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墨書 Inktalez
Fatty remained silent, staring at the Vietnamese for a moment before jumping onto the boat.
It seemed that Fatty's intimidating presence was innate; he said nothing, yet after he walked away, sweat continued to trickle down A San's forehead to his chin. His spirit was utterly deflated, clearly under immense pressure from Fatty, which reassured me greatly about Xiao Ting's safety.
I handed most of the bullets from my backpack to A San and Xiao Ting. We only had one pistol with Fatty, and no matter how many bullets we had, it wouldn't help much.
When Xiao Ting received the bullets, her expression still showed dissatisfaction, without a hint of gratitude. I knew I had thoroughly offended this stubborn girl.
As both oars pushed against the embankment, the boat slowly departed from the Hakka People's habitat and drifted downstream.
The Hakka People ignited a large fire in their dwelling. The firewood, as thick as an arm, burned fiercely, contrasting sharply with the smaller kindling that produced a less intense flame. The flames soared high, casting an unstable yet bright light that illuminated the ceiling above in a mottled glow.
Even as our boat drifted far away, we could still see that beam of light shooting up towards the ceiling. I knew that if we returned and that fire was still burning, they would be safe; otherwise, I would have made a grave mistake.
I wasn't overly concerned about the possibility of the Hakka People turning against us after we left. A San was aligned with us; it was unlikely that any betrayal would solely target Xiao Ting and Lao People. If Xiao Ting and Lao People lacked the experience and courage to handle emergencies, A San was different. With weapons in hand, he wouldn’t entrust his life to the Hakka People. I believed that if they truly turned against us, it would be their own demise—Vietnamese were far more ruthless.
Two torches were lit on the boat. Although flashlights could illuminate the river surface to prevent us from veering off course or crashing into the banks, they wouldn't help in emergencies. Those Giant Bats weren't afraid of flashlights; they feared fire.
Initially, I planned to sit at the stern since both ends of the boat were the most dangerous positions. However, Fatty insisted otherwise; in his words, my presence attracted trouble wherever I went. He claimed sitting at the stern would mean losing me without anyone knowing.
Finally, Fatty settled at the stern of the boat, while Tang Yumo and I sat in the middle. The cabin could only accommodate three rows, and there were no formal seats—just three planks laid on the bottom. Jack and Fatty comfortably occupied the two ends, leaving Tang Yumo and me to sit side by side in the middle.
Although sitting next to each other wasn’t cramped, being beside Tang Yumo made me feel awkward; there was no joy in sitting next to a beautiful girl.
We had reached this section of the Underground River. The current had slowed considerably, and we had to rely on paddling to increase our speed. None of us could tolerate drifting downstream at such a sluggish pace, so it became our task to row in the middle of the cabin.
Due to recent events, Jack's opinion of Tang Yumo had changed significantly. When Fatty coldly tossed the paddle to her, Jack didn’t react at all; he didn’t even turn around.
“Forward,” Fatty commanded, snatching the torch from Tang Yumo’s hand like a commander giving orders.
I couldn’t muster any sympathy for Tang Yumo either. Given the current situation, it was clear that only the two of us in the middle would be rowing. Whoever sat at either end would bear a heavier burden of vigilance against ambushes, and that person would certainly not be Tang Yumo. Even if Fatty hadn’t shouted out his command, her position meant she was destined to be just a laborer.
When I handed the torch to Jack, he took the opportunity to glance back. I noticed a look of pity on his face as his gaze flickered briefly over Tang Yumo.
I nudged his shoulder. “Stay alert,” I said, redirecting his attention forward.
The water in the Underground River was icy, and it grew colder as we drifted downstream. The paddle occasionally splashed water onto us, keeping us awake and alert.
Fatty was the most relaxed; he lounged almost horizontally at the stern with the torch stuck in a notch behind him, idly watching me and Tang Yumo while occasionally turning his large head to survey the surroundings like a supervisor.
Seeing him so laid-back made me both amused and annoyed. However, I couldn’t be bothered with him; there was no way Long-Tailed Monsters could reach us here, and when Giant Bats appeared, they would make an uncomfortable noise. Even if he fell asleep, it wouldn’t matter; Jack and I were more familiar with that noise and would certainly notice if a Giant Bat came near.
The boat glided downstream faster than walking and required less effort. Although Tang Yumo and I had to row, the current did most of the work, so the physical exertion was minimal for me. Of course, I couldn't be sure how she was holding up, but I didn’t ask; there was no one else to take her place. I figured if she could endure it, she wouldn't call for a stop, as it seemed she wanted to end this ordeal as quickly as possible.
The torches made by the Hakka People burned for over twenty minutes before they gradually extinguished. Just as Jack was about to light another torch, Tang Yumo gently suggested, "Let’s pull over and take a break."
I replied, "If you're tired, you can sleep on the boat. Pulling ashore will just waste time."
Fatty behind us burst into laughter.
I turned around and shot him a glare. Fatty continued to laugh and said, "Sleeping on the boat is fine, but what about when you need to relieve yourself?"
I felt a bit embarrassed. I had overlooked that detail. In my previous fieldwork with the Archaeology team, there were hardly any female members, so the guys never considered such conveniences.
"Alright, let’s rest onshore for a bit and grab something warm to eat," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Tang Family Girl," Fatty suddenly called out enthusiastically to Tang Yumo. "Which side is closer to the shore? Let’s hurry up and get there."
A look of disgust crossed Tang Yumo's face, as if she were displeased with the title "Tang Family Girl," likely stemming from her disdain for Fatty himself.
However, that expression was fleeting; only I, sitting next to her, noticed it. Tang Yumo didn’t turn around or say anything; she simply raised her hand and pointed toward one side of the Underground River.
Fatty snapped his fingers. "Okay, let’s land over there." He pointed to the opposite side.
He nodded at me with an affirmative expression.
Fatty was quite a character, but he had a nuanced side to him. Surviving the tumultuous regions of Southeast Asia and Africa was not just a matter of luck; it required intelligence as well. However, this also made it clear that his distrust of Tang Yumo surpassed even mine.
Before long, we reached the riverbank and the Wood Chip Dam nearby. Tang Yumo seemed to be in a hurry, jumping off the boat and running behind a Stalactite not far away to relieve herself.
We lit a campfire, boiled some water, and ate a bit of warm food.
I asked Tang Yumo, "How much longer until we reach the place we escaped from last time?"
Tang Yumo replied, "At this speed, it will take at least half as long again."
"Then we’ll need to rest onshore at least once more. The next time we land, there might not be any wood chips for us to burn. Let's gather some fuel from here," I suggested after thinking for a moment. "We'll leave after we finish eating. I feel this place isn't safe. We should sleep on the boat, taking turns to keep watch. It’s easier to guard the boat and won’t delay our journey. After all, having no one rowing will only affect our speed; we won't stop moving."
Fatty and Jack nodded in agreement. I didn’t ask for Tang Yumo’s opinion, but I noticed a flicker of unease in her eyes.
(To Be Continued...)
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