18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 158

Stella was a bit slow on the uptake, watching them clear out of the 18th floor and trudge down the staircase.

She hesitated for a moment but couldn’t contain herself, racing to the stairwell to stop Cody and the others, “If things don't go well in Lincoln, remember, you can always come back."

Lukas and Cody nodded, “Stella, no matter where we end up, you'll always be our friend."

She didn't say goodbye, instead, she watched them leave the 18th floor until their faint footsteps faded away.

Cooper was whimpering, rubbing against his owner now and then.

An hour later, Jasper returned. Seeing Stella lost in thought on the couch, he sat beside her, trying to comfort her, “Don't worry. They can take care of themselves. Plus, I’ve reminded them to be careful on the road."

Both vehicles should keep a distance of about 50 yards, if the first one got into trouble, like a flat tire from a caltrop or a spike strip, at least the second vehicle could still be used, giving them a chance to escape or fight back.

They were skilled with crossbows and had guns, and with their experience as security patrol officers, ordinary bandits wouldn’t be able to touch them.

Stella leaned gently into Jasper, “I believe they'll do just fine."

“Stella, even though Cody and Lukas have left, you still have me, Cooper and Rosie. We aren't going anywhere."

In these apocalyptic times, saying goodbye was all too common, but that night, Stella suffered from insomnia, tossing and turning without a wink of sleep.

She was downcast for a few days, but then gradually returned to normal. However, she still felt strange. The 18th floor was too quiet, no longer filled with the laughter of those two, or the sound of Angela's boxing practice.

In the evening, Katie went to the rooftop to fetch water, “Stella, where have Lukas and the others been? Haven’t seen them for a few days.”

Stella didn’t hide anything, “They’ve gone to Lincoln.”

To the base? Katie was surprised, but also a little envious. Life at the base seemed good. Not only was there military protection, but there was also no shortage of water.

She wanted to go too, but each person needed to contribute 50 pounds of food to get in. Moreover, she heard that not everyone was allowed in the base; the screening process was very strict.

After a lifetime of experiences, Katie had a hunch that the two bases were different.

The Moore family were scholars, always busy with research. If they couldn’t find suitable jobs at the base, they'd be stuck doing manual labor.

She was old, and her children weren’t exactly built for hard labor. After much thought, she decided to stay in Griffith. Her sons might be buried in their research day and night, but at least they were valued by the authorities and were decently compensated.

Besides, according to the latest news, the city was taking over the steel world, machinery factories, glass factories, and building material factories.

In other words, factories without owners were directly seized, and those with owners were forcibly requisitioned. As for compensation, the ordinary folks had no way of knowing what it was.

Stella was surprised. She hadn't expected the city to move so quickly. Were they preparing for a future earthquake?

They were not only requisitioning building-related materials and factories but even farmlands, planning to build greenhouses to grow crops, and recruiting farmers and workers on a large scale.

The survivors once again lit up with hope. Although the intense heat was tough to endure, they believed their home could be rebuilt.

Many people went to apply for jobs, not only carrying their hopes for the future but also knowing that having a job meant they wouldn't starve or die of thirst. They might not have enough to eat, but at least they would survive.

The recruitment for farming positions was far beyond imagination. It was almost like anyone who applied got in. Those without experience could be trained by the old hands.

Besides opening up farmland, the vacated factories were also used for indoor cultivation.

Stella had a strong feeling that the city was doing everything possible to stockpile food. Rumors had it that the national grain reserves were rich, but who knew how much was left after two years of natural disasters?

Even if there were leftovers, the coastal areas in the south, which were low-lying, were never in the country's plans for large grain silos. The supplies would have to be transferred from other cities.

In the face of global disasters, every place was fending for itself. Who would willingly share their grain to protect people from other areas?

Even if the national government gave orders, the priority would be to transfer to major bases. The share for each city would be even less.