SURVIVORS

SURVIVORS
Chapters 17. Suspicion (revision)


It was early morning and the weather was cooler. Dean woke up from the shivering he felt. It turns out that Alan who should be on guard is asleep, until the remaining fireplace is only coal.


'Worthy of being so cold' Dean's inner.


Dean immediately moved up and added wood. The room warmed up again as the fire grew. Dean headed for the next shelter from the connecting hole. All were asleep and the firewood stayed a little. Dean again added wood there, so that the room becomes warmer.


Dean opened the shelter door and walked out. Look at the blue sky with white clouds. So pretty.


Dean picked up the pot and filled it with snow to cook the warm water. Waiting for the water to ripen, Dean woke Sunil up so he could accompany him to leave this morning. Not long ago Gilang also woke up.


After filling the stomach with warm water, Dean and Sunil went to check the fish trap. The place is at the bottom of the shelter. So it didn't take long to get there, they soon arrived.


There were quite a number of fish found lying on the surface of the ice. Sunil's eyes look very bright, it looks enough for 2 meals according to him.


"Sunil, can you clean those fish?" ask Dean.


"certain. I-i can. It won't be too difficult. Leave it to me."


Sunil stood up and walked up and broke a nearby pine twig. He could use the pointed tip of the twig to open the belly of the fish.


Dean broke a thin layer of ice in the hole he made yesterday. Now the size is back as before.


"Dispose that fish belly in here to invite other fish to come. Wash it off and go back to the shelter. I'm gonna check around here first."


Dean walked away.


Sunil nodded, "OK," as he continued his job of cleaning the fish.


Fish that are clean, hooked to the pine twigs by inserting twigs in the abdominal gap to the head. All the fish were clean and Sunil was ready to return. He looked around, Dean was out of sight.


*


*


Dean walked while still looking around. He keeps his footing on the ground with a benchmark of trees around him. He did not want to harm his team if it walked past the frozen surface of the water.


Chandra's mired doctor's experience must never happen again. No one can tell where a thin snow surface might be. So Dean wouldn't take the risk.


It's been a long time walking around, Dean still hasn't found his way down.


'Is this a lake?' Dean asked in his heart.


From where he stood at the moment, he could see the edge across the surface of the water. Many trees grow there, which means that's the limit. Dean turned to his left and looked back, but could not confirm.


Finally he chose to go down and step on the surface of the solidified ice first to be safer from being mired. About 50 meters from where he was, Dean stopped and saw something he suspected. In front of him it looks empty. His eyes could see another snow mountain in the distance. Dean turned around and stepped carefully.


*


******


At the shelter, Widuri woke up when Sunil returned and handed him the fish he got.


Widuri grilled the fish by stabbing it into a tree branch and then thrusting the twig near the fire.


The fragrant fish developed Nastiti and the Goddess. They sat near Widuri and warmed themselves.


"Widuri, how many days have it been since I last bab. At this time the stomach is not good. But where can we chapter?" The Goddess grumbled her stomach.


"Yes, I'm uncomfortable too." Nastiti agreed.


Widuri nodded in understanding.


"Try digging in the snow. Make it deep enough, compact it for footing. Just squat there. When it's done, stack the hole again as before."


"Ahh, how can you think so fast?" ask Goddess.


"Actually not thinking fast, I was also thinking about the way earlier. My stomach is uncomfortable too. Haha."


Laughter Widuri followed her two friends.


"Nastiti, accompany me yuk. I want a chapter." Bring Goddess.


"Wake up and keep the men close."


"All right.. Later change take care of me yes...." Reply Nastiti.


The goddess nodded quickly. "okay." Thumbs shuffled.


The two of them came out while carrying a tray that was used to dredge snow towards the forest.


"Hey, you guys don't go too far. Lost later!" Shouted Widuri.


Sunil and Gilang walked over to Widuri. "Where are they?" ask Gilang. He had a saw in his hand.


"Searching for chapter places." Answer Widuri.


"Oh, okay. We'll find firewood first while we wait for Dean to come back." Said Gilang while taking Sunil further walking towards the forest. They're away.


The bored Widuri simply flipped the fish, finally pulled out the seams and started sewing the socks. 'Can't waste time' he thought.


Alan woke up after sleeping with satisfaction. He sat near Widuri.


"Where are the others?" ask while drinking the available warm water.


"Dean was looking around. Dewi and Nastiti are on a chapter. Sunil and Gilang are looking for wood. You can catch up with them if you want." Answer Widuri.


Alan stood up.


"In which direction is Gilang and Sunil?"


"No idea," nodded.


"Just look. But don't get too far."


Alan stepped out. He saw traces of snow. Some go down, some go right, some go left. After thinking for a moment, Alan decided to take the left path.


Not too long ago, he met Nastiti who was leaning on a pine trunk.


"Finding Gilang and Sunil" Alan replied.


"They're not through here." replied Nastiti again.


"I'm guarding the Goddess that chaps."


"Ahh, that means I chose the wrong way," said Alan, then turned around.


"I'll look them the other way."


Then Alan walked back following his footprints in the snow, continuing past the intersection of the footprints he had seen earlier.


Gilang was dragging the trunk of the tree he cut down when he met Alan.


"Where are you? ask Alan.


"You're following you two. Where's Sunil?" Alan asked back.


"He's not finished. Suit it. There." show Gilang.


Alan walked back and Gilang continued to pull the tree towards the shelter. Not far from it, Sunil sawed a pine that was not too big.


Before long, krakk.... The tree eventually fell.


"Well, you're done."


Sapa Alan, step towards Sunil.


"Yes. You want to cut down one more tree or help me pull this?" Ask Sunil.


"Let me add one more tree to the team's additional supplies in the back."


Alan took a saw and looked for another tree trunk that was not too big.


"Have your hands healed?" ask Sunil. "I'll be waiting for you here. We'll go home together" she broke.


Alan nodded and started to saw. The tree was not very big, but quite tall. The stem is molten without leaves. The tree is dead. It was easier to eat fire even though it was damp. When stored close to the fireplace, damp wood will dry faster and ready to be firewood.


The two of them went home together while dragging the trunk of the tree that each felled.


Gilang looks following.


"It's over?" tanyakanya.


"Yes. I think that's enough. We'll just cut it near the shelter" Alan replied.


Gilang took the saw from Alan's hand.


"I am first." he said.


*


*


Sunil was chopping wood when Dean came back.


"Where are the women?" ask Dean.


"Chapter" replied Alan.


"Hmm."


Dean nodded and warmed himself with Gilang who was pouring warm water for him.


"So how was your trip?" sunil asked as he arranged the woods he cut inside the shelter.


"We talked about it when everyone got together. Gilang, can you see the fish trap with Sunil? Hopefully there's enough supplies for our trip." Dean asked.


Gilang and Sunil nodded and walked out. Alan is still finishing his work.


The Goddess returned alone. Dean's eyes asked him.


"They're not done yet." The goddess explained and sat by the fire.


"Wash your hands with water." Said Dean. He poured hot water into the cup.


The Goddess's eyes glared. "Washing hands with hot water is that? Blister my hand," he said.


"here."


Dean walked out carrying a cup filled with hot water. Then take a handful of snow and put it in hot water. The snow is melting.


Dean touched his fingertips to the water.


"It's warm. Here I help pour the water." Dean tilted the cup and the Goddess washed her hands with warm water. That makes him comfortable.


"Thank you Dean" the Goddess smiled.


Dean nodded, happy to share the new knowledge with his team mates.


'That will be useful to themselves later' Dean thought.


When Widuri and Nastiti return, Dewi does the same to both colleagues.


Gilang was done and carried a bundle of fish in his hand. His face smiled with satisfaction. Sunil followed from behind.


Alan had also been sitting by the fire. Now they can start breakfast. The stomach is very hungry.


******


Examples of fish traps in frozen rivers/lakes.


Make a hole in the surface of the frozen water. Then the fish can be fished, spiked or fed and then caught.