It was three o'clock by the time they returned to the hotel. The sun was so intense it felt as though it might melt everything in its path.
Hot and exhausted, everyone retreated to their respective rooms. As soon as they entered, they couldn't wait to grab their newly purchased clothes and dash into the bathrooms for a shower. Once finished, they collapsed onto their beds like corpses.
Within moments, a rhythmic, thunderous chorus of snoring erupted from every room, lingering without pause. Amidst this chaotic "symphony," the sun silently shifted its pace until it finally dipped below the horizon, and the group slowly stirred back to life in the dim, dappled light.
Chapter 172