While chatting at a lowered volume, Wei Ran followed the guerrillas headed by Uncle Slava, turning left and right through the dense forest for more than an hour, and finally found a path less than two meters wide.
Stopped by the creek.
"Okay, we're here."
It was only then that Uncle Slava lit the kerosene lamp he had been carrying, and handed it to the young man Ivan who was in the period of changing his voice. "Go and take the reporter comrade to the shack where Gennahi lives. Remember to help
He lit the fire, found him two more animal skins, and got him a bucket of water."
"Follow me!" Young Ivan took the oil lamp, pulled Wei Ran and walked in one direction.
Glancing at the guerrillas behind him who were shrouded in darkness again, Wei Ran curiously asked in a low voice, "Ivan, who is Gennaxi?"
"He was also a guerrilla fighter. He died a week ago when we had a firefight with the German railway patrol." Ivan's tone contained a calmness and calmness that was inconsistent with his age. It seemed that this was important to him.
It has become a common thing to say.
Before Wei Ran could say anything, Ivan had already walked to the end of a slope only one meter wide and opened a small door made of wooden boards.
"Comrade reporter, you can go in and take a look first. I'll go find some blankets for you first..." As he said that, Ivan had already disappeared in the dark.
Wei Ran opened his mouth, but finally got into the damp shack with an oil lamp.
The environment here is definitely not good. In the small space, except for a simple fireplace made of stones on the wall facing the entrance, the remaining space can only accommodate a table less than one meter wide.
It's just a single bed and a small table made of ammunition boxes.
In addition, the height of this underground shack made it impossible for him to straighten his back. On the roof made of wrist-thick sticks and bark, there were several rotten clusters growing wantonly, exuding an unpleasant smell.
black mushrooms.
Putting the kerosene lamp on the table, Wei Ran lifted off the canvas blanket on the single bed. Under the blanket was a layer of moldy pine needles. Under the pine needles, there were several ammunition boxes of different sizes, and even under the pine needles.
At the crack in the wall, he could also see a snake struggling to swallow a mouse.
Shaking his head helplessly, he carefully moved away the ammunition boxes, then stepped on the snake's head, pinched the snake's tail and shook it hard, then took it out with a look of disgust.
"You are so lucky to have caught a snake." Ivan, who happened to be walking back with a roll of blankets in his arms, said with some envy, "It seems you can drink broth tomorrow."
"Use it?" Wei Ran asked, shaking the long animal in his hand.
"The mice it caught were fat enough." When Ivan said this, it didn't sound like he was joking at all.
"Is your food so short?" Wei Ran said, throwing the snake he was carrying on the tree trunk next to him, and then handed it to Ivan, "I'll give it to you."
"Thanks!"
Ivan happily accepted the gift and then explained, "Food, ammunition and medicine have always been a big problem. If sister Alyssa hadn't sent some food back by plane from time to time, we would have all been hungry.
abdomen."
"Help me find some firewood." Wei Ran stopped the topic temporarily, "How about you take me for a walk around after daybreak?"
"Of course, I'll bring the firewood later!" After Ivan finished speaking, he took the snake and trotted away again.
Soon after, Ivan and another little boy who looked to be about the same age each brought a large bundle of firewood and piled it near the pine tree at the entrance of the shack. In addition, they also brought an ax and a drop.
A porcelain enamel kettle filled with water, and a cup carved from wood.
After sending the two young men away, Wei Ran got back into the shack carrying a kerosene lamp and a bundle of firewood, and conveniently closed the wooden door that was also moldy.
Pouring a little kerosene from the kerosene lamp and igniting the bundle of firewood, Wei Ran had time to check his belongings.
Although the character this time was still a reporter, he did not have a camera at all. Fortunately, he found four films in sealed tubes from the satchel he had been carrying. In addition, in this bag
There was also a plastic book, four boiled potatoes, an unopened bottle of vodka, and a bar of soap in an iron box.
Putting these things one by one in the ammunition box that he brought, Wei Ran bent over and got out of the shack and looked outside. Then he closed the door again and started to try to take things out of the metal book.
The news is mixed, and there are quite a few things that can be taken out this time. Whether it's a pistol, a semi-automatic rifle, the anti-tank gun, a double-lens reflex camera, or the three oil drums containing fuel, fresh water, and vodka, etc.
It can be taken out successfully.
But the most critical medical kit, as well as the food box filled with chocolates and spare pistol ammunition, cannot be taken out at all. In addition, half-track motorcycles, gasoline stoves, platoon boats and other items that cannot be taken out are also not available.
Guqin of great use.
Not to mention disappointed, Weiran loaded the Rolleiflex with film, and also stuffed a box into the accessory bag. Finally, he put away everything including the camera, leaving only
Those bits and pieces just taken out of the canvas bag.
He took the time to clean up the rotten smelling pine needles and moldy canvas blankets on the bed. Wei Ran spread the two rabbit skin blankets that Ivan had just sent over them, and then took out the ones he got on the Rzhev battlefield.
The Soviet army's cloak was covered on his body, and while he was waiting for the dark night to pass, he was thinking about the arrangements after dawn.
At some point, Wei Ran, who had just closed his eyes to rest his mind, had fallen into a deep sleep. When he woke up again, the babbling songs of some children could be heard outside the wooden door.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Wei Ran, who felt wet all over his body, stretched out and got up, opened the door and got out of the ground wearing the same wet cloak.
shack.
Wei Ran squinted his eyes and glanced at the bright eyes above his head, then returned his gaze to the surrounding environment.
It was obvious that there were no swamps, no wells, no above-ground buildings, and no forest glades. Or to put it more bluntly, at least he could be sure that this was not the excavation site of Diane and the others in later generations.
This is undoubtedly good news. At least he doesn't have to worry about being caught in his sleep, and then throwing his hands into the well with wires tied behind his back.
I walked to the stream. At this time, there were some women of very different ages, talking and laughing, washing basins of clothes by the stream. On the opposite side of the stream, there was another woman with only one left.
The child with arms raised was walking on a stone waving a note, quietly watching the sheep not far away lining up to drink water by the stream.
A little further downstream, four slightly older young men headed by Ivan were holding up their trouser legs and standing barefoot in the cold stream, using a bark net to catch small fish in the water.
Yes, these young men happily grabbed a fish from the net and stuffed it into the German gas mask cans hanging on their waists.
Looking away from the busy creek, Wei Ran frowned. In the surrounding forest, he could still see some busy old people, either carrying baskets and picking up mushrooms growing nearby.
, or holding a long pole with an iron hook, standing on tiptoes and struggling to hook the pine cone from the surrounding pine trees. There were even a few agile children who climbed directly onto the tree.
He rode on a branch and waved the stick in his hand vigorously.
In addition to these busy people, a little further away from Weiran, there is a group of little bean sprouts who look to be seven or eight years old at most. They are singing children's songs together under the leadership of a young woman with brown hair.
On the pine tree directly in front of the guy, several wooden boards that were obviously removed from ammunition boxes were nailed side by side to serve as a blackboard, and some letters and words were neatly written on them with charcoal.
Women, old people, children, these are all in this forest camp, but the guerrillas who came back together last night did not see any of them at this time.
After thinking for a moment, Wei Ran turned around and got into the damp shack, taking out the Rolleiflex double-lens reflex camera that had already been loaded with film from the metal book.
First, he went to the edge of the creek and took a photo of the one-armed little boy herding sheep. Then Wei Ran turned the camera on Ivan, who had already discovered him, and the young men who were fishing with him.
When the crisp sound of the shutter completely froze the smiles on their faces, Ivan immediately ran over with splashes of water, and opened the gas mask can hanging on his waist as if to take credit, "Comrade reporter, look! I have already caught it today.
So many fish!”
I looked at the opponent's wrinkled hands soaked in the cold stream water and his feet still in the water, and then looked at the small fish that were only the size of a disposable lighter in later generations, but almost filled the gas mask can half full.
, Wei Ran couldn't help but ask, "How long did it take you to catch so many?"
"It starts after dawn"
Ivan replaced the lid of the gas mask jar and said with a grimace, "In the summer, each of us could catch a big jar every morning! But now there are fewer and fewer fish in this creek.
It’s no longer enough for my brothers and sisters to eat.”
"Catch him every day?" Wei Ran couldn't help but look at Ivan's hands and feet again.
"Of course, the fish won't jump into the pot on its own."
Ivan grinned, beckoned his companions behind him to come ashore and asked, "Comrade reporter, you must be hungry, right? Do you want me to get you something to eat?"
"No, I'm not hungry yet."
Wei Ran pulled Ivan out of the cold stream that was enough to submerge his knees, and asked, "Where did Uncle Slava and the others go? Why didn't I see him?"
"They are all patrolling in the forest, and maybe they can catch some prey by the way." Ivan sat down on the grass, grabbed a handful of withered yellow weeds, and gently kneaded his cold feet while answering.
road.
Hearing this, Wei Ran did not ask any more questions, but raised the camera again and took another close-up of Ivan bathing in the sun.
"Why didn't you tell me in advance?" Ivan said with a regretful look on his face, "so I could put on a cool pose."
"No, that's fine."
Wei Ran smiled and shook his head, turned the camera around the women who were still washing clothes, but would peek at him from time to time, and pressed the shutter again.
"Comrade reporter, do you want us to help you wash your clothes?" A blond girl boldly asked, "We promise to wash them very cleanly!"
"Thank you, but my clothes are not dirty yet." Wei Ran declined the other party's proposal tactfully. At this time, the weather seemed to be late autumn. Even though there was the sun above his head, the stream was so cold that he could feel it.
I don't want to add unnecessary burden to others.
"Comrade reporter, shall I take you for a walk around?" Ivan stood up and asked after handing the metal can containing the catch to his friend.
"Where to go?"
"Go to our school?"
Ivan pointed to the children who were singing not far away, "It's time for us to go to class in the afternoon, and I won't have time to take you around by then."
“Then go and have a look”
Before Wei Ran finished speaking, Ivan ran over barefoot and shouted, "Teacher Gianna, comrade reporters want to take pictures of you!"
The young woman with brown hair who was singing with the children made a silent gesture towards Ivan, then smiled at Wei Ran and continued to lead the children in singing children's songs line by line.
It was rare to find someone who knew how to cooperate. Wei Ran quickly raised his camera and took a photo of the small class and the teacher named Gianna.
It wasn't until he put down the camera hanging around his neck that Teacher Gianna smiled and said, "Comrade Victor, you are welcome to come to our place for an interview."
"Do you know my name?" Wei Ran asked in surprise.
"I found out last night"
Teacher Gianna shook hands with Wei Ran before explaining, "I also followed to carry the supplies sent by Alyssa."
Wei Ran took the other person's little hand that was stained with charcoal and shook it gently. After they separated, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, it was too dark at the time and I didn't even see your appearance clearly."
Teacher Gianna showed a gentle smile, "It's okay, I just saw what you look like."
"Teacher Gianna, are you a soldier?"
Wei Ran glanced at the patched Soviet female soldier's uniform and asked. This was also the first time he had seen anyone in military uniform in this camp. Apart from her, Ivan's head was the only one.
There is a boat cap on it that comes from somewhere.
"Now I'm a guerrilla"
Teacher Gianna's eczema-covered face showed a hint of bitterness, but she didn't give Wei Ran a chance to ask any more questions and continued to sing children's songs with the children.
Ivan pulled Wei Ran further away, and then said in a lower voice, "Teacher Gianna used to be a nurse, and she escaped from the battle half a year ago with Uncle Slava and Shula.
"
"The battle half a year ago? Escape?" Wei Ran was stunned and asked subconsciously, "The battle of Liuban?"
Ivan nodded, "Otherwise, what kind of battle could it be? I heard Shura say that at that time, he and Uncle Slava took the teacher Gianna they met by chance and hid in the forest for more than a month before escaping the Germans.
The pursuit, and if it weren't for Teacher Gianna, Shula, who was injured at the time, might not have survived at all.
I also heard that Shula proposed to Teacher Gianna last month, but she was ruthlessly rejected by Teacher Gianna. I also heard...I heard...I heard that it might rain tomorrow..."
Although Ivan is not very old, he has a heart that is as keen on gossip as the village head widow Liu. However, after Teacher Gianna took off the boat cap on his head, she immediately revealed the content of the gossip behind it.
Changed to weather.
"The most basic requirement for a qualified investigator is to be able to keep secrets. You won't be able to get this hat again in the next half month." After speaking, Teacher Gianna glared at Ivan fiercely and turned the hat around.
She stood up and put it in her pocket, turned around and walked to the open-air classroom that belonged to her.
"It's over, it's over now." Ivan cried sadly, "It's only two or three days away, I...I..."
Seeing that this little guy was about to cry, Wei Ran couldn't help but ask, "That hat is special?"
"We only have one military hat here"
Ivan stretched out his wrinkled fingers and said with a cry, "Only those with the best performance are qualified to wear that hat, and only after wearing it for a month can they officially become investigators. I...I will
It’s two or three days away, I..."
"How about I get it back for you?"
Wei Ran asked dumbfounded. The main responsibility for this matter was naturally Ivan's inability to control his mouth, but he had to bear a small part of the responsibility.
"it's useless"
Ivan wiped his tears and said, "It's useless even if Uncle Slava begs for it. This is the rule that was set from the beginning. I...I..."
"Or go and apologize to Teacher Gianna? Maybe she will forgive you." Wei Ran gave a pale suggestion dryly.
"It's useless." Ivan pursed his lips tightly, trying not to cry, but his little face was already filled with sadness and regret.
Wei Ran shook his head helplessly, patted Ivan on the shoulder, and walked towards the small classroom not far away with the hopeful look in his eyes.
Without disturbing the other party, Wei Ran sat cross-legged on the lawn, picked up the camera again, and once again pointed the lens at the children sitting on the ground, each holding a piece of charcoal and a small wooden board to connect letters. He waited until the end of the class and held on
The smiling Ivan and his friends played games with the children, and then Teacher Jaina stretched out her hand to pull Wei Ran up.
"Teacher Gianna, that hat..."
"Let's talk somewhere else," Jaina said, then simply turned around and walked to a small open space not far away where the sun could shine in.
The area of this open space is not large, and the area that can get sunlight is only one or two hundred square meters. But such a small area is surrounded by a fence, and there are many beautiful plants planted inside.
There were plants of unknown origin, and even among the plants there were two scarecrows wearing German uniforms.
At the same time, there were several wires stretched between the surrounding pine trees. In addition to large and small clothes or blankets hanging on them, there were also some gauze with faint blood stains flying wildly with authority.
"That clever little Ivan begged you to come?"
While Teacher Gianna was hiding behind a bed sheet and asking questions, she reached into her coat pocket and took out a box of R6 cigarettes distributed in large quantities by the German army. She took one out and held it in her mouth, then handed the cigarette box to Wei.
Then she took out a lighter and lit it herself.
I opened the cigarette box that seemed to be stained with some blood and looked at it. There were only three or four cigarettes left in it, and the paper of one of the cigarettes was even stained dark red with blood.
Looking at the cherished look of the girl opposite who was unwilling to let the cigarette burn freely in her mouth, Wei Ran returned the cigarette case to the other party, "I'm not that addicted to smoking, and Ivan didn't ask me to do it."
"But he must have told you what this hat represents, right?" Jaina took the cigarette case and put it into her pocket as she spoke, then took out the boat cap from the other pocket and handed it to Wei.
Burn.
"Listen to him, only the best are qualified to wear this military cap?"
"Then do you know what it means to wear it for a month?"
Gianna turned around and pointed to the seedlings enclosed by the fence and said, "These are the potatoes we planted two months ago. Before the cold winter comes, we may be able to store some food for the winter."
.
You see, Ivan is just like these seedlings now, and they are far from harvest time. To put it in more understandable terms, once that little clever guy Dai officially becomes a scout for a month, he will be the one who needs to go and work with him.
The Germans are fierce fighters.”
Looking back at the stunned Wei Ran, teacher Gianna, who put her hands on the fence, continued, "The injured person who left with Alyssa last night was Ivan's brother. His eyes will never be seen again. You
Guess how old he is this year?”
Still not waiting for Wei Ran to give an answer, Jaina said bitterly, "He is only 16 years old, and he is just like these potato seedlings, far from the time to harvest. Even if he can survive, even if the war
It will end tomorrow, but in the days to come, he will never see the sun again."
"I...sorry" Wei Ran handed over the boat cap in his hand again, "I didn't expect so much before, I just thought..."
"It doesn't matter"
Teacher Gianna took the boat cap and put it on her head. While covering her blond hair, a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Don't feel guilty. I am their teacher. I always have a way to pick out the problem."
It's his mistake, but I hope you can keep this matter secret."
Wei Ran couldn't help but smile, "I definitely won't be as big-mouthed as Ivan."
"Remember your promise, otherwise I will confiscate your camera."
While Gianna was joking, she crushed the almost burned cigarette butt on the fence, then stuffed it back into the cigarette case, and asked generously, "Can you take a photo for me?"
"Of course," Wei Ran responded happily.
"It's not a photo published in the newspaper." Gianna opened the small door on the fence as she spoke. "I hope my parents can receive my photo to let them know that I am still alive or that I will die one day."
Well, they can at least..."
Wei Ran was startled, lowered his head and fiddled with the camera and said, "I can't guarantee that I can help you send the photo home, but at least I can help you take a photo now."
"This guarantee is enough." Jaina straightened the boat cap on her head, and then stretched out her hand to Wei Ran, "If possible, please lend me your cloak."
Wei Ran silently took off the cloak and handed it over. Teacher Jaina put it on skillfully, then walked into the fence and stood among the lush potato seedlings.
In the lens of the old-fashioned double-lens reflex camera in Wei Ran's hand, the face that looked a little too thin, perhaps due to hunger, once again showed a reassuring and warm smile in the bright sunshine.
