After passing Daodao Village, the car drove upstream along the Yang River.After that, the surrounding area became a green world with lush leaves, and even the entire car body seemed to be dyed green.
Looking around from the car, I can see that among the green miscellaneous trees on the mountainside on the other side, there are many late-blooming jingtao flowers dotted in many places. The flowers are not red, but almost white. These make people feel as if the spring is still quietly left there. .
After entering Sawatari's village, Uozu stopped the car in front of Kamijo Shinichi's gate.Kamijou's wife, who was in her forties, carried the child on her back, and immediately ran out of the house and said, "The child's father went up the mountain with Mr. Yoshikawa and the others the day before yesterday."
The Yoshikawa she was talking about was one of the few people who set off first.It seems Kamijou Shinichi hurriedly followed them when he heard that Kosaka's body was being searched for.
The car moved again.Drive for a while and stop again.This is in front of the Xigang store.This time Ah Xin jumped out of the car holding the gift she bought from Tokyo.
Yujin didn't get out of the car, but only said to the proprietress who was walking on the road: "I'll see you again when I get back." He was afraid of wasting time on the road, and wanted to meet the few people who went ahead as soon as possible.
The Xigang store has completely changed from the last time I came here.All the glass windows facing the road are opened, and the scene in the whole store is clear at a glance.There is a wooden box on the left side of Mr. Yuan's stove, and there may be some animals in it. The two children are looking into it.
"Auntie, what are you raising?"
"fox."
"How did you raise this thing?"
"Come and have a look." The proprietress seemed to want someone to come and see her child.
"Let's take a closer look when I get back."
As soon as Ah Xin got into the car, the car started immediately.The car drove over the creaking and dangerous wooden bridge to the opposite bank.From here is a steep slope up the cliff.Going further, the Kama Tunnel has completely shed its winter clothing, leaving only some unmelted snow at the entrance.
Two full hours later, we arrived at Dazheng Lake.
"This is already Kamikochi, isn't it?" Ah Xin looked at the suddenly changing scenery outside the window, filled with emotion.The water in Dazheng Lake seems to be a little shallower, with dozens of dead trees protruding from the water, and the water surface is as calm as a mirror, without any ripples.Yujin had never seen this lake so peaceful before.
From the left of the car, Funeng can look up at Maehotaka Mountain, but Uozu doesn't say a word about it.I don't know since when, he has been taboo to mention the name Qianhua Gaoshan, and whenever he mentions it, he feels uncomfortable.
Uozu decided to go to the hotel caretaker, Old T, to say hello, because once Kosaka's body was found, he would have to trouble him a lot.
The car passed in front of the closed doors and windows of the magnificent red-roofed hotel, passed through the passage among the mountain white bamboo forests, and stopped in front of the caretaker's hut. On the trunk of a fir tree hung a sign that read: Author: "Mountain Inn Seasonal Management Office·Mountain Inn Cooperative".In addition to taking care of the hotel, Old T also manages all mountaineering inns in winter.Therefore, once an accident or death occurs, Old T and several managers under him will be busy.
Unfortunately, old T went down to Matsumoto yesterday.In front of the hut was a thirty-five or six-year-old woman who looked like a servant, who was said to have come up the mountain three or four days ago.She is washing clothes in a footbath.
"Where's Old Wu?" Yujin asked one of Old T's subordinates.
"I just went to chop wood. Maybe you can meet me on the way to the Kappa Bridge."
"Then go there."
Yujin and Axin boarded the car again, passed the hotel door, and drove towards the Kappa Bridge.After a while, Yujin found three or four men cutting trees in the sparse woods on the right side of the driveway.It happened that the sun was covered by clouds, and these little figures looked chilly.
When Yujin got out of the car, he made a microphone into his mouth and called out to them, "Old—Wu—"
Immediately, I heard an echo: "Oh——" Following the voice, I saw three or four men slowly coming out of the woods.
"It's Mr. Uozu." The person who asked the question was a red-faced man in his fifties who was walking ahead, and he could tell from his expression that he was an honest man.Before Uozu could speak, he said, "I'm afraid Kosaka is in B Fukaya. Are you going to Tokuzawa now?"
"Yoshikawa and the others came the day before yesterday."
"We met. Unfortunately, old T is not at home."
"Old Wu, I have to ask you for help right now."
"Okay! I'm on call!"
That's the end of the conversation.The car started again and arrived at the Kappa Bridge. Yujin and Axin got out of the car and picked up their backpacks.If you go any further, the car will not be able to drive through.
There are several hotels near here.In previous years, it would start business as soon as May, but this year it was a bit later, and every family closed their doors tightly.
After Yujin and Axin bid farewell to the driver, they immediately started on the road. When they reached the shore of Dazheng Lake, Axin hardly spoke.Uozu didn't talk to Ah Xin either, as if someone ordered them: as long as they step into the place where Kosaka Otohiko died, they are not allowed to speak.
They walked into the forest area, Yujin was in front, and Ah Xin followed behind, three or four meters away.As soon as Ah Xin fell behind, Yujin stopped and waited for her, and when Ah Xin caught up, he continued to walk forward.
Uojin broke the long silence when he came to the side of the earthen bridge leading to a small river in the Yang River.It is generally considered that it is ideal to look up at Myojin Mountain from here.
"Look, Myojin can see clearly."
Following Yujin's voice, Ah Xin looked up at the mountain peak standing on the other side of the Zi River, and said, "There is still so much snow."
There is still a piece of snow on the mountainside.The summit was not visible due to the rushing fog.
When he came to a small lake in front of Mt. Myojin, Uozu couldn't help but stop.Hundreds of frogs gathered by the pool and drummed.
"Ouch! So many frogs!" Ah Xin also stopped.
Yujin suddenly found that part of the ground covered with fallen leaves bulged under his feet, and then a frog showed its head first, and then crawled out.If you look closely, there are frogs crawling out everywhere.These frogs have just woken up from hibernation together, wanting to bask in the spring light on the ground.Although the sunlight shining on the ground was weak, it was so calm and warm. This was a good time for the frog to emerge from the ground.
These frogs seemed to be jumping around happily.
"What a frog games!" Ah Xin said.
Yujin found that all the male frogs were chasing the very few females.So she urged Ah Xin: "Don't waste time, let's go."
The innumerable grand gatherings of frogs waking up from hibernation to carry on their families did not make people feel obscene at all, but Yujin still didn't want Ah Xin to see it.
When they came to the fork leading to Debenling, the two stopped at the same time.For from the nearby woods came the sound of violent flapping of wings.
"what is that?"
"Perhaps an eagle."
The sound of flapping wings was still heard intermittently, but no bird could be seen.
After walking for a while, we arrived at the Yang River.Ah Xin asked: "Can't you see it here?" She probably asked about the former Degao mountain slope where the accident happened.
"If you don't get to Deze, you can't see it." Yujin replied.
After a while, Ah Xin asked again: "Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"
"have no idea."
"I thought, why didn't I be born a man. If I were a man, I would have been able to climb mountains with my brother since I was a child, and I could have climbed mountains with you a long time ago." Ah Xin walked to the front alone after speaking.
At six o'clock in the afternoon, Yujin saw through the woods the two-story building that he had missed for a long time - Deze Inn.There are still a few spots of snow in the corners of the front yard of the building, but the trees around the house are already covered with green leaves.
After Kosaka's death, the painful feelings of those few days spent here came back to Uozu's heart again-little snowflakes were flying all over the sky without stopping; the wind was howling;But these seem to have nothing to do with the Deze Inn in front of us.The inn just stood silently in the white twilight of May.
As soon as Yujin and Axin walked into the spacious shoe-off place, S, who was in charge of the inn, came out from the back room, and still greeted them with that friendly face: "I thought you were coming yesterday."
Yujin introduced Ah Xin to him.Then he said some words of condolence: "I can't think of it! Such a good person would be like this..."
Ah Xin said a word of thanks: "In those days, I thank you for taking care of me."
According to S, Yoshikawa and the others who came first, plus Kamijou Shin, a total of seven people, stayed here overnight the day before yesterday, and set off from here at six o'clock yesterday morning for the second rock platform. S said: "Maybe I stayed overnight yesterday, maybe come back here tonight."
The last time winter came, the house was only partially used.Now because the climbing season is coming, the upstairs and downstairs have been cleaned up.Yujin and Axin rented two adjacent rooms downstairs.The two of them took a bath, and in the downstairs room near the door, S served the meal. It was nearly half past eight when they heard a commotion in front of the door, and then Yoshikawa and the others rushed in.
"Thank you. We just arrived." Yujin said and walked to the entrance.
"We went to the second rock platform yesterday, and today we searched thoroughly for another day, but there was still no result. The snow is so thick, so we will continue to work. Tomorrow we want to go to B Asaya to have a look." Yoshikawa said while taking off his clothes. rucksack.He walked in the snow for two days, his face was tanned, and his slender body did not look like a mountain climber.
As soon as Kamijou fell behind everyone, he was the last to enter the house.His body is not strong, and he is already in his sixties.However, strangely enough, as soon as the rucksack was put on his mountain man's shoulders, he became obedient, as if it had taken root.
"I'm sorry." Uzu said.
"Where is it? Mr. Yuzu, I think you are getting fatter." The last letter followed by Axin who came to the door, and said in a tone of deep emotion: "You are Mr. Kosaka's sister. The truth. !" The guide, known as the "Mt. Hodaka Land Master", greeted Uozu and Axin with just a few words.
At six o'clock the next morning, Yoshikawa and Kamijou Shinichi, together with Uozu and Axin, set off from Tokuzawa Inn for Honya.It was the third day of Yoshikawa's search and they were quite tired.But they are all working people, and no one can waste a day for rest.
Yujin originally considered that it would be difficult for Ah Xin to go with her, but she insisted on going, and others also interceded for her, saying that Bengu would not be in danger, so she decided to take her there.
When we arrived at the place where we could see Songgao Valley, the snow suddenly thickened.However, the snow is hard, not fresh snow, so I won't lose my shoes.They did not take the Zhonghua New Road, but went up the Songgao Valley.
Arrived in Bengu at ten o'clock and had dinner.From eleven o'clock the search was made in this wide and shallow ravine.Sometimes they stabbed the iron bars they brought with them into the snow, and sometimes they used shovels to shovel the snow.In this way, after several hours of unsure labor, at last exhausted, I ended my search and set foot on my way home.At this time, it was four o'clock in the afternoon.
The way back is the opposite of the morning, instead of taking the Songgao Valley, take the Zhongzixin Road.Because on the way back from Songgao Mountain, there is a three-meter-high waterfall.This is just in case, for Ah Xin's sake.It usually only takes one and a half hours to return home, but it took them two and a half hours to go down the mountain slowly.Even so, when she arrived at the Deze Inn, Ah Xin was too tired to move.
At four o'clock in the morning of the next day, we headed towards B shallow valley. B Qiangu, Ah Xin couldn't bear to go, so she had to stay in the inn alone.
Following the road they walked yesterday, they first arrived at this valley, and it was half past eight when they reached the edge of shallow valley B.After resting there for an hour, the search began at 9:30 on shallow valley B.
Everyone spread out on the shallow valley of B, which is not too wide.If it is summer, you can see a waterfall in the middle of shallow valley B, but it is now covered by snow.
As Uozu walked up, he focused his attention on the valleys (cracks in the rock formed by melting ice and snow) on both sides.
At nearly twelve o'clock, Yamane, who was at the front and worked for an insurance company, stood near the top of B Asaya and shouted loudly; "Hi!"
Uozu, who was closest to Yamane, walked over.Uozu turned his gaze to the point that Yamane was watching.He saw something that looked like a red rope on the white snowy slope. "Is it a climbing rope?"
"It seems so."
The two walked over and saw that it was indeed a nylon climbing rope.
After a while, Yoshikawa, Kamijo Shinichi, and others gathered at Uozu and Yamane.
Uozu and Yamane used shovels to shovel away the hard snow and ice.First the shoulders were exposed, then the right foot.The clothes were all overturned, and a part of the chest was exposed naked from under the hard snow.Everyone couldn't help being stunned, because the skin color was so bright, it seemed to be light red as if it had been bathed.
Uojin also picked up the shovel. He was afraid of damaging the body, so he carefully removed the snow around the head.
The face appeared.It's absolutely true, it's the face of Otsuhiko the Trash.Eyes slightly closed towards the sky.His face was darkened, which was different from the part that was revealed earlier.This gave Uozu a strange illusion, as if he had dug out Kosaka's bronze head from the snow.Uozu looked down at the bronze-colored Kosaka's head at his feet. Just looking at the head, he would not feel that it was a dug up corpse.
Uozu knelt down and stared at Kosaka's cheek.He even felt that this face was more heroic than Kosaka's when he was alive.
"Don't touch the rope with your hands!" Hearing Yoshikawa's reminder, Uozu regained consciousness, and then he turned his eyes to Kosaka's body which had been exposed from the snow.How miserable!Uojin endured the pain that only he should bear in this world.
The climbing rope was tied neatly around Kosaka's body and tied in knots under his armpits.The climbing clothes and shirts were piled up on the chest, and the shoes were still on.A cleat flew off.Kamijou and Yamane did not move the climbing rope on Kosaka's body, but bound Kosaka's body with the rope they brought, and then drove the iron hook into the rock.Then the work of immobilizing the remains began.As soon as the work is done, cover the body with snow.Uozu also picked up the shovel and together with the others buried Kosaka in the snow again.
After Kosaka was buried in the snow again, he stuck a shovel in it.This is for marking the next time you come to collect the remains.
"Let's take a photo here." According to Yoshikawa's opinion, everyone asked Yoshikawa to take a photo on the spot.As soon as Yoshikawa pressed the shutter, Kamijou switched with him, asked him to line up with everyone, and picked up the camera and pressed the shutter himself.
No one shed tears for Kosaka.Kosaka's body was finally exhumed.Uojin, Aokawa and the others were silent, sad and empty in the excitement caused by the incident.
When everyone returned to Deze Inn, it was already six o'clock in the evening.Several people in Yujin discussed and decided that night, tentatively set the autopsy date to be two days later, that is, the fourth day from the day of discovery.At the same time, it was decided to move Kosaka's body to the foot of the mountain on the day of the autopsy.
The next day, in the dark, two of them left the Tokuzawa Inn in order to communicate with the caretaker of the Kamikochi Inn.They needed to send a telegram—"the body was found in B Asakaya"—to Xiaosaka's mother and Xiaosaka's work unit; they also needed Lao Wu's help in handling the autopsy procedures, and in order to cremate Xiaosaka's body, they had to entrust him to the Forestry Administration Negotiating to cut down trees for fuel.
On this day, Uozu, Yoshikawa, and Kamijou were so exhausted that they slept like dead people until the afternoon.It has been drizzling since morning.Ah Xin is helping S, preparing to cook for the few people who will come up the mountain soon.
At night, the two sent to Kamikochi returned.It is said that Lao Wu arranged everything according to the scheduled date.
At noon on the second day, the third day after Kosaka's body was discovered, Lao Wu came with the police officers and doctors from the Daodao Village Police Station.The doctor, who happened to be one of the members of the Kansai Q Mountain Club who came to the caretaker room of the hotel, was a young man in his thirties.
Around three o'clock, people from the Forestry Administration also came.Yujin and Lao Wu immediately went up the mountain with him.This is to decide which trees to cut.
In the end, it was decided to cut down nine trees in the forest area about 500 meters away from the entrance of Songgao Valley.All are maple trees 30 to 50 centimeters thick.
"Nine trees are too wasteful, six will be enough."
Even though the people from the Forestry Administration said so, Uozu insisted on taking nine trees, because he wanted to make the cremation of Kosaka's body flourish.Old Wu has arranged that the logging workers will come from Kamikochi tomorrow morning.
When Uozu and the others returned to the inn, it was already dark.When they first entered the inn, two young men entered the room with their miner's lamps on.They came from Xiaojun's workplace, and they were Miyagawa and Zhimatsu who had been here when Kosaka was killed last time.
Zhisong was carrying a large rucksack.It contains salt, propanol, cakes, wine, incense, candles, etc. for sacrificial offerings.Miyagawa was carrying a sled, which was said to have been brought specially for Kosaka from a sports shop in Tokyo.It doesn't look very heavy, but it may not be easy to carry.After Miyagawa entered the room, he kept complaining about his back pain.As a result, the number of guests in the inn increased sharply, Ah Xin occupied a small room on the ground floor, and the rest of the men lived in two or three rooms.
On the day they went to B Asaya to carry Kosaka's body, six people including Yoshikawa, Uozu, Kamijou, and two young men, Miyagawa and Edamatsu, made a total of ten people.They left the Deze Inn at four o'clock.
Old Wu stayed, he had an important task, he had to direct the fellers to cut down trees.What Ah Xin and the innkeeper S have to do is to estimate the time when the trees will be felled and go to the logging area, and set up an altar there.
Ten people including Yujin put the odds and ends—nail hooks, steel rings, duck down sleeping bags, tarps for laying the ground when setting up tents, and climbing ropes—into their rucksacks.All in all, there are a lot of things needed to move the remains.Two young men from Tokyo took turns carrying the sled.
Depart from the inn at four o'clock.But it was already eleven o'clock when we arrived at the scene.After an hour's rest, at twelve o'clock the snow that covered Kosaka's body began to be removed again.
After the body was dug up, Uozu, Yoshikawa, and Kamijou put the body on a plastic sheet. Uozu sprinkled the perfume that Axin gave him on Kosaka's body, and then Yamane sprinkled a few kilograms of salt, and then poured water on it. Add a few bottles of propanol and finish with a layer of snow.Needless to say, these are for embalming.
Finally, put the body wrapped in plastic sheeting into a duck down sleeping bag.The sleeping bag was prepared by Kamijou in advance, but Uozu took out the one he used and said, "Just use mine." "Let's change it, and let me use your sleeping bag from now on." The latter sentence Uojin didn't say the words, but he told Kosaka in his heart.He really wants to do it.Xiaojun's sleeping bag is still in the untouched tent by the lake at the foot of the mountain.
Together, everyone wrapped the body in the sleeping bag with the tarpaulin used to spread the ground when setting up the tent, and then carried it to the sled.
It was one o'clock after the actual transportation began, and it was very laborious to descend the slope of B shallow valley.While stabilizing the remains, care must also be taken to stabilize the respective bodies of the carriers.To this end, several nails were driven one after the other, and then the sled was fastened to two climbing ropes and slowly let it slide down the steep snow-covered slope.
Coming down from the shallow valley of B and entering this valley, the work of handling is much less laborious.Now ten men took turns to steady the sled down with their shoulders and picks.
With great difficulty, I got down from Songgao Valley and moved to the forest area.Two hours later than the scheduled time, it was past eight o'clock, and it was completely dark.It was a beautiful night full of stars.Through the woods, the yellow fire burning in front of Old Wu and the others looked extraordinarily red.
Uozu and Yoshikawa pulled the climbing ropes tied to the sled carrying the remains, and Yamane and Kamijou handled the rear. The other six followed in a row.
Uozu was at the forefront.Surrounded by lush forests.They walked with difficulty in the dark.Yujin headed towards the direction of the yellow fire beyond the woods, and led the group of people there step by step.
After a while, we came to an open space formed by cutting down the trees.In the corner of this clearing, there are about a dozen people lighting a bonfire.When they saw the arrival of Yujin and his party, they all got busy.
"Thank you for your hard work!" It was Ah Xin's voice.
The body was naturally parked in front of the group of people lined up. S said that the moon was probably coming out soon, so he decided to wait for the moon to rise before doing the autopsy.
Uozu and the others rested for a while, drank hot black tea while standing, and lit a cigarette.
Soon, as S said, the moon began to illuminate a corner of the forest with its bluish light.As soon as the moon rose, the faces of the people, the stacked timber, and the appearance of the altar were all clearly visible.The snow covered the ground under his feet also reflected a bluish white light.
The open space where Yujin and his group are standing is exactly where Old Wu and his men cut down nine fir trees. Among the lush forests, this is the only open land of more than 30 square meters.In the middle of the open area, in order to cremate the remains, branches about two meters long were stacked in a criss-cross pattern to form a pyre about five feet high, and the remains would be cremated on this.
In front of the pyre of the cremated body, there is an altar like a small table covered with white cloth, on which there are bouquets of flowers and other items for burning incense.
An autopsy will begin soon.The police officer and the doctor have been waiting here for a long time, and they probably want to finish their tasks as soon as possible, so that they can relax.Everyone worked together to remove all the things that wrapped the body, and restored the state buried in the snow.Regarding the cause of death, the doctor diagnosed that he died on the spot due to a fracture of the posterior skull.
During the autopsy, Ah Xin kept covering her face with her palms, and Yujin gently hugged and supported her from behind.Miyagawa and Edamatsu took a few photos with the flash.Yoshikawa untied the climbing rope left on the body and carefully put it into a nylon bag.
The police officer found the manual in Kosaka's pocket and handed it to Ah Xin.
After the autopsy, the body was covered with a white cloth brought by Ah Xin, and then carried to the pile of fir trees.Then Axin, Uozu, Yoshikawa, and Kamijou burned incense in turn.Although there is no sound of chanting sutras, the incense burning ceremony held under the moonlight on the high mountain and in the woods is quite solemn.Afterwards, Kamijou and Old Wu poured kerosene on the body and the pyre, and Ah Xin lit a fire under the pyre.
They gathered in a circle and watched the fir-trees, which were burning more and more.After a while, Kosaka's partners sang the mountain climbing song that Kosaka loved during his lifetime:
The unique mournful singing composed of American folk tunes pierced the silent night sky on the high mountain and spread far away.Yujin finally couldn't hold back his sadness, tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks.By the light of the incineration of Kosaka's body, it can be seen that Ah Xin, Ji Chuan, and Lao Wu were all in tears.
After the chorus, the officer said, "We're taking our leave."
After hearing what the police officer said, all the other people who didn't have any serious matters decided to leave here as well.It is estimated that Kosaka's body will turn into ashes around four o'clock in the morning.Uozu also thought there was no need for everyone to guard here.Everyone who participated in the transportation during the day was too tired to stand up.
In the end, it was decided that Yujin, Axin, Kamijou, and Lao Wu would stay, and the rest would go back to the Deze Inn with the police officer and the doctor.
When a group of people disappeared in the woods, and there were only four people left, the surrounding suddenly became deserted, only the burning fir trees made crackling sounds from time to time.The snow on the ground has almost melted.The four of them sat down in a corner of the open space.
At eleven o'clock, the moonlight became very bright, and the bright emerald moon hung high above the cremation ground in the deep mountains.The fire that burned Kosaka was also burning hotter and hotter, and the flames shot straight into the sky, as if they were competing with the moonlight.
About twelve o'clock the yellow flames began to fall from the pyre.Flames rising in mid-air, sparks splashing on the ground - this unusual and solemn spectacle was deeply reflected in the four people's eyes.
"Such a luxurious funeral, I think I will be satisfied when I come to Xiaosaka. I have lived on the mountain all my life. If I die one day, I can be cremated like this!" Old Wu said in a low voice.
"That's true." Kamijou also said with sincerity.
Uozu felt the same way.He felt that this kind of incineration was commensurate with Kosaka.At the same time, he thought: he himself will die sooner or later. If he dies, he will die in the mountains.
"The death of a man is justified." Yujin whispered, but he didn't say it to anyone.Only Ah Xin was silent.
At five o'clock, in the pale morning light of dawn, four people packed up the remains of Xiao Lian.It was very cold, and after the fire subsided, Yujin, Axin, Kamijou, and Lao Wu couldn't bear the cold, so they had to carry their backpacks and walk around non-stop, and they still carried them when they were collecting the ashes.
At six o'clock, the four left the cremation ground at the Ridze Inn.Uozu held Kosaka's urn and walked among the larch and birch forests.At this moment, he had a strange feeling——Xiaosaka's burly body would actually enter such a small jar?
After returning to Deze Inn, I ate the breakfast prepared by S. The hot soya bean curd soup was very delicious.
The police officer, the mountaineer's doctor, and three other hired hands left in one batch at nine o'clock.Then, around ten o'clock, Miyagawa and Edamatsu left.Around twelve o'clock, Yoshikawa and the six of them also left the Deze Inn.
In this way, there are only five people left in Deze Inn, Yujin, Axin, Kamijou, Lao Wu and the caretaker S.
The four who didn't sleep last night sent Yoshikawa and the others away, and immediately went back to their respective rooms to sleep.Uozu was afraid that he would be too tired to fall asleep, so he drank two glasses of Japanese wine before getting under the covers.
When I woke up and looked out the window, night had begun to fall.Uozu lay in bed thinking about his plans for the future—stay here for another day tomorrow, go to the lakeside with Kamijo Shinichi, and tear down the tent that has been erected there until now; I can't go back to Tokyo until the day after tomorrow; as soon as I get back to Tokyo, go to Sakata with Ah Xin as soon as possible.
He went down to the ground floor and washed the insurance.At this time, Kamijou and old Wu Xiang both got up as if they had made an appointment, it seemed that they had already had enough sleep.He never noticed Ah Xin, she must have woken up early.
"Dinner is ready, come on." Ah Xin said.
In the room where Kosaka's ashes were placed, five people including S had dinner together.Wine was poured into the teacup.
"It's so quiet!" The last letter said for ten days as if it just occurred to him.Indeed, the night is peaceful.Everyone drank and didn't talk much, just occasionally saying something about missing Kosaka.
Yujin suddenly felt strange, since Kosaka's body was discovered until now, why hasn't he thought about or talked about the climbing rope once?
Yes, for the people who came here for Kosaka, there is no doubt about Kosaka's death.Kosaka died when the climbing rope broke, and then they dug his body out of the snow, and finally cremated him somewhere in the woods, that's all.If anything, everyone is mourning the passing of Xiao Jun.
Uozu recalled the soaring flames that cremated Kosaka's body last night.When the flames reappeared in his eyes, he felt that experiments, news reports, and all the noise of the world were really boring.
Meanwhile, Ah Xin left the table and went back to her room, holding out the handbook she found in the clothes of Kosaka's body.
"I wanted to show you this morning, but everyone left here one by one and was in a hurry, so..." She said, handing the manual to Yujin.Then he added: "I took it to your room at noon, but you were already asleep."
Uozu opened the handbook, which was a pocket diary, where two or three short words were written with a pen at the beginning of January.On January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, the word "mountain" is written in each column.In the column for the fourth day is "going back to Beijing", in the column for the fifth day is "write a New Year's card", for the sixth day it is "go to work", "visit the manager's house at five o'clock", just these few words.This is not a diary, but a memo.
Uozu didn't find any last words in the manual, but he didn't feel relieved or relieved by it.There would have been no such words.He used to worry that it would be troublesome if something like a suicide note appeared in Kosaka's belongings.But looking back now, he felt that his worry was inexplicable.He thought: Unknowingly, he was also drawn into the secular vortex created by the people around him.Tomorrow I will go to Hou Youbai's tent camp, where I won't find anything but climbing gear from Kosaka's remains.
The manual was handed to Kamijou, Lao Wu, and S in turn.
"Here it says 'Going down the mountain and returning to Beijing in four days', so he is planning to stay here for three nights." This is what S said.
"Basically, that's the plan." Yujin replied.
"Based on this, at noon on the 4th, I should drink tea from Lao Wu in the caretaker's room of the hotel, and then go to Zedu in the evening and come to my house for a sit-down. This is probably the plan." This is what the last letter said. .
"It should be like that according to the plan." Yujin replied.If there is no accident, things will be done as we have analyzed above.
After about two hours, the wine and food were finished.Yujin stood up, intending to go back to his room, but he walked to the door, looked out the window, but changed his mind and walked out.The moonlight illuminates the yard in front of the house as bright as day.
It's a bit cold outside, but because I've been drinking, I want to let the cold night wind blow for a while.He went to the side of the house.
At this time, Ah Xin followed from behind: "How beautiful the moon is!"
"Beware of catching a cold, I have drank alcohol, but you..."
"No, it doesn't matter."
Yujin saw Ah Xin approaching him.
"Thank you very much this time, I rely on you for everything." Ah Xin seemed to take advantage of this time when there were only two people, and came to express her solemn thanks.
"you're tired right."
"No, you are the one who worked hard."
They stood for a while under the moonlight.
Ah Xin suddenly said, "Can you take me with you tomorrow?"
"White at the back? No, the snow is too deep."
"Really? I want to see what the scene is like."
"I'm not going to the site." Uozu went on to say, "I'm just going to take down the tent that I put up behind me. The snow on the site is too deep, so I won't be able to go until next month. I plan to come back next month." once."
"By then, will I be able to get in?"
"By then, it may be possible to climb."
"Then next month, can you take me there?" Ah Xin looked up at Yujin.The way she looked up was more familiar to him than ever.
"Go back, so you don't catch a cold." Yujin said, and took a step forward.
Ah Xin said "I..." and stopped after taking two or three steps.Uozu also stopped. "I, let's say it all. I don't know if you are offended?"
Yujin couldn't figure out what Ah Xin wanted to say.
"I thought about it yesterday when I looked at the flames that burned my brother. Really, I thought about it seriously. I think if I forget about the flames, I'm afraid I won't be able to speak again."
"What do you want to say?"
After a short pause, Ah Xin made up her mind and said, "It's the first time in my life that I've thought about getting married. Don't laugh!"
"Where am I laughing!" Yujin said angrily.
"Then let me say, I want to ask you to marry me."
"Marry! With me?" Uozu said in surprise.
"Oh, here! You're laughing."
"Where am I laughing!" Yujin didn't smile, he couldn't even talk about laughing.
"Really, I have seriously considered it." Ah Xin repeated the sentence "seriously considered" again, as if this was her only line.
"Marriage? Marriage is a very important issue." In an instant, this was the only thing Yujin could say.He gazed again at the young girl's face.She was covered by the cold moonlight, and her dark shadow like ink was reflected on the ground. "Let me think about this matter again, and you should think about it yourself. Now your brother's body has just been incinerated, and you are also quite excited." Yujin then changed the subject: "Tomorrow I have to spend more money. It takes a day, so we have to go back the day after tomorrow. How about taking the ordinary express in the afternoon of the day after tomorrow?"
"Oh." Ah Xin answered with her head down.
"Back to Tokyo, you have to bring your brother's ashes back to Sakata as soon as possible, what do you think?"
"Are you going too?"
"Of course I will."
"I have sent a telegram, and someone will come to Tokyo to pick it up. Mom is suffering from severe neuralgia, so I'm afraid she won't be able to come."
"Whether someone comes to pick it up or not, I have to hand over your brother's ashes to your mother in person, otherwise, I always feel sorry."
They started walking towards the inn, feeling cold all over.Yet the cold seemed not to be due to the night air, but to the penetration of moonlight through the body.When she came to the door, Ah Xin said, "Goodbye."
"Aren't you going in?"
"I went in, but..." Ah Xin looked up at Yujin and said, "I don't want to go in with you."
"why?"
"Why . . . because of what I told you just now. I'm afraid people will see me."
"Then you go in first."
"Okay, I wish you good night." Ah Xin said and entered the room.
Yujin went to the yard again, not entirely for the sake of Ah Xin, he felt as if there was any problem and he had to think about it alone.
Yujin crossed the courtyard diagonally, and when he was halfway there, he suddenly stopped as if he was startled, and then he straightened his chest, as if he was taking a deep breath.
"Ah—" Yujin let out a short moan-like sigh.From the moment Ah Xin mentioned marriage, he always felt uneasy, but now he finally understood what was going on.他意识到自己长期以来一直被一种心绪缠绕着——就是小坂曾经讲过的，想带着八代美那子在落叶松林间漫步。虽然并没有在意识的表面浮现出这件事，但却不能否定自己内心深处有形无形地根深蒂固地存在着暗中思慕美那子的念头。
Notes:
Notes: