[Story] Not a Drop of Water to be Found!

He asked, ‘What do we do if we can’t find even a scoop of water?’ I pondered over the dilemma, unsure of a solution. We were contemplating our predicament when Tien-hsiang suddenly pointed ahead with enthusiasm. ‘Do you see that house over there? We might solve our problem there!’ Following his gaze, I saw a thatched hut surrounded by short bamboo fences. Inside, there were indistinct voices. Upon closer inspection, a sorrowful family encircled a mound, weeping inconsolably. Their eyes were red and swollen, faces somber. It became clear someone had died and was about to be buried. Dream-Sheng murmured, ‘It’s inevitable.’ In that moment, concern over thirst seemed trivial compared to their grief. Tien-hsiang, ever resilient, urged, ‘Let’s keep moving forward! We can search elsewhere!’ We gazed at the distant mountains and forests under the dimming sky. A sense of hopelessness crept over us. With the sun setting, a deep fear of being lost in the wilderness took hold, as noises from the dense woods further unnerved us. Reluctantly, we pressed on, anxiety consuming us with each step.