Abyss Express

The train stopped at a temporary station.

Calculated according to the geographical location of the mundane world, there are still more than 60 kilometers away from the border of the Ryukyu Islands. Looking along the railway to the jagged rock caves in the distance, it has already come to an end.

The train can't go in, you need to explore on foot.

At this moment, Meteor finally realized that he was doing something big, and senior passengers (VIPs) in the railway system would set foot in this deserted Jedi.

This temporary site is the stronghold built by the attacking team for this mission. The braves who go to explore the unknown land need logistical supplies, food to replenish their physical strength, and warm shelters. The train will travel to and from the temporary site according to the period of the VIP exploration mission, bringing supplies to Meteor and Ping An.

Once the two passengers were in danger, this train became the lifeline of Meteor, and was responsible for immediately dispatching the waiters and subsequent reinforcements to the [front line]—the soldiers of the assault team called this kind of place the [front line].

At this time, Mr. Pingan crossed the meteor and greeted the leader of the attack team in the frontline stronghold.

Meteor looked east and west, going back and forth between the upper and lower floors of this wooden building.

The large terrace on the second floor has the instruments of the exploration team, and the level surveyor and telescope are on the highest point. A dozen or so headlights were lying on the ground in all directions. They had completed their initial tasks and were thrown aside by the soldiers in the team.

On the first floor near the railway tracks, there were a few soldiers squatting and smoking together. When they saw the shooting star coming, they immediately saluted and greeted them. They seemed to have heard the legend of [Crying General] in Wumingshi.

It's not easy for Meteor to strike up a conversation, because these soldiers seem to be quite scared——

——He smelled of Ah Hei, and that big wolf was the child of a green gold wolf mother. Ordinary people would tremble involuntarily when they smelled this strong pheromone.

"Bu Meteor!" Brother Pingan yelled, "Come in and meet the messenger of the assault team, brother, I have something to say!"

From the small platform to the direction of the kitchen, there is a large iron door that opens to the right in front of the restaurant, and the curtain of the waterproof canvas is opened, which is the command room of the assault team.

As soon as Ah Xing entered the door, he saw a legion emblem hanging on the wall. There were two pale green moon symbols on the banner, which looked very much like the two eyes of the boss.

The correspondent shouted: "Is it a soldier of the unknown! Mr. Bu Meteor?!"

Ah Xing responded immediately: "It's me!"

The three gathered at the conference table. The correspondent looked very young, also in his mid-twenties, with short chestnut hair. He handed over his non-commissioned officer certificate with Ah Xing and exchanged ID cards. His name was Marco Laifu—— Born in the United States, grew up in Oklahoma. Both parents are railway people, and they only knew their parents' real jobs when they grew up. This kid has no idea of ​​lying flat in the mundane world, so he resolutely joined Guangling Zhixi.

Marco: "Two distinguished guests, I want to explain to you the situation of the frontline strongholds."

A tactical topographic map and a geological map are listed on the big table.

"There is a lot of food in the storage warehouse, which can keep the advance unit in combat at the stronghold for more than a month. We don't lack water. As long as you can return to the stronghold, you don't need to worry about survival."

"Look here, both of you—"

Marko pointed to the geological topographic map with his left hand and the tactical topographic map with his right hand, both at the same location.

"These collapsed caves and broken cliffs can no longer be walked. Originally, there were seven roads to the Ryukyu Islands and the hollow land headed by Shinto City. Fifty years ago, we could transfer trains and transfer stations, and there were more than ten tickets. You can customize your own travel itinerary, visit the underground Nara, and go to this super scientific research center for a relaxing vacation, but now there is only this way.”

The place Marko pointed to was the first stop of this exploration mission.

"I call it Howling Ridge." Marco switched to Chinese to communicate with Meteor and Pingan, "Unlike other roads, it is not a tunnel, and there are not many bridges. When the movement of the Pacific Rim plate produces earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters, this The two lines are least affected. But there are a few points to be aware of.”

Having said that, the correspondent brought two walkie-talkies and a FOB multifunctional terminal.

"Going to this cavity, there is a 16-kilometer safe road. This is the place that the exploration team has already found out. The entire railway was torn apart by the angry earth, and the communication room along the way was also destroyed. We repaired it. Some, but there is no signal in the depths—two distinguished guests, you must be mentally prepared that you will not be able to get through the phone."

Mr. Ping An nodded.

There was a ripple in Meteor's heart, and a long-lost sense of crisis emerged——

——Stayed in the secret library and Galahad's schoolhouse for too long, it feels great to be back in the wild.

The correspondent brought two large boxes from under the table, and continued to explain to the distinguished guests.

"We have pyrane suits for extreme environments and anti-radiation suits. Please don't go too far for the first exploration. If the frontline stronghold does not hear your response, we will dispatch a medical search and rescue team to search for it within three hours. you."

"Then it is an agreement that if the two distinguished guests find a high-value target in an unknown plot and need to explore in depth, they must first return to the railway line and contact us by radio. At the same time, we will prepare all-terrain off-road vehicles and send an exploration team to respond. You—at this time, you can move freely for sixteen hours, maintain a high degree of concentration to deal with various dangers in the unknown land, and our radio station will always listen silently, unless the VIP cancels the agreement."

"The last is the road guide."

The correspondent took out two bottles from the clothing box, which contained fluorite, and he took out one, explaining to Meteor and Ping An.

"At least one beacon must be dropped every three hundred meters. This kind of fluorite has a weak spiritual response, which can help the brothers of the assault team find the right path—that's all I want to say."

Marco opened his arms to embrace the two VIPs, the young man was very excited.

"It's good to be back in this borderlands, comrades. Especially you, Mr. Bubbler."

The little brother took the legion battle emblem on MOLLE's Velcro, and handed over two sets of survival suits to keep out the cold to Meteor.

"You have been silent for two years and eight months. The last time I saw your news, it was still in the tofu block of the newspaper. Mr. Meteor, you don't know how much we little people who grew up with you and fought together like you like you !"

Bu Meteor scratched the back of his head with embarrassment.

Marko was full of joy, and said with a smile: "Guangling Zhixi Attack Team, Frost Moon Knights Correspondent - Marco Laifu salutes you! Anonymous soldier, you look thinner now, and you are not as energetic as in the combat record , I will still wait for your good news at the stronghold, go and rewrite your legend!"

When Liu Xing and Ping An walked back to the platform, Liu Xing was still a little uncomfortable. This good brother on the front line was too enthusiastic.

A big wolf squeezed out from the opposite door of the dining room. Brother Hei squeezed his legs and managed to get out. It had all the saddlery and backpack on it. He hung up all the equipment he had just brought, put on his clothes, shoes and pants, and set off. it's time.

Just like that, the two and one wolf, away from the smoke of the stronghold, followed the railway to an unknown area.

Meteor and Ping An didn't speak during the journey——

— because we've talked enough during the seven-hour drive in the car.

They wore protective helmets, and the weak light source of the survival lamp flickered from time to time, other than that there was regular and soothing breathing.

Every one or two hundred meters, you can see the traces of activities left by the exploration team on the side of the road, or cigarette butts, or temporary shacks. Now these shacks have been abandoned, leaving only a street lamp to guide the way.

They walked for a full six hours, and finally crossed the 60-kilometer journey to the last abandoned signal base station.

Earlier, Mr. Pingan and the person in charge stationed at the stronghold agreed to explore the unknown area, and then he took the meteor and continued to move forward.

Big Wolf followed Ah Xing to an open field, where there was devastation everywhere.

The turbulent mountain wind blows from the vast black cavity, and some naturally luminescent heavy metal minerals with weak radiation can be seen in the extreme distance. The scattered reddish-brown light sources show the difference in terrain.

The way they came was located in the middle and lower part of the Panshan Railway. Now they have to start from the last base station, from the southwest side of Howling Ridge, and enter a tunnel cave with a length of several hundred meters. , Climb the cliff, that's too risky - and it's still a question whether Brother Hei can climb it.

The originally neat railway is now in disarray. Affected by geological movements, the broken rails have been weathered for decades, and the original line characteristics can no longer be found. We can only rely on the traces of the subgrade of the natural settlement of the railway to find the way.

Ping An walked in front, and Meteor followed behind. In the dark environment, he held Brother Hei's chin hair with one hand, and looked at the tunnel entrance that was getting closer.

Mr. Ping An: "That's it."

This tunnel dug through the rocky mountain of Howling Wind Ridge. According to the description of the geological topography map, walking 600 meters ahead, you will officially come to the jurisdiction of Shendao City. After that, the land of 378,000 square kilometers , all belong to Shinto City—there are sixteen large cities and small towns in the surrounding area, and there are countless villages and settlements.

The radio could no longer receive a signal, and the two of them stuffed the extra communication supplies back into Brother Hei's baggage.

The entrance and exit of this tunnel showed signs of cracking, like the deepest cracks in the concrete rock platform and the mountain almost spreading to the edge of the cave wall. The moment he entered the cave, Meteor felt the turbulent wind blowing in front of him.

Meteor: "Brother Ping An! There is wind! The tunnel is open!"

Ping An: "Not necessarily, there is too much dust in the air, little brother, you must follow behind me, don't run around and fumble around."

Saying so, the VIP took out a bottle of ink from his carrying bag and spread it evenly on the boots.

"Your feet are bigger than mine, step on my footsteps and move forward."

Meteor wondered: "Why?"

Going forward along the platforms on both sides of the tunnel, the reinforced concrete poured inside the shield machine was solid and reliable without many cracks, and the environment is much better than the external roads.

At this moment, Ping An explained cautiously.

"If the strong wind in the tunnel carries mud and dust, it means that there are new gravels and drastic structural changes. If this wind has been blowing for more than 40 years, it should have blown away the dust on both sides of the mountain."

Meteor just nodded, following the footprints according to what Mr. Ping An said, and the same is true for the big wolf behind. Open those tiny cracks that look dangerous and suspicious.

Minutes passed—

——In the middle of the tunnel, Taoist Pingan stopped on the side of the road, shining a flashlight on the rock wall.

This is an exposed hole. The original concrete structure of the tunnel has been crushed by the strange force of nature. There is an extra hole on the arc-shaped wall. It is dark inside and nothing can be seen. The flashlight shines in. There are only many tiny flying insects and dust rushing towards the way they came with the strong wind.

Ping An: "Wait a minute."

Meteor: "What's wrong?"

Pingan raised his head and observed the cave carefully, his brows were furrowed like he was facing an enemy.

Meteor looked over, and in the deep and dark cave, there seemed to be inexplicable and strange sounds, as if a strong wind was blowing through the deep cave, like a flute or a long flute, making a howl of [woooo——] .

But this irregular cave is too big, it is almost five meters high, and the sound coming out is also very low, as if many people are crying and whispering.

The flashlight followed the cave and shone to the other side.

Meteor and Pingan used to walk along the right side of the tunnel. The road in the middle was composed of four rails. Now the rails are rotten and the road foundation is broken. On the other side is a relatively regular walkway, but there are also many cracks.

The part of the road facing this hole has become riddled with holes under the light of the flashlight, and Meteor's scalp felt numb at first glance—he was almost sluggishly standing there, and it was difficult to describe the landscape on the concrete wall.

On this wall, which is no more than six meters wide and high, there are thousands of pits of different sizes. They have been eroded by time, the moisture brought by groundwater, and the strong wind in the tunnel have corroded these small pits and modified them into relative Regular semicircle.

The basalt rock wall outside the concrete is exposed, and the overall look looks like a wall that has been hit by thousands of meteorites.

"What's the situation? Is it a spiritual disaster?" Meteor couldn't imagine, and he couldn't figure out what disaster happened to the wall, and how did the cave on the right side of the road come about? All this needs an explanation.

"Some monster has dug a tunnel out of this cave?"

"Brother Ping An, is it still active?"

"Did it bring in the dust in the air?"

"Don't worry." Luo Pingan didn't look back, and patiently explained: "It's not a living thing. If it was a living thing, Brother Wolf would have already smelled it—it will remind us."

If you want to move on, you must pass through the cave that is more than six meters wide.

Mr. Ping'an squatted down, followed the probe of the strong flashlight, and looked into the crack beside the hole.

Ah Xing was also curious, and looked over with Daoist Pingan——

——The ruler became a cane, and after a while, he tapped and knocked a few pieces of rock from the crack.

Immediately afterwards, Ah Xing smelled a strong fishy smell!

"It smells like blood! Brother Ping An! Why does it smell like blood!"

Luo Pingan stepped aside, hugged Ah Xing's shoulder, came to the front of the crack, and pointed to the veins of the muscles inside.

"It's not blood, it's the smell of iron ore."

Looking from the cracks to the depths of the cave, there are patches of red iron oxide sand ore. Under the strong light of the flashlight, I can quickly see the whole picture of the pit mouth of the iron sand. It leads to the outside world, only about twenty meters deep.

Meteor whispered—

"—how did this hole come about? Did an earthquake shake out such a mine?"

Before the words fell, Ah Xing only felt a splitting headache.

That voice came again! Also accompanied by a strong inspiration pressure!

Iron-rich sand ore generally has strong geomagnetism, as the research institute of the secret library once said-spiritual energy is the bioelectricity burst out from the iron-nickel core of the mother earth.

In the next second, Mr. Ping An violently pulled Ah Xing away, and led him away from the strange hole.

Hearing a loud noise, Brother Big Wolf Hei was so frightened that he backed up again and again, and a violent jet of rock burst out from the cave!

The fine sand and stones were like cannonballs, hitting the wall on the other side of the road, leaving a new layer of scars full of holes, and the echoes from the explosion almost deafened the meteor's ears!

The whole tunnel trembled for a while, and then returned to calm.

Meteor was sweating all over his head, grabbed Brother Pingan's clothes, and he didn't heal after waiting for a long time.

"I heard someone talking! Brother Pingan! Did you hear that? The rock exploded just now! Someone is still talking!"

Rockbursts are a natural phenomenon.

This natural disaster can be encountered when working in mines or digging tunnels.

It is the special internal stress generated inside the huge mountain. Rocks and metal minerals of different hardness are deformed under tens of millions of tons of pressure, accumulating huge kinetic energy, and finally burst out from the rock wall of the cave.

Luo Ping'an walked so carefully all the way because he was guarding against rockbursts.

The site has been in disrepair, with no human activity, and no signs of plant or animal growth.

The dust in the air is most likely the trace left by the rockburst phenomenon. Like this small hematite pit, it should be produced by geological activities in the main vein of Howling Ridge. The huge internal stress makes the mountain collapse every time. Spit out iron flow stone sand.

The scars on the other side of the tunnel are the marks of these terrible flying stones.

This is a natural phenomenon, not surprising. But Luo Ping'an did hear what Meteor said [talking].

Follow the roar of the ancient mountains, accompanied by countless deep calls.

The sound came and went, echoing in the earth-shattering rockburst, as if all the ghosts and ghosts gathered together, telling the world of sorrow and resentment, expressing anger and sadness.

Ping An: "I heard that too."

Meteor: "You heard that too, right!?"

Brother Hei: "Woooo!"

Meteor: "Brother Hei, did you hear that too?!"

Luo Pingan took out two pens and asked Meteor to write down the call silently, without letting the other party see it in advance—in many cases, the illusion brought to people by inexplicable inspiration pressure is not the same.

If what they hear is the same sentence, the same meaning, and the same language, it is indeed not an illusion.

[帰る·Kaeru]

The translated meaning is [go back].