1

A dark and deep tunnel, Makarov walked alone with a torch, he didn't know where this tunnel led, he didn't know why he came here, whether he was here to explore a lost civilization, or to get the treasure of Alibaba?

He kept moving forward, and suddenly, a white ghost flashed in front of him, blocking Makarov's path! Frightened, Makarov took two steps back, stood, and looked at the white ghost on the other side again, Makarov couldn't help but murmur "Misha? "The name.

The ghost Misha looked at Makarov and said to Makarov in a low, hoarse voice: "Follow me." After that, Misha turned around and continued to walk deeper into the tunnel, Makarov didn't know what Misha meant, only to see Misha's light steps, walking forward quickly, Makarov had to chase closely behind, but Misha was getting faster and faster, Makarov tried his best, still couldn't keep up with Misha's pace, he wanted to shout Misha, but he opened his mouth wide, he couldn't make a sound, finally, Misha disappeared after turning a corner.

Calm returned to the surroundings, Makarov stopped, quietly looking around, this is the end of the tunnel, there is no road ahead, "What about Misha?" Why is it gone? Makarov came to the end of the tunnel suspiciously, he illuminated the whole rock wall with a torch, he suddenly noticed some strange lines on the rock wall at the end of the tunnel, and there was a little residual color, he approached the rock wall, under the light of the torch, Makarov's eyes widened suddenly, he ...... He saw the terrible pattern again.

"Nope! - Nope! Makarov shouted, and finally woke up, Tang Feng next to him hurriedly turned on the lights in the carriage, and asked Makarov with concern: "Old Ma, are you having nightmares again?" ”

"Nope! That's not a dream, it's ...... It's all too real. Makarov sat up from the bed, and the scene just now kept flashing in his mind, and at this time, Han Jiang and Xu Renyu were also awakened.

Makarov looked at a few Chinese friends in front of him, and gently pulled the curtains on the car window, outside the window, it was pitch black, and there was no edge of the Siberian primeval forest, Makarov remembered that they had already crossed the Ural Mountains and entered Siberia, he couldn't remember how many days they walked in this vast land, and all the passengers on the train began to become numb and began to get tired of this endless journey,...... "How could I have such a nightmare?" Makarov stared at the window and fell into deep thought.

"Looks like we'll be able to get to the border tomorrow, and we're finally going home." Han Jiang stared out the dark car window and muttered to himself.

When Makarov heard Han Jiang's voice, he came back to his senses, turned to everyone and said, "I'm sorry to wake you all up." ”

Tang Feng said magnanimously: "Old Ma, in fact, we have slept enough these days, so you didn't make any noise to us, and now that the sky is almost dawn, since everyone is awake, why don't you continue to tell us about your trip to Mongolia last time." ”

Makarov recalled the Great Gobi, near the border between China and Mongolia, and the secret base on the desolate Gobi Desert.

2

……

Time is like fine sand on the Gobi Desert, drifting by with the wind, Makarov and Buldenko have been at this base for almost half a year, during this half year, Li Guowen's body has been restored to its original state, and the border guards have successively handed over more than a dozen illegal border crossers, among these people, there are educated youth, there are also local herdsmen, Buldenko and Makarov have repeatedly interrogated and screened these people, and in the end, only nine people remained, including Li Guowen, of course.

One night, a torrential rain fell on the Gobi Desert, and the wind swept the raindrops heavily on the tin house, making a terrible sound, and in the largest tin house in the base, there was a murderous atmosphere, and Bultenko, Makarov, and the last nine illegal border crossers they had selected gathered in this room.

Buldenko and Makarov looked at each other, then stood up, his eagle eyes looked around, and when Buldenko's gaze finally fell on Li Guowen, he spoke in Chinese, which he was not very proficient in: "Everyone, these days, you should already know our identity, and I have already mastered your situation, so I believe that here today, we can talk openly and honestly." I've asked each and every one of you, why did you cross the border and come here? Although the reasons you give are different, one thing is certain, you are not satisfied with your old life and want to start a new life. ”

Speaking of this, Burdenko paused and stared at the nine people in the room again before continuing: "But you need to know that as illegal border crossers, you cannot start a new life like normal people, you have no identity, no skills, so to speak, nothing. Of course, I know that you all have strong physiques, strong wills, and brilliant brains, but these are not enough, far from enough! So, I would love to help you, and in order for you to have a fresh start, we have to work together. ”

Burdenko stopped again, looked around at the crowd, saw that there were no objections, and then said: "The content of the cooperation is very simple and fair, you work for us in exchange for legal status and a certain remuneration. First, we will train you, and then, you will work for us, after a certain number of years, usually at least five years, and we can give you legal status, including passports, and a decent amount of dollars. At that time, you can choose whether to stay and continue to work for us, or to leave, and if you choose to leave, we can send you to any country in the world. In short, as long as you work for us, you will have a new identity and start a new life. How's that, guys, this cooperation is fair, isn't it? ”

As soon as Bultenko's voice fell, Li Guowen took the lead in standing up and said, "I am willing to work for you." ”

Bultenko looked at Li Guowen, nodded with satisfaction, and then moved his gaze to the others, who were still hesitating, but Buldenko was completely sure in his heart, he knew that these people had no choice from the day they crossed the border.

3

Two days later, as Buldenko had predicted, all nine people had signed the relevant documents, and Makarov and Buldenko took the nine documents, returned to their room, and began to write a document, which was an important document, a summary of their work in the past six months. ”

"But for them, it's a very fair deed of sale." Burtenko continued.

Makarov shook his head helplessly, and continued to bury his head in writing the report, and after the report was handed over, soon the headquarters replied, the headquarters was very satisfied with their work some time ago, and ordered them to set up a training base on this basis, and named this training base "forward base". At the same time, the headquarters authorized Makarov and Buldenko to recruit and train people from Mongolia and the Far East, Siberia, with only one goal, to train more and more agents who could infiltrate China to carry out missions.

What excites Burtenko the most is not only these, because the expansion of the training base, the appropriation of funds from the headquarters to the base, and the staffing have been greatly improved, and the base is equipped with a helicopter, but what makes Burdenko unhappy is that this helicopter is actually the old Mi-8 helicopter that picked them up here.

With money, people, and the affirmation of the headquarters, Buldenko was full of enthusiasm and began his super cruel devil training program, according to this plan, regardless of the severe cold or heat, he got up at five o'clock in the morning every day and ran for two hours on the Gobi Desert. After breakfast, it was shooting training, the instructor taught all kinds of firearms use, and then, the instructor taught all kinds of special agent professional skills, including surveillance, transmission, camouflage, explosion, etc., in the afternoon it was grappling, combat training, and before dinner, it was super-intensive physical training, which was done during the day, and it was not over, and there was also cultural knowledge training in the evening, including teaching various languages, and some professional knowledge tailored to each person's characteristics.

For example, every morning, when Makarov was still asleep, Buldenko had already taken the students to start training on the vast Gobi. More than a year has passed, and for more than a year, Makarov has often had the illusion that the supreme leader of this base is Bultenko, or himself? Thinking back to what happened after the two of them first came here together, Makarov suddenly felt that all this process seemed to be handled by Buldenko, and he himself became a supporting role, just playing a role and writing a report to the headquarters. Makarov sighed softly, this can't be blamed on Buldenko, his qualifications are older than himself, what he has experienced, and he has seen more people than himself, if it weren't for the so-called "meritorious service", I'm afraid the top leader of this base is none other than Buldenko!

Makarov remembered Leningrad, the gentle wife, who had been separated for almost two years, how is she now? For the sake of secrecy, all communication with the outside world is forbidden in this base, except for communication with headquarters. The last time Makarov heard his wife's voice on the phone was half a year ago, when he went to Irkutsk on a mission, he secretly called his wife for a long distance, and after that, he never heard from his wife again.

4

Makarov didn't know when he would be able to go back and leave the desolate desert. One day, the headquarters suddenly sent a general, this is the first time that the base has been inspected by a superior, this general, who is accustomed to sitting in the office at the headquarters, obviously difficult to adapt to the harsh environment of the base, the general hurriedly inspected the base, did not gather everyone, went straight to Makarov, in front of Buldenko and several other officers, began to carry out his second mission - to announce the headquarters commendation order, commend all meritorious personnel, and promote Makarov to lieutenant colonel.

In the face of this sudden promotion, Makarov felt a little overwhelmed, compared to many other colleagues, the speed of promotion was fast enough, in the past, it was because of Shelepin's care, but now? It's because ...... Because of my own abilities? Makarov, in hesitation, sent the general away, and before he knew the order for his promotion to lieutenant colonel, he would have wanted to ask the general, when would he be transferred back? However, this rank of lieutenant colonel made him swallow back the questions he had prepared!

After the general left, Makarov suddenly thought of another question, why was there no Bultenko, almost everyone was committed, and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, but what about Bultenko? Not only did he not get promoted, but he was not even mentioned in the commendation order! What's going on?

He comforted Burdenko: "Maybe the order for your promotion will come soon." ”

Buldenko shook his head with a wry smile: "I don't expect any promotion, I'm already a colonel, and if I am promoted again, will I be given a general?" Hehe! ”

"You should also be mentioned in the commendation order?" Makarov really felt injustice for Bultenko.

Burdenko did not answer Makarov, he lay down on the bed, stared at the tin roof, and was silent......

Makarov thought that Buldenko had not been rewarded, and he should not have the enthusiasm of the past, but he was wrong, in the early morning of the next day, before dawn, the Gobi Desert under the cover of night, there was no light, only the two giant searchlights of the base, emitting dazzling light, under the searchlight, there was a person, it was Buldenko, with his whistle, all the students in the base were assembled, and then, Buldenko still led the students to start his Gobi training.

Makarov was stunned, he had to admire Buldenko's will, and on this day, he also joined Buldenko's Gobi Dra.

Buldenko's devil's training program was brutal, and many of his trainees were eventually eliminated. The eliminated cadets often end up tragically, according to Burdenko's words, "where you come from, you go back!" "Those who volunteered to recruit were fine, but the worst ones were those who crossed the border illegally, and they had only one end – to be locked up again.

Everyone knows this outcome, so those who cross the border train very hard, while those who voluntarily sign up have a higher elimination rate. The base has sent away several batches of students who have voluntarily signed up, and now, there are still twelve illegal border crossers who have been eliminated in the base, and they have not been sent away, and what awaits them will be a cruel end, Makarov is moved by compassion, and wants to give them another chance.

After consulting the relevant archives, Buldenko said to Makarov worriedly: "It is dangerous for these 12 eliminated illegal border crossers to continue to stay in the base, although they have been eliminated, after all, they have received training and have a certain military ability, and if they collude with other trainees, the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

Makarov bowed his head and remained silent, and after a long while, he looked up and asked Burdenko: "Then what do you think should be done with them?" ”

"Go back to where you come from! This is our principle. Burtenko replied easily.

"You mean send them to prison?"

"Yes! Some of these people were originally picked up from prison, and there were also illegal border crossers who were supposed to go to prison. ”

"But have you thought about their future? What will happen when they go back? ”

"It's not something I have to think about, I just know that they have been eliminated, and if they continue to stay at the base, it will only be a burden and an unstable factor for the base." Burdenko replied with a blank face.

Makarov shook his head helplessly, he had no choice but to ask the headquarters, and soon the order from the headquarters arrived: the twelve men were escorted to Irkutsk by reliable and competent officers.

5

The old Mi-8 helicopter was quietly parked on the Gobi Desert outside the base, and the 12 eliminators were tied behind their backs and escorted to the helicopter. Makarov wanted to be escorted by himself, but seeing Buldenko's resolute attitude, he didn't say anything, the two silently walked under the helicopter, shook hands and said goodbye, Makarov suddenly felt a little reluctant to Buldenko, this thin and tall man, who was already thin, and the hard life on the Gobi Desert in the past two years made him even thinner.

Makarov finally let go of Buldenko's hand, at this time, he did not know that this parting had become a farewell for the two of them, because just five minutes after the helicopter took off, at the end of Makarov's line of sight, a huge fireball rose from the Gobi Desert, followed by a loud noise, which shook the entire Gobi Desert, and the Mi-8 helicopter carrying Buldenko and the twelve eliminators crashed into the depths of the Gobi.

The firelight reflected the entire sky red, and everyone in the base was stunned, and Makarov was stunned for a long time before he reacted - hurry up and save people. He anxiously looked at the already restless cadets in the base, and quickly denied these people in his heart, he still did not worry about these people, he ordered an officer to stay behind and take charge of the security of the base, and then ordered the captain to gather more than a dozen people, bring fire extinguishing equipment, and go to the plane crash site with himself.

When the jeep they were riding in was about to drive out of the base, suddenly, a person rushed out of the commotion crowd and stopped the jeep, and Makarov fixed his eyes on it, and this person was Li Guowen. Previously, Li Guowen had maintained a good condition in the training camp, ranking among the best in various assessments, and obeyed orders and never contradicted the instructor. At this moment, he jumped out, what did he want to do? Makarov said angrily: "What are you going to do? ”

"Please take me." Li Guowen's eyes showed a kind of firmness, staring at Makarov.

Makarov's brain quickly judged, what did Li Guowen want to do? Maybe he wanted to see the person who had changed his fate one last time, although that person was mostly dead, thinking of this, Makarov finally nodded, Li Guowen quickly jumped into another jeep, and the convoy sped out.

Five jeeps raced all the way up the Gobi Desert, but the helicopter crashed farther than they had imagined, and it took them twenty minutes to find the wreckage of the Mi-8 helicopter on the Gobi Desert after climbing over a rocky mountain that was not high.

The fire on the wreckage of the helicopter had gradually subsided, and Makarov used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the sporadic fires while checking the wreckage, and the pungent smell of burning and choking smoke rushed to Makarov's mouth and nose, which was accompanied by many poisonous gases, and he quickly put on a gas mask.

Charred and deformed bodies were lifted out, and the captain reported: "Seventeen bodies have been found, no survivors have been found." ”

Oh, yes! Judging by the extent of the helicopter burned, there will be no survivors, seventeen corpses? The twelve eliminated people on board, plus Buldenko and three other officers in charge of the escort, and two pilots, should be eighteen, how can there be one less?

Makarov thought, continuing to search through the wreckage of the plane, another extremely burned corpse appeared in front of him, he looked at the corpse carefully through the gas mask, from top to bottom, suddenly, Makarov's eyes froze, his pupils dilated rapidly, because he saw a terrifying scene - the skeleton's left arm had been burned to the skeleton, and on the left hand that only the skeleton remained, he was clutching a pistol. Makarov slowly took off his gas mask, leaned over, and looked closely, this is a TT-33 pistol, this is Buldenko's matching gun, and Buldenko is left-handed, seeing this, Makarov closed his eyes, he couldn't bear to look at Buldenko's corpse anymore, because this skeleton was burned so horribly that he couldn't see his true face at all, and it was not too much to describe it as hideous.

6

Buldenko's body was also carried out, a total of eighteen bodies, all of which were found, and eighteen bodies were placed side by side on the Gobi Desert, * naked in front of everyone. The captain suddenly leaned into Makarov's ear and whispered: "Don't you think it's strange why the colonel had a gun in his hand when he was dying?" ”

When Makarov heard this, he trembled, yes! How could Burdenko clutch his pistol at the moment of death? Makarov's mind immediately occurred - did there ever a fight take place on the plane? He carefully examined the other corpses again, especially the twelve eliminated, which was a horrible scene, the twelve charred corpses, still in a state of being tied up, and they were not free at the last moment of their lives. Since these twelve people were tied up behind their backs, how could there be a fight on the plane? Moreover, no bullet holes were found on all the bodies, indicating that there was no shootout.

After Makarov had examined all the corpses, he stood up and whispered to the captain: "Do you think the twelve tied prisoners have the ability to resist?"

The captain shook his head and replied, "The colonel was holding the gun, which can only be explained by the fact that after the helicopter accident, the colonel pulled out the gun just in case, and in fact there was no fighting." ”

"This is completely in line with the Colonel's usual style, and it can only be explained that if a more comprehensive examination is needed, then the experts must be called." Makarov said.

After Makarov finished speaking, he turned his face to catch a glimpse of Li Guowen, Li Guowen rushed to the scene of the helicopter crash, and remained silent, at this time, he was lying on Bultenko's body, carefully investigating, Makarov asked Li Guowen: "What do you think?" Makarov knew that with Li Guowen's talent and more than two years of training, he was already a qualified, and even excellent, agent.

However, after Li Guowen finished inspecting the scene, he just replied talkatively: "Let's wait for the experts above!" We just have to do our job. ”

Three days later, the group of experts, who came from the headquarters in Moscow, was stationed at the "forward base". Unable to adapt to the harsh environment here, the experts of the expert group quickly concluded their investigation, and they came to the exact same conclusion as Makarov's opinion, that after the helicopter took off, there was no fighting, and that the crash of the helicopter was mainly caused by the engine sucking in a large amount of sand and gravel, which caused the engine to malfunction.

Makarov prepared a report to Headquarters, which was submitted to Headquarters almost simultaneously with the report of the Group of Experts. Soon, a lieutenant colonel named "Pavel" was sent from the headquarters to take over Burtenko's position. It seemed that everything was back to normal in the "forward base", and Makarov's life was back to normal, and he sat in the tin house every day, waiting for the order. Half a year later, the order finally came, and it had been three years since Makarov finally left here, and without a trace of excitement, he handed over his work to the lieutenant colonel, calmly got on the plane bound for Moscow, and ended this unpleasant trip to Mongolia.

……

As the trip to Mongolia came to an end, Makarov looked out of the car window, the sun was rising and the sun was shining, they were almost at the border, and he was once again in the East in his life. Makarov reorganized his mood and dispelled the gloom that had been hanging over him these days, and he hoped that everything would go smoothly on this trip to the East.