075 Robert's Acquaintance

A military base in Vermont had been converted into a survivor outpost after the disaster. Three years had passed, yet the population of the survivor base had not increased with the arrival of new survivors—in fact, it had dwindled.

In the early days after the catastrophe, they had enough ammunition and supplies. With the military in command, they were even able to scavenge usable goods from the abandoned residential areas. But three years were not enough for productivity to recover. Relying solely on scavenged resources, they could no longer withstand disease, hunger, or the merciless Night Fiends. Their endurance was wearing thin.

Everyone living in the base wandered like the walking dead, waiting for the inevitable end—whether it came from Night Fiends breaking through the bastion or from the depletion of food and ammunition. Hope was gone. In their world, God no longer existed.

...

After Li Danio and his group reached Vermont, they quickly spotted road signs advertising the survivor base.

"Why are they being so conspicuous?" Robert said in disbelief as he saw the sign.

"I don't think it's conspicuous at all. Night Fiends can't read, can they?" Anna replied, glancing at Abel.

Abel looked perplexed. "Honestly, I can't remember what I was like as a Night Fiend."

Following the signs' directions, their three vehicles soon arrived at a farm on the outskirts.

"Is this really the survivor base?"

After getting out and surveying the area, they felt misled. The farm was deserted—not only were there no people, but even if there had been, no one could have lasted long here. The surroundings were wide open, the structures flimsy and unable to block out the light. Staying here was as good as a death sentence.

Li Danio focused his inner strength, listening intently. He was certain there was no one hiding on the farm—unless there was an underground bunker more than five meters deep.

The sun was already setting. In another hour or two, darkness would fall. If they couldn't find shelter, the Night Fiends might surround and kill them.

Just as they were discussing whether there was anywhere along the way they could spend the night, Ethan suddenly spoke up. "Look over there."

Everyone turned to where Ethan was pointing and saw a solar-powered utility pole.

"Ethan, we don't need to charge anything," Robert said, patting Ethan's head. "Or do you mean we should take it apart?"

"That's not what I mean," Ethan replied, pushing Robert's hand away. "I think there's a walkie-talkie up there."

Even before Ethan finished his sentence, Li Danio had already spotted the walkie-talkie hanging at the top of the pole.

"Good eye," Li Danio praised Ethan, then quickly climbed the six-meter-tall solar pole, which had no handholds.

"Tarek, are you actually a monkey?" Robert called from below.

"Humans evolved from monkeys, didn't you know that, genius?"

Li Danio retrieved the walkie-talkie, tore off the charging cable, and slid smoothly down the pole.

"Could this have been left by the survivor base?" Anna took the walkie-talkie, noticed the channel was locked, and said, "Shall we try it?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Anna pressed the call button.

"Please respond if you can hear me. There are survivors here."

She called three times and received no answer. Anna tried again: "Is anyone listening? We found this walkie-talkie at a farm. We're survivors."

This time, after about a minute, the indicator light on the walkie-talkie finally lit up.

"Hello? Was someone speaking just now?"

"Yes, yes, we're survivors, we're looking for the survivor base," Anna and the others answered, their excitement palpable.

"Oh my God, finally, more survivors! Where are you?" The voice on the other end was equally excited.

"We're at a farm, found it by following the signs."

"Stay there. We'll send someone to pick you up."

Anna checked the time and asked, "How long will it take? The sun's almost down."

"Don't worry, beautiful, we'll be there in thirty minutes. We'll make it back to base before sunset. How many are you?"

"Six of us."

"Six?" The person on the other side seemed surprised. "You guys are incredibly lucky."

Just as Anna was about to ask about the survivor base, Robert suddenly snatched the walkie-talkie, his voice trembling with excitement. "Carl, is that you?"

"What? Who are you? You know me?"

When Robert received confirmation, his excitement grew.

"Come on, you can't even recognize me? Seriously?"

"You are..." The other side paused, then suddenly shouted, "Robert! You're Robert! You're still alive, you bastard?!"

"You didn't die, so how could I? Get over here and pick us up, you jerk!"

"I'm on my way, already in the car. Robert, was that your wife just now?"

At this, Robert fell silent. When he spoke again, his voice was low. "No, she..."

"I'm sorry, Robert," came the reply, and then the line went quiet.

Anna and the others, who had been happy to discover someone Robert knew, also fell silent. This was the end of the world. Less than one in a hundred people remained. To meet someone from the past was a rare blessing. But over these three years, how many friends, how many loved ones had been lost forever?

Abel hugged Betty tightly. The two of them, having turned back from Night Fiends and found each other again, were perhaps the luckiest people in the world.

Anna walked over to Robert and patted him on the back. They had known each other for less than ten days, but she understood his feelings deeply. Apart from Ethan, there might never be another familiar face for her in this world.

Li Danio did not belong to this world and would soon leave it, but the catastrophe had etched itself into his heart. What began as a game had become all too real. The world, and people like Robert, had moved him deeply. He wondered if he should do more to help this world.

After a while, Robert recovered his composure. The dead could not come back, but he was alive and had to live well, to save the world with the vaccine he had developed.

After Robert chatted with Carl for a bit more on the walkie-talkie, the roar of engines could be heard. Li Danio and the others stood up as two off-road vehicles sped toward them.

Even before the first car stopped, its door flew open and a middle-aged man jumped out, with Robert rushing to meet him. The two men embraced tightly.

In that moment, neither Li Danio nor Anna had it in them to joke about the reunion—for in this apocalypse, such bonds were all the more precious, and deeply enviable.