Chapter 9 carve the world six

Diao Tianxia Six (1) What kind of tree is this? This is the big tree that covers the sky of the gods. The tall tree covered the eyes of the sun, Thick leaves covered the face of the moon. In ancient times, it won't be light, It is from here that light arises; The land will not be clear, That's where the fire comes from. ——Ancient Song of Yunnan The wedding of Gao Shimei and Zhao Jinhua was held in Xinlin Village.Many guests came and gathered under the big tree at the head of the village to drink and eat.This marriage is undoubtedly not honorable in the village, and many people make irresponsible remarks.It is said that Mu Yingtian was not happy either.But for Gao Shimei, it was the most perfect and respectable wedding. The scene was grand and the atmosphere was warm. The groom and the bride warmed each other up, which made many people envious and unmatched.But people from neighboring villages passed by here and whispered, why is there no place to eat in Xinlin Village?When guests come, they can only sit at the head of the village, like a group of beggars.These words were heard by Zhao Tianjue.In order to glorify his ancestors and to make the Zhao family proud, Zhao Tianjue decided to build the largest Zhao family ancestral hall in Xizong County in this village.After Mu Yingtian found out about this, he was also unhappy.He sent someone to warn Zhao Tianjue that when building a house, he must abide by the rules set by the court and not do anything else.Ancestral halls can be built, but the scale cannot exceed the county government, let alone the state capital, otherwise, they will be arrested and brought to justice.Zhao Tianjue felt very helpless, how could he be as rich as Mu Yingtian?It seems that we can only make a fuss about the interior of the house.Therefore, Zhao Tianjue gave Gao Shimei a task, which was to carve a unparalleled lattice door for Zhao's ancestral hall.Zhao Tianjue said to Gao Shimei, carve whatever you want, do whatever you want, don't care about time and property, if you don't have enough money, just say it.I asked Li Bang to send it.

The head of Xinlin Village used to be a lake. A large ship sank here in the past. Over time, more and more silt accumulated here, gradually protruding a piece of wasteland, and finally formed a small island.It is surrounded by water on three sides, and in the middle is an open field shaped like a big ship, with several big trees growing on it.Zhao Tianjue said, it's ok to build Zhao's ancestral hall into a big boat-like house, okay?Takashi Mi agrees. Gao Shimei went to ask his master Yang Yishan to help.Yang Yishan has just built "Jukui Pavilion" for Nilang Town.Gao Shimei said that if the Jukui Pavilion is built so well, the Zhao Clan's Ancestral Hall should also be built so well, please ask Master Yang to save face for our Zhao family.

Yang Yishan began to design Zhao's ancestral hall.He said to Gao Shimei: "Do you know? What we want to build is a ritual building. The ancients said that Zong means respect; temple means appearance; ancestral temple is the place where the ancestors look like. Three halls were designed, one courtyard with one door, one hall with one door, and the biggest one is the apse. It’s like a play, with prologue, prologue, development, climax and ending, the apse is the climax. Your grid carving Just leave it there." Gao Shimei asked puzzledly: "Master, why did you call the wooden lattice door a lattice carving?"

"Hahaha, others talk about wooden lattice doors, but we carpenters like to say lattice carvings. It's easy to say, and it doesn't have any special meaning. If you have to ask the master to give you an answer, it is that you must complete it in a small lattice. Your engraving task. However, that being said, it is not so simple to actually do it, so take your time to understand it!" Gao Shimei also began to conceive and sketch the "lattice carving" in his mind.He went to Yuanming Temple every day to see Li Guangxiu's clay sculpture of Buddha, and every day he went to see his father's performance of Yunnan opera.The drawings were finally drawn. There are 6 wooden lattice doors, each of which is about ten feet high and more than a foot wide.It is a hollowed out relief, generally hollowed out with 3 to 6 layers.The content is intricate stories, including 22 historical stories and folklore such as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States stories, the Qin and Han Three Kingdoms stories, the Fengshen stories, the Water Margin stories, and local folk tales.If Gao Shimei is asked to tell the story, I am afraid that it will not be finished for three days and three nights.People saw that on the limited board, he carefully arranged a total of 151 characters, 20 horses, 16 dragons, 9 monsters, 8 pavilions, 10 ancient trees, and swimming fish, flying birds, and climbing turtles. , mountains and rivers, smoke and clouds, warships, tables and chairs, green bamboos, knives, spears, swords, halberds... too many to count.These things are already alive in Gao Shimei's heart, and he has added a logical relationship between these objects and stories.Before he paints each object, he has to stop and rack his brains to combine this object with another object, so that they can produce stories, colors, sounds, temperatures and smells.Everyone was attracted by his drawings, and while looking at them, they were full of praise and emotions.

Yang Yishan looked at Gao Shimei's drawing and said: "According to the master, I am afraid that only you can make this grid carving. When you finish it one day, it may already be a divine carving. I can't tell. I'm afraid you won't be able to see it as a master." Gao Shimei said: "Master, you are only in your 40s this year, how can you not see it?" Yang Yishan said: "You don't understand this. I have discovered that you have a kind of Something out of the ordinary, but I couldn't tell until now. Of course, I understand that since the day you fell in love with woodcarving, although you have learned to live with wood as your companion, wood will also provide you with a This kind of quiet, deep, and incomparable happiness, but you know? Since then, your soul has been firmly confined in the grid, and you can’t get out even if you want to. For this, you have to use life itself as The price is to spend a lifetime in the grid." Gao Shimei still doesn't quite understand.But from Master Yang's conversation, he vaguely felt some kind of danger and threat approaching him.But he has no fear.

Diao Tianxia Six (2) That night, Gao Shimei was tormented by uneasy emotions, but fortunately, he has a tendency to think things in a good direction, so what he experienced was the uneasiness of happiness that he had never had before. , Just as reality is ordering him to rediscover what he loves, he has a very specific goal, as well as an unusual inner world and spiritual support. A few days later, the best carpenters, stonemasons, and masons in Xizong County gathered in Xinlin Village.Zhao Tianjue gave special preferential treatment to these craftsmen. In addition to paying generous wages, he also provided high-quality meals. At the same time, he could also smoke opium (opium), take a nap, and work no more than 5 hours a day.Therefore, more and more people came to work in the Zhao family. The Zhao family needed a lot of oil, salt, firewood, rice, sauce, vinegar, sugar, tea, fruit, cloth, shoes, ropes, hoes, poles, dustpans, etc. every day. Buckets, etc., these things require several people to go to the city to buy them, and they are carried on horseback, which is time-consuming and laborious.One day, Zhao Tianjue came up with a good idea. He posted a notice near Xinlin Village, calling on villagers to set up stalls in front of Zhao's house and sell things.If no one comes to buy, or if things are sold out, then all the remaining things will be purchased by the Zhao family, and the market price will not be lowered.As a result, the front of Zhao's house became more and more lively, gradually forming a small market, known as "Tianjue Street".There is never a shortage of things that cannot be bought in Nilang Town.After a long time, teahouses, tobacco shops, and taverns opened on Tianjue Street.The mornings and nights here have a bit of beautiful and slow hustle and bustle, and the people of Xinlin Village begin to feel extremely happy, and everyone has some joy on their faces.

However, when the front hall of Zhao's ancestral hall was about to be completed, many giant centipedes crawled out of the ground.Yang Yishan was terrified when he saw it.At night, with lightning and thunder, the front hall of Zhao's ancestral hall was burned to ashes by "sky fire".Yang Yishan quietly said to Gao Shimei: "Today, we have to tell the truth between our master and apprentice. You see, here the mountains are congealed, the vitality is fused, and there is a princely aura. The Zhao family can't stand it and can only hurt themselves. I I thought, it is not suitable to build a family ancestral hall here, but a Sansheng Palace should be built, using the dignity of a saint to defeat the arrogance of a prince. What do you think?" Gao Shimei said, "I want to discuss this matter with my father-in-law." The result is , Zhao Tianjue did not agree to build the Sansheng Palace, and he naturally rejected Yang Yishan's suggestion.Because the construction of Zhao's ancestral hall is his face and related to his self-esteem, he will never give up.He said: "The fire in the front hall of Zhao's ancestral hall was caused by Master Yang Yishan's carelessness. He went home without extinguishing the sparks in the fire pit that night, so when the strong wind blew at night, a big fire was ignited. If it is burnt, it can be burned, and everything can be started from scratch." Strangely, Yang Yishan never disputed Zhao Tianjue's statement.

Gao Shimei's wood-carved lattice door has not been started because of the wood.Gao Shimei said that the trees on the mountain boundary of Xinlin Village have no spiritual energy, and one has to go far, far away to find the spiritual tree of the sacred mountain.Therefore, Zhao Tianjue asked Gao Shimei to bring a team and invited a Feng Shui master to lead the way.Following the trend of the mountains, they started from Wuliang River, passed Mohadi, Taipingzhang, Xiaoheida, Lamei Pond, Huangcaoba, Sandaoqing, Kata, Manxie, Shuanghe, Luotianzhai, and entered Wen Mo Hei, Gochele.They walked quite normally, but at a fast pace.Mr. Feng Shui walked behind Gao Shimei, and he didn't speak.Whenever Gao Shimei looked back at him, his facial expression was not good, as if he was about to die, and he had no energy at all, which made Gao Shimei feel very uncomfortable from time to time.Gao Shimei wanted to reprimand him, but in retrospect, he was an old, timid and pitiful person.Therefore, Gao Shimei tried to find other methods or strategies to change him.Gao Shimei said: "When we come out, we must find the spiritual wood we need. We can't give up halfway and return without success. The Lord Buddha will protect us. Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Mr. Feng Shui still did not speak.Gao Shimei repeated what she said just now.He said with a mournful face, "Do you know? We have entered no-man's land. Walking in such primitive mountains and dense forests, do you know how to get out? Which direction is Nilang Town?" Gao Shimei shook her head. Mr. Feng Shui sat down on the ground, not wanting to leave. Gao Shimei said: "I believe that with my feet, I will be able to find the spirit wood and walk out of this forest." Mr. Feng Shui said: "We can't go any further. It's getting dark. If we can't find a tree hole to hide in, even if we are a dozen big cows, we will be eaten up by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes here There are as many as black clouds, and as big as birds."

Gao Shimei doesn't quite believe Mr. Feng Shui's words, are you scaring me?In this world, how can there be a mosquito as big as a bird?However, Gao Shimei believes that in such a primitive jungle, anything can happen.So they started looking for tree holes.Fortunately, they found a strange tree at the last moment of darkness. Its leaves are very ordinary, like ordinary leaves, green, pointed, and full of vitality.But its tree trunk is strange, it looks like a bamboo tube and a tree body, section by section, in lumps.Mr. Feng Shui pulled out his waist knife and cut a gap for Gao Shimei and the boys to get in.Gao Shimei thought, that slit is so small, how could seven or eight of us get in?While Gao Shimei was hesitating, Mr. Feng Shui reached into the gap between the trees with both hands, and broke to both sides, and a huge tree hole appeared.Gao Shimei and the boys got into it, and then pushed the two things that looked like bamboo slices and planks outward, and the tree hole was tightly closed like a door.The tree hole has been crowded into a ball, and Mr. Feng Shui can no longer be accommodated.Mr. Feng Shui looked for the tree hole outside again, but it was not smooth.He yelled in despair: "Oh, my waist knife is broken."

Diao Tianxia Six (3) Since then, Gao Shimei has never heard from Mr. Feng Shui again.Gao Shimei felt that it was sticky outside, and Mr. Feng Shui was wrapped in clusters of mosquitoes.He was struggling desperately, constantly beating the mosquitoes with branches and screaming.Gao Shimei estimated that under Mr. Feng Shui's feet, the corpses of mosquitoes had piled up layer after layer.Late at night, Mr. Feng Shui fell down, and the mosquitoes became more active than ever. They were happily enjoying the flesh and blood of Mr. Feng Shui.Gao Shimei knocked on the thick bamboo tree wall, calling for Master Wang...Master Wang...Master Wang...Master Wang... Gao Shimei suddenly realized that her situation was also very dangerous.If the wall of the bamboo tree is knocked open by me, the mosquitoes will rush at us, rush into our tree hole, and eat us.Gao Shimei was so frightened that she didn't move, she didn't even dare to breathe clearly, let alone imagine the scene outside.Gao Shimei became a person who was afraid of death.Really, Gao Shimei is terribly scared now, terribly scared.He said quietly in his heart, Master Wang, we are sorry for you, we cannot come out to save you.As soon as we come out there is only one dead end. They huddled in the tree hole, smelling a bloody smell that was stronger than one.As a result, Gao Shimei's stomach and intestines were overwhelmed, and they kept rushing to the throat.After a few rounds, Gao Shimei was completely crushed. She had difficulty breathing, her neck was weak, and her head swelled completely, accompanied by crazy pain. It was not easy to survive until dawn.Gao Shimei didn't dare to leave the cave immediately.Gao Shimei waited until the sun was shining outside, then Gao Shimei asked the boys to push away the bamboo boards and poke their heads out to have a look. Everything in the forest was radiant, and those terrifying things had disappeared. Gao Shimei boldly crawled out of the hole.Waiting for Gao Shimei and the others at the entrance of the cave is a bone.Gao Shimei held up Master Wang's "hands" and watched carefully under the sun with unspeakable fear and grief.It is these hands that cut a tree hole for us, so that we can survive.Now, the hateful mosquito sucked up the flesh and blood of a living person overnight, and now there are only ten bones and bones left in these hands. Who can accept such a terrible and ruthless fact? A Hani boy said to Gao Shimei: "What we can do now is to recite the 'Directing the Way' to Mr. Feng Shui and tell him how to get home." Gao Shimei said: "Then you can read it!" Then, the Hani boy began to read: Master Wang, wake up, get up. Look, the lion raised his head, The tiger stretched out its waist, The black bear stretched out his palms, The boar arched its nose, The red deer danced, The magpie sang, The ants are out of the hole, The yellow worm is crawling, The bees flew out of the nest. Master Wang, wake up, get up, You are leaving today, to a place far, far away, Go where you can't see, go where you can't return. How to go on the road?Remember my words, don't look back in the direction I lead. You go east now, Qingji flies, don't be afraid. The skylark cried, don't be afraid. The tiger and leopard howled, don't be afraid. When thunder and lightning strike, don't be afraid. Walking to the top of the mountain, looking towards the east, There is a road above, don't go!There are beasts on the road that want to eat your flesh. There is a road below, and the ground is full of monsters. If you want to drink your blood, don't go! There is a road in the middle, with flowers blooming on the side of the road, just take this road and keep going. The front Sanyakou passes through the middle. After walking to the back of the mountain, three groups of people came. Don't look at the group in front, they are the ancestors of beasts. Don't follow the group behind, they are descendants of demons. To go with the partner in the middle, you will meet your ancestors. Master Wang, wake up, get up, you are leaving today, I will see you off. Towards the place where the sun rises, the moon rises, the white clouds gather, and the ancestors multiply, go boldly, go with confidence... The voice of the Hani boy hovered over the forest and echoed among the trees.It was a unique voice, which was repeatedly repeated in a sad tone, which deeply shocked everyone's heart.When the Hani boy finished reading "Guiding the Road", Gao Shimei burst into tears, and dreamlike things appeared in front of his eyes.The Hani boy said: "The scriptures were taught to me by a local bimo master. I can't remember them clearly and I can't read them completely. It turns out that it seems very long. It takes at least one night to read. Now I can only read the scriptures." It’s such a paragraph, and many sentences are not in the original text.” Gao Shimei said: “Little brother, you read well, and the scriptures are naturally sung from your mouth. I think it is similar to the original text, or even better than the original text. It makes me seem to be in touch with another wonderful world, and I don't seem to be afraid of death anymore." Diao Tianxia Six (4) However, in a moment, Gao Shimei returned to the real world.He is sitting alone beside the bones of Mr. Feng Shui, he has lost his partner, he is completely lost in this forest. "Let's go, boys," Gao Shimei said, "we must get out of this terrible forest today." He ordered himself to get up, but he didn't know where to go?In the dreamlike forest, there are dangers lurking everywhere.Gao Shimei walked forward by feeling, stepping on thick moss, and walked across a stream with clear springs.One more deep step, one shallow step on the damp humus soil, and came to a mountain peak.This process took them about half a day.This mountain is very strange, like a tiger.It blocks their way.They had to climb up the mountain with trepidation, rested for a while on it, and then came down from the other side of the mountain.It was dark when they were finally sure they had reached the bottom of the valley.At the same time, strange things happened.When Gao Shimei was looking for a tree hole to hide, they were surprised to find the strange tree last night.Yes, that's right, it is this strange tree, which looks like both bamboo and tree.What's more, there is a pile of bones in the hole of this tree.Facing the facts, they had to admit that they had returned to their original place after a hard day's walk. Gao Shimei and the others didn't have time to think about it, they hurriedly hid in the tree hole and closed the door.At this time, groups of black mosquitoes have chased outside the door.One of the pioneers rushed into the tree hole before Gao Shimei closed the door and bit his arm.He slapped it hard and beat it to death in the cave.He pinched it with his hands, and it turned out to be a big mosquito, as big as a small sparrow. In the tree hole, Gao Shimei may be too tired, maybe he feels that there is nothing outside, the mosquitoes have completely evacuated, he seems to be dead, fearless.Soon fell asleep.When he woke up again, it was broad daylight.Time flies so fast, one night flies by like this.He was thankful that he fell asleep, so that he was spared the threat and torture of the nightmarish night. Now, drawing on the lessons of yesterday, they head in the other direction.After walking about an hour in the forest, they came to a small lake.The lake in the forest was very quiet and mysterious, giving him a rare sense of relaxation and happiness, as if he could wipe away the bad luck from yesterday.They took a bath in the lake, the water was almost blackened with dirt from their bodies.On the one hand, this shows that the lake is very small, and on the other hand, it shows that they have a surprisingly large amount of dirt on them.Finally, they reluctantly bid farewell to this beautiful forest lake and ran forward briskly.They felt that they had climbed over four mountains, waded through five rivers, getting farther and farther away from the strange tree, and getting closer to the way out of the forest.However, when it got dark, they had to admit that they had failed again.The strange tree appeared again in front of them, and there was still a pile of bones at the foot of the strange tree.Gao Shimei skillfully entered the tree hole, closed the door, and cried inside.Next, Gao Shimei found a reason to comfort herself. He said to the boys: "Maybe we didn't return to the original place, but this strange tree followed us. It is our life-saving tree and our tent." , is our home." Gao Shimei repeated this reason at least ten times, and finally he convinced the boys that it was true, because in the primeval forest, anything weird and weird can happen. Gao Shimei had a good night's sleep, and it was already bright when she woke up.The sun is changing like magic in the woods.Gao Shimei had a premonition that today we are going to walk out of this forest.He stood in front of Mr. Feng Shui's bones and said, "Master Wang, rest in peace!" This is already the fourth day that Gao Shimei and the others strayed into this forest. He analyzed the direction he walked in the previous three days, and then chose a direction that he had not traveled before.He asked the boys: "Who can tell which side it is, east, west, north, south?" The boys all shook their heads. Gao Shimei commanded them, and walked through the vine-strewn jungle with great difficulty. Many plants and trees were as sharp as blades, tearing their clothes and drawing deep bloodstains on their hands, feet, heads and faces.At this time, the sun above the head often faded, and it was dark under the wild forest.Gao Shimei tripped over an invisible tree stump and fell into a deep ravine.Gao Shimei realized that she might be buried in Shekou soon. This is a paradise for snakes, with water, holes, stones, grass, and small animals.At that moment, his courage and strength were suddenly released. Like a blind man, he randomly grabbed something above and tried his best to climb up.Some of those things are as hard as steel wire, some are as soft as rubber, some are as cold as ice, and some are as hot as fire.But no matter what it was, as long as his hands could grasp it, he held on tight.His body is constantly rising, rising, rising... After about an hour, a slightly flat slope appeared under his feet, and he pushed away the endless weeds that were much taller than him, desperate move forward.It was not long before he saw the magpie and the sun, and the boys who were trying to rescue him.At this time, not to mention how happy he was, he was like a person crawling out of hell, feeling both free and novel. Diao Tianxia Liu (5) After walking for three or four hours, Gao Shimei felt so hungry that she asked the boys to rest on a piece of grass.He looked up, and there was a big ant nest hanging on the tree in front of him, which was his food.He quickly climbed up the big tree, picked off the big ant bag, and tore the leaves wrapped on it, the yellow ants were scared and fled in all directions.They ran far away, waiting for the yellow ants to disappear into the grass in groups.Afterwards, they walked over to clean up the yellow ants that remained in the ant bag, and then grabbed a large handful of white and soft ant eggs and ate them. There is a beeping sound, and at the same time, it releases a fresh, sweet and fragrant taste and breath.After the delicious meal, they found another spring, drank a few sips, and then washed their faces, hair, and feet.When Gao Shimei was about to lie down on the grass and rest for a while, she vaguely saw a cottage, and a small road appeared in front of her. They are like a group of children, running and shouting happily.The path is changeable, wide and narrow, sometimes absent, just like their mood.After about an hour, they finally walked out of the forest.Looking from a distance, Gao Shimei saw the most beautiful scenery in the world.A bright cottage sleeps in the silent forest. In front of the village is a deep dark green valley, extending to a forest lake shining with silver light.There are black, blue, purple and red forests behind the village, which are integrated with the colorful mountains.At their feet, there are fallen leaves that are encouragingly red.Walking on it, Gao Shimei found the real feeling of reaching a certain destination.Going forward, Gao Shimei found some beech trees mixed in the chestnut forest, which is very rare.Gao Shimei sat on a rock, carefully distinguishing whether the cottage in front of her was Baimozhai or Dengyunzhai?The more you distinguish, the more confused you become.He fell into the fog of imagination, and he couldn't get out, and time seemed to stand still.In his memory, he had been to this indescribably beautiful place.A familiar breath floated in the air, as if calling and waiting for his arrival.He thought of Brother Lamo and chieftain Baimo, and he felt a little uneasy and warm.A resolute and steady evening breeze blew from the forest, making him feel that time was flowing again.In the end, he boldly determined, "For the spirit tree in our dream, we would rather believe that we have found the Dengyun Mountain mentioned by Mr. Wang, the feng shui master. The opposite is the Dengyun Village, not the Baimo Mountain that we are familiar with." After watching the sand and water, Gao Shimei determined that this is really a spiritual mountain.They climbed up from the foot of the mountain, and saw everything grow, and trees of all kinds multiplied freely.Some big trees are covered with shadows, their leaves are shining, and they are extending into the sky without any hindrance beyond the limitation of time.The boys first took a fancy to a "sour tree", saying that it was rich and strong.Gao Shimei said: "No, the sour stalk tree is a tree for women to stain their teeth, so it cannot be used to carve lattice doors." Then, they met another tree "Oh Chuchu", and the boys picked up their axes.Gao Shimei said again: "No, 'Oh Chuchu' is a tree for spinning wheels, how can it be used to carve lattice doors?" When they reached the mountainside, the boys chose a yellow chestnut tree, and they couldn't wait to open the big frame saw .Gao Shimei stopped them again and said: "The yellow chestnut tree is a tree for plowing and raking, not suitable for carving lattice doors." They finally came to the top of the mountain, where they saw several big and small toon trees.Some are tall, straight, extremely strong, straight into the sky, and the locals wonderfully surrounded three big stones at its feet; some are immature and short, and the stems are not as thick as the leaves of the big trees, but they are full of vitality and full of spirituality.There is a small bamboo tube hanging on the branch of many small trees.Gao Shimei didn't understand the meaning of the stones under the tree and the bamboo tubes on the branches?But he knows three characteristics of this toon tree.The first is that it will not deform; the second is that it will not breed insects; the third is that it will not be perishable.Gao Shimei hugged these toon trees happily.The boys immediately sawed down a tree.Gao Shimei said: "Cut slowly, slowly, and choose the tree with the most aura." He looked at this tree and said it was a good tree, and looked at that one and said it was a good tree. Chopped which one, stood still in a daze.At this moment, a group of Yi people came and surrounded them.One of the Yi people said: "Toon tree is the sacred tree of our Baimo Village, which protects the people in the whole village. Especially those trees surrounded by stones and hung with bamboo tubes are spiritual trees for the elderly and children. Who told you Come and cut? Who is so bold?” Gao Shimei said: “We are from Nilang Town, because we need five or six toon trees to build the ancestral hall, and we have traveled all over the nearby mountains and rivers before we found these trees suitable for carving. The big tree at the lattice gate. You can sell us a few of them, and tell us how much you need, and we are willing to pay you.” Another Yi said: “No one can cut down those big trees surrounded by stones. Each tree is an old man. When they were alive, they would choose an auspicious day in August every year and come to sacrifice under the tree. It was not until they were dying that the big tree was cut down and made into a coffin for the dead. As for Outsiders can’t even move those small trees, and the baby’s clothes bag (placenta) is contained in the small bamboo tube on top, and each tree is a baby’s life. This is the rule of our Luo family, and you can’t break it.” One Yi said, "We don't want your money, we want your life. Tell me, who cut down this tree?" Another Yi said, "This tree screams like it's The wailing, I heard it a mile away." Another Yi man went on to say, "I heard the same sound, so I ran over." Diao Tianxia Six (6) Gao Shimei repeatedly explained to them: "I am a Buddhist and believe that these trees have spiritual energy. Please rest assured, Yi brothers. After we cut them back, we will treat them kindly and keep Dengyun Village safe forever." The Yi people did not agree.Suddenly a big man came over and pinned Gao Shimei to the ground with both hands.Gao Shimei felt that those hands concentrated all the strength of the big man, tightly pinching his head and hands, not letting go for a moment, as if they were going to push him to the execution ground.Immediately afterwards, the boys were caught one by one, and together with Gao Shimei, they were pushed under a huge rock.The Yi people's fingers were like iron nails, firmly "nailing" the bodies of Gao Shimei and the boys to the rock. The Yi people shouted that Gao Shimei must hand over the murderer who felled the toon tree.One of the Yi people said: "We will dig out the murderer's belly button, nail it to the toon tree, and let this person circle around the tree until the murderer's intestines are completely attached to the trunk." A Yi said, " This way of punishing the murderer is a life for a life, a life for the life of a tree." Gao Shimei was horrified and was too frightened to speak.He didn't expect such serious consequences. His first feeling was that he had strayed into the demon's territory, like a group of people who had fallen into a nightmare, and repentance and calling for help had lost their meaning.They can only wait for the Yi people's punishment. "Tell me, who cut down that toon tree first?" "Hand over the murderer!" "You are too stupid. Your stupid behavior has ruined our beautiful life, and you will be punished by God, do you know?" "Stop messing around with these people. They don't understand reason. They're afraid of nothing but death." "We'll let you die now." "Quickly tell me, who cut down that toon tree first? If you don't tell me, you will all die." Gao Shimei and the boys are all dumb.The dim light at dusk casts the figures of the Yi people onto their tired and desperate faces.Gao Shimei suddenly had a strong desire to survive. He wanted to save the lives of himself and the boys. He didn't want to give up the toon tree or the grid carving.He suddenly asked the Yi people: "Is this Dengyun Village or Baimo Village?" "Bai Mozhai." The Yi people answered very simply.They didn't know Gao Shimei's real intention to ask this question.I saw Gao Shimei rubbing her sweaty forehead with a relieved expression, and he said slowly, "I want to see your Master Bai Mo." Gao Shimei's words disrupted the original order of the Yi people, and the situation began to be a little chaotic.A Yi man asked politely, "What are you looking for with our Master Bai Mo?" "Ask him to save us." "Master Bai Mo can't save you, you are sinners." "We repented and rehabilitated, and turned around." "Okay, it's getting dark, let's take you back to Baimo village first, and wait for master Baimo's punishment." The Yi people tied them all up with rattan, scolded them, escorted them back to the village, and locked them in a small, dark earthen hut.One pass lasted for several days, and the Yi people neither allowed them to meet Baimo Tusi nor let them have enough food.Throw a few roasted sweet potatoes in every day, and let them drink a few sips of water at night.The taste of sweet potatoes has always tempted the little guys, keeping their spirits from breaking down.Gao Shimei was very happy. He said to the boys: "This is much more comfortable than when I was trapped in the mine." Gao Shimei didn't want to sleep at first, how could she sleep in such a place?But at some point, he fell asleep.When he woke up, he acted calm and mature.He had to admit that this small earthen hut was not as free as the mine.In the mine, he can call for help, he can look around, he can light a torch, he can find a way out.But now, what else does he have besides waiting to die? Ten days and a half months passed, and Zhao Tianjue neither saw Gao Shimei come back nor heard from them.Zhao Tianjue guessed that something must have happened to Gao Shimei.He sent someone to look for it.A few days later, those people had consumed all the food, had to lower their heads, and returned with sleepiness, fear, and disappointment, saying that they had not found Gao Shimei.Zhao Tianjue once again selected elite soldiers and went to search for them, but he was still at the end of his rope and returned without success.But this time, they finally got a piece of news that one of Gao Shimei's subordinates had been killed by the Yi people in Dengyunzhai. As for Gao Shimei and the others' whereabouts are still unclear.Unwilling to fail, Zhao Tianjue sent people out for the third time. They traveled all over the mountains and rivers in southern Yunnan, and searched for places where people lived.The road goes farther and farther, and the mountain climbs higher and higher.Finally, I got the exact news about Gao Shimei and the others from a shepherd.The shepherd said: "A month ago, I saw a group of people who secretly cut down the toon tree were captured by the people of Baimo Village." Zhao Tianjue immediately brought a lot of gifts - white wine, clear sauce, vermicelli, glutinous rice, bacon , earthen cloth, yellow smoke, black big head, snow noodles, ice winter melon, honeyd olives, shredded radish, electric cannon, toilet paper, five-spice stewed medicine, poyunding eye ointment, etc., a total of 20 special products of Xizong, went to Baimozhai. Diao Tianxia Six (7) Gao Shimei and the boys were locked up dizzy.From the outside, they are hardly human.The hair is dirty and long, the clothes are black and smelly, and anyone who sees it will be disgusted.Especially the pointy nails on the hands and feet make people think that they are a group of beasts that can eat people.Those Yi people have been secretly discussing how to deal with them, so they haven't reported to chieftain Baimo.Over time, they became the heartache and burden of those Yi people. They neither dared to execute them without permission, nor did they want to let them go quietly.How to do it?After repeated discussions among those Yi people, it was finally decided to send them to the chieftain's yamen. When chieftain Baimo saw them, he could no longer recognize Gao Shimei.But Gao Shimei recognized Chieftain Baimo at a glance.Chieftain Baimo had a kind of intimidating power to everyone present, so that no one dared to be the first to speak in front of him.Gao Shimei couldn't help crying, tears washed away the dirt on his face, revealing his true face.白莫土司“啊呀”一声，摸摸高石美的额头，“年轻人，你怎么出现在这里？我不敢相信自己的眼睛，请你告诉我，这究竟是怎么回事？是谁把你弄成这个样子？是谁把你当作罪人？” 高石美一把抓住白莫土司的手，就像抓住了一根救命的稻草。他把自己到白莫寨的前因后果及种种危险经历，从头讲了一遍。恰恰在那个时候，赵天爵的人马赶到了白莫寨。有人进来报告：“尼郎镇的锡矿大老板赵天爵前来拜见土司老爷。” 白莫土司热情地接待了赵天爵，收下了他带来的礼物，并让他与高石美见面。赵天爵见到高石美和小伙计们个个安然无恙，一个也没死，一个也没伤。原先说高石美手下的一个小伙计已被登云寨的人杀死了的消息，纯粹是谣传。 高石美哭着说：“要是没有白莫大人的宽恕，我们的命早就完了。”白莫土司毫不留情地批评了赵天爵和高石美，说：“这就是你们的不对了，我们倮人的寨神树，你们怎能想砍就砍呢？说实话，即使是本衙门的人犯了此规，也是要杀头的，决不循情宽容。你们需要毛椿树，告知本衙门一声，本衙门不会不给你们面子的。” 高石美和赵天爵无话可说。接着，白莫土司又说：“现在，你们既然来了，那就按照我们的寨规，请你们去拜访一下我们的伙头（村寨的行政长官）和巫医，向他们提出你们的需要，他们一定会送给你们所需要的毛椿树的。” 赵天爵和高石美向白莫大人告别时，白莫大人说：“尊贵的客人，本衙门也为你们准备了一些礼物，请一定收下。”赵天爵和高石美一看，那是一些牛腿、黄鱼、麝香、麂子、蜂儿、熊胆、熊掌、竹蛆、岩蜂腊、蜜多萝、扁米、蚂蚱、兰蕨菜、草果等等，也是大大小小的20驮特产。赵天爵和高石美非常感动，再三道谢。那时的气氛美妙极了，思想和激情、情谊和梦想在宾主的招手和拱手之间传递、增加、转换和变得牢固，直至在记忆中永恒。 赵天爵和高石美回到新林村后，经过充分准备，他们带着家禽和山羊，再次来到白莫山。高石美翻阅了《鲁班经》，选择了一个吉日——“天德”的午后，来到毛椿树下，跪在那棵被砍倒的毛椿树桩，说：“我们毁掉了一棵毛椿树，就等于杀害了自己的母亲，我们犯下了不可饶恕的罪行。今天，我们向树神认罪，向白莫寨的乡亲们认罪。” 白莫寨的伙头来到了现场。他说：“白莫老爷已经求得本寨巫医的允诺，同意你们砍伐12棵毛椿树。你们就按自己的需要进行砍伐吧！有什么需要我们帮助，尽管说出来，不要把我们当作外人。” 站在一旁的巫医也面对毛椿树说：“他们是远方的客人，是我们白莫老爷最真诚的朋友，他们将用我们白莫山上的12棵毛椿树，去雕刻六扇饱含神气的格子门。求树神就不要降罪于他们，求树神不要惩罚他们，让12棵毛椿树的灵魂永远依附在木雕格子门之上。” 开始砍树了。高石美先向12棵毛椿树献上12只鸡和12只羊，然后，不停地磕头。紧接着，一个小伙计向树身砍下了第一斧。高石美立即俯下身子用嘴在砍过的地方吮吸树汁。巫医说：“好，你和毛椿树已结成了兄弟关系，你们的血液已经流在彼此的血管里了，你们兄弟之间今后就可以相互使用了。”另一个小伙计也抡起板斧，狠狠向另一棵毛椿树砍去。高石美依然俯下身子用嘴去吮吸树汁。巫医同样重复那句话。就这样，高石美跪爬在地上，极其虔诚而敏捷地吸完了12树棵毛椿的树汁。他觉得自己的身体有了支撑点，有了坚实的基础。他的感觉是微妙、精致和幸福的，一种强大的力量和激情推动着他去完成了那种庄重而有意味的仪式。他站起身来，耸耸肩头，就像是余兴未了，又像是发现了一个真理，取得了决定性的胜利。这是他固有的习惯。每当他从繁重、危险或有特殊意义的劳作中脱身出来，他总是重复这个动作。 雕天下六(8) 好不容易把12棵毛椿树伐倒了。接下来是为树木“打枝”。“打枝”之后，再根据木雕格子门各个构件的不同长度，将“原条”截断，进行“造材”。在这个过程中，高石美是最忙最累的人，但谁也没有他的快乐和兴奋。好长好长时间，他才给自己一个抬头的机会，望望远处的森林和大山。他看到即将落山的太阳像一面巨大的古铜境，在古铜境的光影里，森林拥有了一层奇异的色彩，他们的皮肤也变成了金色。 高石美就叫一个小活计在山顶上搭了两间小草棚。夜里，可能是白天太劳累了，他们都睡得很踏实。天气一点儿也不冷。高石美斜躺在草棚门口，把外衣盖在身上，手肘和下半身露在上衣外面。他对这样简易的睡眠方式感到很满意，也很舒服。正在梦中，突然感到一阵凉风，高石美醒了，他摸摸外衣，没有了，再摸摸周围，也没有。他惊呼：“有贼，有贼，抓贼了。”因为当时他的大脑里只有一个贼字。一个小伙计快速来到高石美床前，问发生了什么事？高石美说：“我的外衣没有了，刚刚被人偷走的。” 高石美正说话的时候，有两个一闪一闪的蓝光，又悄悄向他们走来。小伙计说：“这个毛贼，心太贪了，又来啦。高师傅，你别出声，让我把他干掉。” 小伙计端起火枪，瞄准两盏蓝灯之间就放。枪响了，蓝光熄灭了。其他小伙计闻声起床，乱作一团。有的帮高石美找外衣，有的检查自己的东西是否被偷。赵天爵也被惊醒了，几乎是一跃而起，起来后立即跑到棚外摸摸毛椿树，一切完好无损，这才放心地进来，对高石美说：“死灯瞎火的，到哪里找你的外衣呢？过来与我同盖一件大衣，随便打个盹，没事的，明天再找也不迟。”大伙也是这么说。 高石美怎么也睡不着了。草棚外，一切正常，风吹着，树摇着，各种奇怪的动物鸣叫着……一直到天亮。 高石美和赵天爵最先起来。他俩找遍了房前屋后，仍不见外衣。他俩只好放弃。高石美说：“找不到了，找不到了，一定是被那个小贼抱走了。他比我穷，比我更需要外衣。送给他吧！”其他人也陆续起床，其中有个小伙计一醒来就忙着跑到草棚左前方的树下撒尿。突然，他惊骇万分地往回跑，豹……豹子……大豹子…… 求生的欲望使他们每个人都本能地拿起了武器，有的手拿斧头，有的举起了木棒，有的抓住了锯子、绳子、水罐……不久，他们都松了口气，一看那只豹子坐在树下一动不动。他们以为豹子睡着了，就悄悄退出了草棚，跑到很远很远的地方，喘着大气，商量对策。对策还未商量好，有个大胆的小伙计就发现那只豹子的秘密，原来它是只死豹。高石美走近死豹，看到它的头已是粘乎乎的一团，天灵盖已被炸开，豹鼻、豹眼不见了。他们结合昨夜的情况一推测，高石美的两腿一软，整个人就瘫在地上。“妈呀，抱我的外衣的毛贼原来是这只大豹子！我住在草棚门口，这只大豹子一进门就叼，它满以为叼到一个人了，所以转身就跑。走了好一段路才发现，叼到的只是一件外衣，但它没有失望，转身返回草棚，想重新把我叼走，不料刚回到草棚左前方的树下，就被小兄弟的一枪，打瞎了眼睛，打翻了鼻子，打开了脑盖骨，只好原地坐在树下，与我们永别了。” 那个小伙计听高石美这么一说，吓得瘫坐在地，连连倒吸冷气。 高石美侥幸逃过了一劫。第二天中午，就在赵天爵和高石美结束砍伐之时，白莫土司闻讯赶来，向高石美表示安慰和庆贺。白莫土司说：“石美兄弟啊，你大难不死必有后福。我来为你敬上一碗酒，一是祝贺你们伐木顺利，二是祝愿你们平安吉祥！” 高石美接过白莫土司的一碗酒，一饮而尽。他的嘴唇、眼睛、鼻子、耳朵、脸颊，全红透了。他说：“白莫老爷，我觉得自己永远不会死。因为我还没有完成我的格子雕，当我的格子雕完成的那一天，我们一定来请白莫大人到尼郎镇作客。” 雕天下六(9) 白莫土司也喝了一碗酒。点点头说：“一定去，一定去。” 高石美带领着小伙计们把分散在伐木区的“原条”和“原木”聚集起来。无论赵天爵从什么角度看，他都感觉到木材像一座小山。怎样把它们运回新林村呢？这成了一个大难题。水运显然不行，因为这里没有直通尼郎镇的河流。再说如果让木材在江河里漂流，很容易流失。 这么珍贵的毛椿树，谁舍得让它们以这种方式回家呢？经过反复考虑，赵天爵决定请当地最有名的马帮——瓦哨帮，来运送这批木材。赵天爵说，瓦哨帮是个大马帮，过去帮我运过大锡，马锅头是蔡灿华，他在白、汉、藏马帮中一直是老大。 赵天爵派人带着一尊“锡罗汉”，作为礼品送给了蔡灿华，才把瓦哨帮请来了。见到瓦哨帮，赵天爵和高石美才像吃了定心丸，外表和内心突然安静下来。 高石美看到，瓦哨帮共有三群一伙。每群有9匹大骡马。每伙由三群骡马组成。头三匹大骡马健走、识途、听话，不驮货物。第一匹骡马的额头上佩戴黄底红绒火焰图标。图标中间缀圆镜1面，周围饰6面小圆镜。笼头镶有白银，挂大号铜铃9个。头上系6尺红布结成的彩球，耳后佩红色牦牛尾巴1对，鞍上分别插帮旗、祖旗各1面。帮旗为黄底红边的三角旗。祖旗是红底金边的小方旗，旗面上是两条平行的锦鸡羽毛。旗旁插马鞭1根。马背上驮两口大铜锅，以及占卦的神器。这匹骡马由大锅头蔡灿华负责。第二匹骡马的额头佩戴红底白色火焰图标，笼头镶黄铜，脖挂大铜铃1对，鞍插红底黑狗牙边马旗1对。马背上驮药品。由歧头（人畜医生）负责。第三匹骡马的额头佩戴红底黑色火焰图标，笼头镶黄金，脖挂大铜铃1个，不插马旗，仅供大锅头乘骑。其它骡马，每匹挂一个铜铃，额佩一朵花缨。27匹大骡马，头三匹在前，后24匹都驮上了毛椿树的树干、树枝、树叶。其中16匹驮大树干，每匹驮一根，其它树枝、树叶则由8匹个子稍小的骡马驮运。高石美是第一次见到这样漂亮的马帮。他就像一个梦游者，从头看到尾，又从尾看到头，有关马帮的一切对于他来说，也像是一场梦。他把每一匹骡马都仔细观察了一遍。遇到不明白的地方，他就不厌其烦地提问，而对于高石美的每一个问题，蔡灿华也乐意回答，直至高石美满意地点头。 大锅头蔡灿华在前面导引，手擂大芒锣开路。3个群头敲着中号芒锣，各带领9匹骡马，每匹骡马旁有个小伙计。赵天爵和高石美则骑着自家的大青马跟在后面。殿尾的是两个哨头（保镖），敲着小芒锣与大锅头前呼后应。 第一天，平安无事。但到了夜间，全队在野外宿营，遇到了老虎的侵袭。赵天爵和高石美被吓坏了。哨头则临危不惧，烧起了草果，驱走了老虎。第二天，也是夜间，他们路过三道箐。赵天爵有点儿害怕。因为三道箐又是一个虎豹经常出没的地方。高石美和蔡灿华走在前面。他们提着一盏马灯。在昏暗的灯光下，高石美分明看见路边上有一只死鹿，脖子上正在流血，头上是一对诱人的鹿角，毛茸茸的，若是把它砍下来，无异于发了一笔横财。但是，蔡灿华是一个有经验的人，他不贪财，不会上当。当时，如果是别人，那就要发生死亡事件了。蔡灿华悄声对高石美说：“那只死鹿是老虎刚刚叼来的点心，它正要美餐一顿的时候，突然闯入我们这些不速之客。它只好将死鹿暂放一边，退避路旁，百倍专注地望着我们的动静。如果我们胆敢动一动它的点心，它就会猛扑过来，把我们撕得粉碎。” 离开三道箐之后，高石美不由赞叹一声，“蔡锅头，你真聪明，难怪你的马帮越赶越大。” 蔡灿华说：“不错，我是有一点儿经验。从小我就跟我父亲赶马。记得有一次，也是在三道箐，天晚了，我们不得不在那里打野。我们把马驮子放在地上，连成一片，再在驮子上盖一层油毛毡，里面像个狗洞，这就是我们的家，我们的床铺。那天夜里，没有鸟叫，甚至没有虫鸣，真可谓万籁俱静。那不是好兆头，往往是提醒我们老虎即将光临。我父亲吓得要死，闭上眼睛祈求上苍。我悄悄从马驮子之间的缝隙偷窥，只见迷蒙的夜色下，几十匹骡马都吓得低着头，跪在地上，不敢喘息。几只大老虎很有礼貌地从我们的马驮旁走过。我父亲说，是骡马救了我们的命。” 雕天下六(10) 高石美说：“真险！原来蔡锅头有这样的冒险经历。” 高石美问：“蔡锅头，你经常在山林里来往，你有没有见过像鸟一样的大蚊子？” “那种大蚊子在森林里挺多的，”蔡灿华说，“有蝙蝠那么大，在我们赶马途中，我见过一次。不过，那时我们不叫大蚊子，把它称为食人鸟。这种食人鸟曾把我们一个小兄弟的耳朵咬掉了一半，手臂也被咬伤。食人鸟吃人是不犯法的，我们能拿它怎么办？” 蔡灿华问：“高师傅，你见过'席子'吗？” "No." “那我告诉你，'席子'是一种巨型蚂蟥，名副其实，有一领席子那么大。它专门吸食男人或雄性动物的那个东西（生殖器），时间不长，就可把人或动物活活吸死。太可怕了，太可怕了，我以前只听说过，前几天我们路过文莫黑，亲眼看到一头公象到江里洗澡，无奈被'席子'的两个大吸盘吸住了睪丸，正站在江水里四肢抽搐，身子却不敢动弹，它也许绝望了，不久就奄奄一息。我命令弟兄们快想办法救援，可不能见死不救啊！弟兄们迟疑不决，既害怕'席子'，又畏惧公象。我说，野象也有人性，我们现在是去救它，它绝对不会伤害我们的。我的话果然不假，当一位大胆的弟兄走到它身边，它竟然跪倒在水中，用长长的象鼻向着我们这边致意。我们欢呼起来，为那个大胆的弟兄鼓劲、助威。在我们的欢呼声中，公象有了一点力量，像个负伤的男汉子，艰难地走到岸边，把右腿稍稍往后一抬，让出一小点空间，使那个大胆的弟兄可以蹲在'席子'下方，用火烧'席子'的身体。大约一刻时间，'席子'被烧得掉在地上。公象得救了。那个大胆的弟兄像个英雄，凯旋而归。这时，只见那头公象后退了几步，看了'席子'一眼，然后几脚踏上去，把'席子'踏得像一滩牛屎。之后，它跟着我们的英雄来到了我们的身边。哈，哈，哈！” 蔡灿华讲到这里，恰到好处地停止了。高石美望着他，感到很佩服。几天以来，蔡灿华从来没有这样可爱，像个孩子。这与他平时的凶相形成了鲜明的对比。 蔡灿华又说：“如果我们现在有一头公象，那多好啊，它可以用它的大鼻子帮我们拖木头。” 第三天早晨，蔡灿华看看天上的云，说：“天气不妙，东现黑云如牛，西走灰云如车，南升白云如浪，北出紫云如齿，要下大暴雨了，还可能会出现桥毁路断的情况。”赵天爵将信将疑，请蔡灿华再好好看看。蔡灿华看看山气，又说：“晨游气龙，赤气挡路，黑气蔽天，白气铺地，不错，仍是暴雨前兆。” 当时，森林上空还有几片白云舔着灰蓝色的天幕，缓缓而过。但阴影已在不断加重，远处的树木已变成了暗黑色，近处的针叶林也是黑糊糊的，还笼罩着一股寒气。寂静极了，让人心里发慌。 中午，不知在远处的什么地方，响起了隆隆的闷雷声。路两边变得黑魆魆的，前方的阴霾也越来越重，整个马帮队伍逐渐模糊不清了。这时，一匹大骡马突然悲鸣起来。紧接着，头顶上掠过几道闪电。之后，一切又陷入静止状态。突然，又一个闪电让世界在一瞬间通体透亮，而且就像被什么妖魔镇住了。紧接着又是一片黑暗。在这个时刻，人和马既像被什么东西给压在地下去了，又像被什么东西吸到了天空中。风也开始暴乱。山谷和森林立即用怒吼和咆哮去回应狂风。一切都混乱起来，似乎整个世界没有一样是完整的东西。人的脸上和身上就像被什么东西给撕破一样，疼痛难忍，茫然而不知所措。风还未过，雨丝就降临了。像一条条直线，密密麻麻地从空中撒放下来。不一会儿，雨丝就转换成了滂沱大雨。 山洪暴发时，大队人马已被暴风雨围追堵截到了江底的一个小高地上。四周白茫茫的，洪水与石块的冲击声，惊天动地。前面有座小木桥，已被洪水冲毁，仅留下石墩。后面洪水翻腾，已无退路。当时被围困的还有几十个尼苏泼（彝族），有老人，有小孩，叫声哭声与洪水声混杂在一起。那时，最有效和最简单的办法就是把马背上的毛椿树卸下来，临时搭建一座小木桥，人和马就可以过去了。但是，高石美不同意造桥，他舍不得那些毛椿树，那可是与他的生命同等重要的东西啊！但是，为了救人，蔡灿华和赵天爵一致同意使用毛椿树造桥，而高石美坚决反对，他们发生了严重的冲突。 雕天下六(11) “天哪，你们疯了？” 高石美责问，“你们怎么能做出这样的事来？” “救人要紧，你不能阻拦我们。” 赵天爵坚定地说。 开始搭桥了，在一片混乱中，大部分毛椿树快被用完了。高石美的手指深深地埋进自己的头发里，他发疯似地吼叫：“不能用毛椿树！不能用毛椿树！”。这时，他失去了理智，拼命与别人争夺马背上的毛椿树。他硬是从还未搭建好的木桥上强行拉过去了6匹大骡马，终于留下了6根又粗又壮的毛椿树。当全部人马从木桥上走过之后，小木桥就在人们的眼中，被大洪水冲开，然后分崩离析，消失得无影无踪。他们走到安全地带，完全摆脱了惊慌和恐惧。暴风雨也渐渐平息下来。除了高石美脖子上流下了一个伤疤和脊背上出现了一团血印之外，全部人马安然无恙。 回到新林村，高石美说：“一堂格子门须雕6扇，而毛椿树不多不少，刚好有6根，仅可以分解成6块大木板。因此，命中注定，只许我成功，不许我失败，6块大木板刚好雕6扇格子门，失败一刀就会雕坏一扇，雕坏一扇，就等于雕坏了6扇，前功尽弃，彻底失败。” 有了木头，高石美开始全身心投入工作。由于毛椿树是从很远的地方运来，离砍倒的时间长了，又经历了洪水的惊吓，树木的灵性可能受到了影响，因此，高石美说，要让它们接接地气，一方面表示对木头的安慰，一方面使它们与大地的气脉相通，收回它们丢失的灵气。 在一个黑夜满天的晚上，人们认为众神出现的时候，高石美请几个未婚的小伙子将那六根木头带到附近的深沟和水渠里，为木头接通了大地的气脉。之后，再小心翼翼地把它们搬回高石美的作坊里。从此以后，高石美每天都与那六根木头生活在一起。天热了，他就把房门打开，让木头通风透气；天凉了，他把自己的衣裳脱下，轻轻盖在木头上。最让人不可思议的是，他常常在夜间起来看望那些木头，全神贯注地抚摸它们，亲吻它们，与它们说话。在昏黄的油灯下，他像入魔一样，坐在那些木头旁，一坐就是大半夜。不知为什么，他的身体近来越来越坏，鼻腔奇痒，经常流血，人一天比一天消瘦。仅仅几天时间，他就把鼻子揉烂了，样子十分可怕。这天晚上，他又端着油灯，去察看他的宝贝——那六根木头。夜深了，赵金花不见丈夫回去，就来寻找高石美。她从门缝里看见他端着油灯正在那六根木头之间来回漫游。赵金花突然把门推开，一头风猛然吹进去。当时高石美的脸离油灯很近，他来不及偏头，一股烟火不偏不倚地冲进了他的鼻孔。他尖叫一声之后，对妻子说：“没什么，没什么，不要紧的。”油灯当时就熄灭了，屋内一片漆黑。他再次把油灯点亮，叫赵金花举着，帮他继续察看木头。赵金花说：“有啥好看的？你怎么看它，它都是木头，不是人。” 高石美说：“你摸它一下，再说。” 赵金花把双手放在一根木头上。高石美说：“木头不会说话，但它们不是一堆死木。在我用耳朵听，用眼睛看，用手摸它们的时候，它们就变得很安静，很柔软，很陶醉。” 赵金花说：“哟！真的，简直令人无法相信，木头的血脉好像正在跳动。” 高石美说：“你们傻不傻？还以为砍倒的木头就死了。其实，灵木是永远不死的，那些一砍就死的木头，让我一见就发冷，发抖。我怎么能与它们呆在一起呢？” 赵金花似懂非懂地点头。在他们谈话的过程中，赵金花隐隐约约觉得丈夫的鼻洞里，有一个奇怪的东西，伸出来，又缩进去。这样的情况出现了好几次，赵金花问他：“你鼻孔里有什么东西？” 高石美说：“什么也没有。小傻瓜，你想想，鼻孔里能有什么东西？” 赵金花说：“我刚才看见了，是个活着的东西。”高石美说：“那你帮我把它拿出来吧！” 赵金花说：“等它再出来，我拿给你看。”之后，高石美继续察看他的木头。赵金花则百倍关注他的鼻孔，一见那个东西出来，就用手指去掐，但统统失败了，无法掐住那个怪物。后来，赵金花想了个办法，用一根丝线，打了个扣子，放在高石美的鼻洞口，等那个怪物一探出头来，就用力往外一拉。啊，拉出来了，那个怪物竟然是一条大蚂蟥。 雕天下六(12) 高石美的鼻子拉出大蚂蟥的消息像风一样传进了小伙计们的耳朵里。以后几天，那几个曾与高石美一起去砍伐毛椿树的小伙计，依此方法，从自己的鼻子里、肛门里拉出了大蚂蟥。经历这件事后，他们才知道，他们在白莫山夜宿时，大蚂蟥已像一个魔鬼，附在了他们的身上。因为白莫山一带的河里、树林中、草地上……大蚂蟥最多。特别是树枝上，那些长约二三公分、粗与麦杆一样的干蚂蟥，用屁股粘在树叶上，而整个身子却时时在空中四面探索。遇到过路的人，特别是砍伐树木的人，一旦不小心碰上它，它就立刻粘到人体上，钻进衣服里、鼻孔里、肛门里，疯狂地吸血。 从此，高石美的鼻子不再发痒，鼻血也不流了，身体渐渐恢复正常。一天早晨，高石美吹着口哨，兴奋地将一把锯子、一把斧子、一把雕刀、一把凿子、一把刨子分别举过头顶，再放在木头上试用一下，算是正式开工了。