Chapter 20 Adventure
"Can't you just wash them?" Rock couldn't help but complain. It was so dirty and smelly, and he didn't know how the prison guards could bear it.
"There's no need. Everyone is destined to die. If you don't take them away, they may not have the chance to walk out of prison on their own." Fred Sinclair was used to it. The British had no patience for the Boers who had done nothing wrong, let alone those who had committed crimes.
Rock is going crazy. Is this how he uses such a philosophical saying as "Death is inevitable"?
Perhaps because they heard that Rock might take them away, the four prisoners, who were originally like puppets, looked at Rock almost at the same time, their eyes full of pleading, but they still did not dare to speak.
Rock sighed. He was in no mood to lecture Fred Sinclair. “I need you to help me with something. If you can do it, you don’t have to serve your sentence here, and you can get a reward from me. Now, tell me your decision.”
The four prisoners looked at each other, then looked at Fred Sinclair next to them with fear, still not daring to speak.
"Sorry, Sheriff, I need to communicate with them privately next." Rock drove people away. Fred Sinclair had accumulated too much power in front of these prisoners. With Fred Sinclair around, these prisoners dared not express their opinions.
"Okay, call me if you need anything." Fred Sinclair was a little disappointed, but he didn't ask any more questions. Knowing too much might not be a good thing.
Who says foreigners are ignorant!
"Yes, I do."
"I'll do anything for you, sir."
"Sir, I don't want any reward. As long as you can take me away, I will swear allegiance."
As soon as Fred Sinclair disappeared, the four prisoners immediately rushed to express their opinions. Only one person did not speak, but looking at his eager eyes, one could tell that he was willing to do it.
"Sir, Zack's tongue was cut off by the guards just because he talked in his sleep. He is a good man." A prisoner helped to explain. Zack next to him opened his mouth, and sure enough, there was no tongue.
Just because someone was talking in his sleep, his tongue was going to be cut off. Rock's first reaction was not pity, but a feeling that it could save a lot of money!
this--
All I can say is that Rock has integrated into this era too quickly.
"Okay, since you are locked up in prison, don't say that you are a good person. Now, go to the faucet over there and clean yourself up. I will only give you five minutes. After five minutes, if anyone's hygiene does not meet my requirements, I will not give him a second chance." Rock didn't waste any words and took the man away quickly. Rock didn't want to stay here for a minute. This was hell on earth.
Almost as soon as Rock finished speaking, four prisoners rushed to the faucet and rubbed their bodies desperately.
Rock ignored them, asked Fred Sinclair for some clothes, and then started counting the time in the yard.
Yes, the pocket watch worth two pounds was now worn on Rock's chest. When he was a patrolman, there was no need for Rock to wear a pocket watch, but it was necessary as a captain. He still had to have the proper style. Last night, Rock even found the best tailor in Cape Town to order two suits including a tuxedo, each worth nine pounds and fifteen shillings.
The dress consisted of a silk hat worth six shillings, a tie worth three shillings, a silver-mounted cane worth eight shillings, a shirt worth three shillings and five pence, two pairs of boots worth ten shillings, and a suit of trousers, waistcoat, and tailcoat for eight pounds.
Four minutes and thirty seconds later, as soon as Rock said "the last thirty seconds", the four prisoners knelt in front of Rock in an orderly manner, doing the same thing as before.
It was really neat and tidy. Although they were not wearing any clothes, they did not try to cover themselves up. This was probably their standard posture, which was ingrained in their bones.
"Put on your clothes and follow me." Rock didn't waste any words, and did not forget to thank Fred Sinclair and left a box of cigars bought from Cape Town.
Although Rock was disgusted by Fred Sinclair's behavior, he still had to express his gratitude and observe the social etiquette. A box of cigars only cost one pound, and Rock used to be reluctant to buy them, but just now he bought ten boxes at the dock in one go.
Walking out of the prison gate, the four prisoners automatically lined up in a vertical line and followed Rock. They waved to the guards on the tower, which in turn was met with laughter and scolding. Rock left Robben Island without looking back. If nothing unexpected happened, Rock would never come back in his life.
Back in Cape Town, Rock did not rush back to the police station, but took the four prisoners to the patrol lounge at the dock.
The patrol lounge is actually a confiscated house. The previous owner was a Boer who was executed for committing a crime and his house was confiscated. Patrolmen sometimes take a short break here during breaks, but generally no one comes. During breaks, patrolmen prefer to sit in open-air bars.
"I brought you out to investigate the rioters among the Boers. You can choose whether you are willing to work for me or not. If you are willing to work for me, I will pay you appropriate compensation. If you are unwilling to work, I will send you back to Robben Island. I have to make it clear in advance that you should not think about disobeying my orders or escaping. You all have families in Cape Town. I will not send anyone to keep an eye on you, but I will send someone to keep an eye on your families. If I am not satisfied with you, or you dare to escape, then you and your family will be thrown to Robben Island to serve your sentence. I mean what I say." Rock used threats and inducements, believing that these prisoners would make the right choice.
"I accept."
"I do. I'd like to work for you, sir."
"I'll investigate right away. I know those people who are likely to become rioters."
The four prisoners immediately expressed their opinions. Zack, who could not speak, was nodding desperately. Fred Sinclair was right. If Rock did not take them away, they might not be able to serve the rest of their sentences and leave Robben Island alive. Compared with life, nothing else was important.
"I want their names as quickly as possible. For each important information you provide, I will pay you one pound. Come here to find me when you get the news. If I'm not here, wait for me nearby. Remember, my name is Locke. Each of you take one pound and leave. This is my deposit. Don't let me down." Rock wanted to make a quick decision. In fact, the best way is to take it step by step. Acting too hastily may lead to the exposure of the informant and put them in danger, but Rock did not have much time and could only cut the Gordian knot.
To be honest, Rock didn't know whether they would run away after taking the money, and he didn't have enough manpower to keep an eye on their families, so Rock was also taking a risk. In addition to these prisoners, Rock had to think of other ways.
