Chapter 12 Chapter Four
Masato Eda, carrying a backpack, walked from the underpass of Shinjuku Station to the platform.
Most of the people had already put on thick coats, and people in mountain-climbing attire like Jiang Tian looked particularly eye-catching.During the climbing season, from the underground passages to the ladders, the climbers sit there in groups like some domestic animals, which is no longer seen today.
The clock said ten twenty in the afternoon.The Ping Kuai bound for Nagano leaned against the platform for a long time.Eda walked along the train while looking inside the train.There are people standing in every compartment.
"Mr. Jiang Tian, here."
Someone stuck out a hand from the car window.It was Jiro Makita, wearing a jacket and smiling.Jiang Tian nodded, stepped on the pedal and got into the car.
Makita Jiro sat by the window and greeted Eda with a smile.
"It's late."
Jiang Tian unloaded his backpack and exchanged greetings.
"It's really hard work there."
Makita was polite, and reached out to help Eda stuff the backpack into the rack.Next to it is Makita's old backpack.At a glance, Jiang Tian saw a bouquet of flowers wrapped in white nylon.
Makita Jiro took a seat for Eda on the opposite side.In order not to let others take it, a book was placed on the seat.Jiang Tian looked at the cover and couldn't help being slightly taken aback.It's the November issue of 'Mountain Ridge'.It was the issue that published Urahashi Wuyi's "Notes of a Bereaved Friend".
Makita Jiro picked up the magazine and put it next to his seat, and Eda sat down.
The two met each other, and Makita smiled slightly.
"This train has not been seen for many years. It is still crowded."
It's still that gentle tone.
The seats were all filled, and there were twelve or three others standing.But it was much better than during the climbing season, when even the corridors were full of people.Has Makita Jiro really not been to the mountain for so long?Jiang Tian was suspicious in his heart.
Look at Makita's broad shoulders, and that mountain-climbing attire, it really fits perfectly.Moreover, in the eyes of Eda's experience, his nonchalant but impeccable clothing shows that he is an out-and-out mountain climber.This, as well as the 'Mountain Ridge' magazine rolled into a cylinder and stuffed beside him, made Jiang Tian feel extraordinary.
"How about a little? You can sleep better."
Makita Jiro held out the small bottle of whiskey.
A small cup was stuffed into Jiang Tian's hand.
"I don't always fall asleep on trains. How about you?"
Makita added this while pouring wine for Eda.
"I'm fine, I can sleep."
Jiang Tian stared at the other party as he spoke.Makita Jiro still had a soft smile on his lips.
"That's great. If you can't sleep well, the next day will be enough. Especially if you have to climb mountains."
While Eda was sipping, Makita looked out of the window as if nothing had happened.
"That's right. I heard that my cousin took a berth that time. You took such good care of me."
The remaining wine almost choked Eda.After returning the wine glass, he looked at Makita again, his expression was extremely calm.
"That's because Puqiao, who went with me, is a beginner, so he had to do so."
Jiang Tian responded cautiously.
"It's really necessary. Because the third-class car is so crowded, I can't sleep at all. Xiuxiong must be very comfortable."
Makita's tone was full of gratitude.
Ever since Makita Jiro started talking about sleep in the car, Eda felt that he had other intentions, and secretly checked his expression, but it didn't seem to have any special meaning, and there was still that kind of gentle smile on his lips.
So what is the meaning of using "mountain" to take the place of Jiang Tian?Jiang Tian pondered.A backpack, or a regular weekly magazine will work just as well.The reason why he specially used the magazine that published Urahashi Wuyi's Diary of Mountain Difficulty, was he deliberately wanting Jiang Tian to see it?If so, then what was his intention for running all the way to the scene of his cousin's death?
No, these thoughts are too much, Jiang Tian dispelled his wild thoughts.
Urahashi Goichi's article recorded in detail how Hideo Iwase died.Makita must have read this article many times.The reason why he brought the magazine this time should be very natural.
Thinking of this, he felt his nerves a little restless.
"Driving."
Makita Jiro said while looking out the car window.
Jiang Tian fell asleep in a daze while slightly drunk.The swing of the car is transmitted to the body.From time to time, he felt the presence of Makita Jiro on the opposite side.This can also prove that Jiang Tian is not asleep. Makita Jiro stood up suddenly.Jiang Tian opened his eyes and scratched the smudged window glass with his fingers.The scraped place seemed to have opened a hole, reflecting the scenery outside the window.In the pitch-black mass, the swarthy mountains faded away, and occasionally a lonely lamp was lit far away. Another station passed.In an instant, I saw the name of the station "Shiotsu". For a long time, Makita Jiro did not return to his seat.Thought it was going to the bathroom at first, but it didn't seem like it should take so long.The speed of the car slowed down, and Makita Jiro came back after Otsuki stopped. "It's twenty-five past zero." Seeing Eda awake, Makita said so.Then he glanced at Jiang Tian again. "It seems to be because of the heating equipment. I'm a little thirsty. Shall I go buy some juice?" Although Eda resigned modestly, Makita Jiro went down and bought two bottles on the platform.Although he is big in size, he seems to be very delicate in heart. Jiang Tian was stuffed with a bottle, so he had to drink about half of the bottle.Makita Jiro drank it up as if it was delicious. "How about whiskey?" Makita Jiro asked again. "no thanks." Jiang Tian shook his head. "You seem to have slept well." Makita smiled kindly, took back the small bottle, and took a cigarette.The two smoked together for a while, Jiang Tian just sprayed mouthfuls, but felt that there was no smell at all. The window glass scratched by fingers was covered with heat again.There were snoring sounds all around.The heating made Jiang Tian unconscious again. I don't know how long it took, Eda felt in a trance that Makita got up and left the table again.He closed his eyes and waited for his return. Waited for a long time and still no return.Jiang Tian opened his eyes and saw the magazine on the empty seat opposite.It is the "mountain". Jiang Tian looked at the wrinkled book cover for a while, but took it out to read it unintentionally. Lifting his eyes, he saw the bunch of flowers wrapped in white nylon on Makita Jiro's backpack.The big chrysanthemums are gathered in a pile, sticking out their heads heavily.It was to be thrown at the scene of Hideo Iwase's accident.The petals trembled with the swing of the car. Eda thought of the fair face of Masako Iwase who entrusted this bouquet of flowers to Jiro Makita.Standing in the M Hall, staring at him, vividly in front of my eyes.The eyes and mouth are similar to Hideo Iwase, but completely feminine. Makita Jiro still hasn't come back.Jiang Tian thought of one thing, couldn't help being startled, and got up quickly.He passed through two carriages in a row.The passengers curled up on the corridor moved impatiently. When he opened the door of the last carriage, he saw the writing on the frosted glass door: third-class sleeper car.Jiang Tian took two or three steps forward and opened the door of the carriage. Makita Jiro stood there with his back to him.As expected.Jiang Tian was shocked again. Makita Jiro stood by the corridor window like a car attendant.Looking back at this moment, seeing Jiang Tian, a quiet smile appeared immediately under the dim light.In that way, it seemed that Jiang Tian had long expected that Jiang Tian would follow. "It turns out that it is like this, you must be able to sleep well." Makita glanced at the bunks hung with curtains and said: "It's not easy for someone like me to fall asleep in the car, but with a sleeper ticket, he must be able to sleep soundly." From behind the curtain, there was a snoring sound. Makita Jiro told Eda that he had seen the sleeper, and everything was clear, so he patted Eda on the shoulder with satisfaction, and quietly withdrew. Jiang Tian gradually understood the meaning of some of Makita Jiro's actions. Inside he felt fear and a certain defensiveness.
The two got off at Omachi.Jiro Makita tied the bouquet to his backpack.That way, not without the elegance of an ancient warrior.On the other side of the backpack is a simple alpine water bottle. Makita Jiro's clothing and equipment are all old and dirty, but they also have a completeness that a novice does not have. Eda can tell this at a glance.That appearance is simply a veteran, impeccable.Jiang Tian was oppressed.The two borrowed the key to the cold hut from the leader of the guide guild, and then set off into the mountains. This period was different from the summer period, the bus stopped running, so I had to call a taxi.Makita Jiro was afraid of hurting Hana, so he carefully stuffed his backpack into the car.From the haggard forest, you can see Mount Gun of Kashima from a distance, a piece of powder makeup and jade carving.The protrusions of the south gun and the uplift of the north gun can be seen clearly.When the sky was clear and blue, it was just when the sun was rising, and the snow was shining brilliantly. However, as the car approached the foot of the mountain, the top of the mountain gradually sank to the top of the forest.On the road, apart from farmers driving ox carts, there was not even a shadow of a climber. In the car, Makita Jiro spoke in his usual docile tone.From the bank where Jiang Tian worked, to the prosperity of the society, etc., I asked one by one, and also talked about my various things in the power company. "When do you plan to go back to Sendai?" Jiang Tian also asked. "Come down from the mountain and plan to stay in Tokyo for a day or two before going back." Jiro Makita smoked a cigarette and replied. "Do you climb mountains occasionally?" "I've only climbed Mt. Zao twice in winter. With a job, my time is limited." "Have you been to this Kashima gun mountain many times before?" Jiang Tian deliberately tested it. "No. I only attended Matsumoto High School. But only three times. It was a long time ago." This time it should be honest.Jiang Tian couldn't help admiring him. The car drove past the Kashima Tribe, and the road conditions got worse and worse. "I would like to take the liberty to ask you, how many young masters and daughters are there?" Makita Jiro asked while bouncing along with the car. "No. Not one." Jiang Tian replied with a smile. "Really? That wife must be very lonely." Makita Jiro said with great sympathy.However, Jiang Tian felt a little uneasy in his heart, and peeked at Makita Jiro's face secretly, but it was ordinary when chatting.He mentioned his wife, as if he had no other intention. A river plain suddenly appeared in front of me, and the white mountain appearance of Kashima Gundake also appeared very close.The taxi stopped.This is already the entrance to the Great Lengze. Except for the two of them, there was no one around.The river plain is full of white stones, which look cold and cold. "Shall we have breakfast here?" Makita Jiro suggested politely. "Okay." Jiang Tian responded. He took out the bento from the backpack.Makita Jiro still diligently prepared the alpine stove, boiled water, and made a cup of black tea for Eda. "Excuse me. Thank you." Eda followed obediently.The heat from the cup is immediately transferred to the hand. "How many years has it been? It's been a long time since I saw this mountain." Jiro Makita pointed his eyes at Gundake Kashima towering across from him.Due to the direct sunlight, the new snow is divided into distinct bright parts and dark parts, forming a three-dimensional painting. "Mr. Jiang Tian, have you climbed many times?" "It's not too many, and I often go to the next mountain." Jiang Tian answered as conservatively as possible. "That's for sure. It's full of coveted mountains." Makita said it as if he was envious.At this time, he seems to have returned to the mood of his student days.Eda imagined his daily life hiding in the boring countryside in the Northeast. Makita Jiro looked at his watch. "It's been forty minutes. It's time to start." The two got up. Eda leads, and Makita Jiro follows behind. While walking on the trail in the forest, Eda suddenly understood the meaning of Makita Jiro's nonchalant words, "Forty minutes have passed. It's time to leave." That was the time when I took a rest at the same place with Hideo Iwase and the others. Jiang Tian felt that his steps almost slipped. At Nishimata Chuhe, the snow was five to six centimeters thick. "Rest?" Makita Jiro spoke from behind. The moment Eda Masatoshi heard this proposal, he immediately felt that he was here, and he would take a rest for forty minutes.The time I brought Iwase Hideo and Urahashi Goichi here happened to be such a long rest. "Ah, there is a bridge." Makita looked at the suspension bridge over the stream and asked, "When was it built?" "last year." Makita Jiro didn't understand this, which made Jiang Tian feel relieved.Makita also looked at several nearby road signs and said: "Kashima Gundake has improved a lot compared to before." It seems to be comparing with his student days.It looked like he hadn't been here for more than ten years. On the front of the V-shaped valley, Nanqiang Mountain and Kashima East Ridge are covered with snow, which are vivid and picturesque, with thin clouds flying past under the ridge line. Makita Jiro put his feet on the rocks in the stream, bent down, and filled the kettle with water.It turned out that he also knew that there would be no more water.But this is common sense and nothing to worry about.It's just that his way of adding water seems to be imitating Hideo Iwase's movements, which is not without worry. Jiang Tian looked at his watch. "Shall we hit the road?" With a sigh, Makita Jiro opened his mouth from the side.Exactly forty minutes passed.Jiang Tian trembled his fingers slightly, and grabbed the backpack. It is clear enough that Makita Jiro is experimenting with something.He must have memorized the records written by Uichi Urahashi on the 'Mountain Ridge'.In other words, he intentionally checked how much time he walked during that period, how many times he rested on the way, and how many minutes he spent on the itinerary.The book 'Mountains' was in his bag.Judging by his appearance, he has memorized all the details in his mind, to the point where there is no need to take out the magazine to read it. Now that he understands what people want, he must take appropriate countermeasures, Masatoshi Eda thought.What exactly did Jiro Makita read from that article, and what kind of strategy is he going to use?Until this time, Jiang Tian considered himself an active mountain climber, thinking that he was slightly better than the other party. One-third of the difficult uphill road on Chiyan Ridge has passed.The forest belt is full of annoying tree trunks and branches.The scenery that cannot be seen here is a boring journey, which is the same no matter whether it is summer or winter. "Wait." Makita Jiro shouted from behind. "Would you like to rest here for a while?" Eda stopped moving forward, turned his head to see Makita brushed the snow off the path, and sat down on the root of a tree.Then, he unloaded his backpack and searched his pocket for cigarettes. "I heard that Xiuxiong drank a lot of water here, right?" Makita said, exhaling smoke into the cold air. "Yes. I'll be very thirsty, because it's summer." Jiang Tian replied. "However, it seems that I drank too much." Makita squinted his eyes in the smoke and said this, and then said: "He seems to be very tired. Looking at the article written by Urahashi, that guy Xiuxiong seems to be wrong from the beginning. It's really useless to sleep on the sleeper all night and still look like that." These words seemed to be scolding his cousin, but he suddenly remembered and asked Jiang Tian: "Did he sleep well? According to the article, you woke up in the middle of the night, and he was snoring on the top bunk." "That's right. When I wake up in the middle of the night, it does." "I see." Makita thought for a while, looked at his watch and said, "Let's go." After saying that, Makita picked up his backpack.At this time, I had rested for about twenty minutes.It happened to be the time for Iwase Hideo to rest. After climbing for a while, Makita said: "Mr. Jiang Tian." Here we go again, Masatoshi Eda thought.Sure enough, he asked for a rest.It was exactly the same as what Hideo Iwase did, the difference was that Makita Jiro's breathing was not disturbed at all. "Mr. Jiang Tian." After a while, Makita shouted again.Jiang Tian reprimanded in his heart: Fuck you, no matter what you think, you can't scare me. However, this time, Makita didn't say that he wanted to rest. He walked over steadily and said without raising his head: "Taking off the backpack and resting too many times for too long, it turns out that you are more likely to get tired." Jiang Tian's heart skipped a beat.Makita Jiro knew this, and he was experimenting with it. "can you?" Eda Masatoshi ignored him, and only responded ambiguously.His implication is: not necessarily, but for your sake, I have no objection to this statement.In fact, he was quite restless. Eda told himself: Don't underestimate Makita, otherwise you may suffer a crushing defeat.This opponent knew a lot, and had to reassess. At this time, a voice came from above.From the withered woods, a black thing moved in and out of sight.Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a climber who came down. The man looked dirty and rough, like a wanderer, but Jiang Tian, who was leading the way, quickly saw that he was a very experienced climber.The bearded face was unfamiliar. "Hello." The other party said hello and passed by.But what was even more surprising was that this person actually shouted to Jiro Makita behind him. "Wow, isn't this Makita Jiro?" Makita Jiro's high-pitched voice also came from behind. "It's you." Jiang Tian looked back and saw that the two were patting each other's shoulders. "It's so strange to see you here." It's Makita. "It's rare to encounter it in the mountains, but it's not unusual anywhere." The man's rough voice shouted again. "That's right. You are a mountain man, and you haven't changed at all." "I thought you were sent to the northeast, so you must be walking around Mount Zao, but unexpectedly you will come here as well." "It's because my cousin died in a mountain accident, just this summer. I'm going to hang a memorial ceremony." "Where?" "Over Niu Shou Mountain. I went the wrong way and froze to death." "I've heard of it too." Shanren said, "So it's your cousin." "At first, I thought the mountains were interesting, so I was self-righteous. We all had those days." "Yeah. We all had adventurous days. But the recent mountaineering fever is really terrible. Some young guys seem to be desperate. It makes people sweat. When we were young, we didn't dare to do it." , I started working. No, no, I didn’t mean to say your cousin. But you said that you want to go up to hang sacrifices, but you have a heart. I’m dead, so go up for me.” "A fellow like you must die in the valley of trouble, mustn't he?" "Probably. I want to die in a place that others dare not touch." The mountain man laughed triumphantly. "Okay. Take care then." "Take care of yourself." Shanren raised one hand, as if breaking up on a street corner, and went down the path without looking back. "That guy, only half of the soles of both feet are left, cut off by frostbite." Makita Jiro said to Eda who was standing there blankly.Seeing that Eda was silent, Makita added another sentence: "Wearing hiking boots, of course you can't see it, but he's limping on flat ground." "What is your name?" "Toki Makichi. When I was studying in Matsumoto High School, he and I were both in the mountain club." Jiang Tian widened his eyes.The name Toki Shinkichi is legendary among the older generation of mountaineers.He is also one of the pioneers who climbed the Northern Alps during the snow season.Jiang Tian had seen and heard of this name in some mountaineering magazines and rumors, but today was the first time he saw him. Makita Jiro had been with such a person. Masatoshi Eda has always felt that he has a sense of superiority over Makita Jiro who is "actively serving", and this superiority is completely shattered at this moment. In his eyes, Makita Jiro suddenly swelled up, and he couldn't help being terrified of it.
Jiang Tian fell asleep in a daze while slightly drunk.The swing of the car is transmitted to the body.From time to time, he felt the presence of Makita Jiro on the opposite side.This can also prove that Jiang Tian is not asleep. Makita Jiro stood up suddenly.Jiang Tian opened his eyes and scratched the smudged window glass with his fingers.The scraped place seemed to have opened a hole, reflecting the scenery outside the window.In the pitch-black mass, the swarthy mountains faded away, and occasionally a lonely lamp was lit far away. Another station passed.In an instant, I saw the name of the station "Shiotsu". For a long time, Makita Jiro did not return to his seat.Thought it was going to the bathroom at first, but it didn't seem like it should take so long.The speed of the car slowed down, and Makita Jiro came back after Otsuki stopped. "It's twenty-five past zero." Seeing Eda awake, Makita said so.Then he glanced at Jiang Tian again. "It seems to be because of the heating equipment. I'm a little thirsty. Shall I go buy some juice?" Although Eda resigned modestly, Makita Jiro went down and bought two bottles on the platform.Although he is big in size, he seems to be very delicate in heart. Jiang Tian was stuffed with a bottle, so he had to drink about half of the bottle.Makita Jiro drank it up as if it was delicious. "How about whiskey?" Makita Jiro asked again. "no thanks." Jiang Tian shook his head. "You seem to have slept well." Makita smiled kindly, took back the small bottle, and took a cigarette.The two smoked together for a while, Jiang Tian just sprayed mouthfuls, but felt that there was no smell at all. The window glass scratched by fingers was covered with heat again.There were snoring sounds all around.The heating made Jiang Tian unconscious again. I don't know how long it took, Eda felt in a trance that Makita got up and left the table again.He closed his eyes and waited for his return. Waited for a long time and still no return.Jiang Tian opened his eyes and saw the magazine on the empty seat opposite.It is the "mountain". Jiang Tian looked at the wrinkled book cover for a while, but took it out to read it unintentionally. Lifting his eyes, he saw the bunch of flowers wrapped in white nylon on Makita Jiro's backpack.The big chrysanthemums are gathered in a pile, sticking out their heads heavily.It was to be thrown at the scene of Hideo Iwase's accident.The petals trembled with the swing of the car. Eda thought of the fair face of Masako Iwase who entrusted this bouquet of flowers to Jiro Makita.Standing in the M Hall, staring at him, vividly in front of my eyes.The eyes and mouth are similar to Hideo Iwase, but completely feminine. Makita Jiro still hasn't come back.Jiang Tian thought of one thing, couldn't help being startled, and got up quickly.He passed through two carriages in a row.The passengers curled up on the corridor moved impatiently. When he opened the door of the last carriage, he saw the writing on the frosted glass door: third-class sleeper car.Jiang Tian took two or three steps forward and opened the door of the carriage. Makita Jiro stood there with his back to him.As expected.Jiang Tian was shocked again. Makita Jiro stood by the corridor window like a car attendant.Looking back at this moment, seeing Jiang Tian, a quiet smile appeared immediately under the dim light.In that way, it seemed that Jiang Tian had long expected that Jiang Tian would follow. "It turns out that it is like this, you must be able to sleep well." Makita glanced at the bunks hung with curtains and said: "It's not easy for someone like me to fall asleep in the car, but with a sleeper ticket, he must be able to sleep soundly." From behind the curtain, there was a snoring sound. Makita Jiro told Eda that he had seen the sleeper, and everything was clear, so he patted Eda on the shoulder with satisfaction, and quietly withdrew. Jiang Tian gradually understood the meaning of some of Makita Jiro's actions. Inside he felt fear and a certain defensiveness.
The two got off at Omachi.Jiro Makita tied the bouquet to his backpack.That way, not without the elegance of an ancient warrior.On the other side of the backpack is a simple alpine water bottle. Makita Jiro's clothing and equipment are all old and dirty, but they also have a completeness that a novice does not have. Eda can tell this at a glance.That appearance is simply a veteran, impeccable.Jiang Tian was oppressed.The two borrowed the key to the cold hut from the leader of the guide guild, and then set off into the mountains. This period was different from the summer period, the bus stopped running, so I had to call a taxi.Makita Jiro was afraid of hurting Hana, so he carefully stuffed his backpack into the car.From the haggard forest, you can see Mount Gun of Kashima from a distance, a piece of powder makeup and jade carving.The protrusions of the south gun and the uplift of the north gun can be seen clearly.When the sky was clear and blue, it was just when the sun was rising, and the snow was shining brilliantly. However, as the car approached the foot of the mountain, the top of the mountain gradually sank to the top of the forest.On the road, apart from farmers driving ox carts, there was not even a shadow of a climber. In the car, Makita Jiro spoke in his usual docile tone.From the bank where Jiang Tian worked, to the prosperity of the society, etc., I asked one by one, and also talked about my various things in the power company. "When do you plan to go back to Sendai?" Jiang Tian also asked. "Come down from the mountain and plan to stay in Tokyo for a day or two before going back." Jiro Makita smoked a cigarette and replied. "Do you climb mountains occasionally?" "I've only climbed Mt. Zao twice in winter. With a job, my time is limited." "Have you been to this Kashima gun mountain many times before?" Jiang Tian deliberately tested it. "No. I only attended Matsumoto High School. But only three times. It was a long time ago." This time it should be honest.Jiang Tian couldn't help admiring him. The car drove past the Kashima Tribe, and the road conditions got worse and worse. "I would like to take the liberty to ask you, how many young masters and daughters are there?" Makita Jiro asked while bouncing along with the car. "No. Not one." Jiang Tian replied with a smile. "Really? That wife must be very lonely." Makita Jiro said with great sympathy.However, Jiang Tian felt a little uneasy in his heart, and peeked at Makita Jiro's face secretly, but it was ordinary when chatting.He mentioned his wife, as if he had no other intention. A river plain suddenly appeared in front of me, and the white mountain appearance of Kashima Gundake also appeared very close.The taxi stopped.This is already the entrance to the Great Lengze. Except for the two of them, there was no one around.The river plain is full of white stones, which look cold and cold. "Shall we have breakfast here?" Makita Jiro suggested politely. "Okay." Jiang Tian responded. He took out the bento from the backpack.Makita Jiro still diligently prepared the alpine stove, boiled water, and made a cup of black tea for Eda. "Excuse me. Thank you." Eda followed obediently.The heat from the cup is immediately transferred to the hand. "How many years has it been? It's been a long time since I saw this mountain." Jiro Makita pointed his eyes at Gundake Kashima towering across from him.Due to the direct sunlight, the new snow is divided into distinct bright parts and dark parts, forming a three-dimensional painting. "Mr. Jiang Tian, have you climbed many times?" "It's not too many, and I often go to the next mountain." Jiang Tian answered as conservatively as possible. "That's for sure. It's full of coveted mountains." Makita said it as if he was envious.At this time, he seems to have returned to the mood of his student days.Eda imagined his daily life hiding in the boring countryside in the Northeast. Makita Jiro looked at his watch. "It's been forty minutes. It's time to start." The two got up. Eda leads, and Makita Jiro follows behind. While walking on the trail in the forest, Eda suddenly understood the meaning of Makita Jiro's nonchalant words, "Forty minutes have passed. It's time to leave." That was the time when I took a rest at the same place with Hideo Iwase and the others. Jiang Tian felt that his steps almost slipped. At Nishimata Chuhe, the snow was five to six centimeters thick. "Rest?" Makita Jiro spoke from behind. The moment Eda Masatoshi heard this proposal, he immediately felt that he was here, and he would take a rest for forty minutes.The time I brought Iwase Hideo and Urahashi Goichi here happened to be such a long rest. "Ah, there is a bridge." Makita looked at the suspension bridge over the stream and asked, "When was it built?" "last year." Makita Jiro didn't understand this, which made Jiang Tian feel relieved.Makita also looked at several nearby road signs and said: "Kashima Gundake has improved a lot compared to before." It seems to be comparing with his student days.It looked like he hadn't been here for more than ten years. On the front of the V-shaped valley, Nanqiang Mountain and Kashima East Ridge are covered with snow, which are vivid and picturesque, with thin clouds flying past under the ridge line. Makita Jiro put his feet on the rocks in the stream, bent down, and filled the kettle with water.It turned out that he also knew that there would be no more water.But this is common sense and nothing to worry about.It's just that his way of adding water seems to be imitating Hideo Iwase's movements, which is not without worry. Jiang Tian looked at his watch. "Shall we hit the road?" With a sigh, Makita Jiro opened his mouth from the side.Exactly forty minutes passed.Jiang Tian trembled his fingers slightly, and grabbed the backpack. It is clear enough that Makita Jiro is experimenting with something.He must have memorized the records written by Uichi Urahashi on the 'Mountain Ridge'.In other words, he intentionally checked how much time he walked during that period, how many times he rested on the way, and how many minutes he spent on the itinerary.The book 'Mountains' was in his bag.Judging by his appearance, he has memorized all the details in his mind, to the point where there is no need to take out the magazine to read it. Now that he understands what people want, he must take appropriate countermeasures, Masatoshi Eda thought.What exactly did Jiro Makita read from that article, and what kind of strategy is he going to use?Until this time, Jiang Tian considered himself an active mountain climber, thinking that he was slightly better than the other party. One-third of the difficult uphill road on Chiyan Ridge has passed.The forest belt is full of annoying tree trunks and branches.The scenery that cannot be seen here is a boring journey, which is the same no matter whether it is summer or winter. "Wait." Makita Jiro shouted from behind. "Would you like to rest here for a while?" Eda stopped moving forward, turned his head to see Makita brushed the snow off the path, and sat down on the root of a tree.Then, he unloaded his backpack and searched his pocket for cigarettes. "I heard that Xiuxiong drank a lot of water here, right?" Makita said, exhaling smoke into the cold air. "Yes. I'll be very thirsty, because it's summer." Jiang Tian replied. "However, it seems that I drank too much." Makita squinted his eyes in the smoke and said this, and then said: "He seems to be very tired. Looking at the article written by Urahashi, that guy Xiuxiong seems to be wrong from the beginning. It's really useless to sleep on the sleeper all night and still look like that." These words seemed to be scolding his cousin, but he suddenly remembered and asked Jiang Tian: "Did he sleep well? According to the article, you woke up in the middle of the night, and he was snoring on the top bunk." "That's right. When I wake up in the middle of the night, it does." "I see." Makita thought for a while, looked at his watch and said, "Let's go." After saying that, Makita picked up his backpack.At this time, I had rested for about twenty minutes.It happened to be the time for Iwase Hideo to rest. After climbing for a while, Makita said: "Mr. Jiang Tian." Here we go again, Masatoshi Eda thought.Sure enough, he asked for a rest.It was exactly the same as what Hideo Iwase did, the difference was that Makita Jiro's breathing was not disturbed at all. "Mr. Jiang Tian." After a while, Makita shouted again.Jiang Tian reprimanded in his heart: Fuck you, no matter what you think, you can't scare me. However, this time, Makita didn't say that he wanted to rest. He walked over steadily and said without raising his head: "Taking off the backpack and resting too many times for too long, it turns out that you are more likely to get tired." Jiang Tian's heart skipped a beat.Makita Jiro knew this, and he was experimenting with it. "can you?" Eda Masatoshi ignored him, and only responded ambiguously.His implication is: not necessarily, but for your sake, I have no objection to this statement.In fact, he was quite restless. Eda told himself: Don't underestimate Makita, otherwise you may suffer a crushing defeat.This opponent knew a lot, and had to reassess. At this time, a voice came from above.From the withered woods, a black thing moved in and out of sight.Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a climber who came down. The man looked dirty and rough, like a wanderer, but Jiang Tian, who was leading the way, quickly saw that he was a very experienced climber.The bearded face was unfamiliar. "Hello." The other party said hello and passed by.But what was even more surprising was that this person actually shouted to Jiro Makita behind him. "Wow, isn't this Makita Jiro?" Makita Jiro's high-pitched voice also came from behind. "It's you." Jiang Tian looked back and saw that the two were patting each other's shoulders. "It's so strange to see you here." It's Makita. "It's rare to encounter it in the mountains, but it's not unusual anywhere." The man's rough voice shouted again. "That's right. You are a mountain man, and you haven't changed at all." "I thought you were sent to the northeast, so you must be walking around Mount Zao, but unexpectedly you will come here as well." "It's because my cousin died in a mountain accident, just this summer. I'm going to hang a memorial ceremony." "Where?" "Over Niu Shou Mountain. I went the wrong way and froze to death." "I've heard of it too." Shanren said, "So it's your cousin." "At first, I thought the mountains were interesting, so I was self-righteous. We all had those days." "Yeah. We all had adventurous days. But the recent mountaineering fever is really terrible. Some young guys seem to be desperate. It makes people sweat. When we were young, we didn't dare to do it." , I started working. No, no, I didn’t mean to say your cousin. But you said that you want to go up to hang sacrifices, but you have a heart. I’m dead, so go up for me.” "A fellow like you must die in the valley of trouble, mustn't he?" "Probably. I want to die in a place that others dare not touch." The mountain man laughed triumphantly. "Okay. Take care then." "Take care of yourself." Shanren raised one hand, as if breaking up on a street corner, and went down the path without looking back. "That guy, only half of the soles of both feet are left, cut off by frostbite." Makita Jiro said to Eda who was standing there blankly.Seeing that Eda was silent, Makita added another sentence: "Wearing hiking boots, of course you can't see it, but he's limping on flat ground." "What is your name?" "Toki Makichi. When I was studying in Matsumoto High School, he and I were both in the mountain club." Jiang Tian widened his eyes.The name Toki Shinkichi is legendary among the older generation of mountaineers.He is also one of the pioneers who climbed the Northern Alps during the snow season.Jiang Tian had seen and heard of this name in some mountaineering magazines and rumors, but today was the first time he saw him. Makita Jiro had been with such a person. Masatoshi Eda has always felt that he has a sense of superiority over Makita Jiro who is "actively serving", and this superiority is completely shattered at this moment. In his eyes, Makita Jiro suddenly swelled up, and he couldn't help being terrified of it.