The weather was sunny and cloudless.

Bronco whipped up puffs of sand and dust and shuttled through the endless, wide, straight I-15 highway, and Uncle Ya's ecstatic "Mom" echoed in the car on the tape recorder.

The wind through the window gently slapped Dean in the driver's seat, and he squinted slightly, observing the scenery on both sides out of the corner of his eye, and the occasional windmill and street lamp added a touch of fun to the long journey.

Behind the streetlights are wide, flat fields that look golden in late July, and the mountains farther afield are generally not high, with much of the grass crawling with yellow grass and occasionally dotted with solitary shrubs and small bushes.

A little over an hour from Las Vegas, they entered California from Nevada.

The scenery changes slightly, there are more gathering points and gas stations, and you can occasionally see warehouses with triangular roofs on the roadside, but the warm colors of the scenery are stunning at first, and a little barren and monotonous after a long time.

Abby and Gretchen in the back row are holding the tape recorder and listening to the song, and they are not very open-mouthed.

Dean couldn't help but yawn,

"Where are we going camping this time?"

"A section of the Sierra Nevada." Gretchen explained softly,

"I've heard there's a Yosemite National Park nearby, which is great for viewing and camping, so why don't you go there?"

"You can only see the best scenery in the spring." Gretchen shook his head, "But it's late, and Yosemite only allows camping in a fixed area, I've been there several times, and it's not interesting." ”

"This time in a different place, there are canyons, forests, and lakes, and I promise that you will not be disappointed."

"Sounds good." Dean turned to look out the window at the drab sand and yawned again.

"I-15 is a bit boring, and when we get back from Santa Monica Beach, we can try 66 'Mother Road', the scenery will be better." Abby took the initiative to talk,

Dean nodded, his eyes swept to a clumsy bus with a Mercedes-Benzed gray greyhound, and abruptly changed the subject, "What car is this?" ”

"The Greyhound long-distance bus looks like the one from Las Vegas." Abby explains, "Traveling back and forth between Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. If we don't want to stop halfway to climb and camp, we can also take this shuttle. ”

"But it's better not to sit." Gretchen suddenly interjected, "This kind of bus has a lot of internal space, but there are few passengers, it is highly hidden, and the journey is long, if a pervert wants to do something bad to you, no one will come to save you if you scream and cut your throat." ”

"Haha."

……

The two girls have good personalities, they opened the chatterbox, and they didn't care about Dean's bad misunderstanding before, and when they chattered, the silence and awkwardness in the car became harmonious.

……

"Two ladies, you will enter the twelfth grade next semester, have you chosen the university of your choice?"

Dean looked out the window, the car happened to pass by a vineyard of more than 1,000 acres, on both sides of the earthy yellow road, the leaves in the grape trellis were swaying, like layers of waves in the green sea, and the air was filled with a sweet smell, which made people feel clear-minded.

"I didn't get good grades, and I didn't have athletic talent," Abby said with some shame, "and I didn't plan to go to college, and I would go back to inherit my supermarket after high school." ”

Dean's eyelids jumped, it turned out to be a hidden little rich woman.

"Again, Abby, don't say such frustrating words, why don't you have talent, don't you often contribute to books and magazines?" The Gretchen sisters shook their shoulders and boasted to Dean, "Abby is already a contributor to a well-known local fiction magazine in Las Vegas, and has published five novels that have been well received by the public. ”

"That's amazing, what's the name, I'll buy it in advance and collect it, and then ask you to help sign it." Dean turned around and smiled at Abby, "When you become a great writer, you will be worth a lot of money." ”

Abby's face turned red from being praised, and the pimples on her face were even more obvious.

"It's very discerning, and I think so." Gretchen nodded to Dean.

"You two have such a good relationship."

"Of course, we have been good sisters for more than ten years, and we have been neighbors since birth," Abby said with a smile, "If it weren't for her going to college, I wouldn't be willing to separate." ”

"What college did you go to, Gretchen?"

"I love sports and dream of wearing a police uniform and fighting criminals." This hearty girl straightened her chest, and the waves surging under the blue shirt shook in the rearview mirror, and Dean was dazzled, "I'm trying to prepare for the police academy in Nevada." ”

"You must be fine... Outstanding cultural achievements, outstanding sports achievements, cheerful and lively personality, everyone likes you. Abby's red face was attached to Gretchen's beautiful face, and the pimple-covered tomboy and the big star's prosperous beauty were so stark that the contrast made Dean a little uncomfortable, and at the same time, there was a question in his heart, how did a girl with such a big external gap become good friends.

"What's more, the daughter inherits her father's business." Abby turned to Dean, "Gretchen's father was an LVPD police officer, Thomas Allen, and she would apply for the LVPD after graduation and then go to the police academy for further training. ”

"Thomas Allen?"

Dean suddenly saw a fat police officer with a bright smile and licking the cream on his fingers.

"You know my father." Gretchen saw something.

"I met him when I went to LVPD not long ago and was impressed by his warmth and friendliness."

Gretchen grinned and bared his gums, gushing about all sorts of policing with Dean.

Dean spent the last month in the hospital room researching volunteer information, and he and Gretchen had a good conversation.

Four hours after departure.

The three cars passed a massive wind farm and then turned onto another state highway from I-15 to a gas station at the start of the campground.

The group got out of the car to take a break, buy lunch, check and pack their luggage, and Gretchen left a record at the convenience store - if everyone didn't return for 72 hours, the owner would help report the crime.

Afterwards, they changed into mountaineering gear and entered the plains by the road.

……

At noon, the golden sun rose to the center of the sky.

The figure of Jiudao carrying a huge hiking bag shuttled through the wilderness on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, wearing uniform hiking boots and breathable material performance clothing, and his movement speed was not fast, but his gait was steady, almost maintaining a constant speed, and even the most delicate looking Ashley could easily keep up.

Gretchen as a guide walks at the front, followed by Dean and Abby... Baker and Jenny.

It was close to late July, and the temperature was still a little high on this side of the Sierra Nevada where they were, and they felt a little hot in their thin coats.

After entering the wilderness himself, Dean realized that it was not as vast and barren as he saw on the highway, but was full of low shrubs, Joshua trees, golden orchids, and even cacti, and small animals of all shapes and shapes inhabited these plants, giving this seemingly barren land a fascinating life.

Dean slowed his steps, and turned his gaze to the right under a cactus, where a palm-sized lizard with green skin was crouching quietly, staring at the group of uninvited guests like statues, looking rather cute and cute.

"Look there." Gretchen stretched out his hand to the left, and everyone looked at it,

Twenty meters away, under a clump of emerald green bushes, a rabbit with gray-brown fur was chewing grass roots, its ears erected and shaking, and it was in a state of alert.

"The desert cottontail rabbit, as the name suggests," Abby whispered, "has a tail like a cotton ball looped up, it's cute, isn't it?" ”

Dean nodded solemnly, thinking about whether he could sneak a few steps closer and let Shadow unknowingly let Shadow control the board and shoot the little guy.

And Rust quietly took out the Nikon F3 in the package and handed it to Britney, who looked excited.

"Click".

The camera captures the animal's appearance with precision.

But the alert cottontail rabbit was alarmed by the sound of the shutter, turned his head to look at the group of humans, kicked his hind legs, and disappeared into a gray lightning bolt in the depths of the vegetation.

Its fur is the perfect camouflage color, and it hides in the bushes of plants, making it difficult for even the most astute hunter to find it.

"The little thing is pretty fast." Baker laughed, "Next time I'll bring a gun and hunt a few to taste." ”

"Remember to bring night vision goggles." "This area is only allowed to hunt cottontail rabbits at night. ”

……

As the group moved on, the terrain undulating, from hillside to valley, Gretchen stopped from time to time to introduce his companions to the animals that inhabit this wilderness, the alert Jack Rabbit, the silly gopher, the mysterious ocelot... Like a bear child, it suddenly hovered over everyone's heads, screaming at the crow that cast curious eyes.

She also uses a pleasant voice to tell you about first aid in the wilderness: which plants can be mashed to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, which can be eaten in small amounts when you are hungry and thirsty, and some tips for hiking: choosing harder ground to walk on is more energy-saving than soft ground.

Abby looked at her good sister with adoration.

Everyone has a good impression of this lively, cheerful, heroic and eye-catching guide.

Before they knew it, after three hours of walking, the sun in the sky was softening, the temperature was beginning to drop, and they stood on a ridge overlooking the wilderness below, where green gradually replaced withered yellow, and green bushes spread over the ground like shallot-colored silk.

Farther away, the terrain rises abruptly into a lush mountain forest, and they are finally about to leave the earthy yellow wilderness and climb to the other side of the mountain.

"Rainwater flows through here."

Gretchen led the group to the verdant bushes, and found a pile of jet-black droppings under the leaves.

"Coyote droppings."

"Wait, there's a wolf around here?" Ashley's little face turned pale and she was startled, "Will it attack us?" Isn't it dangerous? ”

"Don't worry, in my experience of hunting, unless you're delirious from hunger, coyotes will only be more scared when they see a pack than you are now." Baker patted his hairy chest, "What's more, with our boys in front, it can't hurt you." ”

"I'll protect you, dear." Lang wrapped his right hand around Ashley's shoulder, and patted his skinny chest with his left hand, looking righteous and awe-inspiring ready to sacrifice himself for love.

Ashley hugged his arm with emotion.

"Coyotes don't have to worry too much, the cold is much scarier than wild beasts." Gretchen unwrapped his package and began to take out his thick warm coat, "Change into thick clothes." ”

"I feel like I can hold on." Baker spun around with his hands disapproving, feeling the temperature and speed of the air.

"You know what?" Abby glared at him in displeasure and explained, "As you enter the mountain, the temperature will get lower and lower, and the humidity will get higher and higher. And guess what, before you know it, your skin will evaporate the moisture from your clothes, taking away a lot of your body temperature. If you encounter wind, you will quickly suffer from excessive hypothermia, and when your core body temperature drops below 28 degrees, even God will not be able to save you. “

"It's that serious, you don't mean to scare me, do you?" Baker was stubborn, but his movements were not slow at all, and he quickly took out a heavy blue down jacket and wrapped it in a slightly thin functional coat.

A few minutes later.

The group all changed into warm clothes, took out their trekking poles, and walked towards the mountain forest.

As soon as you enter the ancient woods, the originally open field of view instantly narrows.

And because the terrain rises, the ground becomes soft and difficult to focus, and the speed of physical energy consumption increases greatly.

Dean 11.6's physique is much stronger than normal, and the journey is easy, even a little unenjoyable, this level of exercise can't consume the energy he has accumulated for a month of recuperation.

He looked around pleasantly, admiring the various fungi at the roots of the trees, the various shrubs full of berries, the crystal cobwebs between the branches, and the birds chirping on the branches, observing this vibrant mountain forest from the perspective of God.

The vegetation in the mountains and forests is abundant, the air is fresh, and there are more animals than in the wilderness, and in many places you can smell the smell of urine that they deliberately leave behind to divide the territory.

"It's a good place for hunting."

"Guys, how long do you have to get to the campsite? My feet are so sore that they don't belong to me. ”

On the other side, Ashley was sweating profusely and complaining, and Lang nodded with a stiff face,

"Hold on, the sun still has two hours to go down, and we have to get halfway up the mountain before then. There are houses for climbers. Gretchen encouraged,

"It's dark, and there's not just wolves in the woods," Baker and his girlfriend Jenny made a terrifying gesture with their mouths open for little girl-like Ashley, "There are also some mysterious monsters in the legend, such as Wendigo and werewolves, who eat little girls like you with fine skin and tender meat!" ”

"Ahh

Ashley screamed and turned pale,

"Deliberately scare people again, believe it or not, I'll sew your mouth up!"

A group of people denounced Baker and Jenny at the same time.

The two raised their hands in surrender.

……

Hillside.

A tattered log cabin appeared not far away under a cedar tree, the wooden walls covered with green vines and moss, and the glass windows covered with a layer of gray curtains, which looked very old.

"Wow, liberated, I'm going to lie down, I'm going to lie down for a day, and I don't want to move for a second!"

Ashley threw her backpack to her boyfriend and rushed over with a shout.

"Slow down, there's someone inside."

Dean lifted God's perspective and stopped her.

With a creak, the closed door of the wooden house was pushed open, and a man in denim overalls and a wide-brimmed hat walked out, with a rough appearance, a heavy reddish-brown beard, and big, bright eyes, which swept everyone like a pair of scopes.

"Coming to climb the mountain?"

"Yes, hello, sir, we climbed all the way up to find a place to rest for a while, not knowing that there was already someone in the house."

"Young people, this is not a private house, if you need to move in." The man beckoned, and a hearty smile made people feel good, "If you don't mind, come in and squeeze it." It's getting dark, and a few tents and sleeping bags won't keep you warm. ”

Hearing this, Gretchen exchanged a look with everyone, except for Dean, a group of people couldn't wait to nod their heads,

Baker puffed out his well-developed biceps and his eyes were full of confidence.

……

There are no partitions in the forty-square-meter wooden house, only a hall, which is poorly furnished and dimly lit by kerosene lights.

The fire in the stone and clay stove was flickering, and the broth was boiling in the iron pot hanging above, and a rich fragrance filled the air.

A lot of physical energy was consumed, and the hungry people all showed eager expressions.

There was also a second person sitting in the room.

Dressed in a black cold-proof suit, his facial features are cold and hard like a dart in a western, sitting quietly on the edge of the wooden bed, not smiling, and not very easy to contact, carrying a Winchester M1897 shotgun, constantly wiping, as if he didn't see this group of visitors.

The atmosphere in the house fell silent all at once.

Dean quietly summoned the "shadow" just in case.

And Ron looked at the swarthy shotgun, "grunted", and swallowed very visibly.

"Man, don't put the gun away, you're scaring the guests." The bearded man roared, and his companion silently loaded the gun into his backpack, and then kept looking at everyone with a pair of small eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sam isn't good at words, but he's a good guy like me, and this gun is for hunting, so there's no need to worry."

The man took off his cowboy hat and smiled apologetically, rubbed his mud-stained palm on the cowboy harness, and shook hands with everyone one by one.

"Sit down, the house is simple, you can only take it casually."

Dean sat down next to Tom and smiled at him, and God Perspective began to check their backpacks and weapons, not fully automatic.

Seeing this, the other teammates sat down.

"I'm Owen and this is Tom, a San Francisco. You still look like students? ”

The man's gaze swept over the green cheeks, stopped on Gretchen's bright face, and then covertly swept the fullness of her chest,

"Hmm."

"Which school?"

"Sacramento, a Louis High School graduate, is currently camping at graduation."

Gretchen looked calm.

Sacramento is in central California, not far from their campsite.

Lang was surprised why his companion was lying, and when he turned his head, he found that Dean who was sitting opposite him gave him a sharp look,

He was inexplicably scared and swallowed the question into his stomach.

"We knew that the two of us were using this house, so we climbed to the top from the other side of the mountain with other classmates."

Gretchen took a sip.

"Oh, there are other students?" The fat man got up and scooped a bowl of steaming stew from the iron pot, tasted a few bites with a spoon, and showed a satisfied expression,

"Well, sixteen classmates... We made an appointment to climb the mountain, and the loser invited everyone to Santa Monica for a seafood dinner. ”

Everyone tacitly did not debunk Gretchen's lies.

"The young man is just energetic, just like my nephew in high school, but after climbing for so long, he will be hungry, right?" The fat man handed the soup bowl to everyone, "Come and taste it, the cotton-tailed rabbit hunted at the bottom of the mountain in the early hours of this morning is stewed just right." ”

There are not so many polite people here, and when they saw that he drank most of the bowl, they scooped a bowl and feasted around the bonfire.

"Well, sweet potatoes, onions, and corn kernels are stewed, and the meat is soft and rotten, and the taste is delicious." Baker complimented, "You can open a meat stew in San Francisco." ”

The fat man suddenly laughed when he heard this,

"Eat with your belly open, there is something in the pot."

The two parties gathered around a crust pot to eat, and the students shared snacks, drinks and beer in their backpacks.

But Tom the Hunter, disgusted with the lackluster of beer, handed the boys in the group a flask full of vodka, and except for Dean, who was not drunk, Rust, Baker, and even the little skinny chicken Ron poured a few large sips into his stomach, and his face was drunk and warm.

Seeing this, Owen, a bearded man with a shiny face, began to tell everyone all kinds of interesting stories encountered during the hunt, and the level of storytelling was very good, with ups and downs, which attracted the attention of the young people.

"Uncle Owen, you're so well-informed, do you know that there's a Wendigo in this mountain?" Ashley thought of her Baker's statement of scaring herself, and asked timidly,

The bearded man smiled and said, "That thing only haunts in the cold winter, and now it's almost summer, and it's sleeping in a cave." ”

"At present, there are only wild boars, stone goats, American badgers, star ferrets, red cats, flying squirrels, pig badgers... When it comes to the hog badger, it usually haunts at night. ”

The bearded man got up in the stunned eyes of everyone and looked out the window at the sky, where the moonlight was sprinkled into the courtyard outside the house like flowing water.

"It's a pleasure to have dinner with such young and energetic students as you, but happiness is always short-lived, and when it's time to hunt, the house is left to you."

The two hunters carried heavy hiking bags and hung the Remington M1100 on their left shoulder and the other AR15 on their right shoulder.

"Goodbye."

The bearded man waved his hand and left the gate with his companion without hesitation.

……

After a long time, the two figures disappeared into the moonlight outside the window, and Gretchen clutched his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You guys watch too many horror movies, who are the bad guys? They have bad intentions, why don't they just coerce us with those three guns" Baker's reddened face was full of confusion from vodka-drunk, and he couldn't help but fight for the two hunters, Jenny and Ashley nodded.

"Bai Chang is such a big man, doesn't he absorb a little nutrient in his brain?" Rust tapped his head, "Who would write bad people and perverts on their faces?" And that Tom has been peeking at the girls in a daze, not like a good person. ”

"How do I remember that you drank several sips of vodka and ate several bowls of stew? You're not afraid that they'll poison you? ”

"You think I'm as careless as you, they take their mouths first, and I don't even start eating."

"Alright, stop arguing." Gretchen stared at the darkness outside the window and muttered, "Safety comes first when you go out, and the most careful thing is people." Don't camp outside tonight, put your sleeping bags in the house, take turns keeping vigils, and grab flare guns and trekking poles. ”

"I'll keep a vigil tonight." Dean said in a deep voice,

He didn't want to sleep soundly and be beaten with a stewed stick, but with the support of iron man talent and balance meditation, he climbed the mountain for a day, and it was okay not to sleep all night.

"Sleep in peace."