Chapter 344 One where I saw again a tree nailed with zinc bark

Not long after the events we have narrated, a shocking thing happened to the old man Pula Tuliuer. Old Man Poulatu Liuer is a road worker in Montfermeil, and we have seen him more or less in the dark parts of this book. Readers will probably recall that Pula Tuliuer was a man who engaged in many ambiguous activities, breaking stones and robbing passers-by on the main road at the same time.This man was both a digger and a robber, and he had a dream in which he believed that in the forest of Montfermeil someone had buried treasure, which he hoped would one day be found at the foot of a certain tree; Any search in the pocket.

However, now he is also cautious.He had just narrowly escaped danger not long ago.We know that he was arrested with a gang of robbers in the Jondrette hut.Vices are also useful, his alcoholism saved him, it was never found out whether he was there to rob or be robbed.As he was in a state of intoxication on the night when the ambush was discovered, the order provided that he should not be held accountable, he was released and he was at liberty.He was back on the road from Garni to Lani, under official supervision, paving the government's gravel embankment, dejected and silent, the robbery had nearly killed him, so he was less interested in robbery, but not drunk. Saved him, so he drank even more.

As for the shock he encountered shortly after his return to the roadman's hut: One morning, Pu La Tu Liuer went to work as usual, maybe also to his hiding place. He set off before sunrise, and he saw the back of a person among the branches, in such a distance and in the dim light of dawn , he found that this person's figure was not completely unfamiliar to him.Although Pula Tuliuer is a drunk, he has a correct and clear memory, which is a self-defense weapon that a person who conflicts with the legal order must possess. He was thinking to himself: Where on earth have I seen such a man?

But he couldn't answer himself, except that he had a vague impression in his memory of a figure similar to this person. Although Pu Latu Liu'er couldn't recall who this person was, he made some comparisons and calculations.This man is not a local, he just arrived.He must have come on foot.At this hour no bus passed Montfermeil, and he walked all night.where is he from?not far.For he had neither a rucksack nor a small parcel.He must have come from Paris.But why come to this forest?Why come at this time?What is he doing here? Pu La Tu Liu Er thought of the treasure.Due to his hard thinking, he vaguely remembered that he had a similar encounter a few years ago, and he felt that the person might be this guy.

As he thought, the burden of contemplation made him bow his head, which was natural, but too ingenious.When he looked up again, he couldn't see anything.The man had been lost in the dimly lit forest. "Damn it," thought Polartulliu, "I'll find him again. I'll find the parish to which this parishioner belongs. This nocturnal spirit must have his reasons, and I'll find out sooner or later. The secret in my forest, It won't be without my share." He picked up his sharp pickaxe. "Just use this one," he muttered, "for both digging and body-searching."

Like connecting one thread to another, he stepped into the woods.Try to follow the route the guy might take. After he had taken a hundred paces or so, the beginning of daylight helped him.Here and there in the sand there were shoe prints, trampled grass, trampled bushes, and twigs fallen among thorns, gracefully slowly returning to their original shape, like the arms of a beautiful woman just waking up stretching her waist, to him. Say these are clues.He followed the trails, but lost them again.After a while, he went deeper into the forest and came to a high hill.A hunter passing by a distant path early in the morning, blowing the tune of guijoli, reminded him to climb the tree.Although he is old, he is still flexible.There was a tall beech tree, just right for Tytil and Pulatus, which climbed as high as it could.

That was a good idea, and as he was searching the cluttered and deserted part of the forest, he suddenly caught sight of the man. But as soon as I saw it, it disappeared again. The man went, or rather slipped, into a clearing at a considerable distance in the woods, which was hidden by some tall trees, but which was well known to Pulatulius, for he had noticed that in a Beside the great pile of millstones, there is a diseased chestnut tree surrounded by a zinc plaque nailed to the bark.This clearing was formerly called the Brayu Mine.This pile of stones, of unknown purpose, was there thirty years ago, and must still be there now.Nothing lasts longer than a stone pile, except a wooden fence.This is temporarily piled up, what reason is there to store it for a long time!

Pula Tuliuer was so happy that he quickly climbed and rolled down the tree.The animal den has been found, the problem is to catch the beast.The dream treasure must be there. It is not easy to get to that mine.If you take the path, you have to go around countless annoying detours, and you have to walk for a quarter of an hour.It takes more than half an hour to get there by going straight through the dense, thorny and hurtful thorn bushes here.It was his fault that Pu La Tu Liu Er did not understand this.He believed in the straight road. This illusion of vision is valuable, but it has made many people fail. The thorns, however prickly, he thought were shortcuts.

"Take the wolf's Rivoli road," he said. Pu La Tu Liu'er was used to taking detours, but this time he made a mistake and went straight forward. He got into the thorny thicket decisively. He had to deal with shrubs, nettles, hawthorns, briars, pheasants, and tantalizing blackberries.He was stabbed very badly. At the bottom of a ravine he came upon a river which he had to cross. Forty minutes later, dripping with sweat, drenched, panting, covered in wounds, he rushed to the Burayu Mine fiercely. There was no one in the mine. Pu La Tu Liu'er ran to the stone pile.It is still there, and no one has removed it.

As for the man, he has disappeared in the forest.He ran away.Where did you go?which way?In what thornbush did he get into?This is impossible to guess. And most distressingly, behind the pile of stones, at the foot of the tree with the zinc plate, there is the earth that has just been turned over, and what remains is a forgotten or abandoned pickaxe, and a hole in the earth . This cave is empty. "Bandits!" Pu Latu Liu'er yelled, raising both fists to the sky.