1300 Arriving in Style (1/2)
Hearing the sudden sound from the intercom, Wei Kang, who did not believe in ghosts, almost threw the receiver away. He thought he'd heard a voice that belonged to ghosts. He thought perhaps he was hallucinating, the source being his own sorrows. However, when he saw Gao Ke's equally astonished face, he knew this was no hallucination.
”Xiao Zhang… Zhang Zian? Are you really Zhang Zian?” Wei Kang asked again, his heart beating so fast it could almost jump out of his chest. He nervously awaited his answer.
Gao Ke also had his mouth open out of shock and put his ear to the other side of the walkie-talkie, listening equally nervously.
The dangers of the desert were clear to them now, as they had experienced them throughout their journey. It was no longer an understanding from textbooks, films, or shows. They'd found it challenging even with adequate supplies and Nabari as a guide. Besides, Zhang Zian had left them with much less drinking water and fuel. How had he managed to pull through?
Gao Ke decided that even if Zhang Zian was not dead, he was close to being dead. He was likely to be as thin as a twig.
Wei Kang also had similar concerns. He gave Gao Ke a glance and asked him to take the phone. If the situation was not good, he would call an ambulance immediately.
In the flat, unobstructed desert, the range of a handheld walkie-talkie could reach several kilometers or more. Wei Kang was not sure what Zhang Zian's specific position was, which direction he was coming from, or how much longer before he arrived.
”Professor Wei Kang, this is Zhang Zian, and I will soon arrive at the Bedouin tribe. Over!” The intercom rang again.
”Xiao Zhang, how is your situation? Do you need an ambulance?”
Gao Ke ran to Wei Kang, handing him the phone.
”Zhang Zian is back? Are you for real?”
Salem, upon hearing this news, ran over quickly. Zhang Zian was his savior. He didn't want Zhang Zian to die in the desert. After returning to the tribe, he'd also discussed this with his uncle. Should the both of them enter the desert again to find him? The desert was vast. Where should they start looking?
Xiao Tianyu and Du Xuetao also heard the news. If they hadn't been responsible for guarding He He, they would have also wanted to come out and meet Zhang Zian.
Zhang Zian said via the intercom, ”Professor Wei Kang, I am fine. You don't need to call an ambulance… Oh, but my diesel has already run out. I am not sure if I can drive to…”
Wei Kang was somewhat curious as to what he'd said. ”Would you like me to pick you up?”
Zhang Zian said, ”No need. I guess I can almost reach the Bedouin tribe with what I have left. I wanted to borrow a camel from the Bedouins so I can head to the Siwa Oasis. Since you are also here, that saves me a lot of trouble!”
When he heard Zhang Zian's voice, Salem grabbed the walkie-talkie from Wei Kang and shouted strings of unfamiliar Chinese: ”Oh, my mother! Brother Zhang, what crap happened?”
Zhang Zian said nothing.
The three of them stood by the well and looked out. They were as anxious as ants on a hill. They could not wait to see him appear in front of them and hear how he had been.
Not too long later, Gao Ke spotted him using a telescope. ”He's coming! He's coming!” he said excitedly as he pointed into the distance.
Wei Kang and Salem tip-toed over and saw that there was a burst of smoke in the direction where Gao Ke was pointing. It seemed that a car was approaching them.
They took turns looking through the telescope, and the outline of the car gradually became more visible. It was indeed one of the team's vehicles. However, the luggage rack on top of it was no longer there, nor were the tent and mat that were supposed to be attached to it. The car had no paint job either. It had been rubbed clean due to the violent sandstorm.