There were several pieces of letter paper. Richard flipped through it and found that most of the words after that were about the situation of "Wooden Island", including language, customs, and public security. It was obvious that Heidi had put a lot of thought into it.
Richard quickly scanned the content and had a general understanding of the so-called Mud Island. He turned to the back of the letter and found that here were some more personal words from Heidi, related to the relatives she had taken refuge with. As he read, he raised his eyebrows. Slowly stand up.
In the letter, Heidi said that she didn't know why, but she always felt that something was wrong with the relatives she took refuge with, but she couldn't tell what was wrong.
"... When I got here, I met Aunt Mary without much effort. Although she didn't seem very enthusiastic about my arrival, she wasn't too cold either. Not only did she arrange a large room for me in her castle , and also asked an old servant to take care of me.
It's just... the longer I stay here, the more uncomfortable I feel: the castle is very big, but there are not many people at all, even Aunt Mary, I can't see it all day long. The old servant who took care of me didn't have very good ears. Sometimes he couldn't hear me when I called him, which made me feel like I was living alone in a huge castle.
Moreover, the food I eat and the water I drink every day always have a vague smell, but when I taste it carefully, it doesn't seem to be there. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but... I'm really not used to it.
Recently, I often wake up in the middle of the night, and then hear a lot of footsteps walking around the castle, and there are constant conversations, as if Aunt Mary is holding a banquet and inviting many people. And when I wanted to get up and take a look, I found that my body couldn't move at all, as if it was petrified on the bed.
I won't recover from my 'petrified' state until dawn, when all the sounds disappear and everyone leaves. I got up and asked Aunt Mary if anyone really came during the night, but Aunt Mary denied it. I asked again why I couldn't move after I woke up. She told me that it might be because I didn't wake up at all and was just having a nightmare. It'll be fine once I get used to it.
Is it really like this? Is it really a nightmare? Is it really because I have only been here for a short time and am not used to it? I'm a little scared. Mr. Richard, it would be great if you could come. But I don’t know if you will receive this letter, and I don’t know if you will come after receiving the letter... "
Richard looked at the letter, his eyes flashing slightly.
…
at the same time.
There is a somewhat eerie castle in the distance.
"Da da da… "
Footsteps sounded, and a rickety old man who looked to be seventy or eighty years old and looked like a skeleton appeared. He stepped on the steps covered with green moss, slowly walked to the upper level of the castle, and walked towards a room.
He held a tray in his hand, which contained two plates and a wooden cup. The plate was filled with burnt food of unknown material, and the cup was filled with a strange wine-red liquid.
"Da da da… "
The old man walked to the room, paused briefly, and then reached out and knocked on the door.
"Dong dong dong! Miss Heidi, your dinner is here." The old man made a hoarse voice, like rough stones rubbing against each other, which sounded a little breathtaking.
As the old man spoke, the contents of the tray changed rapidly. The burnt food turned into bread slices and steaks, and the strange wine-red liquid turned into water.
With a "squeak", the door opened. Heidi came out, glanced at the thing in the old man's hand, quickly took it, and said politely, "Eugene, thank you for your hard work." The old man's name is Eugene. .
"This is all what I should do, Miss Heidi." The old man responded, staring into Heidi's eyes and said, "I wish you a pleasant meal. I will come back to clear the tableware later."
"Okay -" Heidi responded in a weak voice, brought the tray into the room, took a sip of water in the cup, frowned, and muttered in a low voice, "There still seems to be a strange smell..."
"Um, Eugene!" Heidi turned around and called to the old man before he could leave.
"Do you have any orders? Miss Heidi?" The old man slowly turned around and looked at Heidi and asked.
Seeing the old man's eyes, Heidi avoided it subconsciously, not wanting to look at each other. She picked up the water glass and whispered: "Um, Eugene, can you change me to a glass of something else to drink?"
"Miss Heidi, what would you like to drink?" The old man did not refuse, but asked nicely.
"Um... is there tea? Just the most ordinary kind..."
"No." The old man gave a negative answer.
"What's the matter..." Heidi didn't want to give up.
"There's ale, absinthe, brandy, and tequila." The old man replied solemnly, "Miss Heidi, which one do you want to drink?"
"This..." Heidi's expression was a little bitter, "Is it all wine and nothing else?"
"No."
"Well, I'd better not change it."
"Okay, I'll leave first..."
"Eugene, wait a moment, I want to ask you, where has Mary Poppins been in the past few days?" Heidi suddenly thought of something and asked aloud.
The old man's expression did not change at all. He looked at Heidi and said, "Are you asking Mrs. Mary? She has always been in the castle."
"Then why haven't I seen her for so many days?" Heidi was puzzled.
"Maybe Madam is busy with something."
"Then...then...can I meet her? I want to chat with him. I want to ask her if I can go out of the castle for a walk recently."
The old servant raised his head, glanced at Heidi with a slight frown, and said slowly: "Miss Heidi, I will convey your request to Lady Mary. But as for... the idea of leaving the castle, I don't recommend you to do so."
"Why... why?"
"Because it's not very safe outside recently. According to Lady Mary, you'd better stay in the castle - this is all for your own good."
"But how long will you stay?"
"That's hard to say."
"Uh, okay, thank you, Eugene."
"This is what I should do, Miss Heidi, you're welcome." The old servant said, "By the way, if you don't have anything else to do, I will leave."
"goodbye."
"Goodbye, Miss Heidi." The old servant slowly turned around, walked down the stairs, and disappeared from Heidi's sight.
Heidi closed the door and walked back to the room, frowning deeply, feeling that something seemed to be getting more and more wrong.
"Meow!"
With a meow, the black cat Mickey brought by Heidi came out of the corner, ran two steps quickly and jumped into Heidi's arms.
Heidi touched the soft hair and relaxed slightly. The next moment, a trace of doubt arose in her heart: every time the old servant Eugene appeared, Mickey would always hide, and she didn't know why. Is Mitch afraid of Eugene? But how is this possible? Mickey is the bravest cat she has ever raised...
But if this is not the reason, then why
Heidi didn't want to think too deeply...
Looking outside through the window, Heidi found that the night was already deep. Although she stayed in her room in the castle, she still felt a chill and shivered subconsciously.
At this moment, Heidi suddenly felt that she was really scared - inexplicably scared.