Time passed slowly, but the torrential rain outside the cave showed no sign of stopping; if anything, it grew more fierce and dense. The group had no way to track the time without the sun, and they had no idea how long they had been trapped.
Moisture seeped into the cave incessantly. The low shrubs outside could not stem the flow of rainwater, and the cave floor was already littered with puddles, resembling a small river. The officials stripped off their outer robes and laid them end-to-end around the fire to block the encroaching water, but with the rain continuing unabated, it was like trying to put out a cartload of burning wood with a single cup of water.
"Damn this rain!" someone cried out, their resolve finally breaking.
Chapter 18