Chapter 6
The Corner Bookstore, 256 Iris Street, Donald thinks the name of this store is probably because of their location, at the end of Iris Street, next to Santee Street, which is a commercial district, From a distance, you can see people coming and going in and out of the store.
dīng líng líng
The copper bell at the door rang under the beating of the metal pick, and when I entered the door, I could only vaguely see the vertical bookshelf at the counter of one third, At the front end of these bookshelves are several iron shelves, on which are stacked layers of newspapers from major publishing houses. The ink smell is a little heavy, and the atmosphere of literature seems to be assaults the senses.
Crossing the bookshelf and walking directly to the inside, the store manager is sitting behind the counter, a middle-aged man with brown red hair, a rough face wearing round-rimmed glasses, and a mustache. Wearing a linen-colored vest, holding a cigarette butt in his hand, he puffs.
Donald stepped forward and noticed that he was holding a newspaper in his hand. The page on it was a line of bold characters: Capital accumulation and precise investment.
This is a bookstore Boss that focuses on economic development.
“Please tell me what book you value, the price at the back of the book is the actual price.”
middle-aged man raised his head and said a simple sentence, noting that Donald He didn’t hold any merchandise in his hand, and he lowered his head and continued to read the newspaper.
“Actually I want to buy the book “Evil Banishment”, and I also need newspapers from June 13th to June 22nd, do you know if they have them in the store?”
There are ten bookshelves and thousands of books in the surrounding area. He only knows the title of one book, and he does not know when to find it. There are also important events mentioned in the diary. Because the pages were torn by the predecessor, the predecessor at that time There is no trace of what was done.
Newspapers may be a good carrier. News agencies in this era should have demonstrated a strong ability to collect information. The major events that happened in those days or special events that can attract the attention of others Things will be recorded.
“Evil Banishment? Listening to the name, this is not ordinary, is it a religious book?”
“Yes, I’m a religious student at Godot University, and I’m currently researching this subject.”
The title of college student is still useful, at least as a religion Department of scholar, want to buy some religious books will not be suspicious.
“I’m so sorry, I just took over this bookstore, my father told me that the book in this store is only for economic and entertainment, and does not sell any religious books, um.. ….My father has been in this bookstore for nearly fifteen years, and he is very clear about every corner, so I think his words are credible, maybe you can go to the bookstore opened by the church to see, you The things you want should be found there. As for the newspapers from the 13th to the 22nd, I have them here, but because they are expired, they are all stored in the warehouse. I can take you to get them, do you need them?”
The market for religious books is not large among the common people. People with low incomes may go to the churches of major churches to participate in worship while they have their own beliefs, but it is not practical to ask them to pay for them. Big books are impossible. Bookstores like this that serve the common people will not spend money on unsellable goods.
“Then buy a newspaper.”
Books are temporarily unavailable, but newspapers will do.
“Okay, wait a minute, I’ll let my father come out to see the store.”
The store manager turned around and opened the wooden door behind him, and then he could hear the call from inside, Behind the house is their residence.
The manager came out shortly after, with an obvious happy expression on his face.
“Sir, I think today is a lucky day for both of us. My father said that there happened to be a copy of “Evil Banishment” in the warehouse. He will take you there.”
As he was talking, the store manager opened the small wooden door next to the counter. The warehouse he was talking about was actually the basement of the house, in the back room.
“Thank you very much.”
Donald soon met the store manager’s father, a hair grey-white old man with obvious wrinkles on the corners of his eyes and cheeks, and some back. But the overall look is still vigorous.
“Kann Antoine, nice to meet you.”
“Donald Grant, me too, didn’t expect you to have Evil Banishment here, It saves a lot of time for me.”
The old man reached out his hand first, and Donald hurriedly shook it, bowing slightly in respect, and his gesture brought a smile to Kann’s face also more profound.
“It’s a very coincidental thing, in fact, I only have this book in my bookstore, and it has been in the warehouse for many years. Because of some things, I kept it for a long time, it should have been It was returned to the religious bookstore. You have to understand that because few people bought this kind of special book, the print volume was also very small. I remember when I went to buy it specially and saw that there were only ten books in the other party’s warehouse. I look like I’m left and right, and the other party even seriously asked me who the person who bought the book was and why I bought the book, which is really strange…”
When I get older, I like to recall the past, which is common to the elderly Habit, Kann seems to have a special memory of this book, especially deep.
Donald followed behind him, thinking about this problem, through the words of the old man, we can know that this book has a very small print volume, and the average person I wouldn’t buy it at all, and that book also seems to have a strong purpose in it.
It’s like an introduction book about eating crabs. It describes how to eat crabs and buy this book. No matter what people who grow books think, they are people who have a need for eating crabs themselves?
This means that the people who asked the old man to buy the book “Evil Banishment” are likely to be also affected by it. Aware of the threat of some evil force, like myself, I thought of solving this problem through religious methods.
The basement is under the utility room next to the kitchen. Holding the copper ring, the wooden lid is pulled open to let the sunlight illuminate the entrance. Kann takes the matches and kerosene lamp from the side and goes down the stairs.
“Mr. Grant, do you still need newspapers from the 13th to the 22nd?”
“Yes, because of busy affairs in those days, I have not had the opportunity to read it, so I want to make up for it Otherwise, there will be no conversation topic with people.”
Kann carried the kerosene lamp, and lit the kerosene lamp hanging in the basement at the same time, the basement area is not large, it should be described as a cellar, full of There is a pile of clutter of various aphorisms, some of which have accumulated a lot of dust.
“Where do I have to look for that book, Mr. Grant, you can sort out the newspapers next to you and choose what you want. Our newspapers are all folded by date and no one bought them. If the newspapers accumulate more, they will be sold to the junkyard.”
Kann pointed out the pile of newspapers that were about the height of his calf. Donald paused and pulled them out one by one. .
“Mr. Antoine, I would like to ask about the people who asked you to buy the book “Evil Banishment”. Are they also religious students like me? I’m a little curious why they I bought half of it and don’t want it anymore.”
While collecting newspapers, Donald asked the last person who came here to buy “Evil Banishment”, the other person asked to buy it, but he did not come to buy the book. , Could it be that he has successfully expelled the evil existence in the body in other ways?
“No, he’s not a student, he’s just an ordinary person, but I’m very impressed with him because when he came to the bookstore, his face was very bad… not related to illness or illness. It’s the state of being different when you’re tired, it’s a kind of…I don’t know what words to use to describe it.”
Kann frowned in the memory, even though it had been a few years , he still did not forget that scene. It was a light rain that day, the air was dull, and the man’s pleading and weakness were the main reasons why he agreed to buy this book for the other party to go to church, otherwise he would not have bought this book alone, especially On the premise that its price is not cheap, he paused a little and continued:
“It’s not that he didn’t buy the book, in fact, he came and took the book the day I just brought it. , but after five days, he returned it again, saying that he wanted me to keep it for me. If someone wants to buy it in the future, then give it to him directly… The mutual help of the victims, I remember him That’s what it said at the time.”
“Aid the victim… how was his condition at that time?”
Fate, Donald sighed in his heart, It turned out that he was not the only one in this world who was troubled by this, and from the initial physical condition of both parties, his condition should be better than that of the gentleman.
“Very good, at least in a good mood, haha, it seems that my memory hasn’t completely degenerated, I found it, it belongs to you now, and it is wrapped in parchment, and he gave it to me, said It is to ensure that the book will not be damaged, and I put it in the cardboard box after I get it.”
I took out the things in my memory from the old cardboard box, turned around and handed it to Donald, Xu was noticing His gaze, Kann Antoine explained.
“Can I open it and take a look?”
Patting off some of the dust accumulated on the surface, Donald’s hands are holding the parchment outside the book, and the smooth touch is very abrasive.
“Of course, now it’s yours, but I suggest you look up there, the light here is too dark and not good for your eyes, there are tables and chairs for reading in the bookstore by the window, if you want For two francs (half pence, about 5 yuan), I can get you a cup of black tea.”
Kann started to put out the kerosene lamp in the basement, Donald tucked the newspaper under his right arm and pulled it apart. The small rope wrapped around the book has been squeezed for several years, and the parchment has completely adhered to the book.
Opening the parchment, the line of sight is attracted by some symbols on the parchment before looking towards the book.
“This is…”
stared wide-eyed, Donald groaned softly, clutching the parchment at the corner.
“What’s the matter?”
Kann Antoine on the stairs turned, his hearing seemed to be fine.
“Nothing, just amazed at the texture of the parchment, Mr. Antoine, how much does all of these cost?”
The movement of closing the parchment was too hasty, and the armpit was clipped The newspaper almost fell off.