Chapter 29 (1/2)

Lin Wenxi looked at his watch. It was 3:00 am. He hurriedly pitched up his tent to have some rest. Zhang Dong walked back into the wood, nimbly jumped up and climbed up a thriving tree. As the tree had many branches, he put his backpack on some crossed branches and slept with his head on the backpack.

He squinted his eyes, looking at Lin Wenxi. Lin Wenxi mounted his flashlight to a tripod holder, letting the light shot toward the slowly flowing river. The river reflected the light back on his calm face. Zhang Dong somehow felt that the night became even quieter because of the calm look on Lin Wenxi’s face. Lin Wenxi rubbed his tent and the hesitantly looked at Zhang Dong.

Zhang Dong smiled and turned around. He leaped to some other crossed branches of the tree and swiftly wove the smaller branches there into a nest for his head. After that, he tied himself up with two vines to create a swaying hammock for himself. He yawned relaxedly and glanced sideways at Lin Wenxi. He saw Lin Wenxi run to the tree without saying a word and thought, “Well, he’s still a child.”

Zhang Dong found Lin Wenxi unusually quiet now and wondered, “What is he thinking now?”

“Instructor Zhang?” Lin Wenxi said softly. Zhang Dong remained silent.

“Instructor Zhang.” Lin Wenxi raised his voice, but his voice still sounded somewhat squeaky. Zhang Dong was not satisfied with that and still remained silent.

There was no sound.

As Zhang Dong was lying with his face toward the sky and his back toward the ground, he could not see Lin Wenxi clearly. Suddenly, he felt a tickle on his nape. He wanted to turn around but failed to do so, since he was tied up by the vines. After that, he felt a tickle in his armpit, on his waist, and then somewhere below his waist… He could not help but tuck his tailbone and thought grumpily, “Sure enough! A man can be killed but can not be humiliated!”

“Lin Wenxi, what’re you doing? Don’t poke my ass!” Zhang Dong cried out with a loud voice.

“I see…” Lin Wenxi said and then used the dry twig in his hand to poke Zhang Dong’s back for a few times.

“What? You did that again! You…” Zhang Dong untied himself, grabbed the tip of a branch and jumped down, his face full of anger.

“You just asked me not to poke your ass…” Lin Wenxi said somewhat embarrassedly.

“If you want to call me, speak louder!” Zhang Dong said sternly. Lin Wenxi was stunned. He moved his lips but failed to utter a word.

“Did your platoon leader talk like that in your military training?”

“No!” Lin Wenxi straightened his back and replied loudly.

“Attention!”

Lin Wenxi stood up straight.

“At ease!”

Lin Wenxi immediately stood at ease.

“About turn!”

He turned around.

“Quick march!”

Lin Wenxi marched toward the river, but gradually, he slowed down. The surface of the swelling river, which was about 30 meters in width, was already on a level with the river bank. The river seemed to flow slowly, but Lin Wenxi could clearly see some vortexes in it. He thought, “This river looks quiet on the surface, but the undercurrent beneath the surface must flow very fast. Once I fall into the river, I can never survive even with the help of Zhang Dong.’

As he got closer and closer to the river, he felt anxious and slowed down.

“Attention, about turn!” shouted Zhang Dong. Lin Wenxi stood upright and then turned around, while feeling the cool vapor blowing on his back and hearing the river roaring behind him.

“Why did you call me just now?” Zhang Dong asked loudly. Lin Wenxi could only hear his voice and could not see him in the dark.

“Instructor Zhang!” Lin Wenxi replied loudly.

“Why did you call me?”