Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
While Salem was alone and in danger, no one looked at him.
During this time, everyone assembled several sets of brackets to form another pair of ladders. The difference now was that the two long aluminum alloy poles that formed the H-type ladder were covered with white cloth. This was no longer a ladder. It was an extra-long stretcher.
Salem began to climb back, as he had expended a lot of energy during the journey. The way back was achievable only through sheer willpower.
When he climbed to the center, the long ladder started swaying under the influence of his weight and movement.
Suddenly, there was another torrent of activity. The off-road vehicle trapped in the quicksand suddenly fell.
The aluminum alloy bracket with a circular cross-section was slippery at the other end, and it was placed on the roof rack. When the off-road vehicle moved, the bracket also slid.
Salem was caught off guard, and his body swayed along with the long pole. His hands were full of sweat, and he could not catch the long pole. His hand slipped, and he fell.
Any fall less than two meters in height would cause minimal damage, even if it was not sand but a cement road. The key was that he did not land on his hand first. However, what lay below Salem was not ordinary sand—it was sinister quicksand.
Everyone exclaimed out loud over what they saw. Salem could only see the endless night sky above him as his body entered free fall.
The stars in the night sky seemed to form Sihwa’s face. She was smiling at him. He reached out to grab her face but could never touch it.
“It’s a pity that I haven’t seen her yet…”
Salem thought that he would die. Despite escaping the seas the previous time, he was now destined to be swallowed by quicksand.
His back touched the ground first. However, the sensation of the ground did not feel like sand. It was more like bouncing on a trampoline. He felt a strong recoil as he landed.
“Hey! Use some strength!”
Zhang Zian and several others were divided into two groups. Each group carried a long pole. Using all the muscles in their arms, they raised the poles high and held them steady in place.
The extended support ladder, despite being severely bent by Salem’s body weight, was nevertheless strong enough to catch and hold him.
“Pull back! Pull back!”
They saw that was Salem was safe and lifted the poles while walking backwards. They continued doing so until they had brought him to safe land. It was only then that they lowered the poles.
The unsettled Salem was saved by the others and wanted to thank them. However, Peter Lee interrupted and shouted, “Pull!”
Another off-road vehicle started its engine, and the traction rope was stretched taut. They were trying to pull the trapped off-road vehicle out of the sand.
If it was on solid ground, the tires might have enough grip. However, in soft sand, the power generated from the off-road vehicle was reduced to only about 30% to 40%, possibly even less. A lot of sand was thrown into the air. The off-road vehicle that was stuck moved a little. Alas, it only sank in deeper.
If this continued, even the new vehicle might be dragged into the quicksand.
“Everyone, pull together!”
Peter Lee ordered that all the idle people, including Salem and Wei Kang, who had just escaped tragedy, line up along the leash and engage in a tug-of-war. They held the rope with both hands and dug their feet in the sand. Their buttocks fell backwards, giving them extra strength to help pull. Some people put the rope on their shoulders and faced backwards, much like pulling a tracker.
The female Detective and He He also came to help. There was no more space on either side of the rope. Instead, they decided to help contribute and push the vehicle. Even Famous bit the rope and tried to help.
“One, two, three!”
Everyone shouted and made a concerted effort. The ropes had, by now, dyed their palms and shoulders red.
The off-road vehicle trapped in the sand moved again. This time, it moved forward a little, overcoming the suction of the quicksand.
Everyone took another step. With every step they were able to take, it meant that they were closer to succeeding.
The entire body of the off-road vehicle was now out of the sand. However, relaxing now would make it sink back in again.
Everyone clenched their teeth and tried their best. Suddenly, the rope became feather-like, and everyone fell forward like bowling pins. They were all covered in sand.
The trapped off-road vehicle was finally dragged out to solid ground. Everyone was on the ground, panting hard and sweating profusely. Their throats were extremely dry and no one could say a word. Although they were tired, there was a sense of accomplishment.
Together, they had completed an incredible feat. United, they were able to overcome the power of nature and the distance between them. Whether in the physical or spiritual sense, they had never been so close.
They really felt like a team.
Someone had rested enough and, struggling, went forward to open the door of Wei Kang’s car. The sand in the car rushed out. He tried turning on the engine but sounded something wrong. It didn’t start smoothly.
Everyone decided to wait until tomorrow to try again. It would be best if it could be repaired. If that was not possible, they could at least transfer the materials and instruments to other cars.
As for the off-road vehicle that had attracted them here, they now knew that the car was also trapped by quicksand. However, despite all their activities through the night, there seemed to be no movement from the car. Even if there were survivors, the person might have already left the car. There might be no need for concern.
In addition, everyone had adjusted the direction of the front of the car and concentrated a high-beam light on the car. They then observed the car through a telescope and found that it was a heavily modified Toyota off-road vehicle. They could not make out the production year, but it looked like it had been stuck in the sand for a long time. The possibility of survivors was already very low.
Peter Lee ordered that, for the sake of safety, all vehicles were to retreat 50 meters before making camp, Wei Kang’s car included.
Usually at this time, everyone had finished their dinner and started to rest. Today, it had been delayed.
Wei Kang sighed again and again, regretting his own rashness.
Zhang Zian and the students tried comforting him, as it would be difficult to lay the blame entirely on him. It was normal to react slower because he was older. Besides, Wei Kang’s vision was not very good, and he still wore glasses.
The sense of excitement had not passed. They first set up their tents, and then they talked about the thrilling scene while cooking dinner. The same was true of Zhang Zian, though he was both excited and worried.
It was difficult to fend off quicksand. This time around, only one car had been trapped. Also, they’d managed to save all the materials and equipment. It was a blessing in disguise.
Before reaching the legendary Devil’s Sea, it had already been very dangerous. Was the area really as terrible as Nabari said?
Besides, who was driving the modified off-road vehicle stuck in the sand? Where had its owner gone?
Everything was an unknown. They would only know when the day broke tomorrow.
