บท 20: Pakistani
After hesitating for a moment, Dr. Banner finally decided to get in the car.
He had traveled from South America back to the United States, fought Abomination, and then fled to the Middle East from the United States.
Unexpectedly, even in the chaotic Middle East, he was still tracked down.
With no other option, he had to flee to Asia.
He was at the end of his rope and had no other choices left.
Besides, after receiving an injection from Mr. Blue and learning breathing techniques in Brazil, he could now almost perfectly control his emotions and heartbeat.
He wouldn't transform easily.
Moreover, Blake didn't seem to be affiliated with the military.
Blake was indeed not a military person, but Dr. Banner couldn't have guessed that.
Though looking scholarly and in his early twenties, Blake now had troubles no less serious than Dr. Banner's.
At least, that was the case in this desert.
"Dr. Banner, why are you here alone in this desert, and looking like this... I mean, you know, it's very dangerous."
The atmosphere was a bit awkward with neither of them talking, so Blake started a casual conversation.
"I encountered some unpleasant things. It's better that you don't know. I always bring misfortune to others," Dr. Banner said, his eyes filled with memories.
"I think you're too pessimistic. There's a saying, when fate plays tricks on you, never think it's your fault."
"Fate..."
Dr. Banner murmured to himself, his eyes vacant, then lowered his head and said nothing more.
The two of them continued driving in silence through the desert...
After more than ten minutes.
Yellow sand billowed on both sides and behind them.
In three directions, four or five fully armed off-road vehicles rapidly closed in on them.
It was clear they were targeting their car.
"What's happening? Who are these people? Are they your companions?"
Dr. Banner looked around almost turning completely, and asked anxiously.
"No, I don't have any companions here! Hold on tight!"
Blake stomped on the accelerator, the off-road vehicle's engine roared, and they sped forward.
Dr. Banner had considered the possibility that these people were after him, but it was clear they weren't Americans.
And Blake's behavior clearly indicated he was trying to escape.
"Are you sure they're not your companions? Damn it, their vehicles look exactly like ours!" Dr. Banner said as he fastened his seatbelt.
"Doctor, you're a scientist. Haven't you heard the saying, 'Look beyond appearances to see the essence'?"
Blake sharply turned the steering wheel because a few of the enemy vehicles appeared on the right front.
"Then let's talk about the essence. Why have so many people suddenly appeared, seemingly to capture us?"
"This is the Middle East, Doctor. Don't ask why. Besides, they're after me. Congratulations, you get to experience what it's like when someone else brings misfortune to you. Oh, damn!"
Blake turned the steering wheel again because more enemies appeared on the other side.
Moreover, a large number of vehicles in front split off to block the only gap.
At this moment, a heavily accented English voice came through the car radio.
"Stop immediately, or we will concentrate our firepower and destroy you!"
As if to validate their words, the surrounding vehicles raised heavy machine guns and aimed at Blake's car.
The surrounding vehicles got closer and closer, with at least twenty off-road vehicles encircling Blake.
Blake sighed and resignedly stepped on the brake.
"Remember to cooperate with me, Doctor!"
After stopping the car, Blake said calmly.
"Cooperate? How do I..."
Before Dr. Banner could finish his sentence, he saw Blake raise his hands high and shout to the surrounding terrorists.
"It's not my business, I don't know anything. I'm just a student traveling in the desert. It's this guy; he forced me to drive for him. I don't know him at all and have no idea what's happening."
Dr. Banner: WTF?
What was happening?
Dr. Banner was bewildered.
The enemy vehicles all came to a stop as well.
At least dozens of soldiers armed with live ammunition surrounded the two of them, and Blake said those words.
"I'm... not like he said. I don't know him. I'm the traveler. I was just hitching a ride!!"
Dr. Banner looked angrily at Blake.
"He's lying. Who would choose to hitch a ride in a car equipped with a heavy machine gun in the desert? Look at me. I'm the one who just graduated from college. Now look at this guy."
The group of terrorists around the vehicles looked at Blake, who was still relatively clean and tidy.
Then they looked at Dr. Banner, who was in tatters, obviously having been through a battle.
Most of the gun barrels turned towards Dr. Banner.
"I..."
Just as Banner was about to say something, a soldier hit him on the head with the butt of a rifle.
"Stop talking, get out of the car, and raise your hands!"
Dizzy from the blow, Banner took a deep breath and looked up to see Blake winking playfully at him.
This made him even angrier.
But the terrorists outside didn't care about this and roughly pulled the two of them out of the car.
Surrounded by dozens of rifles, they were enclosed in a tight circle.
The crowd parted, and a bearded man slowly walked out.
"Are you the two who killed so many of my men and let Tony Stark escape from my grasp?"
Tony Stark? The billionaire rumored to have been kidnapped?
Dr. Banner's head buzzed. Someone please tell me what's happening?
But Blake immediately shouted out.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me. I don't know anything. I don't even know Tony Stark. I'm just a recent graduate. I'm Pakistani. I was forced by this guy to drive for him."
"I..."
Dr. Banner tried to speak but was interrupted again. The bearded man drew a large-caliber pistol and pointed it at his head.
"Shut up. It's not your turn to talk yet!"
"I... sigh!!" Dr. Banner sighed helplessly.
"Are you Pakistani?" The bearded man turned to Blake and asked.
"Yes, yes!" Blake nodded vigorously, looking innocent and pure.
"You say he kidnapped you and forced you to drive for him?" The bearded man continued to ask.
"Yes, exactly. He said I'm Pakistani, and having me with him would make him safer in Pakistan!"
"You're lying. I'm the one who..." Dr. Banner spoke up for the third time, only to be met with another rifle butt.
"Shut up! I didn't ask you. You're not allowed to speak. I won't say it again, understood?" The bearded man bent down and spoke roughly to Dr. Banner.
Banner took deep breaths again. For the first time in his life, he had the urge to willingly release the Hulk and beat the kid in front of him to death.
*************
TN: It was Chinese instead of Pakistani. So I edited to Pakistani as it toned down the nationalism and sounded more accurate as they were in Pakistan.
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