《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【二十二】邊界線上的慘烈遭遇戰

79
安德森親率黑蝙蝠軍主力，深夜行軍抵達達芬奇小鎮。
鎮上靜悄悄，斥候兵帶著蘿娜和凱斯回來，見了前鋒軍將領鬼夜犬。
鬼夜犬關切問：「你們兩個失蹤的消息傳回來，還以為你們慘遭陳約翰的毒手。」
蘿娜神色鎮定說：「將軍，我們的確在米蘭車站遭遇鬼見愁陳約翰，自知不是陳約翰的對手，所幸及時閃避，才得以安然脫身。」
鬼夜犬不疑有他說：「靠近邊境這幾座城鎮，竟然都人去屋空，你們知道是怎麼回事嗎？」
凱斯故意裝傻說：「我們剛抵達，對此也感到不解。」
鬼夜犬納悶說：「連你們都不清楚，莫非我們的行動走漏風聲，已引起官方戒心？但這一路上走來，我們的確相當低調，就是不想引起官方注意…。」
鬼夜犬隨即帶兩人去大宅院，見安德森，蘿娜和鬼夜犬分別將上情說了。
魯夫想了一下說：「首領，這一路走來，接連幾個城鎮都是空城，我想官方顯然已經 掌握我們的行蹤。」
安德森憂心說：「那我們該怎麼辦？總不能撤退回去…。」
魯夫正色說：「敵人刻意堅壁清野，肯定已完成相當的準備，首領，你想敵人還會給
我們留下退路嗎？接下來我們很可能會遭遇他們強烈的抵抗，甚至是有計畫的圍剿和截擊行動，但我們別無選擇，只能勇往直前，不計一切犧牲，越過邊境檢查站，進入瑞士境內。」
安德森問：「法師，你的意思是敵人會在邊境檢查站佈署重兵，攔截我們？」
魯夫說：「沒錯，我們要有做最壞打算的心理準備。大夥兒養精蓄銳，明晚準備迎接一場正面的遭遇戰吧？」

80
次日，太陽剛下山，邊境檢查站所有軍警和保衛隊成員都已就戰鬥位置。
指揮所裡，陳約翰、阿多諾和馬林警長、幾位鎮長正圍著長桌研討地圖上的幾條山徑。
馬林說：「這幾條山徑，每一道都有一支保衛隊把守，當敵人縱隊大舉強行仰攻上來時，我們就把煤油桶點燃，順勢滾落下去，要他們嚐嚐烈火焚身的滋味。」
尚保羅疑慮說：「主幹道上只有二十人不到的軍警守備，兵力相當薄弱，萬一被敵人識破，集中主力強攻硬打，恐怕會被他們攻下來…。」
陳約翰說：「我料定敵人的軍師魯夫法師，行事向來謹慎，一定會分成幾個縱隊由山徑摸黑上來。等對方開始仰攻我方陣地，我和阿多諾就混入敵軍陣營，擊殺他們的帶隊官，趁機製造混亂。」
馬林自信地說「鎮長，你不用操心主幹道，雖然我們人手不多，但都是受過嚴格軍事
訓練的軍人和員警，即使敵人強攻硬打，也討不到便宜。」

81
八時一刻，幾處山徑前哨，陸續回報發現敵人上山的縱隊，埋伏在據高點的保衛隊成員，每個人都各就戰鬥位置屏息等待。
一刻鐘過後，幾條山徑上陸續爆出火光，黑蝙蝠軍各縱隊前鋒遭遇滾落而來的煤油桶，一時間措手不及，一些走避不及的鬼卒變成火球，哀嚎著滾落山下，後方的鬼卒紛紛閃避。
帶隊的蝠蝙軍官大喊著：「不要慌亂！不要慌亂！繼續向前推進！」
陳約翰和阿多諾趁情勢混亂，各自混進蝙蝠軍兩路縱隊裡，阿多諾使用幻影術變成龍騎士，鬼卒們見到身後竟然出現龍騎士，無不驚呼尖叫往前推擠。
戴著人皮面具的陳約翰則趁機竄到帶隊軍官身後，出手偷襲。
帶隊軍官被殺，鬼卒們人心惶惶，爭相往前狂奔。這時，前方響起綿密的槍聲，一些鬼卒紛紛被打爆頭，倒下來掙紮抽搐。
蘿娜和凱斯兩人在另一路縱隊後方，擊殺落隊的鬼卒，在那極其混亂的當下，帶隊的鬼夜犬將軍正在前鋒督戰，根本無暇顧及後方發生什麼情況。
軍師魯夫見各路縱隊均遭到強烈攻擊，當下研判中路敵人守備兵力可能較薄弱。
魯夫下令：「傳令兵，立即吹響鬼哨，要六路縱隊分別往檢查站方向靠攏，集中猛攻，
尋求突破口。」
各路縱隊聽見鬼哨，各自朝檢查站方向靠攏。
馬林站長率領近二十名軍警奮力抵抗，但終究不敵黑蝙蝠軍主力，馬林眼見身旁弟兄一個個倒下，自身又遭到十幾名鬼卒包圍，即將彈盡援絕，於是大喊：「我送你們回去地獄！」馬林狠心拉下自爆裝置，瞬間檢查站周邊連續爆炸，數十名鬼卒跟著馬林葬身火海，爆炸引起的強烈聲響和火光，震動大半個山嶺。
這時魯夫獲報，蘿娜和凱斯竟然在隊伍後方殘殺同道，於是趕往隊伍後方處理。魯夫氣急敗壞，喝斥：「你們這兩個叛徒，今晚休想活命離開！」
魯夫催動魔法，正要對蘿娜和凱斯痛下毒手，蘿娜及時取出隱形斗篷蓋住凱斯，自己也鑽進斗篷裡，兩人瞬間在魯夫眼前消失。蘿娜和凱斯趕緊回身往後跑，魯夫雖然察覺地上多出兩行腳印，但這時安德森差傳令來找他，他也就沒往前追擊。
魯夫悻悻然罵著：「先留著你們兩條狗性命！」

82
安德森率領大法師魯夫等幾個親信和一夥殘兵敗卒，狼狽地越過邊界檢查站，急行軍進到瑞士境內。安德森這夥惡鬼，在琉森湖附近的一個小村落裡重整軍隊。
安德森問：「我們還剩多少兄弟姐妹？」
鬼夜犬說：「剛清點人數，還能作戰的只剩六十來個。」
安德森沮喪說：「果然被大法師預料中，對方以逸待勞，憑藉險要地形阻擊我軍。更可惡的是，隊伍後方竟然有叛徒趁機搗亂。」
魯夫說：「剛才的戰鬥中，我發現鬼見愁和龍騎士，這次行動似乎是由他們兩個操盤的。可是有一點我一直想不透…。」
安德森問：「哪一點困擾大法師？」
魯夫說出疑點：「既然對方是由龍騎士領軍，為什麼沒見到他手底下的那支勁旅鐵血禁衛軍？」
安德森推測說：「可能鐵血禁衛軍，就部署在我們即將前往的琉森湖四周。」
魯夫說：「嗯，主人說得很有可能。如果這節骨眼再遭遇鐵血禁衛軍，我們恐怕會全軍覆沒。鬼夜犬，你先去琉森湖附近偵察敵情，如有消息，立即回報。」
「是！大法師。」鬼夜犬拱手領令，一個縱身隱沒入夜暮裡。

[Twenty-Two] A Fierce Battle at the Border

**79**

Anderson personally led the main force of the Black Bat Army on a nighttime march to Da Vinci.

The town was eerily quiet. The scouts returned with Lorna and Keith and went to see Ghost Hound, the commander of the vanguard.

Ghost Hound asked with concern, “When word came back that the two of you had disappeared, we thought you had fallen victim to John Chen.”

Lorna remained calm and said, “General, we did encounter John Chen, the Ghost-Hound Killer, at the Milan train station. We knew we were no match for him, but fortunately, we managed to evade him in time and escaped unharmed.”

Ghost Hound, having no reason to suspect them, said, “Why are all these towns near the border completely deserted? Do you know what happened?”

Keith deliberately pretended not to know and said, “We just arrived ourselves. We are also puzzled by it.”

Ghost Hound said in confusion, “Even you two don’t know? Could it be that our movements have been exposed and have already aroused the authorities’ suspicions? But we have certainly kept a very low profile all along the way because we did not want to attract the authorities’ attention…”

Ghost Hound then took the two of them to a large residence to see Anderson, and Lorna and Ghost Hound separately reported what had happened.

Ruf thought for a moment and said, “Leader, several towns we have passed through have all been deserted. I think the authorities have obviously already discovered our movements.”

Anderson said anxiously, “Then what should we do? We can’t exactly retreat…”

Ruf said solemnly, “The enemy has deliberately cleared the towns and driven away the civilians, which means they must have made considerable preparations. Leader, think about it. Would the enemy still leave us a way out? We are very likely to face fierce resistance from them next, and even planned encirclement and interception operations. But we have no choice. We can only move forward bravely, regardless of the cost, cross the border checkpoint, and enter Switzerland.”

Anderson asked, “Mage, do you mean the enemy will deploy heavy forces at the border checkpoint to intercept us?”

Ruf said, “Exactly. We must be mentally prepared for the worst. Let everyone conserve their strength and prepare to face a direct battle tomorrow night.”

**80**

The next day, just after sunset, all the military police and members of the defense units at the border checkpoint had already taken up their battle positions.

Inside the command post, John Chen, Adorno, Station Chief Marin, and several mayors gathered around a long table, studying several mountain trails marked on the map.

Marin said, “Each of these mountain trails is guarded by a defense unit. When the enemy columns launch a large-scale uphill assault, we will set the kerosene barrels on fire and roll them down the slopes, so they can taste what it is like to be engulfed in flames.”

Jean-Paul said worriedly, “There are fewer than twenty military and police personnel guarding the main road. Our forces are quite thin. If the enemy sees through our plan and concentrates their main force on a direct assault, I’m afraid they could take the position…”

John Chen said, “I expect their military strategist, Mage Ruf, to act cautiously as he always does. He will certainly divide his forces into several columns and move up the mountain trails under cover of darkness. Once they begin their uphill assault on our positions, Adorno and I will infiltrate the enemy ranks, kill their commanders, and take the opportunity to create chaos.”

Marin said confidently, “Mayor, you don’t need to worry about the main road. Although we don’t have many people, all of them are soldiers and police officers who have undergone rigorous military training. Even if the enemy launches a direct assault, they won’t gain any advantage.”

**81**

At eight fifteen, the outposts along several mountain trails began reporting one after another that enemy columns had been spotted climbing the mountain. The members of the defense units lying in ambush at elevated positions each took up their battle positions and held their breath as they waited.

Fifteen minutes later, flames suddenly erupted along several mountain trails. The vanguards of the Black Bat Army’s various columns encountered kerosene barrels rolling down the slopes. They were caught completely off guard. Some ghost soldiers who could not get out of the way in time were engulfed in flames, screaming in agony as they rolled down the mountain, while the ghost soldiers behind them scrambled to dodge.

The Bat Army officers leading the columns shouted, “Don’t panic! Don’t panic! Keep moving forward!”

Taking advantage of the chaos, John Chen and Adorno each infiltrated one of two Black Bat Army columns. Adorno used the Phantom Technique to transform himself into the Dragon Knight. When the ghost soldiers saw a Dragon Knight suddenly appear behind them, they cried out in alarm and panic, pushing forward in a frenzy.

John Chen, wearing a human-skin mask, took the opportunity to slip behind the commanding officer and launch a surprise attack.

The commanding officer was killed, and the ghost soldiers became terrified and panicked, scrambling forward in a mad rush. At that moment, dense bursts of gunfire erupted from ahead. Several ghost soldiers were shot in the head, collapsing to the ground and writhing and convulsing.

Lorna and Keith were behind another column, killing ghost soldiers who had fallen behind. In the midst of the extreme chaos, General Ghost Hound, who was commanding the vanguard and overseeing the battle at the front, had no time at all to pay attention to what was happening behind him.

Seeing that all the enemy columns were under fierce attack, military strategist Ruf immediately judged that the enemy forces defending the central route might be relatively weak.

Ruf ordered, “Messenger, sound the ghost whistle immediately. Have all six columns converge toward the checkpoint and launch a concentrated assault. Look for a breakthrough!”

When the various columns heard the ghost whistle, they each moved toward the checkpoint.

Station Chief Marin led nearly twenty military and police personnel in a desperate resistance, but they were ultimately no match for the main force of the Black Bat Army. Seeing his comrades fall one after another around him, while he himself was surrounded by more than a dozen ghost soldiers and was about to run out of ammunition and reinforcements, Marin shouted, “I’m sending you all back to hell!”

Marin resolutely activated the self-destruct device. In an instant, a series of explosions erupted around the checkpoint. Dozens of ghost soldiers were buried in the flames along with Marin. The tremendous blasts and flashes of fire shook most of the mountain range.

At that moment, Ruf received word that Lorna and Keith were actually slaughtering their own comrades at the rear of the formation, so he rushed to the rear to deal with them. Furious, Ruf shouted, “You two traitors! Don’t even think you’ll make it out of here alive tonight!”

Ruf unleashed his magic and was about to strike Lorna and Keith down when Lorna quickly took out the invisibility cloak, covered Keith with it, and slipped under the cloak herself. The two of them instantly disappeared before Ruf’s eyes.

Lorna and Keith quickly turned and ran back in the opposite direction. Although Ruf noticed that two additional sets of footprints had appeared on the ground, Anderson sent a messenger to summon him at that moment, so he did not pursue them.

Ruf cursed resentfully, “I’ll let you two dogs live for now!”

**82**

Anderson led Grand Mage Ruf, several trusted followers, and a group of battered and defeated soldiers as they hurriedly crossed the border checkpoint and marched into Switzerland.

Anderson and his band of evil spirits regrouped in a small village near Lake Lucerne.

Anderson asked, “How many brothers and sisters do we have left?”

Ghost Hound said, “We just finished counting. Only around sixty are still capable of fighting.”

Anderson said dejectedly, “Just as the Grand Mage predicted, the enemy conserved their strength and waited for us, using the difficult terrain to block our forces. Even worse, there were traitors in the rear of our formation who took advantage of the situation to cause trouble.”

Ruf said, “During the battle just now, I discovered that the Ghost-Hound Killer and the Dragon Knight were involved. It seems that the two of them were directing this operation. But there is one thing I still cannot figure out…”

Anderson asked, “What is troubling you, Grand Mage?”

Ruf voiced his doubt: “Since the Dragon Knight is leading the enemy forces, why haven’t we seen the elite force under his command—the Iron-Blooded Imperial Guards?”

Anderson speculated, “Perhaps the Iron-Blooded Imperial Guards have already been deployed around Lake Lucerne, where we are headed.”

Ruf said, “Yes, Master. That is very possible. If we encounter the Iron-Blooded Imperial Guards at this critical moment, I’m afraid our entire army will be wiped out. Ghost Hound, go scout the area around Lake Lucerne first. Report back immediately if you find anything.”

“Yes, Grand Mage.” Ghost Hound cupped his hands and accepted the order, then leaped away and disappeared into the night.