War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1492 Traveling at night

"We. Let's keep walking."

Squad leader Liu made a difficult decision, "Take the things that Comrade Wang Zhen saved."

Nurse Ji, who was already sobbing, nodded, struggled to take off the bamboo basket she was carrying on her back, and put the several things she had just taken out one by one, and put them together with the firewood.

With the help of Squad Leader Liu, she carefully supported Wang Zhen's body and made her lie down, and covered her face with the hat that was broken by hail.

"pat"

At this moment, a small cloth bag slipped from the hem of Wang Zhen's body clothes and fell at Nurse Ji's feet.

After hurriedly picking up the cloth bag, Nurse Ji opened it and found that it was a copper lunch box.

On the lid of this lunch box, the words "Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army" are also written in red paint, as well as a red cross logo on a white background.

Under the silent gaze of Wei Ran and others, the tearful Nurse Ji opened the lunch box tremblingly.

There were a pair of tweezers, a scalpel, a hemostatic forceps, and a glass syringe wrapped in cloth on the tray that had some green rust on it, but there was nothing else.

"This is the instrument sterilization box of our health team," Nurse Ji choked up as she explained, while carefully picking up the tray.

There was no medicine in the space under the tray, but there were party membership cards and a few silver dollars placed next to each other.

He gently picked up one of the books and opened it. The name written on it was "Wang Zhen".

Picking up the second book, the name on it is "Zhao Wanya", the instructor of the health team.

The name on the third book is Wang Juncheng.

After reading through them one by one, it seems that these are the wounded who decided to stay and not drag down their companions. At the end of these party membership cards, there is a folded piece of letter paper.

After just opening it and taking a look, Nurse Ji refolded it and put it back into the lunch box along with the party membership cards. At the same time, she explained tremblingly, "This is Comrade Ma Zhen's application for joining the party."

With a silent sigh, Wei Ran walked to the other party and knelt down, took off the bamboo basket behind him, looked at the other party and said seriously, "Comrade Ji Chunlan, if you trust me, let me take these things, I'm sure Don't let them get touched."

Hearing this, Nurse Ji nodded vigorously again, but only kept Comrade Wang Zhen's canvas satchel, the bottle of horse manure bag that almost symbolized medical ability, and the crucial lunch box and slung it on her shoulder. .

Seeing this, Wei Ran didn't say anything. He just put the greasy porcelain oil bottle into a bamboo basket and protected it with a soaked blanket, and then placed the big-bellied kerosene lamp on the blanket.

It was also this opportunity that he also noticed that the blue cloth bag hanging on the handle of the kerosene lamp contained a small white transparent glass medicine bottle. In the glass medicine bottle, there were two matches and A ball of pure white cotton wool.

The kerosene lamp was also fixed with a blanket. Wei Ran then gently picked up the pole, ignoring the corpse smell on it, and hooked his bamboo basket with the iron hook at one end of the pole. The other end hooked the bamboo basket that Nurse Ji had just picked.

"Let me choose. I'm the porter."

Wei Ran said before Squad Leader Liu and others could speak, "Just like Comrade Ji Chunlan is a nurse."

As soon as these words were spoken, Nurse Ji's equally thin body could not help but tremble. Wiping the corners of her eyes again with her soaked tattered sleeves, she suppressed her sadness and said, "Yes, I am a nurse. Let's go."

Before she finished speaking, Wei Ran had already gritted his teeth secretly and picked up the two bamboo baskets with a pole. The contents of these two bamboo baskets probably only weigh about 50 kilograms at a time, but they seem extremely heavy at this time.

At the same time, Zhang Erwa, who had just fallen into the water and thrown away the firewood, immediately picked up the stick left by Comrade Wang Zhen and picked up the bundle of soaked firewood.

Squad Leader Liu put the bullets handed over by Nurse Ji into his pocket, "Get your weapons and let's go."

After giving the order, Li Zhuang immediately untied the bundle of weapons and distributed them to everyone. This time, Wei Ran was given a cane-style gun. Squad Leader Liu carefully placed the four dangerous horsetail grenades in the bamboo basket he was carrying.

With weapons, this team of only six people became more and more like a regular army with combat effectiveness.

At the very least, the little lama, who originally had a box cannon on his waist and carried Weiran's anti-Japanese sword on his back, was now assigned an old sleeve and was almost excited.

But in this vast grassland, the biggest enemy cannot be defeated with guns and cannons.

After a moment's stay, the armed team set off again, following the traces left by the large army in front, walking forward step by step in the rain that never stopped.

The next afternoon, Nurse Ji, who had an anti-Japanese sword on her back, fell into silence.

On the way, she even asked Wei Ran if he wanted to take away the kerosene lamp again, hung it on her belt, protected it with the satchel that smelled faintly of corpse, held it with her hand, and never let go for a moment.

I couldn't tell how much time had passed. Although the rain above my head became lighter, it didn't stop at all. On the other hand, the grass underfoot gradually lost water content as it got further and further away from the river behind it, and finally returned to the muddy appearance it had before.

Before it got dark, Squad Leader Liu led them onto a slightly higher grassland.

There are obvious signs of camping in this grassland, and shallow pits left by digging can be seen everywhere around it.

Obviously, the wild vegetables that once grew here have been uprooted by the large troops in front, and even the shrubs that may have been there have been uprooted, either for food or as firewood.

After hurriedly searching for a camping spot in the leeward direction, everyone took out their tattered blankets and set up tents without caring about rest.

There was no rush to light the bonfire, and everyone left the task of guarding the supplies to Nurse Ji. Then they carried the wooden sticks in the bamboo basket and spread out to look for any food that could satisfy their hunger.

It had only been a few days before Wei Ran discovered that he had already suffered from night blindness due to lack of vitamin A. The sky was getting slightly darker and the surrounding things were already blurry.

In desperation, he could only squat down and move forward step by step, opening his eyes wide and looking for anything that could be eaten, used or burned.

But this small highland is only the size of a basketball court at most, and there are signs of camping everywhere. In other words, the supplies here have long been collected.

We returned to the camp empty-handed. This time, not only did Wei Ran, Squad Leader Liu and others not find any food to satisfy their hunger, but even the little lama, who had been quite lucky, didn't bring anything back.

Everyone looked at each other, took the anti-Japanese sword they got during the day, and dug up the mud and turf silently. They also used the bundle of wet firewood left by Comrade Wang Zhen as a skeleton to build a stove that could barely block the wind and rain. .

After receiving the fire sickle and the glass medicine bottle filled with tinder from Squad Leader Liu, the little lama hid in the tent that blocked the wind and rain, and it took a lot of effort to light the kindling and dry firewood prepared in advance.

Soon after, the flames gradually started to burn, and the copper ladle was once again placed next to the charcoal fire.

But this time, there were only four or five wild vegetables in the copper ladle, a small handful of tree roots that Wei Ran originally planned to use for weaving straw sandals, and the pieces of leather that were used as life-saving reserves.

"Everyone, dry your feet and leggings."

As Nurse Ji spoke, she untied the leggings wrapped around her feet, "Smear some horse manure bags on the wounds later. With those horse manure bags around, we will definitely be able to walk out."

Before she finished speaking, she had already put the soaked leggings on the bamboo basket beside the campfire, and took out the brown wide-mouth bottle containing the horse manure bag from the satchel that seemed to have been carefully washed.

Inviting the little lama to come over, Nurse Ji helped him clean the wound on the sole of his foot. Then he unscrewed the lid of the medicine jar, took out a long-handled medicine spoon made of bamboo and wood, dug out some spores from the horse manure packets, and spread them evenly. It covers the wound on the sole of the little lama's foot.

In turn, all the wounds on everyone's feet were covered with a layer of fine natural medicinal powder. Nurse Ji finally treated the wounds on her own feet, then immediately tightened the bottle cap and stuffed it back into her satchel.

"Nurse Ji"

While squad leader Liu counted out the corresponding number of barley grains and threw them into a copper ladle to cook together, he asked, "Can that weather lantern still work?"

“works”

Nurse Ji said, taking the oil lamp beside her, skillfully removing the oil tank at the bottom and checking it, "The wick is still there, but the oil seems to be gone."

Seeing that everyone except the little lama was looking at him, Wei Ran took out the oil pot from the basket and shook it, "There are some more, just half a pot."

"Squad leader, do you want to drive at night?" Li Zhuang was the first to guess what squad leader Liu was thinking.

"We have this plan." Squad leader Liu nodded, "Comrades, this is what I think. Once we want to catch up with the large army, we have to find ways to travel longer.

Secondly, with the weather like this, if you want to avoid freezing to death, you can only light a bonfire all night long.

But we only have so much firewood, and we can burn it for two nights at most before it is all used up. I think it would be better to get up a few hours earlier every day and travel more. This will not only save firewood, but also free up more time in the evening to collect food and drink. "

"This works!"

Zhang Erwa immediately agreed, but soon raised a new question, "But...how long can the lamp oil burn?"

"If you fill up this oil lamp and turn down the wick, it will burn for five or six hours." Nurse Ji answered this question.

“Tap it and try it”

Wei Ran said, "Dip the wick in some oil and let Nurse Ji adjust it to a brightness that can burn for five or six hours. Let's see if we can use it on the road."

"Try!" Squad Leader Liu gave the order decisively.

Carefully unplugging the wooden stopper of the oil can, Wei Ran tilted the coarse porcelain bottle little by little, letting Nurse Ji take the wick pulled out of the oil lamp and dip it in it.

After some adjustments, Nurse Ji lit the oil lamp with a piece of firewood, and then adjusted it to a not-so-bright brightness.

Everyone followed Nurse Ji and walked a few steps further away. The rain curtain still falling above their heads had no effect on the oil lamp. The light it released could barely illuminate the ground under their feet.

"Let's get up early tomorrow"

Squad leader Liu confidently gave the order, "Let's go back to eat!"

"Gulu" everyone couldn't help but swallowed their saliva because of these words, and followed Squad Leader Liu back to the bonfire.

For this dinner, each person only had a piece of leather that had been cooked countless times until it was chewable, a measly 5 grains of highland barley, and even two roots each for straw sandals. A piece of wild vegetable as long as your finger - luckily, there is no limit to the hot soup, and you can drink it as long as it rains.

After pouring several jars of hot soup with no nutritional content, everyone crowded around the campfire and fell asleep before hunger struck again.

Only Squad Leader Liu untied the piece of wick rope that was originally tied to the mouth of the oil bottle. After drying it carefully, he rolled it up and stuffed it into his medicine bottle and tightened the lid.

This time, Wei Ran even felt that he had just closed his eyes and squinted for a few minutes before Squad Leader Liu called him out.

"Comrades, wake up, it's time for us to set off." Squad leader Liu woke everyone up one by one, and then started the routine roll call as before.

After everyone responded one by one, Squad Leader Liu immediately greeted everyone to eat quickly.

This was a rare good thing. Although Wei Ran didn't know how long he slept, he thought the interval between meals must have been shortened.

On the other hand, not only has the rain stopped at this time, but even the morning star can be seen clearly. I think today will be a rare good weather.

As for breakfast

There are still three pieces of leather and five grains of highland barley per person, as well as a handful of slightly browned bark powder floating in each person's cup. Now that the rain has stopped, the water is no longer in limited supply again.

After a couple of people finished breakfast, Wei Ran used his own enamel jar to fill the oil tank of the kerosene lamp less than half full. At the same time, Li Zhuang and Zhang Erwa also dismantled the stove that they had set up last night and filled the oil tank of the kerosene lamp. The firewood that belonged to Comrade Wang Zhen and was now carbonized was picked up one by one and put into the basket.

When everything was ready, Nurse Ji lit the kerosene lamp with the last embers she had deliberately reserved.

Then, the little lama picked up the kerosene lamp with the old socket he was given. Because of his job of holding the lamp, he was naturally placed behind him by Squad Leader Liu.

Under this not-so-bright light, everyone stepped forward again into the cold mud, covered with stars and moon.

Behind the little lama, Wei Ran, who was carrying a pole, really didn't know how to describe everything at this time.

Total silence might be the most appropriate, but every step they took would cause the mud beneath their feet to surge and make a splashing sound.

Ruchui Ice Cellar might also be usable, but after walking a few steps, Wei Ran already had a little pimple on his forehead because of the large cup of hot soup he drank before setting off, and the laborious movements he made every time he raised his legs. beads of sweat.

Perhaps loneliness and despair are the most appropriate adjectives.

Wei Ran looked at the surrounding darkness that had not been completely dispelled by the light, and could not help but feel a trace of the Chinese people's inexplicable fear of ghosts and ghosts in his heart.

But this fear was quickly dissipated by other people's conversations when they encouraged and helped each other, so loneliness and despair seemed equally unsuitable.

Shaking his head slightly, Wei Ran pulled his feet wrapped in rags and leggings out of the mud more forcefully, and stepped firmly on the soft and cold grass.

I don’t know how long it took, but the sky turned white. The little lama also blew out the oil lamp at the signal of Squad Leader Liu.

During the short stay, Squad Leader Liu distributed two grains of highland barley to everyone, and Nurse Ji poured the little fuel left in the oil lamp back into the oil pot carried by Wei Ran.

Putting two grains of highland barley into his mouth, he hid it under his tongue and waited patiently for them to soften. Wei Ran followed the squad leader Liu and the little lama who were walking in front and took another step. Covered in the rare fiery red sun, we walked towards the destination that was getting closer and closer.

I don't know when, two big mosquitoes landed on Wei Ran's arm.

"Snapped!"

Wei Ran slapped the pair of mosquitoes into a brand, then bent down to grab a piece of mud, and smeared it on the exposed skin all over his body as he walked.

After swallowing a mouthful of saliva that seemed to smell like highland barley, Wei Ran took two quick steps to catch up with the young lama carrying a gun in front of him. At the same time, he also paid attention to his surroundings, eagerly looking for weeds that could be used to make straw sandals.

Nowadays, wearing straw sandals is not just for him to complete the language task. The march in the past few days has consumed everyone's straw sandal reserves. Just now, the last straw sandal on his own feet was also covered in mud. It stays in the stomach forever.

In other words, if they can no longer find dead grass, the leggings on their feet may not last long before they wear out, and they will have to walk barefoot.

Just at this moment, Squad Leader Liu who was walking at the front suddenly took a few steps quickly. He stumbled and ran towards a meadow directly ahead.

After a quick reaction, the little lama who was walking in second place and Wei Ran and others behind him quickly caught up.

Then they saw the bones of a horse.

Those were indeed bones. The horse skin was gone, and even the bones were incomplete. The only thing that was intact was only a vertebrae and the smashed horse skull - everything edible had been taken away from it.

After waving his hand to drive away the mosquitoes and flies on the corpse, Squad Leader Liu picked up a thigh bone and put it under his nose to smell it, and then said happily, "Comrades, we have bone soup to drink tonight!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the others immediately gathered around, each picked up a bone and smelled it.

"It stinks." Li Zhuang said subconsciously.

"The outside of the meat smells bad, but the inside of the bones doesn't necessarily smell bad." Squad Leader Liu said as he pinned the complete thigh bone to his belt.

Seeing this, the others picked up a bone one after another, or put it on their belt like Squad Leader Liu, or tied it with the firewood on their backs. Especially Wei Ran, who was carrying a pole, picked up a few bones. Bones that looked like they had marrow were stuffed into the bamboo basket.

Even though they only picked up a few bones, everyone was still very happy, and even their steps became much lighter.

With this little encouragement, time seemed to pass a little faster. In order to encourage everyone, squad leader Liu generously gave everyone five grains of highland barley to replenish their physical strength.

But after all, it was just five grains of highland barley.

"Pfft" When Wei Ran tried to take the next step, his vision went dark and his legs lost strength.

"Comrade Wei Ran."

Before he lost consciousness, Wei Ran ignored the vague call and only had time to place the bamboo basket he was carrying as steadily as possible on the muddy ground. Then he lost consciousness and fell to the ground with his head raised.

(End of this chapter)