Chapter 79: Another attempt.
'Damn! I'm hungry!' Lee thought, and resisted the impulse to return to the barracks and pretend he had been there all along.
Last night he emptied the waterskin bag even though he knew he had to be frugal, but decided to blame the stress for that.
Unfortunately he couldn't go and refill it – not only he had to make the use of the fact everyone thought he was dead, if he suddenly reappeared, it would raise too many questions, especially considering the squad member Potato killed who in everyone's eyes was now Lee.
After meditating through the night, Lee thought of an escape plan.
It involved him getting lucky and the fortress's guards being sloppy, but there was no other way, at least he couldn't think of any. The problem was – contrary to the trainees, the guards prayed only once a day, thus he had to stay in the crate for another day.
The first part of the plan was the same, in fact, Lee decided to make use of Potato's effort and utilize the tampered rope. He only needed one weak spot on it, therefore quickly inspected it, ignored the first damaged part and made a bunch of knots, securing all other places it could snap.
Then he quickly inspected the contents of the crate, reorganized it so it was more comfortable to lay there, stretched a bit, and got back in.
He meditated for the whole day and through the following night and, when the guards left for the next prayer, quickly got out again. He would've loved to begin stretching exercises, like a lazy dog in the afternoon, but there was no time. Fortunately, he didn't have to run as far as he could, at least not yet.
He threw the loop he made on the one end of the rope on a protrusion on the top of the wall, grabbed the empty waterskin and a couple more things from the crate, and climbed over the wall.