Day Seventy: Rebuilding the Homeland (Part Three) — An Additional Chapter by the Mediocre Captain

Xiao Hei returned close to dawn, looking utterly disheveled and somewhat wet. I had been waiting anxiously for his return, and seeing him in such a state sent a shiver through me. I rushed over and carefully examined him by the fire.

At least on the surface, he appeared unharmed—no visible wounds. Yet, his spirit was clearly battered; he looked exhausted. I brought him a basin of water, and he drank deeply and continuously. After quenching his thirst, he immediately fetched a fruit and began eating it. Surprisingly, after finishing the fruit, he even ate a lemon. He usually couldn't stand even the slightest touch of lemon, yet now he devoured it—perhaps driven by extreme hunger.

Xiao Hei could not speak, so I had no way of knowing what he had endured today. But from his battered appearance, it was clear he had a rough day and must have faced grave danger. This was the first time I had seen him so bedraggled. After his meal, he wagged his tail a few times at me, then retreated to his suitcase den and buried himself in sleep.

I didn’t disturb him. What he needed most now was rest. I could only hope that after a good sleep, he would recover.

Though I couldn’t get any answers from Xiao Hei, lying under the blanket and gazing at the star-filled sky, my mind raced with possibilities. Had he encountered wild boars? Or some other predator? Or were there other people on this island, perhaps trying to capture Xiao Hei?

One thought after another crossed my mind, only to be dismissed in turn. If it were wild boars, Xiao Hei would have fled long ago, and he surely wouldn’t have returned unscathed if there had been a fight. If it were predators, then he’d be in even graver danger—and certainly injured. But there was no sign of any other living soul on this island. Could there be others living somewhere I hadn’t explored? I couldn’t rule it out, especially since Xiao Hei’s former owner’s body was found here.

A chill ran down my spine at the thought. If a living person suddenly appeared before me, after all that had happened, it would be terrifying. This place was scarce in clothing and food, and if others who had washed ashore discovered my supplies or weapons, who knew if greed wouldn’t take hold? Once greed ignited, conflict would be unavoidable—then it would be kill or be killed.

These thoughts eroded my sleepiness. I instinctively gripped my pistol, even disengaging the safety. My mind spiraled further into wild imaginings, making sleep impossible.

Under this nameless pressure, I got up and peered out from the treehouse entrance. Seeing nothing unusual, I finally lay back down.

I had no idea what time I fell asleep last night, but the thoughts before drifting off could have filled a novel. It was no surprise that I woke at midday. Exhausted and having gone to bed late, I slept deeply, not waking once until a full bladder roused me.

My first concern upon waking was Xiao Hei. I feared internal injuries, but found his suitcase empty.

“Could he have gone out again?” I wondered, suspicious he might have forgotten his own limits. I had to find him.

Stepping outside, I saw the silly, endearing Xiao Hei chasing butterflies and bees. Relieved, I settled my worries.

Today’s plan for the roof differed from before. Lacking waterproof cloth, I couldn’t replicate the previous flat roof made by laying small trunks across. Instead, I decided on a triangular roof—the common slanting type.

This design had several advantages: good ventilation, small openings at the eaves for airflow, and a slope to help rainwater drain away. If I layered coconut leaves properly and reinforced them with vines, it shouldn’t leak. Of course, if I could find that lost piece of waterproof fabric or some large plastic sheeting on the beach, it would be ideal.

The key challenge was the single main beam supporting the roof. I had to ensure it was sturdy. Previously, I hadn’t planned for such a beam, so there was no frame to hold one.

Then I had an idea. I had several small trees prepared. On each side of the treehouse, I dug pits and buried three trunks in each—of equal length but with the middle one buried deeper than the sides. After burying them, I placed heavy stones on top and tightly bound the trunks with vines. Then, I wedged the main beam between the deeply buried middle trunks, while the shallower side trunks prevented it from rolling or falling.

With the main beam secure, the rest was easier. Since it ran along the center of the roof, I just had to lay small trunks across the sides, securing them with vines. The downside was that the gaps between trunks remained large, making leaks more likely.

But I had no better material than vines, so for now, this would have to suffice.

I had underestimated how long it would take to lay the coconut leaves. After several attempts, I finally found a proper method: layering them from the bottom up, rather than top down, which allowed water to flow downward between the layers, ensuring better waterproofing. To prevent strong winds from blowing the leaves away, I tied several layers of vines to hold them firmly.

The first stage of the treehouse repair was done. Though rough, it would provide shelter even if it rained lightly tomorrow.

The ground floor was nearly dry, so I planned to pave it with stones, raising the floor level and then covering it with sand and pebbles. I also intended to build an earthen stove for cooking.

The stones I had were insufficient; last time’s collection fell short. I estimated needing two more baskets to complete it.

Even as I set out, unease gripped me—a gnawing anxiety, perhaps lingering from Xiao Hei’s ordeal.

Feeling the weight of pistol and axe at my waist, I dragged my plastic basket and headed toward the rocky hill…