dāng wǒ cū lüè dì kàn liǎo yī biàn wǒ jī cún de yī bā bā 'èr nián zhì yī nián jiān fú 'ěr mó sī zhēn tàn 'àn de bǐ jì hé jì lù shí， wǒ fā jué bǎi zài wǒ yǎn qián lí qí yòu qù de cái liào hào rú yān hǎi， shí zài tài duō liǎo， jìng bù zhī rú hé qǔshě shì hǎo。 yòu xiē 'àn jiàn tōng guò bào zhǐ yǐ jīng guǎng wéi liú chuán， dàn shì yě yòu xiē 'àn jiàn quē fá kě gōng wǒ de péng yǒu jìn qíng fā huī qí chū lèi bá cuì de cái néng de yú dì， ér wǒ de péng yǒu de zhè zhǒng zhuó yuè cái néng zhèng shì nà xiē bào zhǐ jí xiǎng bào dào de zhù yào tí cái。 hái yòu xiē 'àn jiàn shǐ dé tā de shàn cháng yú fēn xī de běn lǐng wú fǎ shī zhǎn， zhèng xiàng yòu xiē gù shì yī yàng， chéng wéi yòu tóu wú wěi de liǎo。 yòu yòu yī xiē 'àn jiàn， tā jǐn gǎo qīng chǔ liǎo yī bù fēn， duì qí qíng jié de pōu xī zhǐ shì chū yú tuī cè huò yì duàn， ér bù shì yǐ wǒ de péng yǒu suǒ zhēn shì de、 zhǔn què wú wù de luó ji lùn zhèng wéi yǐ jù。 zài shàng shù zuì hòu yī lèi 'àn jiàn zhōng， yòu yī gè 'àn jiàn qíng jié yì cháng、 jié jú lí pò， shǐ wǒ bù jìn yào yòu suǒ xù shù， jìn guǎn yǔ zhè zhuāng 'àn zǐ yòu guān de yī xiē shì cóng wèi nòng míng bái guò， ér qiě yě xǔ shì yǒng yuǎn nòng bù míng bái de。
　　
　　 yī bā bā qī nián wǒ men jīng shǒu guò yī xì liè pō wéi yòu qù hé qù wèi bù dà de 'àn jiàn， yòu guān zhè xiē 'àn jiàn de jì lù， wǒdōu bǎo liú zhe。 zài zhè yī nián de shí 'èr gè yuè de jì lù de biāo tí zhōng， yòu guān yú rú xià gè 'àn de jìzǎi： " pà lā duō 'ěr dà shà 'àn "； “ yè yú qǐ gài tuán 'àn "， zhè gè yè yú qǐ gài tuán zài yī gè jiā jù diàn kù fáng de dì xià shì yōng yòu yī gè qióng shē jí chǐ de jù lè bù；“ měi guó fān chuán ' suǒ fěi · ān dé sēn ' hào shī shì 'àn "；“ gé lài sī · bǐ dé sēn zài wū fǎ dǎo shàng de pò 'àn "； hái yòu " kǎn bó wéi 'ěr fàng dú 'àn "。 jì dé zài zuì hòu yī 'àn lǐ， dāng xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī gěi sǐ zhě de biǎo shàng fā tiáo shí， fā xiàn gāi biǎo zài liǎng xiǎo shí qián céng bèi shàng jǐn liǎo fā tiáo， cóng 'ér zhèng míng zài nà duàn shí jiān lǐ sǐ zhě yè yǐ shàng chuáng jiù qǐn。 zhè yī tuī lùn duì yú kuò qīng 'àn qíng zhì guān zhòng yào。 suǒ yòu zhè xiē 'àn jiàn， wǒ yòu cháo yī rì yě xǔ huì lüè shù qí gěng gài， dàn shì qí zhōng méi yòu yī gè 'àn jiàn bǐ wǒ xiàn zài jiù yào zhí bǐ miáo shù de yòu zhe yī lián chuàn pū shuò mí lí de qíng jié de 'àn jiàn gèng jiā guài dàn bù jīng。
　　
　　 nà shí zhèng zhí jiǔ yuè xià xún， qiū fēn shí jié de bào fēng yǔ měng liè yì cháng。 yī zhěng tiān kuáng fēng nùháo， kǔ yǔ jī chuāng， shèn zhì zài zhè wěi dà de rén lèi yòng shuāng shǒu jiàn zào qǐ lái de lún dūn chéng nèi， wǒ men zài zhè shí kè， yě shī qù liǎo cóng shì rì cháng gōng zuò de xīn qíng， ér bù dé bù chéng rèn wěi dà de zì rán jiè wēi lì de cún zài。 tā yóu rú tiě lóng lǐ wèi jīng xùn fú de měng shòu， tòu guò rén lèi wén míng de shān lán xiàng rén lèi nù hǒu。 suí zhe yè mù de jiàng lín， bào fēng zhòu yǔ yě gèng wéi měng liè。 fēng shí 'ér dà shēng hū xiào， shí 'ér dī chén yǐn qì， pō sì cóng bì lú yān cōng lǐ fā chū lái de yīng 'ér kū qì shēng。 fú 'ěr mó sī zuò zài bì lú de yī duān， xīn qíng yōu yù， zhèng zài biān zhì zuì 'àn jì lù hù jiàn suǒ yǐn； ér wǒ zé zuò zài lìng yī duān， mái tóu yú yuè dú yī běn kè lā kè · lā sài 'ěr zhù de jīng cǎi de yòu guān hǎi yáng de xiǎo shuō。 zhè shí wū wài kuáng fēng páo xiào， piáo pō dà yǔ jiàn jiàn biàn chéng hǎi làng shìde chōng jī， fǎng fó hé xiǎo shuō de zhù tí hù xiāng hū yìng， hùn chéng yī tǐ liǎo。 wǒ de qī zǐ nà shí zhèng huí niàn jiā xǐngqīn， suǒ yǐ jǐ tiān lái wǒ yòu chéng wéi wǒ nà bèi kè jiē gù jū de jiù kè liǎo。
　　
　　“ hēi， " wǒ shuō， tái tóu wàng liàowàng wǒ de tóng bàn，“ què shí shì mén líng xiǎng。 jīn yè shuí hái néng lái？ yě xǔ shì nǐ de nǎ wèi péng yǒu bā？ ”
　　
　　“ chú liǎo nǐ， wǒ nǎ lǐ hái yòu shénme péng yǒu？ " tā huí dá dào。“ wǒ bìng bù gǔ lì rén men lái fǎng。”
　　
　　“ nà mò， shì wèi wěi tuō rén bā？”
　　
　　“ rú guǒ shì wěi tuō rén， àn qíng yī dìng hěn yán zhòng。 rú guǒ bù yán zhòng， cǐ shí cǐ kè shuí hái kěn chū lái。 dàn shì wǒ jué dé zhè rén gèng kě néng shì zán men fáng dōng tài tài de qīn mì péng yǒu。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī cāi cuò liǎo， yīn wéi guò dào shàng xiǎng qǐ liǎo jiǎo bù shēng， jiē zhe yòu rén zài qiāo mén。 tā shēn chū cháng bì bǎ zhào liàng tā zì jǐ de nà zhǎn dēng zhuànxiàng nà zhāng kè rén yī dìng huì zài nà lǐ jiù zuò de kōng yǐ zǐ yī biān， rán hòu shuō：“ jìn lái bā。”
　　
　　 jìn lái de shì yī gè nián qīng rén， wài mào dà yuē 'èr shí 'èr suì zuǒ yòu， chuānzhuó kǎo jiū， fú shì zhěng jié， jǔ zhǐ dà fāng， bīn bīn yòu lǐ。 tā shǒu zhōng de yǔ sǎn shuǐ xiè rú zhù， shēn shàng de cháng yǔ yī shǎn shuò fā liàng， zhè xiē dōushuō míng tā yī lù shàng suǒ jīng lì de fēng chuī yǔ dǎ。 tā zài dēng guāng xià jiāo jí dì xiàng sì zhōu dǎliang liǎo yī xià。 zhè shí wǒ kàn chū tā de liǎn sè cāng bái， shuāng mù dī chuí。 yī gè bèi mǒu zhǒng jù dà de yōu lǜ yā dé chuǎn bù guò qì lái de rén de shén qíng wǎng wǎng rú cǐ。
　　
　　“ wǒ yīngdāng xiàng nín dào qiàn， " tā biān shuō biān jiāng yī fù jīn sī jiā bí yǎn jìng dài shàng。
　　
　　" wǒ xī wàng wǒ bù zhì dǎ rǎo nín！ wǒ dān xīn wǒ yǐ jīng bǎ cóng bào fēng yǔ lǐ dài lái de ní shuǐ diàn wū liǎo nín de zhěng jié de fáng jiān。”
　　
　　“ bǎ nín de yǔ yī hé sǎn dū gěi wǒ， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ bǎ tā men guà zài gōu zǐ shàng， yī huì 'ér jiù huì gān de。 wǒ kàn， nín shì cóng xī nán lái de bā。”
　　
　　“ shì de， cóng huò 'ěr shè mǔ lái de。”
　　
　　“ cóng nián zài nín xié jiān shàng hùn hé zài yī qǐ de nián tǔ hé bái 'ě shàng， wǒ jiù hěn qīng chǔ dì kàn chū nín shì cóng nà lǐ lái de。”
　　
　　“ wǒ shì zhuān chéng lái xiàng nín qǐng qiú zhǐ jiào de。”
　　
　　“ zhè wǒ hěn róng yì zuò dào。”
　　
　　“ bìng qiě hái yào qǐng nín bāng zhù li。”
　　
　　“ nà kě jiù bù zǒng shì nà me róng yì liǎo。”
　　
　　“ wǒ yǐ jiǔ wén dà míng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。 wǒ tīng pǔ lún dé jiā sī tè shàoxiào shuō guò， nín shì zěn yàng bǎ tā cóng tǎn kè wéi 'ěr jù lè bù chǒu wén 'àn jiàn zhōng zhěng jiù chū lái de。”
　　
　　“ ā！ bù cuò。 rén jiā wū gào tā yòng jiǎ pái xíng piàn。”
　　
　　“ tā shuō nín néng jiě jué rèn hé wèn tí。”
　　
　　“ tā shuō dé tài guò fēn liǎo。”
　　
　　“ tā hái shuō nín shì cháng shèng jiāng jūn。”
　　
　　“ wǒ céng shī bài guò sì cì héng héng sān cì bài yú jǐ gè nán rén， yī cì bài yú yī gè nǚ rén。”
　　
　　“ kě shì， zhè tóng nín wú shù cì de shèng lì shì bù kě tóng rì 'ér yǔ de。”
　　
　　“ bù cuò， yī bān dì shuō， wǒ hái shì chéng gōng de。”
　　
　　“ nà me， duì yú wǒ de shì， nín kě néng yě huì chéng gōng de。”
　　
　　“ qǐng nín bǎ yǐ zǐ nuó jìn bì lú yī xiē， jiǎng yī jiǎng nín zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de yī xiē xì jié。”
　　
　　“ zhè jué bù shì yī gè xún cháng de 'àn zǐ。”
　　
　　“ dào wǒ zhè lǐ lái tán de 'àn zǐ dōushì bù xún cháng de。 wǒ zhè lǐ chéng liǎo zuì gāo shàng sù fǎ yuàn。”
　　
　　“ kě shì， xiān shēng， wǒ xiǎng wèn nín， zài nín de jīng yàn zhōng， yòu méi yòu tīng shuō guò bǐ wǒ jiā zú zhōng suǒ fā shēng de yī lián chuàn gèng wéi shén mì、 gèng nán jiě shì de shì gù？”
　　
　　“ nín shuō de shǐ wǒ jí gǎn xīng qù， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。 " qǐng nín shǒu xiān gào sù wǒ men yī xiē zhù yào shì shí， wǒ suí hòu huì bǎ wǒ rèn wéi zuì guān jǐn yào de xì jié tí chū lái wèn nín。”
　　
　　 nà nián qīng rén cháo qián nuó dòng liǎo yī xià yǐ zǐ， bǎ liǎng zhǐ chuānzhuó cháo shī xié zǐ de jiǎo shēn xiàng lú huǒ biān。
　　
　　 tā shuō：“ wǒ míng jiào yuē hàn · ào péng xiào。 jù wǒ de lǐ jiě， wǒ zì jǐ běn shēn tóng zhè yī kě pà de shì jiàn méi yòu duō dà guān xì。 nà shì shàng yī dài yí liú xià lái de wèn tí， yīn cǐ， wèile shǐ nín duì zhè shì yòu yī gè dà gài de liǎo jiě， wǒ bì xū cóng zhè yī shì jiàn de kāi duān tán qǐ。
　　
　　“ nín yào xiǎo dé， wǒ de zǔ fù yòu liǎng gè 'ér zǐ héng héng wǒ de bó fù yī lāi yà sī hé wǒ de fù qīn yuē sè fū。 wǒ fù qīn zài kāng wén tè lǐ kāi shè yī zuò xiǎo gōng chǎng， zài fā míng zì xíng chē qī jiān， tā kuò zhǎn liǎo zhè gè gōng chǎng， bìng xiǎng yòu 'ào péng xiào fáng pò chē tāi de zhuān lì quán， yīn 'ér shēng yì shí fēn xīng lóng， zhè jiù shǐ tā hòu lái néng gòu jiāng gōng chǎng chū ràng， ér yǐ kào yī bǐ jù kuǎn guò zhe fù yù de tuì xiū shēng huó。
　　
　　“ wǒ de bó fù yī lāi yà sī nián qīng shí qiáo jū měi guó， chéng liǎo fó luó lǐ dá zhōu de yī gè zhòngzhí yuán zhù。 jù shuō tā jīng yíng dé hěn bù cuò。 nán běi zhàn zhēng qī jiān， tā zài jié kè xùn huī xià zuò zhàn， hòu lái lì shǔ hú dé bù xià， shēng rèn shàng xiào。 nán jūn tǒng shuài luó bó tè · lǐ tóu jiàng hòu， tā jiě jiá guī tián， chóngfǎn tā de zhòngzhí yuán， zài nà lǐ yòu zhù liǎo sān、 sì nián。 dà yuē zài yī bā liù jiǔ huò yī bā qī nián， tā huí dào 'ōu zhōu， zài sū sài kè sī jùn huò 'ěr shè mǔ fù jìn gòu zhì liǎo yī xiǎo kuài dì chǎn。 tā zài měi guó céng fā guò dà cái， tā zhī suǒ yǐ lí měi fǎn yīng， shì yīn wéi tā yàn 'è hēi rén， yě bù xǐ huān gòng hé dǎng jǐyǔ hēi rén xuǎn jǔ quán de zhèng cè。 tā shì gè hěn guài pǐ de rén， xiōng hěn jí zào， fā nù shí yán yǔ cū bǐ， xìng qíng jí wéi gū pì。 zì cóng tā dìng jū huò 'ěr shè mǔ yǐ lái de zhè xiē nián yuè lǐ， tā shēn jū jiǎn chū， wǒ bù zhī dào tā céng fǒu shè zú chéng zhèn。 tā yōng yòu yī zuò huā yuán， fáng zǐ zhōu wéi yòu liǎng sān kuài tián dì， tā kě yǐ zài nà lǐ duàn liàn shēn tǐ， kě shì tā què wǎng wǎng jǐ gè xīng qī dū yī zhí zú bù chū hù。 tā kuáng yǐn bái lán dì jiǔ， ér qiě yān yǐn jí dà， dàn tā bù xǐ huān shè jiāo， bù yào rèn hé péng yǒu， shèn zhì hé zì jǐ de bāo dì yě bù xiāng wǎng lái。
　　
　　“ tā bìng bù guān xīn wǒ； shí jì shàng， tā hái shì xǐ huān wǒ de， yīn wéi tā chū jiàn wǒ shí， wǒ bù guò shì yī gè shí yī、 èr suì de xiǎo hái zǐ。 nà shì yī bā qī bā nián， tā yǐ huí guó bā、 jiǔ nián liǎo。 tā yāng qiú wǒ fù qīn ràng wǒ tóng tā yī qǐ zhù， tā yǐ tā zì jǐ de fāng shì lái téng 'ài wǒ。 dāng tā qīng xǐng bù zuì shí， xǐ huān tóng wǒ yī qǐ dǒu shuāng lù、 ① wán xiàng qí。 tā hái ràng wǒ dài biǎo tā gēn yōng rén hé yī xiē shēng yì rén dǎ jiāo dào。 suǒ yǐ dào wǒ shí liù suì shí， yǐ yǎn rán chéng wéi yī gè xiǎo dāng jiā de liǎo。 wǒ zhǎng guǎn suǒ yòu de yàoshì， wǒ kě yǐ suí xīn suǒ yù dì dào wǒ xiǎng qù de rèn hé dì fāng， zuò wǒ xiǎng zuò de rèn hé shì qíng， zhǐ yào bù dǎ rǎo tā de yǐn jū shēng huó jí kě。 bù guò， yě yòu yī gè pò tè de lì wài， nà jiù shì， zài gé lóu nà yī céng yòu zhe xǔ duō fáng jiān， ér wéi dú qí zhōng yī jiān duī cún pò jiù zá wù de fáng jiān， cháng nián jiā suǒ， wú lùn shì wǒ huò qí tā rèn hé rén， tādōu yán jìn rù nèi。 wǒ céng jīng huái zhe yī gè nán hái zǐ de hǎo pò xīn， cóng yàoshì kǒng xiàng wū nèi kuī shì。 kě shì chú liǎo yù liào zhōng zài zhè yàng yī jiān wū zǐ lǐ huì duī cún zhe de yī dà duī pò jiù xiānglǒng hé dà xiǎo bāo fú zhī wài， jiù bié wú qí tā liǎo。
　　
　　“ yòu yī tiān， nà shì zài yī bā bā sān nián sān yuè， yī fēng tiē yòu wài guó yóu piào de xìn fàng zài shàng xiào de cān pán qián miàn。 duì tā lái shuō， yī fēng lái xìn què shì yī jiàn yì hū xún cháng de shì， yīn wéi tā de zhàng dān dū yòng xiàn kuǎn zhī fù， tā bù guǎn shénme yàng de péng yǒu dōuméi yòu yī gè。 ‘ cóng yìn dù lái de！ ' tā yī biān ná qǐ xìn lái， yī biān chà yì dì shuō dào， ' běn dì zhì lǐ de yóu chuō！ zhè shì zěn me huí shì？ ' zài tā jí máng chāi kāi xìn fēng de shí hòu， hū dì bèng chū wǔ gè yòu gān yòu xiǎo de jié hé dā dā dì luò zài pán zǐ lǐ。 wǒ zhèng dài zhāng zuǐ fā xiào， yī kàn tā de liǎn， wǒ de xiào róng dùn shí cóng wǒ de chún biān xiāo shī liǎo。 zhǐ jiàn tā lie zhe zuǐ chún， shuāng yǎn tū chū， miàn rú sǐ huī， zhí dèng dèng dì qiáo zhe chàn dǒu de shǒu zhōng réng jiù ná zhe de nà gè xìn fēng。 'K ． K． K．！ ' tā jiān jiào liǎo qǐ lái， jiē zhe hǎn dào，‘ tiān nǎ， tiān nǎ， zuì niè nán táo yā！ '
　　
　　“ wǒ jiào dào：‘ bó bó， zěn me lā？ '
　　
　　① yòu chēng shí wǔ zǐ yóu xì， shì yī zhǒng shuāng fāng gè yòu shí wǔ méi qí zǐ， zhì tóu zǐ jué dìng qí gé shù de yóu xì。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　
　　“‘ sǐ wáng！ ' tā shuō zhe， cóng zhuō bàng zhàn qǐ shēn lái， huí dào tā zì jǐ de fáng jiān， shèng xià wǒ zài nà lǐ pà dé xīn jīng ròu tiào。 wǒ ná qǐ liǎo nà xìn fēng， fā xiàn xìn fēng kǒu gài de lǐ céng， yě jiù shì tú jiāo shuǐ de shàng duān， yòu sān gè yòng hóng mò shuǐlǎo cǎo dì xiě de Ｋ zì。 cǐ wài， chú liǎo nà wǔ gè gān biě de jié hé， bié wú tā wù。 shì shénme yuán yīn shǐ tā xià dé hún fēi bó sàn ní？ wǒ lí kāi nà zǎo cān de zhuō zǐ shàng lóu shí， zhèng hǎo pèng jiàn tā zǒu xià lóu lái， yī shǒu ná zhe yī zhǐ jiù dé shēng liǎo xiù de yàoshì héng héng zhè yī dìng shì lóu dǐng zhuān yòng de liǎo， lìng yī shǒu lǐ què shì yī gè xiàng qián hé shìde xiǎo huáng tóng xiá。
　　
　　“‘ tā men 'ài gànshénme jiù gànshénme， kě shì wǒ réng jiāng zhàn shèng tā men。 ' tā fā shì dǔ zhòu dì shuō dào，“ jiào mǎ lì jīn tiān gěi wǒ fáng jiān lǐ de bì lú shēng huǒ， zài pài rén qù qǐng huò 'ěr shè mǔ de fú dé mǔ lǜ shī lái！ ’
　　
　　“ wǒ zhào tā de fēn fù bàn liǎo。 lǜ shī lái dào shí， wǒ bèi zhào huàn dào tā de fáng jiān lǐ。 lú huǒ xióng xióng， zài bì lú de lú shān lǐ yòu yī duī hēi sè péng sōng de zhǐ huī jìn。 nà huáng tóng xiāng xiá fàng zài yī bàng， chǎng zhe gài， lǐ miàn kōng kōng rú yě。 wǒ qiáo liǎo nà xiá zǐ yī yǎn， dà chī yī jīng， yīn wéi nà xiá zǐ gài shàng yìn zhe wǒ shàng wǔ zài xìn fēng shàng suǒ jiàn dào de nà yàng de sān gèＫ zì。
　　
　　“‘ yuē hàn， wǒ xī wàng nǐ， ' wǒ bó fù shuō dào，‘ zuò wǒ de yí zhǔ jiàn zhèng rén。 wǒ bǎ wǒ de chǎn yè， lián dài tā de yī qiē yòu lì hé bù lì zhī chù， liú gěi wǒ de xiōng dì héng héng yě jiù shì nǐ de fù qīn。 wú yí yǐ hòu cóng nǐ fù qīn nà lǐ yòu huì yí liú gěi nǐ de。 rú guǒ nǐ néng píng 'ān wú shì dì xiǎng yòu tā men， zì rán shì hǎo； bù guò， rú guǒ nǐ fā jué bù néng， nà mò， hái zǐ， wǒ quàn nǐ bǎ tā liú gěi nǐ de sǐ dí。 wǒ hěn yí hàn gěi nǐ liú xià zhè yàng yī gè jù yòu shuāngchóng yì yì de dōng xī， dàn shì wǒ yě zhēn shuō bù shàng shì qíng huì xiàng nǎ gè fāng xiàng fā zhǎn。 qǐng nǐ 'àn zhào fú dé mǔ lǜ shī zài yí zhǔ shàng zhǐ gěi nǐ de dì fāng qiān shàng nǐ de míng zì bā。’
　　
　　“ wǒ zhào lǜ shī suǒ zhǐ zhī chù qiān liǎo míng， lǜ shī jiù jiāng yí zhǔ dài zǒu liǎo。 nín kě yǐ xiǎng jiàn， zhè jiàn pò tè de shì gěi wǒ de yìn xiàng jí wéi shēn kè。 wǒ fǎn fù sīliáng， duō fāng chuài mó， hái shì wú fǎ míng bái qí zhōng 'ào mì。 kě shì zhè jiàn shì liú xià lái de mó mó hú hú de kǒng bù gǎn jué què shǐ zhōng nán yú bǎi tuō， suī rán suí zhe shí guāng de liú shì， bù 'ān zhī gǎn zhú jiàn huǎn hé， ér qiě yě méi yòu fā shēng rèn hé gān rǎo wǒ men rì cháng shēng huó de shì。 jìn guǎn rú cǐ， wǒ réng néng kàn chū wǒ de bó fù cóng cǐ jǔ zhǐ yì cháng。 tā xù jiǔ kuáng yǐn gèng shèn yú wǎng rì， bìng qiě gèng jiā bù yuàn yì zhì shēn yú rèn hé shè jiāo chǎng suǒ。 tā de dà bù fēn shí jiān dū xiāo mó zài tā zì jǐ de shēn shì zhī nèi， ér qiě shì nèi mén shàng hái shàng liǎo suǒ； dàn shì tā yòu shí yòu xiàng jiǔ hòu fā kuáng， cóng wū zǐ lǐ yī chōng 'ér chū， shǒu wò zuǒ lún shǒu qiāng， zài huā yuán zhōng kuáng bēn luàn páo， jiān shēng jiào hǎn， shuō shí me tā shuí yě bù pà， hái shuō bù guǎn shì rén shì guǐ， shuí yě bù néng bǎ tā xiàng mián yáng sì dì juàn jìn qǐ lái。 děng dào zhè zhèn jī liè de tū rán fā zuò guò qù yǐ hòu， tā yòu xīn huāng yì luàn dì jí jí páo huí fáng jiān lǐ qù， bǎ mén suǒ liǎo qǐ lái， hái chā shàng mén shuān， hǎo xiàng yī gè nèi xīn shēn chù shèn tòu liǎo kǒng jù de rén， wú yán zài xū zhāng shēng shì dì zhuāng xià qù nà yàng。 zài zhè zhǒng shí kè， wǒ jiàn dào tā de liǎn， jí shǐ zài hán dōng là yuè， yě shì lěng hàn cén cén、 shī lù lù de， sì hū gāng cóng xǐ liǎn pén lǐ tái qǐ tóu lái。
　　
　　“ ō， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， xiàn zài shuō shuō cǐ shì de jié jú bā， bù néng zài gū fù nín de nài xìng liǎo。 yòu yī yè， tā yòu sǎ liǎo yī huí nà yàng de jiǔ fēng， tū rán páo chū qù， kě shì zhè yī huí， què yǒng yuǎn yī qù bù fù fǎn liǎo。 wǒ men qù xún zhǎo tā shí， fā xiàn tā miàn cháo xià shuāi diē zài huā yuán yī duān de yī gè fàn zhuólù sè de wū shuǐ kēng lǐ。 bìng wèi fā xiàn shī xíng rèn hé bào lì de jì xiàng， kēng shuǐ yě bù guò liǎng yīng chǐ shēn， yīn cǐ， péi shěn tuán jiàn yú tā píng rì de gǔ guài xíng jìng， duàn dìng wéi ' zì shā ' shì jiàn。 kě shì wǒ sù lái zhī dào tā shì gè pà sǐ de rén， zǒng jué dé nán yú xiāng xìn tā jìng huì páo chū qù zì xún duǎn jiàn。 jìn guǎn rú cǐ， shì guò jìng qiān。 wǒ fù qīn jì chéng liǎo tā de dì chǎn， yǐ jí tā cún fàng zài yínháng de dà yuē yī wàn sì qiān bàng cún kuǎn。”
　　
　　“ děng yī děng， " fú 'ěr mó sī chā yán dào，“ wǒ yù liào nín suǒ shuō de zhè 'àn qíng jiāng shì wǒ suǒ tīng dào de yī jiàn zuì chū pò de 'àn zǐ。 qǐng bǎ nín de bó fù jiē dào nà fēng xìn de rì qī hé tā de bèi xìn yǐ wéi zhēn de zì shā rì qī gào sù wǒ。”
　　
　　“ shōu dào lái xìn de rì qī shì yī bā bā sān nián sān yuè shí rì。 tā de sǐ shì zài qī gè xīng qī hòu de wǔ yuè 'èr rì。”
　　
　　“ xiè xiè nín。 qǐng shuō xià qù。”
　　
　　“ dāng wǒ fù qīn jiē shōu liǎo nà zuò huò 'ěr shè mǔ fáng chǎn shí， tā yìng wǒ de jiàn yì， zǎi xì jiǎn chá liǎo cháng nián lěi yuè guà shàng liǎo suǒ de gé lóu。 wǒ men fā xiàn nà gè huáng tóng xiá zǐ réng zài nà lǐ， suī rán xiá nèi de dōng xī yǐ jīng bèi huǐ diào liǎo。 xiá gài de lǐ miàn yòu gè zhǐ biāo qiān xiě zheＫＫＫ．．． sān gè dà xiě zì mǔ。 xià biān hái xiě yòu ' xìn jiàn、 bèi wàng lù、 shōu jù hé yī fèn jì lù ' děng zì yàng。 wǒ men rèn wéi： zhè biǎo míng liǎo 'ào péng xiào shàng xiào suǒ xiāo huǐ de wén jiàn de xìng zhì。 chú liǎo xǔ duō sǎnluàn de wén jiàn hé jì yòu wǒ bó fù zài měi zhōu de shēng huó qíng kuàng de bǐ jì běn wài， dǐng lóu shàng qí yú de dōng xī dōuwú guān jǐn yào。
　　
　　 zhè xiē sǎnluàn de dōng xī， yòu xiē shì guān yú zhàn zhēng shí qī de qíng kuàng hé tā kè jìn zhí shǒu róng huò yīng yǒng zhàn shì chēng hào de jì shù； hái yòu xiē shì guān yú zhàn hòu nán fāng gè zhōu chóngjiàn shí qī de dà duō yǔ yòu guān de jì lù， xiǎn rán wǒ bó fù dāng shí céng jī jí cān jiā fǎn duì nà xiē yóu běi fāng pài lái de suí shēn zhǐ dài zhe yī zhǐ lǚ xíng shǒu tí bāo jìn xíng sōu guā de zhèng kè。
　　
　　“ āi， wǒ fù qīn bān dào huò 'ěr shè mǔ qù zhù shí， zhèng zhí yī bā bā sì nián chū， zhí dào yī bā bā wǔ nián yuán yuè， yī qiēdōu chènxīn rú yì。 yuán dàn guò hòu de dì sì tiān， wǒ men dà jiā wéi zhe zhuō zǐ zuò zài yī qǐ chī zǎo cān shí， wǒ de fù qīn hū rán yī shēng jīng jiào， zhǐ jiàn tā zuò zài nà lǐ， yī shǒu jǔ zhe yī gè gāng gāng chāi kāi de xìn fēng， lìng yī zhǐ shǒu de wǔ zhǐ shēn kāi de zhǎng xīn shàng yòu wǔ gè gān biě de jié hé。 tā píng rì zǒng cháo xiào wǒ suǒ shuō bó fù de zāo yù shì huāng dàn wú jī de gù shì， yī dàn tā zì jǐ pèng shàng liǎo tóng yàng de shì， què yě xià dé dà jīng shī sè， shén zhì huǎng hū。
　　
　　“‘ ā， zhè jiū jìng shì zěn me yī huí shì， yuē hàn？ ' tā jié jiēbā bā dì wèn dào。
　　
　　“ wǒ de xīn biàn chéng yī kuài qiān sì dì chén zhòng。 ' zhè shìＫＫＫ．．．， ' wǒ shuō。
　　
　　“ tā kàn kàn xìn fēng de nèi céng。 ' bù cuò， ' tā jiào liǎo qǐ lái，‘ jiù shì zhè jǐ gè zì mǔ。 zhè shàng miàn yòu xiě zhe shénme？’
　　
　　“‘ bǎ wén jiàn fàng zài rì guǐ yí shàng， ' wǒ cóng tā jiān bǎng bèi hòu wàng zhe xìn fēng niàn dào。
　　
　　“‘ shénme wén jiàn？ shénme rì guǐ yí？ ' tā yòu wèn dào。
　　
　　“‘ huā yuán lǐ de rì guǐ yí， bié chù méi yòu， ' wǒ shuō，‘ wén jiàn yī dìng shì bèi huǐ diào de nà xiē。’
　　
　　“‘ pēi！ ' tā zhuàng zhe dǎn zǐ shuō。 ' wǒ men zhè lǐ shì wén míng shì jiè， bù róng xǔ yòu zhè zhǒng chǔn shì fā shēng！ zhè dōng xī shì nǎ lǐ lái de？’
　　
　　“‘ cóng dūn tí lái de， ' wǒ kàn liǎo yī xià yóu chuō huí dá shuō。
　　
　　“‘ yī gè huāng táng de 'è zuò jù， ' tā shuō，‘ wǒ hé rì guǐ yí lā、 wén jiàn lā， yòu shénme guān xì？ duì zhè zhǒng wú liáo de shì wǒ bù xiè yī gù。’
　　
　　“‘ yào shì wǒ de huà， jiù yī dìng bào gào， ' wǒ shuō。
　　
　　“‘ zhè yàng， wǒ tòng kǔ， què ràng tā men jī xiào， wǒ bù gān。’
　　
　　“‘ nà mò ràng wǒ qù bào gào bā？’
　　
　　“‘ bù， yě bù xǔ nǐ qù。 wǒ bù yuàn wéi zhè zhǒng huāng táng shì yōng rén zì rǎo。’
　　
　　“ yǔ tā zhēng biàn shì tú láo de， yīn wéi tā shì gè fēi cháng wán gù de rén。 wǒ zhǐ hǎo zǒu kāi， xīn lǐ zhuì zhuì bù 'ān， chōng mǎn dà huò jiāng lín de yù gǎn。
　　
　　“ jiē dào lái xìn yǐ hòu de dì sān tiān， wǒ fù qīn lí jiā qù kàn wàng tā de yī wèi lǎo péng yǒu， fú lǐ bó dí shàoxiào。 tā xiàn zài shì pǔ cì dāng shān yī chù bǎo lěi de zhǐ huī guān。
　　
　　 wǒ wéi tā de chū fǎng 'ér gǎn dào gāo xīng， zài wǒ kàn lái， fǎng fó tā lí kāi liǎo jiā dǎo kě bì kāi wēi xiǎn。 kě shì wǒ xiǎng cuò liǎo。 tā chū mén de dì 'èr tiān， wǒ jiē dào shàoxiào pāi lái yī fēng diàn bào， yào wǒ lì jí gǎn fù tā nà lǐ。 wǒ fù qīn shuāi zài yī gè hěn shēn de bái 'ě kuàng kēng lǐ， zhè zhǒng kuàng kēng zài zhè fù jìn dì qū shì hěn duō de。 tā shuāi suì liǎo tóu gǔ， tǎng zài lǐ biān bùxǐng rén shì。 wǒ jíqiè dì páo qù kàn tā， kě shì tā zài yě méi yòu huī fù zhī jué， cóng cǐ yǔ shì cháng cí liǎo。 xiǎn 'ér yì jiàn， tā shì zài huáng hūn qián cóng fèi 'ěr hā mǔ huí jiā， yóu yú xiāng jiàndào lù bù shú， bái 'ě kēng yòu wú lán gān zhē dǎng， yàn shī guān biàn háo bù chí yí dì zuò chū liǎo ' yóu yú yì wài zhì sǐ ' de pàn duàn。 wǒ shěn shèn dì jiǎn chá liǎo měi yī yǔ tā sǐ yīn yòu suǒ guān lián de shì qíng， dàn shì méi yòu fā xiàn rèn hé hán yòu móu shā yì tú de shì shí。 xiàn chǎng méi yòu bào lì xíng dòng de jì xiàng， méi yòu jiǎo yìn， méi yòu fā shēng qiǎng jié， yě méi yòu guān yú kàn jiàn lù shàng yòu mò shēng rén chū xiàn de jì lù。 kě shì wǒ bù shuō nín yě zhī dào， wǒ de xīn qíng shì fēi cháng bù píng jìng de。 wǒ jīhū kě yǐ què dìng： yī dìng yòu rén zài tā de zhōu wéi cèhuà liǎo mǒu zhǒng bēi bǐ de yīn móu。
　　
　　“ zài zhè zhǒng bù xiáng de qíng kuàng xià， wǒ jì chéng liǎo yí chǎn。 nín huì wèn wǒ wèishénme bù bǎ tā mài diào。 wǒ de huí dá shì： yīn wéi wǒ shēn xìn， wǒ men jiā de zāinàn zài yī dìng chéng dù shàng shì yóu wǒ bó fù shēng qián de mǒu zhǒng yì wài shì gù suǒ jué dìng de， suǒ yǐ bù guǎn shì zài zhè suǒ fáng zǐ lǐ， hái shì zài lìng yī suǒ fáng zǐ lǐ， huò shì bì jiāng tóng yàng jǐn píng dì wēi xié zhe wǒ men。
　　
　　“ wǒ fù qīn shì zài yī bā bā wǔ nián yī yuè cǎn zāo bù xìng de， zhì jīn shū yǐ liǎng nián bā gè yuè liǎo。 zài zhè duàn shí jiān nèi， wǒ zài huò 'ěr shè mǔ de shēng huó hái shì xìng fú de。
　　
　　 wǒ yǐ kāi shǐ bào zhe zhè zhǒng xī wàng： zāi huò yè yǐ yuǎn lí wǒ jiā， tā yǐ yǔ wǒ de shàng yī dài rén yī qǐ gào zhōng liǎo。 shuí zhī wǒ zhè yàng de hái wéi shí guò zǎo。 zuó tiān zǎo shàng， zāi huò yòu lín mén liǎo， qíng kuàng hé wǒ fù qīn dāng nián jīng lì de yī mó yī yàng。”
　　
　　 nà nián qīng rén cóng bèi xīn de kǒu dài lǐ qǔ chū yī gè róu zhòu liǎo de xìn fēng， zǒu xiàng zhuō bàng， tā yáo luò zài zhuō shàng wǔ gè yòu xiǎo yòu gān de jié hé。
　　
　　“ zhè jiù shì nà gè xìn fēng， " tā jì xù shuō dào，“ yóu chuō gài de shì lún dūn dōng qū。
　　
　　 xìn fēng lǐ hái shì wǒ fù qīn jiē dào de zuì hòu yī fēng xìn lǐ de jǐ gè zì： 'K.K． K'。
　　
　　 rán hòu shì ' bǎ wén jiàn fàng zài rì guǐ yí shàng '。”
　　
　　“ nín cǎi qǔ liǎo shénme cuò shī méi yòu？ " fú 'ěr mó sī wèn dào。
　　
　　“ shénme yě méi yòu。”
　　
　　“ shénme yě méi yòu？！”
　　
　　“ shuō shí huà， " tā dī xià tóu qù， yòng xiāo shòu cāng bái de shuāng shǒu wǔ zhe liǎn，“ wǒ jué dé háo wú bàn fǎ。 wǒ jué dé zì jǐ xiàng yī zhǐ kě lián de tù zǐ miàn lín zhe yī tiáo wān yán qián lái de dú shé。 wǒ hǎo xiàng xiàn rù yī zhǒng bù kě kàng jù hé cán kù wú qíng de 'è mó de mó zhǎo zhī zhōng， ér zhè mó zhǎo shì rèn hé yù jiàn、 rèn hé yù fáng cuò shī dōuwú fǎ fáng fàn de。”
　　
　　“ pēn！ pēn！ " fú 'ěr mó sī rǎng dào。 " nín yī dìng yào cǎi qǔ xíng dòng 'ā， xiān shēng。
　　
　　 fǒu zé， nín kě jiù wán liǎo！ xiàn zài chú liǎo zhèn zuò jīng shén yǐ wài， méi yòu bié de shénme néng gòu wǎn jiù nín de liǎo。 kě méi yòu 'āi shēng tàn qì de xián gōng fū 'ā！”
　　
　　“ wǒ qù zhǎo guò liǎo。”
　　
　　“ ā！”
　　
　　“ dàn shì tā men tīng wǒ sù shuō yǐ hòu， jǐn jǐn fù zhī yī xiào。 wǒ xiāng xìn nà xún guān yǐ jīng xíng chéng gù dìng de kàn fǎ， rèn wéi nà xiē xìn chún shǔ 'è zuò jù， wǒ de liǎng wèi qīn rén zhī sǐ zhèng rú yàn shī guān suǒ shuō de， wán quán shì chū yú yì wài， yīn cǐ bù bì hé nà xiē qián zhào lián xì dào yī qǐ。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī huī wǔ zhe tā jǐn wò de shuāng quán， hǎn zhe：“ lìng rén nán yǐ zhì xìn de yú chǔn！”
　　
　　“ kě shì tā men dāyìng pài yī míng， tóng wǒ yī qǐ liú zài nà fáng zǐ lǐ。”
　　
　　“ jīn wǎn tóng nín yī qǐ chū lái liǎo méi yòu？”
　　
　　“ méi yòu。 tā fèng mìng zhǐ dāi zài fáng zǐ lǐ。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yòu fèn nù dé huī wǔ qǐ quán tóu lái。
　　
　　“ nà me， wèishénme nín lái zhǎo wǒ？ " tā jiào dào，“ zài shuō gèng zhòng yào de shì， wèishénme nín bù yī kāi shǐ jiù lái zhǎo wǒ？”
　　
　　“ wǒ bù zhī dào 'ā。 zhǐ shì dào liǎo jīn tiān， wǒ xiàng pǔ lún dé jiā sī tè shàoxiào tán liǎo wǒ de kùn jìng， tā cái quàn wǒ lái zhǎo nín de。”
　　
　　“ nín jiē dào liǎo xìn yǐ jīng zhěng zhěng guò liǎo liǎng tiān。 wǒ men yīngdāng zài cǐ zhī qián cǎi qǔ xíng dòng。 wǒ gū jì nín chú liǎo nà xiē yǐ jīng xiàng wǒ tí gōng de qíng jié yǐ wài， méi yòu gèng jìn yī bù de píng zhèng héng héng méi yòu shénme kě yǐ duì wǒ men yòu yòng de dài yòu qǐ fā xìng de xì jié liǎo bā。”
　　
　　“ yòu yī jiàn， " yuē hàn · ào péng xiào shuō。 tā zài shàng yī kǒu dài lǐ fān zhǎo liǎo yī fān yǐ hòu， tāo chū liǎo yī zhāng tuì sè de lán zhǐ， tān kāi fàng zài zhuō shàng。“ wǒ yòu xiē jì dé，” tā shuō，“ nà yī tiān， wǒ de bó fù zài fén shāo wén jiàn de shí hòu， wǒ kàn jiàn zhǐ huī duī lǐ yòu yī xiē xiǎo de méi yòu shāo zhe de wén jiàn de zhǐ biān shì zhè zhǒng tè shū de yán sè de。 wǒ zài wǒ bó fù de wū zǐ lǐ de dì bǎn shàng fā xiàn zhè zhāng zhǐ。 wǒ qīng xiàng yú zhè yàng de xiǎng fǎ： tā shì cóng yī dié zhǐ lǐ diào xià lái de， suǒ yǐ méi bèi fén shāo diào。 zhǐ shàng chú liǎo tí dào jié hé zhī wài， kǒng pà tā duì wǒ men bāng zhù bù dà。 wǒ xiǎng tā yě xǔ shì sī rén rì jì lǐ de yī yè， zì jì háo wú yí wèn shì wǒ bó fù de。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ dēng yí dòng liǎo yī xià， wǒ men liǎng rén wān lái guān kàn nà zhāng zhǐ。 zhǐ biān cēncī bù qí， díquè shì cóng yī gè běn zǐ shàng sī xià lái de。 shàng duān xiě yòu " yī bā liù jiǔ nián sān yuè " zì yàng， xià miàn shì yī xiē mò míng qí miào de jìzǎi， nèi róng rú xià： sì rì： hè dé sēn lái。 bào zhe tóng yàng de jiù zhèng jiàn。
　　
　　 qī rì： bǎ jié hé jiāo gěi shèng 'ào gǔ sī dīng de mài kǎo lì、 pà lā mǐ nuò hé yuē hàn · sī wēn。
　　
　　 jiǔ rì： mài kǎo lì yǐ qīng chú。
　　
　　 shí rì： yuē hàn · sī wēn yǐ qīng chú。
　　
　　 shí 'èr rì： fǎng wèn pà lā mǐ nuò。 yī qiē shùn lì。
　　
　　“ xiè xiè nín！ " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō， tóng shí bǎ nà zhāng zhǐ zhé dié qǐ lái hái gěi liǎo kè rén。 " xiàn zài nín lián yī fēn zhōng dōubù néng zài dān gē liǎo。 wǒ men shèn zhì méi yòu shí jiān lái tǎo lùn nín gào sù wǒ de qíng kuàng。 nín bì xū mǎ shàng huí jiā， kāi shǐ xíng dòng。”
　　
　　“ wǒ yīnggāi zěn me zuò ní？”
　　
　　“ zhǐ yòu yī jiàn shì yào zuò。 ér qiě yī dìng yào kè bù róng huǎn lì jí jiù bàn。 nín bì xū bǎ gěi wǒ men kàn guò de zhè zhāng zhǐ fàng jìn nín shuō guò de nà gè huáng tóng xiá zǐ lǐ qù。
　　
　　 hái yào fàng jìn yī zhāng biàn tiáo， shuō míng suǒ yòu qí tā wén jiàn dōuyǐ bèi nín de bó fù shāo diào liǎo， zhè shì jǐn shèng de yī zhāng。 nín yī dìng yào yòng shǐ tā men néng gòu què xìn wú yí de cuò cí。 zuò wán zhè yī qiē yǐ hòu， nín bì xū mǎ shàng jiù bǎ huáng tóng xiá zǐ 'àn xìn fēng shàng suǒ shuō de fàng zài rì guǐ yí shàng。 nín míng bái liǎo má？”
　　
　　“ wán quán míng bái liǎo。”
　　
　　“ xiàn zài bù yào xiǎng bào chóu zhī lèi de shì。 wǒ rèn wéi wǒ men kě yǐ tōng guò fǎ lǜ lái dá dào nà mùdì。 jì rán tā men yǐ jīng bù xià liǎo luó wǎng， wǒ men yě yīnggāi cǎi qǔ xiāng yìng cuò shī。 xiàn zài shǒu xiān yào kǎo lǜ de shì xiāo chú wēi xié nín de pò zài méi jié de wēi xiǎn； qí cì cái shì jiē chuān mì mì， chéng chù zuì 'è de jí tuán。”
　　
　　“ xiè xiè nín， " nà nián qīng rén shuō zhe zhàn qǐ shēn lái， chuān shàng yǔ yī，“ nín gěi liǎo wǒ xīn de shēng mìng hé xī wàng。 wǒ yī dìng zūn zhào nín de zhǐ diǎn qù zuò。”
　　
　　“ nín bì xū fēn miǎo bì zhēng。 yǔ cǐ tóng shí， nín shǒu xiān bì xū zhào gù hǎo nín zì jǐ， yīn wéi wǒ rèn wéi， háo wú yí wèn yòu yī zhǒng fēi cháng xiàn shí hé qì jìn de wēi xiǎn zhèng zài wēi xié zhe nín。 nín zěn yàng huí qù ní？”
　　
　　“ cóng huá tiě lú chē zhàn chéng huǒ chē huí qù。”
　　
　　“ xiàn zài hái bù dào jiǔ diǎn zhōng。 jiē shàng rén hái hěn duō， suǒ yǐ wǒ xiāng xìn nín yě xǔ néng píng 'ān wú shì。 bù guò， nín wú lùn zěn yàng yán jiā xiǎo xīn dōubù huì guòfèn。”
　　
　　“ wǒ yòu wǔ qì zài shēn。”
　　
　　“ nà jiù hǎo。 míng tiān wǒ jiù kāi shǐ bàn nín zhè 'àn zǐ。”
　　
　　“ nà mò， wǒ jiù zài huò 'ěr shè mǔ děng zhe nín？”
　　
　　“ bù， nín zhè 'àn jiàn de 'ào mì zài lún dūn。 wǒ jiāng zài lún dūn xún zhǎo xiàn suǒ。”
　　
　　“ nà mò wǒ guò yī tiān， huò zhě liǎng tiān， zài lái kàn nín， gào sù nín guān yú nà tóng xiá zǐ hé wén jiàn de xiāo xī。 wǒ jiāng zūn zhào nín de zhǐ diǎn zhú yī qù bàn。 " tā hé wǒ men wò shǒu gào bié。 mén wài kuáng fēng yǐ jiù hū xiào bù yǐ。 dà yǔ piáo pō， sù sù bù tíng dì qiāo dǎzháo chuāng hù。 zhè gè lí pò、 xiōng xiǎn de gù shì sì hū shì suí zhe kuáng fēng bào yǔ 'ér lái dào wǒ men zhè lǐ de héng héng tā fǎng fó shì qiáng fēng zhōng diào luò zài wǒ men shēn shàng de yī piàn luò yè héng héng xiàn zài yòu bèi bào fēng yǔ juàn zǒu liǎo。
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī mò mò dì zuò liǎo yī huì 'ér， tóu xiàng qián qīng， mù guāng níng zhù zài bì lú de hóng tóng tóng de huǒ yàn shàng。 suí hòu tā diǎn rán liǎo yān dǒu， bèi kào zuò yǐ， wàng zhe lán sè yān juàn yī gè gēn zhe yī gè dì niǎo niǎo shēng xiàng tiān huā bǎn。
　　
　　“ huá shēng， wǒ xiǎng wǒ men jīng lì de suǒ yòu 'àn jiàn zhōng méi yòu yī jiàn bǐ zhè gè gèng wéi xī pò gǔ guài de liǎo。 " tā zhōng yú zuò chū liǎo yī gè pàn duàn。
　　
　　“ chú liǎo ' sì qiān míng ' àn wài， yě xǔ shì zhè yàng。”
　　
　　“ ǹg， duì liǎo。 chú cǐ zhī wài， yě xǔ shì zhè yàng。 kě shì zài wǒ kàn lái， zhè gè yuē hàn · ào péng xiào sì hū shì zhèng zài miàn lín zhe bǐ shū 'ěr tuō gèng dà de wēi xiǎn。”
　　
　　“ dàn shì， nǐ duì zhè shì shénme yàng de wēi xiǎn shì fǒu yòu liǎo rèn hé míng què de kàn fǎ？ " wǒ wèn dào。
　　
　　“ tā men de xìng zhì shì méi yòu yí wèn de liǎo， " tā huí dá shuō。
　　
　　“ nà mò， tā men shì zěn me huí shì？ shuí shì zhè gèＫＫＫ．．．？ wèishénme tā yào yī zhí jiū chán zhe zhè gè bù xìng de jiā tíng ní？”
　　
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī bì shàng liǎo yǎn jīng， liǎng zhǒu kào zài yǐ zǐ de fú shǒu shàng， zhǐ jiān hé lǒng zài yī qǐ， shuō dào，“ duì yú yī gè lǐ xiǎng de tuī lǐ jiā lái shuō， yī dàn yòu rén xiàng tā zhǐ míng yī gè shì shí de yī gè fāng miàn yǐ hòu， tā jiù néng cóng zhè yī gè fāng miàn bù jǐn tuī duàn chū dǎo zhì zhè gè shì shí de gè gè fāng miàn， ér qiě néng gòu tuī duàn chū yóu cǐ jiāng huì chǎn shēng de yī qiē hòu guǒ。 zhèng rú jū wéi yè， jīng guò shēn sī mò xiǎng jiù néng gēn jù① yī kuài gǔ tóu zhǔn què dì miáo huì chū yī tóu wán zhěng de dòng wù yī yàng。 yī gè guān chá jiā， jì yǐ chè dǐ liǎo jiě yī xì liè shì jiàn zhōng de yī huán， jiù yìng néng zhèng què dì shuō míng qián qián hòu hòu de suǒ yòu qí tā de huán jié。 wǒ men hái méi yòu zhǎng wò wéi yòu lǐ xìng cái néng huò dé de jiēguǒ。 wèn tí zhǐ yòu tōng guò yán jiū cái néng huò dé jiě jué， qǐ tú píng jiè zhí jué jiě jué wèn tí de rén shì huì shī bài de。 bù guò， yào shǐ zhè zhǒng yì shù dá dào dēng fēng zào jí de dì bù， tuī lǐ jiā jiù bì xū shàn yú lì yòng tā yǐ jīng zhǎng wò de suǒ yòu shì shí， zhè shì nǐ bù nán lǐ jiě de， qí běn shēn jiù yì wèi zhe yào zhǎng wò yī qiē zhī shí。 ér yào zuò dào zhè yī diǎn， jí shǐ zài yòu liǎo miǎn fèi jiào yù hé bǎi kē quán shū de jīn tiān， duō shǎo yě hái shì yī zhǒng nán dé de chéng jiù。 yī gè rén yào zhǎng wò duì tā gōng zuò kě néng yòu yòng de quán bù zhī shí， dǎo yě wèi bì shì jué duì bù kě néng de。 wǒ běn shēn jiù yī zhí zài zuò cǐ nǔ lì。 rú guǒ wǒ méi jì cuò de huà， zài wǒ men jié jiāo zhī chū， nǐ céng yòu yī cì shí fēn jīng què dì zhǐ chū liǎo wǒ de jú xiàn xìng。”
　　
　　“ duì， " wǒ huí dá dào， bù jìn xiào liǎo。 " nà shì yī zhāng guài yòu qù de jì lù biǎo。
　　
　　 wǒ jì dé： zhé xué、 tiān wén xué、 xué， dǎ liǎo líng fēn； zhí wù xué， shuō bù zhǔn； dì zhì xué， jiù lún dūn wǔ shí yīng lǐ yǐ nèi rèn hé dì qū de ní jì 'ér yán， suàn dé zào yì hěn shēn； huà xué， hěn dú tè； jiě pōu xué， méi yòu xì tǒng； guān yú jīng xiǎn wén xué hé zuì xíng jì lù shì wú yǔ lún bǐ de； shì xiǎo tí qín yīnyuè jiā、 quán jī shǒu、 jiàn shù yùn dòng yuán、 lǜ shī； shì fú yòng kě kǎ yīn hé xī yān de zì wǒ dú hài zhě。 wǒ xiǎng， nà xiē dōushì wǒ fēn xī de yào diǎn。”
　　
　　① Ｇ ｅ ｏ ｒ ｇｅ ｓ Ｃ ｕ ｖ ｉｅｒ， １ ７ ６ ９ héng１ ８ ３ ２， fǎ guó dòng wù、 gǔ shēng wù xué jiā。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī tīng dào zuì hòu yī xiàng， xī xī dì xiào liǎo。 " ǹg， " tā shuō，“ jiù xiàng wǒ guò qù shuō de yī yàng， wǒ xiàn zài hái shì yào shuō： yī gè rén yīngdāng gěi tā zì jǐ tóu nǎo de xiǎo xiǎo gé lóu lǐ zhuāng mǎn tā kě néng xū yào shǐ yòng de yī qiē。 qí yú de dōng xī kě yǐ fàng dào tā de cáng shū shì lǐ qù， xū yào de shí hòu， suí shí qǔ yòng jí kě。 xiàn zài， wèile jīn wǎn wǒ men jiē shòu de zhè yàng yī zhuāng 'àn jiàn， wǒ men kěn dìng xū yào bǎ wǒ men suǒ yòu de zī liào dū jí zhōng qǐ lái。 láo jià bǎ nǐ shēn biān shū jià shàng de měi guó bǎi kē quán shū lǐＫ zì bù de nà yī cè dì gěi wǒ。 xiè xiè nǐ！ ràng wǒ men kǎo lǜ yī xià xíng shì， kàn kàn cóng zhōng kě néng zuò chū shénme yàng de tuī lùn。 shǒu xiān， wǒ men kě yǐ cóng yī gè yòu chōng fēn gēn jù de jiǎ dìng kāi shǐ héng héng 'ào péng xiào shàng xiào shì yóu yú mǒu zhǒng yòu lì de yuán yīn 'ér lí kāi měi guó de。 dào liǎo tā nà yàng nián jì de rén shì bù huì gǎi biàn tā quán bù de xí guàn de， tā yě bù huì xīn gān qíng yuàn dì fàng qì fó luó lǐ dá de yí rén de qì hòu 'ér huí dào yīng guó lái guò xiāng zhèn de jì liáo shēng huó de。 tā duì yīng guó de gū dú shēng huó nà yàng jí wéi hǎn jiàn de xǐ 'ài 'àn shì zhe tā xīn zhōng jù pà mǒu rén、 mǒu shì， yīn cǐ wǒ men bù fáng zuò chū yī gè kě yòng de jiǎ shè， rèn wéi tā shì chū yú duì mǒu rén、 mǒu shì de kǒng jù lí kāi měi guó de。
　　
　　 zhì yú tā suǒ pà de shì shénme， wǒ men zhǐ néng qí tā hé tā de jǐ gè jì chéng rén suǒ jiē dào de nà jǐ cì kě pà de xìn jiàn lái tuī duàn。 nǐ zhù yì dào nà jǐ fēng xìn de yóu chuō liǎo méi yòu？”
　　
　　“ dì yī fēng shì cóng běn dì zhì lǐ jì chū de， dì 'èr fēng shì dūn tí， dì sān fēng shì lún dūn。”
　　
　　“ cóng lún dūn dōng qū jì chū。 nǐ jù cǐ néng tuī duàn chū shénme lái ní？”
　　
　　“ nà xiē dì fāng dōushì hǎi gǎng。 xiě xìn de rén shì zài chuán shàng。”
　　
　　“ hǎo jí liǎo， wǒ men yòu liǎo yī tiáo xiàn suǒ liǎo。 háo wú yí wèn， hěn kě néng héng héng jí qí kě néng héng héng xiě xìn de rén dāng shí yī dìng shì zài yī tiáo chuán shàng。 xiàn zài wǒ men zài kǎo lǜ dì 'èr diǎn。 jiù běn dì zhì lǐ lái shuō， cóng shōu dào kǒnghè xìn qǐ dào chū shì shí zhǐ， qián hòu jīng guò qī gè xīng qī。 zhì yú dūn tí， jǐn jǐn jīng guò dà yuē sān、 sì tiān。 zhè shuō míng shénme wèn tí ní？”
　　
　　“ qián zhě lù chéng jiào yuǎn。”
　　
　　“ kě shì xìn jiàn yě yào jīng guò jiào yuǎn de lù chéng yā？”
　　
　　“ nà wǒ jiù bù dǒng liǎo。”
　　
　　“ zhì shǎo kě yǐ zhè yàng jiǎ shè： nà gè rén huò nà yī huǒ rén chéng zuò de shì yī tiáo fān chuán。 kàn lái hǎo xiàng tā men pò tè de jǐng gào huò xìn hào zǒng shì zài tā men chū fā zhào shì yǐ qián fā chū de。 nǐ qiáo， xìn hào cóng dūn tí lái hòu， jǐn jiē zhe shì qíng jiù fā shēng liǎo， nǐ shuō yòu duō kuài。 rú guǒ tā men shì cóng běn dì zhì lǐ chéng lún chuán lái de， nà tā men huì tóng nà xìn tóng shí dào dá。 dàn shì， shì shí shàng， guò liǎo qī gè xīng qī cái chū shì。 wǒ xiǎng nà qī gè xīng qī dài biǎo de shì xìn jiàn shì yóu yóu lún yùn lái de， ér xiě xìn de rén shì chéng fān chuán lái de zhè yī shí chā。”
　　
　　“ dà yòu kě néng。”
　　
　　“ bù jǐn kě néng， ér qiě dà gài jiù shì zhè yàng。 xiàn zài kě yǐ kàn chū zhè zhuāng xīn 'àn zǐ de jí duān jǐn pò xìng hé wèishénme wǒ jí lì gào jiè xiǎo 'ào péng xiào yào tí gāo jǐng tì。
　　
　　 zāi huò zǒng shì zài fā xìn rén lǚ chéng zhōng liǎo zhī hòu lái lín de。 kě shì zhè yī huí shì cóng lún dūn lái de， suǒ yǐ wǒ men jiù kè bù róng huǎn liǎo。”
　　
　　“ tiān nǎ！ " wǒ jiào qǐ lái liǎo。“ zhè yì wèi zhe shénme？ zhè zhǒng wú qíng de！”
　　
　　“ ào péng xiào suǒ dài de nà gè wén jiàn xiǎn rán duì yú fān chuán lǐ de yī gè rén huò yī huǒ rén yòu zhe shēng sǐ yōu guān de zhòng yào xìng。 wǒ xiǎng qíng kuàng hěn qīng chǔ， tā men yī dìng bù zhǐ yī gè rén。 dān dú yī rén bù kě néng jiē lián shǐ dé liǎng rén sǐ yú fēi mìng， ér suǒ yòng de shǒu duàn zé jìng rán mán guò liǎo yàn shī péi shěn tuán。 zhè lǐ miàn bì rán yòu tóng huǒ shù rén， tā men hái yī dìng shì yòu yǒng yòu móu de rén。 tā men fēi yào bǎ wén jiàn nòng dào shǒu bù kě， bù guǎn shì cáng zài shuí nà lǐ。 yīn cǐ， nǐ kě yǐ kàn chū，．．． yǐ bù zài shì yī gè rén de míngＫＫＫ zì suō xiě， ér shì yī gè tuán tǐ de biāo zhì。”
　　
　　“ shì shénme yàng tuán tǐ de biāo zhì ní？”
　　
　　“ nǐ méi yòu héng héng " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào， yī miàn fǔ shēn xiàng qián fàng dī shēng yīn， " nǐ cóng lái méi yòu tīng shuō guò sānＫ dǎng má？”
　　
　　“ wǒ cóng lái méi yòu tīng shuō guò。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yī yè yī yè dì fān yuè zhe fàng zài tā xī gài shàng de shū。 " qiáo zhè 'ér， " suí hòu tā niàn dào： " kè yóu · kè lā kè sī · kè lán， shì yī gè míng zì。 tā lái yuán yú xiǎng① xiàng zhōng nà zhǒng kù sì bān qǐ qiāng de jī tiě de shēng yīn。 zhè gè kě pà de mì mì tuán tǐ shì nán fāng gè zhōu de qián lián bāng shì bīng zài nán běi zhàn zhēng yǐ hòu zǔ chéng de， bìng xùn jí zài quán guó gè dì chéng lì liǎo fēn huì。 qí zhōng zài tián nà xī、 lù yì sī 'ān nà、 kǎ luó lái nà、 zuǒ zhì yà hé fó luó lǐ dá gè zhōu yóu wéi yǐn rén zhù mù。 tā de shì lì bèi yòng yú shí xiàn qí mùdì， zhù yào shì duì hēi rén xuǎn mín shǐ yòng kǒng bù shǒu duàn， móu shā huò qū zhú fǎn duì tā men guān diǎn de rén men chū guó。 tā men jiāng shī jiā bào xíng shí tōng cháng shì， xiān jì gěi shòu dào dí shì de rén mǒu zhǒng xíng zhuàng pò guài dàn shàng kě biàn de dōng xī， lì rú， yī xiǎo gēn dài yè de xiàng shù yè、 jǐ lì xī guā zǐ， huò jǐ gè jié hé， zuò wéi jǐng gào。 shòu dào dí shì de rén jiē dào jǐng gào yǐ hòu， kě yǐ gōng kāi xuān bù fàng píng yuán yòu guān diǎn， huò táo bēn guó wài。 rú guǒ zhì zhī bù lǐ， zé bì jiāng zāo shòu shā hài， ér qiě wǎng wǎng chū yú mǒu zhǒng pò guài de hé yì liào bù dào de fāng shì。 nà gè tuán tǐ de zǔ zhì shì rú cǐ yán mì， suǒ shǐ yòng de fāng fǎ yòu shì rú cǐ yòu xì tǒng， jìng zhì zài yòu 'àn kě jī de 'àn jiàn zhōng， jīhū cóng wèi jiàn yòu nǎ gè yǔ zhī kàng héng de rén néng gòu xìng miǎn yú huò， yě cóng wèi néng zhuī chá dào bào xíng de zuò 'àn rén。 jìn guǎn měi guó zhèng fǔ hé nán fāng shàng céng shè huì de nǔ lì zǔ zhǐ， zhè gè tuán tǐ zài jǐ nián shí jiān lǐ hái shì dào chù màn yán zīzhǎng。 zuì hòu， dào liǎo yī bā liù jiǔ nián， zhè gè sānＫ dǎng yùn dòng jìng tū rán kuǎ tái， suī rán cǐ hòu hái bù shí fā shēng zhè lèi bào xíng。”
　　
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī fàng xià shǒu zhōng de shū， shuō dào：“ nǐ yī dìng huì kàn chū， nà gè tuán tǐ de tū rán kuǎ tái shì hé 'ào péng xiào dài zhe wén jiàn táo chū měi guó tóng shí fā shēng de。 liǎng jiàn shì hěn kě néng hù wéi yīn guǒ。 nán guài 'ào péng xiào hé tā de yī jiā rén， zǒng yòu yī xiē sǐ duì tóu zài zhuī zōng tā men。 nǐ yī dìng néng lǐ jiě， zhè gè jì lù hé rì jì qiān shè dào měi guó nán fāng de mǒu xiē tóu miàn rén wù。 zài zé， hái huì yòu bù shǎo rén bù chóngxīn zhǎo dào zhè xiē dōng xī shì lián jué dū shuì bù tà shí de。”
　　
　　① jí yīng wénＫｕＫ ｌｕ ｘＫｌ ａ ｎ héng héng sānＫ dǎng。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　
　　“ nà mò， wǒ men kàn jiàn guò de nà yī yè ……”
　　
　　“ zhèng rú wǒ men suǒ liào xiǎng de。 rú guǒ wǒ méi jì cuò de huà， nà shàng miàn xiě zhe ' sòng jié hé gěi Ａ Ｂ、 héＣ。 ' nà jiù shì bǎ tuán tǐ de jǐng gào sòng gěi tā men。 rán hòu， yòu jiē zhe xiě dào： héＡＢ yǐ qīng chú， huò zhě yǐ chū guó； zuì hòu hái shuō fǎng wèn guòＣ； wǒ dān xīn zhè huì gěiＣ dài lái bù xiáng de hòu guǒ。 wèi， yī shēng， wǒ xiǎng， wǒ men kě yǐ ràng zhè gè hēi 'àn de dì fāng huò dé yī xiàn guāng míng， wǒ xiāng xìn， zài zhè tóng yī shí jiān lǐ， xiǎo 'ào péng xiào de wéi yī jī huì jiù shì 'àn zhào wǒ gào sù tā de qù zuò。 jīn tiān yè lǐ， méi yòu shénme gèng duō kě shuō、 gèng duō kě zuò de liǎo。 qǐng nǐ bǎ xiǎo tí qín dì gěi wǒ！ ràng wǒ men bǎ zhè nǎo rén de tiān qì hé wǒ men tóng bāo de bù xìng zāo yù zàn shí zhì zhī nǎo hòu bàn gè xiǎo shí bā。”
　　
　　 qīng chén， tiān yǐ fàng qíng， tài yáng tòu guò lǒngzhào zài zhè wěi dà chéng shì shàng kōng de méng lóng yún wù shǎn yào zhe róu hé de guāng máng。 wǒ xià lóu shí， fú 'ěr mó sī yǐ jīng zài chī zǎo cān liǎo。
　　
　　“ nǐ huì yuán liàng wǒ méi yòu děng nǐ bā， " tā shuō，“ wǒ gū jì， wǒ jiāng yào wéi xiǎo 'ào péng xiào de 'àn zǐ máng lù yī zhěng tiān。”
　　
　　“ nǐ zhǔn bèi cǎi qǔ shénme cuò shī？ " wǒ wèn dào。
　　
　　“ zhè zài hěn dà chéng dù shàng qǔ jué yú wǒ chū bù diào chá de jiēguǒ liǎo。 zǒng zhī， wǒ yě xǔ bù dé bù qù huò 'ěr shè mǔ yī tàng。”
　　
　　“ nǐ bù xiān qù nà lǐ má？”
　　
　　“ bù， wǒ dé cóng chéng lǐ kāi shǐ， zhǐ yào lā lā líng， nǚ yōng rén jiù huì gěi nǐ duān bēi kā fēi lái de。”
　　
　　 wǒ zài děng dài kā fēi de shí hòu， ná qǐ liǎo zhuō shàng hái méi yòu dǎ kāi de bào zhǐ liú lǎn liǎo yī xià。 wǒ de mù guāng tíng zài yī gè biāo tí shàng， xīn lǐ dǎ liǎo yī gè lěng zhàn。
　　
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī， " wǒ jiào liǎo qǐ lái，“ nǐ wǎn liǎo！”
　　
　　“ ā！ " tā fàng xià liǎo bēi zǐ dá dào，“ wǒ dān xīn de zhèng shì zhè yàng。 zhè shì zěn me gǎo de？ " xiǎn rán tā shuō de shí hòu hěn píng jìng， dàn wǒ yǐ kàn chū tā nèi xīn hěn jī dòng。
　　
　　 ào péng xiào de míng zì hé " huá tiě lú qiáo pàn de bēi jù " zhè yī biāo tí xī yǐn zhù liǎo wǒ de zhù yì lì。 zhè gè bào dào de nèi róng rú xià： zuó wǎn jiǔ shí zhì shí shí zhī jiān， bā bān jǐng shì kù kè yú huá tiě lú qiáo fù jìn zhí qín， hū wén yòu rén hū jiù jí luò shuǐ zhī shēng。 shì yè shēn shǒu bù jiàn wǔ zhǐ， yòu zhí kuáng fēng bào yǔ sì nüè， gù suī yòu guò lù zhě shù rén yuán zhù， yì wú fǎ yíng jiù。 rán 'ér jǐng bào dāng jí fā chū， jīng shuǐ shàng xié tóng nǔ lì， zhōng yú lāo huò shī tǐ yī jù。
　　
　　 yàn míng gāi shī nǎi yī míng qīng nián shēn shì。 cóng qí yī dài qǔ chū zhī xìn fēng， dé zhī cǐ rén zhī xìng míng wéi yuē hàn · ào péng xiào， shēng qián jū zhù yú huò 'ěr shè mǔ fù jìn。 jù tuī cè， qú kě néng jí yú gǎn dā cóng huá tiě lú chē zhàn kāi chū zhī mò bān huǒ chē， cōng máng jiān yú yī piàn qī hēi zhōng mí tú， wù cǎi yī lún dù xiǎo mǎ tóu zhī biān yuán 'ér shī zú luò shuǐ。 shī tǐ wèi jiàn yòu rèn hé bào lì zhī hén jì。 wú yí sǐ zhě nǎi yīn yì wài bù xìng 'ér yùnàn， cǐ shì shì zú yǐ huàn qǐ shì zhèng dāng jú zhù yì hé bīn mǎ tóu zhī qíng kuàng yún yún。
　　
　　 wǒ men mò mò dì zuò liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng， fú 'ěr mó sī yì qì jù sàng， shēn shòu zhèn jīng de shén qíng shì wǒ cóng wèi jiàn guò de。
　　
　　“ zhè jiàn shì shāng liǎo wǒ de zì zūn xīn， huá shēng， " tā zhōng yú kāi kǒu shuō dào，“ suī rán zhè shì yī zhǒng piān xiá de gǎn qíng， dàn tā shì shāng liǎo wǒ de zì zūn xīn。 xiàn zài zhè chéng wéi wǒ gè rén de shì liǎo。 rú shàng dì jiǎ wǒ yǐ tiān nián， wǒ jiù yào qīn shǒu jiě jué zhè bāng jiā huǒ。
　　
　　 tā páo lái xiàng wǒ qiú jiù， ér wǒ jìng rán bǎ tā dǎ fā zǒu qù sòng sǐ……！ " tā cóng yǐ zǐ lǐ yī yuè 'ér qǐ， zài fáng zhōng duó lái duó qù， qíng xù jī dòng， nán yǐ yì zhì。 tā shēn xiàn de shuāng jiá shàng fú xiàn nǎn yán， liǎng zhǐ shòu cháng de shǒu bù 'ān dì yī huì 'ér shǒu zhǐ jiāo chā zháojǐn wò zài yī qǐ， yī huì 'ér yòu sōng kāi。
　　
　　 zuì hòu， tā dà shēng shuō dào：“ tā men zhè bāng mó guǐ zhēn shì jiǎo huá tòu liǎo， tā men zěn me néng gòu bǎ tā piàn dào nà 'ér qù de ní？ nà dī 'àn bìng bù zài zhí dá chē zhàn de lù xiàn shàng yā！ duì yú dá dào tā men de mùdì lái shuō， jí shǐ zài zhè yàng yī gè hēi yè， zài nà zuò qiáo shàng wú yí yě shì rén tài duō liǎo。 āi， huá shēng， zán men qiáo zhe bā， kàn shuí zuì hòu qǔ dé shèng lì！ wǒ xiàn zài jiù yào chū qù liǎo！”
　　
　　“ qù zhǎo má？”
　　
　　“ bù， wǒ zì jǐ lái dāng。 děng wǒ jié hǎo liǎo wǎng， jiù kě yǐ lái bǔ zhuō cāng yíng liǎo。 kě shì yào zài jié hǎo wǎng zhī hòu bǔ zhuō。”
　　
　　 zhè yī zhěng tiān wǒ máng yú wǒ de yī wù gōng zuò， rù mù hěn wǎn wǒ cái fǎn huí bèi kè jiē。 fú 'ěr mó sī hái méi yòu huí lái。 yī zhí dào kuài yào shí diǎn zhōng liǎo， tā cái miàn sè cāng bái， jīng pí lì jìn dì zǒu liǎo jìn lái。 tā páo dào wǎn guì bàng biān， sī xià yī dà kuài miàn bāo， lángtūnhǔyàn dì jiáo zhe， hē liǎo yī dà bēi shuǐ bǎ tā chōng xià qù。
　　
　　“ nǐ 'è liǎo， " wǒ shuō。
　　
　　“ è jí lā！ yī zhí wàng jì chī dōng xī liǎo， zǎo cān hòu jiù shénme yě méi chī。”
　　
　　“ méi chī dōng xī？”
　　
　　“ yī diǎn yě méi chī， méi gōng fū xiǎng dào tā。”
　　
　　“ jìn zhǎn rú hé？”
　　
　　“ bù cuò。”
　　
　　“ yòu xiàn suǒ liǎo má？”
　　
　　“ tā men zài wǒ de zhǎng wò zhī zhōng liǎo。 xiǎo 'ào péng xiào de chóu bù huì bào bù liǎo de。
　　
　　 hēi， huá shēng， ràng zán men yǐ pú rén zhī dào， hái zhì pú rén zhī shēn。 zhè shì jīng guò shēn sī shú lǜ de 'ā！”
　　
　　“ nǐ zhè shì shénme yì sī？”
　　
　　 tā cóng wǎn guì lǐ ná chū yī zhǐ jié zǐ lái， bāi chéng jǐ bàn 'ér， bǎ jié hé jǐ chū lái， fàng zài zhuō shàng， cóng zhōng xuǎn liǎo wǔ gè， zhuāng dào yī gè xìn fēng lǐ miàn。 zài nà xìn fēng kǒu gài de fǎn miàn， tā xiě shàng " Ｓ． Ｈ． dài Ｊ． Ｏ． "。① tā fēng shàng xìn fēng， zài shàng miàn xiě shàng " měi guó， zuǒ zhì yà zhōu， sà fán nà，‘ gū xīng hào ' sān wéi fān chuán， zhān mǔ sī · kǎ 'ěr huò 'ēn chuán cháng shōu " děng zì yàng。
　　
　　“ dāng tā jìn gǎng shí zhè fēng xìn yǐ jīng zài děng zhe tā liǎo， " tā dé yì dì xiào zhe shuō， " zhè fēng xìn huì shǐ tā yè bù 'ān mián。 tā hái huì fā jué zhè fēng xìn kěn dìng shì tā sǐ wáng de yù zhào， zhèng rú 'ào péng xiào cóng qián suǒ zāo yù dào de qíng kuàng yī yàng。”
　　
　　“ zhè gè kǎ 'ěr huò 'ēn chuán cháng shì shénme rén？”
　　
　　“ nà bāng jiā huǒ de tóu tóu。 wǒ hái yào gǎo qí tā jǐ gè rén， bù guò xiān gǎo tā。”
　　
　　“ nà mò， nǐ zěn yàng zhuī chá chū lái de ní？”
　　
　　 tā cóng yī dài lǐ ná chū yī dà zhāng zhǐ lái， shàng miàn jìn shì xiē rì qī hé xìng míng。
　　
　　“ wǒ huā liǎo yī zhěng tiān de gōng fū， " tā shuō，“ yòng zài chá yuè láo 'āi dé chuán dēng jì bù hé jiù wén jiàn de juàn zōng， zhuī chá yī bā bā sān nián yī、 èr yuè zài běn dì zhì lǐ gǎng tíng kào guò de měi sōu chuán zài lí gǎng yǐ hòu de háng chéng。 cóng dēng jì shàng kàn， zài zhè liǎng gè yuè lǐ， dào dá nà lǐ dūn wèi jiào dà de chuán gòng yòu sān shí liù sōu。 qí zhōng yī sōu jiào zuò ' gū xīng hào '， tā lì kè yǐn qǐ liǎo wǒ de zhù yì， yīn wéi zhè sōu chuán suī rán dēng jì de shì zài lún dūn jié guān de， dàn shì què yòng liǎo měi guó de yī gè zhōu de míng chēng lái mìng míng de。”
　　
　　① jí xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī（Ｓ ｈｅｒｌｏ ｃ ｋＨｏｌ ｍｅｓ） dài yuē hàn · ào péng xiào（ＪｏｈｎＯ ｐｅｎ Fｓｈａ ｗ） zhī yì。 héng héng yì zhě zhù“ wǒ xiǎng， shì dé kè sà sī zhōu。”
　　
　　“ shì nǎ yī zhōu， wǒ yuán lái nòng bù qīng， xiàn zài yě shuō bù zhǔn； bù guò wǒ zhī dào tā yuán xiān yī dìng shì sōu měi guó chuán。”
　　
　　“ yǐ hòu yòu zěn yàng ní？”
　　
　　“ wǒ chá yuè liǎo dūn tí de jì lù。 dāng wǒ kàn dào yī bā bā wǔ nián yī yuè sān wéi fān chuán ' gū xīng hào ' dǐ dá nà lǐ de jì lù shí， wǒ xīn lǐ de cāi xiǎng jiù biàn wéi què xìn wú yí de liǎo。 wǒ jiē zhe jiù duì mù qián tíng bó zài lún dūn gǎng nèi de chuán zhǐ de qíng kuàng jìn xíng liǎo chá xún。”
　　
　　“ jiēguǒ ní？”
　　
　　“ nà ' gū xīng hào ' shàng xīng qī dào dá zhè lǐ。 wǒ páo dào 'ài bó tè chuán wù， chá míng zhè chuán jīn tiān zǎo chén yǐ chèn zhe zǎo cháo shùn liú 'ér xià， fǎn háng sà wǎ nà gǎng qù liǎo。 wǒ fā diàn bào gěi gé léi fū sēn dé， dé zhī zhè chuán yǐ jīng zài bù jiǔ qián shǐ guò qù liǎo。 yóu yú fēng xiàng shì cháo dōng de， wǒ què xìn： zhè chuán cǐ kè yǐ kāi guò gǔ dé wēn sī， lí huái tè dǎo bù yuǎn。”
　　
　　“ nà mò， nǐ xiǎng gànshénme ní？”
　　
　　“ wǒ yào qù dài zhù tā！ tā hé nà liǎng gè fù shǒu， jù wǒ suǒ zhī， shì nà chuán shàng jǐn yòu de měi guó rén。 qí yú de shì fēn lán rén hé dé guó rén。 wǒ hái liǎo jiě dào tā men sān rén zuó wǎn céng lí chuán shàng 'àn。 zhè xiāo xī shì dāng shí zhèng zài gěi tā men zhuāng huò de mǎ tóu gōng rén shuō de。 děng dào tā men de zhè sōu fān chuán dào dá sà wǎ nà shí， yóu chuán yě yǐ jīng bǎ zhè fēng xìn dài dào nà dì fāng liǎo， tóng shí hǎi dǐ diàn bào zé yǐ jīng tōng zhī liǎo sà wǎ nà de， shuō míng zhè sān wèi xiān shēng shì zhè lǐ zhèng zài tōng jī zhōng de bèi kòng fàn yòu móu shā zuì de rén fàn。”
　　
　　 rán 'ér， rén móu bù xià de luó wǎng zòng jí gōng qiǎo， zhōng bù néng méi yòu sī háo lòu dòng。
　　
　　 móu shā yuē hàn · ào péng xiào de xiōng shǒu jìng rán zài yě shōu bù dào nà jǐ gè jié hé liǎo， ér nà jǐ gè jié hé shì huì shǐ tā men zhī dào shì jiè shàng lìng wài hái yòu yī gè hé tā men tóng yàng jiǎo huá、 tóng yàng jiān jué de rén zhèng zài zhuī bǔ zhe tā men。 nà nián qiū fēn shí de bào fēng guā dé jiǔ， guā dé měng。 wǒ men děng liǎo hěn cháng shí jiān， xiǎng dé dào sà wǎ nà " gū xīng hào " de xiāo xī， què yī zhí yǎo wú yīn xìn。 zhōng yú wǒ men tīng shuō： zài yuǎn yuǎn de dà xī yáng mǒu chù， yòu rén kàn dào zài yī cì hǎi làng de tuì cháo zhōng piào bó zhe yī kuài pò suì de chuán wěi zhù， shàng miàn kè zhe " Ｌ．Ｓ． "① liǎng gè zì mǔ， ér wǒ men suǒ néng zhī dào de guān yú " gū xīng hào " de mìng yùn jǐn cǐ 'ér yǐ。
　　
　　① " gū xīng hào " yuán wén wéiｌｏｎｅＳ ｔａｒ， suō xiě wéiＬＳ．．。 héng héng yì zhě zhù

　　When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are points in connection with it which never have been, and probably never will be, entirely cleared up.
　　 The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe.
　　 It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street.
　　 "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?"
　　 "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage visitors."
　　 "A client, then?"
　　 "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the landlady's."
　　 Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit.
　　 "Come in!" said he.
　　 The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is weighed down with some great anxiety.
　　 "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug chamber."
　　 "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the south-west, I see."
　　 "Yes, from Horsham."
　　 "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is quite distinctive."
　　 "I have come for advice."
　　 "That is easily got."
　　 "And help."
　　 "That is not always so easy."
　　 "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal."
　　 "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards."
　　 "He said that you could solve anything."
　　 "He said too much."
　　 "That you are never beaten."
　　 "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a woman."
　　 "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?"
　　 "It is true that I have been generally successful."
　　 "Then you may be so with me."
　　 "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with some details as to your case."
　　 "It is no ordinary one."
　　 "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal."
　　 "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which have happened in my own family."
　　 "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards question you as to those details which seem to me to be most important."
　　 The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out towards the blaze.
　　 "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the affair.
　　 "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire upon a handsome competence.
　　 "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any friends, not even his own brother.
　　 "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would make me his representative both with the servants and with the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such a room.
　　 "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!'
　　 "'What is it, uncle?' I cried.
　　 "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small brass box, like a cashbox, in the other.
　　 "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.'
　　 "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the envelope.
　　 "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where Mr. Fordham shows you.'
　　 "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it were new raised from a basin.
　　 "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when we went to search for him, face downward in a little green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank."
　　 "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and the date of his supposed suicide."
　　 "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks later, upon the night of May 2nd."
　　 "Thank you. Pray proceed."
　　 "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag politicians who had been sent down from the North.
　　 "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon himself.
　　 "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered.
　　 "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I.
　　 "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the very letters. But what is this written above them?'
　　 "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his shoulder.
　　 "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked.
　　 "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the papers must be those that are destroyed.'
　　 "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come from?'
　　 "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark.
　　 "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such nonsense.'
　　 "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said.
　　 "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.'
　　 "'Then let me do so?'
　　 "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.'
　　 "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings.
　　 "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him.
　　 "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as pressing in one house as in another.
　　 "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in which it had come upon my father."
　　 The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried orange pips.
　　 "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the papers on the sundial.'"
　　 "What have you done?" asked Holmes.
　　 "Nothing."
　　 "Nothing?"
　　 "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against."
　　 "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair."
　　 "I have seen the police."
　　 "Ah!"
　　 "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the warnings."
　　 Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible imbecility!" he cried.
　　 "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the house with me."
　　 "Has he come with you to-night?"
　　 "No. His orders were to stay in the house."
　　 Again Holmes raved in the air.
　　 "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you not come at once?"
　　 "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to you."
　　 "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which might help us?"
　　 "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly my uncle's."
　　 Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the following enigmatical notices:
　　 "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform.
　　 "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and John Swain, of St. Augustine.
　　 "9th. McCauley cleared.
　　 "10th. John Swain cleared.
　　 "12th. Visited Paramore. All well."
　　 "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me. You must get home instantly and act."
　　 "What shall I do?"
　　 "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do you understand?"
　　 "Entirely."
　　 "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the guilty parties."
　　 "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall certainly do as you advise."
　　 "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you go back?"
　　 "By train from Waterloo."
　　 "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too closely."
　　 "I am armed."
　　 "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case."
　　 "I shall see you at Horsham, then?"
　　 "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it."
　　 "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them once more.
　　 Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling.
　　 "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this."
　　 "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four."
　　 "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Sholtos."
　　 "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to what these perils are?"
　　 "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered.
　　 "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue this unhappy family?"
　　 Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion."
　　 "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main points of my analysis."
　　 Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those letters?"
　　 "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London."
　　 "From East London. What do you deduce from that?"
　　 "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship."
　　 "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Does that suggest anything?"
　　 "A greater distance to travel."
　　 "But the letter had also a greater distance to come."
　　 "Then I do not see the point."
　　 "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the writer."
　　 "It is possible."
　　 "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay."
　　 "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless persecution?"
　　 "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an individual and becomes the badge of a society."
　　 "But of what society?"
　　 "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?"
　　 "I never have."
　　 Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it is," said he presently:
　　 "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite of the efforts of the United States government and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.'
　　 "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered."
　　 "Then the page we have seen--"
　　 "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellow-men."
　　 It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down.
　　 "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaw's."
　　 "What steps will you take?" I asked.
　　 "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all."
　　 "You will not go there first?"
　　 "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the maid will bring up your coffee."
　　 As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart.
　　 "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late."
　　 "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved.
　　 "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account:
　　 "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages."
　　 We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him.
　　 "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long thin hands.
　　 "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!"
　　 "To the police?"
　　 "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may take the flies, but not before."
　　 All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water.
　　 "You are hungry," I remarked.
　　 "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast."
　　 "Nothing?"
　　 "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it."
　　 "And how have you succeeded?"
　　 "Well."
　　 "You have a clue?"
　　 "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!"
　　 "What do you mean?"
　　 He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia."
　　 "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him."
　　 "And who is this Captain Calhoun?"
　　 "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first."
　　 "How did you trace it, then?"
　　 He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with dates and names.
　　 "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and files of the old papers, following the future career of every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to one of the states of the Union."
　　 "Texas, I think."
　　 "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must have an American origin."
　　 "What then?"
　　 "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in the port of London."
　　 "Yes?"
　　 "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight."
　　 "What will you do, then?"
　　 "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder."
　　 There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star."