American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 130 Hunting the King of the Goats!
After rounding the huge pile of rocks, their view suddenly opened up.

A bowl-shaped alpine meadow, surrounded by mountains, unfolds before your eyes.

A clear stream formed by melting snow meanders through the center of the meadow, its banks dotted with lush willows and alder bushes that are only half a person tall.

On a rocky high ground near the edge of the meadow, close to the hillside, a dozen white figures were moving slowly, like scattered snowflakes.

It's a herd of Dorgo goats!

The hearts of all three of them skipped a beat simultaneously!
Almost simultaneously, they slowly crouched down, completely concealing themselves in the shadow of the rocks.

Old George's movements were the most skillful. Without any unnecessary movements, he quickly and silently adjusted the focus of his Leica high-powered observation lens, and then steadily pointed the lens at that tranquil white expanse.

“A bunch of women and young lads,” he muttered in the lowest of voices.

Through the viewing mirror, the details of the sheep flock were magnified and clearly visible.

Several robust, muscular adult ewes were cautiously looking around.

Around them, several lively lambs chased and butted each other, their movements full of childlike innocence.

Outside the flock, there were a few young rams. Although their horns had grown out, the curve of their horns was less than half a circle, far from meeting the "full circle" standard that would allow them to be legally hunted. They looked more like young guards in the flock.

"Don't rush," Stan said in a low voice as well.

His gaze did not linger on the flock of sheep below, but rather, with his binoculars, he meticulously combed through the higher slopes and rock walls surrounding the meadow, inch by inch.

“That old fellow must be nearby. The ram king rarely grazes with its family. It will find the best spot, a high vantage point where it can see them and potential dangers, and keep an eye on everything.”

Old George's observation scope also began to move extremely slowly, his movements full of patience and rhythm, carefully examining every ridge and every suspicious rock shadow within his field of vision.

But several minutes passed and still nothing was found. The hillsides looked exactly the same as they had for millions of years, just rocks and tundra.

Lin Yu-an, on the other hand, adopted a completely different observation strategy.

Instead of conducting a wide-ranging, aimless search, he kept the focus of his telescope on the flock of ewes below, especially the oldest and highest-ranking ewes.

He noticed a very subtle detail: the lead ewes, after lowering their heads to nibble on a few bites of tender sedge,

Almost every ten seconds or so, they would all raise their heads and look up in the same direction, which was always at a high place.

It wasn't a wary look around, but a gaze that carried a sense of confirmation.

His binoculars moved slowly upwards, following the direction in which the ewes' gazes converged.

There was a small, isolated plateau at least a kilometer away from them, hidden by several huge rocks.

From that angle, it would be an inconspicuous protrusion on the steep mountainside if not observed carefully, and would be easily overlooked.

“George, ten o’clock, the highest independent rock platform.” Lin Yu’an’s voice was very low, but full of unquestionable certainty.

Stan and George immediately turned their binoculars swiftly toward the direction he indicated.

At first, there was nothing there except a few bare rocks that gleamed grayish-white in the sunlight.

Just as Stan was about to ask a question, Lin Yu'an raised a hand and made a "wait" gesture.

Just then, a strong gust of wind swept down from the ridge and through the valley, as if it had disturbed something.

Behind the rocky plateau, a majestic figure, pure white and noticeably larger than all the other sheep, slowly emerged with the composure of a king surveying his territory!
It walked to the edge of the plateau, proudly raised its head, and its pair of thick, heavy horns, spiraling into a perfect circle, were visually striking in the sunlight, like the horns of a demon!
"My God..." Old George's breath caught in his throat, and his hand holding the observation scope even began to tremble slightly!
"It's it! It's the Ridge Ghost! After all these years, I've finally found it!"

Stan was also dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief: "This...how is this possible? How did you find it? I scanned that place with my binoculars several times!"

“I had been observing the flock of ewes, especially the lead ones. They would subconsciously and periodically look towards the same high point to confirm their safety. I followed their gaze and finally located that rocky platform.”

"The shape of the shadow behind that rock was a little off for a moment, with a slight curve than a simple rock shadow, so I guessed that something might be hidden there."

This almost intuitive observation caused Stan and George to exchange a glance, both seeing a deep shock in each other's eyes.

They knew that Lin Yu'an brought not only his youthful physique to this hunting expedition, but also an innate talent for hunting!

"Luck! Kid, you're our lucky star!" Old George suppressed his excitement and patted Lin Yu'an hard on the back.

After the initial excitement subsided, the three quickly calmed down and began to devise a plan to approach the target.

Old George analyzed, "It's in a good position right now, but we're in a bad position."

"With the wind at our backs and no cover in between, we have to go around in a big circle, go through the bottom of that valley, and then climb up the steep slope below it to find a shooting position with the wind at our backs."

That would be a difficult route of over three kilometers, and it had to be completed without being spotted by any of the sheep.

"I'll go first," Lin Yu'an volunteered.

"I'm fast, so I can scout out the route first. You guys follow behind and keep your distance."

Once the plan was finalized, the three immediately got to work.

They hid their heavy backpacks in a secluded crevice in the rocks, carrying only their most essential equipment.

Each person carried a rifle, a pistol as a spare, a water bladder filled with water, binoculars, a small iron pot prepared to celebrate victory, and a small packet of sea salt.

Lin Yu'an took off his heavy outer jacket and wore only a more fitted fleece liner, discarding any cumbersome items that might make friction noise.

"Remember, from this moment on, we must be as quiet as ghosts!"

For the next hour or so, their journey was no longer a simple hike, but a long and intense pilgrimage.

Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge. The straight distance of 300 meters had to be stretched out by a winding route of more than one kilometer!

First, they needed to cross the icy stream, which was shallow but crystal clear, with slippery moss covering the stones beneath.

They could no longer wade across with large strides as before; they had to take off their shoes, walk barefoot, and endure the cold as they moved slowly, step by step.

Finally crossing the stream, they entered a dense thicket of alder bushes, which provided the best cover but also posed the greatest obstacle.

Unable to stand or walk, they could only bend over or even crawl on the ground, struggling to move through the dense branches.

The most difficult part was the last stretch, where they had to climb a near-vertical rock face to reach their designated firing position.

At this moment, Lin Yu'an stepped forward and gestured for him to go first.

He glanced at old George beside him, who was panting heavily, and knew that this stretch of road would be a huge challenge for him.

Lin Yu'an took out a roll of lightweight climbing rope from his backpack and tied one end around his waist.

“George, Stan, I’ll go up and find a good spot first, then I’ll lower the rope and pull you up,” Lin Yu’an said in a low voice.

The two elderly people did not try to be brave; they nodded silently. At such a moment, a reasonable division of labor within the team is far more important than individual heroism.

Lin Yu'an took a deep breath and began his silent climb.

His enhanced physical abilities were perfectly demonstrated at this moment.

His fingers, like iron hooks, precisely gripped every tiny crack in the rock, his toes firmly planted on small protrusions.

Its body clung tightly to the rock wall, moving smoothly upwards like a gecko.

Stan, watching from below, clicked his tongue in amazement and whispered to George, "This kid... he's practically inhuman." Soon, Lin Yu'an reached the rocky slope at the top of the cliff.

He quickly surveyed the terrain, selected a firing position that was both concealed and provided stable support, then secured the rope firmly to a large rock and lowered it down.

Stan, holding the rope from below, said to his old friend, "Alright, George, you go first. Don't worry, Lin and I will pull you up."

Without hesitation, old George handed his rifle to Stan for safekeeping and gripped the rope tightly with both hands.

He was experienced and knew how to use his leg strength to relieve the pressure on his arms.

With the combined help of Lin Yu'an and Stan, who climbed up and down, he managed to reach the firing position safely, although it was a bit difficult for him.

Finally, Stan hoisted the two rifles up with a rope and then nimbly climbed up himself.

When the three of them hid behind the rocky slope and saw the ram king still leisurely swishing its tail on the plateau, everyone's heart almost jumped out of their chests.

They succeeded!
This is the perfect firing position! They are positioned to the side and below the target, with the wind blowing from above the valley, a headwind that will prevent their scent from reaching the sheep.

Before them, countless huge granite boulders provided a natural shelter.

Old George used the rangefinder to confirm the distance again.

"Three hundred and ten meters." He didn't immediately raise his gun, but took a deep breath, lay down behind the gun, and made a final observation through the scope.

The ram king, still like a monarch, lay on its throne.

Beside it were two smaller ewes and a half-grown lamb, all of them appearing very relaxed, some ruminating and others rubbing their horns against the rocks.

"It's now."

He took out his Remington 700 rifle, which had been with him for half his life, from his holster very slowly.

He picked up a brass-cased bullet, its casing gleaming in the sunlight, and pushed it into the chamber with a soft "click"—the prelude to death's impending doom.

He placed the rifle steadily on a flat rock, padding the butt with his backpack to ensure absolute stability.

He lay prone behind the rifle, adjusting the magnification and parallax adjustment knob of the sniper scope until the world in the scope became incredibly clear!

Then, he firmly locked the crosshair behind the white behemoth's shoulder blades—where the heart and lungs were located.

His breathing became long and steady, and his gaze became absolutely focused.

Lin Yu'an and Stan stood guard on either side of him, like two silent protectors.

Stan whispered encouragingly in his ear, "Stay calm... George... just like you were when you were young..."

He knew what that shot meant for old George.

Old George closed his eyes, mentally rehearsing one last time every detail from breathing and aiming to firing.

When he opened his eyes again, all that remained in his weathered eyes was the target firmly framed by the crosshairs!
His index finger gently and tenderly rested on the cold trigger.

Then--

"boom!"

A crisp yet muffled gunshot shattered the tranquility of the mountains! The bullet, carrying the old man's lifelong dedication and commitment, whistled through three hundred meters of space!

Through the telescope, Lin Yu'an could clearly see that the majestic ram king's massive body suddenly trembled, as if it had been violently pushed by an invisible force.

It tried to stand up, but lost control of its limbs!

Then, like a white marble statue whose foundation had been removed, it crashed to the side, raising a small cloud of dust, and never moved again.

The other sheep were so frightened by the sudden loud noise that they scattered and fled, disappearing instantly behind the rocks.

It hit! A deadly, precise, perfect shot!
Stan was so excited he wanted to cheer, but Lin Yu'an stopped him with a gesture.

Because old George remained motionless, like a statue, and did not get up for a long time.

His eyes remained glued to the scope, as if confirming the outcome of the battle, or perhaps bidding a final farewell to the white elf who had just passed away.

After a long while, he slowly pulled back the bolt, ejecting the still slightly warm cartridge case from the chamber, letting it fall onto the rock with a "clink".

Only at this moment did he raise his head, his face showing not ecstasy, but a profound sense of relief and calm.

Old George remained lying on the spot, not getting up for a long time.

Lin Yu'an saw that the old man, who had been steadfast all his life, was shaking his shoulders violently.

Stan silently stepped forward, gently patted his old friend on the back, and said nothing.

He knew that this shot contained more than just a successful hunt.

Finally, old George slowly raised his head, his weathered face already streaked with tears.

He wiped his face haphazardly with the back of his rough hand, his voice hoarse, as if he were speaking to his wife, or perhaps to himself.

“Martha…I did it…I hit the most beautiful pair of corners for you…”

Martha was the name of George's late wife. He had heard Stan mention her; she was a great and strong woman who left George forever due to an illness.

Old George's gaze stretched into the distance, as if piercing through layers of mountains and seeing into the past.

His voice became distant and gentle: "Many years ago, when we had just built that cabin, Martha stood in front of the fireplace and said to me, 'Oh, George, if we could hang a pair of beautiful Dolphin horns on the fireplace, it would be even more beautiful!'"

"I patted my chest and promised her, 'Darling, I will definitely win you back the biggest and most perfect pair of ram horns, so that all the neighbors will envy you!'"

He gave a wry smile and shook his head: "She was always like that, smiling and supporting all my crazy ideas, never complaining about the poverty of life, but my dear Martha didn't even get to fulfill one of her small wishes."

Ever since Martha left, George has stubbornly applied for a hunting permit for this area every year and has come to this mountainous region to search for her every year.

It was less about hunting and more about fulfilling a promise to a lover, a dialogue that transcended life and death.

“Don’t say that, George,” Stan said, putting his arm around his old friend’s shoulder.

“Martha saw it, she must be so proud of you! You kept your promise, you really brought her the most beautiful horns in all of Alaska.”

Lin Yu'an also stepped forward, unsure how to comfort the elderly man who was lost in remembrance.

He simply handed over a kettle filled with warm water.

Lin Yu'an's voice was soft: "George, let's go and bring it back. Take it home and hang it on Martha's favorite fireplace."

These words seemed to touch old George. He took a deep breath, looked at Lin Yu'an with his bloodshot eyes, then at Stan, and nodded heavily.

He stood up again, and his hunched back seemed to straighten a little more.

"Yes, take it home!"

—The following characters are free of charge.

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(Also, my dear brothers, considering I'm updating 1.2 words a day, after six chapters I want to reward myself by writing a chapter about my interactions with Emily, okay? I really want to write it, please! Just one chapter. I promise I'll quit after one chapter!)
(End of this chapter)