Elm Forest is close to Belfast, and its area is similar to Belfast, strictly speaking, it is slightly smaller.
It occupies the uppermost part of the crescent-shaped bay and extends like the distant coastline.
This place was once full of life, and countless creatures thrived in this forest - at least it was like this before this winter.
Then spring comes, but the plants and trees do not grow. First, a large number of insects die, followed by small animals that rely on catching insects and plants. The disappearance of small animals leads to the disappearance of predators, and finally the predators at the top of the food chain leave.
The ecology here collapses from bottom to top.
Lu Li and Barton may be the only guests in this elm forest that spans dozens of miles.
"Have you seen that cave? It used to be a bear cave. It's deep and wide. It fits your requirements perfectly, except that it's not on a cliff and you can't see Belfast."
Barton nuzzled at the mountain wall on their side, and in the vague outline, a dark cave entrance was revealed on the mountain.
"That doesn't meet my requirements."
Lu Li calmly corrected Barton.
They had been walking in the elm forest for two hours. Ten minutes ago, an additional mound appeared on the relatively flat and gentle terrain.
When the weather was good, Lu Li had observed this low mountain in Belfast. Going up the low mountain would lead to a cliff nearly 100 meters above the sea.
Button's speed was much slower than at the beginning. After all, he was fifty years old and was missing one leg.
Lu Li, who noticed this, asked him some questions from time to time to distract his attention.
“Where are Silent Hills?”
"The direction we just walked is in the center of the elm forest."
"Why is it called Silent Hill?"
This name may sound quiet and peaceful in ordinary times, but in this world view, it has a disturbing and ominous meaning.
"Because it is very dangerous and bad there. Even before the forest was born with emotions, no one dared to approach there." Barton replied, his sentences were getting shorter, which meant that his physical strength could no longer allow him to maintain a steady breathing.
.
Fortunately, the destination of this trip is not far away.
"So why is it called Silent Hill?"
"It's an irony." Barton grinned. "I was also involved in it."
It is indeed interesting to have such a beautiful name as Silent Hill for a very dangerous place that no one dares to approach.
"Where is the danger, and why do you know there is a cave there and recommend it to me."
"Ask slowly, I'm not as quick-thinking as you young people." Barton complained, but still answered Lu Li's question. "The cave was discovered by people in the past. At that time, Silent Hill was not so dangerous. As for why.
I recommend you... Of course I don't mean to harm you, but I think nothing will happen there."
"You missed a question."
Barton was silent for a long time, slowly shook his head and said: "...I can't say."
"Weird?" Lu Li guessed.
"Um."
As Lu Li began to think, the surrounding area became quiet again, until a few minutes later, Barton stopped and said to Lu Li, "We are here."
The surrounding woods were no longer as dense as before. As he continued forward, bare rocks replaced the soil, and Lu Li saw the target that Barton had mentioned - the looming dark cave entrance on the rock wall under the rain.
…
The oil lamp glowed dimly, barely illuminating a small area around it.
And more areas of the cave are in darkness.
There seemed to be something wandering and peeking in the deep darkness.
"Have you seen those tool marks on the wall? They are hundreds of years old. It is said that when Macdonald I came to Allen Peninsula, he asked his men to stay on the cliff to observe the sea conditions. Later, it was gradually occupied by bears and wolves.
Some time.”
Barton's voice echoed in the empty cave.
"It's close to the sea, has a wide view, and is hidden. You can't see it from the sea, and you can't see the elm forest. Unless you go here, no one will find that there is a cave here. It perfectly meets your requirements."
Lu Li moved his eyes away from the pickaxe scratches and other marks on the wall and continued walking into the cave.
Suddenly, a dark and ferocious shadow blocked Lu Li's path.
The cave has come to an end.
The depth of this cave is less than six meters.
"Too shallow."
Lu Li said, raising the oil lamp high to look at the top of the cave.
A height of about three meters is within his acceptable range.
"If you don't mind, you can pay someone to expand it." Barton leaned against the cave wall and sat on the edge of the cave. It was neither too dark nor splashed by rain.
"Do you want to take a rest? I'm not tired but I think you need to rest... for a while."
Barton suppressed his gasping.
"I don't need to rest." Lu Li looked calmly. "Are you tired?"
The brief contact allowed Barton to understand part of Lu Li's character. He stopped making excuses and said loudly: "I am fifty-two years old. Fifty-two! If I get married, my grandson will already call me grandfather!"
"Understood."
Lu Li nodded, returned to the edge of the cave, and placed the oil lamp next to Barton: "You stay here, I'll go outside and take a look."
"What's there to see?" Barton, who no longer pretended to be insignificant, rubbed his remaining leg.
"Observe your surroundings."
"It's great to be young. I have so much energy. I'm so hungry that I can hardly think anymore." Barton sighed, not forgetting to make it sound like his lack of energy was due to hunger.
When Lu Li heard this, he took out a packet of brown paper from the outer pocket of his woolen coat and handed it over.
"What is this? Food?" Patton took the brown paper bag unceremoniously and opened it, revealing a can of beef that had always been opened.
Barton looked at Lu Li in bewilderment, as if he were meeting him for the first time: "Who would bring a box of cans with them when they go out?"
"He who is prepared."
Picking up the umbrella lying aside, Lu Li held it and walked into the rain curtain, his figure gradually fading.
Barton was stunned, looked down at the compacted meat paste in the can, and swallowed uncontrollably...
…
The terrain outside the cave is relatively flat, with layers of rock and soil mixed with each other. Some dead trees are rooted around the cave, but they are much sparse.
Lu Li walked straight ahead of the cave for a short distance and reached the edge of the cliff.
It is about forty or fifty meters from the cave to the edge of the cliff.
Unfortunately, the heavy rain obscured the view. Lu Li could not judge the condition of the view here and could only imagine based on the direction.
Just like Barton said, here you can observe the entire sea outside Crescent Bay and Belfast, as well as the lighthouse on the rocks.
There was no time for Lu Li to wait for the rainy season to end before observing again, so he seemed to have no choice but to set his evacuation point here.
Lu Li had no time to find a better shelter, unless he chose to go to the shelter built by the investigators. If so, all the preparations Lu Li had made so far would be in vain.
