War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1690 There is still more mutton soup

In the dim sky, Wei Ran followed Abdul and others to their ambush site.

In order to increase his favor, he even took the initiative to help carry three RPG rockets.

This somewhat made the guerrillas' attitude towards him better, but only slightly. No matter what questions he asked through Habibullah, the guerrillas responded with silence. They were even reluctant to appear in Wei Ran's camera.

Seeing that Habibullah, who was helping to translate, was becoming more and more embarrassed, Wei Ran put down his camera and stopped his curiosity, just observing these guerrillas silently.

Apart from Abdul, who was walking in the front, and Habibullah, who was walking at the back, each leading a donkey, there were only six guerrillas in the middle.

They did not have uniform uniforms, and the weapons in their hands were also varied, including bolt-action Lee Enfield, PPSh, AK47 and Thompson submachine guns from nowhere.

Of course, there are also the all-important RPGs, as well as items like grenades and mines.

Although these people were wearing a variety of clothes and weapons, they all looked to be around 30 years old, and some of them were even wearing glasses. They all called Abdul "Teacher".

I guess they are all students, Abdul’s students.

So they actually know Russian? They just don't want to talk to me?
After realizing this, Wei Ran couldn't help but shake his head. When a country needs students to go to the battlefield to fight guerrilla warfare, it has really reached the most difficult moment.

For this reason alone, he admired these people, even though they were deeply defensive against him.

As the journey became increasingly silent, everyone finally climbed up a low hill when the sky became completely dark.

On the other side of this low mountain, you can still vaguely see a winding road at the foot of the mountain. On the opposite side of the road, about less than 500 meters away, is the vague outline of another group of mountains.

Obviously, this was the place they chose for the ambush.

Judging from Wei Ran's perspective, this place for an ambush is not bad but it is definitely not good.

"Anti-aircraft machine guns are deployed on the back of that mountain"

Abdullah pointed behind him in the direction away from the road and said, "Someone will go to the mountain across the road to ambush the convoy. After attracting the Soviet helicopter, I will use anti-aircraft machine guns to fire and lure the helicopter over."

At this point, Abdullah patted Habibullah on the shoulder and said, "Before the anti-aircraft machine gun is destroyed by the helicopter, you have to use the American anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down the helicopter."

"I will definitely win!" Habibullah made the promise with his clenched fist.

"We also have a stinger launcher here"

As Abdullah was speaking, a guerrilla fighter dug out a canvas bag from under a pile of rocks and pulled out a stinger launcher.

"Habibullah, you are responsible for shooting down the helicopter that is firing at the anti-aircraft machine gun. If there is a second one, give it to him."

"What if there are more helicopters?" Habibullah couldn't help but ask.

"If there were more"

Abdullah paused and said, "Then we must make sure to shoot down at least two of them before we are killed by more helicopters."

"I understand," Habibullah nodded seriously, not thinking there was anything wrong with it at all.

"Reporter Victor"

Abdul switched to Russian and asked, "We will be divided into two positions to fight. Habibullah will be in the current position. I and the anti-aircraft machine gun will go to the opposite mountain. Who do you plan to be with?"

"If it's convenient, I'd like to stay with you."

Wei Ran said that his return mission required the transfer of weapons and camouflage of positions. Obviously, among these people and weapons, the only one that needed to be camouflaged was the Soviet-made anti-aircraft machine gun.

"Then come with me"

Abdul was particularly easy to talk to. He called a bearded guerrilla to join him and each of them carried two ammunition boxes. Then they took over the donkeys led by Wei Ran and Habibullah.

Seeing this, Wei Ran also took the initiative to help carry two ammunition boxes and followed behind them.

"Can I know his name?" Wei Ran took two quick steps and asked Abdul in Russian.

"He is my student, Hakim, just call him Hakim." Abdul answered casually.

"Does he speak Russian, too? Or English, too."

“He speaks Russian”

Abdul replied again, "If you have anything you want to ask, just ask it. He will answer you if he wants to."

“I don’t really have anything to ask.”

Wei Ran said unexpectedly, "I have to know his name, otherwise I don't know how to address him, it's too rude."

"Disrespectful? This is a word from a peaceful world, but this is Afhan. Even if you remember my name, I might be dead tomorrow morning."

After that, Hakim threw back another question, "Don't reporters have a lot of questions?"

In addition to leading the donkey and carrying the ammunition box, he also carried three RPG rockets on his back like Wei Ran, which was not a small load.

“I’m different from them”

Wei Ran replied nonchalantly, "If you don't mind, I'll take a few photos of you when the conditions are right. As for whether you have anything you want to tell me, it's entirely up to you."

"So you're a photographer?" Hakim said firmly. "War photographer?"

“I’m glad you said that.”

Wei Ran smiled and said, "Indeed, I am more like a war photographer than a freelance reporter. Mr. Hakim, do you have anything to ask me?"

“I don’t have anything to ask.”

Hakim shook his head, and the three men who were getting further and further away from Habibullah and the others behind them fell silent again.

"Victor, can you take my Qiao Ya away from Afhan?" Abdul, who was walking in front, asked suddenly.

"If you are willing to trust me and have this intention."

"No, I don't plan to let anyone take Qiao Ya away." Abdul said and never continued the topic.

As if he had been reminded by the brief conversation just now, Hakim spoke without warning a moment later, "Reporter Victor, can you help me send a letter after you leave Afghanistan?"

"no problem"

Wei Ran answered cheerfully, "Where to send it to? To whom?"

"Bajistan"

Hakim paused, then changed the subject and said, "Or France. No, definitely in France. She must have already arrived in France."

"Who is she?" Wei Ran asked curiously.

"my girlfriend"

Hakim's tone became more ethereal when he said this, "Eight years ago, she and her parents fled Afhan, and I thought we would meet again.

She said her family would go to France, and if she were still alive, she would probably have been married long ago.”

"Do you have a detailed address?"

Wei Ran asked after a moment of silence, but Hakim did not answer this question, or perhaps he had already answered the question with silence.

"Do you regret it?" Wei Ran asked a different question.

"Didn't you say that you're not like other reporters and don't have so many questions?" Hakim's rhetorical question was full of bitterness.

“Forget my journalist identity”

Wei Ran said nonchalantly, "If you are willing to treat me as a friend, this is just a casual chat between friends. If it touches on something you don't want to mention, just pretend I never asked."

"What do you regret?"

Hakim said to himself, "Do you regret not keeping her? Or do you regret not leaving Afhan with her?"

"What's the difference?"

“No difference”

Akim smiled and said, "I love her, so I won't let her stay in Afhan. I also love Afhan, so I have to stay."

"So there is no regret, only regret." Wei Ran said firmly.

"yes"

The bitterness and melancholy in Hakim's tone disappeared with an obvious deep breath, "I just want to know if she survived and lived the life she hoped for."

"Please take some time to give me your letter."

Wei Ran said, "Let me take a good photo of you after daybreak, and I will help you find him."

"No, forget it." Hakim rejected Wei Ran's proposal in a panic.

"If she is still waiting for you, I will tell her that you are dead. If she has started a family and is living the life she wanted, I will inform you that she is dead."

"I will give you the letter as soon as possible," said Hakim.

"Then it's settled"

Wei Ran decisively ended the topic, which was the only thing he could do. After chatting here, the three people and the two donkeys also came to the bottom of the valley between the two mountains. They just put down the heavy ammunition boxes in their hands and rested for a while, then they set off again, cutting diagonally along the hillside with the donkeys and climbing to the top of the mountain with difficulty.

At the top of this hill, an anti-aircraft machine gun position had been dug in advance.

No, this is not even considered a good dig. At most, it can only be considered as building a position.

A flat ground with a diameter of no more than three meters, surrounded by three walls built with stones and covered with sand and wild grass everywhere as a cover.

Putting aside the ammunition boxes and rockets in his hands, Abdul asked Wei Ran and Hakim to help him lift the KPV machine gun on the back of a donkey. (The beginning says ZPU1, although it is the same thing, ZPU1 actually refers to the mountain air defense base, which has been changed, the same below.)
Then, the three of them worked together to lift down the mountain anti-aircraft tripod tied to the back of another donkey in the dark.

As soon as Wei Ran untied his suitcase from the donkey's back, Abdul immediately said to Hakim in his native language, "Go and lead the donkey to the other side of the mountain and find a place to tie it up."

The latter didn't think much about it and led the two donkeys to the other side of the mountain.

"Victor, help me assemble the anti-aircraft machine gun."

As Abdul spoke, he lifted the tattered felt covering the position, picked up a candle lamp from the corner, lit it and placed it in the corner of the bunker.

"no problem"

Wei Ran helped the other party lift the heavy tripod and placed it in the middle of the position.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

The position was not really big, but there were quite a lot of things piled up in the corners, including a 50-liter iron oil drum with two Soviet oil stoves and a small wicker basket filled with carrots on it. On the left and right sides were a few rolls of dirty felt blankets and a plastic bucket filled with water.

In addition to these daily necessities, there is also an RPG launcher and a wooden ammunition box containing wrenches, engineer shovels and other items.

"Hakeem has been hesitating whether to leave Afhan for his fiancée"

Abdul picked up a shovel and leveled the anti-aircraft machine gun tripod. He said, "He has been wavering between leaving and staying for many years."

"It seems that I helped him make the decision," Wei Ran said after a moment of silence.

“No one can make decisions for anyone else”

Abdul said very clearly, "Just like I have no right to decide for Qiao Ya whether to leave Afhan, you have no right to decide for Hakim whether to stay. It is his own decision. You just made him make the decision earlier."

"Maybe"

Wei Ran helped to step on the auxiliary hoe of the tripod, and then he and Abdul lifted the machine gun onto the tripod.

After trying to turn left and right, Abdul unfolded a thick felt and asked Wei Ran to help cover the low position with it. At the same time, he lowered his voice and said, "No matter what decision he made, at least take his letter away from Afhan."

"I will try my best to deliver the letter," Wei Ran promised seriously.

"Thank you"

As Abdul was speaking, he had already used the stones found everywhere around him to press down the corners of the felt, and then he scooped up sand and gravel and sprinkled it evenly on the felt.

As pieces of felt were placed around and above this makeshift position, the candlelight inside was gradually blocked out, and Hakim walked back alone.

"Hakim, please prepare some food for our journalist friends."

Abdul said in Russian, "This will keep it warm in here, too."

"it is good"

Hakim nodded, opened the lid of the metal oil barrel at the corner, and took out half of a goat wrapped in a sack.

“Let me make dinner.”

Wei Ran said, "Hakim, take advantage of this little time and write the letter as soon as possible."

After a moment's hesitation, Hakim nodded and took out a not-so-big copy of Bone Blue Whale and a pen from his bag.

"I have writing paper"

Seeing that the other party was preparing to write a letter on the Bone Blue Whale, Wei Ran had to stop the work in his hands that had not yet started. He opened the suitcase and rummaged through it for a while. Then he handed a stack of letter paper to the other party. By the way, he also found a few extra naan breads in the suitcase that he didn't know when they appeared.

Come to think of it, someone must have secretly slipped this in when Mahbub and I went to fetch water yesterday.

"Thank you"

Hakim smiled naively, put the blue whale bone under the letter paper, curled up in the corner of the position and began to write.

"I just need to make enough food for the three of us, right?" Wei Ran asked Abdul in a slightly lowered voice.

“It’s enough for just the three of us.”

Abdul nodded. He was busy checking and maintaining the anti-aircraft machine gun that had just been set up.

Seeing this, Wei Ran simply took out the pancake oven and the matching stainless steel pot from the metal book under the cover of the suitcase, then took out the backpack, pulled out an envelope originally used to hold negatives and handed it to Hakim.

"Why do you bring an oil stove and such a big pot?" Abdul, who was busy, asked in surprise.

“I always have to eat”

Wei Ran began to talk nonsense in a matter-of-fact tone, "Besides, developing film requires water of a specific temperature. Without this oil stove and this pot, I wouldn't be able to carry out a lot of my work."

"It seems you really are a war photographer"

Abdul muttered something and said no more, continuing to check the anti-aircraft machine gun.

Seeing this, Wei Ran slowly and methodically completed the pressurized ignition of the oil furnace, and then poured some ice-cold water into a small stainless steel pot.

He took out a butcher's knife, cut a few pieces of mutton and threw them into the pot. He then found three carrots, carefully wiped off the dirt on them with a blanket, and threw them into the pot.

With the help of the fierce fire of the oil stove, the water in the pot began to boil soon. Wei Ran, with a delicacy that was inconsistent with the environment here, used chopsticks to scoop all the meat and three carrots onto the lid of the pot, then poured out the dirty water in the pot and replaced it with clean ice water.

He threw enough meat for three people and chopped carrots into the pot again, and then he covered the pot.

As the high-power oil stove hissed, the position wrapped in thick felt gradually became warmer and warmer, and the unique aroma of boiled lamb began to fill the air.

“I’ve finished writing it.”

As Hakim spoke, he handed the envelope to Wei Ran, and then he took out a color photo from the Blue Whale Bone Book.

In this photo, Hakim is wearing a Soviet-style gray tweed coat, and his arm is around a young girl who is wearing jeans, a leather jacket, high heels, and a pair of sunglasses on her head.

"Her name is Vida"

Hakim said, "Vida Said, if she is still alive, she must have gone to France."

"Where in France will she go?"

Wei Ran took the photo and placed it on the envelope. He took out a flashlight and shone the light on the photo. Then he picked up the camera and asked while adjusting the parameters.

"Montpellier"

Hakim said almost without thinking, "She had the opportunity to study at the University of Montpellier. I guess if she has been to France, she must have been to Montpellier."

"If I can get out alive, I'll help you look for it in Montpellier."

After Wei Ran finished speaking, he pressed the shutter button towards the photo on the envelope, and then returned the photo to Hakim.

"Thank you"

Hakim took the photo at a loss and put it back into the blue whale bone. In that quick glance, Wei Ran vaguely saw that there seemed to be a fiery red lip print on the back of the photo.

"Let me take a picture of you tomorrow," Wei Ran said seriously.

"it is good"

Hakim nodded without thinking.

He turned off the flashlight, put the envelope into his backpack, and then used the cover of the suitcase to collect the metal notebook together with the flashlight. Wei Ran sat down again by the gas stove in the corner, and used the soup spoon that came with the pot to serve Hakim and Abdul a bowl of boiling mutton and carrot soup, and sprinkled some salt and pepper into the soup for each of them.

"Victor, you have to stay away from us before the battle starts tomorrow." Abdul took a sip of mutton soup and said after a moment of silence.

"I"

"You'll die"

Abdul said calmly, "I and this anti-aircraft machine gun are the bait for the Soviet helicopter to take the bait. If I die and the helicopter is not shot down, then Hakim will be the bait."

"you."

“We have been prepared for this for a long time.”

Hakim took a sip of the mutton soup and said calmly, "I can drink mutton soup with pepper and send the letter. These are the only two things I didn't expect."

“Then drink more.”

Wei Ran lowered the fire of the oil stove and said, "I hope you can survive, because there is still a lot of mutton soup."

"I hope we will have the chance to drink mutton soup tomorrow night," Abdul said with a smile, seemingly without any hope.

"Tomorrow all of you will continue to drink mutton soup with pepper," Wei Ran said very seriously.

“Please take a photo for me tomorrow.”

Abdul changed the subject, "Leave it to my Qiao Ya."

"Okay," Wei Ran nodded solemnly.