Chapter 35 Chapter 33 Doubt

There was another plop, Kyle was too heavy, and my arms were tormented. "Xiao Man? Xiao Man!" "Help! Kyle! Ground! Help!" I pressed my face against the stone, and looked at the hole.The sky was getting brighter, and the overhead light was also brightened.I was holding my breath and my arms were so sore. "Xiaoman! Where are you?" Ian jumped in through the doorway, rifle in hand, muzzle down, ready.His face was full of anger, exactly the same as his brother's expression. "Watch out!" I yelled at him. "The ground is cracking! I can't hold him!"

He took two seconds to look at the scene, which was completely different from what he had imagined before—Kyle wanted to kill me, and this scene happened only a few seconds ago. Then he dropped the gun on the ground and started striding forward. "Come down—spread your weight!" He got on all fours and quickly crawled towards me.In the twilight of dawn, his eyes were on fire. "Don't let go," he warned. I groaned in pain. He peered for another second, and then he slid behind me so that I was even closer to the stone surface.His arms are longer than mine, and he can still wrap his arms around his brother even with me in between.

"One, two, three." He muttered. He lifted Kyle up, holding Kyle tighter than I did.It's just that this action made my face rub against the pillar, and it was still the injured side of my face—at this moment, it doesn't matter how injured I am. "I pulled him to this side, can you squeeze it out?" "let me try." I'm sure Ian's got a good grip on Kyle, so I let go, pain in my shoulder, but relief.Then I slipped between Ian and the rock, and jumped carefully to safety.I crawled a few feet toward the door, ready to give Ian a hand when he slid down.

Ian pulled his unconscious brother along the side of the post, pulling hard over and over again, only a foot at a time.More ground was crumbling, but the plinth remained intact, with a new rock face about two feet away from the post. Ian crawled back slowly like me, pulling his brother forward with strength and will.In less than a minute, the three of us had crawled to the entrance of the walkway, Ian and I gasping for air. "In the end what happened?" "Our weight is just too much, and the ground is sinking." "What are you doing by the water? Still with Kyle?"

I lower my head and just breathe. Well, tell him. what will happen then? You know what happens, Kyle broke the rules.Jeb would shoot him or they'd kick him out.Maybe Ian would be the first to beat him, it would be fun. Melanie didn't really think so--I didn't think so, anyway.She's just mad that I just risked both of our lives to save someone who nearly killed us. Yes, I told her, I would shrug if they kicked Kyle out or killed him for me.Well, don't you think that makes no sense at all?He is one of you. Man, we're already living here and you're ruining it all.

It's my life too, and I'm fine, I'm me. Melanie snorted in disgust. "Xiaoman?" Ian asked. "It's fine." I replied in a low voice. "You're not very good at lying, you know that, right?" I still keep my head down and breathe. "What did he do to you?" "Did nothing." I lied, poorly. Ian held my chin with his hands and raised my face: "Your nose is bleeding." He turned my face away, "There's blood in my hair." "I -- hit the T head when the ground sank." "Did it hit both sides?"

I shrugged. Ian stared at me for a long time, his bright eyes obscured by the dark passage. "We should take Kyle to the doctor - he literally hit his head when he fell." "Why are you protecting him? He wants to kill you." This is a statement of fact, not a question.The expression on his face slowly changed from anger to horror, he was imagining what we had just done on the crumbling stone face - I saw it in his eyes.I didn't answer, he spoke again, in a very low voice: "He's throwing you into the river" His body trembled strangely. One of Ian's hands was still holding Kyle—he was about to collapse just now, as if he was too tired to move.Now he jerked his unconscious brother away and moved in the other direction in disgust.He moved over to me and put his arms around me.He held me against his chest - I could feel him exhaling and inhaling more irregularly than usual.

It feels weird. "I should have thrown him back where he was and kicked him to the river myself." I shook my head desperately, and it hurt a lot: "No." "Wake up, Jeb has made it very clear. If you hurt anyone here, you will be punished and there will be a verdict." I tried to push him away, but he hugged me even tighter.I'm not scared, it's not the same feeling as Kyle's grabbing, but it hurts - it throws me off balance: "No, you can't do this because no one's breaking the rules. The ground's falling, that's all." That's all."

"Xiao Man" "He's your brother." "He knows what he's doing. He's my brother, yes, but he did something he shouldn't do. Besides, you are my friend." "He didn't do anything. He's human," I whispered. "This is his place, not mine." "Let's not discuss this any further. Your interpretation of humanity is not the same as my interpretation of humanity. To you, humanity has a certain negative connotation. To me, it is a compliment—according to my You are a human being, but he is not human. After this incident, he is no longer human.”

"Humans are not a negation of me, now I know you. Yisi, he is your brother." "That fact makes me ashamed." I pushed him away again.This time, he let me go.I moved my legs and couldn't help moaning in pain, maybe I should do something to suppress the moaning. "How are you?" "Okay, we've got to get a doctor, but I don't know if I'll be able to walk. I—I hurt my leg when I fell." He roared, "Which leg? Let me see." I tried to straighten my injured leg—the right one—and moaned again.Starting from the ankle, he squeezed the bones and joints, and he turned my ankle carefully.

"Up, here." I pulled his hands behind my thighs, just above my knees.He pressed on the painful spot, and I cried out in pain again, "I think it's a broken bone, or something, it really hurts." "Muscle contusion, at least," he murmured, "how did that happen?" "I must have hit the rocks when I fell." He sighed: "Okay, let's go to the doctor." "Kyle needs a doctor more than I do." "I've got to find a doctor anyway—or help. I can't carry Kyle that far, but I can get you there, oh—hold on." He immediately turned around and walked back to the room with the river, and I decided not to argue with him.I'm going to see Walter before . The doctor promised to wait for me.Has the effect of the first painkiller worn off?My head is dizzy.There are so many things to worry about and I'm so tired.The adrenaline was gone and I felt exhausted. Ian came back with a gun, and I frowned because it reminded me of how much I wanted a gun before, and I didn't like that. "Let's go." He handed the gun into my hand without thinking.The gun fell into my outstretched palm, but I didn't want to hold it.I firmly believe that having to carry the gun is also a proper punishment for me. Ian smiled slightly. "How people will be afraid of you," he murmured. He picked me up easily and waited for me to stabilize before starting.I wanted the softest parts of my body - the back of my head, the back of my legs - not to press too hard on him. "Why are your clothes so wet?" he asked.We passed one fist-sized spot of light after another, and I saw a sinister smile at the corner of his pale mouth. "I don't know," I replied softly, "Steam?" We stepped into darkness again. "You lost a shoe." "Oh." We passed a bright spot, and his sapphire-like eyes were serious, staring at me. "I. Glad you didn't get hurt, Man. Didn't hurt any worse, I should say." I didn't answer, I was afraid that my words would be used against Kyle. Just before we stepped into the big hole, Jeb found us.It was bright enough here that I could see the intense curiosity in his eyes as he saw me lying in Ian's arms, bleeding face, holding the gun carefully. "So, you're right," Jeb guessed.Curiosity was strong, but the tone was more grim, and Jeb's goateed jaw tightened. "He's unconscious," I said hastily. "You have to warn everyone—in the room with the river, part of the ground collapsed. I don't know if the situation is stable now. Kyle's head was real when he ran away." He hit hard and he needs a doctor." "It was telling a story," Ian said, not hiding his skepticism, "and she clearly stuck to it." Jeb laughed. "I'll take that thing out of your hand," he said to me. I'd love for him to come get the gun, and he laughed again at the look on my face. "I'll ask Andy and Brant to help me carry Kyle, and we'll follow." "When he wakes up, keep an eye on him!" Ian said firmly. "Will do." Jeb walked away slowly, he went to find more help, Ian walked me quickly to the hospital. "Kyle might be really hurt Jeb should hurry up." "Kyle's head is harder than any rock here." The long passage feels longer than ever, and despite my best efforts, is Kyle still dying?Has he woken up and is looking for me?how is walterIs he asleep or gone?Has the hunter given up the search, or will she return after daylight? Will Jared still be with the doctor?Mel added another question for me, will he be angry again when he sees you?does he know me We walked into the sun-filled cavern to the south, and Jared and the doctor didn't seem to have moved much, they leaned side by side on the doctor's makeshift desk.It was very quiet in the cave when we went in.They didn't speak, just watched Walter sleep. Ian carried me into the hole and put me on the cot next to Walter, both of them wide-eyed, as he carefully straightened my right leg. Walter was snoring, and the sound made me feel less nervous. "How did this happen?" the doctor asked angrily.As soon as the words fell, he bent down and wiped the blood on my face. Jared was startled, his face froze.He was careful not to let his expression give away anything. "Kyle," Ian and I said simultaneously, "the ground" The doctor looked from me to Ian, puzzled. Ian sighed and rolled his eyes.Inadvertently, one of his hands was lightly placed on my forehead: "The ground next to the first river hole cracked. Kyle fell, hit his head on the stone, and injured himself. Xiao Man saved Kyle That poor life, she said she also fell when the ground sank." Ian gave the doctor a meaningful look, "There was something," he said sarcastically, "it just hit the back of her head." He Started to enumerate, "Her nose is bleeding but not broken, I don't think so. She has a pulled muscle here." He touched my sore thigh, "Knee cut deep, face is broken, but I think maybe I was hurt, I was trying to pull Kyle out of the river hole, she shouldn't have asked for trouble." Ian murmured the last words. "Anything else?" asked the doctor.At that moment, the doctor's fingers were running along one side of my ribs, touching where Kyle hit, and I gasped. The doctor lifted my shirt, and I heard both Ian and Jared gasp at what they saw. "Let me guess," Ian's voice was as cold as ice, "you hit a rock." "Guess right." I agree, holding my breath.The doctor was still touching my ribs and I tried to hold back my moaning. "Probably a broken rib, not sure," the doctor whispered, "I hope I can help you with the pain" "Don't worry, doctor," I said breathlessly. "I'm fine. How is Walter? Is he wide awake?" "No, that dose will allow him to sleep a little longer," said the doctor.He took my hand and started to bend my wrist, my elbow. "I'm very good." When our eyes met, his eyes were kind and gentle: "You will be fine, you have to rest for a while, I will watch you. Come on, turn your head." I did as he said and I jerked in pain as he checked the wound. "Not here." Ian whispered. I couldn't see the doctor, but Jared gave Ian a hard look. "They're bringing Kyle over and I'm not going to have them in the same room." The doctor nodded: "Very sensible." "I'll move her, I need you to watch Kyle here until 'till we decide what to do with him." I started talking, but Ian put his hand over my mouth. "Well," agreed the doctor, "I'll tie him up if you want." "If we have to do this, can we move her?" Ian glanced at the passage with an anxious expression. The doctor hesitated. "No," I whispered, Ian's finger still on my mouth, "Walter. I'm staying here for Walter." "Xiao Man, you have saved everyone you can today." Ian said with a gentle and sad voice. "I want to say goodbye—goodbye." Ian nodded, then he looked at Jared: "Can I trust you?" Jared blushed with anger, and Ian held up a hand. "I'm going to find her a safe place, but I don't want to leave her here without any protection." Ian said, "I don't know if Kyle will regain consciousness after he comes. If Jay She'll be upset if Boo shoots him, but you and the doctor should be able to handle him. I don't want the doctor alone, or Jeb." Jared gritted his teeth and said, "The doctor will not be alone." Ian hesitated: "She's been living hell for the past few days, remember." Jared nodded again, still gritted his teeth. "I'll be here," the doctor reminded Ian. Ian met the doctor's eyes. "Okay." He bent down and looked at me with bright eyes, "I'll be back soon, don't be afraid." "I'm not afraid." He leaned down quickly and kissed my forehead. No one was as surprised as I was, but I heard Jared gasping for breath.Ian left, he almost sprinted out of the room, and I gaped in surprise. I heard the doctor take a deep breath through his teeth, like a backward whistle. "Okay," he said. They all stared at me for a long time, I was too tired and too hurt, I didn't care what they were thinking. "Doctor" Jared was out of breath and wanted to say something, but a noise from the passage interrupted him. Five men are running towards this side, Jeb is leading the way, lifting Kyle's left leg, Wes is following behind with his right leg, Andy and Aaron are supporting Kyle's body, Kyle's head Hanging feebly on Andy's shoulders. "God, he's heavy," Jeb mumbled. Jared and the doctor rushed to help, and after a few minutes of cursing and whining, Kyle was lying on the cot a few feet away from me. "How long has he been out, Man?" the doctor asked me.He opened Kyle's eyelids, letting the sun's light into his pupils. "Well," I flashed through my head, "Ian took me about ten minutes to get me here as long as I've been here, maybe another five minutes before that?" "You mean, at least twenty minutes." "Yes, almost." As we discussed, Jeb made his judgment call.Nobody notices him standing over Kyle's bed, not - he pours a bottle of water over Kyle's head. "Jeb," the doctor grumbled, pushing his hand away. But Kyle was talking incoherently, blinking, and humming. "What happened? Where did it go?" He started turning around, looking around, "The ground is moving" Hearing Kyle's voice, I clung to the edge of the bed, panic rushing through my body.My leg hurts, can I limp away?Perhaps, slowly "Shhh, okay," someone whispered.Not someone, I've always recognized the voice. Jared came and stood between my bed and Kyle's, his back to me, eyes fixed on the huge man.Kyle turned his head from side to side, moaning. "You're safe," Jared said in a low voice, not looking at me. "Don't be afraid." I took a deep breath. Melanie wanted to touch him.His hand was very close to mine, right next to my bed. I beg you.do not do that.I said to her that my face was really badly hurt! He won't hit you. That's what you think, I don't want to take the risk. Melanie sighed, longing to be near him.It wouldn't be so unbearable if I didn't want it so much, too. Give him time, I begged, let him get used to us, wait until he really believes in us. She sighed again. "Wow, my God!" Kyle snorted.Hearing his voice, I glanced at him quickly.I could only see Jared's bright eyes, staring at me, through his elbow. "It didn't fall!" he complained.