Editing Amaryllis in the Ice Country:Chapter 10 (section)

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“Yes, open your arms wide and move slowly! No need to rush!”

We build a bridge with enhanced wires, and have the villagers, totaling more than a hundred, pas through. Eisbahn waits under the bridge, making sure it won’t collapse.

“We’re here!”

The children pass through the bridge, and give me a smile, looking as though they just played an interesting game. I’m healed by their innocence.

“You worked hard there. Good, good.”

I pat a child on the head, and the other children who crossed the bridge are yapping away, “Ahh, that’s too much. I want one too!” “Me too me too!” approaching me.

“No, no, everyone’s crossing the bridge. Okay, next!”

A lot of time is needed to have more than a hundred villagers, but if anyone one is to slip off, it’ll be over; the villagers are resting at the outer wall of the tunnel at the end of the long ladder, giving relieved looks.

—Hm, very good. Looks like there’s some hope.

We’ve made it through less than half the journey, but there has yet to be any martyrs over the past three hours. It’s really wonderful to be able to reunite with Götz again after all that happened.

“We’ve take a little break here! Put all the Cradles next to the wall! Check on your conditions immediately! Anyone who needs parts can ask Viscaria here!”

I give the instructions, and start checking the Cradles that are lined deep into the tunnel. There are some with batteries that are over drained, but the only thing we can do here is to switch over to power saving mode. Due to the earthquake, we lost almost half of our spare batteries. The electricity issue is almost critical.

“A hundred and three in total…?”

Including the Cradle from Götz, there are a hundred and three. After the checks, I fold my arms, and start to think. A lot of Cradles have batteries that can last for almost twenty hours, but there are quite a few that have only fifteen hours’ worth of battery. The Cradles can adjust the temperature accordingly based on the external air, and thus, there are variances in the rate the electricity is depleted.

“Götz, may I have a moment?”

“Is there something?”

“About the advanced team you went with…”

I ask tentatively, “Yes…” and Götz gives a grim look.

“Including this me, all hands were buried alive. Only I managed to escape successfully.”

“…”

“I would have saved them, had it not been that they fell into the deep crack…”

Götz spoke grimly, “A failure am I.” he lowers his head dejectedly.

“No, this isn’t your fault. Nothing could be done about that earthquake.”

—Ugh…

I bite my lower lip without anyone looking, and start checking on the Cradles again.