爱佳家

My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad
it's not so bad

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay
my head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today
I'm late for work again
and even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day
and then you call me and it's not so bad
it's not so bad

And I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life

Push the door, I'm home at last and I'm soaking through and through
then you handed me a towel and all I see is you
and even if my house falls down now, I wouldn't have a clue
because you're near me

And I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life

Bereft of options, Pullo has taken up "mortality work" for Erastes Fullmen, descending into the underworld as a knife-wielding hit man, spending his pay on prostitutes and a growing appetite for opium.

Across town, his erstwhile partner assumes his official duties as a magistrate, receiving local citizens to hear out their complaints and requests. One such request comes from Mascius, an old comrade from the battlefields, who speaks on behalf of fellow veterans. Less fortunate than Vorenus, they cannot live solely on the money Caesar has given them, and they want land in Italy. Already weary from taking on the burdens of the poor, Vorenus is dismissive, but he takes their demand to Caesar. "Is it possible they turn on me?" Caesar asks his new representative. "They'd never fight against you," Vorenus assures him. "But if they're not satisfied, those that have no other skills to employ will turn to banditry and raiding."

Caesar decides to offer them rugged land near Germany, and if Mascius refuses it, Vorenus is to make him a personal offer - in the hopes that he will sway his fellow veterans to accept the bargain.

Brutus is disturbed to find graffiti depicting him with a knife at Caesar's back. As he orders a servant to erase the image, Cassius arrives to tell him not to bother - the drawings are everywhere. Plebeians painted the graffiti in the hopes that Brutus would rescue them from the tyrant, Cassius tells him, ushering in liberty as his ancestors did before him. "They would not pluck a hair for liberty," Brutus sneers contemptuously. "Plebs love to see their betters fight. It's cheaper than theater and the blood is real."

When Cassius calls him a coward, Brutus bristles with anger. He is not blind to what Caesar has become, he insists, but he has pledged his friendship to the man. "He trusts me. I cannot betray that trust." "For friendship, you would let the Republic die." Cassius says with disgust. "I am just a man!" Brutus pleads. "The life or death of the Republic is not in my hands!" "The Republic is in your hands," Cassius snaps back. "The people will not accept a tyrant's death unless a Brutus holds the knife."

Erupting in fury at the position he's been put in, Brutus slaps the man and stalks off.

When Pullo murders a man in broad daylight, the brutality is witnessed by an old weaver, who chases him through the streets. Screams of "murderer!" echo through the alleyways, sending Pullo into a hallucinogenic collapse, and ultimately to jail.

As predicted, Mascius refuses Caesar's land offer for the veterans, and Vorenus makes him a personal offer. When he steadfastly refuses ("I have been true to my brothers since I first spilt blood...my honor is not for sale so cheap"), Vorenus employs the same logic that was used on him, convincing the man he would not be helping his fellow soldiers by declining the offer. Mascius negotiates a higher price for himself and accepts the deal, as the two men turn away from each other, ashamed of their compromises.

At a symposium hosted by Atia, she pulls Caesar aside to warn him about Brutus; she believes that Servilia will not rest until Caesar is dead. Her imperious uncle scoffs at her warnings. "I well imagine poor Servilia is not very fond of me, but really, wants me dead? You are a dramatist Atia."

Vorenus and a terrified Niobe arrive at Atia's symposium as Caesar's special guests, and awkwardly attempt to mingle with the haughty guests. Niobe has made herself an elaborate dress for the occasion, which earns Atia's disingenuous compliments.

When Octavian learns that Pullo is awaiting trial for murder, he makes a plea to Caesar to intervene. "We must do nothing" Caesar insists firmly. The man Pullo killed has been a vocal critic of his leadership, and intervening on his behalf would look suspicious. Octavian secretly enlists Timon to find Pullo an attorney, but there are no takers among the idle lawyers in town. Only when Timon holds up a hefty purse does one come forward, a skittish, underfed young man. Pullo appears resigned to his fate, however, and refuses to help the man find sympathy for his plight.

At a trial held before a jeering crowd in the forum, the prosecutor makes a simple case against Pullo: a good man was hacked to death by a wretched specimen, a horror that's becoming too commonplace. "I'll not take your time with lengthy proof of his guilt. Look at him. We all know he's guilty."

As Vorenus makes his way into the crowd, he comes upon Mascius, who is hiding a sword. He spots several other soldiers in the crowd disguised as civilians, all ready to pounce should their fellow legionnaire be sentenced to death. Terrified of the political consequences, Vorenus insists Mascius call off their planned attack "for the good of the Republic." Caesar cannot reinstate law and order if soldiers are allowed to kill citizens without consequence.

Pullo's nervous lawyer offers a weak case for his defense, and when he cannot deny his client's guilt, he is condemned to death.

When Caesar tells Brutus he wants him to govern Macedonia, he sees it as his ousting, a way to remove him from Rome. Caesar finally admits he's uncertain whether he can trust his "son," given his past betrayal, but Brutus insists he betrayed nothing. "Had you told me you were to march on Rome, and asked for my allegiance, I would have given it. I would have judged you insane. But I would have given you my allegiance. Because I look on you as my father...But you did not ask for my allegiance. You demanded it at sword point."

Caesar takes back his accusation. But Brutus still insists he will not go to Macedonia. When Caesar invokes his legal authority, Brutus is near tears. "As my father I looked on you," he says. "Be reasonable," Caesar replies. "You are on every wall with a knife at my neck. I would be foolish not to worry." "Surely only tyrants need worry about tyrant killers," Brutus says through clenched jaw. "And you are no tyrant. Haven't you told me so many times?"

The morning before he is to be lead to his death, Pullo makes an offering to the Gods, a cockroach he's grabbed from his dungeon cell. He pleads that Eirene will know that he's sorry for what he did, and asks them to give her a long and happy life. "And same for my friend Lucius Vorenus and his family, if that's not too much."

At the arena, before a capacity crowd, Pullo is lead into a small ring, where he's greeted by three giant gladiators and handed a large sword. He stays on his knees in the center of the ring, refusing to fight. "I just want to die, alright? I don't want to hurt anyone." The men won't have it, and taunt him with insults. But only when they deride the Thirteenth legion does Pullo's fire return, and on impulse he lashes out at them - knocking out one before slicing through another. The crowd starts to root for him, as the largest of the men wields his tomahawk and knocks the sword out of Pullo's hand, sending him back to his feet. Just as he awaits the final death blow, however, Vorenus emerges from the crowd, sword in hand, and takes on the gladiator - slicing his leg in half and collapsing him to the ground. As the crowd recovers from shock, a roar of approval rises up.

Across town, Posca walks stealthily through the back alleys, a fat purse of coins in hand. He enters a dark tavern and drops the leather satchel on a table. "If we employ you again, best not use veterans," he tells the man seated by the purse -- Erastes Fullmen. He nods in agreement.

 

1971年11月24日，感恩节前夕，下午4:35，一位男子以"Dan Cooper"的名字登上了美国西北航空公司由波特兰起飞的一架波音727客机。这件飞机上只有36名乘客，6名机组人员。
这名男子随身带着一只装有电线和“红色小棒”的手提箱。他穿着黑色外套，深色套装，平整的白色衬衣，黑色领带，平底便鞋，还戴着黑框眼镜。 飞机刚起飞，这名男子就把乘务员叫来，要饮料喝。当他付钱时，同时给了这位空姐一张纸条。美丽的空姐以为这个男人只是给了她电话号码，于是就把纸条放到口袋里没有看。Cooper叫住她，说：“小姐，你最好看一下。我有炸弹。”那张纸条上说：“我的手提箱里有炸弹，我将在需要的时候使用它。请你现在坐到我身边来。你们被劫持了。” 
 Cooper的要求包括二十万美元（一万张廿元钞票，不要连号新钞）、四具降落伞（不要军用的自动伞，要一般跳伞者的手动伞）。西雅图的警方、联邦调查局紧急张罗之下，于1724时通知机长准备妥当。1739，飞机平安降落西雅图，比预计抵达时间只晚了三十分钟。在Cooper要求之下，飞机停在机坪的一个角落，客舱熄灯。除了三位前舱组员与一位空中小姐之外，其它的人全部顺利走下飞机，Cooper也拿到装钱的提袋与降落伞。 
   有一位联邦航空署（FAA）的官员，或许是脑袋特别冬烘，还表示希望上飞机来劝说他放弃这种盗匪行为，当然遭到Cooper的拒绝。不过从头到尾，根据机员的回忆，这位飞机大盗的态度一直保持温和与理性。 
   1946时，加满油的飞机再度起飞。Cooper下令飞往墨西哥市，但要求机员维持高度在10000呎以下、速度150节以下、起落架不得收起、襟翼设定15度、机舱不得加压。飞行员表示这种状况下无法飞到墨西哥市，于是他同意在雷诺市落地加油。当然，大家也都猜得到，他很可能会跳伞逃逸，而且说不定会挟持至少一位机员跟他一起跳机，所以没人敢在降落伞上动手脚。但是空军还是派出一架F-106战斗机，试图标定他的跳伞位置。
   起飞后不久，Cooper就要空姐到前舱去，不准出来。此时他割下一个降落伞的伞绳，把钱袋（廿一磅重）缚在身上。2000时，仪表板上的警告灯亮起，显示机尾的登机门被打开。机长透过舱内电话问：「有什么要帮忙的吗？」「没有！」这是他的最后一句话。 
   2024时，飞机感到一阵抖动。机员们相信，机尾登机梯此时降了下去，Cooper跳出了飞机，当时的位置在波特兰以北廿五哩之处。他们继续等了五分钟，然后试图用电话叫他，没有响应。于是机员打开驾驶舱门，结果不出预期：Cooper带着所有随身行李、钱袋子，跳伞离开了飞机。
   接下来联邦调查局与华盛顿州警方发起连续十八天的陆空大搜索，但是一点蛛丝马迹都没找到。由于天气恶劣，那架尾随在后的F-106也根本没看到任何东西。不用说，这起劫机案变成1971年感恩节假期的超级大新闻。一开始警方拘捕了一位叫作Daniel B.Cooper的男子，虽然迅速证明没有嫌疑，但是在媒体炒作之下，"D.B.Cooper"就成为「开膛手捷克」（Jack the Ripper）后，西方犯罪史上最远播的化名之一。    联邦调查局在筹集一万张廿元美钞时，紧急将这些钞票的编号都登记了下来。但是一直到1980年，才有一个小男孩在哥伦比亚河的岸边泥滩里挖到了290张廿元美钞，虽然破损严重，但号码仍然可辨，这是赎金仅有的一次露面，其它9710张钞票的号码，从来没有被治安机关发现过。 
   当然，这一来使得那些相信Cooper已经死在跳伞过程中的人大为振奋。这一派坚持，当时在一万呎高空是寒冷的风雨，温度零下七度，Cooper很可能一跳出去就被冻昏，无法拉开降落伞而摔死。不过认为Cooper没死的人则主张：以Cooper计划之周密，不可能没考虑到这一点，何况在他之后连续有三起效尤之作，劫机者都安全落地（后来都被破获），因此那290张钞票可能是跳伞过程中被吹走，甚至可能是故布疑阵。总之，FBI虽然灰头土脸（权倾一时的胡佛局长在几个月后去世，相信本案绝对让他咬牙切齿），但是也从来没有用Cooper已经死亡来宣布结案，一直到三十年后， Cooper到底何许人也？至今没人晓得。大家能确定的是：除了长相平凡之外，他对于波音727的机械，以及高空跳伞，都有相当的研究。因此他会要求飞行员把飞机维持在无法飞高、飞快的外型；也会要求自行决定开伞时机的手动民用降落伞（这样就可以落到低空再开伞）；在地面加油稍有拖延，超过727加满油所需的时间时，他也会立刻提出质疑；他会利用多要降落伞，逼使没人敢在伞上面搞鬼；甚至选择一万张廿元钞票，也是在避免过重与避免招摇之间的理想平衡。 
   最重要的是，他懂得挑选一架727。 
   曾经高居全球最畅销客机的波音727，是一种三发动机的喷射客机。三具引擎分别装在机身后段左右侧，以及飞机尾部。除了一般从飞机侧面打开的登机门之外，727在机尾下方有一具向后放下的登机梯，使得她不必靠接空桥，就可以直接上下旅客，非常便利。Cooper就利用这一点，在飞行中放下登机梯，跳出飞机，完全不会被引擎的高热尾流给波及。相反地，如果劫持一般飞机，想要从侧面跳机，不但机门因为风压关系极难打开，跳出后也可能撞上飞机的水平尾翼。
   尽管有这些「专长线索」，但还是从来没查到Cooper的身分，因此甚至有一些阴谋论爱好者认为，他可能是跟军方或中央情报局有关的人物。因为727推出初期，波音曾经考虑向军方兜售，当时的建议就是可将机尾的登机梯修改为人员跳伞门，不过军方并未认真评估提案。另外，据传CIA旗下的南方空运公司（SAT）所购买的两架727-100C客货两用机，就曾经在一般客货运输之余（有一架就在我国的CAT民航空运公司服务，是台湾第一架国籍注册喷射客机），在中南半岛从事空投特工的任务。因此好事者就言之凿凿：他恐怕是个CIA退下来的情报员，所以懂得这一套........ 
   不过不管怎么说，Cooper在感恩节前夕的冒险之旅，替许多血液里就流着祖先「抢火车」基因的美国人提供了模仿的对象，因此接下来一连出现三起类似的跳伞劫机案。尽管这些抄袭者都被绳之以法，但是FAA也发现航空交通安检上的漏洞：从此旅客与行李必须接受X光检查，此举在往后三十年，不知遏阻了多少犯罪、拯救了多少的生命。另外，FAA下令在727的机尾门上装置一个风力锁，只要飞机飞在空中，「门栓」就被吹动卡住机门，无法打开，直到飞机降落停下后，门栓回到原来位置，机门才能正常运作，而这个装置也被称为"Cooper Vane"。 
   至于事件的主角，这架编号N467US的波音727-100客机，一直服役到1990年代，才被当成拆零使用。也就是说，她的部分「器官」或许现在还在某些727身上，在世界某些角落继续飞行。 
   尽管FBI与西北航空都悬赏征求线索，卅多年来也一直有人自称就是Dan Cooper，但是在调查之后，没有任何一个人有足够的证据。对于Cooper的跳伞到底是生是死，争论也从来没有停歇。 
   不过尽管「D.B.Cooper劫机记」成了犯罪史上最不可解的谜案之一，但是大家提到Cooper，却从来没有如开膛手杰克般的阴森恐怖，以及肯尼迪遇刺案的讳莫如深。甚至于，某个程度上，他成了一些美国人心中的平民英雄：再怎么讲，Cooper没有伤害无辜，Cooper靠着专业知识与详尽筹划来挣取财富，Cooper的举动反而导致日后治安措施的进步........还有还有，反正事件中真正损失的是保险公司，是资本主义社会里的合法吸血鬼。对于尊敬英雄、崇尚冒险犯难、先天血液里就存留西部拓荒时期「抢火车」基因（外加没缴保险费就求生不得求死不能）的美国民众来说，Cooper的行为简直是戴维击倒歌利亚、简直是侠盗罗宾汉再世。 
   也因此，在距离Cooper据信降落地点最近的华盛顿州Ariel小镇，从1976年起，每年感恩节后的星期六，都会举办"Cooper Day"活动，「庆祝」1971年这一天晚上的奇遇。除了跳伞团体必定特别举办「追随Cooper而跳」活动外，当然也不免吸引外界的发烧友，来到这个偏僻的小镇酒吧，跟村民一面畅饮啤酒，一面谈着喷射时代原来还是有电影「虎豹小霸王」情节的存在........现场开怀的群众当中，有没有一个人曾经在1971年11月24日下午登上NW305班机呢？永远没有人知道，也不会有人去追问。 线索 唯一的线索来自1980年2月13日。一捆由20美元纸币组成的现金，总计5800,在华盛顿州的Vancouver市(不是加拿大那个温哥华)外Columbia River河岸上被发现。这些钱被证明是Cooper劫机得到的赎金的一部分。 FBI随后调查了一个当地一个叫D.B.Cooper的人，但发现他是无罪的。由于媒体的错误报道，1971年劫机的Dan Cooper从此被广泛地成为D.B.Cooper。 
疑犯1 成为"D.B.Cooper"疑犯之一的，是一个叫Richard McCoy,Jr.的人。他在1972年4月7日采用类似D.B.Cooper的手法劫机时被抓获。调查显示，这个McCoy已婚，在Mormon Sunday学校教书，他的两个孩子都自Brighm Young University读书。他同时是越战退役军人，曾做过直升机驾驶员。最具讽刺意味的是，这位McCoy曾作为国民警卫队的一员，驾驶直升机参与了对D.B.Cooper的搜寻！FBI还在他的家里发现了$499,910现金。 McCoy被证明与D.B.Cooper无关，但是因为自己的劫机，被判45年监禁。利用接近监狱牙医诊所的机会(想必是PB故事的原型之一吧)，McCoy用牙膏袋做了一支假手枪，并和其他几名犯人在1974年8月的某一天成功盗取了一辆监狱里的卡车，撞门逃走。直到3个月后，FBI才在弗吉尼亚找到了McCoy.　McCoy向FBI探员开枪，FBI探员Nicholas O'Hara开枪还击，将McCoy击毙。1991年，前FBI探员Russell Calame出版一本书，叫D. B. Cooper: The Real McCoy. 该书认为Cooper和McCoy其实就是同一个人，举例指出了他们相同的劫机方式和一样的领带：那是Birgham Young University 学生的特色．该书还说，McCoy从来都没有承认，但也没有否认自己是D.B.Cooper.他只是说：I don't want to talk to you about it. 
疑犯2 2000年8月，《美国新闻和世界报道》报道了居住在佛罗里达州的一个老寡妇Jo Weber所声称的事情。Jo Weber说，她最后一任丈夫，Duane Weber，在1995年去世前告诉她说，他就是Dan Cooper.　Jo很怀疑，于是开始调查此事。Duane Weber的纪录显示，他曾在二战中服役，后来在波特兰附近的一家监狱工作。Weber夫人回忆起他丈夫曾做恶梦，梦话说“把自己的指纹留在飞机旋梯的扶手上了”。她也曾找到过一张西北航空公司的旧机票，上面有西雅图国际机场字样。她还说，丈夫曾经透露说他的膝伤是从飞机上跳下来造成的。Jo Weber 还记得1979他们夫妇去西雅图度假． 在Columbia River岸边，Duane Weber告诉Jo Weber说，这是一次伤感的旅行． Jo记得Duane在岸边奇怪的走来走去．这个时间正是那5800美元被发现的四个月前．而且Jo回忆的地方与发现这笔钱的地点是一致的．最有说服力的证据是，Jo Weber后来阅读本地图书馆关于Cooper一案的一本书时，发现旁边有人早年写下的笔记跟Duane的笔迹是一致的。Jo Weber联系了FBI探员Ralph Himmelsbach, Cooper案的负责人。Himmelsbach调查后说，Duane　Weber是他所知最符合D.B.Cooper的疑犯．最近，一项面部识别系统将在分析了近3000人的照片后，将Duane Weber列为best match.

一提到《飘》，自然而然会想起郝思嘉，是的，读过《漂》的人都对郝思嘉耳熟能详，但却不见得对媚兰这个人物有过多关注，似乎她只是一个无关紧要的陪衬，而在我看来，这是一个足以与郝思嘉平分秋色的人物。正因为有了她，才有了对比的美感，才有了震撼人心的反差。恰如<红楼梦〉中的林黛玉和贾宝钗，无论是褒黛抑钗还是褒钗抑黛，无不把两者相提并论。郝思嘉的生命是张扬、奔放、热烈的，体现无拘无束的本原状态，就如没有经过人工修饰的野生植物，有一种野性奔放之美，眩目、光彩四射而摄人心魄。她感恨敢爱，爱的深厚，恨的浓烈，从容貌到行为，一切都是外化的，率性、爽直、好强、倔强，这就是思嘉。而媚兰就象经过精心培育的盆景，一言一行都符合道得礼法的要求。以今天的眼光审视，自然觉得拘谨而不自在，甚而矫情做作。但媚兰的与众不同就在于她的内涵，与思嘉相反，她的一切都是内敛的，她的丰富的内心世界，是思嘉无法企及甚至无法了解的。
首先，她是善良的，有一句话说，自小人眼中看来，世上无一人不是小人，自君子看来，世上无一人不是君子。用高尚来形容她是再恰当不过的。在她眼中，竟没有不好的人，她可以在每个人身上发掘出连他本人都未必能发现的优点，她顾念别人总比自己多，即使在临死时，她所惦念的也是除了她自己外的任何人。从某种意义上说，她是爱兰精神的延续，在无形中成了思嘉的精神支柱，这一点，就是思嘉本人，也在媚兰死后才意识到。在骨子里，她与思嘉的精神是相通的，当面临紧急情况时，她所表现的镇静和机智，是思嘉也不曾有的。而媚兰就象经过精心培育的盆景，一言一行都符合道得礼法的要求。以今天的眼光审视，自然觉得拘谨而不自在，甚而矫情做作。但媚兰的与众不同就在于她的内涵，与思嘉相反，她的一切都是内敛的，她的丰富的内心世界，是思嘉无法企及甚至无法了解的。首先，她是善良的，有一句话说，自小人眼中看来，世上无一人不是小人，自君子看来，世上无一人不是君子。用高尚来形容她是再恰当不过的。在她眼中，竟没有不好的人，她可以在每个人身上发掘出连他本人都未必能发现的优点，她顾念别人总比自己多，即使在临死时，她所惦念的也是除了她自己外的任何人。从某
种意义上说，她是爱兰精神的延续，在无形中成了思嘉的精神支柱，这一点，就是思嘉本人，也在媚兰死后才意识到。在骨子里，她与思嘉的精神是相通的，当面临紧急情况时，她所表现的镇静和机智，是思嘉也不曾有的。
她们对于爱情的态度也迥然不同，媚兰是一心一意爱希礼的，她的平淡的脸因爱情的滋润而焕发出的光彩连一向看不起她的思嘉也大为惊诧。在思嘉，她以为她的爱比之媚兰有过之而无不及，她为他而奋斗，而奔波，她以为他就是她的精神支柱和动力源泉。在媚兰死后她才终于恍然：“我所爱的那件东西是我自己创造起来的，世界上并没有那种东西。我自己做起一套美丽的衣服，就对它爱起来了。当初希礼骑着一匹马来—我就把这套衣服给他穿上了，不管跟他配身不配身。而且我不愿意看他这人到底怎么样。”当现实中的希礼一而再再而三使她失望时，她又万般为他开脱。而媚兰，对此则是清醒观照的，她太清楚了希礼的懦弱无能，了解思嘉的才干，她在临终时的托付就清晰地体现这一点，她要思嘉照顾他而不被他知道，实在是她对希礼了解至深，而思嘉，则是盲目的。