War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1486 Single photo

When Wei Ran was woken up from his sleep by thirst, the rising sun on the horizon had already peeked over the top of his head, and a seemingly non-existent layer of mist was billowing over the vast meadow.

Thanks to the thatched vest, the simple tent, and of course the clear night without wind or rain, except for being woken up by thirst a few times last night, he had a fairly comfortable sleep.

But now he woke up with thirst again. Not only was his mouth as dry as if it was on fire, but the stomach cramps caused by hunger also made him lose the idea of ​​continuing to sleep.

After carefully getting up, Wei Ran noticed that Squad Leader Liu had woken up a long time ago, and he didn't know where he was.

Looking around, he soon spotted the other party's back on the slope at the edge of the small highland.

Stepping closer, Wei Ran was stunned. At this time, the old squad leader of the cooking class was kneeling on the grass, holding the copper ladle in one hand, and gently shaking the green weeds with the other hand, carefully letting go The dew on the grass blades fell into the copper ladle that reflected the water waves.

Behind him, there was a track that had been crushed by the weeds while kneeling. The track meandered nearly a hundred meters into the distance and then circled back.

He didn't know when Squad Leader Liu started collecting dew, but the clothes on his body were completely wet. Even his hair, which was not very thick and was already mixed with white hair, had condensed on it. There were fine mist beads, but he was only about thirty years old.

Taking out the camera silently, Wei Ran slowly sat down and bent his legs. After adjusting the camera very carefully, he put it on his knees to help keep it stable. Then he moved Squad Leader Liu and the others behind him who were still collecting dew. The long trajectory and even the sunlight that had just appeared on the horizon were all included in the viewfinder.

Almost the second before he pressed the shutter, Squad Leader Liu seemed to notice something and subconsciously turned his head to look over. A bright smile that was dyed golden by the morning sun appeared on his face.

"Comrade Wei Ran, water, I found water!" Squad Leader Liu lowered his voice and greeted in surprise, "We will have water to drink later! Clean water!"

"I'm going to light the fire right now!"

Wei Ran responded quickly, then turned around and put away the camera, and quickly ran towards their campsite.

The movement on his side naturally woke up the others. After learning what Squad Leader Liu had done, everyone became more energetic and took out their enamel jars to collect dew.

"Don't go, don't even go."

Squad leader Liu took advantage of Wei Ran's efforts to chop the last pieces of firewood, waving his hands to stop him and saying, "This is enough for us to moisten our throats. Let's save some energy to go on the road."

Before anyone could say anything else, Squad Leader Liu continued, "Comrades, our firewood is about to be burned out. Along the way, we will not only look for wild vegetables and dead grass, but also anything we can use to burn. They have to be picked up too.”

"Yes!" Everyone responded one after another.

"Come! Let's have breakfast!"

Squad leader Liu said, taking out the bag of highland barley grains again, "Let's make breakfast with five grains per person. Today we will cook it with the broth."

"I haven't eaten yesterday's food yet," Li Zhuang said, rummaging through yesterday's five highland barley grains and throwing them into the copper ladle.

"I have four left," Zhang Erwa said.

"Me too, I haven't eaten mine either." Nurse Ji said, also finding five grains of highland barley and throwing them into the copper ladle.

"And mine, I have four left." Wei Ran agreed, taking out a few grains of highland barley leftover from yesterday's meal and handing them to Nurse Ji, who helped put them into the copper ladle.

"Comrades, you need to eat something."

Monitor Liu sighed and saw the little lama also opening his prayer wheel, pouring out a few grains of highland barley and throwing it into the pot.

"Let's all eat together today and supervise each other's eating." Nurse Ji suggested, "Especially supervise Monitor Liu."

"Yes, Nurse Ji is right, especially the old monitor who supervises us." Zhang Erwa agreed.

Shaking his head helplessly, Squad Leader Liu counted out the corresponding number of highland barley and threw it into the pot.

While everyone was waiting, the little lama lit the bonfire with a fire sickle, and Nurse Ji also took advantage of the soup cooking time to place the two aluminum kettles containing filtered water next to the bonfire for secondary heating.

"Li Zhuang, how are you feeling?" Squad Leader Liu asked slightly nervously.

"It's okay," Li Zhuang assured him, patting his chest.

"We have burned all the firewood."

Wei Ran took over and said, "Put everything in two bamboo baskets today, and then stack them on the other two bamboo baskets for me to carry."

"No"

"You have to help hold the pole."

Wei Ran said before Li Zhuang could say anything, "In addition, I have to help find wild vegetables, dead grass and firewood. This work is not easy at all, but I am lazy and just pick the picks. Finding wild vegetables is really not my specialty. of."

"Okay." Li Zhuang finally nodded and agreed.

Before the sun fully rose, everyone drank the broth allocated to their bowls, as well as an equal but small amount of highland barley grains - and also supervised Squad Leader Liu to eat his own portion.

Finally, he extinguished the bonfire and put the few remaining charcoal into the basket. Wei Ran put on his bamboo hat, stacked the bamboo baskets two by two, and then asked everyone to put all the extra things into the basket, patiently After my body got used to the symptoms of black eyes and weak dizziness caused by hypoglycemia when I stood up, I slowly picked up the bamboo basket.

"Comrades, start the roll call."

Before setting off, Squad Leader Liu said loudly, "Cooking Class, Li Zhuang!"

"Yes!" Li Zhuang, who held a pole in his hand, raised his chest and raised his head in response.

"Zhang Erwa!"

"Have!"

"Ji Chunlan!"

"Have!"

"Jianpa Kelsang!"

"again!"

"Wei Ran!"

"Have!"

"Comrades, forward!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded to Squad Leader Liu's order in unison and followed him out of the small highland.

Taking advantage of the cool weather in the morning, everyone speeded up their pace as much as possible. Correspondingly, along the way, everyone really didn't have much time or opportunity to collect possible wild vegetables. At most, they could only pick up a few withered grass and put them in their pockets or pin them to their belts.

Compared with the scarce resources, the floating corpses that appeared from time to time along the way and the smell of corpses that seemed to be always permeating the surroundings, trying to mix with the stench of the swamp mud, made everyone more cautious.

"Pfft! Gululu."

While Wei Ran was staring at the swollen corpse in the distance in a daze, the little lama walking at the front stepped into the mud and exclaimed in a series of bubbles.

"Don't crowd around me!"

Squad Leader Liu shouted to stop Zhang Erwa who was walking behind him, "Get down! Everyone get down! Give me the pole quickly!"

Before he finished speaking, Li Zhuang quickly handed the pole in his hand to Squad Leader Liu who was already lying on the meadow. The latter took the pole and quickly handed the other end to the little lama whose waistband had been submerged in the mud.

"Hurry up."

Before Squad Leader Liu had finished speaking, Wei Ran had already thrown the two diabolo baskets to the little lama one after another. Then, he crawled to the edge of the meadow and handed the pole in his hand to the little lama.

There was no need to give instructions at all. The little lama first hooked the wooden hooks of the two poles on his belt, then placed the two bamboo baskets on the left and right beside him for support, pressed them with his hands, and slowly tilted them little by little. Little by little, his body lay on the slowly sinking bamboo basket, and then little by little he pulled out the two legs that were sucked by the mud.

At the same time, Wei Ran and Squad Leader Liu also tightened their grip on the pole and exerted their strength at the same time. Behind them, Li Zhuang, Zhang Erwa and even Nurse Ji, who were also lying down, gripped their legs to prevent them. Follow and sink.

With the concerted efforts of everyone, the little lama, who was like a mud monkey, was dragged up to the meadow with difficulty. Wei Ran and Squad Leader Liu immediately swung the poles and hooked the two men who were almost completely trapped. The bamboo basket in the mud pulled them up one by one.

Looking at each other thankfully, Wei Ran took a few breaths, climbed up with difficulty, poured out the mud from the bamboo basket and inspected it carefully.

Unfortunately, there is still not even a single small fish or shrimp in this mud.

At the same time, Squad Leader Liu and others also comforted the little lama, who was pale and obviously frightened - even though they did not understand the language at all.

After the little lama put on the new straw sandals provided by Zhang Erwa, everyone set off again. At the insistence of squad leader Liu, the little lama walked behind him.

Even the burden originally carried by Wei Ran was taken over by Zhang Erwa.

Because of the danger just now, Squad Leader Liu who was walking in front slowed down a bit, while Wei Ran, who was empty-handed, took the opportunity to take a few steps quickly and raised his camera towards the people walking towards him.

But this time, he did not press the shutter. Instead, he straightened up and said, "Comrades, how about stopping for a few minutes?"

"What's wrong, Comrade Wei Ran?"

Squad Leader Liu, who had already walked up to him, asked curiously, and at the same time subconsciously glanced at the camera hanging around his neck.

Ever since Zhang Erwa took away his job as a porter, he took out this precious camera from the bamboo basket. From that moment on, Squad Leader Liu knew that they were going to be photographed again. “The film in my camera can still take five pictures.”

Wei Ran said, "Why don't I take a single photo of each of you? Then I can put in new film. When we can get out of the grass, I will develop the photo and you can send it home. people."

Without waiting for Squad Leader Liu and others to agree or refuse, Wei Ran continued, "Even if we can't all walk out, one or two can always walk out, and he will take our photos back when the time comes.

At least at least the family can have something to think about, and at least someone knows that we existed. "

Hearing this, Squad Leader Liu was silent for a moment, and finally nodded and said, "Then take a photo, then let's each take a photo! Comrade Wei Ran, do you think where is the right place to take the photo?"

“Just here”

Wei Ran pointed to his feet, "The sun is just right now, let's take the photo here. How about we do it one by one? Who comes first?"

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, and then Li Zhuang, Zhang Erwa and Nurse Ji said in unison, "Let the monitor come first!"

"Then let's start with Squad Leader Liu"

Wei Ran couldn't refuse and said, "Anyway, you're at the front of the queue, so it's only a step less for everyone."

As if he felt that this excuse was valid, Squad Leader Liu did not refuse, and put the bamboo hat behind his back, and then put on his own canvas satchel.

Then he let Wei Ran direct him to adjust his position so that the hot midday sun shone on his rosy face.

At the same time, Li Zhuang also dug out the box cannon that the little lama had picked up from the bamboo basket, and helped Squad Leader Liu put it on his belt.

"Squad leader, show your whistle." Wei Ran suddenly made a special request.

Although he didn't understand the meaning, Squad Leader Liu didn't think too much and took out the shiny copper whistle from his collar.

Everything was ready. When Squad Leader Liu saw Wei Ran holding up the camera, he immediately raised his chest and raised his head in what he thought was the most handsome pose - raising his arms in a military salute.

Pressing the shutter button lightly, Wei Ran smiled at the other party, who also smiled and put down his arm. Then he pulled out the box cannon and handed it to Li Zhuang. After the other party put it on his belt, he didn't forget it. Help the other party tidy up his patched military uniform.

As expected, when Wei Ran pressed the shutter again, Li Zhuang also saluted him with a military salute.

Soon, Zhang Erwa stood in a position to take pictures, and the box gun was pinned to his waist. Even the anti-Japanese sword belonging to Wei Ran was tied to the handle and blade with hemp rope in advance. Behind him.

He took a photo of Zhang Erwa, who was dressed as an elite but still looked like he was saluting. Nurse Ji also stood in front of Wei Ran, carrying her canvas satchel with a red cross sewn on it.

While Wei Ran waited quietly, Nurse Ji calmly took off her hat, revealing her short black hair less than two centimeters long. Then she took out a military cap from her bag and put it on her head.

From the chats in the past few days, Wei Ran already knew that this hair style was definitely not a beautiful one. She had cut it specially before entering the grass, just to make it easier to take care of her hair and not to worry about getting lice on her head.

And according to her, many female warriors do this, and she is not an exception.

Waiting patiently for this young girl who also loves beauty to use a military cap to suppress her hairline and easy-to-maintain hairstyle, and neatly raise her hands to salute the camera in her hand. She was already prepared. Wei Ran pressed the shutter again after some adjustments.

At this point, the 120 film used in this camera only has the last "quota" left.

Before he could wait long, the little lama who had been "dressed up" by Li Zhuang and Zhang Erwa also stood in front of Wei Ran.

This little lama has a belt from Squad Leader Liu around his waist, and is wearing a box cannon that he picked up with his own hands.

On his shoulders, in addition to the Red Army bamboo hat, there was also the anti-Japanese sword from Wei Ran, which Zhang Erwa helped him carry. He even took off his monk skirt and put on Li Zhuang's temporary skirt. The pair of coarse trousers issued by the Red Army were lent to him.

If you ignore the prayer wheel that is also tied to his waist and his not-so-standard military salute, this is already a qualified Red Army soldier.

No, even if his military salute is not standard, even if he still wears the prayer wheel around his waist, he is already a qualified Red Army soldier.

Waiting patiently for squad leader Liu to personally help the little lama correct his standing and saluting posture, Wei Ran smiled at him and decisively pressed the shutter, using up the last "slot" on the roll of film.

"Comrade Wei Ran, do you need me to take pictures for you?" Nurse Ji put away her military cap and put on her bamboo hat. "I've used a camera before."

"no need"

Wei Ran smiled and waved his hand, while rewinding the film and explaining, "I had already filmed myself before I met you."

Easily deceiving Nurse Ji, Wei Ran replaced the camera with a new film, and then used the cover of the bamboo basket to take it back into the metal book, and at the same time, he also got back the stolen porter.

I don’t know if the little episode of taking photos just now brought some encouragement. After setting off again, everyone seemed to be much lighter in their footsteps, and they were still discussing with enthusiasm. After they walked out of the grass and the photos were developed, they were ready to send them. To whom?

Even Wei Ran took out his harmonica again and played one after another the tunes he knew, had played, and could think of.

Encouraged by photos and harmonica music, everyone left a long, winding and tireless trail on the grass and in the mud.

By the time it was approaching evening, only the last few sips of the last pot of water had been drunk, but there was still not a single cloud floating above the head.

However, it was precisely because of this rare good weather that they were able to see in the sunset that a black mountain range had appeared directly in front of them, and they could even vaguely see the ups and downs of what seemed to be woods.

Turning his head to look at the fiery red sunset due west, Squad Leader Liu said while looking for a suitable camping site, "Let's keep on holding on. It looks like the weather will definitely rain tonight. Let's work harder to get there tomorrow." There is firewood on the side of the mountain, let’s take a good rest and have a good meal!”

Encouraged by him, everyone seized the last moment and accelerated their pace under the light of the sky. They jumped from one meadow to another, gradually getting closer to the mountain at the end of their field of vision. distance.

Finally, when only half of the top of his head was still above the horizon under the fiery red sunset, Squad Leader Liu finally stopped.

Unfortunately, after walking for so long, wherever they looked, they could not find any high ground above the water. Even the meadow they stopped at was only larger in area than others. If you step on it a little further, the sole of your foot will still sink, and then it will be firmly sucked by the muddy and smelly water that comes up.

"Let's stay here today"

Monitor Liu said, "We have run out of firewood, so even if we find a place to make a fire, we still can't burn it."

"It's so soft to sleep on here," Li Zhuang, who has an optimistic personality, joked.

“It would be nice if it really rained tonight.”

Zhang Erwa also murmured, but without delaying the two of them, they helped Wei Ran unload the pole from his shoulders.

“It won’t rain lightly tonight”

As Squad Leader Liu spoke, he had already pulled out Wei Ran's anti-Japanese sword from the bamboo basket and cut off a large piece of turf from the edge of the meadow.

At the same time, Li Zhuang, Zhang Erwa, and even the little lama and nurse Ji also lined up in a row with great skill, and used a relay method to throw the grass to the location where they were going to camp.

After coming back to his senses, Wei Ran hurried over to help, and together they moved the pieces of water-filled turf together.

In the busyness of everyone, the place in the middle of the meadow that was intended for camping was thickened, but this was just to prevent people from sinking their feet completely when they stepped on it.

Immediately afterwards, Squad Leader Liu and others took off their respective hats and placed them upside down on the thickened grass, barely making up a small space enough for everyone to sit down.

Finally, two poles were stuck on the grass and a blanket was put up to create a tent. Everyone carefully got in and sat on the upside-down bamboo hats.

It wasn't over yet. Squad leader Liu and Li Zhuang also pulled four bamboo baskets over and blocked both ends of the tent.

Almost before and after, a flash of lightning flashed in the distance, and the long-lost dark clouds floated over everyone's heads from a distance.

"hold on"

Monitor Liu, who was sitting on the outermost side, licked his chapped lips and said, "We will have water soon."

After looking at the copper ladle in the other person's hand, Wei Ran silently took off the cup cover of the kettle and was ready to catch the rainwater.

This is indeed the only thing they can do at the moment. At the end of the day, they found only enough dry grass to twist a half-meter-long straw rope. This was not enough to weave straw sandals, and it was not enough for Li Zhuanger. Men finished the thatched waistcoats they were still weaving.

"Crack!"

A muffled thunder exploded not far away. Nurse Ji, who was seated at the innermost side of the tent, couldn't help but shiver. At the same time, she couldn't help but look outside the tent expectantly.

After an unknown amount of time, the sun was completely blocked by the horizon, and a cool breeze blew away the sweltering heat outside the tent.

However, not even a drop of the rain they were expecting fell.

"Comrade Wei Ran, play a piece of music and listen."

Captain Liu, holding a copper ladle in his hand, looked at the gloomy sky above his head and said, "Just play a volunteer march!"

"it is good"

Wei Ran said and handed the cup in his hand to Zhang Erwa beside him, then put his hand into his arms as a cover and took out the harmonica.

Amidst the muffled thunder that sounded from time to time, the howl of the cold wind, and the melodious harmonica accompaniment, a few voices hoarse due to thirst, in this damp and cramped shabby tent, neatly sang the same song: "Get up." ! People who don’t want to be slaves”

As the song became hoarse but more powerful, the tent was blown by the damp wind. Finally, a bean-sized, cold water droplet fell from a high altitude and hit Wei Ran's harmonica with a loud thud. .

It finally rained.

Wei Ran squinted his eyes and looked at the dim night sky, but did not stop the accompaniment. The people around him also did not stop singing, and the chorus became more passionate and powerful.

"Wow--" Almost in the blink of an eye, the long-awaited heavy rain poured down.