******************

Birds were chirping loudly.

Before the first ray of sunlight shone through the gray clouds, I already woke up. Rene was still sleeping, perhaps the anesthetic fruit was taking its numbing and relaxing effects. Hopefully it will speed up the recovery of his wounds; what he needed the most now was to rest well.

I threw the basket over my back and took the tools to start another day’s work. Even though there were extra wooden cards, we had to think ahead for our survival. This was a great chance to earn extra cards to make up for my inexperience in the first place. I should really use this time to collect as many coins as possible.

This time I didn’t avoid paying the damn fees to the gang because I couldn’t afford to lose more than necessary. It was better to give them the thirty pounds each day, then to have Leo and his group of gangsters take my cards away.

I wouldn’t say my skills have improved a lot, but at least based on the appearance of the geodes it was easier to tell which one had more crystalline minerals inside. There was no quick way to learn something; practice was the key. The crystals were lightly formed inside the rock that a soft chisel would be enough to loosen them, otherwise that would use up even more energy.

After one day’s hard work, my muscles were sore, but my spirit was high because there was food awaiting. Hopefully after some time I will get used to this task so that my muscles would not hurt anymore. I turned in the thirty pounds of coins to those bastards, and went out to unload the rest of them so the guard could record it down. This would be a safer way than carrying all the “cash” around.

I was full of sweat, therefore soon headed to the spring to wash my face. The beautiful sunset reflected over the soft ripples, but the maroon scab (the size of a house key) on my face ruined the beautiful reflection.

It was so… ugly….

I bet a thousand coins the character on my face meant “slave” or “lowlife” or something similar. There was no confidence that if the scab fell off, the scar would look any better than the current one.

A few more slaves came to get water, so I moved out of the way to snap off a piece of taro leaf close by. I got the water, then headed back to my little sleeping corner.

“How many coins did you make today?” Rene yawned like a lazy kitten, then rubbed his eyes.

“Twenty three pounds.”

He sat up instantly, and hurt his wounds and groaned a few times.

“You must be kidding me! You spent all day for only twenty three pounds? Are you a turtle or what! Oh, how did I just trust you yesterday that we would survive this place!”

Rene shook his head again, “No hope, there is no hope now!”

If I wasn’t holding the taro leaf with water, I would surely smack his little head with my fist. He was resting here all day long without contributing, there was no right to complain.

“Drink your water and stop complaining!” I squatted and extended my hands to him.

Rene stared at me like a grumpy dwarf, finally took the taro leaf and drank the water.

“My skills will improve,” I said with ease, “Eventually.”

He seemed to really enjoy the water, and relaxed his expressions.

“Right, e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y, only if I live long enough to see that.”

“It’s almost dinner time, where are your cards?” I asked.

“They are scattered all over the place, but I can’t walk now. How am I supposed to go get them?”

He was just a chipmunk hiding acorns in various spots to get ready for winter, such a sly kid.

“I can piggyback you to find them.” I suggested.

Rene’s eyes widened, “No way! I am a man, there is no way I will let a weak girl like you piggyback me. If other people see me like that, they would surely laugh their heads off!”

I smiled. “Sure, you are a real man, so you don’t need to eat everyday. Fine with me if you want to starve again.”

His mad little face was so funny. A little boy pretending to be a man, how funny could that be?

“Alright…..I will go.” He finally said after “fighting” his will for a brief moment. No one can win against a hungry tummy.

“But you have to promise me to avoid the crowds, I don’t want anyone to see us at all.” He demanded.

“Yes, little MAN.”

I carefully threw Rene on my back, and carried him around to find the cards. This kid was sure sly enough. All the hiding spots were away from the crowd. The cards were buried in the soil with natural markings and hidden in the crevices of the boulders.

“It’s only twelve here, where are the rest?” I asked.

Rene was busy tucking the cards inside the pockets until he couldn’t fit anymore, so I put the rest in mine.

“They were not here, but in the Central Base where Headman Daoba is.” Rene was a bit sad.

“Central Base?”

“Um-hum.”

He looked into the darkening sky. “This sinkhole is just one of the many bases here in the Underground. Only the members of the gang have free access to the Central Base, the rest of the slaves aren’t allowed to enter.”

“Aren’t you a gang member?”

There was a flash of sadness in Rene’s eyes.

“I used to be.” He slowly uttered, and then touched his left thigh.

“Not with a missing leg like this. If they really care and consider me as part of the gang, they would have come to save me in the first place. A year ago, we had a member lose a limb in a riot. He was mad, and didn’t give in to hold his place in the gang. Headman Daoba ended up killing him. If it’s a recoverable injury, it wouldn’t be much of a big deal, but for a major disability, there is no hope. The gang doesn’t need useless scums.”

Headman Daoba just killed the man?!

It seemed there was no real friendship in the Underground. The Headman was able to kill his subordinate just because he lost a limb, that was some level of cold-bloodedness. It wasn’t his fault to become disabled. No wonder Rene adjusted to his situation so quickly.

This kid was too mature for his look.

“The gang won’t let me into the Central Base anymore.” He looked down.

I patted his shoulders.

“Hey, don’t think too much about it now. We already have a couple cards in our hands that will last for several days. Let’s head back, I can smell the bread from here.”

I threw him over my shoulders and headed back, which didn’t take long.

“Stay here.”

As I was waiting in the line at the food station, I gazed over toward Rene’s direction. The resting spot was nothing fancy, just a dark spot between a few huge boulders to provide some privacy. It was not comfortable at all compared to those nicely raised canvas tents, but it was our little home now.

After getting the steam buns, I walked back.

“Here, two for you.” I gave them to Rene.

Then we started to munch on the sweet bread.

The stars seemed far away, perhaps one of them was Planet Earth? The moon was bright tonight, like a huge overhead lamp and lit up the whole space. The night air was cool and fresh, and the insects and frogs were calling real loud.

Life was going well.

My muscle aches eased after finishing the meal. This bun was decent in size, enough to keep me going.

“After eating, hurry and off to bed.”

“Stop being so naggy, and don’t treat me like a kid!” Rene grumbled with a mouthful of bread, “There is not even a bed here, just the cold hard floor. It’s no better than sleeping in a coffin. The Central Base is so much better, at least I can sleep inside a tent!”

“Kiddo, you are a master of complaining. Is that the reason you joined the gang, just to avoid sleeping on the ground? In order to enjoy your “aristocratic” life, you rather bully others and take advantage of the weak and sick?”

“What is wrong with that?”

I was stunned at his words, and didn't know how to reply for a second.

He seemed so justified. “What is wrong with wanting to have a nice place to sleep and good food to eat. If I think your way, I wouldn’t survive to this day.”

“Where is your family?”

Rene dropped his eyes, and stared at the piece of bread in his hands.

“I don’t have a family.”

I have to admit that I felt sorry for the little boy after hearing this.

“I grew up on the street, begging and shoplifting, but one day they caught me and sent me here. Those bastards! I only stole a golden necklace, and they made me a slave for the rest of my life!”

So…..that was how he survived all this time. I couldn’t tell him that stealing was a wrongful act when his life was tough enough.

“What does the world look like on the other side?” I was curious.