The Cyanided Heart

Buford struggled to sit up.Cold sweat drenched his back, and he seemed to have had a long dream, but the content of the dream had been completely forgotten.

"God bless. You're awake, Buford."

It was Reed's voice.Buford watched Reed walk into the tent, and Amy and Kate showed two heads behind Reed.

"B... Buford, I'm so sorry!" Kate said loudly to Buford.

"Hey... from the looks of you, you already know." Buford smiled wryly, "Reed must have told you too. Don't apologize, it's just a trivial matter."

"Children, don't take it to heart." Reed spread his hands, "Buffford, take them to search for supplies, and let them get acquainted with the surrounding environment by the way."

"Understood!" Buford gestured as if recovering his energy.

...

The three of them walked down the mountain along the path.The dew condenses on the weeds, melted into the soil by the disturbance of footsteps.

"This is the outskirts of Leningrad." Buford folded his arms, "Our shelter is not far from the place where the German army attacked yesterday... so we should pay more attention."

"I don't know how many more people have been taken away..." Amy looked dark, "...like mom and dad."

"Don't be too pessimistic." Buford patted Amy, "Although many things may not be as expected, it is better to believe than not to believe."

...

"My task is to search for usable items for the camp." Buford took out the binoculars. "The Soviet army occasionally airdrops supplies to some remote areas. If I'm lucky, I can bring more things back."

"Buford...do you find it hard?" Amy asked.

Buford smiled and shook his head: "I am very satisfied to be able to follow Mr. John and do something for him. Without him, I don't know what I am now."

"What does Reed do?" Kate scratched her head. "Organizing a shelter by one person... Is that what ordinary people can do?"

"Reed... said he was a retired soldier." Buford sighed, "Retirement is only in line with his appearance age. The real reason is...he was discharged in an operation."

Buford paused: "He told me... because he wanted to help more war victims, so he and I searched for fleeing people and formed a temporary shelter."

"Reed...is great." Amy sighed.

The three walked cautiously through the woods.A large cardboard box that had been disassembled caught their eyes, which should have been taken away by people who fled here and nearby residents.

"Are there any houses here?" Kate asked curiously.

"There should be." Buford replied while flipping through the box, "Basically all the household items inside have been taken away, and the fugitives don't need these. It should be taken by the residents."

Searched for nearly half an hour.Buford dug out some bandages and painkillers, and Amy and Kate dug out a few tins and compressed biscuits.

"It's not much, but it's not bad." Buford smiled, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's okay!" Kate smiled, "The supplies are almost there. Let's go back quickly!"

"Well, let's distribute it." Buford handed the bandages to Amy, "Amy takes the bandages, and Kate takes the painkillers. I'll get the cans and compressed biscuits."

The three returned to camp.Reed seemed to be repairing a tent. Seeing Buford and his party, Reed wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled at them.

"Is it going well? Children." Reed asked, "How's the harvest?"

"How should I put it?" Buford spread the things in the hands of the three on the table, "When we went, there was nothing left, especially weapons."

"Thank you for your hard work." Reed smiled, "Take a rest, and then help me distribute these supplies to everyone here."

"Obey!" Buford saluted respectfully.

...

Kate lay in the tent with her arms pillowed, while Amy flipped through battered comic books.Buford looked out of the tent with a glass of water.

"Hey, Buford, what are you thinking?" Kate moved closer to Buford and poked his waist.

"Ah...it's nothing." Buford took a sip of water, "I just think Reed is really good, and I'm also... very happy to work with him."

"I'm sorry... Buford. . . . Are you still thinking about that memory loss?" Kate sighed.Buford put down his glass, folded his arms and looked up at the sky.

"Although they didn't mean it." Buford held his face, "Of course... how can I be unforgettable."

"Sorry...for reminding you of something bad."

"What are you talking about, it's not your fault." Buford smiled, "Don't blame yourself, Kate."

The intercom beside him beeped, and Buford pressed the call button.Only Reed's urgent voice came from the intercom.

"Something has happened, Buford." Reed said in a low voice, "I hope this is not the last time I order you. I want you to tell the people in the camp to get out of here... especially your partners, get them out of here ,hurry up."

"Reed...Reed? Where are you?" Buford frantically pressed the intercom, but no one answered.The roar of the plane passed overhead, and there was a huge explosion in the distance.

"It's the German army, let's go!..." Reed's voice was interrupted halfway through, and he could hear gunshots and explosions from his side.Buford stood where he was, staring blankly at the intercom.

"Hey, are you kidding me..." Kate stepped back, "Obviously... not long ago it was so peaceful, but now..."

Tears welled up in Buford's eyes.But he closed his eyes resolutely, and pulled Kate and Amy out of the camp.

"Everyone! Please get out of here quickly, and run as far as you can!" Buford made his hands into trumpet shapes.

The people in the tent left the tent after hearing Buford's call, and fled in different directions through the forest.

"Let's go!" Bufod dragged Amy and Kate and ran deep into the forest.The next moment the explosion was behind them, in the camp they had thought was safe not so long ago.

I don't know how long I ran.Kate summoned up the courage to turn her head, and vaguely saw German vehicles approaching the camp.

"There's a cliff ahead, we have no choice...jump!" Buford gasped, "Hold your head!"

"Hey! Buford, are you serious?" Kate looked forward, and the cliff seemed very high.

"Yeah...yes...so we will definitely die..." Amy said out of breath.

"There's no time!" Buford pushed the two off the cliff, then jumped off himself.There was another explosion.Looking up, the place where the three of them stood just now was scattered with dust.