Chapter 1 Somalia

  The scorching sun bakes the earth and also bakes the sparse wild grass that sways in the sea breeze.

  Treading on the road already covered with sand and gravel, Li Lan walked while gazing around, her entire body wrapped tightly in a layer of black cloth. The hands hidden under the black clothes grasped a handgun tightly, and the heavy pockets of her jacket were filled with rifle bullets.

  The black fabric under the scorching sun made Li Ran feel extremely uncomfortable with every step, and the only exposed eyes were already filled with sweat at the corners.

  Li Ran really wanted to tear off the black cloth wrapped around his body, throw it on the ground and trample it fiercely. But he didn't dare do so, because his skin was too conspicuous in this place. Once the people here saw it, the gun in his hand would instantly become a death warrant. Even if the people here were not hostile to yellow-skinned people, Li Ran did not dare use his own life to verify the rumors he had heard before.

  This is a vast expanse of desertified plain, with occasional waves crashing in the distance reminding people that the sea is not far away.

  After half an hour of trekking, a camel herd was faintly visible in the distance. Seeing this, Li Lan felt relieved and drank the last mouthful of plain water from her canteen.

  "Clang! Clang!" A rapid horseshoe sound approached, a black man full of African flavor riding a horse rushed towards Li Ran.

  No warm welcome, but the AK-47 with scratches all over it was raised from the horseback, its muzzle ready to aim at Li Ran at any time, and a string of unintelligible words came out of his mouth.

  Although in Li Ran's eyes, all black people looked almost the same, he still recognized him at a glance, the black man riding a horse in front of him.

  Li Ran didn't hesitate to pull down the cloth wrapped around her head, revealing a delicate-looking Eastern face. In simple English, she said: "Muhammad, my friend, it's me."

  The black Muhammad also recognized Li Ran, put down his gun, turned over and got off the horse, walked over with excitement, patted Li Ran's shoulder, laughed loudly, gestured and said in broken English: "Nice to see you, my friend."

  Li Ran was also very happy to pat the other's shoulder, once again wrapping her face up, and then followed the other to a nearby dilapidated village, entering the only small house made of cement here.

  This is a village with less than 100 people, except for the house of Muhammad which is made of concrete, all other villagers live in wooden sheds, some are just houses covered with thick paper. It doesn't look like a village, more like a refugee camp.

  As soon as she entered the house, Li Ran took over the water handed over by Muhanmudi and gulped down several mouthfuls.

  Muhammad on one side hastily spoke: "Friends who have come from China, did you bring the goods?"

  As a wealthy Mohamud in the local area, owning over 100 camels, he often traded in the nearby city of Bosaso and also studied for several years at the University of East Africa, where his English was still passable.

  Li Ran arrived here three days ago and got to know him, because in the whole village only Muhanmudi could have a basic conversation with him. Also, Muhanmudi had the food Li Ran needed, so for these three days, Li Ran came every day to exchange things for food with Muhanmudi.

  "Same as yesterday, twenty rifle bullets for ten dollars' worth of food." Listening to the somewhat awkward English, Li Lan took out the twenty bullets that still smelled of gunpowder from her pocket.

  Muhammad examined the bullets that Li Lan took out, and after finishing the examination, he gave Li Lan a thumbs up and said frankly: "My friend, very good, they are all brand new bullets. These bullets can be sold for twenty-five dollars at the market."

  "Of course, what I bring won't be bad." Li Lan said confidently.

  "Wait for me, friend!" Muhanmudi carefully picked up the bullets and walked into the inner room. Half a minute later, he came out with an additional package in his hand.

  "This is what you wanted, the camel milk and camel meat are the freshest, and inside there's also banana steamed rice and cornbread that I just made this morning."

  Taking over the package, Li Lan replied to Muhammad's words: "Thank you very much."

  "Haha!" Muhanmudi seemed to be excited about Li Lan's thanks, and said: "Li, you should know that I am a Muslim. Although I am not a qualified true believer, we Muslims like to help friends who come from afar with difficulties. You Chinese people have helped us Somalis build railways before, so I would be happy to help you. If you were French, no matter how many bullets you brought, I wouldn't give you food."

  "We Chinese also value friendship, tomorrow I will bring more bullets. My friend, now I have to go." Although Muhanmudi seemed very friendly towards him, Li Lan still didn't want to stay too long in this place that made him feel so insecure.

  "Goodbye, my friend." Muhanmu took out a water bag and put it in Li Lan's hand.

  "Goodbye!"

  With Muhammad by his side, Li Ran walked out of the village and bid farewell to each other. Watching Muhammad continue to take care of his camel herd, Li Ran hid the strap full of food in his black robe and set foot on the "way home".

  When the camel group was no longer in sight behind him, Li Ran finally let out a breath of relief. Although he had just been chatting with his opponent, they had known each other for too short a time, and Li Ran had always been on guard. The gun under his black robe had its safety catch off at all times. If his opponent made any unexpected move, Li Ran wouldn't mind striking first.

  Twenty bullets for a day's food, this is also an adventurous act under no circumstances. This is East Africa, this is Somalia, and food is the scarcest thing here.

  The first time he came here, he was prepared to be robbed, fortunately the people he met were not without any moral concept, although twenty bullets were discounted and exchanged for food, but in a country with an average income of less than $500 and zero industrial foundation, twenty bullets could sell for $25, which is already a good income. However, Li Lan did not think about these things.

  Because these bullets must be taken to the big city market to sell at such a price, and coming here has already made Li Lan worried. The city is currently a forbidden area for Li Lan. It's best not to enter the city before he has his own armed forces.

  Walking alone on the desertified plain, Li Ran had already adapted to this loneliness.

  Li Lan has been alone since she was a child, with no relatives in sight. Loneliness is completely unfamiliar to Li Lan.

  An unexpected trip to Somalia, Li Ran felt lonely again. However, this taste of loneliness, he actually enjoyed very much. Because it was quiet, and in the stillness, he could think clearly about many things.

  Sometimes, Li Lan feels that this life is just a scam. One small deception after another, as the years go by, they are crushed and become a huge lie.

  Since he was a child, living in an orphanage, people always told him not to lie, but wanting to grow up and survive in this world, you must first learn how to lie.

  This is contradictory, yet clearly revealing human nature. There are always many voices in your ear telling you: to be the first, to enter a prestigious university, to make a lot of money, to have a house and a car, to carry on the family line, to work hard for the sake of children and family. And so, this life just passes by in a daze.

  If you are willing to stop and think about it, you will find that there is always an invisible force and inertia pulling your nose along the way, all the way to the Western Sky.

  This world is getting busier and busier, but it has formed a solid circle with layers of walls. From the day people are born and become conscious, they are destined to be busy running around in circles, never having time to stop and ask themselves: why?

  Because once you stop, you will be surpassed by others and ruthlessly abandoned by the fast-paced life. So it is destined that no one can escape their fate.

  Unless one day you can stand at the peak and look down on all things.

  Li Ran sometimes wonders if the existence of this world is just a conspiracy, and that the powerful conspirators hiding behind the scenes are trying to numb everyone's thinking with material desires, making people think that life is just birth, aging, illness, and death, just a dull and suffocating process from obscure birth to obscure death.

  If it is said that everyone's life lives in a conspiracy, then this conspirator is undoubtedly the real strongman, who skillfully weaves a soul-stirring net filled with seven emotions and six desires, using human selfish desires to control the world.

  What kind of temperament is this? Who can possess it?

  Li Lan didn't dare think about it before, because he thought he didn't have the capital for it, and his brainless arrogance would ultimately bury himself.

  Now, Li Ran is very confident that this idea of becoming a supreme ruler and controlling the world is worthy of being her goal.

  This is somewhat arrogant, but what can be done? You are arrogant and cannot escape death, you are not arrogant and still die. Life only has this life, it's not to make yourself worthy, but to make the cruel game of human life that may pass in a few decades like a dream worthwhile.

  Pessimistic people are worried about the impermanence of life and the brevity of divine providence. Optimistic people laugh and sing, treating life as a play that goes on year after year.

  After all, attitude determines everything, including your destiny.

  And now, Li Lan has to survive in Somalia where killings are never scarce.

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