War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 493 Two Choices Offered by Kantan
Outside the bear cave, Kang Tan and Gail were busy skinning the dead brown bear, while inside the cave entrance, Wei Ran had already taken out the food box in the metal book under the cover of his cloak.Fortunately, the seasonings that were put in the food box in advance this time are not short of catties.

He quickly took out a small piece of ginger and a few red dried peppers from inside. After putting away the food box, Wei Ran put the things he had just taken out into his pocket, and then hung the flashlight on the already collapsed ceiling above his head. On the beam.

With the little light, he cleared a small area in the corner of the wall, then got up and went outside, took out a steel helmet from the cargo box, filled a lunch box with snow, and found A box of matches, and then drilled in again.

Using local materials, he added some branches that were used as bedding by brown bears and threw them into the steel helmet and lit them. After Wei Ran put the lunch box into the fire, he stuck his head out of the hole and said, "Gail, give me some bear meat, don't be too angry." Much, a small piece is enough."

"Immediately!" Gail had already cut off a piece of bright red bear meat and handed it to Wei Ran before he could finish his sentence.

After receiving the bear meat, Wei Ran took out the Mauser bayonet in the metal book, took the lid of the lunch box as a chopping board, cut the bear meat into shreds, threw all the minced ginger and dried chili into the lunch box and fastened it cover.

Continuing to add some pine branches to the helmet, Wei Ran had time to carefully look at the surrounding environment with the light of the fire and the flashlight.

From the outside, you can’t see it covered with snow, but you can see it clearly inside. This abandoned house seems to have experienced a fire. The collapsed building debris is less than one meter high on both sides, and the length Less than two meters, on the stone wall at an angle of 90 degrees, in this way, it just formed a triangular space, although not big, but enough for the brown bear to hibernate.

But if the four of them are squeezed into this space, Wei Ran shakes his head helplessly. I'm afraid they can only accommodate them if they all squat down.

He pulled some dry branches and threw them into the burning helmet. Wei Ran could not help squinting his eyes due to the choking smoke, but at the same time, the heat released by the flames licking the lunch box was still He couldn't help but put his hands together.

Afraid of igniting the surrounding dry branches and cremating Dorian in a coma, Wei Ran didn't go out to help, but took the time to get the seized water bottle. After tearing off the outer insulation cover, he filled it with snow and leaned against the helmet on the side.

Almost as soon as he took out the cooked broth, Kantan and Gail outside the cave also finished their work, and the two of them worked hard to get in with a bloody bearskin in their hands.

"Let's spread it underneath," Kang Tan said tremblingly, "it's at least more comfortable."

“Come and enjoy the fire”

Wei Ran quickly stepped aside, helped Gail spread the bear skin underneath, and then lifted Dorian up, who had regained some consciousness.

"You take care of Dorian, I'll bury the bear meat." Gail didn't seem to want to stop for a moment, "Otherwise, maybe the wolves will be attracted."

"I'll go"

Wei Ran stopped the other party, "The broth in the lunch box is ready, give Dorian some while it's hot. Remember to let him eat all the ginger and pepper in it. Besides, aren't you an apprentice chef? So how about getting us something to eat?"

"Alright then." Gail finally nodded and agreed.

Seeing this, Wei Ran followed him out of the cave, helped the other party take some potatoes and onions from the trailer, and sent them into the bear cave together with the metal box containing potato wine, cigarettes, coarse salt, etc. Another piece of fat and thin bear meat was cut off and handed to Gail who was already busy.

Looking up at the heavy snow that was still falling, Wei Ran brandished a shovel and covered the skinned brown bear with snow.Then the two sledges were pushed near the mouth of the hole, and with the help of them and the snow everywhere they built a windbreak.

By the time he finished his work and went into the hole, Dorian had already woken up. He was sitting side by side with Kang Tan on the bearskin, leaning against the wall and drinking the broth cooked by Wei Ran.

Gail, meanwhile, was using another lunch box to cook a small pot of bear broth with onions and potatoes.

I have to admit that although the ingredients are simple and rough, the scent that permeates from that lunch box is strong enough—even if this scent is mixed with the unique smell of the bear den.

"Dorian, do you feel better?" Wei Ran sat down on the side of the cave and asked.

"It's much better." Dorian replied drowsily, with an obvious sense of powerlessness in his tone.

"Where's Uncle Kang Tan?" Wei Ran continued to ask.

"I feel better too"

Kang Tan smiled, and then said, "Since Victor has also come in, it's time for us to discuss what to do next."

"I'm going to get Quentin back," Gail said first.

"Gail!"

Kang Tan's voice became a little more serious, "You have to think clearly, Quentin didn't lure the Germans away to make you do stupid things."

"But."

"Unless you're sure enough"

Kang Tan looked at Gale seriously, "Are you sure enough to find Quentin? Even if you can find him, are you sure enough to save him? In the end, where do you take him after you save him? Are you sure you can get rid of those Germans?"

"I"

Gale struggled for a long time, and finally shook his head, "I'm not sure."

"Since you don't have one, cherish the chance to live."

Seeing that Gail stopped talking, Kang Tan gently rubbed the Budyonny winter hat on Dorian's head and continued, "We have two options. The first one is to continue walking after the blizzard stops and find a way Bypassing the Germans to go to the Soviet Union, but whether we can go to the Soviet Union, whether we can make it to the Soviet Union alive, and whether the Soviet Union will accept us are unknown."

"What about the second option?" Dorian asked weakly.

"The second option, we stay temporarily."

Kang Tan pointed to the top of his head, "At least here is enough to block the blizzard, at least the bear outside is enough for us to eat for a long time. Taking advantage of this time, let's adjust our bodies first, and even find a way to repair that half-track motorcycle. Wait until the weather is warmer Now, we'll decide where to go."

"I'll stay," Gail said first, "Maybe Quentin will find us."

"What about you?" Kang Tan looked at Wei Ran.

"I don't care." Wei Ran spread his hands, "as long as I don't send me into the hands of the Germans."

"Me too," Dorian weakly echoed, "I think the same as Victor."

Kang Tan nodded, "In that case, we will stay here for now."

"But how long can this bear cave keep us going?" Gail frowned and asked, "Maybe when the snow gets heavier, this place will be crushed."

As if in response to Gail's guess, before he finished speaking, there was an overwhelmed creaking sound above his head.

"It seems that we need to simply strengthen this place." Kang Tan frowned and said, "At least we need to clear the snow on it."

"Maybe we can also clean up these branches." Gail pressed the bear skin under his buttocks. "Not only will the space be larger, but at least we don't have to worry about being ignited by the campfire."

"Before that, I think it's better to rest first."

Wei Ran declined the second skewer of barbecue offered by Gail, then got up and walked outside the cave, "I'll go and clear the snow outside first, so as not to be buried alive."

"I'll go with you." Gail added some branches to the helmet, and followed Wei Ran out.

Each took a shovel, and Gail asked in a low voice while clearing the thick snow above his head, "Victor, how about doing me a favor when you have enough rest?"

"What's the matter?" Wei Ran asked indifferently.

"Help me fix that half-track motorcycle," Gail said in a low voice. "Without that car, even if spring comes, we won't be able to get to the Soviet Union at all."

"Then we must first ensure that we will not be buried alive." Wei Ran paused, "Of course, I will do my best to help you repair that half-track motorcycle together."

"Thank you!" Gail immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and asked while clearing the snow, "I see that you are very skilled in dismantling that car, Victor, you must be able to repair the car?"

"I can't guarantee that"

Wei Ran replied ambiguously, "And even if I can repair the car, it doesn't mean that I can solve all the problems. And Gail, the problem with that car is not your fault."

"Thank you," Gail responded as if talking to himself, and worked harder to clear the thick snow.

After a lot of work, the two cleared off a thick layer of snow above their heads, and then they got back into the hole exhausted.

At this time, the snowfall outside still did not stop, but Dorian inside had already fallen asleep.On the contrary, Kang Tan was staring at the bonfire still burning in the helmet, thinking about something.

Seeing Wei Ran and Gail come in, Kang Tan pointed to the lunch box next to the helmet, "Eat something, and then you guys take a break, I'll stare outside."

　Continue to add more debt.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)