"Hurry up and catch up!"
While Tang Shen was dragging his own sled, he shouted to his sled dogs that were following closely behind him.
“Woof!”, “Woof!”, “Woof”…
Thompson's sled dogs barked one by one in response to Thompson.
Just now, after parting with Ogata and the others, Tang Shen went straight back to the cave where he and Ogata had just lived, retrieved his sled and sled dogs, and then drove the dog sled and left without any nostalgia.
However, before he had gone far, Tang Shen ran into a dense forest.
Because the moonlight was blocked by the dense branches and leaves, it was so dark in the woods that you couldn't see your hand in front of you.
It was too dangerous to drive a dog sled in such a dark forest, so Tang Shen had to change the "dog sled" into a "human sled" and drag the sled through the woods by himself.
Fortunately, the sled is made of wood and is not very heavy, so even an old man like Tang Shen can drag it.
“Drink…drink…drink…”
After dragging the sled for an unknown amount of time, heavy breath began to come out of Tang Shen's mouth.
"Ha... I'm getting old... ha... my body really isn't that useful anymore... ha... ha... I just had two hits... ha... and I'm already out of breath... ha..."
Feeling that his chest was about to explode, Tang Shen threw away the reins of the sled tied to his body, held on to a big tree next to him, and his chest rose and fell at a very fast frequency like a bellows.
His sled dogs squatted obediently around Tang Shen, sticking out their tongues, waiting for Tang Shen's next order.
Tang Shen wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around - according to Tang Shen's experience, he was about to leave the woods.
When checking the environment he was in, Tang Shen's eyes slowly turned to the direction he had just left...
Looking at the direction he had just left, complex emotions slowly emerged from the depths of Tang Shen's eyes.
Then, Tang Shen slowly lowered his head and looked at his hands wearing thick fur gloves, and then——
"...You are really old..."
After muttering these words to himself in a low voice, Tang Shen let out a long breath and slumped down on the sled behind him...
…
…
After working together to deal with the bodies of the villagers in Takta Village, Ogata and his companions returned to the cave where they had just lived.
The poor and helpless girl, Lilata, who was rescued by Ogata and his friends, was also brought back to the cave by Ogata and his friends.
When they returned to the cave, Tang Shen's sled and his sled dogs were nowhere to be seen - probably Tang Shen had escaped to somewhere unknown with his sled and sled dogs.
Yashili is 14 years old and Lilata is 12 years old. They are of the same gender and similar age, so compared to Ogata and Atachi who don't speak the same language, and Aizan who is already an uncle, Lilata is naturally closer to Yashili.
Yashili also felt quite sympathetic towards Lilata.
She could empathize with the feeling of suddenly losing a loved one...
That "disappearance incident" caused most families in Qina Village to lose their fathers, husbands, and brothers...
Yashili's father was one of the missing persons in that "disappearance incident"...
Because of sympathy and because she could empathize with the feeling of losing a loved one, Yashili had been trying to take care of and comfort Lilata.
After experiencing so many things tonight, Lilata was already exhausted both physically and mentally.
Not long after being brought back to the cave by Ogata and the others, she leaned against Yashili and fell into a deep sleep...
…
…
Ogata, A-Ming, and Ayizan sat around the fire in the middle of the cave, silently stuffing the branches they had just picked up outside into the fire.
The flames licked the branches, making crackling sounds. Because Ogata and the others were silent, the sound of breaking branches became the only sound in the cave.
Lilata, who had just fallen asleep, was taken off her coat by Yashili, and was laid on her side next to the fire, sleeping with her back to the fire.
In Ainu society, there are two "secrets of fire-roasting".
Tip 1: It’s warmest to sit with your back to the fire.
The Ainu people, who have lived a fishing and hunting life for thousands of years, have concluded that the warmest way to warm themselves by a fire is to sit with their backs to the fire. This is not only the warmest, but also helps to eliminate fatigue.
Tip 2: Take off your outer clothes when sleeping next to a fire.
There is nothing much to say about the principle of this secret. It is the same as "Don't wear cotton clothes and sleep under a quilt in winter."
After Lilata fell asleep, Ating covered her with a thin blanket.
Lilata's petite body was curled up in a blanket that Ating had just covered her with. The blanket rose and fell at a soothing rhythm with Lilata's breathing.
Yashili, who was responsible for taking care of her, sat next to Lilata and patted her back as she fell asleep.
"Mr. Majima, this girl...what should we do? (Ainu)" As Yashili continued to pat Lilata's back, he looked up at Ogata.
After Aizen translated what Yashili said to Ogata and Atachi, Ogata, who was breaking a long piece of firewood into two and throwing it into the fire, lowered his voice like Yashili in order not to wake Lilata, and said softly:
"When we wake up tomorrow morning, let's take a detour and go to the Siwasi village. Send her to her grandmother."
Just now, when Lilata was still awake, Yashili asked her if she had any other relatives.
According to Lilata, she also has a grandmother who lives in Sivasi Village. Sivasi Village is not far from here, and it only takes about a day to walk there. Because Lilata often goes to this village to visit her grandmother, she also remembers how to go to Sivasi Village.
As Ogata finished speaking, A-Ming and Ayizan nodded in agreement.
“Alas…” Ayi Zan sighed, “This girl is so pitiful… Her parents and grandfather all died overnight…”
"I wonder if this girl can cheer up in the future..."
"When I was a young man just beginning to learn the art of hunting, there was a man in our village who suffered a great blow and never recovered..."
"That person's mother died young, and he was raised by his father. He has a very deep relationship with his father."
"But one day, tragedy struck - the man's father went into the mountains to hunt, but unfortunately lost his way and was attacked by a pack of wolves."
"By the time the rest of the villagers found the man's father... his body had been gnawed beyond recognition by a pack of wolves..."
"After learning that his father had died, that person was unable to get over the shock and became insane..."
"From time to time, I would smile foolishly at the air in front of me, or talk to the air in front of me, chatting with my father who is no longer here..."
Ogata and Atachi listened quietly to Ayizan's story.
After Ai Zan finished speaking, A-Ting couldn't help but ask:
"What happened to that guy in the end?"
"He committed suicide." Ayizan sighed softly, "A few months after his father died, he cut his throat with a machete one night..."
"…How terrible." Ating sighed.
In this era, there is no professional term "post-traumatic stress disorder", so Ayizan didn't know that the condition of the person he just talked about was a typical "post-traumatic stress disorder", commonly known as "PTSD".
After experiencing, witnessing, or encountering actual death involving oneself or others, or being threatened with death, or serious injury, one is prone to developing "post-traumatic stress disorder" and various mental disorders.
The clinical manifestations of patients suffering from "post-traumatic stress disorder" vary. Some patients can still barely lead a normal life, but for others, if they are not closely monitored and given timely treatment, the consequences will be disastrous...
Lilata lost several of her loved ones in just one night. It is indeed very easy to suffer from "post-traumatic stress disorder" when encountering such a tragedy at such a young age...
Ogata, who had been concentrating on putting branches into the fire, stopped at this moment and turned his head to look at Lilata, who was curled up in a blanket and sleeping not far away.
After a moment's silence, Ogata lowered his head and searched for something in the pile of branches at his feet that were used as firewood.
Soon, Xu Fang found a branch from the pile of branches that was of medium length, thickness and relatively straight.
"What's wrong?" Atachi cast a puzzled look at Ogata.
"...You continue to add firewood to the fire." Ogata did not answer Atachi's question, but said in a neutral tone, "I'm going to go outside to find something and will be back soon."
"Looking for something?" The puzzlement on Ating's face became more intense. "Looking for what?"
"Find four leaves of the right size," said Ogata.
After saying this, Oben left the cave directly, leaving Atachi and the others looking at each other in confusion.
Not long after, Xufang came back with four leaves of similar size, which were a little dry and hard due to loss of water.
After returning to the cave, Ogata took the four leaves and the relatively straight branch of moderate length and thickness that he had just found from the pile of branches, and walked towards the deepest part of the cave.
"I'm going to make something, please don't come over to watch. I can't make anything if you watch me."
After saying that, Obe turned his back to Atachi and the others, sat in the deepest part of the cave, and started fiddling with something in his hands.
Ogata is the kind of person who "can't stand being watched".
To give a simple example: in his previous life, when he was doing homework and there were parents or teachers watching him from behind, Ogata would feel very uncomfortable and could not write a single word.
Although Ogata had already given a warning, Atachi still jumped towards Ogata.
"What are you going to make?"
As soon as Ah-Ming approached, Obe quickly hid the four leaves and branches he had just found in his arms, and then said to Ah-Ming unhappily:
"Didn't I tell you not to come over and see... You'll know what I'm making tomorrow morning."
Ah-Ming curled his lips and said, "What is so mysterious... If you don't want me to see it, forget it. It shouldn't take a long time to make this thing, right? It's already very late at night, don't delay your sleep to make this thing."
"Don't worry, it won't take much time." Ogata responded softly.
After hearing what Ogata said, Atachi stopped talking and returned to where he had just sat, continuing to add branches to the fire.
The light from the flames hit Ogata's back as he faced away from Atachi and the others, casting his silhouette onto the rock wall in front of him.
The figure swayed slightly along with the flames.
The shadow and his master lowered their heads, looking at the things in their arms, fiddling with something...
…
…
The next morning...
Outside the cave entrance, Radish and Grape were snorting and paddling the ground with their hooves.
After placing the luggage and other items on the horse's back, Atachi squatted down, made her eyes level with Lilata's, and said to her in a gentle tone:
"Come, raise your hands, and I'll carry you on the horse."
Ogata and the others just had a brief discussion and decided to let Lilata ride on the same horse with Atachi, Yashiri and the others.
Although at first glance it seems that Grape will have a hard time carrying three people at the same time.
But in fact, grapes are still very capable.
After all, she was not carrying three burly men, but three women.
Needless to say, Yashili and Lilata, who are 14 and 12 years old respectively, may not be as tall as Ogata together.
Atachi, who is 155cm tall and has a slim figure except for her chest and butt, is not that overweight.
So if we calculate the weight each person is carrying, the stress of three women carrying grapes may not be as great as that of two men carrying carrots.
Because of her young age, Lilata is still very small, so she can't mount a horse by her own strength.
As soon as Ating finished speaking, Ayizan beside him immediately translated Ating's words to Lilata.
Ever since leaving Takta Village, which had become a dead village, last night, Lilata had been wearing the same expression - expressionless.
Not only was there no expression at all, there was no light in the depths of his eyes.
Lilata's eyes reminded Atachi of the eyes of a dead person...
Looking into Lilata's eyes, Otsuchi only saw her own reflection. Although she could see her own reflection in Lilata's pupils, Otsuchi still felt that this child was not looking at her...
After listening to Ayzan's translation, Lilata stretched her arms high - her face was still expressionless, like an empty shell without a soul.
Ating couldn't help but let out a long sigh, then he clamped Lilata's armpits with both hands and carried Lilata onto Grape's horse.
Ogata, who was putting luggage on Radish's horse, suddenly walked over slowly and then -
"Take this and play with it."
He took out a small windmill from his arms and handed it to Lilata.
This windmill is made of leaves and branches.
The branches make up the pole of the windmill, and four leaves of similar size make up the blades of the windmill.
A-machi and the others looked at the small windmill in Ogata's hand with surprise.
After seeing the windmill in Ogata's hand, Lilata's face finally showed an expression other than indifference.
Even without Ayzan's translation, Lilata could guess what Ogata was saying to her just by his actions.
She took the windmill handed to her by Ogata with some hesitation.
Ogata puffed up his cheeks and made a "blowing" motion.
Seeing Ogata's action, Lilata also followed suit and gently blew the windmill in her hand.
The windmill blades made of leaves slowly turned as Lilata blew.
Looking at the spinning blades, Lilata, who saw the windmill for the first time, finally began to see something in her eyes that had been missing since last night - light.
Lilata puffed up her cheeks slightly and blew the windmill even harder than before.
Crash...
The windmill was turning "clatteringly".
Looking at the windmill in her hand, a child's innocent smile slowly appeared on Lilata's face like a slowly blooming flower.
Lilata, as if she had discovered a new world, blew the windmill in her hand again and again.
Looking at Lilata whose eyes were shining again, Ogata smiled slightly, then without saying a word, he walked towards Radish next to him and continued to move the luggage that had not yet been moved onto Radish's horse.
At this time, Ating followed closely.
"Was that the windmill you were making last night?" asked Ating.
"When I was a kid, I used to make windmills here for fun," Ogata said with a smile. "Fortunately, I still remember how to make a windmill."
In his previous life, when Ogata was in elementary school, he was taught how to make a windmill in art class.
For some reason, Ogata had a special liking for windmills that turned with the wind. After learning how to make windmills, he often made various windmills for his own entertainment.
"I've been holding the knife for too long, and I almost forgot how to do the windmill..."
After saying that, Ogata lowered his head and looked with complicated eyes at his outstretched hands, which were covered with calluses from often holding knives.
"Fortunately - the child finally smiled again." Ogata put down his hands and looked at Lilata, who had regained some of her "human" aura.
"I didn't expect you to be so mysterious last night. It was because of that child~ I see~"
"Don't snicker and look at me like that..." Ogata said helplessly, "Hurry up and pack your bags and get ready to go. We'll send this child to her grandmother."