"Alright, let's eat."
Aruk couldn't wait any longer, and he used both hands to fight against the hard crab shell.
"We have to drink. We absolutely have to drink."
Aruk's mouth was stuffed with crab meat, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's, and he called out to the waiter indistinctly.
"The best bourbon. Two bottles, no, three. Put it on Su Wei's tab."
The waiter quickly brought over amber-colored bourbon whiskey and a thick-bottomed glass.
I drove.
Su Wei stopped Aruk from pouring the wine.
"Oh, what's there to be afraid of?"
Aruk pushed Su Wei's hand away and poured half a cup without saying a word.
"I've already made arrangements. Do you remember my cousin Cartier?"
"I've already spoken to him beforehand and asked him to help. Send Uncle Black and Silas back first, then I'll take you."
Aruk patted his chest, his face showing an expression that said, "You can trust me to handle things."
"No one can run away tonight; this is a victory celebration for our brothers who have been through thick and thin together."
Su Wei looked at the swirling liquid in his glass, then at Aruk, whose face was full of anticipation, and at Old Kash, who was raising his glass in a gesture of greeting.
Refusing at this point would seem too heartless.
"OK."
Su Wei picked up his wine glass and stood up.
"But this first toast is to that bear."
The crowd paused for a moment. The noisy restaurant seemed to have created a vacuum around this table.
Even Silas, who had been busy dealing with food, raised his head, a strange light flashing in his turbid single eye.
Respect your opponent.
Black raised his glass, his tone solemn.
"Respect the wilderness."
Old Kash followed, his voice low.
"A gift of 120,000 US dollars."
Aruk shouted.
Four heavy glasses collided in mid-air.
"Ding!"
The spicy bourbon slid down my throat, burned into my stomach, dispelled the chill, and ignited the restlessness in my blood.
The atmosphere became completely lively.
Fueled by alcohol, Aruk began to boast animatedly about his upcoming plan.
"... I've got my eye on it. That ship, though a bit old, has just had its engine overhauled. I'm going to the deeper waters; there you'll find bluefin tuna of this size..."
Aruk exaggeratedly gestured a length, almost spilling the black pepper sauce on the table.
"If I catch just one, really just one, I can make a down payment on a house in Anchorage."
Old Kash, standing nearby, mercilessly poured cold water on the idea. "Come on, with your seasickness, you might vomit on the fish and kill them."
Laughter erupted from all sides.
Su Wei leaned back in his chair, peeling a scallop in his hand, a smile on his lips as he watched the scene unfold before him.
He enjoyed this lively atmosphere, this uninhibited spirit of eating meat and drinking wine heartily even when life was tough.
Have you thought about what to do with your hunted game?
Black suddenly spoke.
"I was just about to say that, teacher. I might need a taxidermist's call."
Su Wei put down his wine glass and turned to look at Black.
Black nodded, took a slip of paper out of his pocket, and handed it over.
"Find him. Tell him Black recommended him. He's the top taxidermist on the island."
"Very good."
Su Wei accepted it with a smile, clearly indicating that Black had anticipated this.
"Buzz"
My phone, which was on the corner of the table, suddenly vibrated.
The screen lights up.
Su Wei glanced at it, and paused slightly in his scallop-peeling motion.
Emily.
Upon seeing this name, Su Wei felt the surrounding liveliness vanish instantly.
Aruk was still passionately recounting his battle with the shark, spittle flying everywhere, while no one noticed the flicker of doubt in Su Wei's eyes.
Su Wei put down his fork and picked up his phone.
"I need to take this call."
He whispered something to Black beside him.
Black nodded, not asking who it was, but simply poured himself another drink.
Su Wei got up, walked through the hall, and pushed open the glass door on the side of the restaurant.
"Hoo €€€€"
A cold wind, carrying the salty smell of the sea, swept over us, and the world fell silent instantly.
All that remained was the sound of waves crashing against the pier and the distant whistles of fishing boats.
Su Wei took a deep breath; the cold air cleared his slightly tipsy mind considerably.
He looked at the dark sea in the distance and pressed the answer button.
"Hey, Emily."
It was quiet on the other end of the receiver, with only the slight sound of papers turning.
" Su Wei."
The girl's voice was soft, tinged with weariness, and tinged with a cautious tentativeness.
"Did I disturb you? I think I heard a lot of noise over there just now."
"No. I'm having dinner with Aruk and the others to celebrate."
Su Wei leaned against the railing, her voice unconsciously softening.
"What's wrong?"
There was a two-second silence on the other end.
I'm leaving.
These four simple words made Su Wei's fingers tighten suddenly as she gripped her phone, her knuckles turning slightly white.
"So urgent?"
"Yes. My supervisor emailed me to urge me. There's a problem with the group's data, and we need to go back and check it immediately. And... my supervisor is also pressing me for more information."
Emily tried to keep her voice calm, but Su Wei could still hear the regret and helplessness in it.
"Hasn't the previous investigation still been completed?"
"Some of the information in my notes is still usable, and combined with the photos I took before, it's barely enough to put together a first draft."
Emily paused, then lowered her voice.
"We can't delay any longer. If we don't go back now, my credits for this semester will be in jeopardy. You know I have to graduate."
Su Wei remained silent.
He watched the beam of lighthouse light sweep across the sea in the distance.
The beam of light pierced the darkness, briefly illuminating the surging waves, before being quickly swallowed by the darkness again.
He is a hunter in Kodiak, and his future belongs to this cold wilderness and jungle.
She was a college student in Anchorage, her future belonging to bright laboratories and bustling cities.
Even though he knew Emily would return sooner or later, her arrival was so sudden that he was caught off guard.
What time was the plane?
Su Wei asked, his throat feeling a little dry.