To my frozen hometown

Chapter 14 What the hell did the pangolin say?

The resources in the greenhouse have reached the point where they have to be replenished. Watson said he didn't have much time, and at the same time he was saying that Greenhouse No. [-] didn't have much time.

Yanagihara was not dissatisfied with Watson's untimely request, because it had no effect on her.

As long as the price is right, she will complete Watson's commission, which is what she promised.

Looking sideways at Al on his shoulder, the girl was still sleeping soundly, maybe today is really too tired for her.

With Al on his back, Liu Yuan turned around, nodded to Watson and said.

"It's nothing, just tell me."

"Thank you for understanding." Watson raised his hand and pressed the brim of his hat, and said.

"I believe Ms. Yuan saw it when she came. There are a large herd of beasts outside Greenhouse No. [-]."

"En." Liu Yuan replied irrefutably.

She has been wandering on the ice field for a long time, and has seen herds gather many times, but in comparison, none of them seem to be as serious as this time.

On the way to the No. [-] greenhouse, she saw at least four or five traces of herd actions, not to mention the wolves she met head-on under the greenhouse.

What's more, it seems that the gathering of herds has not only affected Greenhouse No. [-] this time.

Liu Yuan had heard the radio broadcast, and knew that besides Greenhouse No. [-], there were many places like this.

It's not known why, but this year's herd seems particularly restless.They are collecting food in large quantities. It feels like some animals will store food before winter.

The only thing people don't understand is why they do this.

"The herd of beasts caused great problems for travel inside and outside the greenhouse." Watson said, put the cigarette in his mouth again, took a deep breath, and then exhaled a cloud of white mist.

It seems that this is the only way to make him relax.

"Ms. Yuan said that she is a homeless person. She must have been to many places. She should know what kind of situation this will make the greenhouse face."

This problem is not complicated. If the herd of beasts affects the traffic, it will naturally affect the exchange of materials between the greenhouse and the outside world.

Liu Yuan thought for a while and then got the answer: "The resources in the greenhouse are in short supply?"

Watson held the cigarette between his fingers and flicked his fingers: "It can last for another month or so at most."

He did not answer yes or no, but directly stated the current situation of the greenhouse.

One month is very short, and counting the time it takes to deliver the supplies, the time it takes to drive out the herd is only two to three weeks at most.

Once the operation fails and the greenhouse dries up, everyone in this huge building can only face the road of exile.

This is a huge pressure, but it is all on Watson's body at this time, no wonder he has become like this.

The soot fell to the ground and was blown away by the wind.

"The number of herds is huge this time. The greenhouse guard alone is not enough. It is necessary to recruit hired personnel as much as possible to fill the vacancies, so Ms. Yuan."

Watson's eyes turned to Liuyuan. At this time, there were only three of them in the whole street, and the light of the street lamp shone on them.

It was like a stage play being performed on a dark and empty stage, and the three of them were the leading actors.

"My entrustment is to hope that you can participate in this operation to expel the herd of beasts. To this end, the Greenhouse Guard will provide you with all the materials needed for the operation, and will pay you ten bottles of oxygen after the entrustment is completed. A barrel of gasoline, a set of liquid fuel, a set of nutrient supplements, ten boxes of ammunition, a box of jerky and a new snowmobile as compensation. In addition, this is also my personal request, and I hope you can agree."

Watson knew that Yanagihara would not stay in Greenhouse No. [-] for a long time, so he understood what Liuyuan needed most.

What travelers need most are naturally the supplies needed on the road.

Therefore, he made such a condition for Liu Yuan, but he did not force Liu Yuan to agree to it through Alice's affairs, but conveyed his attitude in a way of request.

He understands the danger of this commission, so even if Liu Yuan refuses him now, he can understand.

But at the same time, he really needed help, and it was already difficult for him to bear the pressure alone.

Watson waited for Yanagihara's reply, he didn't rush to urge him, but just took another drag on his cigarette.

But what he didn't expect was that before the smoke in his mouth was exhaled, Liu Yuan gave him an answer.

"Okay." Liuyuan simply answered, lifting up the coat that was about to slip off Al's body.

Watson raised his head in astonishment, staring blankly at the calm and expressionless Liu Yuan.

He didn't understand why Liu Yuan accepted this commission so easily. As a wanderer, Liu Yuan should know better than anyone else what the beast herd represented.

But what's going on now, hasn't she just figured out the situation?

After a while of astonishment, a relieved smile suddenly appeared on the corner of Watson's bearded mouth.

He exhaled the smoke from his mouth and said with a chuckle.

"Heh, I think I now know why this girl trusts you so much." With that said, Watson stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, and looked at Al who was on Liuyuan's shoulder.

"Ms. Yuan, you are really a reliable person."

Being able to face any problem calmly forever can make people unconsciously trust.

"Is that so, you are the first person to describe me like that." Liu Yuan walked down the steps of the street with Al on his back, and finally looked back at Watson.

"Then I'll go back first. Remember to inform me when you leave, and I will come."

After finishing speaking, she walked out of the halo under the street lamp and walked into the dark street.

"Ms. Yuan." Standing there under the streetlight, Watson said in a solemn voice, "Please."

"Hmm." Then, in the dark and lightless street, an answer came from afar.

"give it to me."

Liuyuan is very good at dealing with beasts, and has always been, because she is often more savage than them.

······

Walking alone in the dark on an empty path, there will always be a feeling of emptiness in your heart.

It was an indescribable feeling, whether it was loneliness or silence.

This was always the case with Liu Yuan in the past, because no matter where she went, she was almost always alone.

Sometimes she also thinks, maybe it is because of this that she wants to sink into the deep sea.

Because she doesn't hate this feeling, on the contrary, she quite likes it.

However, tonight, she is destined to not be able to enjoy the time alone, after all, she has an extra child on her back.

Walking through the greenhouse at night with Al on his back, Liuyuan looked at this huge building made of rusty metal frames and reinforced concrete, subconsciously a little lost in thought.

The greenhouse always looks crowded, because the buildings are piled together, and even the tracks are built in mid-air to facilitate the passage of trains.

Occasionally a few lights flashed at night, which was the night train carrying the last few passengers.

In fact, Liu Yuan hadn't thought carefully about what would happen if he brought an extra child with him on the journey.

But she probably wouldn't think about it, because no matter how they said it, their purpose was only one, and that was to find a peaceful death.

In short, until Al wants to leave, she will take Al temporarily.

However, when Liu Yuan was staring at the greenhouse in a daze, a voice woke her up.

"Liu Yuan."

Liuyuan turned around, only to realize that it was Al who had woken up and was looking at him with those godless eyes.

In fact, when Liuyuan met Watson, Al had already regained consciousness, but she didn't open her eyes immediately.

Moreover, Liu Yuan's back was not comfortable to lean on, which made it impossible for the girl to sleep peacefully.

"What's wrong?" Liu Yuan looked at the girl and asked.

"Will Liu Yuan really go? That entrustment."

At this time, Al is completely different from before.

The expression on her face was numb, like a puppet whose soul had been taken out, sluggishly making stiff movements, speaking rigid words jerky, without any emotional ups and downs.

Of course Liuyuan knew what the commission the girl was talking about, she drooped her eyes again, and answered with that lazy look.

"I will go, after all, I have already promised him, haven't I?"

"Yeah." Al nodded silently, and then continued to ask blankly.

"Then will you come back alive?"

She didn't know exactly what the pack of beasts Watson was talking about, but she had seen that pack of wolves when she came to Greenhouse No. [-], so she vaguely understood the danger in it.

Liu Yuan glanced at her and said something ambiguous.

"I won't die."

"That's it." Al listened, responded, and leaned on Liuyuan's back again.

"Then I'll wait for your return."

But does she really believe in Liu Yuan? It's obviously not certain anymore. She may just be used to an uncertain future.

She had no choice, because no matter what, what was supposed to happen seemed to happen anyway.

So she didn't say anything more, just kept silent, staring blankly at the road in front of them.

Until there was a white light at the end of the street, it was a greenhouse train, dragging a heavy carriage and passing by the two of them.

With the sound of the wind, the light in the carriage passed through the window and passed over the faces of the two, illuminating their appearance.

In the light, Al seemed to say another word.

But Liu Yuan didn't hear clearly, she only heard the muffled sound of driving, and then went away with the train.

Then, the lights disappeared into the street again, and there was silence all around.

Only then did Liu Yuan ask aloud.

"Al, did you say anything to me just now?"

But Al didn't repeat what she just said, she just gently closed her lips, then shook her head and said.

"No."

"Well, maybe I got it wrong."

"Ah."

······

Perhaps the meaning of life lies in this, misses and gains and losses.

Liuyuan missed a word from Al, which made her mistakenly think that Al was hopeless just like herself.

So she decided to take Al on this hopeless journey together.

And this changed the rest of her life.

Yes, she will die, the difference is how she dies.

(End of this chapter)