Free Web NovelChapter 189: Chapter 189: Danger
Zhang Aihua and his group didn’t catch another fur rat for the rest of the evening.
Of course, they couldn’t just stay awake all night, keeping their eyes peeled to guard their belongings.
Most people thought Zhang Aihua was being a little paranoid.
No matter how sharp the fur rats’ teeth were, the creatures were only the size of a small fist. In total, they had caught less than fifty of them.
Even if they stole fish to eat, they’d probably be full to bursting after just a few bites.
Everyone was exhausted anyway, so they returned to their little nooks and fell fast asleep.
The person on night watch stared at the campfire in front of them, yawning constantly.
Zhang Aihua was speaking quietly with Song Yufang. "Rats already reproduce quickly. I’m just worried they’ll find a place to build a few nests."
"No matter how tough these rats are, we still have them completely under control. Besides, your son said it himself—worst case, we just go borrow a dog from Jiang Si."
Zhang Aihua didn’t like bothering Jiang Si’s group. If he could solve a problem himself, he preferred to. He nodded. "We’ll see. Let’s get some sleep for now. We’ll see if we can catch any more rats in the morning."
"Okay."
Soon, everyone was lost in dreamland.
"AHHH—"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the cave, jolting everyone awake in a cold sweat. They scrambled to their feet, grabbing whatever weapons were at hand.
On reflex, Song Yufang also snatched up her dagger.
Zhang Aihua gave her two reassuring pats, threw on his clothes, and hurried outside.
Brother Qiu was clutching his ear, unable to stop the flow of blood.
The group rushed over. "What happened?"
"A rat bit me!"
"Where’s the rat?"
"I don’t know where the hell it went! Dammit, if I get my hands on it, I’ll tear it limb from limb!"
Someone said with relief, "Good thing it didn’t get your eye. It’s just a flesh wound. We’ll bandage it up and you’ll be fine. These rats are getting way too bold!"
Brother Qiu suddenly felt a wave of relief, too. ’Thank god it wasn’t my eye. If it had been, I’d be half-blind now.’
If it had bitten his eye, he’d be a one-eyed blind man.
Song Yufang whispered, "A flesh wound is easy to treat, but what if there’s a plague?"
Back in S-City, there was a rat infestation. Many people who were bitten developed swelling and allergic reactions.
Zhang Aihua’s heart sank. If a plague broke out, no one would be safe, because everyone had been in direct or indirect contact with the fur rats.
He felt they couldn’t delay. He said to the group, "Let’s search again, carefully. See if we can catch the fur rats. If not, at dawn I’ll go ask Mr. Qin to borrow a dog."
"Okay!"
The group lit their torches and resumed the search for the fur rats.
Meanwhile, Qin Shen heard all the commotion.
Qin Shen told Jiang Si, who said, "These rats probably won’t actually cause a plague, will they?"
Qin Shen shook his head. "Not necessarily. It could cause a bacterial infection. There are many ways it could develop, or there might be no symptoms at all."
Jiang Linhai had been bitten all over by rats before, but thankfully, he hadn’t contracted any disease. He just had a bit of an allergic reaction that cleared up with some medicine.
"Let’s hope," Jiang Si said. She added, "These rats are destructive. It’s better to catch them all, to keep them from spreading to our area and getting into our supplies."
Especially the underground seed bank. If they got in there, it would be a paradise for rats.
Qin Shen pulled her into a hug and gave her a kiss. "Don’t worry. Our guys are no pushovers."
The monkeys might even complain there aren’t enough of them being delivered to their doorstep.
If the monkeys had known about the rats back then, they might not have willingly come to work for them.
But they were used to being kept now. They probably had no desire to go back to a life of catching rats in the wind and snow.
After a whole night of effort, Zhang Aihua’s group managed to catch several more fur rats.
But the numbers still didn’t add up.
Fearing the fur rats would launch another sneak attack in the night, everyone in the cave was on edge.
Zhang Aihua contacted Jiang Si via walkie-talkie. "Miss Jiang, we have a favor to ask. Would it be too much trouble?"
Jiang Si replied, "Go ahead."
Zhang Aihua hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Could we borrow your dogs to help us find the escaped fur rats? Their teeth are too sharp, and they bite people. Everyone is on pins and needles."
Jiang Si’s reply was prompt and cheerful. "Sure. Big Black and Little Black are on their way."
Zhang Aihua thanked her profusely. "Thank you, thank you!"
Jiang Si wasn’t comfortable letting Big Black and Little Black go alone.
She and Qin Shen went with them.
As soon as they arrived at Zhang Aihua’s cave, his group came out to greet them, even bringing out their best provisions to offer Jiang Si and Qin Shen.
Jiang Si shook her head. "Let’s see what Big Black and Little Black can do."
Big Black and Little Black sniffed the cage holding the captured fur rats, then immediately got to work. In no time, Big Black stopped in front of a small hole in the cave wall.
It barked twice. WOOF WOOF. Zhang Aihua crouched down and shone a flashlight inside. A startled fur rat shot out.
The next second, Little Black snatched it in its jaws.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it didn’t get away.
After that, Big Black and Little Black swept through the cave again, catching more than ten additional fur rats one after another.
Jiang Si patted their heads and gave them treats as a reward.
Big Black and Little Black then found another fur rat in the firewood pile outside the cave.
When Big Black and Little Black finally quieted down, it probably meant there were no more fur rats around the cave.
Everyone breathed another sigh of relief and quickly offered some of their previously dried Vulture jerky to Big Black and Little Black.
But Big Black and Little Black wouldn’t eat food given by strangers.
They held their heads high with pride, looking magnificent.
Zhang Yiwen was so envious. Jiang Si’s group had moose, dogs, and monkeys. ’If only I had a puppy,’ he thought.
He asked Jiang Si in a low voice, "Are they a pair?"
Jiang Si knew exactly what he was thinking. If Big Black and Little Black were a couple, he would have an excuse to ask her for a puppy.
Jiang Si shook her head. "They’re mother and son."
Zhang Yiwen was a little disappointed. It seemed he wouldn’t be getting a puppy anytime soon.
Just as Jiang Si and Qin Shen were about to leave, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Vultures! The Vultures are back!"
Jiang Si was startled. ’Could it be Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong flying around?’
She and Qin Shen stepped out of the cave. Qin Shen narrowed his eyes, his gaze heavy. "It’s not Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong. I smell strangers. Let’s go, now!"
Before Jiang Si could even react, Qin Shen swept her up in his arms and sprinted back the way they came.
Big Black and Little Black followed close behind.
Seeing this, Zhang Aihua and his group also shouted for everyone to hurry back into the cave and block the entrance.
The wind howled in her ears, a testament to how urgently Qin Shen was trying to get back.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!—"
Gunshots. They were coming from the Icebreaker.
Jiang Si grew anxious, too.
Shen Baoying and the others were in danger.
Qin Shen’s speed increased, nearly lifting her off the ground.
And as she looked up, she could clearly see countless Vultures flying purposefully toward them.
Jiang Si pulled out her handgun and started firing.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!—"
Several Vultures fell from the sky. The person riding the largest Vulture had noticed them, too.
