1

When the last bit of light disappeared behind him, Tang Feng knew that they had once again entered this deep and terrifying black hole, the wooden boat was going upstream, and the speed slowed down significantly, Tang Feng looked left and right, and asked Heiyun: "Is the water in Haizi flowing out of the cave?" ”

Heiyun said: "Well, but it's not just this cave, but also the groundwater in the surrounding rock crevices, and the meltwater on the snow-capped mountains. ”

"We should be safe now, right?" Liang Yuan saw that there were no pursuers behind him, and let out a long breath.

"Don't take it lightly, our opponents are not simple! You think, we got rid of them as soon as we entered the cave, how did they find here? Han Jiang remained on high alert.

"Yes! There are only two ways into the mountain here, and they ......" Tang Feng was suspicious in his heart.

No one spoke anymore, and there was a dead silence in the cave, except for the sound of running water. After rowing forward for more than ten minutes, Han Jiang found that the water was getting shallower and shallower, and the wooden boat seemed to be stranded, so he swung the oars twice harder, and the oars had touched the pebbles at the bottom of the underground river.

"The boat is running aground, it's time for us to get off the boat." Before Han Jiang could speak, Heiyun took the lead in saying to everyone.

Everyone jumped off the wooden boat, packed up, and walked forward for another five minutes with the water, and the magnificent pillar hall was displayed in front of everyone, Tang Feng pointed to the dozens of big stone pillars in the pillar hall, and said to Heiyun: "These are the masterpieces of your ancestors?" ”

Black Cloud looked up at the magnificent pillar hall and said, "No! I don't know, I also only know about our ancestors, the master didn't tell us about the party members before, he just said to us repeatedly, 'We are different people.' ’”

"Different people? I don't think it's any different! For the sake of the continuation of the party and the nation, it is unfair to you, and you should also have the right to choose your own life. Tang Feng said.

Heiyun listened to Tang Feng's words and was silent, but Han Jiang glared at Tang Feng, "Everyone is dead, what's the use of you still saying this!" Now we need to hurry out and find the Blackhead Stone Room before our opponent and get the second jade interstitial. ”

While speaking, everyone had already come to the front of the waterfall, Tang Feng turned on the flashlight and wanted to continue to go to the pillar hall to have a look, but Heiyun stopped him, "Let's not disturb those dead souls." ”

Heiyun's voice suddenly became thick and majestic, like an inviolable queen, everyone threw a surprised gaze at Heiyun together, Heiyun himself also felt the change in his voice, his face was full of surprise, Tang Feng exclaimed: "Heiyun, why did your voice change just now?" ”

Black Cloud shook his head in horror, "No! I don't know how it was ...... just now," and the black cloud's voice seemed to be back to normal.

"Alright, Black Cloud, where do we go now?" Han Jiang asked Heiyun.

Heiyun pointed to the waterfall and explained to everyone: "I just said that there are two ways to enter the mountain, one is the mountain road, and the other is this cave......"

"Are we going to go through as many holes as we did when we came?" Liang Yuan felt deep fear when she thought of this.

"I don't know where you came from, but the road I took you on is a shortcut compared to the mountain road, just to not disturb the souls of our ancestors, and basically no one walks from here!" As he spoke, the black cloud had already led everyone around the waterfall and came to the back of the waterfall.

2

Tang Feng stood behind the waterfall, the huge sound from the waterfall hit his eardrums violently, he looked at the water curtain in front of him, and suddenly gave birth to a feeling of being in a different world, when he came, bypassing the waterfall, they walked into the last pure land of the party people, and now, they returned to the back of the waterfall and were about to leave here, Tang Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of loss......

Just when Tang Feng was thinking wildly, Heiyun leaned down and touched a seemingly ordinary stalagmite beside him, and saw Heiyun pull the stalagmite vigorously, and a miracle happened - "boom" A loud noise, behind the water curtain, in front of everyone, a stone door stood out, and a black hole appeared in front of everyone.

Everyone was surprised, Liang Yuan stood in place in shock, and muttered to himself stupidly: "I didn't expect that there is a stone gate here, it seems that we don't have to go through the cave anymore." ”

Han Jiang handed his flashlight to Heiyun, Heiyun took the flashlight and took the lead into the narrow hole, this is a tunnel, Tang Feng illuminated the wall of the tunnel with a flashlight, and said: "There are obvious traces of artificial polishing on the cave wall, it seems that this is the masterpiece of the party people." ”

Han Jiang listened to Tang Feng's words, and snorted lightly, saying in his heart that this guy's bookish anger had made another mistake, and at this time he didn't forget to study and research, what he was concerned about now was: "How long is this tunnel?" ”

Heiyun replied: "It's not long, but it's not short, you just follow me." ”

Everyone followed behind the black cloud, the fish flowed through, this tunnel was wide and narrow, the foot was also uneven, there was no fork in the road, the ventilation was good, which showed that there must be a big hole at that end, but everyone walked for about half an hour, still did not see the hole at that end, but there was a fork in the road, the black cloud did not hesitate to go on the fork in the road, and said to the people behind him: "Everyone follow me, we are going out." ”

Walking on the fork in the road, Tang Feng obviously felt that the road under his feet went up again, the tunnel was getting more and more spacious, and it was a fork in the road, Heiyun led everyone to walk on the fork in the road again, this fork in the road was obviously narrower than the tunnel just now, some sections of the road, everyone needed to move forward, in this tunnel, the air circulation was also very bad, everyone gasped for breath, and felt difficult to breathe, Tang Feng asked Heiyun suspiciously: "No, the road just now, the wider and wider, the air circulation is good, how can this road get narrower and narrower, and the air is also very poor!" ”

Heiyun replied, "That's right, the fork in the road just now was a stranger who broke in by mistake, do you know where that fork in the road leads?" ”

Tang Feng shook his head, and Heiyun explained very calmly: "That fork in the road, if you keep going, is the nest of vampire bats. ”

Tang Feng, Han Jiang, Liang Yuan, and Makarov immediately remembered the scene of thousands of bats in a tunnel when they came, and Tang Feng exclaimed, "You mean those bats are vampire bats?" ”

"Yes, they are the elves of this cave, in hordes, in thousands, and almost all those who strayed into the cave will not escape their attack."

Hearing Heiyun say this, everyone was afraid, fearful, fatigued, and had difficulty breathing, everyone's footsteps slowed down, but the hole that Heiyun said had not yet appeared, and Heiyun's speed was not reduced, and he was walking faster and faster, and everyone had to fight hard and keep up with Heiyun.

The tunnel became smaller and narrower, Tang Feng felt more and more difficult to breathe, he pulled the weak Liang Yuan hard, so as not to fall behind, he felt suffocation, yes, the feeling of suffocation! He felt that he was about to ......, he turned around and looked at Liang Yuan, who had changed color because of lack of oxygen. At this moment, a cool breeze hit, mixed with fresh air, and sent into the tunnel......

3

"Hole! It's the entrance to the cave! Tang Feng was pleasantly surprised, and a hole hidden by dead wood and weeds appeared in front of everyone, and everyone rushed out of the tunnel impatiently, slumping on the soft pine branches and moss, greedily sucking in the fresh air.

The sky was already full of stars outside, Tang Feng was lying on the soft pine branches and moss, looking at the stars occasionally exposed in the cracks of the pine forest, he wanted to lie down like this, lie down all the time, lie down forever, but restore the brain that supplies oxygen and tell him - no! Where is this? Are there any dangers? Reason urged him, Tang Feng sat up abruptly, and began to observe the surrounding environment, surrounded by boundless black forest, cedars, I don't know how many years they have grown here, covering the sky and the sun, thick trunks, the smallest one needs three or four people to hug, the snow that fell last night did not leave many traces here, where is this? Is this the way out that Black Cloud is talking about? Why is there no snow here?

Heiyun saw the doubts in Tang Feng's heart and explained: "We should have crossed a big mountain by Haizi by now, look here, there was no snow last night. ”

"But in this primeval forest, how can there be a way out?" Tang Feng asked.

"You don't have to worry, there is a road, but now it's dark, you can't see, I see that everyone is tired, it's better to rest for the night first, and tomorrow morning, we will set off again."

Liang Yuan, who was still very weak, had this intention, and Makarov's body was not enough to support him to continue walking, but Tang Feng and Han Jiang were a little worried, Tang Feng looked around vigilantly, and said without worry: "I think it's still not safe here, in case it ......."

"Don't worry, those guys won't find it! It should be safe here. Heiyun's answer finally convinced Tang Feng and Han Jiang, although their hearts were still unsteady.

Heiyun continued to explain: "It's very cold outside now, we can't make a fire, so we can only choose this, choose this cave to rest, everyone goes into the cave to sleep, you must rest well, after leaving tomorrow morning, there will be no chance to sleep again." ”

Everyone listened to Heiyun's reasoning, so no one said anything more, and the five of them returned to the cave, curled up at the entrance of the cave in turn, and slept with their clothes closed.

Han Jiang looked at his gun again before going to bed, the afternoon shootout had exhausted his only seven bullets, he knew that Makarov's gun was also out of bullets, and now, only Tang Feng, only Tang Feng's gun still had four bullets, he asked for Tang Feng's gun and put it beside him, Tang Feng had no objection, because he clearly knew that at this moment of crisis, the only four bullets in Han Jiang's hands should be the most suitable.

The continuous running made everyone feel tired, but Han Jiang was tired and said to Tang Feng: "The five of us can't all sleep, in case of danger, we are reimbursed, and we don't know how we died, so, Tang Feng, I decided that the two of us will take turns to be on guard, whoever is on duty, this gun will be put on whoever is on it, the first half of the night, you, the second half of the night, me!" Comments? ”

"Nope!" Tang Feng nodded firmly.

"Good! Then arrange it like this......" Before Han Jiang finished speaking, Makarov interjected: "Why not me?" Han! Don't you still trust me? ”

Han Jiang looked at Makarov, if in the past, he still had a little distrust of the old Russian man in front of him, but now this distrust has been dispelled, what he is worried about is Makarov's body! So, Han Jiang said bluntly: "Your body ...... All right? ”

"My body is not as good as yours, but please trust my experience and ability, if the three of us take turns to be on guard, everyone will be able to sleep a little longer, and there will be no chance to sleep tomorrow! If you're not worried about my body, you can let me stay on duty for the first half of the night, and I don't think those guys will find us at this point! "Makarov's bullish temper has come up again.

Han Jiang thought about it and felt that what Lao Ma said was reasonable, so he reassigned: "Okay, Lao Ma will serve as a guard in the first half of the night, and in the second half of the night, Tang Feng, I am worth the middle section, everyone has no opinion!" ”

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke, "Okay, let's do it!" With that, Han Jiang handed the Type 92 pistol with only four rounds left to Makarov.

4

The Black Forest was silent, in the tunnel, Heiyun and Liang Yuan had fallen asleep, Tang Feng and Han Jiang seemed to have fallen asleep, Makarov turned off the flashlight, because the battery in the flashlight was about to run out, and it was necessary to save some use, the last trace of light disappeared, and it was dark all around, and it was as silent as death, and suddenly, the long-lost wolf howl came again, and ...... And this time in the nearby forest, this wolf howl is so terrible, so terrifying! From far to near, it's creepy.

Makarov vigilantly held the steel gun in his hand in the dark, only in this way, in his restless heart, can he feel a trace of comfort, this is the nature of a soldier, in the cruel battlefield, often strong fighters are put to death, fighting alone, no supplies, no direction, no comrades, no support, only themselves, at that moment, the whole world, is no longer trustworthy, desperate, confused, isolated and helpless, only the steel gun in his hand is the most trustworthy friend of the soldier, even if it is only four bullets.

Makarov thought about his current situation, and unconsciously showed a wry smile on the corner of his mouth, he remembered the scientific expedition team back then, at that time, his main task was to be responsible for the safety of the scientific expedition team, and often served as a vigilance task at night, especially on the night when the scientific expedition team had an accident, that was to serve as a vigilance, that terrible night...... After all these years, Makarov shuddered at the thought of that night! Unexpectedly, after so many years, today, he, who has long since retired, once again took on the vigilance task on this bizarre, terrifying, and cold night.

The terrible wolf howl was still heard, and Makarov stared at the Black Forest outside the cave, when suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside him: "It's so cold, I don't think I can sleep tonight." ”

This is Tang Feng's voice, Makarov looked at it, Tang Feng rubbed his eyes, crawled out of the tunnel, and Makarov followed, "What, can't sleep?" ”

Tang Feng nodded and said, "Why don't I accompany you, and ask you some questions by the way." ”

"May I ask a question? What's the problem? Makarov was surprised.

"If you could tell me how you got into the KGB? I listened to what you said the day before yesterday on the beach of the seven-colored brocade, it seems that your joining the KGB has a lot to do with this jade interstitial, right? Don asked Makarov.

Makarov listened to Tang Feng's question, slowly leaned under a pine tree, sighed, and then said to Tang Feng: "Yes, it was this jade insert that changed my fate, I originally served in the reconnaissance battalion of the 39th Army of the Baikal Military District, and the rank was just a small warrant officer who was not even an officer, and the place where we were stationed was close to the Sino-Soviet borderIn the end, I and two other comrades were selected for that special mission. ”

"Special missions? Is it a joint scientific expedition team? At some point, Han Jiang also walked out of the tunnel and appeared behind Makarov.

Makarov looked at Han Jiang and said, "Yes, it was during that mission that I saw this photo of the Xixia jade interstitial, and it was precisely because of this mission that my life changed completely and I joined the KGB." As he spoke, Makarov's mind unconsciously returned to the terrible journey half a century ago!

……

After being rescued from the Sino-Mongolian border, Makarov stayed in the hospital for half a month, although the physical pain has subsided, but the terrible nightmares haunt him from time to time, when he woke up, Makarov found that he suddenly lost his freedom, and the door of the ward was replaced by KGB agents, his comrades-in-arms who often came to visit him, and the smiling chief, were no longer seen, no one around him talked to him, he didn't understand why this was the case, what did he do wrong? Makarov, a young man in his early twenties, was about to go crazy with depression.

After a difficult week, Makarov was sent to Moscow, he sat in a high-class "Gil" car, flanked by KGB officers in black trench coats with serious faces, "Gil" carried them through the streets of Moscow, Makarov felt uneasy, he felt like a prisoner at the moment, where was this going to send me? Jail? Court martial? What crime have I committed? Why do you treat me like this! I'm just carrying out the orders of my superiors, why is this happening?

Gradually, a yellow building appeared in Makarov's sight, where is this? …… Makarov turned his head and glanced at the street signs, and in front of him was - Lubyanka Square, ah! 11 Terrible Lubyanka Square, the headquarters of the KGB, Makarov's heart began to beat faster, fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, he remembered Beria, remembered the "Great Purge" of the thirties, many innocent people were brought here and disappeared from this world forever, including Beria himself! That Dzerzhinsky statue on Lubyanka Square, which is getting closer and clearer, tall, majestic, merciless to the enemy, this is Dzerzhinsky, this is the KGB! Makarov suddenly noticed that the KGB officer beside him had an imperceptible sneer on the corner of his mouth, which made him creepy.

"Gil" drove into the Lubyanka through the back door and parked in the courtyard, to Makarov's surprise, he was not immediately "escorted" out of the car, only to see the officer sitting in the passenger seat, get out of the car and walk quickly towards the building, Makarov looked at the officer's back, not knowing what fate awaits him?

5

After a while, the officer returned to the car and ordered the driver: "Go to the Kremlin." The driver was surprised by the officer's order and asked rhetorically: "Kremlin?" ”

"Yes, the Kremlin. Number 1 was not at headquarters, and he had said that he was going to see our guests immediately, immediately. As he spoke, the officer glanced back at Makarov.

"Gil" drove out of the Lubyanka and headed for the Kremlin not far away, Makarov did not expect that he would turn around in the heart of the KGB and come out again so quickly, but he did not feel that he was desperate, because the next place he was going to make his heart beat faster ,—— Kremlin, he never thought that he would be able to enter here one day, who is No. 1? Why is he so anxious to see me?

With a stomach full of questions, Makarov and his team, after several inspections, came to a splendid hall, which Makarov later learned that this hall was the famous George Hall, where important state events were often held. In the hall of 1,000 square meters, it was empty, only Makarov and the three KGB officers, the three officers sat on chairs, their waists were straight, motionless, quietly waiting for the appearance of the big man, Makarov looked around the hall curiously, the nine giant crystal chandeliers on the roof of the hall made Makarov breathtaking, and then looked at the walls on the four sides of the hall, the golden light was shining, and many words were engraved, Makarov looked carefully, it seemed to be the names of some people, he asked the officer at the head curiously: " Who are the people carved on this wall? ”

The officer glanced at Makarov, did not move, sat down in place and said: "The name on the wall of George Hall is the name of the soldiers who died when the Russian army defeated the invasion of Napoleon's army in 1812......"

Before the officer could finish speaking, the door on the side of George's Hall opened, and the three officers saw the person who had entered, and with a "swish", they all stood up straight, and Makarov knew that the big man had appeared.

Makarov also stood up, and the "big man" who came across from him seemed to be only in his early forties, thin in stature, but he was capable, and the image of this "big man" was far from the big man with a big belly and a drooping old man that Makarov thought of in his head.

Makarov felt that the "big man" in front of him was somewhat familiar, maybe he had seen it in newspapers or portraits, but he couldn't remember who it was? In the army, Makarov was not the kind of person who paid attention to the leader, to the movements of Moscow, he just wanted to do his own thing well, be worthy of his mother, and live up to his father, who died in the Great Patriotic War.

The "big man" walked up to several people, and the big man in front of him seemed sacrosanct, and Makarov felt suppressed like never before, "Hello, Comrade Makarov, I'm Sherepin. The words of the big man were calm and kind.

Sherepin! Makarov immediately thought of who was the person in front of him? The most capable and powerful person in the whole Soviet Union, he entered the political arena at the age of 24, became the head of the KGB at the age of 40, he was also a member of the Politburo, secretary of the Central Committee, whether it was in the Stalin era or in the Khrushchev era, he has always been on the rise, in the clash of power, Sherepin has maintained a record of complete victories, people privately gave him the nickname of "strongman Shurik", many people believe that he will be the future supreme leader, such a figure, but in a hurry to see me?

Makarov was a little overwhelmed, gave a substandard military salute, and said: "Warrant Officer Ivan Petrovich Makarov of the reconnaissance battalion of the 39th Army of the Baikal Military District has come to report. ”

Xie Leping waved his hand, "No need to do this, I'm not your superior. After a pause, Sherepin said again: "You come with me." After saying that, Serepin left the KGB officers, led Makarov, and walked out of the splendid George Hall.

6

Makarov followed Sherepin through the corridor and came to an office, Sherepin motioned for Makarov to sit down, and when the two were seated, Sherepin spoke first: "Don't blame our people, it's all to protect you, but also to keep it secret, are you well?" ”

"I've basically recovered."

Xie Lepin nodded: "You may not know that this 'Black City' operation was led by me very strongly, so I specially invited you to Moscow and wanted you to tell me about the whole process of the operation, especially the situation when the accident happened in the end." ”

"Why did you talk to me personally?" Makarov was puzzled.

"Because I don't want more people to know about this operation, please talk about it now."

"Process? Actually, I am just a soldier, and my two comrades-in-arms and I were selected by our superiors, and the task is only to protect the safety of the scientific expedition team, so I don't know what the experts and professors of the scientific expedition team have discovered and done along the way, and even I don't even know the purpose of this operation. ”

"Then you must have heard what they said, right?"

Makarov shook his head, "Even if I hear some scientists talking together, I can't understand it, first, I don't understand their professional things, and second, I don't understand Chinese, I learned a little Chinese before I went, but it was just some simple terms, so I ......"

"You're such an honest man, you only know your mission." Sherepin smiled helplessly.

"Yes, the education I received in the army was to obey orders, complete my tasks, and don't ask about things that have nothing to do with me."

"Along the way, apart from the terrible things that happened on the last day, is there anything unusual ahead?"

"The ...... ahead," Makarov fell into reminiscence, "the days ahead were basically normal, but ......" Makarov stopped talking.

"But what?"

"But my personal feeling, just my personal feeling, from the moment we set out, it seems that there are a pair of eyes watching us all the time!"

"A pair of eyes! So what didn't you find? ”

"I used to ambush with another comrade-in-arms in the rear of the scientific expedition team, and I also patrolled around the camp at night day and night, and I was supposed to find out if someone followed us, but I didn't find anything."

"Oh? What other suspicious circumstances exist besides this? ”

"And the night before the accident, that night we were camping in a poplar forest, because I was very tired during the day, so I went to bed early that night, and the three Chinese officers who were responsible for the security of the camp that night, slept until midnight, I was suddenly woken up by a strange sound, the sound was not loud at first, I ran outside the tent, I didn't see the Chinese officer on duty, but I found Misha, who was the doctor of history at Leningrad University, we all called him 'Misha', he and* Comrades were arguing about what under a poplar tree far from the camp......"

"What did they say?" Sherepin interrupted Makarov and asked.

"They were arguing in Chinese, and Misha seemed to say 'No!' to Comrade Na*. I don't need to! I understand this sentence, and I don't understand the rest. ”

"And later?"

"Later, when Misha saw me coming, he went back to the tent, and Comrade * also went back to the tent to sleep, and I was not worried about the safety of the camp, so I went around the camp, but as a result, I still did not find the three Chinese officers who were supposed to be on duty, and the strange sound became louder and louder."

"What's that sound?"

"I can't describe, in short, very peculiar, like the roar of a beast, like the cry of a man from a distant land, and the next day I asked Misha, who said that he also heard the voice, but he said that it was only the wind blowing through the dunes and the poplar forest. I was afraid that I would get lost when I went far, so I returned to the camp and went on to sleep, and in the past, I could not find those Chinese officers, and I must have worried about the safety of the camp, and I could not sleep well, but strangely enough, when I returned to the tent that night, I slept very well, and it was dawn the next day. ”

7

"Did you see the three Chinese officers the next day?" Shelepin asked.

Makarov frowned and shook his head: "No, when I woke up the next day, everyone else was there, and there was less of the three Chinese officers, but, something more strange happened, early in the morning, everyone found that the two large buckets used to hold water were leaking at the same time, and when we found out, the water in it had already dried up, originally, the water we carried, had already consumed most of it, and now the entire scientific expedition team was out of water, in the scorching hot desert Gobi, the loss of water meant death, and the pessimistic atmosphere quickly spread among the scientific expedition team. The expedition team canceled the scheduled itinerary for the day, sent five groups of people out, both to find water and to find the missing Chinese officers, in order to prevent accidents, all the team members who went out to search were issued rifles and bullets, and I also taught several scientists how to use the AK-47, and everyone agreed that whether they were found or not, before the sun set, everyone would return to the camp. ”

"You stayed at camp that day? Did all five groups come back? ”

"Yes, during the day, I stayed in the camp, responsible for the camp guards, and did not find anything else, at dusk, all the five groups of people who went out to look for them came back on time, but to everyone's disappointment, the five groups of people did not find the three missing Chinese officers, nor did they bring back water, there was a Chinese geologist, called it incredible, he said that he had been here, and he remembered that there was a water source nearby, and there was more than one, but he didn't find it. Everyone felt hopeless, but there was no choice but to go back to their tents to sleep, and prepare to continue to go out tomorrow to search, I took the initiative to take on the task of guarding the camp at night, and a Chinese comrade also asked to be on duty with me. ”

"A Chinese comrade? Do you know him? ”

"He is one of the Chinese I know best, I remember his surname is Liang, he is the Russian translator of the scientific expedition team, he speaks Russian fluently, so I often chat with him in my spare time, I think he is a very good person, so I am happy to be on duty with him."

"Something happened to the expedition team that night?" Sherepin lowered his voice.

Makarov pondered for a long time, and recalled the terrible scene of that day: "Yes, it was that terrible night, that night, about ten o'clock local time, I was chatting with Liang, suddenly, we heard the strange sound we heard the night before, and this time the sound was getting louder and louder, it seemed to be getting closer and closer to us, everyone in the expedition team was awakened by the sound, everyone walked out of the tent, straight in the direction from which the sound came, I still remember their eyes, It was a pair of eyes full of fear, it was terrible! I tried my best to keep myself calm, I picked up my AK-47, beckoned my two comrades-in-arms, and went with me to the place where the sound came from, but they were already frightened, and stood still, motionless, and in desperation, I could only take the risk alone, at this time, Liang said that he was willing to go with me, so we both carried our guns and ran in the direction from which the sound came. ”

"What did you two find?"

"The two of us ran a long way, about four or five kilometers, but we didn't find anything, and what was even stranger was that the strange sound couldn't be heard, Liang said, maybe it was just the wind, nothing at all. I didn't know what to do, so I had to turn around and go back to the camp with Liang, but when we returned to the camp, something even more terrifying happened! ”

8

Makarov continued: "When Liang and I returned to the camp, we were surprised to find that the camp was empty! ”

"What? This...... How is this possible! Shelepin's eyes also widened.

"Yes, the camp is empty, but the camels, as well as the various equipment carried by the expedition team, and even most of the people's personal belongings are still there, only a few personal belongings, there are signs of hastily turning, everything is like everyone has just left, the terrifying sound that just hit the camp has also disappeared, just when Liang and I were terrified and at a loss, suddenly the voice came again, louder and louder, closer and closer, I can't describe what I felt in my heart at that time, and I can't explain the terrifying sound, like ten thousand horses galloping, Like the roar of a beast, more like a ghost crying wolf, near the camp, accompanied by a terrifying sound, the wind suddenly rose, lifting up huge sand dunes, and even uprooting the poplar trees, Liang and I lay on the ground, crawling forward, desperately escaping out of the camp, looking back, a puff of black smoke rolled up the yellow sand, rushed into the camp, and attacked us again, the sound became more and more terrifying, like - as if there were countless people crying. ”

"What's that? Sandstorms? ”

"Nope! It's the devil, the terrible demon! Liang raised his gun and fired desperately at the black smoke, and I also shot at the black smoke, but we all fired all the bullets in the magazine, to no avail, we were completely desperate, and I had only one thought in my mind at that time, which was to run! ”

"So, you ran dozens of kilometers east along the border until you fainted."

"What? I ran dozens of kilometers! No! I didn't know the direction at all, and I didn't know how long I had been running, but my survival instinct kept running, and I didn't know how to ...... It actually ran dozens of kilometers. ”

"Yes, when we found you, the doctors thought you couldn't be saved, but you survived."

"Please tell me, Misha, Liang, my comrades, and the people on the expedition team are doing now?" Makarov stood up excitedly.

Xie Lepin spread his hands regretfully: "Unfortunately, according to the information we have now, except for you and that Liang, everyone else in the scientific expedition team is missing, they should have all been killed, and we have lost many excellent comrades, including your comrades-in-arms......"

"Nope! - How so, that terrible devil, the devil who devours everything! Makarov exclaimed in a gaffe. His shouts alarmed the guards outside the door, and two guards broke into the office and looked at Makarov with strange eyes, and Sherepin waved at the guard, who withdrew from the office.

After Makarov calmed down, Sherepin said calmly: "Now let's talk about you, your future and destiny?" ”

"My future and destiny?"

"Hmmm! Ivan Petrovich, you should know that many people out there have a lot of criticisms against our KGB, and I don't want to deny it completely, because there are many of them, and as a person, I am not willing to decide the future and fate of a certain person, but you, unfortunately, because of this 'Black City' operation, I have to decide your future and fate, please don't blame me, this is all for the country, of course, you are not completely without the right to choose, I will point you out two paths for you to choose. A cold light flashed in Sherepin's eyes, aggressive.

"Two paths? No! I just want to return to the original troops. ”

Xie Lepin shook his head: "Return to the army, this is unrealistic, you only have two options now, one, we want to restrict your personal freedom, such as sending you to prison or some hospital." ”

"Why? What crime have I committed? Makarov cried out in despair, he seemed to feel the despair of that terrible night again, he stared into Sherepin's eyes, and listened to Sherepin continue: "You don't have to be so nervous first, listen to the next option, and then make a choice, two, you join us." ”

"What? Join the KGB! "Makarov never thought that he would one day become a member of the KGB, the first option was to lose his freedom, join the KGB, and there would be freedom? Unbeknownst to him, his mind was in a mess.

9

"Isn't there a third option?" Makarov asked in a deep voice.

Shelepin shook his head and said: "This is not my personal decision, it was discussed and collectively adopted by the National Security Council. Makarov's face was surprised, and Sherepin said: "However, personally, I would like you to join us. ”

"Why?"

Xie Lepin flipped through a thick file on his desk and said: "We have a very detailed understanding of your situation, and I think you have the potential to be an excellent agent - you have served in the reconnaissance unit, you are skilled, you are reflexive, brave, responsible, vigilant, and more importantly, you are honest and reliable, obey orders, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't say what you shouldn't say, this is good!" Of course, these are just my personal opinions about you, and many people don't see it that way......" Sherepin said and stopped.

Makarov was puzzled and asked: "What do those people think of me?" ”

Sherepin stared at Makarov for a long time, then stood up and walked to the window, looked at the onion-headed roof of the Vasily Cathedral and said: "Some people in the National Security Council expressed doubts that you could get away with it, and they believed that the death of the scientific expedition team was framed by foreign hostile forces, otherwise, it would be impossible for such a powerful scientific expedition team to disappear so silently, and you, Comrade Makarov, have become the object of their suspicion." ”

"Doubt me? What do you doubt me? Makarov tried his best to control his emotions, but he still couldn't tolerate slander against himself.

"Don't get excited, Ivan Petrovich, I never believe their suspicions, although I don't know the reason for the failure of this operation, but I definitely don't doubt your loyalty to the country!" It was getting late outside the window, and the onion-headed roof of Vasily's Cathedral was shining strangely in the afterglow of the setting sun, Sherepin turned around and continued: "You can have a week to think about it, this week, you write out the whole process of participating in the 'Black City' operation, the more detailed the better, and give it to me after writing, and tell me your final choice, but I think I already know the answer." It's getting late, I still have a lot of business to attend to, so you can take my car and go back to the Rubyanka. ”

In the twilight, Makarov drove again into the KGB headquarters at 11 Lubyanka Square in Shelepin's car, and from then on, his entire life was connected to this place.

……

Makarov recalled this, he felt like he had entered a black hole, the deeper and deeper, the darker and darker, he could not find an exit, he was so tired, Makarov's vision gradually blurred, he gently leaned under the tree, and actually fell asleep.

After listening to Makarov's recollections, Tang Feng and Han Jiang suddenly realized that the ins and outs of the whole incident were almost clear, and what Makarov said and the seven top-secret KGB documents they had already mastered could corroborate each other.

10

I don't know how long it took, when Makarov woke up, it was already dawn, he sat up in shock, surrounded by his familiar figures - Tang Feng and Han Jiang, Makarov tried to remember what happened last night, came out of the tunnel, he volunteered to be on guard duty in the first half of the night, he recalled the past again, and then ...... And then he didn't remember anything, Makarov's brain went blank, did he fall asleep later? Falling asleep while performing a mission, this ...... This is an unforgivable mistake, a disgrace to an old agent! What's more, last night was a task that I took the initiative to request! Makarov didn't notice a fever on his face, and he asked Han Jiang: "Did I fall asleep last night?" I remember telling you about my time in the KGB, and I felt like I was ......."

Before Han Jiang could answer, Tang Feng replied first: "It's nothing, after all, are you old?" ”

"Nope! No! This is an unforgivable mistake. Makarov was annoyed.

Han Jiang glared at Tang Feng, then comforted Makarov and said, "Actually, it's nothing, I will make such a mistake!" ”

"Han, you don't have to coax me anymore, I know I made a mistake, but I promise not to make such a mistake again in the future!" Makarov's stubborn temper came up.

Han Jiang shook his head helplessly, and didn't say anything anymore, at this time, Liang Yuan and Heiyun also woke up, Han Jiang looked at the dark tunnel entrance, and looked at the boundless primeval forest around him, he knew that it was not suitable to stay here for a long time, the chasing soldiers could appear at any time, and last night's rest was a rare luxury.

All five of them remained silent, each packing their bags and not needing more words, each knowing where they were and what they were going to do next.

When the morning light through the thick treetops, pierced into the primeval forest, everyone set off, a whole day, in addition to the mountain road, or the mountain road, the black cloud took everyone to walk the mountain road for a whole day, at dusk, everyone finally saw a prairie, this is a grassland with a dense network of rivers, the black cloud suggested to spend the night at the edge of the forest, and then rush the next day.

Han Jiang asked Heiyun: "How long does it take to walk through this grassland?" ”

Heiyun thought for a moment and replied, "At least half a day." ”

"Are you familiar with this way? I mean can you take us on a night walk at night? Han Jiang asked again.

Heiyun was taken aback when he heard Han Jiang ask, but then replied: "You can walk at night, but you need your flashlight, and the speed will be very slow." ”

Han Jiang checked the flashlight, there were two spare batteries, at least one flashlight could be used overnight, Han Jiang analyzed their situation to everyone, and decisively rejected Heiyun's suggestion to spend the night here, asking everyone to walk at night and walk out of this grassland at dawn the next day.

Tang Feng thought that Han Jiang was crazy and resolutely disagreed with Han Jiang's crazy actions, but Makarov was on Han Jiang's side, and Tang Feng cursed helplessly: "You two are really a pair of crazy people!" ”

Before dark, everyone went on the road again, and before leaving, Heiyun specially instructed everyone: "Everyone must be careful, there are many swamps on this grassland, everyone must follow me, in order to prevent someone from falling into the swamp, we must move forward hand in hand." ”

The black clouds led the people slowly in the night, I don't know whether it was the credit of the black clouds, or the favor of the god of luck, they did not encounter the terrible swamp, when the red sun jumped over the eastern horizon again, they saw a river in the steppe, a clear river, a meandering river, and all the hungry and thirsty people rushed to the river, knelt down by the river, bowed down, and drank the clear water greedily, like a baby sucking its mother's milk.

Everyone had drunk enough, and they all collapsed by the river, only Tang Feng was still kneeling by the river, looking into the distance stupidly, and suddenly, Tang Feng raised his arms and shouted: "Yellow River!" This is the great Yellow River. ”

"Yellow River?" Everyone else looked at Tang Feng in surprise.

"Yes, if my judgment is correct, this is the Yellow River, she is the mother river of the Han nation, the mother river of the party members, and the mother river of many ethnic groups in Chinese history, we have come out of it!" Tang Feng shouted excitedly.

"That means if we walk along the Yellow River, we will see towns." Han Jiang still kept his calm, what he was thinking about at this time was - direction.

"Yes, look!" Speaking, Tang Feng pointed into the distance, "The Jiuqu Yellow River has turned a bend here, a big bend, because of the Anima Qing Snow Mountain, which is the so-called 'Yellow River Shouqu'." 'The first song of the Yellow River', here was once the only way for the party to migrate north, we only need to go north, we can reach Maqu County. Tang Feng pointed out the direction for everyone.

"Heading north? Just like the party members in history, this is the path of the migration of the party members? Although Liang Yuan didn't understand what Tang Feng said, he also seemed to hear some truths.

Heiyun nodded, and finally affirmed the direction Tang Feng pointed, and the five of them went on the road again, this time they didn't go out for long, and they saw a road, a big road sign on the side of the highway, the arrow pointed to the north, and the two Chinese characters written on the arrow were - Maqu.