Chapter 13 6. The sea under the desert

"Miss, what I said before was just speculation. I'm really sorry. I finally calmed down tonight, thought about it carefully, and planned to talk to the master." "Okay, then I'll wake him up." Ahmad then began to tell about the strange things that happened in the Great Rift. When they got to the big crack, the whole team was too tired to move.He and Jafar Haru were too tired to slide down the crack, so they stayed on top to guard the rope.The team members who went down to the bottom of the valley took off the ropes and lay down on the ground. They didn't even have the strength to drink water.If you don't take a good rest for a few days, I'm afraid it will be difficult to even set up a tent.There are no plants, no animals, not even a bug.There is salt everywhere and organic matter simply cannot survive.The hot sand of the Sahara is a forbidden area for life.On the second day, the entire expedition team disappeared under the noses of the two.

"They are so tired, it is impossible to stand up and move on after just one night's rest. Haru and I haven't recovered for a long time. I lay there thinking, anyway, we will be in the 'Evil Rock City' (Arabia) It is better to be a starving ghost and eat the best food to die. So I made a plan to get up and eat a big meal. Probably I didn't have the strength to stand up until noon, and then Haru and I slid down to the bottom of the valley." "I heard that there is a waterfall in the big crack, tell me about the situation inside." "You're talking about the waterfall. It's on the cliff opposite the depression. The water sprayed from the rocks just fell on the ground with a splash. The hole for spraying water is not big, probably only one person How wide is it, so the water flow is narrow and fast, and there are many blisters when it falls. If a person stands at the entrance of that hole, he will definitely be smashed by the water flow."

"Where did the water bags, food and weapons that the team members carried with them go?" "It's all gone. Those things should be carried on the body. I don't know if they all flew to the sky with people and disappeared." There is only one waterfall inside the huge bottom of the pot.In addition, there are neither holes nor cracks in the ground, and only a rope is used to get in and out.In such a natural secret room, hundreds of people suddenly disappeared without a trace, which is really an unheard of strange thing.Abu Ahmad continued his story when Stella interrupted and asked:

"Mr. Ahmad, do you know Mr. Osden, the water monitor? How is his relationship with Captain Mr. Fles?" "That guy named Osden is really annoying. Just as we walked through the salt lake and were about to climb the mountain, the guy yelled at the captain: 'You said there are hairtails in this place? You have to brag about it. It’s not enough to pretend to be a scholar. Bah!’ After finishing speaking, he spat and kicked the sand. What a crime.” Stella pursed her lips, trembling slightly. "But the captain has done his best to that guy. Even the precious water is allowed to drink as much as he wants."

The situation was similar to Shan Zuo's imagination, he gave a wry smile.Fleiss regarded Osden as the key to proving his theory, so he swallowed his anger and gave way to Ausden everywhere, hoping that he could restore his childhood memories.Even if there were entanglements between them, they had to wait until after the expedition to resolve them. "Thank you for your hard work. After resting for more than half a month, I think I can almost move. I will rely on you when the time comes, Ahmad." "Actually..." Ahmad was a little embarrassed. "Actually, I'm here to say goodbye to you, sir."

"What? Are you leaving here?" Could it be that Polune's claws have reached out to him?Ahmad is the key to the second march to the "big darkness".This man has a clear understanding of the terrain he is walking on, and only by relying on him can he reach the big crack smoothly.But the reason for Ahmad's departure was unexpected. "I have received the notice of enlistment, and I may go to Europe to fight in a while. Someone from above came tonight and informed us that we must leave at dawn." The war broke out!Yamaza stared at the ceiling with an unprecedented solemn expression on his face.Unexpectedly, Ahmad, the key figure in the second march, would be sent to the battlefield, and the expedition plan would be ruined.Ahmad noticed that Shanzuo was very disappointed, as if he would bring some great loss after leaving.So he said to Shan Zuo:

"I'm really sorry, sir. You took good care of me before, and I don't want to leave you. And I don't want to go to that ghostly place for the time being." "why?" "Salt wind season is early. There is a station in the center of Salt Lake called 'El Mansur', you know that? The man on duty there yesterday has withdrawn, he told me. Sir, whenever there is a salt wind blowing I can't go." If what Ahmad said is true, then until the salt wind subsides next year, they will no longer be able to march into the "Dark Darkness". Hearing this news, Stella felt extremely desperate.

At this time, the sound of drumming came from a distance.A group of people approach this oasis of tranquility along the dunes.Oh, the team from Tunisia gave the signal.Ahmad hurried out of the room after saying goodbye to the two. After Ahmad left, Shanzuo suddenly became very excited. "It's coming! It's coming! This damn war is finally here! Maybe you'll never want to go to the 'big darkness' for the rest of your life." "What's wrong with you? So excited." "Hey, Stella, I might have been unlucky. This expedition...was bad luck from the beginning, and it took a turn for the worse tonight. Ahmad enlisted in the army, the salt wind season was early, and finally... unexpectedly broke out What's the use of being left alone? I'm a citizen of an enemy country according to international conventions. If I'm arrested, I'm sure I'll be found guilty, and I'll either be shot or imprisoned. I hate letting anyone Slaughter." Shan Zuo muttered.

"Oh." Stella nodded sympathetically.Shan Zuo's identity is rather special, and now he is lying on a hospital bed in an enemy colony, in a very dangerous situation, and there is nowhere to escape. "This is neither Paris nor London. No one should notice your identity, right?" "There will always be people who will notice. For example, the governor of Tunisia Chapriai, he used to be the security minister of the Paris police. He kept a close eye on me some time ago, and I am afraid it is in preparation for now. Fortunately, I have no reason to let He caught it, I'm afraid he was waiting for me to show my feet. A shrewd man like him would never miss me. Oh, why am I always trying to create momentum for the enemy? It seems that my life is not long. Oh, then Isn't it a drum?"

At night, the temperature in the desert plummets.The desert under the cold moon is like a snow field, which makes the body feel cold and bone cold.In the shadow of the Shagu Mesa, there is a gleaming white line, which is the brave and sturdy Tunisian cavalry.Wearing light blue turban coats and carrying torches on their shoulders, they guard the camels in the procession.With the support of Stella, Shan Zuo observed the mighty cavalry with binoculars.In an instant, he saw a person in the line. "Come on, come on, the bad luck is coming so fast, it must be Xiapriai who summoned them together. Hey, isn't that Mancini next to him? Pulai and Pusha are also here... It seems that Xiapriai All the old subordinates of the company are here."

"Who are Pleasant and Mancini?" "Oh, those guys. They're all good friends of mine and always follow my ass..." Yamaza's voice is getting smaller and smaller.It can be seen that although he said it easily, he was very distressed in his heart.Leaving aside the second march to the "big darkness", his own safety is now threatened... It seems that there is only one path of no return to failure before him.Even so, Shanzao was not discouraged. Mountain seat, mountain seat, the enemy is outnumbered, how should you deal with it?For me, there is nothing impossible in this world.With that, the first thing to do is to escape from here, and then to cross the salt wind as soon as possible and enter the "Dark Darkness".But how to escape?Think about it, Yamaza! Thinking about it, Yamazao actually fell asleep snoring.Did he think of a way to sleep peacefully, or did he just smash the jar?In this situation, I can still sleep. There are probably only mountains in this world.More than two hours later, there was a knock on the door. "I'm Xiapriai, please help convey that I'm here specially to visit Yamazuo-kun." coming!Startled, Stella hurriedly shook the mount.But Shan Zuo had already opened his eyes, and Stella realized that there was a person standing in the corridor. It was Xia Priai who came, and he did not bring his servants.Yamaza greeted him carelessly and said: "Yo, Minister of Security. Oh no, you should be called 'Governor Sharpley'. Anyway, it's a surprise to see you here anyway. Sorry, I just woke up, Last night I was discussing with people about the 'Dark Darkness'." Yamaza kept talking about the "Dark Darkness", but when he said that he didn't make it, he showed a disappointed expression like a child.Xiapriai on the side could only shake hands with him with a wry smile while listening. The governor is about forty-five or sixteen years old. He wears a red belt and his clothes are full of French style.This dashing man was dressed as if he was going to a prom, and was so handsome that even men couldn't help admiring him. "You are really powerful." Sharpley seemed to have something in his words, "It seems that you are quite calm. But I advise you to give up your plan to escape." "Oh, my Excellency, why do you say that? I'm just a pacifist who likes to buy spring paintings, why do you have to pull out a stick and be as knowledgeable as me? Look at you, you have changed back to that terrible policeman. " After coming and going, the two of them probably had already had a round of fighting in their hearts.Two people with equal age, intelligence, and strategy started a duel in this oasis in the Sahara Desert.The mountain is defending, and Xiapriai is attacking.In the face of the enemy's attack, Shanzuo is more than capable. "Shanzuo-kun, don't be stubborn." Sharpley said coldly. "Arresting you is a breeze. Besides, I think you have no choice. Now that you are sick, and the outbreak of the war, the situation has changed suddenly. I think this is God's will. Even if you are arrested, you Don't be ashamed either..." "That can't be done." Shan Zuo roared loudly. "In any case, I will not be arrested. Don't underestimate me, Your Excellency." "Is that so? I have come here alone to show your respect. I would not inhumane a sick person lying in bed. But there is no doubt that you have fallen into my hands." "No, I am free now and in the future. Your Excellency thinks it is easy to catch me, but I will definitely not just let it go. I will visit the official residence after I recover from my illness." "Oh, your child's temper still hasn't changed." Yamaza didn't care about Sharpley's criticism. "I will have a Tunisian doctor come to examine you tonight. It just so happens that there is a doctor in the team I brought. Whether to take you away immediately or keep you here temporarily depends on the results of his examination." "Well, you must make me say something I don't know. I've washed my hands of that kind of thing, but you won't listen. It seems you don't trust me as a man. Well, if I tell you something Something of value, can you let me go?" "valuable……" "I believe its importance is no less than the information you want. Your Excellency, do you know about the 'Dark Darkness'?" "It's a magical place, and it can be called the natural danger of the twentieth century. Now we plan to place a telescope on the platform of Shaxi Valley. In this way, we can just see the situation inside the 'Dark Darkness', just like looking at Darjeeling Like the Himalayas. The Tunisian government and Cook Tours can work together to develop this plan.” "Really? I want to tell you a shocking secret. Your Excellency should know that when I came to collect the expedition permit a few days ago, the Italian fleet was conducting maneuvers near the secret port 'Punta Spadillo' on Pantelleria Island. Participate in The warships involved in the exercise were headed by the 35,000-ton Vittorio Veneto, and there were more than 30 warships of different sizes, such as the Giulio Cssare and the Conte di Cavour. The Italian fleet was extremely arrogant, almost provoking Tunisia against the territorial waters. But your government didn't protest. It's so strange, I think there must be some reason for it. It finally came to me, and that's the truth of the 'Dark Darkness'." "Oh?!" "Fries believes that from the 'Schott el Djerid' salt lake on the coast of Gabes to the 'Schot el Melrir' salt lake in Algeria, there has been a huge geological change in ancient times. In this way, it will form like the estuary The long and narrow terrain. And now those terraces in the Shaxi Valley were originally shallow craters.” "After the volcanic eruption, the volcanic ash accumulated above the sea water, and after a long period of time, the tide level of the Mediterranean Sea also decreased year by year. So there was a gap between the salt and volcanic ash suspension and the sea surface entering the river. That is to say , The bottom of the salt lake is actually the sea, and the bottom of the desert is the bay, which is also connected to the bottom of the 'Dark Darkness'." "Hey, you said there is an ocean under the desert!" Xia Priai almost choked. Under the boundless black desert is actually sea water.Even for a novelist with a superb imagination, I am afraid it is difficult to imagine such a scene.What is it like down there?Whether the sea water is clear or thick, is the body of the blue light the noctilucent insect that can glow?Or the waves rolled and sprayed?Could it be that the ruins of Atlantis are among them?The statue is buried in the salt sand, leaving only one head exposed.Large columns flicker like reefs between the waves.Most importantly, are there people living there?Are the descendants of those Atlanteans still living there after five thousand years? Sharprie was overwhelmed by Yamaza's endless narration.His eyes were confused, immersed in countless questions. "How? This is the secret I want to tell." "This, this is unbelievable." "Then let me continue. The French military department has known about this for a long time. There is a secret waterway under the Cape Limarsi on Pantelleria Island leading directly to the ocean under the 'Dark Darkness', and that waterway is now a submarine of the Italian Navy. The base. This is probably the information obtained by the French military through spies. In fact, the 'Dark Darkness' has long been conquered by the French. They plan to establish a base in the Demon Realm that is not accessible to outsiders, and wait for the opportunity to launch a surprise attack from the enemy's rear. At that time, Tunisia will You can save the day. The enemy battleships Littorio and Andrea Doria are not in your possession?" "So, do you think Fries and the others were captured by the military?" "Exactly, I certainly hope that they return safely. If my reasoning is correct, they have already been secretly sent somewhere in Europe. If the communication here was not cut off for ten days, I would have released this shocking news to the world Out. Don't forget, my lord, that I am a merchant. Do you think this secret will redeem me?" Then there was a silence.Yamaza seems to have saved the defeat, and the next moment is the moment to decide the outcome.Xiapriai said with a smile: "It's amazing! Your unconstrained imagination is really great, and even Jules Verne is impressed. It's a pity that I am not the editor-in-chief of the magazine, so I cannot publish novels for you." Xiapriai seemed a little regretful, if he could capture Shan Zuo when he was at his strongest, he would be able to show his credit.But now he seems to have come to the end of his career, "Darkness" may not only take away his friends, but also his spirit. Now Shan Zuo has lost the vitality of his early years, but what remains unchanged is his optimistic attitude. "Farewell. Give my regards to your wife. I will call on you again when I have time."