The Decaying Dream of America: I Assemble Corpses and Confront Madness

The lights in the ward were still dim, and Murphy's body lay on the bed with its outline clearly visible.

Arthur took out a pack of cigarettes from his trench coat pocket, pulled one out, but didn't light it.

His fingers rubbed repeatedly on the cigarette, his gaze fixed on Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng stood by the bed, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the iron bed railing.

The tapping sound was very soft, yet exceptionally clear in the silence.

Arthur put the cigarette back in his pocket and cleared his throat.

"We need to get moving."

His voice was hoarse, carrying the fatigue of staying up all night.

Lin Zheng turned his head, his eyes vacant, as if he had not yet fully recovered from the shock he had just experienced.

Arthur walked up to him, took out his phone, and the light from the screen illuminated the stubble on his face.

"I'll try to contact Selena first, using my old network of informants."

"You, use your own channels to deal with Murphy."

He paused when he said the word "deal with".

Lin Zheng's fingertips stopped tapping.

"deal with?"

His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

Arthur took a deep breath and looked at Murphy's peaceful face.

"Murphy's last sum of money was earned with his life."

"On the black market, a complete corpse, especially one of his physiques, can fetch a good price."

"After deducting the middleman's cut, the rest should be enough for Selena to pay off her debts."

Lin Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed.

He didn't speak, he just looked at Murphy's hand.

Those hands were large and rough, with grime still stuck under their fingernails.

Arthur put his phone back in his pocket and took out the yellowed photo from another pocket.

The photo of Murphy and his daughter looks even older under the lights.

The engravings on the back are uneven, like scars.

"This isn't the first time we've done something like this."

Arthur's tone was tinged with self-deprecation.

"In this city, corpses are sometimes worth more than living people."

Lin Zheng finally spoke. "I have a buyer over at the port. He's trustworthy and has a clean record."

"And the price?" Arthur asked.

"It depends on the condition, the freshness, and the demand," Lin Zheng said. "Murphy just left, and he has no external injuries, so he's considered top-quality. I estimate I can get around 50,000 yuan. After deducting the middleman's cut, the rest should be enough for Selena to pay off her debts."

"Is it enough to pay off the loan sharks?"

"Enough to start paying off the debt, but not enough to completely extricate herself. But at least it gives her a chance to catch her breath and escape."

Arthur nodded.

"Let me call and confirm the bottom price first," Lin Zheng said, taking out his phone.

He scrolled through his contacts and found a number saved as "Old Joe." He dialed and waited. A few seconds later, the call connected. Lin Zheng walked to the window and spoke in a low voice. Arthur couldn't hear what was being said, but he could see Lin Zheng's taut profile and furrowed brows. The call lasted for several minutes, during which Lin Zheng's tone was clearly argumentative. Lin Zheng hung up and walked back.

"How is it?" Arthur asked, sensing that something was wrong.

Lin Zheng pursed his lips. "Old Qiao is only willing to offer 30,000, not even including the middleman's cut."

"Thirty thousand? That's not even enough to pay the interest!" Arthur's face darkened.

"He insisted that the market price had dropped, saying that there was a surplus of goods recently, and that Murphy was Mexican, not as popular as white people." Lin Zheng's voice was tinged with fatigue. "He also said that he needed to see the goods in person before he could set a final price."

"This is clearly an attempt to drive down the price," Arthur sneered. "But we have no choice."

"I will do as he says and wait for him at the back door of the cold storage at six o'clock tomorrow morning so that he can inspect the goods in person," Lin Zheng said, a hint of humiliation flashing in his eyes.

"How much can we get?"

"If he insists on 30,000, after deducting 20%, we'll get 24,000," Lin Zheng said. "Selena's debt is 60,000. This is less than half."

"But he'll inspect the goods himself, which is an opportunity," Arthur said. "You can find his weaknesses, like his urgent needs. Or, you can appeal to him with Murphy's special circumstances."

"To convince a corpse dealer?" Lin Zheng chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'll do my best to make him believe that Murphy is 'good stuff'."

"In short, get what you can get first," Arthur said.

"Be careful," Arthur said.

"I know." Lin Zheng did indeed know.

Arthur put the photo away and then took out the palm-sized image of the Virgin Mary.

The Virgin Mary's face is blurred, and the lines of the Christ Child in her arms are worn away.

"We'll give this to Selena when we find her."

"It was her father's keepsake."

Lin Zheng accepted the statue of the Virgin Mary.

The photographic paper was very thin, and the edges were slightly curled.

He could imagine Murphy clutching it tightly in the final moments.

That desperate plea has now been transformed into a real transaction.

The night outside the window grew even darker.

The slums were sparsely lit, and the occasional barking of dogs could be heard in the distance.

The scent of sandalwood mixed with formaldehyde in the church created a unique, somber atmosphere.

Reverend Dunbar stood by the door, his back to them, still silent.

His figure looked like a sculpture in the dim light.

Arthur patted Lin Zheng on the shoulder.

"Split up and stay in touch."

"My phone is always on."

He pointed to Arthur's phone in his pocket.

Lin Zheng carefully placed the statue of the Virgin Mary into the inner pocket of his work jacket.

"I'll go to the port now and contact the buyers through my channels."

"No rush, wait until dawn. There are people at the cold storage during the day," Arthur said.

"I'll keep calling until I get through," Arthur said.

Lin Zheng didn't ask any more questions.

He turned to look at Murphy's body.

The faces of the Mexican-American construction workers appeared calm in the dim light.

That calmness stood in stark contrast to the final roars of his life.

Lin Zheng recalled the look in Murphy's eyes when she said, "My daughter is still waiting for me."

It was an animalistic instinct that transcended all pain and fear.

Now, this father's body is being commodified, facing malicious undervaluation, all for the sake of giving his daughter a sliver of hope. Absurd, yet reasonable. In this city, this is how the lives of the poor are calculated.

Arthur began packing his things.

He put the photo of Murphy with his daughter and the palm-sized statue of the Virgin Mary into the inner pocket of his trench coat.

They moved carefully, as if handling a fragile item.

"I'm going out for a smoke, and I'll try Selena's number while I'm at it."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door and walked out of the ward.

The door closed very quietly.

Lin Zheng stood alone in the room.

He walked to the bedside and reached out to touch Murphy's forehead.

The skin was cold and had lost all elasticity.

He was all too familiar with that feel.

In the port's assembly area, he comes into contact with more than a dozen such bodies every day.

Some were incomplete, some were intact, and some still retained their body temperature.

He used to treat them numbly, like a pile of parts.

But Murphy is different.

Murphy has a name, a story, and a daughter.

Lin Zheng withdrew his hand and sat down on the edge of the bed.

The iron bed made a slight creaking sound.

Reverend Dunbar finally turned around and walked over.

He held a tattered Bible in his hand, its cover worn and frayed.

"Should I pray for him?"

The pastor's voice was deep, with a soothing rhythm.

Lin Zheng nodded.

Pastor Dunbar opened his Bible, found a page, and began to read aloud softly.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..."

His voice echoed in the ward, blending into the night outside the window.

Lin Zheng didn't hear the following words clearly.

His thoughts drifted to the port area.

The back door of the cold storage, Old Joe, the negotiation of around 28,000 yuan in cash. These details kept swirling in my mind.

He knew Old Joe.

An Italian man in his sixties had been working at the port for forty years.

They've done everything from smuggling cigarettes to trafficking corpses.

Their reputation is alright; at least they won't cheat you out of nothing.

But all transactions carry risks.

Especially this kind of shady business.

If something goes wrong, we might not get the money, and Murphy's body might also be confiscated.

In that case, everything would be for nothing.

Pastor Dunbar's prayers were over.

He closed the Bible and looked at Lin Zheng.

"Child, you're worried."

Lin Zheng raised his head.

"I just find it ironic."

"A father sold himself to save his daughter."

"This kind of thing happens every day in this city, just in different forms."

Pastor Dunbar sat down on the edge of the bed, with his Bible on his lap.

"I've been here for thirty years and I've seen too much."

"Some people sell their kidneys, some sell their blood, and some sell their bodies."

"Selling corpses isn't the worst thing."

"At least he can leave something behind."

Lin Zheng did not speak.

The pastor's words weighed heavily on my heart like a stone.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

Arthur pushed open the door and came in, his face looking even worse than before.

"Still can't get through."

"All numbers are busy."

"Selena might have changed her number, or..."

He didn't finish speaking.

Lin Zheng knew what came after "or".

They may have been taken into custody, or something may have happened to them, or they may no longer be in the city.

Arthur walked to the bedside and picked up his phone.

"I contacted a few of my former informants and asked them to keep an eye out."

"But it will take time."

"All we can do now is prepare the money."

"As long as Selena is alive and the money is right, there's a chance."

Lin Zheng stood up.

"I'll go to the port now and wait for dawn."

"I'll go with you."

"No need, you can continue looking for Selena."

"I'm familiar with the port area, so it's actually more convenient for me to be alone."

Arthur hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Be careful, don't trust him completely."

"If he's willing to make an offer, once the price is agreed upon, make the deal immediately; don't linger."

"I know."

Lin Zheng straightened his jacket and prepared to go out.

Reverend Dunbar also stood up.

"God bless you."

His eyes still held compassion, but with a hint of determination.

Lin Zheng and Arthur exchanged a glance.

Without saying anything more, the two walked out of the ward one after the other.

The church corridor was deserted, with only the dim yellow light cast by the wall lamps.

They reached the front door, and Arthur stopped.

"Stay in touch, and call immediately if anything happens."

"The same to you."

Lin Zheng pushed open the door, and the night breeze rushed in.

The streets of the slums are narrow and dark, with neon light pollution in the distance.

He took a deep breath and walked towards the port.

Arthur turned and went back to the church, ready to continue making the phone call.

Lin Zheng walked very fast.

The buildings on both sides of the street are low and dilapidated, with graffiti covering the walls.

Some are gang symbols, some are angry slogans, and some are just meaningless lines.

He walked around a pile of garbage bags and smelled the sour stench of rotting food.

Several stray cats darted through the shadows, their eyes gleaming green.

The port area is not far from the church, about a 20-minute walk.

But the slums are not safe at night.

Lin Zheng put his hands into his jacket pockets.

The edge of the photographic paper was digging into my fingers.

He remembered the "Forgive me" messages that Murphy had engraved on the back.

Each scratch is like a confession.

And now, he's going to sell the penitent's body.

A streetlamp appeared at the end of the street, its light dim and yellow, surrounded by moths.

Several young people were squatting under the lamp, wearing hoodies, so their faces were not visible.

They stared at Lin Zheng, but made no move.

Lin Zheng did not slow down and walked straight past.

He had seen this kind of scene many times.

In Emerald Dream City, people who go out alone at night either have powerful connections or are fearless.

He didn't seem to be either, but the smell of formaldehyde and rust on him could sometimes be intimidating.

The outline of the port area gradually became clear.

A giant crane silhouette stands against the night sky.

The sea breeze brought a salty, fishy smell, mixed with the odor of engine oil and rotting seaweed.

The cold storage is located in the most remote corner of the port, near the abandoned docks.

Few people go there during the day, and it's even quieter at night.

When Lin Zheng reached the back door of the cold storage, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

The time is 5:40 a.m.

There are still twenty minutes until the agreed time of six o'clock.

He found a secluded corner, squatted down, and waited.

The back door of the cold storage is a heavy iron door, painted green, and is already rusted.

There were no windows on the door, only a small vent.

The area was surrounded by piles of abandoned shipping containers and tires.

Seagulls circled overhead, emitting piercing cries.

Lin Zheng took out his phone and glanced at the time.

The screen's light was glaring in the dim light.

He didn't have Arthur's phone, so he used his own old phone.

The signal is very weak, only one bar.

He turned off the screen and continued to wait.

Time passed second by second.

As dawn broke, the outline of the port became clearer.

The distant sound of a cargo ship's horn drifted over, deep and resonant.

At exactly six o'clock, the iron gate creaked open.

A short, stout old man poked his head out and looked around.

He was wearing greasy overalls, bald, and had a gold chain around his neck.

It's Old Joe.

Lin Zheng stood up and walked over.

When Old Joe saw him, he grinned, revealing a few gold teeth.

"Lin boy, it's been a long time."

"Uncle Qiao".

Lin Zheng nodded, as a greeting.

"Did you bring the goods? I told you, I can't give you an accurate price without seeing the goods," Old Joe said directly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"At the church. The quality is absolutely fine; you know Murphy's physique." Lin Zheng looked directly at him, his tone firm. "The 30,000 you mentioned on the phone is too low. Deducting 20% ​​won't be enough."

Old Joe clicked his tongue, took a cigar out of his pocket, and slowly began to cut it.

"Young man, times have changed. The financial crisis has shrunk even the black market. Besides, there's a surplus of goods lately, much of it fresh. Nobody's going to pay a high price for the body of a Mexican laborer. Moreover, things are tense lately, and transportation is risky. Someone has to bear that extra cost, right?"

He glanced at Lin Zheng and exhaled a thick smoke ring.

"Thirty thousand, this is already a friendly price because of you; we've had a past relationship."

Lin Zheng frowned.

"Murphy's body showed no external injuries, and he had been dead for no more than twelve hours. You know what that means. This is top-quality merchandise. If you take it back, you can at least double your money."

"Double? Ha!" Old Joe laughed, revealing his gold teeth. "That's just wishful thinking for laymen like you. The intermediary procedures, connections, cold chain logistics—all of that costs money. If you can give me 35,000, and after deducting my 20% handling fee, you'll still get 28,000. That's my bottom line. I have other things to discuss this morning, and I don't have that much time to waste with you."

Lin Zheng's heart sank.

From his initial expectation of 50,000, to Arthur's 48,000, then to Old Joe's 30,000 over the phone, it has now become 35,000 as the "final bottom line," leaving only 28,000 after deducting fees. Each quote feels like a cruel stripping of Murphy's last shred of dignity.

"Twenty-eight thousand... that's not even half of our expected price." Lin Zheng shook his head.

"This is a business transaction, not charity." Old Joe flicked the ash off his cigar, his tone indifferent. "That's all I have to say. If you don't like it, find another buyer. But you need to understand that this kind of 'commodity' depreciates the longer it's delayed. I've brought the truck; it can be shipped today. After today, I can't guarantee the price."

Lin Zheng stared at him, his fists clenching unconsciously.

He knew that what Old Joe said was true.

If they delay any longer, Murphy's body will only lose its "freshness," and even that last bit of value will vanish. Selena's safety, however, is of utmost urgency.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally just nodded.

"Let me think about it."

Old Qiao raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that Lin Zheng did not immediately agree.

But he eventually stubbed out his cigar and stood up.

"Sure. I'll give you an hour. But let me make this clear: if you don't agree to the price after an hour, or if there are any problems with the condition of the 'goods,' I can't guarantee the price anymore."

Old Joe just smiled and didn't say anything more.

Lin Zheng stood alone at the back door of the cold storage, watching the delivery truck drive away.

His hands were empty, and naturally, there was no money in the envelope either.

He took out his phone and dialed Arthur's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Old Joe offered a new price, only 35,000. After deducting commission, we're only left with 28,000. He insists this is his bottom line, and also says the market price has dropped, there's an abundance of supply, and Murphy's body is Mexican, so he's worthless." Lin Zheng's tone was filled with exhaustion and suppressed anger. "Were we tricked?"

"Twenty-eight thousand..." Arthur's deep voice came from the other end of the phone, clearly incredulous and angry.

"That bastard! But this might be our only chance. Lin, we don't even know where Selena is right now. Even a penny is better than nothing."

"But that's too little. It's not even half of her loan shark interest."

"What about Selena?"

"Still no news, but I found her last address, a motel."

"I'll let you know as soon as I get in touch with Selena."

"it is good."

The phone hangs up.

Lin Zheng put his phone back in his pocket.

Lin Zheng sat down on the edge of the bed and took out the brown paper envelope from the inner pocket; it was empty.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Murphy's death, along with his last remaining value, was ruthlessly exploited.

He remembered Murphy's last words.

That father's last roar has now turned into an empty promise of 28,000 dollars.

This deal diminished the value of Murphy's body upon death and cast an uncertain shadow over Selena's future.

Will Selena accept the money obtained by trading her father's body?

Will the money reach her safely?

The streets gradually became more crowded.

Vendors pushed their carts and set up stalls, selling hot dogs, coffee, and cheap cigarettes.

Office workers rush about, their faces etched with fatigue.

Lin Zheng weaved through the crowd, like a drop of water flowing into a river.

No one noticed him, nor did anyone know the empty envelope in his jacket pocket or the heavy promise he carried.

This is everyday life in Emerald Dream City: everyone has their own secrets, and everyone is struggling to survive.

Lin Zheng's secret lies in the $28,000 he has yet to receive, and the last wish of a deceased person.