In a cave that was well ventilated from all sides, Wei Ran finally decided to suppress the doubts in his heart for the time being and take a closer look at the half-track motorcycle before Eric came back.
Thanks to the fact that Professor Alexei once took over a job to investigate the same model of car in service with the troops, he is no stranger to this weird "Sphinx"-like car.
Fumbling to open the cover behind the half-track motorcycle's seat and the cover on the rear half, Wei Ran's face became more and more surprised. The car was in pretty good condition, although the battery was obviously no longer able to provide starting power.
.
But this is not a big deal. Although this car can be started electrically, it can also be started like a tractor by pushing a large key through the chrysanthemum at the rear of the car. It is just a little more troublesome.
I roughly checked the tightness of the few transmission belts, and took out the oil dipstick to take a look. Although there is oil in it, it is unknown whether it can be used after being left there for so long.
Seeing that Eric hadn't come back yet, Wei Ran simply drained all the lubricating oil in the car and replaced it with spark plugs found in the tool box that came with the car.
After he finished his work, Eric came back panting with a gasoline stove in one hand, an oil drum in the other, and a small stainless steel pot on his head.
"Thanks a lot"
Wei Ran saw the other party's embarrassed appearance and hurried over to help remove the small pot on the other party's head.
"What to do next?" Eric put down the things in his hands and sat down on the cushion that Weiran had just removed.
"Excuse me, please use a gasoline stove to boil a pot of water."
While Wei Ran was speaking, he had already unscrewed the oil filling port of the gasoline stove, poured all the gasoline inside into the fuel tank of the half-track motorcycle, and then unpacked the 40-year-old barrel of gasoline that had just been removed from the vehicle.
Feng poured it into the gasoline stove.
It is easy to cause problems when using this expired gasoline for this half-track motorcycle, but it is no problem to use it as fuel. In the same way, it is a pity that the fuel they originally brought in the gasoline stove is only used to boil water.
It's better to use it for cars.
"Are you sure this ugly thing can still start?" Eric picked up a stainless steel pot as if resigned to his fate, randomly filled a pot of snow outside the cave, and then began to pressurize the gasoline stove.
"Whether it can be activated or not, it is definitely not ugly."
At the same time as Weiran responded, he had already inserted the starting crank handle through the hole in the tail of the half-track motorcycle, and while shaking it slowly, observed the ignition of the spark plug.
Eric responded anxiously, "It doesn't really matter whether it's ugly or not, but we can't waste too much time here."
"We won't waste too much time." Wei Ran stopped what he was doing. "The spark plug can ignite, and the car key is also there. We have a high chance of starting it."
"I hope it's like you said." As Eric spoke, he also lit the flame outlet of the gasoline stove.
Under the sizzling flames, the snow in the small stainless steel pot melted quickly, and it didn't take long for it to start boiling.
When Wei Ran and Eric saw this, they quickly picked up the snowballs one by one and threw them into the pot. Under their busy work, a pot of slightly scalding warm water was soon poured into the radiator tank.
"Shall we start it now?" Eric asked impatiently.
"Don't worry"
Wei Ran put the small stainless steel pot back on the gasoline stove to boil it dry, then ran out of the cave carrying the pot and the bucket of engine oil that he had just opened.
Pour all the viscous engine oil into the pot, then add a small amount of expired gasoline to dilute it, and finally put the stainless steel pot filled with engine oil on the gasoline stove to slowly heat it while stirring constantly.
.
Guessing that the fire was almost done, he poured the pot of hot lubricating oil into the car with Eric's help.
Although this slightly dangerous method allows the expired lubricants to continue to be used, it does great harm to the car itself. At the moment, they just need it to help them run 20 kilometers, so the damage will naturally be minimal.
It can be ignored.
After filling up the lubricant, Weiran threw the greasy stainless steel pot to Eric and motioned for him to go outside and brush it clean with snow.
After finally getting familiar with the various switches and gear levers of this old antique car, Wei Ran poured the only barrel of gasoline they brought into the fuel tank opening next to the driver's seat under Eric's curious gaze.
After waiting for a moment, Weiran locked the accelerator and signaled Eric to help pull the pressure relief valve. Then he ran to the rear of the car again and shook the starter handle vigorously.
With the cooperation and attempts of the two people, this old antique that had been parked for more than 40 years finally successfully roared to life after several difficult gasps like a terminal tuberculosis patient!
Wei Ran, who was sprayed with exhaust fumes, narrowed his eyes and raised his palms while taking a step back. Eric next to him also showed a rare smile.
"Okay, don't waste time, let's go to the dock now."
Wei Ran threw away the crank handle in his hand and called to Eric to quickly help put the engine cover and other things on.
"Victor, you are so awesome!" Eric, who was beaming with joy, shouted excitedly amidst the roar of the engine, "Maybe you should go to the Department of Mechanical Engineering."
"I'll go study Lan Xiang," Wei Ran muttered in Chinese that the other party couldn't understand.
"What did you say?" Eric, who was helping to install the cargo seat cushion, looked at Weiran in confusion.
"Nothing, I praise you for your vision."
Wei Ran didn't bother to explain to the other party. He slammed the engine cover and motioned for the other party to stand farther away. Then he stepped into the driving seat of the half-track, fumbled to push the gear lever forward to the reverse position, gently turned the accelerator, and operated
As the old antique broke free of the ice that had frozen its tracks, it slowly drove out of the cave amidst the roar of the engine.
After Eric had loaded the extinguished gasoline stove and the stainless steel pot that had just been wiped clean with snow onto the cargo bed and sat down, he put the forward gear on and drove the half-track carefully down the gentle slope.
.
Compared with the pain of walking up the mountain, the process of going down the mountain is extremely thrilling. Even with the help of tracks, the snow is too thick, the center of gravity of the car is too high, and it slips from time to time, making them feel a direct feeling at any time.
The illusion of falling down the mountain.
After finally returning to the foot of the mountain, Wei Ran tied the sleigh they had dragged so hard to the tow hook at the rear with a rope.
"Surround this"
Eric handed the polar bear skin blanket that Leo left to Wei Ran. The nearly three-meter-long bear skin weighed more than 30 kilograms, but it was extremely warm.
Without rejecting the other party's kindness, Wei Ran wrapped his body in a heavy bear skin. When the other party was lying half-lying on the sleigh wrapped in reindeer skin and waving, he immediately turned the accelerator again and drove to the westernmost point of the island.
It took the two of them nearly two hours to reach the 20-kilometer straight-line distance. However, what waited for them at this simple dock was not the fishing boat they expected, nor the Leo that Eric was eager to find.
, there was only a sleigh that was almost buried in the ice and snow, and the carcasses of two reindeer!
After stopping the half-track motorcycle, Wei Ran and Eric, who had already jumped off the sled, looked at each other and walked towards the sled in unison.
Brushing away the snow on the sleigh, Eric picked up a blood-stained hand-cranked radio and said, "This is Professor Jonas's radio. It was a birthday gift from his daughter. He will never use it as a birthday gift."
This thing was left here."
"His hiking bag is also missing"
Wei Ran frowned and walked towards the carcasses of the two reindeer. There were clear bullet holes in their shoulder blades. Under the neck of one of the reindeer carcasses, there was a blood-stained hat and a pair of skis.
There is no doubt that this pair of skis was the one Leo used when he chased Professor Jonas, and inside the hat were a blood-stained 1911 pistol and a telescope that was also burning with blood.
Eric looked at the pair of skis, and then moved his eyes to the pistol, "This... seems to be the captain's thing?"
Wei Ran picked up the 1911 pistol and looked at it. There was frozen blood on the muzzle, and on the bone patch of the pistol grip, there was also a word that Wei Ran didn't understand.
"Martin Flo"
Eric took the pistol, looked at it, and said with certainty, "This is indeed the captain's pistol. I know his name. Leo has often told me that he and Captain Martin smuggled caviar from the Soviet Union.
.But..."
Wei Ran frowned and said nothing. Judging from the situation in front of him, both Professor Jonas and the tall and fat Captain Martin had encountered mishaps. Even the fishing boat had probably been driven away.
Gone. And all these suspicions seemed to point to Leo, who still didn't show up.
"It can't be Leo, he will never do such a thing."
Eric sat beside the reindeer carcass as if nervously, holding the pair of skis and muttering to himself, "He would never shoot his best friend, let alone leave me here.
, he is not that kind of person!”
Wei Ran calmly took the pistol from the opponent's hand, removed the magazine and clicked on the top bullet, then gently pulled the slide, and reached out to grab the bullet that was ejected by the extractor.
, but I already had a rough guess in my heart.
The owner of this pistol had pulled the trigger before putting down the gun. If it were Captain Martin, it was unlikely that he would have left the fishing boat and come to the dock to exchange fire with Leo.
On the other hand, if the exchange of fire took place on a fishing boat, these things, especially the completely unreasonable telescope, would not appear here at all. Even this pistol, which seems to be much more exquisitely made, would not appear here.
will be discarded here.
He clearly remembered that in order to open the iron door of the cave in the valley, he and Leo both emptied the bullets of their respective pistols. In other words, if it was Leo who did all this, even if he didn't want this
A pistol should at least come with a magazine.
From all this, it can almost be concluded that what they are seeing now is just what the survivors want them to see. As for the truth, I am afraid that Leo has already encountered misfortune.
But looking at Eric next to him, Wei Ran hesitated for a long time and finally did not tell his guess. Perhaps for Eric who was at a loss at this time, his cousin Leo was probably dead.
The blow caused by the truth was far greater than the fact that Leo probably killed everyone.
