King Solomon's Treasure

Chapter 32 Reunion

What follows is one of the most incredible events of this bizarre journey.We can't help but sigh, no coincidence makes a book.

I walked quietly ahead along the creek.The creek flows through the oasis before finally disappearing into the arid desert.Suddenly I stopped and rubbed my eyes, unable to believe what I saw.Not twenty yards ahead, a fascinating sight appeared.Under the shade of the fig tree, facing the stream, there is a hut made of thatch and rattan. Door.The cottage looks cozy and comfortable.

"What the hell is this place?" I said to myself suspiciously, "How can there be a house here?" Just as I was speaking, the door opened, and a white man limped out from the inside, dressed in animal skins. , with a bushy black beard.I figured I must be suffering from heat stroke.how can that be?No hunter would come to such a place, let alone live here.I stared at him, and he stared at me in surprise.At this moment Sir Henry and Goode followed.

"Look, fellas," I said, "is there a white man here? Or am I blind?"

Sir Henry and Goode looked at him.Suddenly the bearded, crippled white man staggered towards us with an exclamation.When he was almost in front of him, he fell to the ground and passed out.

Sir Henry ran up to him in a few steps.

"My God," he cried, "this is my brother George!"

Hearing the noise outside, another man in animal skin came out of the house, with a gun in his hand, and ran towards us.Seeing me, he also cried out, "Maku Mazahn, don't you know me, boss? I'm Jim the Hunter. I lost your letter to the master, and we'll be here soon." It's been two years." After speaking, he threw himself at my feet, weeping with joy.

"You careless fool," I said, "you deserve a good beating."

At this time, the unconscious white man woke up.He stood up, clasped hands with Sir Henry, and was too excited to say a word.No matter what they had quarreled about in the past, they had forgotten it all by now.Although I didn't ask, I guess it was for women.

"My dear brother," said Sir Henry at last, "I thought you were dead. I crossed Solomon to find you, and now I found you in the desert. You live in the desert like a vulture. "

"Two years ago, I wanted to climb Mount Solomon too," George said intermittently, perhaps because he seldom spoke, "but when I was walking there, a big rock broke my leg and I couldn't continue climbing. , and can’t go back.”

I went up and said, "How are you, Mr. Neville? Do you remember me?"

"Ah," said he, "isn't that Quitman? Well, is there Good? Wait, I'm feeling dizzy again. So many unexpected things happening at once for a desperate man, Really happy."

That evening we sat around the fire and listened to George Curtis tell his story.Like us, he has also experienced countless difficulties and obstacles.I'll make a long story short.

More than two years ago, George set out from the village of Standa, intending to go to Sulimen Mountain.As for the note I asked Jim to give him, Jim lost it, and he never heard of it until today.However, according to the information provided by the locals, he did not go to the Queen of Sheba's Twin Breasts, but to the path we just walked.Obviously this road is much easier to walk than the route marked on the map by old Darth West.He and Jim struggled through the desert and finally came to this oasis.Unexpectedly, George Curtis suffered a terrible accident.On the day they arrived at the oasis, he sat resting by the stream while Jim gathered honey from the hive of a stingless bee.The hive is just above George.Jim accidentally kicked off a big rock and hit George's right leg, seriously injured.Since then, George dragged a lame leg, unable to go forward, and unable to go back, so he had to stay in the oasis, which was better than dying of thirst in the desert.

But they don't have to worry about food.They carried enough ammunition with them.And many animals often come to the oasis to drink water, especially at night.They either shoot or dig traps, and they always return with full rewards.Meat was used for food, and when their clothes were worn out, they wore animal skins.

Finally he said: "We've lived here for over two years. Like Robinson and his servant Friday. We've been expecting some natives to come here and take us out. But no one ever comes Last night, we had a discussion, and Jim planned to leave tomorrow to go to Standa village for help. But I don't have any hope that he will come back safely. I thought you had already forgotten me and lived comfortably in England. Unexpectedly You took the risk to come to me. My God, that's unbelievable, you've been so kind to me."

Then Sir Henry related to him late into the night all the dangers we had met on the way.

When I showed him the diamond, he exclaimed, "My God! At least you all worked so hard along the way, unlike me, who got nothing."

Sir Henry smiled: "The diamond belongs to Quitman and Goode. We agreed at the beginning that the treasure they got this time will be divided equally between the two of them."

What he said got me thinking.After discussing with Goode, I told Sir Henry that both Goode and I felt that he should have his share of the diamond.If he insists on not wanting it, pass it on to George.In order to find the treasure, George has suffered more and paid a greater price than us.After our repeated persuasion, Sir Henry finally agreed.But we didn't tell George about it until later.

At this point, I think the story should end.We crossed the desert and returned to the village of Stendah, which was difficult, especially when we had to take care of George Curtis, who had a bad leg injury.Fortunately, we have finally overcome all difficulties.Because the experience along the way is very similar to when I went there, I will not repeat it.

After six months, we finally returned to Standa Village.The firearms and other items in the deposit are intact.Seeing that we came back safely, the old villain who kept the items for us was unhappy, and reluctantly returned the items to us one by one.I'm back home near Durban, and I'm sitting here writing.Then I said good-bye to my companions who had been with me on this long and strange journey.

As I write the last word, a Xhosa man walks through my orange orchard and brings me a letter from the post office.It is a letter from Sir Henry.The original text is reproduced below.

Dear Quitman:

I, George and Goode have returned safely to England.We headed back into town after disembarking in Southampton.You should have seen how good Good was the next day: clean-shaven, smartly dressed, and brand-new glasses.I went for a walk with him in the park, and I happened to meet some acquaintances, and I immediately started talking to them about Goode's "beautiful white legs."

Good was greatly annoyed when it was published in the newspapers by some evil-minded person.

Closer to home.Goode and I took the diamond to Stutz Jewelers for an appraisal.I dare not tell you, that is simply astronomical.They said it was an approximate estimate because they had never seen so many diamonds on the market.With the exception of one or two largest diamonds, the clarity and finish of these diamonds are among the best, and compare favorably with the best Brazilian diamonds.I asked them if they were willing to buy, but they said they did not have the ability and suggested that we sell them in batches to avoid market turmoil.They are willing to shell out £18 for a fraction, though.

Quitman, you have to come back.If you insist on giving a third of the diamonds to my brother George, you will have to come back and deal with these matters, because the diamonds do not belong to me, and I have no right to do so.Good's situation is not good now, and he spends a lot of time on shaving and dressing up every day.I think he still has Fratta on his mind.He said that after returning this time, he did not see a woman who could match her, no matter in figure or sweet smile.

Old friend, I would love for you to come back and buy a house around here.You have worked hard for most of your life, now that you have money, it is time to enjoy life.There just happened to be a house for sale nearby, I went to check it out, it would be perfect for you.Come on, the sooner the better.You can continue writing the story of this adventure while on board.We don't tell people about it until you're done, lest people think we're lying.If you start as soon as you see the letter, you can arrive before Christmas.I will definitely treat you well and spend Christmas with you.Goode and George will be there too.By the way, your son Harry will be there too.I know he is the person you care about the most.I took him hunting for a week.I really like him.The kid was a novice, and he shot me in the leg, but he got the bullet out quickly, and said that's what it's like to take a med student with you on a hunt.

Goodbye, old friend, let's write here first.I know you will come, just treat it as if I owe you a favor.

Best friend
Henry Curtis

Also: the ivory of the elephant that killed poor Kiva now hangs in my living room with the pair of buffalo horns you gave me, looking great.The ax with which I had beheaded Tewala hung over the desk.If only he had taken the chain mail away in the first place.

Today is Tuesday.There will be a steamer bound for England on Friday.I think I should really listen to Curtis and take the boat back to England.I want to see my son Harry in person, and I have to deal with the publication of this book, which I don't feel comfortable leaving to someone else.

(End of this chapter)