A few people gathered around to eat their field rations. After running the whole day and then sleeping on an empty stomach, they were extremely hungry. One pot wasn’t enough, so they cooked another half pot.

Fortunately, the higher-ups had correctly estimated the duration of this exploration. Our food reserves could last a week, and we didn’t think we’d be down here that long. Compressed rations, even though they contain powdered dehydrated vegetables, are definitely unhealthy if eaten too much. The few compressed vegetables we had tasted especially awful.

After eating, we felt much better. A cigarette after a meal made us feel like immortals. We told that soldier to go rest again, but he still refused. Edward Foster had no choice but to hand him a cigarette, which he did accept.

Our backs and waists ached, so we sat there massaging ourselves while pondering tomorrow’s plans. We had no idea what the road ahead would be like. If it stayed like this, we could just leave the inflatable raft here. Otherwise, judging by today’s progress, we might as well turn back, or else we’d definitely run out of ammo and food later on.

Charles Bennett suggested sending someone ahead to scout while the rest of us rested here for a whole day. The scouts could travel far in six or seven hours, and after a round trip, we’d know what to expect.

I still felt uneasy. After what happened yesterday, I thought any suggestion to split up was unsafe. But Edward Foster agreed with Charles Bennett. The main issue was that, moving this slowly, we couldn’t afford to waste fuel and flashlight batteries. In such darkness, without those things, we’d be doomed. Another benefit of scouting ahead was that we could familiarize ourselves with the route, so when we advanced, we could use less light and save a lot of energy.

He said if we were worried about danger, we could send half the group to scout and be ready for emergencies. Yesterday’s accident was mainly because we were too reckless. With him there, he’d remind the others.

Charles Bennett gave Edward Foster a cold look after hearing this, since it was obvious Edward Foster was talking to him. Edward Foster wanted to argue back, but I quickly stopped him and told them both to say less.

Edward Foster is a good person in every way, except his sense of justice is too strong. I think, since the incident already happened, we have to accept it. Fixating on blaming one person is just avoiding reality. I believe Charles Bennett feels terrible inside, and even if Charles Bennett had tried his best to stop that young soldier and gone down himself, you can’t say such a tragedy wouldn’t have happened. Just because Charles Bennett has climbing experience doesn’t mean he would have noticed those wires—he could have been the one to fall. But Edward Foster wouldn’t listen to this.

Just as the atmosphere was turning sour again, suddenly there was a loud “clang” that startled us.

In the cave, that kind of high-pitched metallic sound was especially loud and uncomfortable.

We turned to look and saw that Ethan Brooks’s metal bowl had fallen onto a rock, spilling his food everywhere. At the same time, his eyes were fixed on something behind us, and he was shaking all over.

Edward Foster looked puzzled and asked what he was doing. At that moment, the soldier standing guard behind Ethan Brooks also turned around, and as soon as he did, his face changed. With a click, he pulled back the bolt on his gun and stammered, “Deputy squad—squad leader!”

We immediately realized something was wrong and all turned to look in the direction Ethan Brooks was staring. Instantly, cold sweat broke out all over me.

On a rock opposite us, at some unknown point, a person had appeared, staring straight at us.

12. The Extra Stranger

Earlier, we had been resting on a fairly large rock. The rock next to us was only about five meters away, with an underground river flowing below. The campfire’s light shone over, and except for the face, the person’s figure was clearly visible.

All of us were here together, so it was obvious this wasn’t one of us. And where were we? This was the middle section of an underground river, more than four hundred meters below the nearest surface, and who knows how many meters from the nearest village. How could there possibly be anyone else here besides us?

In an instant, cold sweat soaked my clothes. I quickly stepped back a few paces. The deputy squad leader and the others were all light sleepers. As soon as they heard someone shout, they got up, saw our expressions, turned to look at that spot, and all gasped, scrambling to grab their guns and load them. In a flash, five rifles were aimed at that person.

The deputy squad leader shouted, “Who are you?”

The person didn’t answer, just stood there stiffly, not moving at all.

We all swallowed hard. Edward Foster, the bravest among us, called out, “Charles Bennett, flashlight, flashlight, shine it over.”

Charles Bennett immediately and cautiously turned on his flashlight, shining it up from the person’s feet. As the beam moved up, we were all stunned. The person was wearing the same PLA uniform as us, even the equipment belt was identical. As the flashlight moved higher, we saw his clothes were covered in blood. His face was hidden by a safety helmet, so we couldn’t see clearly, but it was obviously covered in blood too.

My face turned pale, and I immediately realized who this person was. It was as if I’d been thrown into an ice hole in the dead of winter—my whole body went cold.