Chapter 272 42: The Old Man
"Today's lunch? I had the fried rice made by Uncle John. It is indeed as they said, it is delicious." Perrin said as if he still had some aftertaste.
Terry and Anna looked at each other.
"You are just sick, so you are not suitable for eating greasy food, right? Nothing happened after eating it?"
"No, I feel better."
After some insinuations and observations, Peilan was no different from before and found nothing unusual.
"By the way, will you join the fish feast tonight?" Peilan suddenly smiled and invited.
Terry shook his head: "No, I still have to take care of Anna, so I won't go."
Perrin looked slightly regretful: "That's a pity."
Seeing that Terry was unwilling to participate, Perrin left without saying much.
"Originally she just wanted to participate in the big fish banquet on the 5th, but now she suddenly changed her mind and will join the fish banquet tonight. Now it seems that I was right not to eat those fish meat. It may have the effect of changing people's will. ." Although this statement is rather mysterious, it is not difficult to accept for these two horror film lovers.
What's more, it's already an extraordinary world, and there might be some extraordinary villain hiding here, controlling everything behind the scenes.
But in this way, their hope of escape became very slim.
Terry has called roadside assistance and hopes they will arrive as soon as possible.
In the evening, Old John didn't bring any food, so Terry went down to boil a pot of hot water and ordered two portions of fried rice to see if there was any difference.
John didn't talk nonsense, and gave him two fried dishes, then looked at him quietly, and suddenly said: "Don't you want to go to the fish feast?"
Terry forced a smile: "My girlfriend is sick. , I need someone to take care of me, just forget it.”
John nodded slowly and said nothing more.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Terry returned to the house with two copies of Chaoyang. He first looked at the attic opposite. The man did not appear tonight.
Looking carefully for the fried rice, there was no fish.
After taking a bite, there is indeed a difference in taste. Is it because of the ingredients?
"Do you want to eat?" Terry asked Anna.
Anna drank the water, ate a canned fruit that Terry had opened for her, and shook her head. She couldn't eat that food now.
Terry didn't force it. While eating, he looked for the same cloth strip as yesterday.
"It's true." Terry nervously spread out the strip of cloth, this time it said "Run tomorrow night"
run? How to run?
Terry was a little confused. He didn't even know who wrote this note.
Late night.
Terry touched Anna's forehead. The fever had subsided, and she fell asleep again.
Terry originally wanted to go to sleep directly, but after checking the time, he still planned to hear how weird Anna's so-called strange movements in the early morning were.
So in the early morning, there was a lively movement under the house.
There was also the sound of someone walking up the stairs, one step, two steps, tuk tuk. Stop.
Terry slowed down his breathing, gently turned his head to the door, and half-squinted his eyes.
As he walked up and down today, he was already very familiar with this movement. He took two steps away from the stairs and he was right in front of his door.
In other words, there is a person standing quietly at his door, motionless, not knowing what he is doing.
Terry regretted that he didn't use anything to prop up the door. Not to mention the peephole, there wasn't even an anti-theft chain.
I can only pretend to be asleep and wait quietly for the development of the situation.
In the agony of waiting, I don’t know how much time passed before I heard footsteps again. I opened the next room and walked in.
Is it Peilan who lives next door?
The sounds downstairs were still drinking and chatting, and there were no strange sounds like Anna said. But after someone walked into the next room, there was no movement at all, and there was dead silence.
Shouldn't a normal person at least change clothes or take a shower?
In the middle of the night, it was as if the wind and snow came again, making the doors and windows shake. The noise in the pub gradually subsided, and Terry finally fell asleep slowly.
In the morning, Terry was awakened by the movement downstairs.
Opening the window and looking outside, the ground was covered with another layer of white snow. Parked downstairs was the car named Heyman that they had taken.
Seeing the car, Terry looked up the call history and dialed the rescue vehicle he contacted yesterday.
As expected, it had to be delayed due to the sudden heavy snowfall.
Do you really want to listen to what is written on the cloth and run away tonight during the fish feast?
At this time Anna also woke up, and her physical condition was much better.
"Then run away, I don't want to stay here anymore." Anna helped him make the decision.
Peilan from next door came here once at noon, but because she had participated in the fish feast last night, the two of them no longer trusted her, but they also wanted to ask her about what the fish feast was like.
"The whole town gathered together, cheered, laughed, and built a bonfire on the beach. Then, around eight o'clock, a fishing boat would break through the sea fog, slowly dock, and A boatload of delicious fish was released.”
“Then, under the auspices of the mayor, they will divide the fish into fish heads and fish bodies. There is no limit to the fish body, but only the fish head can be used per person. Taste one, except for the first person to participate in the fish feast. You don’t know, yesterday’s fish head was really, really delicious. I always hate eating fish, but I ate seven of them in one go last night. , eight fish heads, really a delicacy in the world."
Perlan's state was already a bit wrong, and Terry only felt creepy.
Why doesn’t Perrin feel something is wrong? But the two of them could feel that something was wrong.
This town is indeed too weird. It seems that we must leave tonight even if we brave the wind and snow.
It would be better to say that it would be better if the wind and snow came, at least it could cover their tracks and buy them time.
I just don’t know what is waiting for them in that abandoned gold mining town. I hope it won’t be real gangsters.
"Are you really not going to participate tonight? You are newcomers, and you can eat unlimited fish heads, especially the fish eyes. You will actually look at the person who eats them, dig them out and swallow them, like jelly Just as silky." Perlan said as if he was a little thirsty, he picked up a bottle of water and drank it in one go.
"Isn't Anna still feeling well? We are thinking of participating in tomorrow's big fish feast to see how lively it is." Terry gave Anna a look and said reluctantly.
Anna understood this and pretended to be sick, taking in less air and outgoing more, and even coughed a few times with difficulty.
"That's true. I really hope the evening comes soon."
Perrin left, and Terry didn't even dare to eat any more food here.
"Terry, did Perrin just say that the whole town will participate in the evening?" Anna suddenly asked.
"Well, I said it, what's wrong?" Terry asked strangely.
"Isn't Uncle John also from this town? Can he not participate?" Anna reminded.
Terry didn't find it too strange: "After all, this is his hotel, someone has to watch over it."
The word "watch over" means watching over tourists who did not attend the fish feast, such as them.
"Besides, didn't the man in the attic opposite also attend the fish feast? There have to be some people in the town. Don't think too much. I'll return the plate first." Terry comforted a few Then he walked out with the plate filled with fried rice.
Seeing him leave, Anna slowly stood up and opened the window, intending to breathe some fresh air.
Downstairs, Terry saw people eating portions of Yusheng without any image, including Peilan, who ate the most ferociously and had no image of the lady she had been before. The strong fishy smell seemed to lift his heavenly spirit cap, making him just want to return the plate and leave.
"Uncle John, give me another one." Perrin also handed the plate over at this time without even looking at Terry.
John turned around silently and took one to her.
"Uncle John's knife skills are really good. This fish meat is still moving." Peilan couldn't wait to take it, "I'll leave it to you for the fish dinner tonight, Uncle John."
John He didn't speak, just nodded slowly, and then looked at Terry who was standing to the side.
Terry took a deep breath of the fishy, murky air and handed the plate to John.
John looked at the clean dishes, looked at Terry silently, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.
Terry hurried back, not daring to stay.
Back in the room, he quickly closed the door, then walked to Anna who was blowing air by the window, closed the door and window, held Anna's shoulders, and said with difficulty: "You guessed it, that John, he really attended the fish feast tonight.”
Anna pursed her lips: “What do you think?”
"I don't know. No wonder the food tastes different at noon and at night, and the attitudes are different. I suspect that the old John who was in the tavern during the day and the fish feast is not the same person! In this case, the cloth will make sense. ." Terry murmured and analyzed.
"Forget it, forget it, no good will come of staying here. Give it a try. Pack your things now. We will leave at seven o'clock. Let's take a good rest while we have time now. , and then have something to eat at six o'clock."
After making a plan, Terry closed the curtains, set an alarm clock, and simply lay on the bed, urging Anna to go to bed quickly.
Anna: "."
Seven o'clock comes quietly.
The door of 201 was slowly opened a crack, and after confirming that there was no one else, Terry and Anna got out.
The next step is to go down this staircase.
Take a deep breath and step on the stairs slowly.
Creak.
This sound seemed to echo through the entire town in Terry's ears.
He held Anna's hand tightly and walked down as normally as possible without stopping.
Then, he showed a subconscious smile and was about to say something to the old man John who didn't know if he was old man John, but he saw that the bar was empty.
Good opportunity.
The two hurriedly opened the door and walked out. At this time, the snow was still falling, and they could barely move through the snow.
"It should be this way." Before Terry could finish his words, he saw the truck that had given them a ride slowly approaching.
And it was Heyman who was driving.
He lowered the window and looked at the two of them. The atmosphere suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
Terry swallowed and was about to explain, but Heyman spoke first: "Don't eat fish."
Terry was surprised: "It's you! You give it to us Reminder? But why."
"Get in the car and explain inside." Heyman shook his head and closed the window.
Terry didn't hesitate, pulled Anna and ran into the car.
Haiman didn’t stop any longer and continued driving forward.
"They are really two brave young people. They don't know where this place is and they dare to break into it." Heyman said with his tongue.
Such a tone made Terry relax a lot.
"Uncle Heyman, what is the situation in this town?"
"No, no, I'm not Heyman." Heyman shook his head and turned to look at Terry without looking at the road ahead. His face changed suddenly and turned out to be that of old John.
“!” Terry’s eyes widened and he couldn’t speak.
"Hahaha, I'm not kidding anymore." After another change, a girl with a delicate appearance, an oriental face, who looked to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old appeared in front of her.
The corner of Terry's mouth twitched, knowing that he had encountered Chaofan, and he didn't quite believe that this was the other person's true face.
“I have been in this town for more than half a year. I have seen many tourists come here, but in the end, all those who stayed were reduced to those things. No one can resist the temptation of fish. It's interesting that you are not affected." The girl looked at the two of them curiously.
Staying in such a weird town for more than half a year? It is indeed extraordinary. Terry felt that if he stayed there just one more day, he would go crazy.
“I don’t know very well, I just think this town is very scary. Please tell me, how do you call it?” , you are lucky, I didn’t intend to meddle in other people’s business, but seeing that you can get rid of the temptation, I also want to see if that guy from the gold rush town is that person. Of course, the most important thing is, I heard that this gang The boss of Yutou showed up at the Big Fish Banquet this time. I was afraid of being exposed, so I ran away and took you with me."
During the exchange, Terry finally understood what was strange about Yutou Town. .
The fish and meat there are all problematic. As long as you eat them, you will slowly turn into a fishman. The more you eat, the faster you will become. And this truck is for the surrounding inland areas. The town transports fish and meat, and now I am afraid that the nearby towns have become like this town, completely reduced to the territory of fishmen.
"What about those tourists who ate fish and then left?" Terry asked in disbelief. Those people were not a minority.
"As long as you have eaten it, you can't escape." Hu Qi looked serious, "I just discovered such a gang leader when I was traveling. When I was about to kill him, he turned into a fish. People escaped from my hands. Later, I launched an investigation and found this town. I guess everyone who has eaten fish can be summoned and become a fishman as long as their leader needs it.”
After Terry listened, he was silent for a long time.
Combined with the official favoritism, the top leaders of this country will not have...
"We're here, get out of the car. I'm afraid of being blown up if I drive too close." Hu Qi got out of the car and considered it. Next, his face changed again, completely revealing his true form.
Fox ears, fox tail, and fox mask.
It was because of this mask and her shrewd temperament that she was able to hide under the noses of the fishmen in the town for more than half a year. She even had the audacity to pretend to be Old John in the tavern when she got bored at night. Practice your fried rice skills.
Because there were not many people eating at night and there were not many supplies missing, it didn’t attract much attention.
Even if Old John was suspicious, he couldn't find any traces.
Terry's threshold has been raised a lot, which does not surprise him. Now he is more worried about Anna. Her illness seems to be serious again.
The few people walked slowly, and soon they could vaguely see the outline of the abandoned town.
“Stop.”
A male voice came from the front.
Then, a shadow outline slowly appeared in the wind and snow, and layers of mist seemed to appear on the other party's body.
Hu Qi stopped: "We have no ill intentions. These two are ordinary people I saved from the small town."
The figure paused, and his tone became a little excited inexplicably: "Are you a fox? Do you know a jade-faced fox or a ghost-faced fox?"
Hu Qi was startled. Their family seemed to be the same. When it comes to the code name of Seven, hearing what the other party said, he has actually seen other fox people!
"I am Fox Seven. I have never heard of these two names. Have you seen other fox people? If so, can you tell me any clues about them?"
That said The figure seemed a little disappointed, but he continued to walk over.
"You may have heard of my name, Seigo Ito."
Ito, whose face was still terrifying, slowly walked out of the snow and appeared in front of them.
(End of this chapter)