Chen Hao unloaded the last bag of meat from his back, the bag hitting the metal floor with a dull thud. He gasped for breath, his shoulder marked with a red welt from the straps.
"This thing is heavier than it looks," he said. "Could you please not pick up something this big next time?"
Nana was counting the prey. Without looking up, she said, "You were the one who said you wanted the whole prey."
"I mean, it would be more convenient to ship it back."
He walked to the wall and sat down, grabbing the kettle on the table and taking a swig. The water was a little cold, but he didn't care. The wind was still blowing outside, and the cold air that seeped in through the crack in the door swirled around before being dispersed by the heater.
“With so much junk in our base, isn’t there anything we can push?” He looked up at Nana. “Like a small cart, the kind with four wheels.”
“Snowy terrain is not suitable for wheeled transport.” Nana stopped taking notes and turned around. “The frictional resistance is high, and it’s easy to get stuck.”
"What about the slippery kind? Like the wooden planks we used to sit on in winter when we were kids?"
Nana blinked, and the system began its search. A few seconds later, her voice remained unchanged, but her pace quickened slightly: "Records in the history of polar exploration indicate that non-powered gliding vehicles were once widely used in icy and snowy environments. They are simple in structure, have low maintenance costs, and are suitable for current conditions."
Chen Hao was taken aback: "You actually listened to that?"
“Your proposal aligns with the principles of efficiency optimization,” she said. “I can design a prototype.”
He had only said it casually. But seeing Nana start adjusting the projector, and a curved line appearing on the screen with several parameter tables below it, he suddenly felt that it was going to come true.
“Wait a minute,” he stood up and leaned closer, “you’re not going to do it now, are you?”
“The higher the time utilization rate, the faster the problem is solved.” Nana had already opened the materials inventory list. “We have scrapped solar panels made of aluminum alloy, which have good low-temperature resistance. We also have joint components from old exoskeletons that can be used as connecting structures.”
"It sounds pretty advanced... but I don't know how to solder anything."
"You take care of the assembly and preparation, and I'll handle the precision parts."
Chen Hao sighed and stared at the sketch on the screen. The thing looked like a widened and elongated skateboard, with a raised front, a handrail at the back, and ropes that could be tied to the sides.
"Can this really pull 60 pounds?"
“The simulated load-bearing test shows a maximum load of 80 kilograms.” Nana zoomed in on the structural diagram. “The width of the slide rail has been calculated, the pressure distribution is uniform, and it is not easy to sink.”
"What if it flips over?"
"Maintaining a straight drag line will prevent tilting."
"That's not what I meant... I meant what if I can't drag it?"
"You can tie a rope around your waist and use your body weight to balance the forward pull."
"So I've become livestock?"
"This is the most reasonable source of motivation."
Chen Hao rolled his eyes, but didn't object further. He knew that continuing would be a waste of breath.
They went into the workshop early the next morning.
Nana removed the frames of two solar panels and cut them into two equal lengths. Chen Hao hesitated for a long time before finally starting, getting stuck on the saw several times. In the end, Nana took the tool and finished it off in a few quick strokes.
“Your technique is too amateurish,” he said.
"You're holding the saw wrong; the angle of your force application is off by seventeen degrees." She placed the cut slide rail on the ground. "Let me do the cutting next time."
"Alright, then you be the master, and I'll do the odd jobs."
Next up was the platform panel. They pulled out a composite panel from the lining of the spare hatch; it wasn't light, but it was sturdy enough. Chen Hao almost strained his back when he dragged it out.
"What was this thing used to be for?"
"The insulation layer for the life support system," Nana replied while securing the bracket. "It's cold-resistant and pressure-resistant, suitable for use as a base."
They used rivets to connect the slide rails and the platform. Nana's robotic arm was highly precise, aligning every hole perfectly. Chen Hao was in charge of tightening the screws, frantically changing tools several times.
He accidentally twisted the wrench, and the metal edge cut his finger. As soon as blood started to bleed, Nana grabbed his hand and pulled a self-adhesive dressing from the toolbox to apply to it.
"You carry this with you?"
“An emergency kit is standard equipment,” she said. “You have a higher chance of getting injured, so it’s necessary to carry one.”
Chen Hao glanced at the spot where the patch had been applied: "Do you remember the last time I cut my thumb while chopping vegetables?"
"I remember. You used three stickers that time because you stuck them on backwards."
"...Can we please not mention it?"
Keep working.
The handrail was made from a curved section of pipe, and Nana did the welding. When sparks flew, Chen Hao shrank back, bumping into the shelf behind him, causing a bunch of parts to fall down with a crash.
"I'm sorry..."
“It won’t affect the progress.” Nana bent down and picked up a connector. “But I suggest you stand a little further away.”
"I'm just nervous."
"No need to be nervous. Just don't touch anything bad."
Chen Hao muttered something and continued tying the straps. The high-strength mesh was taken from an old protective suit; it was quite durable, but difficult to cut. He cut five strips of varying lengths, and Nana measured them again before cutting them all to 80 centimeters.
It was already afternoon when everything was installed.
They pushed the sled outside and placed it in the open space. The snow had just stopped, the ground was smooth, and it crunched underfoot.
"Looks...not bad?" Chen Hao walked around the area. "More stable than I expected."
“The structural integrity has passed the initial inspection.” Nana patted the platform. “We can proceed with the loading test.”
"Don't rush, let me check if anything is missing."
He crouched down to inspect the axle position—actually, there were no wheels, only the bottom of the rail. He touched the seam; it was fairly smooth. He then tried shaking the handrail; it wasn't loose.
"Are the straps tight enough?"
"The maximum tensile strength test value is 120 kilograms," she said. "Normal transportation will not exceed this limit."
"What if I drop it? Will the things fly out?"
"The platform has baffles at the edges, which limits the range of cargo movement."
"What if we can't stop it?"
"You can walk slower."
"Can't you give me some constructive advice?"
"I suggest you practice on flat ground for three days before going up the slope."
Chen Hao stood up and brushed the snow off his pants. "Fine, it's not like we're going to use it today anyway."
He reached for the handrail, wanting to try pushing it around. As soon as he exerted force, his foot slipped, and he fell forward, his elbow hitting the side of the sled.
"Ouch!"
"The ground is icy, and the coefficient of friction is low." Nana helped him up. "I suggest wearing non-slip shoes."
"I didn't change my shoes..." he rubbed his arm, "and these things are really uncomfortable."
"Do we need to adjust the buffer layer?"
"No need, this is fine." He took two steps back and looked at the pieced-together thing in front of him. "To be honest, it looks a bit ugly."
"Functionality takes precedence over appearance."
"I know, but why does it look like a clothes rack that someone threw away and converted into a new one?"
"Its load-bearing capacity will not change just because you dislike it."
Chen Hao smiled and didn't say anything more.
Together they pushed the sled back under the eaves and placed it against the wall. Chen Hao casually tore off a waterproof tarpaulin and covered it up to prevent it from snowing again that night.
"Will you try it tomorrow?" he asked.
"The temperature is lowest at six in the morning, and the snow surface is at its hardest," Nana said, "making it suitable for the first test run."
"Then let's set the time."
He turned and walked towards the door, but stopped after a few steps.
"Hello."
Nana looked up.
"You know... could we build an even bigger one in the future? The kind with a canopy, so it won't be afraid of rain or snow?"
“We can consider it,” she said, “provided we can find more material.”
"How about adding another seat? So I can sit down?"
"You will become the only living cargo that needs to be towed."
"Hello!"
Nana had already entered the house, her back straight. The light shone down from above, illuminating the ground at her feet, and her shadow didn't even tremble.
Chen Hao stood there, opened his mouth, and finally only exhaled a breath of white air.
He looked down at his shoes and realized he really needed to change them.
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