Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Fatigue Bombing

On the part of Mr. Li, when he woke up, he felt that he was too absurd. He confessed one more time and called out "the soul is back".But on Mrs. Li's side, she suspected that she was too stimulated last night, so she kept letting her husband mind it, so she laughed and said, "Why do you keep bringing up the past? Just wash your face and drink tea. Everything will be for you." Ready." Mr. Li came into the room and washed his face, Mrs. Li poured a cup of hot tea and put it in front of him with both hands, and said with a smile: "I apologize to you." She hooked her head as she spoke.Li Nanquan took the teacup, said "Ah yo" and said, "Yun, isn't there something wrong with this? You must know that once a person is poor, he likes to pretend to be a celebrity, so that he can cover up many poor appearances by not wearing clothes or shoes. .Last night was the apex of the Celebrity Pie, and I changed it later. Mrs. Li smiled and said, "I like your Celebrity Pie.In this, you can often see your innocence. Mr. Li said: "Sometimes you have a little childish temper, and I will forgive you, because it is also a part of innocence." "The two were talking here when they suddenly heard someone outside saying: "How much is a ticket?" This was a bit sudden. When his husband and wife looked out, it was Mrs. Xi, the principal of the family college, who came. She was always like that, wearing a half-new white flower gown, dragging a pair of leather slippers on her feet, and her face never looked like that. Shi rouge, thin long hair, and two small pigtails with mouse tails. He held an English magazine in his hand. On the cover of the magazine was clearly printed an English word: Time. Li Nanquan smiled and said: " What tickets do you sell?don't know. She laughed and said, "Your husband and wife are performing a drama, let's see, do you want to buy a ticket?" Mrs. Li laughed and said: "Because we had a little misunderstanding, we explained to each other, and there may be a little politeness in the semantics."Mrs. Xi is really versatile, and she can read English again. Mrs. Xi took the book and said, "This is a family magazine. There are many things for us to refer to." Li Nanquan looked at the cover of the book and said with a smile, "How many English magazines have you bought?" She said: "Mr. Xi brought back a few copies, all of which are family magazines."Lend it to you when you dodge the alarm. Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Then it's not the person you sent off."My English is still at the junior high school level, how can I read English magazines. "

Following these words, another wife interjected from behind: "What's the matter? I'm afraid we will ask for advice, so be polite." This wife spoke with a strong Changsha voice.As soon as I heard it, I knew it was Mrs. Shi Zhengshan.She is another type of woman in Shujian District, a figure between professional women and housewives.She has a round face, and because of the women's movement discussion, she never wears makeup on her face, her hair is braided on the back of her head, and she is always wearing a blue cloth coat.However, when she was young, she had the title of beauty, and now she is middle-aged, and she can't bear to sacrifice this memorable title.Therefore, the hair was combed smooth, and after washing the face with soap, a thin layer of cream was applied.That means that as long as people can't see that she uses cosmetics, she still uses cosmetics as much as possible.She followed Mrs. Xi and came with a pad in her hand, as if she had come for something.Li Nanquan let the two wives into the room, and Mrs. Shi said: "If you have nothing to do, you can go to the Three Treasures Hall. I have something to ask Mr. Li. I don't know if it may be a way of saving face?" .Mr. Li stayed in Changsha for a period of time in his youth.At that time, young men and women spoke a kind of playful Changsha dialect, which used to be this way, which made him immediately look forward to the golden age of the past.Then he smiled and said, "As long as I can do it, I will follow my orders." Mrs. Xi said she was a little more familiar with the Li family, and said with a smile: "How dare you not agree? Mrs. Shi wants to organize a women's work-study cooperative, please You are the initiator." Li Nanquan nodded and said: "Although I am not a woman, I am also optimistic about its success, but there is a caveat. If it is a shareholding, my strength is extremely small." Mrs. Shi smiled and said: " That's the second step. If you get money, you can also be the initiator. Please sign this book."

Li Nanquan smiled and said: "No problem, we can buy some cheap things in the future." When he said that, he took the book and looked at it, there was a relationship written on it.The site of this cooperative is in a small town ten miles away. Yin shook his head and said, "It's unbelievably cheap. Who would travel such a long way for a small price?" Mrs. Shi said, "That's okay, I go once every three or two days, and I will bring back what you want, and everyone will share it.” Mrs. Li said: “You are often not at home, and I thought you were not afraid of air raids, so you went to the city. Township. You housekeeper wife, you can rest assured and leave the family aside." Mrs. Xi patted Mrs. Shi on the shoulder and said with a smile: "She is very capable. Xiaoqing, who was trained with one hand, is the head of the family. She is good at everything. And she is doing a secret job with her wife." Li Nanquan was shocked when he heard this, and thought, this lady is open, so don't say anything, but She didn't feel any embarrassment, and continued to say: "Xiaoqing is the chief of the wife's intelligence department. She will secretly report to the wife about every move of the husband. After the wife leaves, the wife's eyes and ears stay at home. What's the matter?" Shi The wife said with a smile: "You make me sound like this. You managed to control your husband if he didn't buy cigarettes, so I asked him if he wanted to buy cigarettes. Mrs. Li, how do you manage your husband?" Mrs. Li shook her head. Said: "I'm a coward, he just doesn't care about me, I still want to care about him!" Mrs. Xi became anxious, and she also rushed out her hometown dialect, and shouted with a smile: "What kind of gossip? ) Want to restore Zan (dictatorship)? Lu Ya (Master) can publicly (open) Ya Bo (oppression) Tete (wife).” She said, she slapped the English magazine in her hand on the table.The two wives coaxed together, and the master felt his head swell.He immediately signed the book, took the book, made a bow to Mrs. Shi and said with a smile: "I have signed, is there anything else I can do?" Mrs. Shi smiled and said: "There is nothing now. Things are bothering each other, and there will always be a lot of things to ask for advice in the future. Let's go, Mrs. Xi, how many houses do I have to go to?"

Of course, the master would not hold back such a guest, and personally sent them to the corridor to break up.He returned to the house and smiled at his wife: "These two ladies are both qualified to be officials, and they play the conch very loudly. The most interesting thing is to avoid this neighbor. She likes to show off her English. So what if her English is good?" What? Her Youie way of teaching is not to be the principal of the family university at home." Mrs. Li said: "Whatever you do with her, anyway, it is enough for Mr. Xi to admire her. It is almost time to raise the alarm, you If you want to eat something, I will prepare it for you early." Li Nanquan said: "What else are you preparing? Let's eat if there is anything. I'll go and see if the ball has been hung?" He said, and walked to the back of the house.From a long distance, I saw two people standing on the sidewalk facing outward on the hillside.One is Mr. Wu, and the other is Mrs. Zhen's young master.Wu Chunpu waved to him, and said with a smile, "Come on. We just happen to have one from each of our three families to serve as surveillance posts here." Seeing his situation, Li Nanquan guessed that he hadn't hung the ball, so he smiled and said, "Don't let go of the alarm." , I kept muttering in my heart, and I sounded the alarm, but I was determined to run away." As he spoke, he came forward and looked at the town below the mountain, where the flagpole with the ball was standing on the top of a green tree. .Wu Chunpu smiled and said, "I'm so busy with my meals, I've packed the stools, and everything is ready. As soon as the red ball is hung up, I'll leave immediately." Li Nanquan shook his head and said, "This is not the way. I didn't plan ahead. Alarm, everyone listened to the sound of the alarm before leaving. Since the method of hanging the ball has been introduced, it is a step further than the alert of setting off the alarm, and those who hide from the alarm are also one step earlier. Amidst the sound of the siren, the mental loss is too great to count. From now on, I will change my approach, and I will not leave unless I set off the air raid siren." She cried out so lovingly.But it's because of the love of his parents. Parents want him to avoid the alarm, which is more concerned than him avoiding the alarm.

After suffering from the long-term air raid yesterday, Mrs. Zhen has already asked my younger brother to see the red ball three times.The younger brother borrowed a martial arts novel and read it very interestingly, so I am very troubled by this matter.At this time, he simply put the novel in his shorts pocket, and was going to sit on the hillside and read a book.But the big trees on the hillside were all chopped down by powerful people.Without a shaded place, there is still no way.After Li and Wu finished speaking, he interjected: "The enemy's plane is really annoying, can't we deal with him?" Li Nanquan smiled and said, "When you and your classmates can fly planes, there will be a way." Yes." The younger brother said: "I was willing to study the Air Force. My father said that when I was old enough to take the Air Force exam, he also agreed for me to take the exam. But there is one condition, that people like Adjutant Liu and Adjutant Huang must You can let me go no longer as an adjutant." Li Nanquan said with a smile: "I understand what your father means. But if they don't become adjutants, they should not ask about Chinese affairs. They have become bigger officials. Let's not dream of that. They can't be poor, and they can't be idle." Wu Chunpu pouted his lips on the sidewalk across the mountain stream, and said with a low laugh, "He's coming." Sure enough, he stood there, waved his hand from a distance, and called: "Li Get ready, sir. Thirty-six planes have taken off in Wuhan." Li Nanquan said, "When did you get the news?" He said, "I just got the phone number in the city. You'd better bring a few pieces of soap stained with soapy water. Wet towel." Wu Chunpu said in surprise: "What? The enemy will drop poison gas bombs?" Adjutant Liu said: "That's not sure!" He hurried to the street as he spoke.Behind him was a large group of men and women carrying burdens and small boxes, walking forward in a row, and had already started to grab a good position in the air-raid shelter.After hearing the news, the younger brother turned pale, turned around, and was about to leave.Li Nanquan grabbed him, because he said: "Don't believe what he said, he is alarmist. He has not received any report from the enemy. How would he know that the gas bomb was dropped today?"

As soon as this was said, Wu Chunpu also wanted to come over, because he said: "This is the truth, how could he know that the enemy would release poisonous gas?" The younger brother checked that the red ball in the town was not hanging, so he didn't leave.But Mrs. Zhen came, stood under the eaves tremblingly, and asked from a distance: "Is there any news?" The anti-aircraft clothes also came, and asked: "Is there no hanging ball? Look at those people walking on the road." Li Nanquan said: "The hanging ball is to prepare for a rainy day. They don't wait to hang the ball, and then make a rainy plan." Why not!" The two wives stood under the eaves, looked around at the sky, and seemed to be unable to believe Mr. Li's explanation.At this moment, another group of people came into the valley from the bottom of the mountain and walked into the mountain. Among them, a lady from Jiangsu waved her hands and said, "Lao Li, don't you plan to leave? The situation today is probably worse than Yesterday was even fiercer, I don’t want to hide in the public cave, I want to go to the mountains, will you go?” Mrs. Li smiled and said: “I’m timid, with my head open, I’m afraid to see the plane, I’d better hide in the cave What are you busy with now?" Mrs. Jiangsu said: "I have to go anyway, so why bother to hang up the ball? Yesterday, when the air raid siren was sounded, the fighter jets came. Sweaty." That's what she said, standing on the edge of the sidewalk.There were two men behind, let go of their steps, ran away, rushed to wipe them away.There was a boy next to Mrs. Jiangsu. He said "there is an alarm" and pulled the boy away.The passers-by on the main road were all attracted by these two fast-paced men and started running together. Mrs. Zhen quickly asked, "Is there an alarm? If you don't hang up the ball, the alarm will come. Ah, it's going to be embarrassing." The two runners met the guards in the village and asked, "What are you running for?" One of them replied, "Nothing, it's easy to play." Started, shouting "nothing, nothing".

Mrs. Li asked: "Isn't it an alarm? But I was startled." Just as she was talking, across the creek diagonally, there was a series of "dang bang dang bang".Mrs. Zhen said: "Ah, knocking the gong? Is it the alarm?" The younger brother stood on the hillside, looking around, shaking his hands and laughing: "No, no, the Wang family threw a broken foreign iron washbasin across the street. Go to the ravine." Although he explained this, the children of Yuan's house, the neighbor next door, ran out of the house in a panic, shouting, "Air raid siren, air raid siren, strike the gong!" Li Nanquan shook his head and said: " This has really caused turmoil and panic. The psychological impact of this air raid on the people is really too great." Mrs. Li smiled wryly.Mrs. Zhen took her hand, shook it twice, and said with a smile, "It's shocking." Wu Chunpu said with a smile, "Go back, let him hang the ball or not. Friends who want to be safe, you can bring your things right away. Wait in the air-raid shelter. Anyway, there is always such a trip every day." He said, and walked down the slope slowly.Li Nanquan and the younger brother also came down, Mrs. Li said: "This big sun, guarding the red ball on the hillside, that's not an option. After ten or twenty minutes, we can take turns to look at it." Li Nanquan said with a smile: "I thought you really gave up on the plan of guarding the red ball. It turns out that you still have to come every ten minutes." Mrs. Zhen gritted her teeth and shook her head. Instead, they smiled and walked home.At this time, Li Nanquan felt uncomfortable reading and writing, so he simply chatted with his wife and reported what happened last night in detail.She sat on the chair near the door, and said with a smile: "So there are these reasons. If you come back, tell me, so as to avoid a lot of misunderstandings." Li Nanquan said: "If I haven't told you by now, wouldn't I still be here?" Misunderstood?" She laughed and said, "Why didn't you tell me?" She opened the door as she said, but there was a whining sound.She stood up suddenly and said, "This time the alarm was really set off."

Li Nanquan smiled and said, "You forgot a joke. When we lived in the countryside of Nanjing, we heard the donkey braying in the mill and thought it was an emergency alarm. Now the air raid alarm is not..." Mrs. Li also recognized it , suddenly laughed and said: "It's true that all trees are soldiers. This is the mosquito swarm in the corner of the door, which shocked me." Li Nanquan laughed and said: "We can rest easy. Now that there is a moon, it may be that the enemy plane is coming in the afternoon. In connection with the air raid at night, let’s have lunch early. After dinner, we will take a nap. At night, we cheer up and go into the air-raid shelter.” Mrs. Li laughed and said, “It’s so noisy. We arrive in one day now. At night, I was always worrying about the alarm. I also lost my mind, ignored him, and continued to do my business." Having said that, she ran to the back room and took out a watch from under the pillow to look at it. take a look.This watch was stored for three years before the war. The balance was completely tired and had to be repaired at least twice a year.It has just been repaired recently, so it is still walking.She looked at her watch and said with a smile, "It's only ten o'clock." Li Nanquan laughed in the outside room and said, "You said you didn't worry about the alarm, but after you said that, you went to look at your watch again. What's the use of looking at a watch? I can only ask for a storm in the world, and blow all the enemy planes that take off into the Yangtze River." Mrs. Li smiled and said: "I don't deny that I am a fool. However, people who do not admit that they are fools have few ways to deal with the enemy. Air strikes, just talking about the air campaign, how many times have I paid for it, I can’t guess which plane my money is on, maybe, after the money has been turned into foreign exchange, it is frozen in the United States.” Li Nanquan said with a smile: “ You are too optimistic when you say this. However, I am not pessimistic. It was reported in the newspaper that Germany dispatched two or three thousand planes. He also did not blow up the small British Isles. Japan came to a hundred An airplane, such a big China, is unshakable."

Wu Chunpu laughed outside the window and said, "I think people who talk about the alarm are not necessarily timid. Who is not afraid of death? Only those who are afraid of the alarm and say they are not afraid are hypocritical." Li Nanquan sat in the room, Already started work, lying on the table to write.After hearing the neighbor's words, he felt a little bit, and felt that it was inappropriate for everyone to take the issue of the alarm to heart.And he stopped answering out of the window.Amid the uneasiness of everyone, people in the village started cooking after noon.While eating lunch, I saw those who had gone to escape the air raids to prepare for a rainy day came back in groups.Someone on the mountain road said with a smile: "It's better for you to be brave, so as not to run back and forth. Don't let the ball hang up again when we get home." Li Nanquan shook his head while sitting at the dinner table and said, "It's really messed up. People are not satisfied with food." Mrs. Li just smiled.After lunch, it was already two o'clock.According to the time of the return air raid, it was almost lifted, so everyone felt more at ease. Until the evening, there was no sign of any air raid, and everyone felt more relaxed.But it was already the eleventh day of the lunar calendar, and as soon as the sun sank over the mountain, the crescent moon, which looked like a large silver comb, had hung across the sky. People who came to enjoy the shade in summer would talk about air raids when they looked up at the moon.Therefore, because the moon was so bright and there was no cloud to cooperate, everyone was tense for another two hours.Finally, the moon slanted westward without incident, and it was considered a day.Because of the relaxation of the day, everyone returned to the original state the next morning, and did not make any urgent preparations.Li Nanquan lived a normal life, drinking a cup of hot tea and eating two cold biscuits.Just after breakfast, the younger brother of the Zhen family yelled loudly on the Gexi sidewalk: "The ball has been hung up." This time, the ball was really hung up. Take it to wash, and then stand in the room for a while.

Li Nanquan smiled and said: "Why are you in a daze? The soldiers are coming to stop us, let's go." She said: "I'm not afraid. You see, today's alarm came so early, it will inevitably take another whole day." Li Nanquan said: "Come on, today is the cave at the entrance of the hiding village, or the public cave on the other side of the mountain?" Mrs. Li said, "The cave at the entrance of the village is freer, the air in the public cave is better, and the news is better." Li Nanquan lowered his head and thought for a while. After thinking about it, Yin said: "I think it's better to hide in the public cave. First, I don't want to sit in that dark cave; second, I also want to watch the tense scenes in the public cave." Mrs. Li said "What's the matter, do you still want to watch the tense scenes?" Li Nanquan said with a smile, "I hope there are no tense scenes. But I have to take precautions on this road. Go and pack your things quickly." , everyone didn't have time to talk, and immediately broke up to handle the escape affairs.Fortunately, it's still early for lunch, so you don't have to worry about what to eat.Within ten minutes everyone had things ready.Mrs. Li took the child and carried the burden, and Mrs. Wang carried the little sister to the rear and went out together.Li Nanquan said with a smile: "Today I am determined to accompany you to hide in the public cave. I will wait until the emergency alarm is released before leaving. I will sit at home first. Do you want me to do anything?" Mrs. Li said: "The public cave is noisy. It’s too bad, you’d better go for a tour of the mountains and rivers.” When she was about to say something else, the air raid sirens were already wailing in the air, and Li Nanquan said, “Go away, I’ll be here later.” Said Then, he took the bundle from his wife, and carried it all the way ahead, sending it to the corner of the house and up the hillside.This road is rarely used by people. At this time, it was also three, three, five, five, and a line was stretched, moving forward along the hillside.Looking back at the footpath on the other side of the mountain stream, the long snake formation that also dragged for half a mile, Mrs. Li said: "Look, I am very nervous today, you should go quickly."

Li Nanquan nodded and said: "Probably there are very few people who don't hide today. Don't worry. If I make it in time, I will definitely come to the public cave. If I don't make it in time, I will go to the back of the mountain and hide in places." Li Nanquan nodded. The wife took the burden from his hand, held his hand again and said: "You have to hide, it's not a joke." Xiao Ling'er also pointed to her father and said: "It's not a joke." Li Nanquan Seeing her little hand like a meat bun, with fingers like Wang Gua'er, he was happy, and touched her little hand and kissed her.Mrs. Li frowned and said, "You don't care at all. You still have time to love the children at this time. Let's go." She fell behind and urged the children to leave.Li Nanquan turned around, looked around the house, and carried the travel bag that was hiding from the alarm.First lock the door of the house, and then go to the kitchen to have a look.Seeing that there were still some sparks in the earthen stove, he poured two spoonfuls of water in the water tank to extinguish the water, and then stretched his head to look at the kitchens of the neighbors on the left and right.Outside the Wu's stove, there were two sticks of burnt firewood, which were still emitting green smoke on the ground.Fortunately, his kitchen door was unlocked, so he went in and splashed water to put out the firewood.Walking out of the kitchen, I met Wu Chunpu.He asked, "Is there still fire?" Li Nanquan said, "I've put it out for you." Wu Chunpu said, "Excuse me. I was halfway, and I remembered it, so I had to come back and have a look. In the past This happened several times in Chongqing. Everyone went to hide from the alarm, and the fire was left in the house. When the fire broke out, the door was closed to burn. We live in a straw house, and the danger is even greater. Brother Li, let’s go, today’s The cave is full of people. There are people going to the back of the mountain everywhere. If you want to find a quiet and safe place, you have to run five or six miles. In ten minutes, I am afraid there will be an emergency. It's too late for you to run away." Li Nanquan said: "I'm hiding in the public cave today, and I'm helping my wife take care of the children." As he spoke, he passed the door of his house through the corridor, and for some reason, he felt a little worried, unlocked the lock, and entered again. home to see. He went into the house, looked around, and everything was quiet as usual.I took a look in the outside room, and went inside to check again. There is really nothing to worry about.After looking around, and then looking at the ground, I found out that there are two paper cigarette butts in the ground, pick up the paper cigarette butts, it is not only that there is no fire on the cigarette butts, but the quality of the smoke is still damp.He threw it on the ground and stomped his feet for a while, before he locked the door of the room and went out under careful inspection.Just like this for a few minutes, the environment completely changed, there was no sound in the ear, and no one came out to move around in the neighbors.Even on people's roofs, there is no smoke coming out.On the main road across the stream, there was no one there except for an occasional guard who passed by.The sun, which had passed in the morning, now turned into a strong white light, illuminating the earth pale.In the bamboo forest on the opposite side, the leaves trembled slightly. I was looking at the bamboo in a daze, but I saw two or three small birds standing on the bamboo branches with their tails flickering.This also makes it appear that the entire universe has passed silently.He suddenly realized that he could leave as soon as he wanted to, what are he waiting for.So he took his travel bag, set foot on the hillside behind the corner of the house, and walked towards the public cave.This public cave is a scenic spot on the outskirts of Chongqing.At the foot of the mountain, there is a big hole like a house sunken into the top of the mountain.The cliff of the gap, like a very wide eaves, is covered on it.In front of the cave is a temple, and the temple also has two entrances.The hole is deeper and narrower.The exquisite stone milk around it protrudes high and low on the wall.Along with the small holes outside the big hole, many Buddhist niches were carved.After two or three years of air raids, the place has been more carefully arranged. Sandbags are piled up like a mountain at the entrance of the cave to block the gap. A cave is also opened where the sandbags and the stone wall are connected. Just walk in from there. Li Nanquan turned over the hill, which is the temple outside the public cave.The double Buddhist halls of this temple have been dismantled by themselves, and the Buddhist niches stand upright under the open sky.The men who came to hide from the alarm stood in the unroofed hall and chatted one after another.There were also a few snack sellers, holding a basket, sitting on the steps, waiting for the sale.Most of these refugees were from towns or villages. Most of them knew each other and nodded when they saw each other.Someone even asked with a smile: "Mr. Li also joined our group today?" He laughed and said: "Every day I hide from the security alarm, and today I am also busy going back and forth." An old man immediately changed his color and said: "What is this talking about? Confused !''Look at this old man, his beard is half white. Li Nanquan can't care about others. He just laughed it off. He walked into the small side door next to the sandbag, and the big cave was magnificent. No matter how high the cave was, the low stool The seats on the floor, on the ground, were full. There were people of all kinds, regardless of class. These people found their own companions to talk to. The conversation created a great buzzing sound. It seemed that there was no play in the theater. , all the people in the house were in chaos. He stood and looked around, but he didn’t see his family members. The cave was shaped like a gourd, so he stepped up a few steps and walked into the small cave. It’s about three feet long. It is five or six feet wide, and it is five or six feet deep. Along with the hole, there are four low-legged benches. On each stool, people are crowded next to each other. On the right side of the hole wall, there is a mechanism in the hole. The horizontal holes were dug out, the doors were open to the outside, and two men in uniform were guarding each hole. He thought that his wife might have gone into this hole for safety, but he had no certificate to enter the cave. There is no need to bump into a snag. Going further in, until at the bottom of the cave, there is a small Buddhist altar with an incense table in front of it. Even the incense table, there are people sitting there. Still no family members. He was a little hesitant, thinking that they all Squeezed to the outside of the cave, but Xiao Ling'er turned out from behind the altar, waved to him repeatedly and said, "We are all here. " Seeing that there was still a space behind the Buddhist altar, he smiled and said, "You guys really planned everything and hid all the way to the bottom of the cave." Mrs. Li also stretched out half of her body from the corner of the altar, waving to him.When he led Xiao Ling'er to the back of the altar to look, it was still not the bottom of the cave.There is also an eye as big as the side of the coffee table, which is black and sticks out.The cave body here can be five or six feet high, and it can be straightened up.It is four or five feet wide, and the whole family sits on small stools and burdens, so it is not crowded. Li Nanquan smiled to his wife: "You mean, you think you can borrow some Buddha power to bless you if you hide here." She laughed. : "When did I believe in Bodhisattva? It was just to avoid crowding with other people. Others think this place is dark and have no room to maneuver, so they refuse to come. People reject me, so I think this place is good. Sit down." As he spoke, he took out a travel bag and patted it twice.Li Nanquan stood, looked around, did not sit down, took out a cigarette box and matches from his body, and offered his wife a cigarette.She smiled and said: "I think you are not used to sitting here, you should go behind the mountain." Li Nanquan hadn't answered yet, but heard the sound of bugles outside the cave. Mrs. Li said: "Urgent Urgent." There was an early bang, and people outside the temple crowded into the cave like bees.It turned out that the cave was already full of people.Now add a large number of people, and there is no place to stand.It turned out that there was still some open space at the corner of the altar, but now a group of people came and it was full.At the same time, the whistle was blowing in the cave, and someone continued to shout: "Don't make trouble, don't make trouble." Sure enough, the whistle had a great effect, and there were about a thousand people in the cave, all standing silently. standing or sitting.I don't know who coughed, and an acute infectious disease occurred. One after another, coughing occurred in the crowd.Suddenly a person speaking Sichuan dialect said: "Everyone, calm down, eighteen planes have already arrived in the sky above Chongqing City." This report scared everyone back from coughing.But it was only two or three minutes before the murmurs of whispering happened again.Especially not far from the shrine, a middle-aged woman sat in the middle of the crowd on low benches.A child sat next to her, and another child was in her arms.The youngest child burst into tears when the vocals stopped and he was mentally tense. "Don't let the child cry!" The woman knew that this was an outrage, so she didn't refute it at all.Pull the open and ready-made skirt to the two sides, revealing half of the breast, and stuff the nipple into the child's mouth without asking if the child wants to eat.He held the child's hand and hugged him tightly.But the child refused to take the milk, spat out the nipple, and continued to cry.Then someone scolded: "If you can't coax children, you shouldn't come to hide in the public cave. The enemy plane is approaching. Is this a joke? You are a child, don't burden these many people." Dare to make a sound, and stuffed the nipple into the child's mouth again.She didn't want her to move harder, and touched the older child. The older child's head touched the wall of the cave, and he cried again.This aroused the anger of several people, and someone shouted: "Throw this ignorant woman out, you are a bastard!"After hearing such insults, she really couldn't bear it, because she said: "Boom out? Who dares to bomb? The plane is overhead, let me go out to die?" Close to her, an old gentleman said: "Sister-in-law, you Knowing that the plane was overhead, I coaxed the child not to cry. The enemy plane has a radio, so he can’t hear any sounds on the ground? When the child cries here, he realizes that this is an air-raid shelter.” Li Nanquan listened After saying this, he couldn't help smiling at his wife.Mrs. Li was afraid that he would be troublesome, so she couldn't help shaking her hands and shaking her head a few times. Amidst the chaotic sounds, the protection team stepped forward and softly shouted: "What's the matter, aren't you afraid of death? Babies are afraid of being heard by the plane when they cry, and you are not afraid of being heard by the plane when you roar?" He said, In the uniform bag, he took out a big peach, stuffed it into the hand of the older child, bent down and said, "Quietly, take a break, I will bring you another one." Stop crying.The breastfeeding child actually fell asleep amidst this chaos, and a danger passed away.The group of people squeezed in through the crowd sideways, and naturally squeezed out sideways.When he slowly dragged his body out in the crowd, he couldn't help being shoulder to shoulder with others.Here, he found a man from the river standing in front of him, wearing glasses, he stared and said: "Take off the glasses." The man said: "Is wearing glasses against the rules? Fresh!" Hearing this, the group member said, Standing in the crowd, looking at the man, he said: "You look like an intellectual, you don't understand the rules of asylum, and the mirror reflects light, do you know?" This statement reminded other asylum seekers, several of them Then he said: "Take off the glasses, take off the glasses!" The man said: "The glasses reflect light, I know, that refers to the field, now in the cave, where the glasses reflect light, can it still penetrate dozens of meters Does the stone reflect light into the air? Then my pair of glasses are precious. I really lack common sense.” So many people giggled.How could the group accept the five-word criticism and a burst of laughter? He became more and more annoyed, and shouted: "You don't follow the order, and you still say that others lack common sense. Can you take off your glasses? If you don't take them off, we'll go see the cave." Leader." The voice of the group member became louder and louder, and attracted two other group members to come. Those in distress who knew this person said, "Mr. Ding, this is a trivial matter. Why are you stubborn?" Mr. Ding said : "It's not that I'm stubborn. My short-sightedness is very deep. If I don't have glasses, I will be blind. I will smash my head in this crowd." After hearing this, everyone saw the pair of short-sighted glasses, which fit tightly on the nose, and felt that it was a sin for him to take off the glasses, so they laughed again.That Mr. Ding had a plan, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and covered his eyes.His mouth was inside the handkerchief and he said, "Is this okay? I can still see through the handkerchief, and you don't have to be afraid of the reflection from my glasses." Then even the three regiments squeezed away with a smile .However, the issue of glasses had just come to an end, and there were two more quarrels in front of the left altar.One is two female guests arguing over their suitcases.At the same time, the bench seat was occupied by someone, an old man and a middle-aged man were arguing.Although there were people mediating among the crowd, the quarrel did not stop.In this cave, there are two layers inside and outside, the sound of quarreling, mediation, and conversation has already erupted again.Li Nanquan sat silently behind the shrine, and said to his wife: "Why is the order here so bad?" She said: "The enemy is always like this. There are too many people, what can we do?" Mr. Li Still wanting to ask questions, only to hear a whistle of "dilili", which is another alarm signal.Sure enough, the ears immediately became quiet, and any noise disappeared, and it was quiet for about three or four minutes.Someone reported in Sichuan dialect: "Twenty-four enemy planes. They dropped bombs outside Ciqikou. I am shooting with anti-aircraft guns, and I haven't left the city yet." Hovering above the head, all the people in the cave have truly stopped.People standing in a crowd froze, and those sitting down lowered their heads.Every mother hugs her little one tightly.所有的小孩子也乖了，多半是业已睡着，睡不着的，也是连话都不说。李南泉把小玲儿搂在怀里，不住地用鼻子尖去嗅她的小童发。 在成千人的呼吸停顿中，什么声音都没有。约莫是五六分钟，却听到有人报告道：“敌机已向东逸去，第二批飞机，在巴东发现。现在大家可以休息一下。”在这个报告完毕以后，洞里的避难者，就复行纷纷议论起来。有些人也就缓缓地挤出洞子去，在佛龛面前也就留出了个大空档。这是重庆防空洞的新办法。原来自发生了大隧道惨案以后，当局感觉长时期的洞中生活，那是太危险的事。因之，在敌机已经离开市空的时候，宣布休息。所有警报台挂警报信号球的地方，却挂上两个红球，等于空袭警报。凡是洞子里的人全可以到洞外站站。李太太向李先生道：“这个洞子生活，你是不习惯的。趁着这个机会，你由这庙后的小路到山后去罢。”李南泉道：“我既到这里来了，就陪着你在洞里罢。我看今天的秩序太乱，我在这里帮着你也好些。”李太太笑道：“今天秩序太乱？哪天也是这样。你就不到山后去，在洞子口上站站，和熟人聊聊天也好。”李南泉摇摇头笑道：“我觉得很少有几个人可以和我谈得拢。”说着，站起来牵牵衣服，走到佛龛前站了一会。又在身上掏出纸烟盒子来，靠了佛龛桌子，缓缓地吸着烟。忽然之间，洞子外的人向里面一拥，好像股潮浪。李南泉也只好向后退着，退到神龛后面来。但听到那些人互相告诉着道：“球落下去了。”因为这些人来势的猛烈，把那佛龛的桌子角，都挤着歪动了。李太太赶快搂着孩子，把身子偏侧过去。李南泉也赶快抢过来，挡住了路口，以免人拥过来。 李太太道：“不要紧的，不要紧的，落了球，照例有这么一阵起哄的，没有关系。”但是她虽这样说了，李先生还是不肯放松那把关的责任。约莫是五六分钟，那哨子又“嘘哩哩”地吹了一阵。这才把那惊动蚊子堆的声音平定下来。大家静悄悄地坐着，什么响声也没有。李南泉挤回神龛后面，搂着小玲儿坐在旅行袋上。她虽是站着，头靠在爸爸怀里，已经是睡着了，他抚摸着小女儿的手，一阵悲哀，由心里涌起。他想着，这五岁的孩子，她对人类有什么罪恶？战火，将这样天真无知的小孩子，一齐卷入里面。这责任当然不必由中国人来负。只要日本人不侵略中国，中国人不会打仗。可是中国人要是早十年、二十年伸得直腰来，也许日本人不敢向中国侵略。由此他又想到那些侵略国家了。无论军力怎样优势，侵略别人的国家，总要支出一笔血肉债的。用血肉去占领人家的土地，出了血肉的人，算是白白牺牲，让那没有支付血肉代价的人，去作胜利者，去搜刮享受，这在侵略国本身，也是件极不平的事。他慢慢地想着也就忘了是在防空洞里了。忽然有人大声报告着道：“敌机十八架，在化龙桥附近投弹，现在已向东北逸去。第三批敌机，已经过了万县，大家要休息，可以出洞去透下空气，希望早一点回到座位上，免得回头又乱挤一阵。”报告过，洞子里又是哄哄一阵响起，有些人也就陆续地挤出洞子去。李南泉听说第三批敌机已过万县，根本也就不打算走，依然坐着。 果然，不到十分钟，又是哨子叫，又是人一阵拥进。紧张了二十来分钟，经过洞中防护团员的报告，敌机群已东去，敌人的行动，倒不是刻板不动的，这次是四五两批，同时扑到重庆市上空，而且敌机数目也减少了，各批都是九架。防护团员报告过，最后带了一点轻松的语调叫道：“大家注意，今天敌机硬是滥整，第三四批后面，还有几批。不过第五批是刚刚过巴东，要是有人想吃晌午饭的话，回家去吃点饮食，还来得及。”避难的洞中人，自然也就陆续地出去了。可是李家这家人，藏躲在洞子的最里，像听戏的坐前三排似的，散戏之时，非等着后面的人走了过半数是走不出去的，而坐防空洞的人，除非解除警报，却不能像散戏那样都走。有些人怕变生不测、有些人家又住得远、有些人扶老携幼，虽是知道敌机还远，大家也坐着不走。这只有人丛当中，让开了一条缝，让大胆的出去。李先生便道：“这个样子，今天又是一场整日工作，现在已经两点钟了，孩子们可不能久饿，我去找点吃的来。”王嫂道：“家里有冷馒头，菜没得，我抢着去买两个咸蛋来，要不要得？”李太太笑道：“少舒服一点罢。而且街上的铺子也关了门。冷馒头就好。”李南泉也不考虑，起身就走。 他以五百米跳栏竞赛的姿势，由庙门口转入山后，一口气奔回家里。直待走到草屋廊檐下，才停住了脚。向山下镇市上看去，见树木丛中，乃一枝挺立出来的旗杆上，兀自挂着红滴滴的两个大球，右手撑了屋角，左手掏起保护色的蓝布大襟，擦着额角上的汗。口里喘着气，向山溪对岸大路上望去。见吴春圃先生也是开了快步子向家里走，便问道：“吴先生也是回来办粮的？”他抬起一只手，在空中摇摆着道：“不忙，不忙，那批敌机，还没有过万县。我们镇定一点。还得留着这条老命，和敌人干个十年八年呢。”李南泉站了两三分钟，喘过那口气，开着屋门，将冷馒头找到，又到厨房里去寻找了一阵，实在没有什么小菜，仅仅有半碗老倭瓜，已经有了馊味。另外有个碟子，盛了几十粒煮的老豌豆。他想到孩子究不能淡食，这盛豌豆的碟子底上，盐汁很浓，于是找了张干净纸，将豌豆包了。回到屋子里，找了个小旅行袋，将冷馒头装着，没有敢多耽误立刻回转身来就向防空洞走去。可是吴先生在后面拦着了。笑道：“李兄，不要过分紧张，我们还是谈笑麾敌罢。”李南泉回头看时，他并没有带什么熟食品，手里提着一串地瓜。这个东西，产生于川湘一带。湖南人叫作凉薯。它的形状和番薯差不多。它是地下的块根，和番薯也是同科。不过它的质料很特别，外面包着一层薄皮，在茎蒂所在，掐个缝将皮撕着，可以把整个地瓜的外皮撕去。薄皮里的肉，光滑雪白，有些像嫩藕。若把它切了，又像梨。吃到嘴里脆而且甜，水津津的。可是它有极大的缺点，有带土腥气的生花生味。 李南泉看到，便问道：“吴先生，这就是你们躲警报的干粮吗？”他将提的地瓜举了一举，笑道：“日本人会对付我们，我们也就会对付日本。他轰炸得我们作不成饭，要多花钱。我就不作饭，而且也就不多花钱，我也会把肚子弄饱。李先生对这玩意怎么样，来两个？”李南泉摇摇头道：“到四川来，人家初次请我吃地瓜，我当是梨，那土腥味吃到嘴里，似乎两小时都没有去掉。不过你这分抗战精神，我是赞同的。”吴先生提了地瓜，随了他后面走着，走一截路，就看看那旗杆上的红球。直走到了公共防空洞口，吴先生忽然笑了起来道：“我这人喜欢谈话大概世无其匹。我只顾和你谈着，忘记我是干什么的了。我躲的是第二洞，我跑到这里来了。”说着扭身转去。李南泉看了这位先生的行为，也不免站着微笑。后面却有人问道：“李先生也去办了粮草来了？”看时却是杨艳华提了一只篮子，开始向洞子里走。看她篮子里，有饭有菜，而且还有筷子碗，因笑道：“你们躲警报躲得舒服，照常吃饭。”杨艳华道：“我们是天天晚上预备着，现成的东西，警报来了，拿起就走，我躲在第二洞，王少亭和胡玉花在这里，我送来她们吃的。李先生袋子里是什么？”他笑道：“惭愧，我一家人全啃冷馒头。不过这已可满意了。那位吴先生刚过去，你没有看见吗？提的是十来二十个地瓜。”杨艳华伸手到篮子里，拿了两个咸鸭蛋，交给他道：“拿去给弟弟妹妹吃。”李南泉依然放到她篮子里去，因道：“这就太不恕道，有了我的，没有两位小姐的了。”杨艳华道：“她们还有榨菜炒豆腐干呢，大家患难相共，客气什么？” 他们这么一客气，身后有人插话了。她道：“到洞子里去谈罢。”杨艳华立刻叫了声师母。正是李太太赶出洞子来了。李南泉道：“杨小姐一定要送我们孩子两个咸蛋，那是送胡小姐、王小姐吃的，我们怎好半路劫下来呢？”李太太接过先生手上的旅行袋，向杨艳华道：“杨小姐，我们躲在洞子最后面，来找我们呀。”说着在前面走了。李南泉看太太的脸色，并不正常，就不再和杨艳华谈话，跟着挤到洞里面来。李太太坐下，分着冷馒头给孩子吃，并不说话，李南泉笑道：“你又怪上我了。”她冷笑一声道：“你这人叫我说什么好？挂着两个球儿呢，回家去了这久，我真急得不得了。若是球落下去了，你正在路上走着……你看，为了要东西，让你冒着这大危险，我心里真过不去。谁知道你倒没事，站在外面和杨艳华闲聊。若不是我出去，不知道要情话绵绵到什么时候。”说到“情话绵绵”也扑哧一声笑了。李南泉道：“我就是一百二十分不知死活，我也不会在这个时候和她说情话吧？真是巧，她和我一客气，你就到了。女人的心里总是这样，不能让她先生……”李太太塞了个冷馒头在他手上，低声道：“吃罢，你也饿了，这是什么地方，你说这个。”李南泉见她用剿抚兼施的手段，直摸不着她是怒是喜。她对于杨艳华的接近，一直是误会着，自己是大可避开这女子。说也奇怪，一见了她，就不忍不睬人家。太太也是这样见了她也就软化了，总是客客气气地和她说话。 这个女戏子，真有一分克服人的魔力。想到这里，他也自笑了。李太太道：“你想着什么好笑？”他道：“回家慢慢地告诉你罢。我想，将来抗战结束了，这防空洞里许多的事情，真值得描写。”李太太摇摇头，她的话还没有表示出来，人丛中又是一阵哨子响，又是一阵人浪汹涌，接着声音也寂然了。这次敌机的声势来得很凶，只听到嗡嗡的马达声就在洞顶上盘旋。这洞是很厚而很深的。飞机声听得这样明显，那必然是在洞顶上，有人嘘嘘地低声道：“就在头顶上，就在头顶上。”有人立刻轻喝道：“不要作声。”李南泉向神位外看去，见站着的人，人靠着人，全呆定了，坐的人，低了头，闭上了眼睛。遥遥又是轰通轰通两声，不知道是扔炸弹，还是开了高射炮。靠着这神案前，有个中年汉子，两手死命地撑住了桌子，周身发抖，抖得那神案也吱吱作响。大家沉寂极了，有一千人在这里，好像没有人一样，一点声音没有。看看自己太太，搂着女儿在怀里，把头垂下去，紧闭了眼睛。越是大家这样沉寂，那天空里的飞机声，越是听得清楚。那嗡嗡之声，去而复还，只管在头上盘旋。李南泉看到太太相当惶恐，就伸手过去握着她一只手。这很好，似乎壮了她的胆。她将丈夫的手紧紧地握着。李南泉觉着她手是潮湿的，又感到她手是冰凉的。但不能开口去安慰她，怕的是受难胞的责备，也怕惊动了孩子，只有彼此紧紧地握着手，好像彼此心里在互相勉励着：要死，我们就死在一处。也不知道是经过了多少时候，那飞机的声，终于是听不见了。铃叮叮的，有阵电话铃响。大家料着是报告来了，更沉静了等消息。 这个紧张的局面，到了这时，算略微松一点。那接电话的地方，本在大洞子所套的小洞子里，平常原是听不到说话的，现在听到接电话的人说：“挂休息球，还不解除，还有一批，要得，今天这龟儿子硬是作怪。”大家听了这话，虽知道暂时又过了一关，可是还有一关。只有互相看着，作一番苦笑。接着那个情报员，出来大声报告，刚才是炸了市区上清寺，正在起火。敌机业已东去，大家可以休息一下，李南泉放了太太的手，因道：“霜筠，我看你神经太紧张了，我们出洞子到山后去躲躲罢。”李太太把搂抱着孩子的手松开，理着鬓边的乱发，摇摇头苦笑着道：“不行。你知道敌机到了什么地方？万一我们刚出洞子，球就落下来了，到哪里找地方去躲？好在已到五点钟了。天色一黑，总可以解除。还有两个多钟头，熬着罢。”李南泉道：“我摸你的手冷汗都浸得冰凉了。你可别闹病。”李太太道：“病就病罢，谁让中国的妇女都是身体不好呢。”他夫妻二人说话，神龛外面一位四川老太太，可插上嘴了。她道：“女人家无论做啥子事，总是吃亏的，躲警报也没得男人安逸。那洞口口上有个你们下江太太在生娃儿，硬是作孽。”李太太“呀”了一声道：“那不要是刘太太吧？他先生不在家，她还带着两个孩子呢，我看看去。”李南泉知道这也是太太牌友之一。这刘太太省吃俭用，而且轻重家事，一切自理，就是有个毛病，喜欢打小牌，一个苦干的妇女，还有这点嗜好，容易给人留下一个印象。而这疏建区有牌癖的太太们也就这样，认为她是个忠实的艰苦同志，非常予以同情。因此李先生并不拦着太太前去探视。 李太太由人丛中挤了出来，这倒不用问，大家争着说，有一位太太在生孩子。随了人家传说的方向，出了洞子葫芦柄的所在，看到前面洞身宽敞之处，许多难民的眼睛，都向右边洞壁下张望着。顺了人家眼光看去，石壁有个地方凹进去一点，在前面放了两张椅子，椅子背上搭了个旧被单。被单外面，居然有个尺来宽的空当，没有人挤。就是有人坐着，空当外也是些太太和老太婆，围坐了半个圈。李太太知道那必是刘太太的“产科医院”了。走到被单外面，问道：“是刘太太吗？你两个孩子呢？”刘太太在里面哼着道：“孩子让朋友带走了。我托人雇滑竿去了。可是这警报时间，哪里去找滑竿？”李太太证明了这是刘太太，这就由被单下面钻了进去，见刘太太面色苍白，半坐半睡地在地上。地上仅仅一件旧蓝布大褂垫着，是她身上脱下来的。这时，她身上只穿了件男子的对襟褂子，想必还是临时借来的。她头发蓬松着，还有两缕乱发纷披在脸上，她将左手扶了椅子，右手撑着地面，抿了嘴，咬了牙，似乎肚子疼得厉害。李太太低声道：“这个地方，怎样能生产？隔层布是整千的人，而且连个转身的地方都没有。你有什么要我帮忙的吗？”刘太太咬着牙连哼了几声，微微地摇着头。李太太道：“这个样子，就是把滑竿找了来，你也不能坐上去。”正说着，一位老太太奔过来，扶了椅子背，由被单上面看下来，因道：“满街店铺全关门的。找着洞口子上几个乡下人，说是多出钱，请找副滑竿来。他们听说是抬产妇，全不肯抬。”刘太太道：“这样罢。王老太太，还有位李太太，搀着我到洞外山上去生罢。” 李太太道：“那不行，敌机来了，怎么办呢？若是你在那机关小洞子里想不到办法的话……”她的话，还不曾说完，刘太太忽然咬着牙站起来，摇摇头道：“不行，我要生了。”李太太道：“那么，我让这老太太帮着你，我再去找两位太太来罢。”她扭身走着，在人丛中找到两位女友，可是当她走回来的时候，那被单里面，已经有着哇哇的哭声了。那被单外面围坐着的人，皱着眉头，各自闪开。恰好在这个时候，情报员吹着哨子，告诉人敌机又已临头。去洞子外休息的人，可不问这些，一股潮浪，向里面涌了进来。闪开的人，和涌进来的人也两下一挤，李太太和邀来的两位女同志，全已冲散。李太太没有力量可以抵抗这股人浪，好在是站在人浪的峰头，就让他们一冲直冲到洞底神龛面前来。李南泉一听到哨子响，就知道情势严重，将几个孩子交给了王嫂，前来迎接，看到李太太撞跌着过来，赶快伸着两手，将她撑住。然后挤了身子向前将她挤转到身后。李太太到了神案边上，将身子缩下，由神案下钻到佛龛后面，才算是脱了险境。李南泉在人丛中支持了两三分钟，把脚站定。伸手扶了神案，要转到后面去。却看到右手五个指头沾遍鲜血，仔细看着却是两个指甲被挤翻断了。大概是扯出太太来的时候，受的伤，这也没工夫来管它，也是由神龛案下钻进了后面，才算定神。他将左手把右手两指紧紧捏着，不让它继续出血，此外却也并无别法。所幸这次空袭，敌机并未临头，洞子里的空气，比较安定一点。 这一场紧张场面，时间也不怎样久，大概是三十分钟。由情报员的报告，敌机分批东去。但巴东方面，还发现有三架敌机西来，依然没有解除警报的希望。这时天色已经昏黑了。部分难民，听说只有三架敌机，而且快要天黑了，就陆续回家。李南泉向太太道：“由早上八九点钟起，直到现在，快是十二小时了，仅仅是吃两个冷馒头，”说着，他“哎哟”了一声，笑道：“我在家里曾用纸包了几十颗煮豌豆，我忘了拿出来了。”说着，在衣袋里摸索那个小纸包。二个孩子就不约而同地伸出了手来，李南泉笑道：“你们算是不错，赶上了这个大时代。我来配给一下。”于是透开那纸包，将煮的几十粒豌豆分作三份。用三个指头撮着，各放到小孩子手掌心里。李太太皱了眉道：“别孩子气了。我实在支持不住了，回去罢。我想在乡下，夜袭不大要紧，真是敌机临头，屋后那个洞子，总也可以钻钻。”说着，手扶了洞壁，缓缓地站了起来。王嫂首先将小玲儿抱着，因道：“今天若是不躲，也没得事。日本鬼子，他把炸弹炸茅草棚棚，啥子意思，炸弹不要本钱喀？”李南泉笑道：“大家都有经验了，你都能发挥这套议论，好，回去。”于是他牵着两个男孩，作螃蟹式的横行，由人丛中走出去。在庙门口坡上，正俯瞰着街市上的那警报旗杆。暮色苍茫中，旗杆上的两枚红球里面亮起了蜡烛，越是显得惨红。看到这东西，就让人心里，立刻泛出了一种极不愉快的观念。绕着庙边的山路走，看到山谷里没有了反照的阳光，已是阴沉沉的，而抬头看去，大半轮月亮，却因天色变深灰，便成了半边亮镜。 大家看到了月亮，都有同一的感觉，就是她不是平常给人那种欣赏的好风景，而是带来一种凄惨恐怖的杀气。大家走一阵就抬头望望。李太太道：“唉！月亮，老早的就驾临了。敌人的空袭，还不是继续到深夜，甚至到天亮。天亮，明日的空袭又来了。老天爷这两天来个连阴天罢。整日整夜，真……”她这句话不曾说完，在深草的小路上，踏着块斜石头，人向草边一倒。李南泉笑道：“你刚说了句没出息的话，希望老天爷下雨，老天爷就惩罚着你了，你看还是大家艰苦奋斗靠自己罢。”李太太道：“怎么靠自己呢？我们也不会造飞机，也不会造高射炮。”王嫂在后面道：“我们找一个有道行的和尚，念起咒语把龟儿子日本飞机咒得跌下来。”李南泉哈哈笑道：“还是你这个办法万无一失。”他们说笑着，走近了家。在屋檐下的吴先生问道：“解除了吗？”王嫂道：“又有三架飞机来了。哪里会解除？”吴先生道：“我听到你们有说有笑，所以就这样猜想了。这有典故的，有道是空袭警报，吓人一跳；紧急警报，百事不要；解除警报，有说有笑。”李家一家走到了屋檐下，见吴先生又是拿了干手巾，伸到衬衫里面擦汗，同时，并咬着牙摇头。李南泉道：“吴兄，准备罢。敌人在广播里说了，要空袭重庆十日十夜，不让我们解除警报，我看这趋势，大有可能。我们不能不作个永久坚持的办法。” 大家说着话，不曾得个结论，却听到警报器的呜呜之声，在空中发出。吴先生道：“也该解除了。”大家经过这一日夜的疲劳，都也觉着松了这口气。王嫂放下孩子，开着门，首先抢到屋子里去亮着灯火。然而，那警报器的声音，早已改变着呜呀呜呀急促的惨叫。大家都喊着紧急紧急。有几户人家本是亮着灯火的，立刻都已吹灭。吴春圃在廊檐下叫起来道：“这就奇怪了。拉过紧急之后，照例不拉第二次的，既未解除警报为什么又拉紧急呢？”他这个问题，乡村的防护团丁在山溪那岸人行路上答复了。他走着路叫道：“休息球挂的时间太久了，怕大家忘记，现在敌机来了，又拉紧急。诸位注意！”李太太本也带着孩子进了屋子跑了出来，抓着李南泉的手道：“这怎么办？”李南泉道：“山路晚上不好走，孩子们也受不了。就是走到公共洞子里去，也是秩序太乱。”一言未了，便有飞机的嗡嗡之声。三个孩子全跑了过来，围着爸爸站住。王嫂在廊沿外叫道：“那是啥子家私？那山顶上好大个星罗。不是，不是，变大了，这个时候，还有人放孔明灯？”李南泉道：“山那边是重庆，这是敌机到了市空丢下的照明弹。什么孔明灯！你们看，又是两个。”说着，向北方一排山头指去。 大家向他手指的所在看去，天空里有大小三个水晶球，大的有面盆大，小的也有碗口圆，而那东西不是固定的形态，慢慢地膨胀变大，它大了之后，晶光四溢，对面那个山头，相隔约莫五里路，照得树影清清楚楚，同时这亮球由三个加到七个，那半边天像挂了七个圆月亮。天空如同白昼。李太太道：“扔下这么些个照明弹，地下什么看不出来？敌机快要投弹了，快躲罢。”她说着，向屋后山坡上跑，跑了十几步，却又跑回来。李南泉道：“不要慌，镇定一点。照明弹是在重庆上空，并不是乡下。”说着，他一手抱着小玲儿，一手推着山儿白儿，说着：“你们都跟我来。”他也顾不得高低踏着山坡上的丛草乱响，奔向屋后山坡。这里有个村里人自盘的防空洞，因为经费不足，半途而废。这洞子径深不过一丈多，借着崖石的坡度斜伸开了两个洞门，洞门是斜着向下，洞里蓄着潜水，出不去；洞底已是一个小井泉，洞口进去，就是烂泥。虽然山是很高的，因为这在斜坡上，洞顶的石头，就不过两三丈厚。村子里人既感到不保险，而且洞底又不能下脚，所以无人过问。洞门上的藤蔓，经过半个夏季纷纷的下垂，不到之处，有蜘蛛帮着封锁，洞门内外的蚊子嗡嗡地叫，人来了，更是哄然一声。李南泉已听到头顶的马达声，在呼呼狂叫，顾不得许多，冲开了草藤和蛛网，连抱带拖，把三个孩子，涌进了洞子。太太是牵着他的后衣襟，借了他的拉力向前跑。洞子是本来就黑，夜里更是什么都看不见。 在这里几位邻居，也同有此感，觉得这回夜袭相当厉害，一个跟着一个，都向这洞子里摸了进来。幸亏是甄家小弟，带得有手电筒，而且他还是非常内行，把手电筒直伸到洞口里面，方才给电光亮着。大家趁了这亮光，才看出了洞底下全是浮泥，大家都站在浮泥里面，那洞子的石壁，正是湿黏黏地向外冒水。吴先生一家人，差不多也挤进来了。但吴先生本人，却因压队的关系，还站在洞外。他叫道：“没有关系，没有关系，这不过是照明弹吓人。李先生出来看罢，重庆市上空在空战。”李南泉既把家里人都送进了洞子，胆子就大了，扶着洞子门伸出头来，见那大半轮月亮，正当了头顶，眼前一片清光，吴先生站在洞子外平坡上，向北昂头望着那五六里外的山顶。这时，排在那边山外的照明弹，已只剩了两颗。