Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Swamp of Sadness

He was swept up by the wind and flew towards the peak of the night, so high that it was dizzying... You can see the stars, and you can see the lights of the city through the gaps in the clouds.Once he was sucked into the center of the tornado, he became unbelievably quiet, and the rising air flow gently supported Gen like a mother hugging her waist, preventing him from falling to the ground. After a while, the altitude gradually dropped and came under the clouds.There is no way of estimating how far it has been taken.Looking down at the foot, it is dim, and it is difficult to distinguish whether it is the roof, the pasture or the mountainside.However, the altitude is still decreasing, it seems that it is not the tornado that is descending, but the position inside the tornado is gradually decreasing.

Soon, the foot hit the ground.As soon as he left the environment of the tornado, Wat felt like he suddenly remembered the injury to his right leg, and he felt a burning pain, and he suddenly fell to the ground.This is wet soil—no, it's a sea of ​​mud. Suddenly woke up and looked back, just in time to see the tail of the silver tornado, disappearing into the clouds.The sky was still dark and the stars were twinkling. Although Meihe said that he couldn't control where Wataru was blown, but the tornado was really gentle and saved people in distress.Unlike the reason why he was detained in Gasala, this time it was indeed that death was imminent.

—that kid has saved my life twice. The soil beneath him was cold, but soft.The air-conditioning pierced through the bones, freezing people to death.All in all, sitting paralyzed in this kind of place is not an option. He wanted to stand up, but it was too slippery to succeed.I want to grab something, but as far as I can see, the grass is growing well, it's some pampas grass, reed grass and the like, I can't use my strength. By the time he tried his best to stand up on his legs, his body was already covered in mud.The bandages that bound the wounded legs were also dark.If you don't clean it up sooner—what did Mama say, you risk getting the dreaded tetanus sepsis.

Move forward through the reed-like grass, and through the grass, there is a dark flat land in front of you, which is very wide.When I got closer, I realized that the flat land was not a square, but a swamp.The water surface was slightly rippling under the night wind, reflecting the starlight.Standing on the bank of the sleepy and calm marsh, in the cool air. Wataru sneezed, his body trembling. where is thisIt was pitch black and almost freezing. By starlight, look around.The swamp is so big that you can't see the edge.The wetlands, overgrown with similar reed grass Miscanthus, seem to be just as wide.

There is only one place - a circular dense forest, appearing in front of you to the right.In the middle of the bowl of trees, there seemed to be a faint light.Gen stared intently for a long time, to see if he mistook the starlight near the horizon for the twilight in the woods.But can't see clearly. Gen folded his arms around his shoulders, rubbed them to increase even a little warmth, and took a step, anyway, he had to walk, he couldn't just wait here to get pneumonia, it would be warmer when he walked, maybe it would be dawn when he walked. Gen walked forward slowly, and as he approached the woods, he could tell that the light was not starlight.The light is not flickering, but shaking.Probably Lanterns or Pine Lights.someone—

There is no smell of living things on the wetland, and it is very cold, but as we approach the woods, we can hear the cries of "coo, coo" wild birds.Going further, I saw a small triangular roof in the forest.The small house, one size smaller than Teacher Lao's, was built in the forest, as if hiding on purpose.The bright light seen from a distance is undoubtedly the light-transmitting windows of the hut. Gen knocked on the door to say hello: "Excuse me, is there no one? Excuse me." no answer.Gen continued to knock on the door. "I'm a passerby. I'm lost. I don't know what to do. Is anyone in the house?"

There was the sound of light footsteps, and the door opened inward.A small figure in a black robe with his head wrapped in a hood peered at the approaching person. "Ah, I'm sorry, it's midnight." Gen bowed his head in greeting, "I got lost. I came here when I saw a light. Can you give me a rest? Can you tell me how to get there?" From under the hood came a surprisingly soft voice: "You're hurt." This is a woman.Wataru looked at the fingers holding the door panel.Long, fair fingers. "Please come in. Let me deal with it for you." The woman stepped aside and let Gen enter the room.The stove in the cabin was burning brightly.A kerosene lamp by the window glowed.The rocking chair next to the fireplace swayed slightly. She was sitting on this rocking chair just now?

The woman let Gen sit on the small wooden stool, and quickly treated his wound.He was also given a cup of hot sweet drink. "Thank you. Thank you so much." For Gen's expression of gratitude, the woman's headscarf nodded and accepted.Can't see her face.Because her head and face had been tightly covered by a turban. "It would be better to change clothes. However, there are no clothes that fit you." "It doesn't matter." "At least change your shirt. It doesn't matter if it's bigger." It's nice to have dry and clean shirts.The woman gathered up the shirt and bandages she had taken off, and walked out of the house.

There was not much furniture in the cramped hut, and there seemed to be no one else.In the basket of the rocking chair, there are black balls of thread and clothes that have just begun to be knitted.Gen has recovered his breath, followed by curiosity, he probed to peek at the things inside.It was very small clothes - like for babies, and the socks, also very small.So, this person has kids? But if so, there are also strange things.The yarn in the basket, and the things we were knitting, were all black.Are clothes for babies woven of black wool? ——That man's clothes are also black. "That..." Gen asked because the woman had returned, "I'm sorry, are you a mage?"

The woman stopped moving and looked at Gen carefully. "No, no, because you have been wearing a headscarf. Or, are you a star reader? Living here alone for research?" With her turban-wrapped head drooping, the woman walked to the rocking chair, sat down, and whispered, "It's better not to know about me." Very sad tone. "It will be dawn soon. The eastern sky has already turned white. Walk out of the other side of this forest, and there will be a small road. It will not take long before you will reach the town called 'Tiaz Heyun'. Go to the mayor, He will entertain passers-by with hospitality."

"Understood." Gen solemnly bowed his head in thanks, "Thank you for everything you have done, and I'm sorry for asking the impolite thing. But--that, I, was in a difficult situation at the time, so I'm so happy, thank you so much. I'm very grateful I want to know the name and appearance of my benefactor, so I..." The woman tilted her head slightly.Then he raised his fair hand and took off the turban. He cried out in his heart: Ah! ——She is Rikako Tanaka. Father's lover.The reason why his father abandoned his mother and Won ran away from home.And she even came to denounce her mother. They look exactly the same: repulsively similar. "Sorry for being rude before." The woman said gently.There was no smile on her face, her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes drooped weakly, which was completely different from the corners of her mouth and the corners of her eyes that Rikako Tanaka was about to fight when she came. However, even the sound from the lips is very similar.At least one can imagine that this is how Narikako feels when she speaks calmly. "Well, I've always been dressed in this mourning dress, so until just now, I forgot that I was wearing a headscarf." Can't speak.This is good.Because if he could talk, he would definitely say something inexplicable. "What's the matter with you? So surprised?" The woman said, taking half a step forward.Take a step back. "Heh..." the woman put her chin on one hand in confusion, and said, "Did I scare you? If so, I'm sorry. But, why?" "I'm sorry," this kind of words, if it was Rikako Tanaka, she would never say it in her life.So, it was more or less back to normal.This is the fantasy world, not the real world.That woman can't be here. "Yes, I'm sorry," Gen shook his head, "You look so much like someone I know, I'm surprised." "That's right." The woman nodded.Still, no smiles, not even social smiles.Is it immersed in the abyss of sorrow? "You said 'dress in mourning' just now. Did something very sad happen?" The woman walked softly to the window, extinguished the kerosene lamp, and nodded. "This swamp of people is called the Swamp of Sadness." Even with the kerosene lamps turned off, the hut was still twilight.It was indeed beginning to light up.Wataru came over and stood by the window with the woman, from here he could overlook the water surface of the black swamp. "Only those who are extremely sad are allowed to live on the edge of the swamp. If the sorrow disappears, they must leave the swamp. While living here, they can only wear black clothes. When leaving, throw the black clothes into the swamp." "Is it a rule not to smile?" "Yes, it's like this during this time." "Who made it?" "It is the decree of Tiaz Heyun." The woman lowered her head, and for some reason, rubbed her belly with her palm: "I used to be a resident of that town. It would be great if I could go back..." Gen finally realized what she had done.incredible.but…… "Do you have a baby in your belly?" The woman lowered her head even more deeply: "Yes..." This is the same as Tanaka Rikako.The woman said that she and her father had a child.exactly the same.Is it by chance?or?Is there some kind of synchronization between the fantasy world and the real world? "What's wrong with you?" The woman glanced at Gen's face, "You're sweating like cold... Maybe you caught a cold from the swamp." Gen desperately wanted to use these words full of concern to control his chaotic mood.This man is not that woman.Because she is so compassionate.This man's attitude towards life must be completely different from that woman's. Having a child should have been a very gratifying and happy thing, but this person was very sad.By the way, it must be the child's father, that is, the person he loved died, so he lived in seclusion here, mourning with the child in his womb.Definitely yes. "Please cheer up." Gen said.It doesn't matter.I can also be kind to her.Because she is not that woman. The woman raised her head and looked at Gen.This is, the rising sun is shining on her face.A golden light shone on the face exactly like Rikako's.Looking at her kind eyes, Wat still felt angry, and he hastily sealed it in his heart.No, no!This is another person! "Good boy, thank you." The woman gently stroked Gen's shoulder and pushed him towards the door of the cabin. "However, you have to leave. Please don't tell the people in Tiaz Heyun Town what you said to comfort me." Then, without even saying "goodbye," she closed the door of the cabin. Going around to the back of the house, he saw a path through the woods.It's not as humid here as it is by the side of the swamp. Hearing the greetings of the birds in the morning, he walked slowly.Passing through the woods, the path widens and becomes a spacious road, marked by the ruts of the Daru Baba cars and marked by arrows. "Tiaz Heyun is just ahead." Under the beautiful pressed font, there is a line of scrawled words: "If you are happy, there will be no towns for you."