The revelation from Yong is both astonishing and sobering. To think that these children, led by Yong's ingenuity, have managed not only to survive but also to fortify their refuge in such a sophisticated manner reshapes our understanding of their resilience.
"You set up all these traps? Even the infected guards?" I ask, my voice tinged with both incredulity and respect. The notion that Yong, barely in his teens, could orchestrate such elaborate defences speaks to a remarkable, if tragic, adaptability forged in the crucible of their harsh reality.
Yong nods, the weight of leadership apparent in his youthful features. "Yes, we did all this. When Dad didn't return, we couldn't just leave. He might come back, and he would look for us here," he explains, his voice steady but with an underlying current of fear and hope intertwined. "We decided to stay close, searching nearby for a safer place, somewhere we could wait for him, defend ourselves if we needed to."
