In the cave, which can be said to be ventilated from all sides, Wei Ran finally decided to suppress the doubts in his heart for the time being and carefully inspect the half-track motorcycle before Eric came back.
Thanks to the fact that Professor Alexei once took over a job of investigating the same car in service with the troops, he is no stranger to this weird car like the "Sphinx".
Fumbling to open the cover behind the half-track motorcycle's seat and the cover on the rear half, Wei Ran's face became more and more surprised. The car was in pretty good condition, although the battery Obviously there is no way to provide starting power.
But this is not a big deal. Although this car can be started electrically, it can also be started like a tractor by pushing a large key through the chrysanthemum at the rear of the car, which is just a little more troublesome.
I roughly checked the tightness of the few transmission belts, and took out the oil dipstick to take a look. Although there is organic oil in it, it is unknown whether it can be used after being stored for such a long time.
Seeing that Eric hadn't come back yet, Wei Ran simply drained all the lubricating oil in the car and replaced it with spark plugs found in the tool box that came with the car.
After he finished his work, Eric came back panting with a gasoline stove in one hand, an oil drum in the other, and a small stainless steel pot on his head.
"Thank you for your hard work"
Seeing the other party's embarrassed appearance, Wei Ran quickly went over to help remove the small pot on the other party's head.
"What to do next?" Eric put down what he was holding and sat down on the cushion that Weiran had just removed.
"Thank you for your hard work, first use the gasoline stove to boil a pot of boiling water."
While speaking, Wei Ran had already unscrewed the oil filling port of the gasoline stove and filled it with gasoline. Pour it all into the fuel tank of the half-track motorcycle, and then unpack the 40-year-old barrel of gasoline that was just removed from the car and pour it into the gasoline stove.
It is easy to cause problems when using this expired gasoline on this half-track motorcycle, but it is no problem when used as fuel. In the same way, it is a pity that the fuel they originally brought in the gasoline stove was only used to boil water. It would be better to use it for the car.
“Are you sure this ugly thing can still start?” Eric picked up the stainless steel pot as if resigned to his fate, randomly filled a pot of snow outside the cave, and then began to refill the gasoline stove. pressure.
"Can you start it and put it aside? It's definitely not ugly."
While Weiran responded, he had already inserted the starting crank handle through the hole in the tail of the half-track motorcycle. Go in, shake slowly, and observe the spark plug ignition.
Eric responded anxiously, "It doesn't really matter whether it's ugly or not, but we can't waste too much time here."
"It won't waste too much. "It's time." Wei Ran stopped what he was doing, "The spark plug can ignite, and the car key is also there. We have a high chance of firing it."Get moving. ”
“I hope it’s like you said.” As Eric spoke, he also lit the burner of the gasoline stove.
The flames were sizzling. The snow in the small stainless steel pot melted quickly, and soon it started to boil.
Seeing this, Wei Ran and Eric quickly picked up the snowballs one by one and threw them into the pot. . Under their busyness, a pot of slightly hot water was quickly poured into the radiator tank.
"Shall we start it now?" "Eric asked impatiently.
"Don't worry"
Weiran put the stainless steel basin back on the gasoline stove to boil it dry, and then took the pot and the bucket just The newly opened engine oil ran outside the cave.
Pour all the thick engine oil into the pot, then added a small amount of expired gasoline to dilute it, and finally filled the pot with engine oil. The small stainless steel pot was heated slowly on the gasoline stove while stirring constantly.
It was estimated that the heat was almost done, and then with Eric's help, he lubricated the hot pot. The oil was poured into the car.
Although this slightly dangerous method allowed the expired lubricating oil to be used again, it did great harm to the car itself, but they just needed it now. It was just a 20-kilometer run, so the damage was negligible.
After filling up the lubricant, Weiran threw the greasy stainless steel pot to Eric and motioned for him to go outside. Brush it clean with snow
After finally getting familiar with the various switches and gear levers of this old antique, Wei Ran brought the only bucket they brought under Eric's curious gaze. Gasoline poured into the fuel tank port next to the driver's seat.
After waiting for a moment, Weiran locked the accelerator, signaled Eric to help pull the pressure relief valve, and then ran to the back of the car again. Shaking the starting handle vigorously
With the cooperation of the two people and their attempts again and again, this old antique that had been parked for more than 40 years gasped several times like a terminal tuberculosis patient. Finally, the engine roared successfully!
Wei Ran, who was sprayed with exhaust gas, squinted his eyes and moved his hands while taking a step back. Eric next to him also showed a rare smile.
p>"Okay, don't waste time, let's go to the dock now. "
Weiran threw away the crank in his hand and called Eric to quickly help put everything like the engine cover on.
"Victor, can you? How awesome! Eric, who was beaming with joy, shouted excitedly amidst the roar of the engine, "Maybe you should study in the Department of Mechanical Engineering." "
"I'll go study Lan Xiang," Wei Ran muttered in Chinese that the other party couldn't understand.
"What did you say? "Eric, who was helping to install the cargo seat cushion, looked at Weiran without knowing why.
"It's nothing. I praise you for your vision. ”
Weiran didn’t bother to explain to the other party, and clicked the engine cover with a bang.He signaled the other party to stand further away, then stepped into the driving position of the half-track, fumbled forward and pushed the gear lever to the reverse position, gently turned the accelerator, and manipulated the old antique to break free from the ice that had frozen the track. With the roar of the engine, they slowly drove out of the cave.
When Eric put the extinguished gasoline stove and the stainless steel pot that had just been wiped clean with snow into the cargo compartment and sat down, he then put the forward gear on and drove the half-track carefully. We drove down the gentle slope.
Compared with the pain of not being able to go up the mountain, the process of going down the mountain is extremely thrilling. Even with the help of tracks, the snow was too thick and slipping from time to time gave them 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 with a rope.
"Surround this"
Eric handed Wei Ran the polar bear skin blanket left by Leo. This nearly three-meter-long bear skin was 30 meters long. It weighs a lot, but is extremely warm.
Did not refuse the other party's kindness, Wei Ran wrapped his body in a heavy bear skin, and when the other party was half lying on the sleigh wrapped in reindeer skin and waved to him, he immediately turned the accelerator again and drove away. The westernmost point of the island.
It took the two of them nearly two hours to reach the 20-kilometer straight-line distance. However, what waited for them at this simple pier was not the fishing boat they expected, nor Eric. All Leo was eager to find was a sleigh that was almost buried in ice and snow, and the carcasses of two reindeer!
Stop the half-track motorcycle, Wei Ran and Eric, who had already jumped off the sled, looked at each other and walked towards the sled in unison.
After randomly removing the snow on the sleigh, Eric picked up a blood-stained hand-cranked radio and said, "This is Professor Jonas's radio, which was given to him by his daughter for his birthday." A gift, he would never leave this thing here."
"His hiking bag is also missing."
Wei Ran frowned and walked towards the carcasses of the two reindeer. There is a clear bullet hole on their shoulder blades. Under the neck of one of the reindeer corpses, there was a blood-stained hat and a pair of skis.
There is no doubt that this pair of skis was the one Leo used when he chased Professor Jonas. In the hat, there was a blood-stained 1911 pistol and a similarly burning Bloody telescope.
Eric looked at the pair of skis, and then moved his eyes to the pistol, "This... seems to be the captain's thing?"
Wei Ran I picked up the 1911 pistol and looked at it. There was still frozen blood on the muzzle. On the bone patch of the pistol grip, there was also a paragraph of words "Wei Ran" that I didn't understand engraved on it.
"Martin Flo"
Eric took the pistol, looked at it, 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 came fromSoviet caviar smuggling. But..."
Wei Ran frowned and said nothing. Judging from the situation in front of him, both Professor Jonas and the tall and fat Captain Martin have encountered mishaps, and even Even the fishing boat has probably been driven away, and all these suspicions seem to point to Leo, who still hasn't appeared.
"It can't be Leo, he definitely doesn't. would do such a thing. "
Eric sat beside the reindeer carcass as if he was nervous, holding the pair of skis and muttering to himself, "He would never shoot his best friend. He would not leave me here, he is not that kind of person! ”
Wei Ran calmly took the pistol from the opponent’s hand, removed the magazine and clicked on the top bullet, then gently pulled the slide, and grabbed the pistol being drawn with his hand. The bullet that popped out of the shell hook had already been roughly guessed.
The owner of this pistol had pulled the trigger before putting down the gun. If it was Captain Martin, he would not. He would probably leave the fishing boat and come to the dock to exchange fire with Leo.
On the other hand, if the firefight took place on the fishing boat, these things, especially the completely unreasonable telescope, would not appear at all. Even this pistol, which seemed to be much more exquisitely made, would not be abandoned here.
He clearly remembered that in order to open the iron door of the cave in the valley, He and Leo both emptied their pistols. In other words, if it was Leo who did all this, he would at least take away the magazine even if he didn't want the pistol.
With all this, 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 no matter what. Looking at Eric next to him, Wei Ran hesitated for a long time and finally did not tell his guess. Perhaps for Eric, who was at a loss at this time, the truth that his cousin Leo was probably dead brought home the truth. The blow would be far greater than if Leo would probably kill everyone.