All hearts were pounding, desperate eyes fixed on the sealed metal door. From the other side came sounds similar to an impatient beast digging and breathing. After about ten seconds, a thunderous: Bang!!! The room shook violently, with startled cries rising. Everyone watched as the metal door bulged inward, forming a terrifying arc—
Early the next morning, six o’clock. Daylight peeked through the cloudy sky, with a salty and damp smell in the wind. Survivors awoke, chatted, got off the bus, wrapped in blankets and staring out the windows; Zhou Rong had already led people to check vehicles on the highway, finding remaining oil tanks, sucking several barrels of diesel with transparent soft tubes, everyone’s mouth reeking of gasoline, collectively standing by the roadside spitting. Departed at six-thirty, arrived at the industrial zone at seven, with the minibus slowly stopping in front of a fertilizer factory.
Yan Hao led a small team to search, clearing out more than ten zombies, then signaled they could enter. The factory was a mess, blood everywhere, but facilities were not severely damaged. Over thirty survivors were assigned to workers’ dormitories.
Men, led by Ding Shi and Zhang Yingjie, conducted a thorough cleaning, repaired the wire fence, and further explored the surrounding environment. Women discovered pots, pans, and gas tanks in the kitchen, taking on cooking responsibilities.
“High ground, solid factory buildings, food stored in warehouses, nearest residential area five kilometers away,” the special forces soldier named Guo Weixiang reported methodically. “If we can’t contact the military district, we can at least garrison here for a while and act accordingly.”
Zhou Rong didn’t respond. “Although there’s no electricity, the factory has a diesel generator. Yan Hao is registering survivor information, preparing to organize a patrol team to ensure 24-hour surveillance…”
“Two days later,” Zhou Rong suddenly interrupted.
Guo Weixiang: “?”
“If the nuclear bomb hasn’t arrived, I’ll go explore the B Military District situation. You’ll stay here and settle the people, wait for my message.”
Zhou Rong lifted his T-shirt hem to wipe his face. Guo Weixiang became anxious, following him: “You can’t go, Rong Ge! Entering the military district means crossing the entire B City.”
Unless you fly, you’ll definitely die. Do you have wings or something?!” Zhou Rong gave him a mocking glance: “Why don’t you ask your grandpa to approve a helicopter, second-generation?” Guo Weixiang retorted: “If we could contact him, I’d ask him to give you an F22 fighter jet. Missing a wheel would mean I lose.” “Rong Ge!” Suddenly Chun Cao ran out from the east of the factory: “Come quickly, we discovered a…” Both’s first reaction was a zombie, but Chun Cao rushed over, grabbing Zhou Rong’s hand, nervously squeezing out two words: “…Pregnant woman.” Zhou Rong: “Ah?!” Zhou Rong’s head instantly swelled.
“Don’t tell anyone yet.” After hearing the details, Zhou Rong pondered for a moment and instructed: “There are over thirty people, none of whom know each other. Let the pregnant woman stay by herself as much as possible and not wander around every day.”
Yan Hao nodded.
“Give her one egg from the hen in the backyard every day, but don’t let anyone else see. Everyone is under great mental stress, tense like a bowstring. Before we reestablish contact with the base, it’s best to avoid any potential conflicts.”
Yan Hao agreed, and when Zhou Rong was about to turn and leave, he casually asked, “Where are you going, Captain?”
“To the storeroom to find something.”
“What are you looking for?”
Zhou Rong was about to answer when he caught a glimpse of Si Nan out of the corner of his eye, noticing he had just been sitting with Yan Hao. His heart sank slightly.
“…Nothing,” Zhou Rong smiled and said, “Just moving a couple of beer crates for everyone to gather tonight.”
Zhou Rong personally went to the storeroom, moved several crates, stacked them in the back factory building, and carried a crate of beer. During dinner, he called everyone to the factory canteen and delivered a brief motivational speech.
“Due to communication issues, we can’t contact the military region temporarily, but please believe that the government and army will not abandon any survivors. The supplies we brought from T City and the food stored in the factory warehouse are enough to support us for three months, during which we will definitely find a shelter base.”
“A hundred years of fate has brought us together on the same boat. Regardless of whether we knew each other before, being alive and sitting here is destiny. We will not give up on any civilian, and I hope everyone will help and support each other.” Zhou Rong raised his beer, toasting everyone solemnly, “Thank you all,” and then took two large gulps.
The crowd was moved, with some voluntarily offering cigarettes and others beginning to introduce themselves: “I’m in sales…”
“I’m a mall security guard…”
“A telecommunications engineer, utterly useless like a scholar!”
“I work in the city committee hospital’s surgery department…”
“Surgery?” Zhou Rong’s ears perked up.
He immediately stood up, enthusiastically shook the middle-aged doctor’s hand, and pulled him aside: “Pleased to meet you! What kinds of medical conditions can you treat?”
“…Huh?”
“Can you deliver babies?”
“I… can a little, I did an internship in the obstetrics department…”
Zhou Rong patted his shoulder, “I most respect those who save lives!”
The middle-aged man named Zheng was terrified by Zhou Rong’s sudden change in attitude. He quickly offered a toast and smiled apologetically, humbly stating he could do anything and was willing to follow organizational arrangements.
Zhou Rong and Yan Hao stood face to face, smoking for a while. In the factory yard below, men were gathered installing barbed wire, while women fed chickens, tended vegetables, and chatted.
Zhou Rong flicked his cigarette ash and said, “In a couple of days after the defense construction is complete, I’ll go alone to the B Military District to scout the situation. Wait for my news.”
Yan Hao frowned, “Are you crazy? Do you know how big B City is? How will you get a helicopter?”
“If the B Military District has fallen, that means tens of thousands of zombies are crammed in the shelter. Are you tired of living?”
Zhou Rong raised an eyebrow, “You mean you want to come with me? I thought you’d want to stay behind and keep your head down like the others.”
Yan Hao took a deep breath, “It’s not about staying behind; it’s about having the best chance of survival. If we face this virus like we’ve been trained, we can gather intel and possibly find a way to counteract it.”
Zhou Rong gave him a discerning look, “You truly believe we can find a solution? The odds are against us.”
Yan Hao straightened up, determination in his eyes, “We can’t give up hope. If there’s even a slight chance that we can make a difference, then we owe it to ourselves and everyone counting on us.”
Zhou Rong nodded slowly, considering his words. “Alright, let’s devise a plan. We need to be strategic. This isn’t just about us; it’s about everyone relying on us for protection.”
They spent the next few hours drafting a plan, weighing the risks against the potential outcomes. The gravity of the situation loomed over them, but the urgency in Yan Hao’s voice sparked a flicker of resolve in Zhou Rong.
Finally, as the sun began to set, Yan Hao looked out the window, his resolve hardening. “Once we go, we won’t be turning back. Are you ready for this?”
Zhou Rong gave a slow nod, “I was born ready.”
“Zhou Rong laughed, ‘What, everyone goes together? Then who protects these thirty-plus elderly, children, and a pregnant woman?’
