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墨書 Inktalez
Although this operation achieved my goal, I still had many questions about the mission. After all, we were not lacking water.
Each Sealed Chamber contained a first aid kit, which included Distilled Water, compressed food, and medical supplies. What was truly lacking in the Sealed Chamber was oxygen. Without the constraint of air, the food and water in the emergency supply could sustain us for over ten days.
After obtaining Morphine, I found Xiao Guolin and expressed my confusion.
Xiao Guolin's first words were, "I know your purpose."
I didn't dwell on that issue and remained silent. Xiao Guolin sighed helplessly and began to explain the current situation to me.
He first warned me that he and another soldier had discovered traces of Song Guilong, who was heading down the corridor. This meant that it was highly likely we shared a common goal with Song Guilong and might encounter him. I needed to prepare myself mentally for that.
I nodded; I had already prepared for this mentally long ago.
Then he explained the reason for searching for water.
The soldier who had been in a coma required immediate surgery after further examination by the Medic. It was necessary to drain the pleural effusion and remove the Rib that had been inserted into his lung. Given the current conditions, this surgery was already a major operation and would likely consume all our Anti-inflammatory Medication and Anesthetic. Cleaning the wound and administering IV fluids would require Distilled Water. The Distilled Water that was originally meant to sustain our survival would have to be cut off entirely to support this surgery. Fortunately, the Sealed Chamber provided Distilled Water; it seemed that the designer of the Sealed Chamber had foresight. Distilled Water could be used for drinking, medical purposes, and various other needs, while ordinary clean water could not be used in medical situations, especially during surgery.
Medics in the military are a relatively unique presence; their skills vary widely. Most have some medical background and can perform Medic duties after undergoing professional training upon entering the military. Some graduates from medical schools are naturally assigned to military hospitals after enlisting. Observing him rushing around with the Engineering Corps, he didn’t seem like a doctor from a Military Hospital; it felt unbelievable that a Medic would perform open-chest surgery.
I couldn't help but ask Xiao Guolin, "Isn't it a bit reckless to let a Medic perform such a major surgery? How confident is he?"
Xiao Guolin shook his head. "Zhao Squad Leader has already asked him this question. If he doesn't operate immediately, the injured soldier won't last more than eight hours. If they proceed with surgery quickly, he can at least hold on for over ten hours. The main issue isn't the difficulty of the surgery but rather the risk of infection caused by our inadequate sterilization methods."
I was somewhat surprised. "So confident, is he a military doctor?"
"No, he's just seen someone else perform the surgery," Xiao Guolin shook his head.
Damn. I wanted to go back and kick him.
Just because he had watched someone else perform this kind of surgery once, he dared to pick up a knife. Was this guy foolishly bold or just hiding his true capabilities? He was the only professional here, and despite my dissatisfaction and distrust, I had no reason to oppose him. After all, a soldier's life would be lost in eight hours, and any effort was worth a try. I forced myself not to think about it, not daring to dwell on it. Fortunately, Zhao Squad Leader quickly arranged everything here, and our six-member team set off.
As we passed through the transition chamber, under the lights, I saw Liu Squad Leader wearing a weapon on his chest. It seemed his determination had triumphed over Zhao Squad Leader's; not only did he get the chance to participate in the mission, but he also received a gun from Zhao Squad Leader.
Moreover, I wasn't the only one draped in a sleeping bag turned robe. Xiao Guolin and Zhao Squad Leader were similarly dressed. While they checked and organized Li Squad Leader's cabin in the transition chamber, their clothes were also soaked with blood, forcing them to improvise outfits like mine using sleeping bags.
Among our group, three soldiers were armed: Zhao Squad Leader had a Type 64 pistol, while Liu Squad Leader and another soldier each carried a Micro Submachine Gun. The three of us from the Archaeology team had empty hands, not even a dog stick.
Additionally, each person only had half a jug of water and two packs of compressed biscuits. The biscuits were from large packages that could last five to ten days depending on physical exertion. Water was our most pressing need; if we couldn't find any within two days, we would have to resort to drinking our own urine—assuming we had any to spare.
We managed to bring both portable lighting devices with us; the pen flashlight was handed to Xiao Guolin. However, its battery was clearly low, providing dim light with little use. Xiao Guolin hesitated to use it and kept it tucked away.
Li Squad Leader's shoulder-mounted Walkie-Talkie and its accompanying Powerful Flashlight were strapped to Xu Xinming. The strap was still red with Li Squad Leader's blood. It was hard to imagine how the Walkie-Talkie remained intact.
The communication effectiveness of the Walkie-Talkie underground was poor; we couldn't rely on it to contact headquarters or even reach the soldiers near the Escape Pod after a certain distance. However, its powerful battery could keep the Powerful Flashlight running for a long time. Lighting was crucial for us as we navigated through the darkness.
For safety reasons, we formed a tight formation: three people in a row split into two lines so we could easily touch the Brick Wall on either side. Perhaps due to the bright lighting, we moved quickly. I led the front row and could clearly see three rows of descending footprints on the Ground—those of Song Guilong, Xiao Guolin, and another soldier. Soon enough, Xiao Guolin's and the soldier's footprints disappeared; it seemed they had confirmed Song Guilong's trail before immediately turning back.
At that moment, without any other footprints to interfere, I could closely observe Song Guilong's footprints. They were large, not running, but moving quickly. The prints were consistently in the center of the passage, not veering towards either side of the Brick Wall.
"He has a light source," I said to Zhao Squad Leader, who was also walking ahead.
Zhao Squad Leader was carefully examining the footprints on the ground. "Yes, his light is powerful enough to illuminate both sides of the passage; otherwise, he would have walked along one side. Also, his right foot is injured. However, we've wasted too much time; he's already left us far behind."
Zhao Squad Leader was observing closely; I hadn't even noticed any signs of injury on Song Guilong's foot. Seeing my confusion, Zhao Squad Leader pointed at the footprints. "His right foot's stride is longer than his left."
I took a closer look and indeed found it to be true. However, regarding why Song Guilong hadn't walked along one side of the passage, I had another judgment. If his goal was the same as ours, he wouldn't get lost even with only a faint light. Currently, the direction we were heading was slightly downhill—a very gentle slope that was imperceptible to the naked eye but felt distinct when walking on it, especially since I had searched in reverse before; this feeling was even clearer. Because even the gentlest downhill slope requires less effort than going uphill. So if Song Guilong's destination was a water source, he wouldn't need to discern directions; he could simply follow the downward feeling and reach his goal. The problem was that he was walking down with such purpose and didn't seem to care whether he missed the Branch; it was evident he either intended to go without returning or knew the way. The emergence of these two thoughts sent a chill down my spine.
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