Chapter 13 Chapter 12 Lakeside Distress

Kumiko, who returned to her room that night, suddenly received a call from an unknown source. "Are you Kumiko Amamura?" It was the voice of a man who deliberately lowered his voice.If it was a call from the staff of this hotel, it might be because they were afraid of being heard, and their tone was brief.When Kumiko answered, he immediately said, "Don't look for your husband's whereabouts anymore, it's useless!" "Who are you? Why do you say that?" Kumiko was really surprised, so she asked back. Kumiko thought it must be the call from the person who had been watching her from the side, and had been following her from Omachi Station, perhaps even from Niigata or Tokyo.Why did he keep an eye on it?

"Anyway, don't look for it anymore, it's for your safety." The man said in a strong tone.It seemed to be calling from an inside line, the voice was loud and clear. "Why is this? Yucun is my husband, why can't my wife find a husband?" "I can't talk now. I can only tell you that this is not just a warning. You should return to Tokyo immediately! This is for your sake and for your own good." After speaking, Kumiko put down the microphone without waiting for a reply. She immediately checked the switchboard and asked where the call was coming from.The answer is that there is no way to check the internal calls made between each room.

Who is calling this?The only thing I heard clearly was that telling her that finding a husband would cause trouble. Why should finding a husband cause trouble?The simplest explanation is that Yucun asked another man to call her, and told her not to look for it again.If so, it means Amamura is still alive, and for some reason, he doesn't want to meet Kumiko. Kumiko feels that she has been completely abandoned by her husband, and she can't help but feel a sense of despair. The next day, Kumiko decided to visit Kurobe Lake.I arrived at the hotel after dark last night, so I didn't see the surrounding scenery clearly.When I woke up, the morning light had dispelled the darkness.The scenery outside came into view, and I suddenly felt refreshed and refreshed.

There is a green pine forest in front of you, and the red roof of the hotel is particularly bright and eye-catching against the green pine.A tall mountain, like a giant standing in the sky, wearing a silver hat just changed behind the pine forest, standing majestically in the blue sky, silently observing everything in the world.Thousands of rays of light shot out from behind the mountain, and a round of red sun is slowly rising.The morning air in the mountains seems to be filtered and clear. If it is not blocked by mountains, you can really see a hundred miles.The magnificence of the morning scenery of this mountain country is difficult to be fully sketched and dyed even by the masters of fine arts.

When Kumiko came out of the hotel, she walked around the area first, looking at the surrounding scenery from near to far.She thought that Yucun and Dongzi probably also enjoyed the scenery of nature near here.But now, she is alone.Even if there are pleasing beauties and majestic wonders, it is difficult to dispel the jealousy, sorrow and hatred in the world. It is here, Kumiko thought, that there is sorrow in the world.It is also this kind of sadness that brought me here to follow the trail of my husband.The purpose of this trip was to win back the heart of the husband to himself.Of course, I also know that it is not an easy task.This trip may not have an end, and even if it does, it will be a long, long time.

Kumiko is now rather relieved to say that she is at the mercy of jealousy.Because without this fiery emotion, she might not have continued such an arduous journey by herself.Although this is sad and pitiful, but in order to take Yucun back, she is turning her jealousy into strength, tracking and protecting her husband like a god of Asura.Only when the jealousy disappeared did she give up. Kumiko looked at the mountain in front of her with a challenging mood.The rising sun shines on the mountain peaks.Beyond the mountain is the endless blue sky.Where the sky meets the mountains, white clouds rise slightly. If you look carefully, they are not white clouds, but snow and smoke.There must be a strong gust of wind blowing on the top of the mountain.

——If my husband is on the top of that mountain, I will climb it too!Kumiko took this sentence as her unwavering oath. Asking the hotel registration office to call a car, Kumiko went to Kurobe Lake. As soon as the car started, it got on the Omachi City Toll Road.The road was straight, and the car drove almost without turning to Ogizawa, the entrance of the Kurobe Reservoir Dam.From here she changed into a trolleybus.Pass through the Kanden Tunnel without tracks, and arrive at the Kurobe Lake Observatory in one go. This summer, Kumiko had been to Ogizawa, but at that time she did not go through a cave, but went up to Mt.

That visit was for dead bodies, this time for people who might still be alive.Looking for the living Yucun is even more uncomfortable than climbing Zhenmu Mountain to find the body.Her mood was as vast and empty as the empty blue sky in the mountain village. There weren't many trolleybus passengers, perhaps half due to the end of the climbing season and half because it wasn't a holiday.From the Datunidao that passes through the mountainside of Houlishan Lianfeng, you can quickly pass by the trolleybus.It takes ten minutes to arrive at the station next to the dam. Get off from here and climb up the steps of the watchtower. After walking a short distance, you will suddenly feel that the front suddenly opens up.Although the sky above Omachi City was clear, it was different once we passed through the tunnel. There were clouds squirming on the mountainside.The temperature here drops a lot.

Passengers getting off the trolleybus rushed to the observation deck.Kumiko climbed unhurriedly behind the crowd.Standing on the observation deck, you can see the turquoise water of Kurobe Lake sandwiched between Tateyama and Gotateyama!There is a dam between the two mountains, and the bottom is like a bottomless pit. The lake water pours down from the dam and flows into the abyss. The tops of the peaks are covered with dazzling white snow, standing majestically by the lake.This adds a deep taste to Kurobe Lake.Mountains like rough men, reflected on the surface of the calm blue lake, look much gentler and softer.

Those who thought that Yucun's body sank to the bottom of this lake once magically said that this lake can suck people into the bottom of the unfathomable water. "Amura and Toko came here together!" Kumiko, who was talking to herself, thought that Umura and the others must have come here, even though she didn't know what they did here. This shady couple has sneaked out for a tryst and must find a secluded place.The time two people spend together is short, and it is hard to say when they will meet again.The two of them must have been leaning against each other as they walked along the lakeside into the deathly silence of the depths.

Where did they go?Kumiko couldn't care less about admiring the beauty of the mountains and rivers, but was only looking for the place where her husband and the woman went to hide from people's eyes and ears. Kumiko decides to go to the lake.Tourists who came down from the observation deck walked towards the embankment in an endless stream.There seems to be no trace of Yucun left there.The place they were going to must have been a secluded lake. Looking from the observation deck, at the end of the lake is a dense virgin forest, which is very quiet. There are steps from the lookout to the embankment, and the impatient tourists have all walked down the steps, and finally only Kumiko is left alone. Kumiko also came down the steps.She clearly knew that Yucun and Dongzi would not be by the lake now, but she was still deeply attracted by the lake. It was only two days since she left Tokyo, but she felt like three autumns had passed.This is because she has been exposed to many things in the past two days.While following Yucun's trail, although she lost clues several times along the way, she still persevered in tracking it down here. The steps are steep and winding, and she doesn't know where the bottom leads.However, it does feel closer and closer to the water as you go down.Kumiko walked down cautiously and slowly.She felt that there seemed to be hurried footsteps approaching her quietly from behind, and the footsteps were getting closer! "Who is it?" When she was about to look back, someone suddenly pushed her shoulder. Before she could shout, she lost her balance and rolled down the steep steps. Kumiko felt that the sky and the lake were spinning, as if falling into a whirlpool.She was desperately trying to grab something, but what could she grab in mid-air? "Danger!" She heard someone shout from below, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.She felt her body being hugged tightly by someone. "It's really dangerous! If you roll a few more times, you may roll over the railing and fall into the mountain stream. Is there any injury?" A strong young man looked at her and said, "Be careful under your feet, this is a dangerous place." Seeing his smiling face, Kumiko seemed to have seen it somewhere.Could it be that he pushed himself down and then pretended to help?The thought suddenly occurred to her.However, she did hear footsteps running from below.And the footsteps pushing her came from above.So she felt that it was really inappropriate to doubt the person who saved her. "Thank you! It's all up to you to be saved!" "Oh, I can't do it like this, my knees and arms are scratched, the dam office must have medicine, go there and ask them to give me some medicine!" "No, just scratch the skin, it doesn't matter, who would do such a bad thing?" She looked back at the steps above.At this time, the clouds just opened a crack, and the polished iron steps were shining brightly in the sunlight, and there was no one in sight. "What's wrong? Could it be that someone pushed you down?" the man asked in amazement. "Yes, when I got to the middle of the steps, I don't know who suddenly pushed it hard from behind." "This is so despicable. Hurry up and report to the office, just in time for me to pass by here, otherwise something serious may happen!" The man said angrily. This man may have come to climb nearby mountains, wearing a mountaineering suit and carrying a travel bag on his back.It seemed that he had been in the mountains for a while, and his face was tanned and red. Kumiko was still wondering who pushed her.She remembered the threatening phone call that the unknown person made to her last night. The man had said "not just a warning".Did that man really do something like this?Is he doing this to force me to stop looking for a husband?Thinking about it from the worst point of view, if there is Yucun behind this man and he instructed him to do it, it means that he would rather kill me than see me. "Maybe the husband is trying to kill me." "What did you say?" the man asked after hearing Kumiko talking to herself. "Oh, it's nothing. Someone must be joking on purpose. Forget it, don't think about it, I don't want to cause trouble for others." Kumiko thanked the man, turned and walked slowly back, grabbing the handrail on the steps.She has completely given up the idea of ​​going to Kurobe Lake.Not only did she hurt her body, but she also hurt her heart. "If it's okay, can you tell me your name?" Kumiko turned around before taking two steps, and looked at the person who saved her again.This man has a dignified appearance, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a purely masculine face. Looking from the tanned face, a little haggard.Judging from the dirty clothes, he seemed to have been in the mountains for a long time.He is not like an ordinary climber, but like a person who patrols mountains as a profession. "It doesn't matter if I say my name, madam, no, I'm sorry, maybe it's Miss, don't you have any companion?" asked the man, who didn't know how to address her. "He came alone, without companions." "Then she's still a lady?" "Are you here to climb the mountain?" Kumiko replied with an ambiguous smile to the man's question, and then diverted the conversation.It's ridiculous to be considered an unmarried girl. "Yes, it has been more than half a month since I came to the mountains." "Yes, is there any work in the mountains?" "It's work, it's better to say it's an obligation. I'm a little tired." The man showed a little lonely expression.Kumiko felt that his face had indeed been seen somewhere. The two walked side by side inadvertently.When Kumiko let go of the armrest, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle.She frowned and staggered, falling on top of the man.The smell of the man's sweat rushed into her nose.It was the smell of the body of a man who hadn't showered in days.The smell did not displease her. Kumiko felt very embarrassed, and for a moment, she remembered the smell of her husband's skin.It smelled exactly like her husband's smell when he caressed her every night.Kumiko thought of the private life of husband and wife from the strange man, and her cheeks flushed. "It looks like you still have a broken ankle, so you can't walk stiffly." The man supported Kumiko and said while looking at her face.She thought the man had understood the inappropriate association in her mind, and his cheeks became flushed. "Where do you live? If you agree, I'll take you back." The man said casually as if he didn't notice her thoughts. "No, how dare I trouble you so much!" "It's nothing. I'm alone anyway. I don't have anyone waiting for me, and I don't have work to do." Hearing this, he sounded like a bachelor, not like a clerk.What, Kumiko thought, was this man doing?Even the name is not disclosed.Although she doesn't know his background, Kumiko likes him for some reason.This man is very mighty and simple, with natural and unrestrained demeanor, natural and generous, full of masculine boldness, and about the same age as Yucun. Yucun is a gloomy and pedantic person, but this man is very masculine in terms of his muscles and bones, and his personality is also very hearty. The man's behavior disarmed her.No matter how she looks at it now, she needs a man to protect her.She very much hoped that the man would use his strong arms to support her. Kumiko thought about what happened just now, whether her husband ordered someone to harm her, or maybe her husband did it. The fact that a young wife who has no idea what is going out alone to find her husband's whereabouts, suddenly encounters such a murderous crime is enough to make people go into a ball of horror.In this case, she should have tried her best to protect her husband, but she might be her own murderer instead.Although this is a speculation, it is impossible not to make such a speculation.Who should I turn to for help in this situation?With no one reliable around, she was at a loss. Because of this incident, the abrupt rocks nearby also seemed to show a ferocious face, she dared not go there any more, what could she do if she didn't lean on this man? The more Kumiko thought about what had just happened, the creepier she became.The other party didn't just threaten her, it seemed that he really wanted to kill her.Because she didn't listen to the scorpion's advice, she was poisoned, so it's hard to say that she won't hurt her again. Of course, if she stops here and doesn't look for her husband's whereabouts, it is possible that she will no longer be harmed, but she doesn't want to stop there.With the mystery of whether it was her husband who wanted to kill her still unsolved, she wanted to find out his whereabouts and true feelings even more.Naturally, continue to chase, and you must have the perseverance to dare to take risks.What happened just now has proved that the other party is not just intimidating. Kumiko was distraught.On the one hand, she is attached to her husband, but on the other hand, she is afraid of him, and she is in conflict in her heart. "I'm staying at the Kurobe Tourist Hotel," she said to the man.From what she said, it was clear that she was expecting the stranger to take her back to the hotel and want to stay another night.When she left the hotel this morning, she handed over the room, and if she went back to stay overnight, the management staff would not refuse it mercilessly.Besides, I can't go back to Tokyo with my ankle hurting like this.Kumiko really wanted to go back to that warm room to recuperate her wounded body and mind. "Oh, it's the Kurobe Tourist Hotel. It happens that I want to live there tonight, and I plan to go to the nearby mountains. If there is a vacant room, I will live there too." If it is normal, it will make people feel There was something in what he said, and he had other plans, but now Kumiko didn't feel disgusted at all, instead she felt that what he said was frank. The two of them got on the trolleybus going back together. "Who pushed that just now? It would be too much to be joking, Miss, do you think who it might be?" The man seemed to be concerned about that matter. "I can't guess at all." Kumiko thought, it was useless to tell the man her doubts truthfully, the two just met by chance. "There are people who do such harm! Miss, I think you'd better report it to the police!" "Forget it. What's the use of calling the police? Besides..." She lowered her head and hesitated for a while and said, "I'm actually married." "Oh, yes, I thought you were a lady, sorry!" "It's nothing. It's nice to be looked younger by others. If you don't think I'm taking the liberty, can you tell me your name? My name is Amamura." Kumiko said what was on her mind just now.It would be impolite not to ask the name of the person who saved him, and it would not be convenient to talk to him. "Oh, your surname is Yucun. Is it the rain of Yunyu, a village in the countryside?" "yes." "I'm sorry, but I want to inquire about something that may surprise you. Madam, did any of your relatives die when a civilian airliner collided with an Air Force aircraft of the Self-Defense Forces in July this year?" He suddenly asked Kumiko Surprising topic. "My husband died. He was on that plane. His body has not been found yet. You..." The man was taken aback for a moment, then controlled his expression again. "Then you are here to learn about the situation at the scene where your husband died?" "Yes, that's what I came for. It only adds to my troubles and sorrows, and I don't get any good news. I really want to go back here. But, do you know my husband?" "No, I don't know, this..." He said in a panic, "It's because there was news in the newspaper that Mr. Umura's body has not been found, so I still remember it. Oh, you are the wife of Mr. Umura!" He said Said quite emotionally. "But sir, you haven't told me your name yet!" Kumiko said politely. "My surname is Omachi, Omachi in Omachi City, and my name is Shinichi, who is credit first. Because I am tired of working in the company, I take the mountain as my home and wander aimlessly in the mountain. .” He said with a sneer, with a self-defeating look on his face. They came to the hotel, luckily there was still a room. "Thanks to your help, I'm saved! Maybe it's a bit too much. As a little thank you, please allow me to arrange a room for you tonight." Kumiko put forward this idea very politely.On the surface, this seems to be an expression of gratitude, but in fact, he hopes that Omachi will live by his side.She thought, maybe the villain who threatened her on the phone last night and tried to push her down the mountain today also lived in this hotel tonight. Kumiko is terrified at the thought of staying in a hotel with someone who is going to kill her.She thought Omachi would be emboldened to live by her side, and hoped that he would be her bodyguard. "No, that's not allowed. I only did something trivial, it's nothing, so don't take it to heart." Omachi declined in a resolute tone. "You say it's a trivial matter? But to me, you are a lifesaver! No matter how much I thank you, I can't say it too much." "I appreciate your kindness." Omachi said firmly. Kumiko had no choice but to give up.Then she offered to invite Omachi to dinner, and Omachi hesitated for a while and agreed.In fact, Omachi has been wandering in the mountains for many days, and he really wants to have dinner with such a beautiful wife. Omachi showed that he was willing to get close to Kumiko, but he didn't want to talk too much about himself.When it comes to topics related to himself, he always avoids them subtly.It seems that there is some ulterior secret that needs to be constantly covered up. Knowing that he didn't want to talk about his past, Kumiko intentionally changed the topic to something else. From the conversation, Kumiko only learned that he recently resigned from the company and used the severance pay to travel to the mountains he likes as he pleases.He didn't mention what company or job he worked in before, and he didn't understand why he resigned. It seems that Omachi, who has a strong sense of responsibility, does not seem to be a person who abandoned his job for no reason. There must be some major event that changed his living environment not long ago.However, Kumiko and him have known each other for too short a time, so it is inconvenient to find out the root cause. Kumiko thought to herself: What on earth is he doing in the mountains?If you just like mountain climbing and come here, then the expression is a bit wrong!Judging from his exhausted appearance, he must have climbed many mountains and walked many mountain roads continuously. Kumiko felt that he was different from ordinary climbers, as if she had to do it, and felt that there must be something hidden in it.She really wanted to know what Omachi was doing in the mountains.She continued to ask tentatively, but Omachi evasively refused to answer, as if he was the last thing to talk about. Omachi doesn't want to talk about himself, but wants to know about Kumiko's situation.He asked questions one after another, was very talkative, and did not bore Kumiko.Omachi's question was not out of curiosity, but out of sympathy and concern for a wife whose husband's whereabouts were unknown. Kumiko gave Omachi her home phone number and told him to make contact by phone when he returned to Tokyo. "Can I really contact you by phone?" Omachi asked solemnly. "Well, I'm happily waiting for your call." "At that time, it would be great if I could find your husband!" "I've given up hope." "I'm sorry, but I shouldn't bring up this sad thing." Omachi saw Kumiko bow her head and apologized hastily. The night was safe and sound.There were no threatening calls, the pain in my feet was relieved, and after a massage in the tub, I was almost back to normal.But when Kumiko fell asleep, she was always haunted by nightmares, as if a big stone was pressed on her chest, and the pressure became heavier and heavier, and she couldn't breathe; or as if she was in a dark tunnel and clearly saw the exit, walking and walking Just can't get out.It was just like those nightmares I had when I was a child with a high fever. These dreams are terrible, especially after waking up.The so-called waking up is also in the hazy state of waking up and sleeping, reality and dream.I couldn't figure out where I was for a while.In the dark, when I realized that I was alone in an empty room on a strange bed, I felt that the death-like silence under the darkness made my heart tremble. —Oh, how I wish he was with me! At this time, the one Kumiko wants to cuddle up to is not her husband she misses, but Omachi who lives in a nearby room.We only knew each other for a day, what a huge emotional change!This is because her husband abandoned her, not because her nostalgia for Yucun has changed.Although she still misses her husband now, she misses the stranger who is enthusiastically protecting her even more. Now, Kumiko's mood is intertwined with the uneasiness of being a wife and being a lonely woman, as well as complex contradictions that are difficult to explain. The next day, Kumiko decided to go back to Tokyo.There is no need to stay here anymore.Although it was only a three-night and four-day trip, she felt as tired as if she had traveled around the world. Yucun's whereabouts are unknown, and his footprints have disappeared in Kurobe Lake.It seems that Dongzi Dongzi of Tuqiwu will know his whereabouts, but it may be futile to ask her, and she probably won't tell her right away.In any case, knowing that someone knew about Yucun's whereabouts was better than having no information at all. There is another progress and gain in this investigation, that is, she learned from the terrifying experience that there are still people who don't like to hear about Yucun. Kumiko decides to meet Fuyuko when she returns to Tokyo.She thought, it is hard to say that the assassination suffered in the mountains was not directed by Dongzi.Kumiko realizes that Tokiya Fuyuko is her enemy.Not only is she the rival in love who took away Yucun, but she may also be plotting against her own life. Kumiko didn't want to hide her hostility, and she made up her mind to attack Touko.She knew it would be a fierce women's battle, but she didn't want to avoid it, and was determined to rush forward. Kumiko sat in the carriage, gritted her teeth, stared round her eyes, and stared coldly at the front.It seems that the earthenware house Fuyuko is right in front of you.At this time, she felt that only the unknown person who sent her to the station—Omachi—was her confidant.