Life and Death

Jenny's crutch was in the shelter, making it inconvenient for her to walk. Luo Jun saw her embarrassed look and supported her.

"Mr. Luo, I need to use the restroom. Could you help me over there?" Jenny asked. Luo Jun then realized he had not built a sit-down toilet. With her injured thigh, Jenny definitely could not squat down. He had overlooked her needs these past couple days.

"Alright, I'll help you over."

Luo Jun slowly walked with her towards the new toilet, thirty meters away.

On the way, Luo Jun couldn't help but ask, "How have you been using the toilet these past few days?"

Embarrassed, Jenny replied, "I just had Lorna or Li Shi help me over to a rock by the creek. I would lift up my skirt, take off my panties, and sit on the rock to do my business. It was easy for #1 but very difficult for #2. I had to find a rock downstream with an overhang so I could stick my behind out... I only had to do that once, thankfully."

Luo Jun wiped his brow. Out in the wilderness, women's needs were already difficult to accommodate. Her injury made it even more troublesome.

Luo Jun hadn't considered her situation at all. Otherwise he would have brought over some large rocks when building the toilet to make a makeshift seat.

It wouldn't have been difficult for Luo Jun to fashion a toilet seat. He just needed to bring over two decently sized, elevated rocks and flatten one end with an ax. Propped up on either side of the latrine, Jenny could use her thighs to lower herself onto the seat.

When they arrived at the toilet, Jenny leaned on the bamboo pole for support.

"Could you help me with this?" Jenny awkwardly asked Luo Jun.

Puzzled, Luo Jun asked, "How can I help?"

"I can't squat down to take off my panties. Could you help me with that?" Jenny had already reached under her short skirt, hooking her briefs with her fingers.

Unable to squat, Luo Jun could only oblige. He took her panties and turned away, walking several meters off. He wondered how Jenny was able to urinate if she couldn't squat.

Hearing the trickling sound, Luo Jun's curiosity got the better of him. Glancing back, he saw Jenny's awkward pose as she stood to relieve herself. Luo Jun slapped his forehead.

"How embarrassing. I really need to make that toilet seat soon."

Jenny was mortified. If not for her injury, she would never do something so unladylike.

"I'm done," Jenny shamefully called out.

Luo Jun came over and handed her the panties. Unable to put them on herself, Jenny could only lean on the bamboo pole as Luo Jun crouched down. He slowly guided her feet through as she lifted them up one at a time until they were on.

After she finished dressing, Luo Jun stood up and supported Jenny as they walked back.

"Thank you, Mr. Luo."

"You're welcome. I'll make you a makeshift toilet seat tomorrow."

Jenny was deeply moved by Luo Jun's thoughtfulness.

"I don't know how to repay your kindness. You not only saved me but have helped me so much. If only Jack had listened to you in the beginning, he might not have died."

Thinking about it made Jenny very sad.

"Everyone has their own fate. Being shipwrecked, our fates were adrift like boats on the sea, ambiguous and uncertain. There's no use dwelling on regrets."

Luo Jun had a penetrating perspective on life and death. In the past, he lived each day as if it were his last.

Like the dying Don Quixote (character from Spanish classic), opposing and resisting the hope of pain made his reason unusually tense, allowing him to view everything through new eyes.

So the world Luo Jun saw was different from what ordinary people saw.

The sunlight, the plants, everything around him now - he appreciated it all with the fresh wonder of a newborn, because each day survived was a joy.

Not everyone could attain this philosophical attitude towards life.

And because of this mindset, even if sudden death came upon him, Luo Jun could face it calmly.

Luo Jun had discussed perspectives on death with Pan Long before. Their views were completely different. Pan Long's view could be described as passive or neutral. He believed death was "non-existence", agreeing with the philosophy of Robert Nozick (American). Luo Jun's view was more akin to Nietzsche's.

Seeing how casually Luo Jun spoke of death, Jenny sensed no disrespect in his tone towards Jack's passing. It was merely his attitude.

"Mr. Luo, I heard from Lorna and the others that our clothes came from two people you killed. Is that true?" Jenny tentatively asked.

Luo Jun smiled faintly. "Are you afraid now?"

Jenny shook her head. "I'm not sure. I was quite scared of you at first because Jack said you were a killer. But after getting to know you, I wasn't afraid anymore. Then I became afraid again when you left."

Luo Jun chuckled softly. "Don't think too much about it. Just focus on recovering."

"Mr. Luo, can I ask you a question?" Jenny timidly ventured.

"What is it?" Luo Jun was curious.

"What does it feel like to kill someone? Have you killed a lot of people?"

Luo Jun was silent for a moment after Jenny's questions.

"It's best if you don't ponder such matters. The war between angels and demons will always favor the demons. The angels only return in self-righteous poses after the demons' defeat. The more you think about this, the more it will drag you into the abyss... Why do you want to kill someone?"

Luo Jun bluntly asked Jenny in return.

Jenny shook her head again. "Just curious."

"No. Your subconscious must harbor this desire, to compel you to ask this. Everyone harbors immense evil desires. That doesn't make one a bad person. Perverted, sordid, sinful thoughts - we all have them, arising at every moment. But without impetus and opportunity, they remain hidden."

Luo Jun's words left Jenny somewhat at a loss.

But he didn't continue the topic. Upon returning to the shelter, he opened the door and let Jenny go in to sleep.

Luo Jun glanced at where the women slept. Lorna hadn't let Li Shi take her spot tonight.

Luo Jun smiled faintly and crawled in as well.

As soon as he lay down, Lorna rolled over to embrace him. In the pitch black shelter, she could take certain liberties that the other women wouldn't notice. Anything major would surely draw attention.

Of course, Luo Jun and Lorna didn't care how the others felt. They were both open-minded.

Intertwined, their bodies could keep each other warm.

And the shelter floor was quite sturdy.

Hearing the commotion, Li Shi was most distressed. She would occasionally reach out with her cold little hands to startle the two, chilling their skin.

The shock made Lorna gasp and then chuckle alluringly, too much for Li Shi to bear.

"Shameless! Go to sleep!"

Angrily, Li Shi turned away to hug Jenny as they slept. Jenny was also restless and flustered.