"是故百戰百勝，非善之善者也，不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。" Sunzi-謀攻
Gaisi(de)=该死(的)= dame; (Ta)Made= 他妈的 = Shit/ dame; Niangde = 娘的 = Shit/ dame; Cao = 操 = Fuck!; Tian na= 天哪= Oh God; Zhurong = 祝融 = Fire God
The desert is stiflingly hot. The group is struggling to stay on its feet. Every step in the scorching sand saps our strength, dragging us deeper. Sticky sweat on the back of our necks and sand between our toes.
>>There. << The others look at me with dull eyes, relief between the thick fabrics. A black spot in the gray-blue color spectrum. My steps feel heavier and heavier. A little too quickly for my taste, I sink to the ground by the rock. In its cooling shade, I let my gaze wander around the desert. Nothing but sand and endless heat.
>>Luxia the water pro-<< Jila begins to cough, her croaky voice a reminder of the last few days. Gaisi! Exhausted, I exhale and let my head fall against the rock. I look up at the sky.
>> So blue. << I breathe out again and then straighten up.
>> Dan or Jila you can't-<<They just shake their heads >>-And if Mier or Laqi make a hole-<< Cao! My view. Not now. It's clogging my airways.
Warm blood drips through my fingers and sticks to my chin. Everything is moving, I can't hold myself up. Where's the rock?! There!
>>Oh Niangde! Luxia has it gotten worse?<< She kneels in front of me, our eyes meet. I exhale and raise my hand.
>> Lulu, you know it yourself, we are incapable of it. << Miers arms around my waist, his worried gaze bores into my conscience. My head is pounding. >>And what about the rock, maybe it reached deep into the ground. << I need to bend. Mier's pressure intensifies>>Do we have a choice?<< I look everyone in the face. In the distance, the heat flickers, no other way to escape this finite sea of nothing. >> No.<< That sounded more sobering than I imagined. I let myself fall more into Mier's arms. He strokes my side lightly, sending a tingle through my body. I want to give into it. I take a deep breath, a sudden cough wants to crawl through my airways and to seek freedom, I try miserably to suppress it.Gaiside! This pain is driving me crazy! Mier hands me over into Dan's arms, who only gently grips my weakened body.
>>We'll get started, dear. << Laqi smiles gently at me and pats my head again.
>>Position. << Mier, Xinxin and Laqi stand in front of the rock. Their white scarves cover their personalities. I know their posture, their technique, their body shape well enough. Their feet wide apart and their arms stretched out in front of them. Slowly they turn their arms. Danli takes a few steps when suddenly the ground starts to shake.
>>He-!<< I try to scream, but a cough hinders me.
>>Niangde, Xinxin come here!<< Jila pulls Xinxin away from a small hill and takes a few steps back.
>>Gaisi! Mutants! << Sand flows down the rock. Stone-like creatures crawl out of bumps.
Mier hardens his skin around his hands and arms and strikes at one. Before I can do anything, Danli has run off in some direction, the others following. >>I couldn't do anything against them, cao!<< Mier pops up beside us, running alongside.
>>Shut your mouth and run! << Panic wants to spread through me. Dan struggles to run in the hot sand. I look past him and realize with horror that the mutants are hot on our heels. We are screwed. A cold breath breathes on the back of my neck. A loud roar of machinery grabs my attention.
>> They have found us!!! << Xin jumps up and down.
The metal flashes majestically in the light and the I-Land slowly becomes visible. It is as if they have heard our silent cries for help. Her hull is still flickering. We have finally found them. A smile grows on my lips. A little too slowly for my taste, however, I-Land sinks and I look behind, but it's enough to scare the mutants away. I seem to relax. But then like electricity, it crawls under my skin. Oh no.
>>Cao, cao, cao! Let go of me, by Zhurong let go! << I wriggle desperately in his arms. Dan lets me down, shaking his head. The cool wind clings under my clothes, tugging at me. I look up at the I-Land, hovering just a few meters above us. She stirs up the sand more and more. My hair is whirling around, sand in every crease. You can get a glimpse of the inner workings through the many grid paths, cables, pipes and stairs. I look for movement near the stairs on the lowest level and spot the fiery red uniforms of the law enforcement officers. I look to the right and left, only Mier is still standing with us. His gaze is serious. I turn to Dan. His usually calm eyes are now pleading. What am I supposed to do? I look again at Mier, who shakes his head, meaning to stop me from what I am about to do.
>>I'm sorry. <<
The sand makes me stumble and I just tumble in any direction. I break through a wall of sand. I hear Miers screaming. I look back and see a silhouette running through the wall of sand. Tian na! I crumple over in the soft sand. I am try miserably to catch myself as strong, rough arms wrap around my thin waist from behind and press me tightly against a chest.
YOU ARE READING
I-Land Survival
Adventure"I like scars because I like the stories. Courage, stupidity, pain, none of them come without a cost. Jessica Martinez " the words gently leave my lips as they pass over his scars. "Please Lu." His voice a whisper. "What do you want?" "You." After...
