Almon’s new house was in another town. It would take two hours to drive there.

  Almon’s mother was called Lalami. When Ji Yinbing arrived, she saw that her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

  “Thank you for coming, Bing.”


  Lala Mibao hugged Ji Yinbing. She was filled with sorrow and could not help but sob again. “I hate war. It took away the fathers of my children and my love.” Lala Mibao let go of Ji Yinbing and ran to a corner to wipe her tears.

  Ji Yinbing sighed silently.

  War was ruthless, but there were always people who were unwilling to be calm and advocated force.

  “Almon, my condolences.” Ji Yinbing patted Little Almon’s shoulder.

  Almon seemed to have grown a lot in an instant.

  His eyes were clearly filled with tears, but he still tried his best to smile at Ji Yinbing. He said, “Bing, I will. From now on, I’m the only man in this family.”


  Ji Yinbing’s heart ached.

  Craven didn’t say much. When he arrived at the room, he picked up Almon’s sister, Sara, and asked her to look out the window.

  Sara was confused. She asked Craven in her local language, “Why is my father lying in that wooden box?”


  Craven could now hear part of the local language clearly. Craven felt terrible after hearing Sara’s words. He was silent for a moment before telling Sara, “Your father is tired and needs rest.”


  “Then when will he wake up?”


  Craven couldn’t answer.

  Ji Yinbing walked over and ruffled Sara’s curly hair. She said, “He’ll wake up when the war is over.”


  “When will the war end?”


  Ji Yinbing looked out of the window.

  The flames of war raged, and the dark sky became filled with desolation. Ji Yinbing sighed. “One day.”


  One day, the war would end and their homes would be rebuilt.

  One day, the children would have a father and the wives would have husbands.

  They would live happily and healthily.

  They ate lunch before officially holding the funeral.

  The few of them first surrounded Almon’s father’s body and sang a song of joy. This was Almon’s father’s request. He said that he hoped that his next life would be like this song’s name and live in a happy world. He hoped that there would never be any war there and that everyone would live in peace.

  Craven knew how to play the harmonica, so he stood aside with the harmonica in his hand and played for them.

  As soon as the song of joy ended, Lalami was the first to walk to the simple coffin and place a flower on Almon’s shoulder. Then Almon, little Sarah, Ji Yinbing, and Craven.

  They sent Father Almon’s body to be cremated. Before it was over, they heard a loud radio on the loudspeaker. The radio content was to remind everyone to evacuate as soon as possible. The war was about to reach them. Hearing this, everyone was shocked. Lala Mi suddenly said to Ji Yinbing, “Hurry up and go back. It’s only safe to stay with the people from the research institute.”


  “Then what about you guys?”.

  “Let’s continue south to South Africa.”


  “I heard that it’s not easy to enter South Africa now. You can only enter illegally?”


  “South Africa is the safest country in this land.” Lalami held the two children’s hands. This thin mother’s gaze became exceptionally firm. “I will take the children to South Africa. Even if there is only a chance of survival, I have to try.”


  “Okay.”


  “I’ll contact you again if we’re safe.”


  Ji Yinbing told her her address in New York City before leaving with Craven.

  They returned to the research institute.

  The research institute was preparing to evacuate.

  All the instruments and information had been packed. The members of the various teams had packed their personal belongings and were carrying their bags, waiting for their return. “Alright, everyone is here, right? The headquarters has decided to let us leave America for the time being. This place is no longer safe.”


  Everyone remained silent, but many of them heaved a sigh of relief.

  es

  Everyone took four buses to the airport. The airport had stopped operating, but headquarters had sent private planes. Ji Yinbing and Craven sat in the same car. In the car, the loudspeaker radio kept broadcasting the battle situation. Craven’s seat was originally by the window, but after he sat down, he said, “There’s a block in front of my car. If an accident happens, it can block it.” He stood up and said to Ji Yinbing, “Come here, let’s change.” Ji Yinbing looked at the metal block and whispered, “Don’t jinx it.” Ji Yinbing shook her head and rejected Craven’s good intentions. “It’s better if you sit by yourself.”


  They hadn’t fastened their seatbelts yet, so Craven pulled Ji Yinbing to his seat.

  After pressing Ji Yinbing into the seat, Craven quickly fastened her seatbelt.

  “Sit tight.”


  Ji Yinbing stared at the seatbelt around her waist for a long time before saying, “Thank you.” She knew that Craven was good, but she couldn’t accept it.

  The three of them were connected, and Craven sat in the middle. On his left was a black girl. She had just arrived at the research institute for more than a month and was still young. She was only about 25 years old. She had yet to adapt to the tense atmosphere in America. Coupled with the fact that she had just discovered that she was pregnant two days ago, she cherished her life more than anything else.

  When she sat in the car, the young lady’s body was tense the entire time, and she looked especially uneasy.

  Craven threw her a bright orange lollipop and comforted her. “Have a candy. The sweetness will make you forget your nervousness.”


  “Th-thank you.”


  Seeing that the little girl was still nervous, Craven tried to find something to say to distract her. “Are you French?” he asked her.

  “Yeah.”


  “What does your boyfriend do?” Craven thought the girl was quite young. She probably wasn’t married.

  In the end, the girl said, “I’m 30 years old this year.”


  Craven was speechless.

  “You look quite young.” So you’re not a young lady.

  The woman smiled.

  No woman would not be proud when she was praised for being young.

  “My husband is a guide photographer.” Afraid that Craven wouldn’t understand, she added, “A professional delayed photographer.”


  “Wow, it’s very cool!” “When he found out that I was pregnant, he was quite worried about me and kept asking me to go back. He can finally go back and be at ease.” The woman smiled frankly and said, “I didn’t come here to work voluntarily. After all, it’s too dangerous here. It was another woman who should have come to America to work, but she slept with our leader.”


  She shrugged and mocked herself. “That’s why I’m here.”


  Craven looked thoughtful.

  Who would like to work in such a dangerous place because they were bored?

  Not everyone was a living lightning bolt.

  Women were not, and neither was he.

  Why was he in G Nation?

  Craven subconsciously tilted his head to look at Ji Yinbing.

  Ji Yinbing was looking out of the window. It was unknown what she was thinking, but her eyes were cold. “Thank you for the candy. I feel much better.”


  The sweetness completely spread in her mouth, and the woman felt more relaxed.

  Craven nodded and turned to look at Ji Yinbing.

  Craven was in a good mood. He sighed and said, “We can finally leave this damn place.”