I don’t know whether it was luck that he wasn’t discovered, or the soldiers of the expeditionary force simply didn’t like this solitary kid and didn’t want to waste cannonballs on him.
In the open area of a few hundred meters of shallows, Onozuka Jin moved very slowly because of his leg injury. He had to walk for more than half an hour just to cover this small distance, but miraculously he did not face any threat.
This made Jiro Yoshino on the other side of the island very excited. If he had known about it, he would have gone with him.
No matter what, the big island opposite is better than where I am. The main force of the alliance is basically there. Maybe the situation there is much better than this.
It's a pity that Onozuka Jin opposite couldn't hear what he was thinking, and the figure disappeared into the woods in a few breaths...
This island is very large. Along the forest path, you can vaguely see some dilapidated thatched houses, which are the houses of local indigenous people.
Since the Japanese troops arrived on the island, these natives have fled to death, and their homes have been devastated. Many rotting and stinking corpses can be seen on the roadside, including natives and Japanese.
Following Yoshino Jiro's instructions, Onozuka Jin slowly came to the center of the island with a walking stick.
He met a few soldiers along the way, but they didn't pay any attention to him. At most, they just glanced at him and ignored him.
Perhaps wounded soldiers like Onozuka Hitoshi are no longer surprising in the eyes of the opponent.
Finally passing through the forest, what came into view was a two-story bamboo building with a dozen Japanese soldiers sitting crookedly outside.
Their faces were sallow and thin, their eyes were unfocused, and they were huddled together like zombies. Their hands and feet were basically bandaged, and their whole bodies exuded a stench. They felt as if they were about to die soon.
You could smell an unpleasant stench before you even walked in, which made Onozuka Jin frown. It seemed that the situation here was worse than that of the team.
"Excuse me, is this the regiment medical center?" Onozuka Jin walked forward lamely and tentatively asked a Japanese soldier.
The man glanced at him expressionlessly, his sunken eyes were lifeless, as if he didn't even bother to raise his head, turned around and lay down on his own.
I asked several people one after another and all had the same attitude. Some people even began to look him up and down maliciously, with penetrating eyes like looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Onozuka Ren felt bad, as if he shouldn't be here at all.
He was right, because most of the main force of the alliance was hidden on this island. There were too many monks and too little rice. Even the roots of the wild vegetables and trees had been chewed up, and even the weeds and leaves on the roadside were not spared.
This also led to many soldiers accidentally eating poisonous plants and getting stomach upset, causing severe pain.
What's more, they became hungry and began to eat the corpses of their companions. Some were infected with malaria, suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and many died of dehydration and shock.
Disease is spreading in the army, and they don't dare to eat randomly anymore after learning from the past, but many people still die of illness and starvation every day.
There is no hope at all in this hell-like world. Many little devils have completely given up on survival. Unable to bear the torture, they have committed suicide in search of relief.
Some Japanese soldiers have long lost their minds and will do anything to survive.
"Who's making all the noise outside?"
Just then, a shirtless Japanese man came out of the house cursing.
He looked like a withered old tree, his upper body was only skin and bones, but he was still in good spirits. He was a bit old, and his goatee was a little gray.
"Simimasai, are you a doctor at the medical center?" Onozuka Ren asked bravely.
The goateeed veteran looked up and down curiously. After seeing his leg injury, he said inexplicably: "I am a military doctor, yes, but I don't have room here. If you want to die, stay away."
"Oh no, I just wanted to..."
Before he finished speaking, the veteran military doctor suddenly laughed out loud: "You are so injured, do you have the nerve to come to our wing hospital?"
As he spoke, the military doctor opened the door curtain of the cabin.
A stench hits my face...
Gosh!
There were more than twenty patients lying around inside, all kinds of filth were everywhere, flies and mosquitoes were everywhere, and the unpleasant smell was nauseating.
These patients were sallow and skinny, even worse than the soldiers outside. It was obvious that they were all terminally ill and dying bodies, just left here to wait for death.
Seeing Onozuka Jin who was so frightened that he froze in place, the military doctor showed a look of disdain.
I have the nerve to come to the United Medical Clinic even though I have a leg injury. I really don’t know where the confidence comes from.
Just when Onozuka was stunned, the military doctor's eyes flashed with light, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.
"What's this!?"
The veteran opened Onozuka Jin's jacket pocket, and the two wild sweet potatoes inside suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
"What are you doing? This is mine!"
The military doctor did not hesitate to take out the bayonet he carried and pointed it at the opponent. His expression instantly became extremely ferocious, and he shouted ferociously: "Bring it to me!"
The moral bottom line and the benevolence of doctors are worthless in front of food in desperate situations.
Faced with this sudden threat, Onozuka Jin was completely stunned. He didn't know what to do for a moment, and the sweet potato in his hand was also taken away by the other party.
The two soldiers closest to the door heard the commotion and seemed to realize that there was something good. They immediately came over to get a share of the pie.
The military doctor quickly put the sweet potato into his trouser pocket, raised his bayonet and stared fiercely at the people in front of him, like an old dog guarding its food, with a tendency to attack if there was a disagreement.
Onozuka Ren watched quietly from the side. They were like a group of wild beasts biting each other for food. They were inhumane and did not look like soldiers of the Japanese Empire.
As if they were afraid of the military doctor's status and prestige, the two soldiers finally smiled and said they meant no harm, and slowly backed away.
Because they know that the military doctors here can at least solve some of their injuries and relieve their pain. Although the effect is very limited, it is better than sitting and waiting to die.
Those who were joining in the fun outside the yard just looked at them and left angrily. No one wanted to meddle in other people's business.
The military doctor then put away his bayonet, and when he was about to enter the room, he saw Onozuka Hitoshi who had not yet left. His green eyes turned, as if he was thinking about something.
"What else do you want to do? Don't... don't come here!"
Seeing the opponent slowly approaching, Onozuka Ren was so frightened that he backed away.
"Hey, boy, don't you want to heal your leg?"
The military doctor raised his hand and beckoned outside: "Here are two people, help me hold him down."
The old guy's words were very effective, and the soldiers sitting at the door immediately came over obediently.
Before Onozuka Jin could react, several people rushed forward and worked together to knock him down.
"Let me go! What are you doing!? Help, help!"
Onozuka Jin struggled desperately, but the opponent was outnumbered and he was too weak due to his leg injury, so he was soon pressed to the ground unable to move.
(End of chapter)
