SURVIVORS
Chapters 20. Chased Bear
Robert looks better. The hue of his previously pale face had already gradually reddened. Dean looked at the fire, there was only a pot with hot water there. He has to find food. It looks like team 3 will not be able to move any time soon. So they need food supplies.
"I'm going out looking for groceries. You guard here. While we can't go anywhere" Dean said as he stood up. He took the spear he was carrying.
"Bring this with you." Robert handed the knife to Dean. "Be careful." Dean nodded and walked away.
After Dean died, Robert sighed and stretched his body. 'I have to fix the inner shelter. He looked at his teammates who were laid around the fire in order to feel warmer faster. Robert took out a metal tray and started dredging and compacting the inside of the shelter to make it wider. Robert changed the foundation of the triangular wall to be more curved to make it easier to install the roof of the snow beam. The shape of the snow roof must be made slightly curved and decreased so that the snow melted due to the heat of the fireplace does not fall soaks its inhabitants like last night.
Reinforcing the inner wall was finished, Robert stepped out and saw a snowpack so high, higher than the roof of the previous shelter. No wonder Dean had trouble finding them. Robert shook his head slowly. Robert began to condense the snow and cut it with trays into blocks. He arranged the snow beams that curved to resemble a dome and became the roof of the shelter.
Robert was done with the roof and the shelter entrance. Wood from the roof was collected by Robert for the supply of firewood. Robert entered the room, saw the sleeping members of his team and warmed up. His stomach is getting hungry. 'That boy for a long time. May nothing harmful happen' he hoped sincerely. Robert followed the steps Dean made this morning. He rubbed his palm at Dr. Chandra. The bodies of his companions had already begun to warm, but they were still not awake. Hopefully this method can stimulate nerves and good response.
"Doctor. Doctor Chandra.. Did you hear me?" so Robert continues to do to everyone in turn.
"Robert, I'm back." Dean entered while carrying 2 rabbits. "I dug up again the location of the trap I set. The snow is too thick, but it's a good thing there's a frozen rabbit in the snow on the snare." Dean smiled broadly as he raised his left hand which held the 2 rabbits that were already clean. Robert's eyes shone with pleasure. He's already very hungry. Extreme cold makes the stomach more hungry.
Dean roasts a rabbit on fire. Walk out again while carrying a pot taking the snow to cook the water. Dean returned the knife to Robert. "Thank you. This is very helpful." Robert smiled at her.
Dean flips the rabbit so it doesn't burn in one part. The rabbit is about to mature. The smell was everywhere. Robert entered with a pile of firewood he had cut with a knife. 'Truly a strong and sharp knife' Dean thought.
"Eerrghhh.." a faint groan was heard. Dean approached Chandra's doctor whose face looked troubled. His eyes are still closed. Dean rubs his palms again into Chandra's hands while calling. "Dok. Dr. Chandra.. Did you hear me?" tanyanya while continuing to wipe.
There was a frown on Dr. Chandra's forehead. Whether it's Dean's response or he's still in his dreamland, Dean doesn't know. So he started patting slowly on Dr. Chandra's palm while occasionally stimulating the nerves at the fingertips. "Dok.. Can you hear me?" ask Dean again and again.
Before long, Doctor Chandra's eyelids opened slowly and then blinked. "Dean?" Dr Chandra still doesn't understand the circumstances.
"Yes doc. It's good that you're awake." replied Dean happily. He brought him a cup of warm water to warm the doctor.
Robert who replaced the roasting rabbit showed a big smile sign he was happy doctor Chandra was awake. "Thank God."
Dr. Chandra is helped by Dean to get a drink. He saw his teammates lying asleep near the fire. Doctor Chandra was astonished to see this. The light from the door was very bright, it meant it was still daytime. How can they all sleep? "What's this?" Doctor Chandra still can't understand what happened.
"The extreme temperature last night made everyone sleepy and fall asleep. Long sleep, like hibernation in winter." Answer Robert.
"Huhh?!" doctor Chandra was surprised. Did I fall asleep too?" tanyanya.
"Yes doc. You just woke up." replied Dean. "Food is ready, we can eat together" he said.
"Then how are they?" doctor Chandra pointed to his teammates who were still sleeping without feeling disturbed.
"We wait until they wake up. Keep the fire so that their bodies warm faster and stimulate the nerves slowly. That's all we can do. Hopefully they respond quickly." replied Dean again. They then began to eat while talking about the development of the previous team. Robert agreed with Dean's plan to create 2 expedition teams to check the situation of the forest and find a way out. Robert also said about the curtain of light he saw on Dean. Dean glued up and thought hard about it. But he had no idea about anything.
"alright. Thank you for your help," Robert shook Dean's hand warmly. Dean waved his hand, "we're a team, we have to be together hard and happy, healthy and safe." Dean smiled and walked away. Before disappearing into the forest, Dean looked back again. The shelter looks better now. He's calm because his friends are gonna be safe tonight.
***
Indra and all the men there are done looking for additional firewood. The smell of fish has tickled the stomach and evoked hunger. Widuri out of the room. "Let's eat first. The food is ripe" he asked. They gathered around the fire in an open area. Eat well while talking.
"Is the expedition team's plan canceled?" liam asked as his eyes squinted at the distance of the horizon.
"We're waiting for Dean to check on Team 3. Any plan can change according to the latest situation. The main thing is to ensure the safety of everyone." explained Indra. The women nodded even though they did not understand too much. They just follow the instructions and decisions that have been made together. What matters is that everyone is safe.
After eating, everyone does their own thing. Today probably won't go anywhere. So Gilang and Leon set out to check out a fish trap Dean said was in the direction of the waterfall. Just a few steps, Liam called. "I'm coming with you. It's also boring not to do anything" he said, carrying his spear.
Snow is thick and soft. The three of them walked quite far. Arriving in the wide open, they stopped. Amazed.
"Dean's right, this looks like a lake in my eyes" Liam said in amazement. The view is so beautiful. A vast expanse of pure white snow was fenced in by the trees at the end of it, dark green in color and a faint blackish trail. That's a sign that the forest is thick enough to not allow light into the forest.
Just looking for the sign Dean left behind. Found her. The small short green leaves appear on the surface of the white snow. The color contrast makes it easy to recognize. Gilang stepped carefully towards him to check.
"Where are you going?" Leon.
"You check, what's a trap." Gilang stepped cautiously near the pine leaf tip. The three of them walked over and helped Gilang clear the snow pile.
"really.. This is the fish trap. Glad to be happy, his task of finding food must be completed well. Liam notices Leon and Gilang cleaning the fish. Leon had even been proficient at using spears to clean fish. The job can be quickly completed. They had to go back, so there was no need to walk in the dark.
"Let's go home," let Gilang walk ahead followed by Leon and Liam.
"Ggrrrhhh.. Roarr..." The loud sounds of the animals behind them were shocking. The three of them were fixated and stood in place with bodies shaking uncontrollably.
Leon who stood in the middle, tried to look back to see what kind of beast his steps could be pounding the ground and his voice was so terrifying. Instantly he pegged with a horrible mimic.
Liam saw that expression, with a wry look he nudged Leon's hand.. "What's behind us?" ask Liam slowly." Leon can't make a sound. Tongue's cow. Only his eyes glared in panic.
Glazed in front finally looked back. He screamed and ran away.. "New.it's a bear.. Very large. Run... run...!" panicked shouting.
Liam was shocked to death. Without looking back again, he ran after Gilang while pulling Leon's hand to resuscitate him. "Run..! Lari.."
Leon loses his balance and falls due to Liam's pull on his hand. But it made him aware of the situation and immediately jumped to run quickly after his two friends. "Tunjuu... Wait for me!" frightened screams. His face pias, as if his life had flown while his legs felt as soft as jelly which made it difficult to run properly.
***