READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 16
We were indeed anticipating the scenario where rescue wouldn’t come, but we were still deeply affected when it actually happened. Both I and Iori were in a state as if attending a funeral.
“Maybe they’ll come tomorrow,” I wanted to say these words to console her. But I held back and spoke something else.
“Let’s start preparing for our escape from the island tomorrow. It’s already late today. Let’s finish the remaining tasks before it gets dark and go to sleep.”
“Yeah,” Iori murmured, but her expression was as dark as midnight.
◇
We washed the uniforms, we wore and wiped our bodies with towels. Unlike yesterday, we didn’t help each other, and just finished it silently. Once that was done, it was bedtime.
“Goodnight, Masato-kun.”
“Sure, goodnight.”
Iori hugged my left arm again. My left hand was sandwiched between her thighs. She held on more tightly than yesterday; probably a sign of her anxiety.
Even so, Iori fell asleep within a few minutes. It seemed cuddling made her feel more secure.
(I might be able to sleep tonight.)
My mind was calmer than before. I didn’t have the energy to indulge in fantasies today.
As a result, a clear sense of exhaustion prevailed, and I quickly drifted into sleep.
◇
“Oh no, I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die!”
The beginning of the fourth day was tumultuous. As soon as I woke up, I crawled out of the house. Immediately, I worked the handle of the hand pump to get some water out.
I dunked my face into the freshly pumped well water to rehydrate myself.
“That was close…”
I woke up because my body was sending danger signals. I thought I might die from heatstroke.
In any case, today was hot. It was the hottest day since we got stranded on this island. Though it should still be morning, sweat was pouring.
Without a doubt, the current temperature was above 30 degrees Celsius, maybe even close to 35 degrees.
“Ah, that’s right! Iori!”
I was concerned about Iori’s condition. If I was in this state, she must be in danger as well. She might have collapsed from heatstroke.
“What’s wrong with me?”
I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around to find Iori wearing a bamboo hat. She held a pot filled with fruits.
“Good morning, Masato-kun! You slept well again!”
Iori seemed lively. Unlike last night, her expression was brighter.
“You’re alive!”
“Of course! I won’t die in a place like this!”
“Your energy level seems different from usual.”
I wondered if the heat had damaged my brain. As I thought about that, Iori burst into laughter, saying “No way.”
“It’s hard to survive without high spirits!”
“I guess that’s true.”
She cut her sentence there and then continued with a serious face.
“But isn’t it time to stop moping around?”
“You’re right.”
I nodded with a serious expression too. There was no use lamenting; the situation wouldn’t change.
“Well then, Masato-kun! Let’s approach today with full enthusiasm!”
“Sure thing!”
I got up and took a deep breath. Then, from the bottom of my lungs, I shouted.
“Yahoooo!”
The sudden loud voice startled birds in the forest, and they took off.
“You’re being a bit too enthusiastic!”
Iori laughed.
◇
We ate apples and bananas and grilled tomatoes for breakfast.
“I’m starting to crave rice! Ah, I really want some rice!”
“I want rice and miso soup too!”
While saying that, we began our morning tasks.
First, we started processing the logs we brought back yesterday.
We cut them into appropriate sizes with a saw and then split them into firewood with an axe.
“Hyaa! Eiyaa! Tooo!”
Iori swung the axe onto the thinly sliced logs. While a satisfying thunking sound echoed, the logs weren’t easy to split. Even after a few strikes, they merely cracked.
“Harder than I thought.”
“It seems so. That’s why they burn so well. Sei!”
Iori energetically swung the axe while shouting. Unlike me, who was in charge of slicing, she seemed to be enjoying her work.
(It’s probably a good way to blow off steam.)
As she vigorously swung the axe, she didn’t have room to think about anything else. I chuckled quietly and continued slicing the logs.
◇
“Let’s stop around here.”
We finished processing about half of the logs we collected and ended our work.
“Tired? Want to switch?”
Iori looked at me with a worried expression.
“I’m a little tired, but it’s not a problem.”
“Why then? There’s still half left.”
“I’m thinking of using the remaining logs for something else.”
“Something else? What could it be…”
“I’m going to make weapons.”
“Weapons!?”
Iori widened her eyes in surprise, then immediately shut them, saying, “Ouch, ouch!” It seemed a drop of sweat had gotten into her eye.
“Seriously! It’s so hot! You have to do something, Masato-kun!”
Iori wiped her face with well water as she complained.
“If only I could, I would have lowered the temperature to 26 degrees a long time ago.”
The time should be around 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. It was the peak of the heat.
“But seriously, it’s scorching.”
Even breathing felt stifling. If it was like this in mid-July, August would be hopeless. I thought as I drank the water from my water bottle.
“Anyway, why are you making weapons when you have tools and a machete?”
“I want something with a bit more reach.”
In combat against animals, the existing tools’ reach didn’t feel adequate. The fight with the wolf near the river the other day was a perfect example. With a machete, I couldn’t attack effectively, and I had to be ready to sacrifice an arm.
However, with something longer, like a spear, the situation would be different. I could have kept the attacking wolves at a distance and struck from safety. Thinking that, I realized I needed a new weapon.
“If that’s the case, we should make a spear! We have carpentry tools, so it should take about two hours!”
“I agree. After having an early lunch, let’s start making the weapon.”
“Got it! And after making the weapon, we’ll head to the northern forest to defeat the lion!”
Iori probably said that as a joke.
“Sounds good. Once we have the weapon, we’ll go to the northern forest. If a lion attacks us, we’ll fight back!”