The sun gradually slanted westward, and night silently crept across the sky, driving away the warm daylight and brightness to bring forth a sky full of brilliant stars and a clear, cold white light like water.
"Attention, everyone! Halt advance, stand by in position! Prepare to pitch camp!"
The children, who had been walking all day, were already exhausted to the bone, yet upon hearing the order to camp, they suddenly seemed to possess endless energy. Working in groups of three or five with a clear division of labor, they quickly set up a decent campsite in the clearing. Although the tents were pitched in all sorts of strange shapes, they were surprisingly sturdy, each capable of sleeping at least four or five people. Almost all the children squeezed eagerly into the tents, with only a very few remaining outside to help gather dry branches for the fire.
Chapter 85