Chapter 3 Chapter Two

He said: "She and I have been to the fairyland together. There are many painters in the palace, and she has been learning painting from them. She is very smart, so after she came out, she drew a cave, just like the real thing." At this time, I was really confused! Because the Indian mentioned "in the palace" and, moreover, the cave, which made it difficult to understand what he was talking about. I decided to make things clear from beginning to end, so I asked, "Who are you?" The Indian said: "I am Bahawapur, the chief executive of the Japon Tu King's palace. This status is very special in India. Although the Indian government has cut off the Tu King's privileges, I am still respected."

There was no doubt that he was respected, and I almost thought he was the earth king himself. The Indian said again: "My full name is very long, but you can call me Della, which is the abbreviation of my name. My wife, we all call her Dai, she is a maid in the palace." Before I continued to ask questions, Della said again: "You must be wondering why a person like me came here and became so poor?" I said, "Yes, I was just about to ask you." Della said: "King Japang refused to obey the government's decree. The government ordered the army to attack his territory. It was a terrible war, but foreigners did not know such a war at all. King Japang failed. He set fire to his own palace, and burned himself to death."

I am very concerned about that Indian girl, because her demeanor is really endearing. I asked again: "Your fiancée also died in this battle?" "No." Della shook her head. The Indian sighed, and then said: "She was dead long ago. Not long after her death, the war broke out. When the palace caught fire, I only had time to escape with this painting drawn by her. It is very large, so I had to leave it at the home of an acquaintance after I escaped from the territory of the earth king. He was a sailor, but unexpectedly he sold my painting. I didn't find this painting until a few days ago painting, so I must buy it."

I have finally figured out the identity and experience of Della in general. And there are many things that are self-evident. After the failure of King Japon, Della naturally lived a life of nomads everywhere. He has been living in an extremely difficult environment. It is possible that he can survive until now because of him. The identity of the palace manager. But what I don't understand, is about that fairyland. At this time, my perception of Della changed a little bit, because since he has such an identity, and India is an ancient country that is too grotesque to imagine, the place where the king of Japon is located is also the place where the world still lives. Unknown white space.

In such a place, it is not impossible for some strange things to happen. I thought for a moment and asked, "So, what's going on about your visit to that fairyland?" Della sighed, closed her eyes, and said: "It was a long time ago. I was only nineteen years old at that time. The position of the palace steward was hereditary. I became the steward at the age of sixteen. When I was nineteen years old, King Japontu gave me Dai, the most beautiful maid in the palace, to be my wife. She was only fifteen years old that year." Della opened her eyes when she said this. He continued: "It is hard for people outside India to imagine a fifteen-year-old girl becoming someone's wife, but in India, that is very common."

In order not to interrupt his narration from time to time, I said: "I understand this very well, you don't need to explain it in particular." Dela said again: "After we got married, we got another three months' vacation and the reward of ten white elephants. During these three months, we can go to any place in the territory of the earth king. We took the white elephant and headed north, we all wanted to go to the mountains." Delray paused for a moment, and said: "The mountain we can see, everyone calls it a big mountain, that is the Himalayas." I listened attentively, because Della's words sounded less like nonsense the more I heard them.

Dela said again: "We grew up in the palace. There are many old people in the palace who told us all kinds of legendary stories in the mountains, so we yearn for the mountains very much. Whenever we have the opportunity, we all want to go to the mountains. , just the two of us, spending that happy time." "We have been walking north. Along the way, all the people who saw us treated us wholeheartedly. They are very poor, but they still give us the best food." The Indian said to me: "Dai is a very kind person. She cried several times when she saw the poverty of those people. We walked for more than ten days before we came to the foot of the mountain. The mountain seems very close. , but it’s a long way to go.”

"We brought a lot of necessities from the palace, so we found a hot spring in the mountains without difficulty. We set up camp next to the hot spring, and chased and played in the snow and icicle-filled mountain crevices every day. Live like a fairy, until one day—" Della paused when she said this. I didn't say anything, just waited for him to continue. He didn't stop for a long time, and then said: "That day, we walked too far. When the snow covered the mountain was all golden red by the sunset, we couldn't find our way back. The more anxious , the more we couldn’t find the way, the sky quickly darkened, and we finally squeezed in through a narrow mountain crevice, it was a cave.”

I couldn't help asking, "Is that the cave in the painting?" Della nodded, and said: "Yes, that's the cave. But it was already dark at that time, and we couldn't see anything. The cave was warmer, but it was also very cold. We hugged each other and almost didn't fall asleep all night. , When the sun shines into the cave, we are all stunned, we have seen fantastic colors that we have never seen before, sir, what Dai expressed in this painting is really less than one-tenth!" I listened quietly and said, "The fairyland you are referring to is this wonderful cave?"

"No, at that time, as soon as we saw such a wonderful cave, the cold and tiredness disappeared, and we walked to the depths of the cave together, where—" When Della talked about this, he got up and moved the oil painting, pointed to the dark corner of the oil painting and said: "Just walk in from here, it is a narrow mountain gap that you have to pass sideways, we squeezed Go in, the crevice is ten feet long, when we squeezed out of the crevice, both of us were stunned!" "Did you see Wonderland?" I asked. Della's breathing suddenly became rapid, and he said: "Yes, we saw the fairyland, that is really unimaginable, that is truly unimaginable!"

Della waved his hand, I guess, what he was narrating must have happened more than twenty years ago, but judging by his expression at this time, he is still so delusional, if I still think that everything they said is true Lies, that is obviously a very unfair judgment. I hurriedly said, "Speak slowly, don't be nervous." In fact, my persuasion was of no use at all.I saw his fingers trembling, and said: "That is a fairyland, a real fairyland. Under the sun, we can see countless gems and diamonds. The wealth of King Japontu is astonishing, but his Treasure, compared to it, is just, nothing!" When Della talked about this, he waved his hands faster. He said: "At that time, I was rolling on the diamonds. Each diamond was as big as a goose egg. The light of the ruby ​​reflected our whole body red. , there is also a kind of gemstones that are shining strangely like clouds, and there are so many gemstones, you can’t see it in any other place except fairyland!" When Della said this, a magical look appeared in his eyes. I can also hear it, because gemstones have been the most attractive and shocking things since ancient times.The relationship between people and gems is almost a spiritual connection. Gemstones, from a scientific point of view, are of course inanimate things, but gemstones seem to have a special attractive power. Since ancient times, there have been many famous gemstones, which are even considered to have superhuman powers. Luckily or evil force. So when Della is describing how he's been to a place that has so many gems, it's really fascinating. He stopped suddenly, and I didn't make a sound. There was silence between us for a long time. Then, Della's sanity had obviously returned to normal, and his tone was not as excited as before. He said: "Don't think that I am a person who has never seen gems, so I am so alarmed!" I shook my head and said, "I didn't think so. In fact, the rich collection of various gemstones by the king of India is world-renowned." Della said: "I have already said that King Japan has a lot of hidden treasures. Twice a year, I participate in the inspection of the treasures. I can already say that I have seen many gems, but in the fairyland Gem in the middle, well, I don't know how to describe it?" I asked, "So, did you bring some out?" "If you follow me?" Della smiled bitterly: "It must be a rewarding experience, but Dai said that it must be something owned by gods, and people can't have such good gems. I tried to persuade her, but she must Don't let me take it, not even one!" "You really didn't take it?" "Yes, no, because I love Dai deeply, and I will not do anything that Dai doesn't like. Although those gems are lovely, even if they are all added together, they are not as good as Dai. Do you understand?" Unexpectedly, this crude Indian has such a thorough understanding of the true meaning of love! I said: "You are quite right to think this way, so why do you keep thinking about those gems now?" Della said sadly: "Now, Dai is dead!" Because Della's voice was so full of sadness, I couldn't help but sighed.I said, "You haven't finished speaking yet, how are you doing afterwards?" Della said: "We admired those gems. Those gems are really mesmerizing. We lingered for a long time. We were intoxicated by the changing colors of the gems under the sun. Then, in Dai's After repeated urging, we left." Della's voice became lower and lower, and she said: "On the way home, she felt unwell all the time. When we returned to the earth king's palace, Dai really fell ill. She died after three months of illness. .” Della covered her face with her hands, and after a while, she said again: "She drew that painting while she was ill. Not long after her death, the war broke out, and I also left Zhepang, and have been in the Wander outside." Della finally finished his story. I looked at him for a while, and then said: "You mean, if we have enough travel expenses, we can go back to that place again?" "Yes?" Della's hands trembled a little: "We can reach that fairyland, and then we will be the richest people in the world." I said, "You can go alone, why not?" Della's answer was beyond my expectation, he said: "Because I'm afraid!" I was stunned for a moment and said, "Scared, why?" Della said: "I went to the fairyland with Dai. As soon as Dai left, she felt uncomfortable, and then she fell ill, and no matter what method was used, it couldn't be cured. Naturally, it was the gods who treated me and her. It's a punishment for wandering into a fairyland by mistake!" I immediately said: "If there is a punishment, then the punishment of the gods should be imposed on you, because you want to bring the gems out. Since Dai tried her best to stop you, why are the gods still punishing her?" Della said: "I don't understand, I have never understood why the gods didn't punish me, but I dare not go to that place alone again." I asked him again, "Then, don't you think it's too abrupt for you to choose a complete stranger from another country to talk about this matter and go to that fairyland with him?" Della's eyes widened, and she said, "I've never thought of this before, you...don't you also like Dai's paintings? I thought you would definitely go with me." I had reason to believe that Della hadn't thought of being abrupt.Because although I haven't known him much, I can know that he is a rude and straightforward person. I thought about it for a while, and said, "I have to think about this matter and discuss it with my wife." Unexpectedly, when Della heard what I said, he suddenly became nervous. He reached out and pressed my arm, and said, "No, you can't tell anyone about the fairyland!" Seeing how nervous he was, I couldn't help being angry and amused, and said, "What? Do you think I can go to the Himalayas with you without even telling my wife?" Della withdrew her hand, shook her head, and said, "You can't say it, never say it, if you think you can't go, then don't go!" I looked at him for a while, and he spoke so earnestly, which proves that everything he said about "Fairyland" is true.If I don't let my wife know my purpose and leave home for three or two months, then there is probably no problem, but there is no need for me to give in to that Indian. The "fairyland" that the Indians call is still very illusory after all, and it may not be true that such a place exists.Maybe it's just a kind of reflective effect in the mountain snow, an illusion! So, I stood up and said: "In that case, forget it, thank you for telling me that there are such wonderful places on earth, I will not mention this to anyone!" Della looked at me, I was about to leave, Della hurriedly said: "Wait a minute, I don't even know your name!" I told him my name and the phone number of my company, asking him to call me on this number if he needs to find me.Then, I left alone. When I walked out of the gate of the building, the cold wind was still very severe. I walked close to the street, and when I passed a jewelry company, I stopped involuntarily. There are many precious gemstones displayed in the jewelry company's window, but in terms of my knowledge of gemstones, those are not top-notch gemstones. I stood there blankly, thinking about the story of Della. The place Della mentioned is a blank space on the map. Even local aborigines like Della do not often have the opportunity to go deep into the Himalayas. In the deep and towering Himalayas, it can be said that it contains the mystery that has not been known since ancient times. So, in this mysterious mountain, is there such a fairyland as Della said? I stood at the entrance of the jewelry company for a long time before continuing to walk forward. I went into another bookstore and bought a lot of books about the Himalayas. When I got home and started reading those books one after another, I realized how little I knew about the Himalayas.There is a book that records the search for "snowmen" in the Himalayas. It records that the expedition team did not find "snowmen" in the mountains, but found several "hermits". Those hermits don't even know how long they have been in the mountains. They just sit in the caves. Judging from their living environment, they really can't live. But there is no doubt that they are alive and will be alive. Another book written by the British expedition team records that a monastery in the valley in the north of Nepal was presided over by two Tibetan eminent monks. No one in the expedition team could understand how the monastery was built. With 20 kilograms of equipment, it was difficult to reach this deep valley, but the beams of the temple were more than one foot in diameter. How did they transport such a large log in? Naturally, the monks in the monastery live a completely isolated life. It is amazing how much gold is preserved in the monastery. The entire Buddha statue is made of gold and is also studded with precious stones!Included is a book that records that the Tibetans were able to move over seemingly impossible situations and climb over mountain ridges. They had their own walking route, and that kind of walking route could not be detected by airplanes. When I was still reading those books in the middle of the night, my mind was already filled with all kinds of strange fantasies. I didn't go to sleep until early in the morning. I had a strange dream all night, and I didn't wake up until the afternoon the next day. When I could start my day's activities, it was almost evening, and I wanted to tell Bai Su what the Indian Della told me several times, but in order to keep my promise, I didn't say it Come. But Bai Su also saw my restlessness, she looked at me with a smile that was not a smile, and said: "I think people who have something on their minds and keep it from their wives are the ones who suffer the most!" I told her that I was caught in a heart attack, and I couldn't help being a little embarrassed and said: "There was an Indian who told me a weird story, but he didn't allow me to tell it to others!" Bai Su reached out and patted his forehead, and said: "Indian, I forgot, the company called twice, saying that an Indian is looking for you!" I hurriedly said, "That must be that weird Indian, his name is Della, he—" Bai Su didn't wait for me to continue, he stopped me, said: "Since you promised not to tell, it's better not to say, the Indian left an address, do you want to go to him?" Bai Su turned around and handed a small piece of paper under the phone to my hand.