War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 295 Forged Evidence
In the cave that can be said to be ventilated from all sides, Wei Ran finally decided to temporarily suppress the doubts in his heart, and carefully inspected the half-track motorcycle before Eric came back.

Thanks to the fact that Professor Alexei once took over the job of investigating the service of the same car, he is no stranger to this strange car like the "Sphinx".

Groping to open the cover behind the half-track motorcycle seat and the cover of the rear part, Wei Ran's expression became more and more surprised. The condition of the car is not bad, although the battery obviously has no way to provide starting power. .

But this is not a big deal. Although this car can be started by electricity, it can also be started like a tractor, with a large key inserted through the chrysanthemum at the rear of the car. It is just a little more troublesome.

After roughly checking the tightness of the few transmission belts, I pulled out the oil dipstick to have a look.Although there is organic oil in it, it is unknown whether it can be used for so long.

Seeing that Eric hadn't come back, Wei Ran simply drained all the lubricating oil in the car, and replaced it with the spark plugs he found in the tool box that came with the car.

When he finished his work here, Eric also came back with a gasoline stove in one hand and an oil barrel in the other, with a small stainless steel pot on his head, wheezing and panting.

"Thanks a lot"

Seeing the other party's embarrassed appearance, Wei Ran hurried over to help remove the small pot from the other party's head.

"What should I do next?" Eric put down the things in his hands, sat down on the cushion that Wei Ran had just removed and asked.

"You work hard, first use a gasoline stove to boil a pot of boiling water."

While speaking, Wei Ran had already unscrewed the oil filling port of the gasoline stove, poured all the gasoline in it into the fuel tank of the half-track motorcycle, and then removed the 40-year-old barrel of gasoline just removed from the car. The seal was poured into the gasoline stove.

These expired gasoline is prone to problems for this half-track motorcycle, but it is no problem to use it as fuel.In the same way, it is a pity that the fuel they brought in the gasoline stove was only used to boil water, and it is better to use it for the car.

"Are you sure this ugly thing can still start?" Eric picked up the small stainless steel pot resignedly, filled a pot of snow outside the cave, and then began to pressurize the gasoline stove.

"Whether it can be activated or not, it is definitely not ugly."

At the same time that Wei Ran responded, he had already inserted the crank handle into the hole in the tail of the half-track motorcycle, and while shaking it slowly, he was observing the ignition of the spark plug.

Eric responded a little anxiously, "It's really not important whether it's ugly or not, but we can't waste too much time here."

"It won't waste too much time." Wei Ran stopped his movements, "The spark plug can ignite, and the car key is also there. We have a high chance to start it."

"Hope it's like you said," Eric said, igniting the flame of the gasoline stove.

Roasted by the chirping flames, the snow in the small stainless steel pot melted quickly, and it didn't take long for it to start boiling.

Seeing this, Wei Ran and Eric quickly picked up snowballs and threw them into the pot.Under their busyness, soon, a pot of slightly hot water was poured into the cooling water tank.

"Shall we activate it now?" Eric asked impatiently.

"don't worry"

Wei Ran put the small stainless steel pot back on the gasoline stove to dry it out, and then ran out of the cave with the pot and the bucket of motor oil that had just been unpacked.

Pour all the viscous motor oil into the pot, then add a small amount of expired gasoline to dilute it, and finally put the small stainless steel pot full of motor oil on the gasoline stove for slow heating while stirring constantly .

Guessing that the heat was almost ready, he poured the hot pot of lubricating oil into the car with Eric's help.

Although this slightly dangerous local method can continue to use those expired lubricating oils, it does a lot of damage to the car itself, not much more than they just need it to help them run 20 kilometers right now, so the damage is naturally small. Can be ignored.

After filling up the lubricating oil, Wei Ran threw the oily stainless steel pot to Eric, and motioned him to go outside to clean it with snow.

Finally, after getting acquainted with the various switches and gear levers of this antique car, Wei Ran poured the only barrel of gasoline they brought into the fuel tank next to the driver's seat under Eric's curious gaze.

After waiting for a while, Wei Ran locked the accelerator, signaled Eric to help pull the pressure relief valve, and then ran to the rear of the car again, shaking the starter handle vigorously.

With the cooperation and attempts of the two, the old antique car that had been parked for more than 40 years finally succeeded in roaring the engine after several times of breathing like a terminal tuberculosis patient!

Wei Ran, who was sprayed with exhaust fumes, squinted his eyes and fanned his palms, and at the same time took a step back, Eric beside him also showed a rare smile.

"Okay, don't waste time, let's go to the pier now."

Wei Ran threw away the crank handle in his hand, beckoning Eric to quickly help install everything like the engine cover.

"Victor, you are really amazing!" Eric shouted excitedly amidst the roar of the engine, "Maybe you should go to the Department of Mechanical Engineering."

"I'll go and read Lan Xiang." Wei Ran muttered in Chinese that the other party couldn't understand.

"What did you say?" Eric, who helped install the cargo seat cushion, looked at Wei Ran in confusion.

"It's nothing, I praise you for your vision."

Wei Ran didn't bother to explain to the other party, he closed the engine cover with a bang, and signaled the other party to stand farther away, then stepped into the driving seat of the half-track, fumbled and pushed the gear lever forward to the reverse position, gently twisted the accelerator, and operated Watching this old antique break free from the solid ice that froze its tracks, it slowly drove out of the cave amidst the roar of the engine.

After Eric put the extinguished gasoline stove and the stainless steel pot that had just been cleaned with snow on the cargo bed and sat down, he put on the forward gear and drove the half-track car carefully down the gentle slope. .

Compared with the pain when walking up the mountain, the process of going down the mountain is extremely thrilling and exciting.Even with the help of the track, but because of the thick snow and the high center of gravity of the car itself, as well as slipping from time to time, they have the illusion of falling directly down the mountain at any time.

After finally returning to the foot of the mountain, Wei Ran tied the sleigh they had dragged so hard to the tow hook at the rear of the car with a rope.

"Wrap this up"

Eric handed Wei Ran the polar bear skin blanket left by Leo. This nearly three-meter-long bear skin weighs more than 30 kilograms, but it is extraordinarily warm.

Wei Ran didn't refuse the other party's kindness, wrapped his body in heavy bear skin, and waited for the other party to also lie on the sleigh half wrapped in reindeer skin and waved his hand, then immediately turned the accelerator again and drove to the westernmost end of the island.

The straight-line distance was 20 kilometers, and it took the two of them nearly two hours to arrive. However, what was waiting for them at this simple pier was not the fishing boat they expected, nor the Leo that Eric was eager to find. , there is only one sleigh cart that was almost buried in ice and snow, and the carcasses of two reindeer!

Stopping the half-track motorcycle, Wei Ran and Eric, who had already jumped off the sled, looked at each other, and walked towards the sleigh in unison.

Roughly scraping the snow off the sleigh, Eric picked up a blood-stained crank radio and said, "This is Professor Jonas's radio. It was a birthday present from his daughter. This thing was left here."

"His hiking bag is also missing"

Wei Ran frowned and walked towards the corpses of the two reindeer. There was a clear bullet hole in the position of their shoulder blades.And under the neck of one of the reindeer carcasses, there was still a blood-stained hat and a pair of skis.

There is no doubt that this pair of skis was used when Leo chased Professor Jonas, and in that hat, there was a blood-stained 1911 pistol and a telescope that was also burning with blood.

Eric looked at the pair of skis, and then moved his eyes to the pistol, "It seems to belong to that captain?"

Wei Ran picked up the 1911 pistol and looked at it. Frozen blood remained on the muzzle of the pistol. On the bone patch of the pistol grip, there was also a word that Wei Ran could not understand.

"Martin Flo"

Eric took a look at the pistol and said with certainty, "This is indeed the captain's pistol. I know his name. Leo has often told me that he and Captain Martin smuggled caviar from the Soviet Union. .But."

Wei Ran frowned and did not speak. Judging from the situation in front of him, no matter whether it is Professor Jonas or the tall and fat Captain Martin, they have all encountered accidents, and even the fishing boat may have been fired. gone.And all these suspicions seem to point to Leo who still hasn't appeared.

"It won't be Leo's, he will never do such a thing."

Eric sat next to the carcass of the reindeer as if nervous, holding the pair of skis and muttering to himself, "He will never shoot his best friend, let alone leave me here , he is not that kind of person!"

Wei Ran took the pistol in the opponent's hand calmly, withdrew the magazine and pressed the top bullet, then gently pulled the slide, and grabbed the bullet that was ejected by the extraction hook. , but already had a rough guess in his heart.

The owner of this pistol had pulled the trigger before putting it down. If it was Captain Martin, it is unlikely that he would leave the fishing boat and come to the pier to exchange fire with Leo.

On the other hand, if the exchange of fire took place on a fishing boat, these things, especially the completely unreasonable telescope, would not appear here at all, and even this pistol, which looks much more refined in workmanship, would not will be dropped here.

He clearly remembered that in order to open the iron gate of the cave in the valley, he and Leo both emptied the bullets of their pistols.In other words, if it was Leo who did all this, even if he didn't want the pistol, he would at least take the magazine with him.

With all these things, it can almost be concluded that what they are seeing now is just what the survivors want them to see.As for the truth, I am afraid that Leo has already encountered misfortune.

But looking at Eric next to him, Wei Ran hesitated for a long time, and finally did not express his guess. Perhaps for Eric who was at a loss at this time, his cousin Leo was probably dead. The blow of the truth is far greater than the fact that Leo probably killed everyone.

(End of this chapter)