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30.97% My life as a Tomb Raider in Nanyang / Chapter 35: The Smell

Chapter 35: The Smell

In front of us was an old and worn-out van.

Rust was all over it, metallic orange showing through the white but now yellowish paint.

At the back was a refrigerated compartment, inside filled with fish.

The smell of the fish was overwhelming.

Hamood's man cleared out the fishes, opened the floorboard.

Beneath the floorboard was a secret compartment, just barely enough for the three of us.

We had to lie down in the compartment, with all the smell and stench from all the fish.

I used all the distraction tactics I could to try to keep myself from puking.

At first holding my breath, didn't work.

Next tried to think of other things, no go.

My senses kept coming back to the smell.

Lastly, I thought about women, all the things I had not done with them.

Somehow only thinking about Amy Lee worked best.

When it was not enough, I turned and took a glance at her, to 'enhance' my visualization.

Her long legs, nice curves, seducing lips inviting you to kiss them and her long hair.

I took in everything to distract myself as best as I could.

"We will cross the Landak twin bridge, then proceed to Mandor. After that you bring me to where the murderer is buried," Hamood said as the van started its engine and drove off.

Landak twin bridge was the only way to cross the river to Mandor.

If we didn't want to take the bridge, the land route was the only other option.

That, however, meant we would have to detour a few thousand kilometers.

After travelling for around half an hour, the van stopped.

I then held my breath.

Listened very carefully to what was happening outside.

There was barking outside.

It got closer and closer.

Hamood then started talking.

"Good day Sir, we are making a delivery of fish to my restaurant at Mandor."

Then lighter sound, presumably to offer and light the cigarette for them.

"Thud."

The van's back door opened forcefully.

Then I could hear the barking getting closer.

Suddenly, the dogs kept barking much more intensely.

"Stay down!" The soldiers shouted.

"Sir, if the dogs like the fish, please take whatever you need," Hamood said.

"Why would anyone want your fish? It stinks so bad."

"Ah, how about this?"

I could then hear the distinct sound of cash being counted.

"Thud."

After that, the van's back door was closed.

We sighed with relief silently.

Just when the van's engine got started again, I could see Bobby's eyes opened wide, his Adam's apple moved up.

I knew he couldn't hold it in anymore and quickly pinched him hard to stop him.

Luckily it worked, Bobby swallowed it back.

However, the soldier shouted, "Stop! I heard something."

"You must have heard wrongly," Hamood quickly tried to explain.

"The smell was too much; I nearly puked because of it. Thinking of it now, I…"

Then all I could hear was Hamood puking.

It nearly triggered a chain reaction for all of us.

I too had to pinch myself hard to stop the urge.

"Go, go!" The soldier's voice said with a nasal pitch.

He must have pinched his nose as the thought of the smell was too much for him.

Hamood got into the van, and the driver quickly drove off.

After travelling for around ten minutes, the van stopped.

The back door opened.

Hamood and the driver cleared the fish.

Finally, the floorboard was removed.

I had to close my eyes when the light shone into it.

My eyes had gotten accustomed to the darkness.

I wasted no time in lighting up a cigarette to clear off that lingering smell in the van.

Bobby couldn't stand it too, joined me in the huffing and puffing trying to smoke up the van.

We then got to work, discarding the fish into the thick bushes by the side of the road.

With the fish out of the way it was a much more comfortable ride from then on.

"In front, turn left." Amy Lee looked out through the windshield from the back, pointing and directing Hamood to where we had entered the jungle.

Our jeep was right where it was, hidden among the bushes.

We got out of the van, took our stuff and started trekking into the jungle.

"How much further?" Hamood panting, due to the long and tiring trek, said impatiently.

He glanced at the driver, most likely having second thoughts about where we were leading him to.

The driver took his cue, moved his hand to his waist, where his pistol was hidden.

"It's just right in front." I pointed ahead to the clearing where we killed and buried Clement.

When we got to the clearing, we wasted no time and started digging.

"Argh. And I thought the smell of the fish was bad," Bobby said, pinching his nose.

The bodies we buried were now rotting.

All of them bloated with liquid oozing out of them.

Finally, we couldn't hold it anymore.

Everyone started to violently vomit.

The air started to smell of rotten carcass and putrid sour smell of vomit.

"Cover them up!" Hamood, after seeing Clement's body, or what was left of it, was satisfied.

We were more than happy to oblige.

Me and Bobby quickly got to work and covered up the hole with the bodies in it.

With the deal done, Hamood trekked back to the van, while we continued our way back to meet up with the rest of the team.

Soon, we reached the longhouse.

The village head welcomed us, now that he knew his son was working with us.

Henry was at the longhouse when we arrived.

They had taken turns to rest and replenish supplies at the village.

After all, the cave wasn't exactly a five-star hotel.

"How is everyone?" I asked.

"Great, just that having no sunlight in the cave did weird things to your mind."

I nodded and agreed wholeheartedly.

How else could I explain about seeing Snookey's and now, Kurnawan's appearance?

It must have been my mind playing tricks on me.

I shudder to think about the other possibility…


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ShinyZebra ShinyZebra

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Chapter 36: The Tomb Raider World

The journey to the cave was now somehow enjoyable.

There was no more constant danger from anyone.

I was able to breathe in deep, enjoying the fresh air in the jungle.

The abundance of wildlife, previously unnoticed, became interesting.

Monkeys howling in the background, birds singing their songs.

Everything changes when you are in a good peace of mind.

When we reached the cave, Sea Snake Fang and Firecracker Tan were waiting for us.

Bobby ran up and gave them a big hug.

I was not the type to do so, I just waved at them.

They now looked tired, with all the dirt on them, and the dark rings surrounding their eyes.

Seeing them in such a state, I thought to myself, I must bring them around Singapore and have some fun.

"We will move all the gold out of the cave. The transportation company shall be here soon."

Amy Lee briefed us on the plan, and we got to work.

It took us half a day to shift all the gold ingots out of the cave.

"Young man, do you have instant noodles?" Firecracker Tan asked while we were waiting.

"Sure," having replenished some back at Pontianak, I was more than happy to share it with him.

Keep friends close, like my Shifu says.

Soon the smell of instant noodles filled the air.

"What will you do with all the money?" I asked him as he was busy slurping the instant noodles.

"I…hmm…will save it up for my daughter's education. Slurp." He replied, as his eyes sparkled with the thought of his daughter.

"What about you, Sea Snake Fang?" I asked and tried to find out what his desires were.

"Save it up. This is nothing compared to what the other teams are making." Sea Snake Fang shook his head, giving me a questioning look and replied.

He then took out a cigarette, lit it, and said, "There are other tomb raiding teams out there.

"Some specializing in specific regions, or specific types of treasures.

"All of them working for a bigger organization behind the team.

"Huang Bao Kun was working for the 'Four Happiness Sect'.

"Currently the Four Happiness Sect is at war with 'Heaven and Earth Sect'.

"We are now considered an independent team, or freelancers as they call it now."

"Four Happiness Sect? Will they come after us?" I asked, trying to figure out the world of tomb raiding.

"Definitely, whoever takes a chunk of their profit shall pay the price.

"Remember the Six Iron Doors, we will meet them one of these days." Sea Snake Fang sighed at the prospect of facing up to the Six Iron Doors.

I used both my index fingers to massage the sides of my head, to soothe the pain from thinking about dealing with the troubles that were incoming.

"Don't think too much, it's part of the job. Slurp." Firecracker Tan consoled me while slurping on his instant noodles.

"In the worst scenario, a few of my glass jar bombs would do the trick." He grinned, proud of his craft that helped us a couple of times.

Then Firecracker Tan remembered something, he pulled Bobby by his collar, and said, "You wanted to learn my craft? We will start when all the gold is settled."

Bobby nodded reluctantly and looked at me with an intense stare.

"They are here. Everyone, get ready to load the gold," Amy Lee said.

"Amy, wouldn't the logistics company seeing the gold keep it for themselves?" Bobby asked.

"They specialize in transporting all sorts of illegal goods, they have a reputation to keep.

"If word gets out that they double-cross their customers, no one will patronize them again." She explained why she trusted Heng Logistics.

A small fleet of river boats appeared slowly towards us.

They stopped and men wearing blue-colored overalls got down from the boats with their trolleys.

"Hi, I'm Iwanto. Here to pick up the goods for delivery." A young man in shades came up and introduced himself.

Amy Lee directed them to the gold, and they got to work.

They put all the gold onto their trolleys, wrapped them up in clear plastic wraps.

Then transported them onto the boats.

After everything was loaded, Iwanto passed a document for Amy Lee to sign and left.

"Wait? We are not leaving with them?" Bobby asked when he saw the boats leaving without us.

"The team shall always stay separate from the goods. It's to prevent being caught red-handed with the goods." I explained to Bobby.

Only the most paranoid can survive.

That was what Shifu always said.

"The shipment will go straight to the buyer. This time I had no choice; the only possible buyer is the 'Heaven and Earth Sect'," Amy Lee briefed us apologetically.

Seeing that we were looking at each other surprised, she continued, "Don't worry, the price they are paying was what Huang Bao Kun would have paid us. Not a cent less."

I nodded and said, "I agree, if we sell to any other buyers, the 'Four Happiness Sect' would kill them. Their current enemy is the best buyer for us."

The rest, upon hearing my explanation, nodded in unison.

We trekked back to the village and had a sumptuous meal.

After all, the three of them who guarded the gold deserved a good rest.

The following day.

With everyone feeling refreshed, we continued with our journey back to our jeeps.

Passing by the clearing where Clement was buried still gave me a nauseating feel.

Then we finally got back to where we parked our jeeps.

The engines couldn't start, so we had to push to jump-start them.

Drenched in sweat, we couldn't wait to get the air-con running.

"Let's try and get back into Pontianak, the checkpoints might be cleared by now. If in any case we are separated, make your way to this address."

Amy Lee gave us a name card each, with an address on it so that we could rendezvous.

With that, we rolled out and went on our way back to Pontianak.

When we got near the entrance of Landak twin bridge, it was clear and no military checkpoint was in sight.

Just as we got nearer, two vehicles came out by the side.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ShinyZebra ShinyZebra

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