This was a room similar to a small theater, with a stage at the very front. Unlike in a standard theater, the seats here were not densely packed, but rather just a few circular booths were scattered around the stage at various positions.
The booths were round with a ring of sofas and a circular table in the center.
Soone was performing on the small stage—it looked like an opera piece. Song Heping didn't understand this stuff, but he could be sure it was sothing along the lines of opera.
Foreigners really like this kind of thing.
It just didn't occur to him that in such a war-torn place, there would still be an exact replica of Western luxury.
In the central booth, several people were already seated, with red wine and cigars on the table.
The air was wafting with a rich aroma of tobacco.
Francis was leading the way ahead, arriving next to the booth, stepping over to Robbin, and whispering a few sentences into his ear.
Next to the booth, Song Heping and the cook stood as the cook murmured, "The big bosses from the Illiguo PMC circle are basically all here."
"Is that so?"
"Exactly, AAFES, Black Water, Sparta, KBR, and the Illiguo branch heads of MVM are all present."
Although Song Heping hadn't t these individuals before, he had heard of these companies. After all, he had spent not a short amount of ti in the Green Zone and had so understanding of matters within the Illiguo PMC circle.
Take KBR for example; its nature was sowhat unique.
Its headquarters were located in Houston, Texas, and it was once a departntal branch of Halliburton Company—established in 1919 as one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry.
Thus, KBR specialized in energy sector security services, similar to the guarding contracts for the two major oil fields in Song Heping's hands.
Of course, Illiguo had many oil fields, so KBR's main business was guarding Halliburton's own fields, given that this energy giant currently owned the most oil fields in Illiguo.
Besides that, they would also bid on guarding projects for other companies' oil fields. In this regard, they were expert veterans in the field.
Then there was MVM, a company with an even more mysterious background. Their size wasn't large, but the business they undertook was extrely high in value and risk, deeply collaborating with the United States' CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and NSA (Security Bureau).
Before, Song Heping never imagined that one day he would be invited to drink red wine and smoke cigars with these people.
But that was not important.
Not important at all.
What was more surprising was that these company people could sit together so harmoniously, which was quite astonishing.
After all, they were peers.
Peers but rival nations.
And yet they could sit together?
That was truly bizarre.
As Francis whispered, Robbin had already seen Song Heping and the cook, a smile appearing on his face as he stood up and walked over warmly.
"Mr. Song, Mr. Yevgeny! Welco to our little gathering," he said.
With a gesture toward the booth, he said, "Please, your seats have been reserved."
Song Heping had just noticed that there were simple dining sets in front of each person, and a glass of red wine as well.
There were two seats by the sofa that were vacant.
Not bad.
Pretty refined.
Song Heping thought to himself, smiling as he said, "Thank you for your gracious invitation, Mr. Robbin."
After speaking, he promptly took a seat with the cook at their designated spots on the sofa.
Robbin's seat was very close to Song Heping's, next to him. As Robbin sat down again, he beckoned a waiter, murmuring, "Serve the two distinguished guests their als."
"Of course, Mr. Robbin."
The waiter left promptly.
Robbin turned to Song Heping, "Do you normally watch operas, Mr. Song?"
Song Heping shook his head, "I've never seen one before, where I co from, we favor Peking opera."
Robbin laughed heartily, "I've seen your Peking opera in my country, a very unique artistic tradition."
"It's rare for Mr. Robbin to like it."
Song Heping thought to himself this guy might not have actually seen it, but there was no harm in taking it as a complint.
Pointing to the actor on stage, Robbin said, "Tonight's performance is 'Hamlet', I'm sure even if you've never heard opera, Mr. Song, you must be familiar with this great literary work, right? Shakespeare's masterpiece."
Song Heping nodded, "I am aware of it."
Robbin asked, "Then what's your favorite line from the work?"
Actually, Song Heping didn't have much of a literary bone in his body. He knew 'Hamlet' was a tragedy and that it was one of Shakespeare's works, but he had never read it closely.
However, he was familiar with its famous quotes.
"To be, or not to be: that is the question."
Song Heping blurted out.
Clap, clap, clap—
Robbin softly applauded.
He turned toward the stage and waved his hand, signaling a stop.
The actors imdiately ceased their performance, then took a bow and disappeared from the stage quickly.
Song Heping imdiately realized that so important matter was about to be discussed.
Suddenly, he shuddered.
To be, or not to be: that is the question.
This line in English...
Seed a bit aningful...
Sure enough, Robbin said with a smile to Song Heping, "Mr. Song's English is quite good, but I prefer another translation—'survival or destruction? This is a problem.'
Song Heping's heart stirred slightly.
He really had guessed right.
This Robbin was indeed a sly fox, laying a trap for him just now.
Both translations were accurate, encapsulating the aning in Shakespeare's work.
Only the forr was the original text, while the latter was another more straightforward extended expression, not the original text.
Survival or destruction, that is the question.
Heh.
Song Heping thought to himself, wasn't this a veiled threat?
User Comments
0 comments from readers