?
More and more torchlights gathered.
Search parties came and went beneath the city wall.
Inside the RV, Du Wenyan and the girl had been bound, gagged, and left on the sofa.
Su Jin sat at the wheel, watching the people outside and counting the patrols against the time on a second watch.
He left the lights off.
The camouflage covered even the windows.
But he had not checked whether light from inside could be seen. This was no time to test it.
More than an hour passed.
When most of the searchers had returned to the city, Su Jin finally relaxed a little.
Once he was sure none would come back at once, he turned on the lights, opened the door, and checked from outside.
"Hmm..."
Satisfied that the camouflage still worked, he got back in.
It was reliable. If this was a defective piece, he wondered how good a proper one would be.
Under the lights, the siblings stared around in fear.
What kind of house was so strange and yet so comfortable?
Su Jin crouched and pulled the tape off Du Wenyan’s mouth. "We’re fairly safe for now. Should I kill you first, or your sister?"
He reached toward the girl’s head. "She’s one of those Host Spirit Girls they call Suzai, isn’t she?"
"Don’t touch her! Who are you?" Du Wenyan growled.
"You’re asking me? How many times did you lie? You said you were escaping, but you broke someone out. And we were supposed to meet at the south gate!"
"You went north too!" Du Wenyan glared back.
"Because I saw through you. I haven’t killed you because I respect what you did."
"You had a comfortable life, but you risked it to save your sister. That takes courage. Now give me a reason to spare you both. Do you really have papers to pass the checkpoints?"
"No," Du Wenyan admitted. "I lied to save her. Brother Wu, you’re a man of feeling. I’m sure you would have hidden and protected your family too."
"You’re wrong. I’m an only child."
"There is one thing I didn’t lie about. I know the towns of Suyuan and have memorized the routes. I can guide you wherever you want to go."
"And my sister brings no ill fortune."
"I already feel unlucky."
"The court is lying!" Du Wenyan burst out. "My sister is normal. She isn’t a walking disaster."
"What can she do?" Su Jin asked.
"Nothing violent. She can make plants grow faster. Please spare her. I’ll do anything you ask," Du Wenyan said, tears in his eyes.
Su Jin barely heard him. His thoughts had gone elsewhere.
Make plants grow faster? She would be invaluable in an apocalypse.
And her brother knew the roads. Su Jin could hardly leave them behind.
After thinking a moment, he asked, "What else did you say that was true?"
"I really know Shen Yufeng well, and he can find me a post in Jiuzhao City."
"Hmm..."
Under Du Wenyan’s anxious gaze, Su Jin finally nodded.
"All right. I’ll take you both to Jiuzhao City. But if either of you tries anything behind my back, I’ll kill you."
"We would never dare. I’ll serve you however I can," Du Wenyan said, closing his eyes and bowing his head.
"Good. I’ll untie you. We’ll wait a little longer before leaving."
Su Jin soon freed them.
He did not trust them, but they posed little threat to him.
He could drug and bind them before he slept if necessary.
The siblings sat awkwardly on the sofa, looking around the RV.
The lights above drew their eyes most of all.
"Brother Wu, when did this house appear beside the city wall? It’s so strange," Du Wenyan asked.
"It isn’t a house. It’s a vehicle."
"A vehicle this large? What sort of beast could pull it?"
Su Jin smiled but had no answer he wanted to give.
He looked at the girl. "Your sister? What’s her name?"
"Yunlian... Du Yunlian."
"Poor thing. How are you feeling? You look unwell. Are you hurt?" Su Jin asked.
Du Yunlian lifted her head timidly and did not seem willing to speak.
With her brother’s encouragement, she finally said, "I’m cold..."
"Why didn’t you say so?" Du Wenyan took off his outer robe and wrapped it around her.
Su Jin turned on the heater.
"You’ll warm up soon. Tell me if you get too warm. Don’t keep it to yourself."
Du Wenyan stared at the glowing control panel.
Unable to make sense of it, he asked, "What pulls this vehicle? And why does it look like this inside? That must be a lamp overhead, but what are those colors on the wall...?"
Questions poured from him.
Su Jin waved a hand, unwilling to explain. "Look around for yourself. We can talk tomorrow when things have settled. There’s a bedroom at the back. You two can use it."
"Thank you, Brother Wu." Du Wenyan took Yunlian’s hand and explored the RV.
Su Jin put on a Bluetooth earpiece and switched on the listening system.
Their voices came through.
"Brother! Is this a bed? And pillows? They’re so white and soft. Can we use them?"
"Don’t touch them. We’d get them dirty. We can sleep on the floor."
"Brother, this opening is blowing warm air. I’m hot."
"It is. What are these strange characters? No wonder he said you’d warm up. Wonderful! Even the palace couldn’t match this."
After some time in the bedroom, the siblings moved on.
Yunlian cried out happily, "Brother, why is there a well in this room?"
"A well indoors? ...There really is one. Such a fine well, though it’s rather shallow."
"Brother, I’m thirsty."
"Then drink. Brother Wu is generous; he won’t mind a little well water. I’ll tell him later. I’m thirsty too."
"Slurp, slurp... Sweet! Brother, the water’s sweet!"
"Stop! The well’s dry!"
...
Su Jin broke into laughter.
He had opened a can of cola but could not bring it to his lips.
His shoulders shook as he leaned over the steering wheel.