After the roads were cleared, our prior preparations finally became useful.
We chose a moonlit night, filled a pickup truck with hastily camouflaged provisions, and set off towards the town.
Driving at night wasn't easy. The poor lighting, combined with the already rugged mountain pass, meant Khang and I had to take turns driving, not daring to let our guard down for a moment.
I used to think Bang beo and Khang were two veritable chatterboxes, unbearably noisy.
But during this exhausting, body-clock-disrupting drive, their verbal sparring and joking were surprisingly effective at keeping us awake. At least for me, it kept my chaotic mind minimally alert.
Khang drove the first half of the night; I drove the second.
We drove very slowly the entire way.
It was fine at first. The few of us chatted, so we stayed awake. But after three in the morning, sleepiness began to wash over us uncontrollably.
I squinted, my eye sockets stinging slightly.
"Are your eyes bothering you?"
