage.

The search is still in progress. She knew that a policeman was searching the garden. She can hear his footsteps on the beach, and sometimes she can see the flashlight shining on the curtains. It was getting dark and she heard the clock strike nine. The four men who searched the room were also annoyed and even lost their temper over trifles.

"Jack," she said as Norman walked by, "can you pour me a drink?"

"Of course. Do you want to drink whisky? "

"Yes, thank you. A small glass is enough. Maybe it will make you feel better. "

He handed her the cup.

"Why don't you give yourself a drink?" She said, "You must be sleepy, too. Drink it. You are very friendly to me. "

"Well," he replied, "there are no strict rules, but I can only take a sip."

One by one, everyone passing by was advised to drink some whisky. They stand together instead of walking around with cups in their hands. Her appearance made people feel uncomfortable, and everyone wanted to say something to comfort her. Officer Norman came into the kitchen and said quickly, "Look, Mrs. maloney, your toaster is still on. The meat is still roasting inside. "

"Oh, my God." She shouted. "Yes!"

"Let me turn it off for you."

"Thank you, Jack."

When the police officer came back, she looked at him with big black eyes and said, "Jack Norman."

"Huh?"

"Can you do something for me and everyone?"

"I will try, Mrs. maloney."

"Well," she said, "you are all good friends of Perrin before his death, and now you are helping him find the murderer. It's past your off-duty time now. You must be hungry. I don't think Perdue will never forgive me if I'm not warm and proper to you. Oh, praise his soul. Eat the mutton in the oven, just baked. "

"That's beyond my dreams." Officer Norman said.

"Please." She pleaded, "Please eat. I can hardly think without him at home. It would be a great help to me if you could eat all the mutton. Then you can continue your work. "

The police hesitated for a while, but they were really hungry. They finally persuaded themselves to go to the kitchen to find something to eat. The woman is still sitting in the chair, quietly listening to their conversation. Their pronunciation is very unclear because their mouths are full of meat.

"Charlie, do you want more?"

"No, it's better not to finish it."

"She wants us to eat them all. That's what she said. Let's help her. "

"All right, then. Give me some more. "

"A thick stick must have hit Perdue on the head," said one of them. "The doctor said that his skull seemed to have been hit by a sledgehammer and it was all broken into pieces."

"So the murder weapon should be easy to find."

"I think so too."

"No matter who made it, no one will carry it around when it is not needed."

The other man burped.

"In my opinion, the murder weapon is around here."

"I'm afraid our noses are very low. Jack, don't you think so? "

In the other room, Mary maloney snickered.

Lamb to be slaughtered

He took his father to an ambush, like a? Mutton? Where to? That? Slaughter.

It was he who made the Crusaders look vulnerable in this massacre.

Mr. B didn't get promoted because he looks like A? Mutton? Where to? That? Slaughter.

Mr. Wang has not been promoted because he is a gentle and excellent person.

Key words:

Lights? Mutton

English [l? m]？ Beauty [l? m]

Mutton; Lamb, lamb; & lt cases >; Jesus

Give birth to a lamb

She came over and put her arms around me. Are you poor? Mutton. "What's the matter?"

She came over and hugged me. "Poor baby, what's the matter?"

Extended data:

Leg of lamb and murder

Leg of Lamb and Murder is a book published by China Aerospace Publishing House on 20 10 by Dahl. This book is a collection of the most representative works selected from the masterpieces of world-class mystery novels.

title of a book

Leg of lamb and murder

author

Dahl (USA)