All Chapters of The Apocalypse Survival Manual: Chapter 311 - Chapter 320

Nicole rolled down the window, watching everything and listening for anything out of place.Judging by the number of guards and their little patrol scooters, the villa district had better security than most places. Many of the trees on the mountain had survived the deep freeze, and the damp air had brought them back to life. Fresh green leaves had already started growing again.The villas had been built along the winding mountain road, one every few dozen yards or so.Most were two-and-a-half-story villas. Quite a few had solar generators installed on their rooftops, and every balcony window had been sealed off with stainless steel mesh.Because the area sat close to the ocean, the wind was stronger here. The temperature changed sharply between morning and night, and the air carried plenty of moisture, so the drought wasn't nearly as severe as it had been back in Westbridge. Lush emerald trees filled the surrounding hills.The car moved slowly. Nicole even heard the rumble of di

Nicole stood on the rooftop, studying the beach and the fishing village through binoculars.People were everywhere. Packed together in dense, crawling masses, they made her skin prickle."We should go look around," Nicole suggested.Since they were already here, they couldn't forget the real reason they had come. First, they needed to scout the market.So the three of them and the dog got into the car. Before leaving, Nicole turned up the current on the electric fence and posted a friendly warning. [High-voltage electric fence. Touch at your own risk!]The drive was quick. In a little over ten minutes, they reached the seafood trading market in the fishing village.The market, once bustling with life, had gone strangely quiet. Dried seafood could be seen everywhere: shrimp, dried fish, scallops, squid, cuttlefish, anchovies, and other seafood.The selection was overwhelming, almost too much to take in. The only thing missing was fresh seafood.There was no helping it. Fresh

"Zeph. Even if you don't follow the same road you did before, I believe that you'll still find your own way to help. And because of that, more people may live," Nicole went on seriously. "You're human, not God. You can't shoulder an entire apocalypse by yourself, so stop trying to make it your burden."She took his hand and locked her fingers tightly through his. "And I think you've done enough. More than enough. You've already given everything you could to this country and its people. Now, you need to live well. For yourself. For your family. For the people who love you, and the people you love."Zeph tightened his grip around her hand. The moonlight covered the redness at the corners of his eyes. "Nicole, thank you."There was nothing to thank her for. The truth was, Nicole felt the same way.If she had never met Zeph, maybe she would have turned even harder around the edges. But because of him, she had learned to be steadier.At night, the beach was packed with people. It

Cola perked up his ears and listened for a while. When nothing interesting followed, he lowered his head and went back to chewing.Nicole glanced at Zeph lying beside her. She wanted to say something, but for a moment, she couldn't find the words.After turning it over in her mind, she rolled onto her side. "Are we still selling water?"If they stopped, they would have to trade grain, cigarettes, or liquor instead."Large amounts of fresh water aren't easy to get right now," Zeph said. "And desalinating seawater costs too much. Let's hold off for a few days and see what Sven does."Nicole had been thinking the same thing, so she relaxed and let herself settle in for an afternoon nap.Zeph didn't leave. He only held her lightly.Nicole went a little stiff. Was he trying something? If he did, should she scratch him?Fortunately, the man knew better. He behaved himself and kept his hands exactly where they belonged.Little by little, she drifted off.A man who didn't want to try

Sven's voice came out of the darkness. "Nicole? Zeph?"Nicole and Zeph exchanged a look. What was he doing here at this hour?Poppy moved on instinct, hiding anything that couldn't be explained with impressive speed. Nicole swept the vegetables, chicken, pork, and the rest of the spread into her storage space, leaving only the seafood on the grill.Once they brought Sven in, he kept sniffing the air. "Well, look at you two. Barbecue in the middle of all this?"Nicole led him up to the rooftop. "Want some oysters?"That smell was hard to turn down. Sven lasted about two seconds before he gave in. "Yeah, alright. I'll take a few."Nicole opened a beer for him. "You didn't come all the way here this late just to raid our dinner, did you?""Something happened," Sven said. He took several long swallows of cold beer and let out a satisfied sigh. "Depending on how you look at it, it might be a serious payday. The question is whether you two can catch it."A payday? Who would turn th