Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Mollier

Excerpted from Ameijie.Floras' Travel Diary January 22 It has been two days since I left Sikasso, and I feel that things are not going well.It seems that the mood of these hired workers is very wrong: the donkey drivers are passive and sabotage whenever they have the opportunity, and the porters always look exhausted and ask for rest at every turn.This may be my personal feeling, or it may be that I have not yet shaken off the mental burden caused by that prophet Kangkang.To tell the truth, since leaving Sikasaw and our guards reduced to half, those almost forgotten prophecies have carried some weight in my mind.

January 24 Came to Caffinlie tonight.I walked fifty kilometers in four days, that is, a little over twelve kilometers a day.This record is also good. January 31 cough!Such a record cannot be kept.It took us six days to cover fifty kilometers!Now stationed in a small village called Gogono.Three days ago we descended from a small village called Nigara (I don't know who gave these small villages such a name) and entered a basin.There are mountains on the west, north, and south sides, and only the east is a plain. Now we are still walking in this basin. Due to an unfortunate incident, we stopped at Gogono.It wasn't because we were prisoners. On the contrary, the head of this village, an old man named Binyaba, was our good friend.

This night, as we approached the small village, we heard a large crowd of Negroes shouting, as if wailing.By the light of the torches, we estimated that the number of this group of blacks was about seven or eight hundred.It seems that these people are hostile to us.Because it was the first time we were treated like this, everyone stopped in amazement.Captain Martharay gave an order, and his men gripped their saber hilts, but did not draw their scabbards.The captain was observing the development of the situation. Sunberling's horse, frightened, suddenly reared up on its hind legs.The rider was thrown from the saddle and fell headlong into the crowd of blacks.Howling with fury, the negroes fell upon our poor friend.At this moment

It's too late, but it's fast.Miss Morna urged her mount, and rushed towards the crowd at full speed.Immediately the Negroes abandoned Sunburst, surrounded the gallant horsewoman, and a score or twenty spears were aimed at her, Mando!She shouted to the attackers, Nijay Abedsuba! (Be quiet! I'm a witch!) As she yelled, she took out the flashlight and turned it on and off.The crowd fell silent immediately, and formed a circle around her respectfully.At this time, Binyaba mentioned above stood out from the crowd.He wanted to make a speech: this is the custom of the local aboriginal chiefs, but Miss Morena begged him to shut up, and she hurried to Sumberling, who fell to the ground and could not move.Dr. Sartore's examination concluded that Sunberling was wounded.It turned out that the fall was very heavy, and a sharp stone cut a wide wound below the waist.At this time, I suddenly remembered: Genyela's first prophecy has become a fact!A chill runs down my spine as I think of the fate he foretold about my newsletter.

Dr. Sartore was washing and bandaging the wounds of Sunberlin with a health kit.The Negroes stood there, watching in astonishment the doctor's every move. At this time, Miss Morena allowed Binyaba to speak.The village chief took a step forward and asked in Bamba: Why is Dubabu (referring to Sambolin, attacking them with weapons?) Miss Morna denies this.The mayor persisted, pointing to the fishing rod holster hanging from the Sembling bag, and Morna explained it to him, but to no avail.So Sumberling had to open the bag, which gleamed in the light of the torches, and took out the rod to show them.

Binyaba's eyes gleamed greedily, and his hands stretched out for the shiny fishing rod.Like a spoiled child, he insisted on giving it to him, and Sumberling angrily refused. In order to maintain the newly established harmonious relationship, Miss Morena repeatedly asked Sambering to cut off love, but Sambering refused.Finally, she loses her temper: nephew!she cried majestically, pointing the flashlight at the stubborn fisherman. Sombering gave in, and he took out the case that held the rod and gave it to Binyaba, who attributed his victory to the magic of the flashlight and the spells of the sorceress.As soon as he got the baby, he was ecstatic and danced.Then, with a gesture from him, the armed blacks immediately dispersed, and Binyaba invited us into the village.

February 2 We are still in Gogono.Sunberling's injury held them back, and the uncle who was really a nephew (I insist on calling him that) was not yet able to ride. february 3 Still in Gogono.so happy! february 4 At six o'clock in the morning, we finally set off.But at night, still stay in Gogono.It turned out that this was a false departure.At dawn, we said goodbye to our friends in the village and set off.The team is moving, but almost in place.Things were much worse than the stretch up to Gogono.Either one of the porters stood still and had to wait for him; or the donkey's load fell off its back and had to be packed again.By ten o'clock in the morning, the six kilometers hadn't been covered yet.

I marveled at the endurance of Captain Marthare, who wrestled silent plots with cool vigor.However, when he started to walk the road before the camp, a new situation appeared: Molile announced that he had taken the wrong road, Miss Morna went to study with the guides, and Chu Mugeng supported Molile's opinion.Tongale, on the contrary, said that we did not go wrong at all.Who to trust? After much hesitation, we still believed the opinion of the majority (two-thirds) of the guides and walked back.At this time, another miracle occurred: the porters didn't feel tired anymore, and the donkey's load was very stable.It took an hour to complete the four-hour journey in the morning.At night we camped not far from Gogono.

february 6 Yesterday I walked fairly smoothly, but the strange thing is that I walked on the route I gave up the day before yesterday.Molier declared: After some reflection, he felt that he was right the morning before and wrong the night before.Chu Mugeng supported his opinion again.I thought: Could it be that these two people are working together to make fun of us? Two important events happened today.Shortly after setting off in the morning, a donkey suddenly fell down.We were going to bring it up, but it was dead.Of course, its death may be a natural phenomenon.But to be honest, I was thinking of wintergoron and other poisons in this country.

The second thing happened in the afternoon: a porter disappeared.Where did he go?It's a mystery.Captain Martharei bit his beard, and I found him worried. In the evening, another unexpected event happened.A few niggers got drunk somewhere, who gave them alcohol?Captain Marthare came to find Balsac.I just discussed these events with Balsac.At this time Dr. Sartore, Possein, Miss Morena, and Sunberling all came, and we had a council of war. Captain Martharey spoke briefly of the situation, and put all the blame on Moliles.He suggested that the unfaithful guide should be brought in for questioning, to show him some color if necessary.He also suggested sending cavalry to supervise the porters one by one, urging them on their way, even though it was dangerous.Balsac disagreed with this opinion, and Sunberling still less.Interrogating Molile means that we have paid attention to him, that we have openly suspected him.However, we have no reliable evidence yet, and we have no idea what he wants to play tricks on us.Had Molière been interrogated, he would have dismissed everything, and we would have had no good reason for it.How to deal with the porters in the future?What if they slack off or lie down and quit?

february 7 Another new event happened. Last night was so restless that I couldn't start on time today, and I only walked one stop throughout the day. Now for the facts.From this fact we find that carelessness sometimes pays off. Yesterday it was decided to keep a close watch on Molielle.In order not to attract too much attention, we did not plan to send a sentry to watch him when we camped, but several of us took turns to be on duty.We divide the whole night into six posts of equal time, and draw lots to determine the order.The result of the lottery was as follows: the first post was Morna, followed by Balsac, Captain Marthare, me, Semblin, and Possian. At that time, I will pick up the captain's post.He said it was normal and pointed Moliles to me.At that time Molile was sleeping soundly curled up under the blanket, his black face and white clothes were clearly black and white in the moonlight. The post was very quiet at first.But at 1:30 in the evening, I faintly heard the creepy hum of the first night after leaving Kangkang.The sound seemed to come from the east, and it was so faint that I doubted my ears a little. At a quarter past two I hand over to Sunberling.But I couldn't fall asleep, so I got up and planned to go outside the tent to breathe fresh air.Then I heard the strange sound again, very faintly.I still doubted my hearing, and hurried out of the tent, wanting to hear what happened. nothing!The mosquito-like sound was getting weaker and weaker, and soon disappeared in the east. I decided to go to Sunberling. Another surprise!And what a surprise!Sunberling is not in the post!I'll wager that this hopeless old man must have forgotten his duty and gone to something else.What if Molière had escaped?Fortunately, he didn't escape, and he was still lying there sleeping soundly. I saw his black face and white clothes. I was relieved, and then I went to find Sunberling.I knew where to find him, for there was a little river just beside our camp.I walked straight to the river, and immediately found a shadow of a person in the water in the river.But how could he stand in the water so far from shore?Could it be that he can walk on water? Upon closer inspection, it turned out that he had made a raft out of planks and used branches as oars.Paddle to the middle of the river, tie a big stone with a rope and throw it in the water, and anchor there.This dude is an inventor too! I went to the shore and softly called out: Son Berlin! Here it is!The figure responded in the water. What are you doing there, Sunberling? I poach in this sanctuary, honey! I'm just dreaming, how come to Sudan to poach?I didn't know the rules of fishing in this place, so I asked: Are you poaching?What are you kidding me about? No doubt, he said, because fishing with nets in the dead of night is strictly forbidden. He smugly said it, beast!He's mocking me! Where did Morrill go?I asked angrily. There was a savage and terrible curse in the water (I am ashamed to take it down).Then, the figure moved.Soon Burling jumped ashore.Panting, he immediately ran to the post he should not have left. Fortunately, Molielle was still asleep.I can even conclude that he hasn't moved since I left him, and Sunberling has seen it. You're scaring me, he said. At this time, we suddenly heard a very miserable cry from the other side of the river.I can swear: who is there calling for help. We immediately ran to the river, and sure enough, we found a black figure struggling in the water. It's a black man!Sen Berlin said. He jumped on the raft and got the Negro out.Then carried him ashore and explained to me: He fell into a fishing net that I forgot to take out of the water.But what the hell was he going to do there? We bent down to have a look at the wretched fellow, and exclaimed at the same time: Molly! It was indeed Molly.He was naked, wet from head to toe, half choking on the water.Evidently our guide had left the camp, swam across the river, made a run to the other bank, and returned in a net which Sumberling, by the providence of God, had forgotten to retrieve.If it weren't for Sun Bolin's carelessness, I'm afraid we would never find out about this slippery departure.It suddenly occurred to me: Who is that other Molière who is sleeping peacefully in the moonlight? I ran to the sleeping man and shook him with my hands.My dear!There was no one under the blanket at all.The so-called black face is actually a piece of wood. This time, the perpetrator was caught on the spot, so he should confess.I went to Sunberling and his captive.The latter appeared to have come to his senses. Suddenly, he jumped up and was about to rush into the river.But he had miscalculated the situation: a large hand from Sunberling had caught him.Though not as beautiful as Apollo [Note 1], Humberlin has as much strength as Hercules [Note 2].This was fully evidenced by the painful convulsions on the face of his captive.Molile knew that there was no hope of escape, so he knelt down and begged for mercy. [Note 1] Apollo is the god of the sun and light in ancient Greek mythology, and the protector of agriculture, literature and art, and fine arts. 【Note 2】Hercules is the Hercules in ancient Greek mythology. Then I noticed that something in his hand had dropped to the ground.I leaned over and picked it up.Unfortunately, however, Moliere, caught off guard, made a desperate struggle, rushed at me, snatched the thing away with one hand, and stuffed it into his mouth. Samblin cursed.At the same time, we rushed at the captive as fast as we could and grabbed him by the throat. Molly was strangled to the brink of death, should he spit out his mouth?No, I guessed wrong again: he only spit out half of it, and swallowed the rest. When I looked at the seized item, it turned out to be a small piece of paper with words written all over it. Let's go to Captain Martharei.The captain's first concern was to lock up Molière in a tent, which was surrounded by four sentinels.Then the three of us went into the captain's tent, eager to learn what was written on the paper. In the light of the torch, it could be clearly read that it was written in Arabic.Captain Martharei is proficient in this script.Had the document been complete, he could have read it without difficulty.However, what we got was only a part of it, and the light was so small and the writing was blurred that it looked like a picture puzzle.Let's talk after dawn. After dawn, it was still impossible to solve the mystery.Perhaps Moliere translated it for us in order to ask our forgiveness and stop deceiving us? We entered the tent that served as a makeshift prison.Suddenly everyone stood dumbfounded at the entrance: the ropes binding the captives were thrown on the ground, and the tent was empty!