Peace amid the downpour

Storm and thunder ravaged the island. Fat raindrops battered the palm trees, rolling down the edges of their broad, needle-shaped leaves in thin silver streams.

The soil was muddy. Boots squelched through ground thick with humus and standing water.

Xia Lun's dark gray coat was waterproof and warm, but the damp chill still seeped relentlessly through his cuffs and trouser legs, like wriggling leeches sucking away his strength and warmth.

Cold and exhaustion often came with hunger and uncertainty, and trudging through the downpour acted like a lever, magnifying every falter of the mind.

He glanced at the survivors beside him. Everyone was silent—they were simply too exhausted. Even Gunner, who was leading the group, had let his brows droop listlessly and looked utterly drained.

"Eek, eek, eek!"

Suddenly, the monkey's excited cries cut through the rain. It bounded to the front of the group and waved its furry paws wildly.

The bare-chested Gunner lowered his head and bared his yellow front teeth at the monkey, but it shook its head anxiously.

Gunner muttered a few doubtful words to the monkey, then lay down, pinched up some soil, and held it beneath his nose. The next instant, he jerked his upper body upright and pointed excitedly at the dense thicket to the left.

"A cave, right over there!"

The exhausted survivors immediately perked up and instinctively looked where Gunner was pointing.

Through gaps in the tangled thorns and leaves, they could just make out an undulating ridge. Amid its gray-black rock, an opening several people wide stood on a patch of high ground.

Streams formed by the downpour surged along the foot of the mountain, while the cave looked perfectly dry.

Soon, the five people and one monkey climbed the rugged path through the gray-black rocks to the cave entrance.