War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1335 A letter

The next morning after waking up from the farm, the cold rain still continued to pour, but Vanessa, who woke up early, had already washed her and Wei Ran's clothes with starch and used the clothes from someone unknown where. A wooden shelf was found and placed next to the fireplace to dry.

When Wei Ran found Vanessa in the bathroom, there was a mountain-like pile of sheets, blankets and other things piled up next to her, and she was busy washing with a hand-cranked washing machine stuck to the side of the bathtub. What about these things.

"you're awake?"

Vanessa greeted Wei Ran with a normal expression, but did not stop what she was doing.

"Do you need my help with anything?" Wei Ran asked.

"Those clothes by the fireplace are probably about to dry."

As she spoke, Vanessa stopped what she was doing and stood up. She wiped her hands with her apron casually and walked out of the bathroom while arranging work for the toilet, "If you are willing to help, iron them all. "

At this point, Vanessa had already pulled out a long folding ironing table from the utility room, and then laboriously took out a wooden box containing five or six cast iron irons, as well as a box containing various kinds of shoe polish and The small box of brushes was handed to Wei Ran, "By the way, please wipe our boots too, I have dried them."

"Why is Heidi's name on it?" Wei Ran asked curiously as he took the shoe shine box.

"When my sister was in high school, every time she came here for vacation, she would take a carriage to the town or to the docks in Liverpool to shine shoes to earn pocket money."

Vanessa explained as she walked back, "I also made money using this shoe shine box when I was a kid, but I prefer the job of delivering newspapers."

After saying that, the girl had already walked into the bathroom and started shaking the wooden washing machine again.

Seeing that the girl's mental state seemed to be normal, Wei Ran moved the two boxes, one large and one small, and the long folding table to the fireplace and started his work.

Although the metal book didn't teach him any relevant professional skills this time, it was just shoe polishing and clothes ironing, which he already knew how to do. At most, the tools were just a little primitive.

While he was busy, the two people's outfits from yesterday were all ironed and straightened, and the two pairs of country boots that had been dried were also carefully wiped with shoe polish.

It was approaching noon, and the rain outside the window had stopped. Wei Ran, who had already finished his work, helped Vanessa dry the washed clothes in the corridor outside. The windows of the rooms upstairs and downstairs were left wet. But the clean air took away the last remaining smell of blood in the building.

At the gate on the first floor, Wei Ran stood on the damp steps, leaning against the door frame and lighting a cigarette.

"Victor, can you drive a carriage?" Vanessa asked while wiping her red hands with her apron.

"Are you going to buy a shepherd dog?" Wei Ran asked subconsciously.

"Before that, let's go buy some food. There is not much food left in the kitchen."

As she spoke, Vanessa handed over all the ration coupons and banknotes that Wei Ran dug out from the bodies of Renault and others yesterday, "I just saw a lot of vegetables planted on the west side of the house. So I just bought some bread or Flour is enough. If the price is too expensive, you can buy oats or wheat and grind it yourself. Also, if you still have enough money, if you can buy it, then buy a bottle of wine."

“No need for flour”

Wei Ran raised his hand and pointed to the barn not far away, "I forgot to tell you that there are a lot of things in there, at least a lot of oats and flour, as well as cows and hens and many other things you can't think of."

Hearing this, Vanessa didn't seem surprised, but said with a slight regret, "It's a pity that Renault's safe was not found this time."

"I'm really sorry. Do you want to go take a look?" Wei Ran actively invited her. The girl's mental state was not normal yesterday, so he naturally forgot to mention what he found in the barn.

"wait for me"

Vanessa said, turned and walked into the kitchen, and came out a short time later carrying an enamel milk jug.

Following Wei Ran into the barn, she was a little stunned for a moment when she saw the things in the barn.

After Wei Ran took a tour of the barn, Vanessa opened the stable where the hens were kept, and let the hens who had been waiting all morning hurry around under the leadership of a big rooster. After walking out of the barn, he picked up eggs and said, "Victor, help me feed the remaining animals. I will milk some milk later and then go back to make lunch. After you finish feeding these animals, Remember to bring back some oats and wheat."

"no problem"

Wei Ran readily agreed, opened two bundles of grass and fed them to the animals except the big fat pig.

"I should have known you should be used to dispose of those corpses."

Wei Ran took advantage of Vanessa getting into the stable to milk the cow, squatting in front of the big fat pig and muttering to himself.

Through the wooden fence, the big fat pig seemed to understand. He grunted dissatisfiedly and asked for the food, which was much later than usual.

Ignoring the efficient garbage disposal, Wei Ran found two iron buckets and carried the oats and wheat, then let Vanessa put the eggs she had just picked up into them, and then the two of them left the barn one after another.

"What are we doing this afternoon?" Wei Ran asked as he walked in. "Also, do I need to go to town to buy wine?"

“No need to go for now”

Vanessa shook her head, "Let's wipe all the furniture and floors in the room in the afternoon.

And, Victor, can you take advantage of the time before lunch to clean up the weeds around the gravel road? This way, if my sister comes here, we can see her at a glance. "

"No problem" Wei Ran agreed happily again.

After leaving the task of making lunch to Vanessa, Wei Ran returned to the barn and found a European-style scythe of the same style as the Grim Reaper, and put on a pair of denim overalls and a leather jacket found in the stolen goods box. Rubber rain boots.

Along the gravel road they came from, Wei Ran wielded a huge scythe again and again to cut down the grass on both sides. At the same time, he also cut down the flower stems that were submerged by the overgrown grass.

After walking back and forth along this winding gravel road, when he walked into the house again, he could smell the unique aroma of baking bread.

Walking into the kitchen curiously, Vanessa was busy sifting flour. Next to her, there was a small electric flour grinder that had not yet been disconnected from the power supply.

"You came back just in time."

When Vanessa saw Wei Ran come back, she immediately said, "While the power supply will not be interrupted during the day, help me bring back some more oats and wheat. Then we can eat, and feed the things in this bucket." Give it to the pig.”

As she spoke, she kicked the iron bucket next to her feet.

After looking at the rotten leaves and radish butts in the bucket, as well as the leftovers and a small amount of bran left by the dead last night, Wei Ran picked up the bucket and returned to the barn without saying a word.

It was another busy day, and after he helped Vanessa grind another barrel of oats and a barrel of wheat and sift them, drizzle began to fall outside again.

With no other choice, the two people who originally planned to have lunch could only run upstairs again, close the ventilation window, and take the clothes hanging in the corridor back to the room one by one, and then sit down on both sides of the dining table exhausted.

“My grandfather and grandmother lived such a self-sufficient life while they were alive.”

Before Vanessa finished speaking, she had already picked up a piece of freshly baked bread and took a firm bite. Then she dipped it into the plate of French stew with only canned meat, and took the second bite. He continued vaguely, "If it weren't for the humid, cold weather and monotonous food, I would still like life here."

However, just when Wei Ran opened his mouth to say something, a carriage pulled by only one horse ran in from the main entrance of the small farm.

Almost subconsciously, Wei Ran pulled out the pistol on his lower back and turned on the safety. Then he quickly ran to the fireplace and picked up the double-barreled shotgun that was placed on the sofa, as well as the gun that had been maintained with shoe polish in the morning. A cowhide bullet belt.

However, before he could load the shotgun, Vanessa had already walked quickly to the door. At the same time, she did not forget to explain, "Don't be nervous, it's the postman's carriage."

Even so, Wei Ran still loaded the shotgun with bullets and hid it behind the door with his hand.

As the door opened, the postman's carriage also stopped at the door of the house.

"Uncle Miller, long time no see." Vanessa opened the door and greeted enthusiastically the postman in the raincoat on the carriage.

"Are you Vanessa?!"

The postman on the carriage also recognized the girl standing at the door. He jumped out of the carriage and said with surprise, "I haven't seen you here since Mr. Mason passed away. Vanessa, how long have you been here?" Right? By the way, where is Mr. Renault?"

“We just came yesterday”

Vanessa hugged each other, and then pulled Wei Ran who came out of the room over and introduced, "Uncle Miller, this is my fiancé Victor, and Mr. Renault is his grandfather."

"Hello Uncle Miller"

Wei Ran took the initiative to shake hands with the other party and kept introducing him, "My grandfather, Mr. Renault, and my cousin had to go to the United States for a while in an emergency, so they called Vanessa and me over to help take care of the farm. , we just sent them on board yesterday afternoon.”

"So that's it!"

Postman Miller nodded in realization, and then said as if he was relieved, "I would say this is not bad. To be honest with you, Mr. Renault is not an easy person to deal with."

"My grandfather was really picky"

Wei Ran took over and said, "Even I don't want to deal with him. It's best for him to stay in the United States and never come back, so I don't have to pay back his money."

After saying that, Wei Ran also opened the door, "Uncle Miller, if you are not in a hurry to deliver the letter, please come in and have a cup of tea."

"Then I'm not welcome."

Miller had already taken off his raincoat as he spoke, and said with approval, "To be honest with you, I also hope that he will never come back and just stay in the United States."

"Does Uncle Miller also owe Mr. Reno money?" Vanessa asked jokingly.

"I owed him £34 for the house in Liverpool"

Miller spread his hands, "This happened a year ago, but now not only have I not paid back the interest, but the money I owe him has also changed from 34 pounds to 58 pounds. God is my witness, I can only borrow money from him." Just pay once.”

"Maybe even God owes him money."

Vanessa said jokingly as she led Postman Miller into the room, "Okay now. As far as I know, Mr. Renault won't be back in a short time, and Uncle Miller can take a breath."

"This is literally the best news I've heard today, no, this year."

Miller hung his raincoat on the hook hanging from the top of the corridor outside the door. After walking into the room, he was allowed to sit on the sofa by the fireplace. Then he took out an envelope from his arms and said, "Vanessa, before you Before you bring me the hot tea, let me finish my postman's work. This is a letter from your sister Heidi to Mr. Renaud from Spain. Speaking of which, is she in Spain now?"

"In France"

Vanessa took the letter and said with a normal expression, "Our place has been occupied by the Germans. All letters must be sent to Spain first and then to the UK."

“So that’s how it is”

Miller nodded in realization, and asked before Wei Ran brought him the black tea, "Isn't Heidi here?"

"Come here, she will be here soon. We are not taking the same route. Victor and I set out from Paris."

Vanessa clutched the letter and explained, "She will set off after I arrive safely. I guess this letter is asking if I am here."

"So that's it." Before Miller finished speaking, Wei Ran also placed the teacup in front of him.

The postman was sent off with a cup of tea, half an hour of chatting, and a temporary extra lunch table. Vanessa couldn't wait for Wei Ran, who was walking behind, to close the door, and couldn't wait to tear open the envelope and take it out. There was an envelope inside, and then he tore open the second envelope and pulled out a piece of letter paper.

"What did Heidi say in the letter?" Wei Ran bent down and picked up the second envelope as he spoke.

Unfortunately, there is no information written on this envelope. However, when he raised his head, he found that Vanessa had handed the letter in her hand to Wei Ran, "I can't understand it, it seems to be in Hebrew."

Wei Ran took the letter curiously and frowned after just reading the beginning. In the upper right corner of the letter, there was a photo fixed with a stapler. In this photo, it was Heidi who was sitting by the window and seemed to be looking at the scenery.

And judging from the photos, the layout inside seems to be that of the room that belonged to Spear before Castle Philip. Unknown whether intentionally or unintentionally, there is a folded newspaper seemingly casually discarded on the table in front of Heidi. The newspaper was published on September 1940, 9! It was the day after they fled from Saint-Omer to Castle Philippe!

"What's wrong?" Vanessa looked at Wei Ran and asked.

"Nothing," Wei Ran responded in a muffled voice, and then continued reading.

Judging from the tone between the lines, this letter was definitely not written by Heidi, but more likely written by Spear.

But the content expressed in this letter written in Hebrew is particularly dark. That scumbag Spear is actually planning to use Heidi sisters to pay off the debts he owes!

Not only that, he also agreed with Renault that if the other party agreed to the transaction, he could rush to a hotel in Edinburgh to conduct the transaction any day between October 10st and 1th.

As for Spear's purpose, in addition to paying off his debts, he also hoped to buy the farm at a low enough price.

"What is nothing?" Vanessa asked with a frown.

"I'm just praying that Mr. Renault will pay back later. After all, he doesn't accept French ration coupons, and Heidi hopes to buy this farm." Wei Ran replied with a normal expression, "The letter is that she escaped to Philippe when we Written on the second day of Fort.”

"But my sister doesn't speak Hebrew," Vanessa asked.

"It's true that your sister can't do it, but Spier can." Wei Ran said as he folded the letter paper according to the original mark and stuffed it back into the envelope.

"I can't trust that bastard Spear!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already taken the envelope and headed towards the stairs, "Victor, if you are tired, you can take a rest. I am going to go upstairs and wipe the furniture and stair railings. I will wait until you have rested enough. If you want, you can Come upstairs and help me."

"I'm going to help you now." Wei Ran followed him as he spoke.

Vanessa did not refuse, and she and Wei Ran spent the entire afternoon wiping the windows, tables, chairs, floors, stair railings, etc. in each room more than once. By the way, she also asked Wei Ran for help to clean up the leaking rainwater. All the windows have been repaired.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to clean the room, the two discovered two locked safes hidden in a cabinet in an inconspicuous utility room on the third floor.

With the help of Wei Ran, he opened the two safes that had never appeared in Vanessa's memory. Not surprisingly, one of them contained various IOUs and mortgage certificates, including one belonging to the postman Mi Le's share.

In another safe, there were several stacks of pounds with varying denominations, as well as various valuable gold products or various jewelry, watches and other valuables. He even put it in a coffee cup tray. Saw some gold teeth!

"Mr. Renault's business is really profitable."

Vanessa mocked but turned around and left, seemingly not caring how Wei Ran distributed the property.

Vanessa doesn't care, so naturally he doesn't care even less. Even if these things are given to him, he can't bring them back to future generations.

He also ignored the two safes. After checking the window of the utility room, Wei Ran turned around and left, but he didn't even bother to close the door of the safe.

Towards evening, when the two of them had taken a bath and cleaned the bathroom, the sky outside the window finally cleared up, revealing a beautiful fiery red sunset.

"Ah!"

Vanessa, who was wiping her short hair, sneezed involuntarily, and then said to Wei Ran, who was admiring the sunset by the window, "Victor, how about you light the fireplace? I'll prepare dinner."

"Of course." Wei Ran came to his senses, opened the door and walked out.

Not long after, he used a small cart to push back most of the cart of dried peat blocks and pre-chopped firewood from the barn.

According to what he said when chatting with Vanessa before, these peat blocks were dug from around the swamp in the oak forest where corpses were dumped. They were used both as fertilizer for the farm and for burning for heating.

It is precisely because of years of excavation that the terrain there is getting lower and lower, and the water accumulation is getting more and more serious, which naturally makes it more and more suitable for dumping corpses.

When he lit the firewood and ignited the pieces of sun-dried peat lying around, as the temperature in the room rose little by little, Vanessa would also stew a large pot of French stew that had been prepared in advance. He put it on the table and took out two large bottles of whiskey and said, "Let's try this tonight!"

"Where did you find it?" Wei Ran walked to the dining table and asked curiously.

"in the barn"

Vanessa explained while wiping the wine bottle with a towel she had just washed, "I found it in those boxes filled with various daily necessities. Anyway, let's have a drink tonight!"

While talking, the girl had already opened the wine bottle with a corkscrew.

However, the girl then took out a small jar of honey from the kitchen, scooped two spoons out of it and threw it into their cups, then poured some hot water into it and stirred it.

Next, she poured some whiskey into the two glasses, and Vanessa threw a small piece of cinnamon into each of their glasses. Then she picked up a glass and said, "Try it, it's my first time drinking." This is it, it can be used to prevent colds, and it’s a very practical bartender in this damn place like Liverpool.”

"Is this what your grandfather taught you?" Wei Ran picked up the cup as he spoke, reached over to touch it with the other person, and also looked at the food on the table.

This time it was extraordinarily rich. In addition to the French stew and the baguette baked in the morning, there was also a vegetable salad and a French mushroom soup, plus there were so many cans of American sausages that almost filled the kitchen. slice.

"It was my sister Heidi who taught me. She learned it from my grandmother. From the time I was 12 years old, I could always drink this stuff every time it was cold, whether in France or England." Vanessa Before he finished speaking, he put the cup to his mouth, and before drinking the wine in the cup, he finally said, "This is the only British food that barely satisfies me, if it can be considered food."

Hearing this, Wei Ran also tried to take a sip. In addition to the taste of the whiskey itself, he could also taste the sweetness of the mixture of cinnamon and honey, as well as the slightly scalding taste of the hot water.

Overall, the taste couldn't be said to be good or bad, but it fit his stereotype of British food very well.

Although the taste was not high, he had to admit that just one glass of wine made him sweat all over his body.

"Want another drink?"

Vanessa said, having already dug out another large spoonful of honey from the honey jar with a spoon, and threw it into Wei Ran's cup before he could give the answer.

Seeing that there was no chance to refuse, Wei Ran, who had already finished a bottle of whiskey with the other party, nodded happily and allowed the other party to help him pour hot water and whiskey again.

Before eating, he drank three large glasses in a row. Wei Ran, who was already hot and sweating profusely, had already seen that Vanessa sitting opposite probably planned to get him drunk.

"Could it be another French woman's romance?"

Wei Ran muttered secretly, but he didn't refuse anyone who came. Anyway, he also planned to get the other party drunk.

As we drank a glass of wine, the sky outside the window also fell into darkness as the setting sun was completely blocked by the horizon. At the same time, the power supply, which was not very stable during the day, was cut off due to the blackout.

The sudden power outage was like a signal. One of the two people who were still drinking lit the candle on the table, and the other held up his skirt, staggered to the window, and turned on the heavy light control. curtain.

"Let's keep drinking," Wei Yan said after adding two more pieces of peat to the fireplace.

"Of course, we have to drink both bottles of whiskey tonight!"

Before Vanessa finished speaking, she had already filled their glasses with brown wine. This time, let alone honey, she didn't even add water.

Picking up the cup and clinking it with each other, Wei Ran took a big sip, Vanessa also took a big sip, then they each picked up their spoons and put a big spoonful of stew into their mouths.

This can be considered a candlelight dinner, right? Wei Ran murmured to himself, drinking one cup after another while chatting with Vanessa, and by the way, he also filled his stomach with the food on the table that was definitely sumptuous at this time.

"It will probably be sunny tomorrow, right?"

Seeing that there was only a little wine left in the glass, Vanessa asked drunkenly.

"It should be so." Wei Ran burped with excessive alcohol content before he finished speaking. He didn't realize that Vanessa had such a heavy drinking capacity at such a young age.

"I'm going to sleep by the fireplace tonight."

As she spoke, Vanessa staggered to the sofa next to the fireplace, casually took off the clothes she was wearing, untied the belt of her skirt and asked drunkenly, "Victor, do you want to stay?" Come down and do something with me?”

"Forget it burp——! Forget it"

Wei Ran waved his hand. He knew that the girl must not have held it in well. After taking the last sip of wine, he stood up and picked up a bucket of peat. He walked upstairs and said, "I'll forget it. I'll give it to you." Go upstairs and find a warm room to sleep in.”

"Good night"

Vanessa also unbuttoned the metal buttons on the side of her skirt as she spoke - just like she did before she prepared to kill someone last time.

Fortunately, the girl had no intention of killing Wei Ran. Not only that, she stood up again after Wei Ran went upstairs, staggered to the corner, picked up her suitcase, opened it, and put the clothes that Wei Ran had ironed during the day. The ironed clothes and carefully polished boots were all put into the box.

Looking up at the direction of the stairs, Vanessa opened the sofa cushion again and pulled out a Hebrew dictionary that she had found while cleaning the room, along with the Hebrew letter sandwiched in the dictionary. As well as the wad of pounds that she took from the safe upstairs while Wei Ran was taking a shower, she threw them all into the suitcase. Finally, she placed an envelope on the corner of the table and held it down with a candlestick.

Finally lifting up her skirt, Vanessa took out the pistol and a spare magazine from the leather holster on her thigh and looked at it. After putting them back in place, she lightly buttoned the box, opened the door and slipped out, quietly He walked into the barn silently.

"Where are you going?"

At the window of a bedroom on the second floor, Wei Ran ran downstairs when he realized something was wrong. But no matter how fast he was, when he ran out of the door, he found that Vanessa had already driven the carriage from the valley. Ran out of the warehouse!

"Vanessa, where are you going?!" Wei Ran shouted as he ran towards the carriage.

"Victor! Take care of the farm! Remember to dry the washed clothes and sheets and put them in the room tomorrow!"

Vanessa shouted at the top of her lungs, shaking the reins vigorously, shouting, and the carriage whizzed by more than ten meters away from the Weiyan, running swiftly towards the farm gate on this clear night. .

Done!

Wei Ran had realized that Vanessa must have tried to figure out the contents of the letter.

However, no matter how fast these two legs were, it was impossible to catch up with the four-legged one. By the time he ran all the way to the muddy farm gate, Vanessa had already disappeared behind the wheel of the carriage. .

Shaking off the mud from the soles of his shoes, Wei Ran turned around and ran towards the house next to the oak forest. Although he did not expect Vanessa to be able to read the letter, he did not expect that she would be so impatient to find Si. Pierre settled the score, but he knew that the other party would definitely go to that address in Edinburgh.

In other words, as long as he finds a way to get to Edinburgh before the opponent, and then deal with Spear.

By the time he figured this out, he had already run into the room and noticed the letter left by Vanessa.

"I went to pick up my sister and take care of the farm before I came back. I especially remembered to clean up the weeds inside and outside the fence. I only took part of the money in the safe.

That's it, I'll be back soon. Don't follow me this time. Even if it's just me, it's enough to deal with that bastard Spear. "At the end of this short letter, Vanessa also left a red lip mark.

"grass!"

Just when Wei Ran saw the fiery red lip print, a strong white light appeared in his field of vision. With the appearance of this white light, he finally regained all the memories of the third act!

Is Spear a good guy or a bad guy?

Under the conflict of two contradictory memories, Wei Ran muttered to himself in the white light that had not dissipated.

But then, he discovered that he actually saw a sketch in the white light that was highly suspected to be from the metal quill!

It seemed to be underwater. Three figures with flippers hanging from their waists and wearing diving suits were swimming in the water leaning on a rope.

Above the water, there were beams shot down and enemies firing randomly.

The moment this sketch was drawn was the bubble cavity that appeared around one of the bullets that penetrated the water diagonally from the water, and the holes on both sides of the cavity that were broken by the bullet that seemed to be about to start rolling unbalanced. That rope!

original

Wei Ran watched in astonishment as the sketch became clearer and blurrier, and finally disappeared without a trace along with the strong white light.

(End of this chapter)