I moved at a deliberately normal pace while building the second bamboo house. In truth, I didn't feel tired at all — if Rachel and Maya hadn't been watching, I could have activated God Speed and finished the entire structure in less than a second.
But for now I kept up the appearance of ordinary effort, cutting, lashing, and raising the bamboo frame piece by piece.
Once the second shelter was standing, I started chopping smaller wooden stakes and driving them into the ground in a wide circle around both bamboo houses. Bit by bit, a rough but solid fence began to take shape, enclosing the entire living area.
Rachel eventually walked over, curiosity on her face.
"Dexter, what are you doing now?"
I paused and wiped a bit of sweat from my forehead for show.
"Building a fence around the camp. We haven't seen any large animals yet, but this island has a water source and plenty of vegetation.
