Soon, the white, snowy plains outside the airplane window gave way to a majestic, desolate mountain range.
The contours of the snow-covered mountains stood out sharply against the azure sky. Some peaks were sharp and steep, while others were gentler, rolling on endlessly like a great white dragon coiled upon the earth.
Lawyer Frank explained, "Below us is the Brooks Range in Alaska. The Brooks Range is the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains, stretching 1,000 kilometers east to west from the Chukchi Sea to the Yukon Region, and is 129 kilometers wide.
"Once we cross the Arctic Gate of the Brooks Range, we will officially enter the Far North Tundra Region. That's where Mr. Feng lived."
'Desolate!'
Through the porthole, all he could see of the rolling mountain range was desolation upon desolation.
When he'd first landed, he could at least see traces of modern society. But as the plane flew further north, all that gave way to ever-increasing barrenness and bleakness.
'My grand-uncle lived here all by himself?' Feng Shan found it hard to imagine how an old man could live in such a godforsaken place.
Lawyer Frank nodded.
"Yes. Mr. Feng was the only person living within a several-hundred-kilometer radius. The Far North Tundra is the coldest and driest region in Alaska, with an average temperature of 3°C, dropping to as low as -60°C in extreme conditions."
"I hope you can make a decision soon. The Far North Tundra is about to enter winter, and the fee Mr. Feng paid is only enough for this one trip."
"First, let me give you a brief tour of the Crown Territory."
With that, Lawyer Frank patted the pilot's shoulder. The pilot nodded, turned the plane in the air, and carved a wide arc across the sky.
「Not long after.」
The plane appeared above three snowy peaks, and Lawyer Frank spoke.
"From here on out, everything is within the bounds of the Crown Territory. That includes three mountain peaks with an average elevation of 1,800 meters and the glacial Melt River area between them."
Feng Shan looked through the porthole. Below was a rolling Snow Mountain Range, with three prominent, snow-capped mountains arranged in a triangular formation.
The mountains on either side were like outstretched arms, encircling a vast Glacial River Beach carved out by meltwater. This formed a mountain basin filled with glaciers and stones of all sizes littering the riverbed. A meandering river flowed out of the mountains.
The plane flew over the snowy mountains.
Lawyer Frank then pointed below the plane, toward a large, semi-circular forest near the edge of the mountain range.
"Down there is the Moonlight Forest, the only large-scale forest belt in the Far North Tundra. It's hard to imagine how it manages to grow in such a harsh environment. It's truly a masterpiece from God."
Feng Shan followed his finger.
A dense, colorful forest spread out at the foot of the mountains.
After flying over the Moonlight Forest, a vast lake came into view. The water was a stunning sapphire blue, like a giant gemstone inlaid in the earth, shimmering with a dreamlike glow under the sun.
The meandering Melt River, flowing down from the snow-capped mountains, emptied into this lake.
At the edge of the lake was a colorful expanse of tundra that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Low-lying plants like mosses and short shrubs were colored in reds, oranges, and yellows. The landscape was interspersed with streams and pools, forming a stark contrast with the desolate, snowy mountains. Bathed in sunlight, it looked like an oil painting unfolding before his eyes.
"Feng, the forest you just saw, as well as this Gem Lake and part of the Tundra, are all part of the Crown Territory."
Feng Shan pieced together the Snow Mountain Range, the forest, the lake, and the Tundra in his mind, and the shape of a crown emerged.
The three peaks of the Snow Mountain Range formed the shape of the crown. The Moonlight Forest was its filigree, the sapphire-blue Gem Lake was the brilliant gem set upon it, and the Tundra was the pedestal on which the crown rested.
'No wonder it's called the Crown Territory.'
At that moment, the pilot turned around, shouted something, and made a gesture.
Lawyer Frank nodded and pointed out the window. "The plane has reached Mr. Feng's camp. We're preparing to land."
'We're here?'
Feng Shan pressed his face to the window and looked in the direction Lawyer Frank was pointing.
In the direction of the lakeside Highland, a section of the Snow Mountain Range looked as if it had been forcibly chopped in half. The cross-section of the mountain was as steep and straight as if it had been carved with a knife.
And there, below that knife-like cliff, was a yellow bus, completely out of place in the surrounding environment.
'There's a bus in this godforsaken dump?'
The next moment, the pilot brutally shoved the rudder pedals.
The plane plummeted in a sudden, rapid descent. The feeling of weightlessness made Feng Shan clutch the armrest in terror, while Coca-Cola trembled in his arms. After touching down, the fuselage bounced violently a few times before coming to a steady stop.
He pushed open the cabin door.
Feng Shan eagerly jumped out of the plane. His legs felt like jelly as he stood on the snow-covered ground, and only then did he dare to breathe a sigh of relief.
He looked up at the scenery before him. On one side were the white, snow-covered mountains; on the other, the desolate Tundra.
The icy air brushed against his cheeks. It was cold, but Feng Shan found it exceptionally clean and fresh.
"Buddy, grab this stuff."
Frank tossed a few boxes of supplies out of the cabin. He turned and said a few words to the pilot, then walked over to Feng Shan and pointed at the ground. "If you decide to stay, remember to protect this runway at all costs. It'll be your only lifeline."
"Tom only gave me half an hour. It's getting dark soon, and flying at night is dangerous."
After saying that, the two of them picked up the supply boxes and walked along the lake shore toward his grand-uncle's place.
As they got closer, the mountain peak he had noticed from the plane now appeared before him in much sharper detail.
The peak soared into the clouds as if trying to break through the sky, giving off an intense, oppressive feeling. Its steep, straight cliff face was as smooth and flat as if it had been meticulously carved with a knife.
Lawyer Frank introduced it in a low voice.
"Mr. Feng called it Beheading Mountain. In reality, it was constantly polished by the impact of the Arctic winds, which gradually smoothed its originally rough surface. But don't worry, this mountain range is made of granite, so it's very safe."
"Let's go. Time is limited. I'll take you on a tour of the camp. I hope you like it."
Feng Shan followed behind Lawyer Frank, crossed a log bridge, and climbed up to the Highland. The first thing that caught his eye was a fence.
Incredibly, the entire fence was built from antlers. The antlers, large and small and in all different shapes, were interwoven to form a unique barrier.
'So many antlers in this fence... how many deer had to be killed for this? If this were back home, my grand-uncle would have been in prison for life.'
"These antlers are from reindeer and moose. Mr. Feng was an excellent Hunter," Lawyer Frank explained nonchalantly. "Buddy, don't underestimate the purpose of these antlers. At the border of the Brooks Range and the Tundra, gray wolves, brown bears, black bears, and bobcats often appear. This will keep you safe."
'Wolves?'
'Brown bears and black bears?'
'Bobcats?'
Feng Shan's expression turned a little stiff.
Accompanied by Lawyer Frank, he walked through the fence into an open area about half the size of a soccer field. The ground had clearly been carefully prepared, paved with a layer of stones so there was no muddy feeling when walking on it.
At the far end of the clearing was the heart of the camp: his grand-uncle's residence, the yellow bus parked beneath Beheading Cliff.
The entire bus was propped up on thick logs. A wooden cabin was attached to the rear, and an open-air woodshed connected the two. Neatly chopped firewood was stacked at the front of the bus.
"Come on!" Lawyer Frank waved him over. He fumbled along the top of the bus door for a moment, found a key, and opened it.
Stepping into the bus, the wooden floorboards gave a solid feeling underfoot. Though the space was cramped, it instantly exuded a unique warmth.
The interior of the bus had been double-sealed with logs for insulation. The rounded pieces of wood gave off a faint, woody scent, which not only added to the warmth but also filled the entire space with a primitive, rustic beauty. Even with the bone-chilling cold outside, he could feel a cozy warmth inside the bus.
The bus was divided into three sections.
The front was set up as a kitchen. Although compact, the various cooking utensils were arranged in an orderly fashion.
The middle served as a small living room. It was small but had everything one could need: a wood stove, a bookshelf, a desk, and a chair.
A lounge chair was placed by the stove, with a view of the scenery outside the window. The bookshelf, built from a tree trunk, was filled with books.
He could imagine his grand-uncle, when he was alive, lying in that chair, reading a book, and warming himself by the stove—a unique kind of leisure and tranquility.
The rear of the bus was the bedroom. Though not large, it was enough to provide a quiet sleeping space when one was tired.
Feng Shan walked around the bus, feeling the warmth and peace that came from every detail. He could imagine how his grand-uncle, who had once lived here, had spent countless simple yet wonderful days in this cramped but cozy bus.
"Buddy, come with me. There's something very important I need to tell you!" Lawyer Frank stood in front of the living room desk. On it was a black box with an antenna, looking like a cross between a radio and a telephone.
When Feng Shan got closer, Lawyer Frank pointed to the black box and began to explain.
"This is a radio transceiver. It's your only connection to the outside world in the Far North Tundra. However, due to interference from the Brook Mountain Range, the radio can only connect with small towns in the Far North Region. I'll teach you how to use it."
As he spoke, Lawyer Frank turned on the radio's power, tuned it to the public channel, picked up the handset, and called out, "Hello, hello, this is Crown Territory, come in if you can hear me."
After a short while,
some static crackled from the radio transceiver.
"Kobek Town receiving. Frank, what are you doing out at Crown Territory?"
"Kevik Camp receiving. Frank, how is Feng doing?"
"Barrow receiving. Is Feng out of the hospital?"
"Noatak receiving. Tell Feng, when is that seal oil he ordered going to be delivered?"
"Point Laya receiving. Little Frank, say hello to Feng for me."
...