Each surge of the waves was like a raging beast bursting forth from the depths of the sea. Towering high, with boundless power and majesty, they toppled over Xiao Yi and his companions' boat like an overwhelming force. The moment the crest of the wave crashed down, the boat felt as if pressed down by a giant hand, sinking suddenly. At that moment, Xiao Yi and the others' hearts tightened, as if an invisible hand were gripping their hearts. Their breath hitched, their eyes wide open as they stared in horror at the scene before them. As the boat sank, their hearts plummeted, the feeling of weightlessness filling them with despair and helplessness. Then, the force of the waves receded, and the boat, lifted slowly by buoyancy, slowly rose. Their hearts, like a gentle hand, lifted them back to their original position. But before they could recover from this brief respite, another wave surged forward. The wave, surging and roaring, swept the boat into its embrace once more. Every ups and downs made Xiao Yi and the others' hearts experience an intense roller coaster ride. Their faces were pale, and their clothes were soaked with cold sweat, but they could only stand in front of this ruthless sea, letting their hearts tremble and palpitate with the rhythm of the waves, as if they would stop beating in the next second because of this unbearable fear.
Xiao Yi gazed into the distance, his gaze seemingly reaching for the boundless ocean. His eyes were filled with exhaustion and confusion. The sea breeze ruffled his hair, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in his heart. "This sea seems endless," he muttered, his voice faint under the wind. His lips were chapped, and each word he uttered seemed to draw all his strength. The vast sea, shimmering in the sunlight, stretched to the horizon, merging with the sky in a boundless arc. As far as Xiao Yi could see, there was only a monotonous blue, no sign of land, no glimmer of hope. When the sea was calm, it was like a giant mirror, seemingly gentle, yet concealing unfathomable danger. But when a storm came, the waves surged like a galloping horse, carrying the power of destruction. But no matter how the sea shifted, it remained eternally vast, boundless. Xiao Yi stared for a long time, his eyes already stung by the monotonous blue, but he couldn't look away. In front of this ocean, he felt so small, so insignificant. The endless ocean was like a huge cage, trapping them tightly and making them drift in despair.
On this vast ocean, fresh water, food, and warmth—these three essentials had become their lifeblood. Fresh water, that clear, seemingly ordinary liquid, now seemed incredibly precious. Every drop was crucial to their survival, the very source of their survival in this arid and hopeless world. Without sufficient fresh water, their bodies would quickly dehydrate, their throats would burn with thirst, and their internal organs would gradually fail from lack of water. They carefully conserved every sip of fresh water, cherishing it as if it were a treasure, knowing that once it ran out, death would be imminent. Food was crucial to maintaining their bodily functions. The meager dry rations seemed so scarce in this endless drift. Every biscuit, every compressed food, had to be carefully calculated. Hunger was a constant torment, their stomachs constantly protesting, their bodies gradually wasting away, and their strength was gradually draining away. But they knew they had to control their food consumption, otherwise hunger would drag them down even faster. Keeping warm was crucial on this frigid night at sea. The night breeze was biting, the temperature plummeting, seemingly piercing their thin clothing to the bone. They huddled together, trying to warm each other with their body heat. They sought every available object to stave off the cold, even a scrap of tattered canvas as a lifesaver. Without warmth, their bodies would freeze, their consciousness would fade, and the light of life would quietly extinguish in the cold. These three seemingly ordinary things, on this unforgiving sea, became their last line of defense against death, the light of hope that kept them going.
Every day, as the first rays of morning sun shone upon the drifting boat, Xiao Yi and his companions began the meticulous allocation of limited resources. They sat together, their eyes reflecting seriousness and caution. First, the meager supply of fresh water was carefully drawn out. Each person received only a small cup. They sipped gently, letting the precious liquid moisten their parched throats, then reluctantly set the cup down, knowing that even one more sip could mean a future water crisis. Food was even more carefully distributed. The shriveled bread and compressed biscuits were carefully counted and divided according to each person's physical condition and labor intensity. Each piece of food was cut into even pieces, ensuring everyone received the essential energy to sustain life. They took their meager morsels and chewed them slowly, striving to maximize each bite, as if savoring the world's most delicious delicacy. As for heating resources, such as the few rags and a small amount of wood, they were also carefully planned. During the day, they conserved wood as much as possible, relying on the warmth of the sun to stave off the chill. At night, when the sea breeze grew icy and biting, they lit a small bonfire, allowing its feeble warmth to spread as widely as possible. Everyone huddled close together, fearing even a shred of warmth would escape them. When resources were distributed, no one fought for them, no one complained. They knew only by calculating carefully could they survive one more day on the boundless ocean, one more hope of survival. Every day, they repeated this process, cautiously yet resolutely, tenaciously battling against the harsh environment.
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