18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 223

Seeing her silence, Mark hurriedly explained, "The rescue team is voluntary, and we won't force anyone."

Stella pondered, "60-degree heat, even with proper protection, a normal person can't stand in the sun for more than two hours, Mark, how are you planning to organize and arrange this rescue operation?”

"We will operate on a volunteer basis. We have to protect ourselves while saving others. We’ll carry sunshades and take breaks when we need to. Can't push ourselves too hard."

Mark already had a plan, "Those we rescue can be taken to the temporary shelters arranged by the city."

Stella was surprised. She hadn't expected his arrangements to be so rational and clear-headed.

"For those who are willing to participate, one person per family is enough, I wouldn't recommend more. After all, we can't deplete Eastwood Eden's patrol team."

There was also the unfortunate news that the well in the neighborhood had collapsed. The well, which had been expertly dug by an old hand, wasn't too severely damaged, but they couldn't risk fixing it until they were sure the aftershocks were over. So, everyone would have to conserve their water supply.

Luckily, Mark had reminded everyone to be careful with their water usage and had managed to secure a supply of water purification tablets.

They had been traded with sweet potatoes from each household, so everyone had some. Though not in abundance, they would suffice for a few days.

Stella spoke gently, "Mark, your proposal is very good. Jasper and I will check on our home first and will get back to you later."

Mark hesitated, "Actually, I have a favor to ask."

"Go ahead."

Mark's gaze fell on Cooper, "If you guys are willing to participate, could you perhaps bring Cooper along?"

Stella frowned slightly.

"The thing is, dogs have a much sharper sense of smell than humans. This earthquake had some forewarning, so there aren't many survivors buried under rubble, but we don't know the real situation. It's not only time-consuming but also lacks direction, which could cause us to miss the golden rescue time. Therefore, we hope Cooper can help."

Worried about misunderstanding, Mark quickly clarified, "Luna will also participate, only in search, and not in excavation or dangerous work."

Since the disaster struck, those who were willing to share their rations to feed dogs certainly treated them like family. They needed to protect the little fellows too.

Stella nodded, "Okay, I understand."

Without further ado, the trio and Cooper returned to Building 5. They didn't rush to enter inside but walked around it.

The building was resilient, with no visible cracks even after a strong earthquake, unlike Building 4 next door which had a noticeable crack.

However, there were some loose tiles and doors inside, which needed to be reinforced. Unit 401 was tidy and nothing was damaged in the earthquake.

Jasper gave Cooper and Rosie a treat to distract them, allowing Stella to unpack.

They redecorated the apartment, leaving the easy tasks to Cooper and Rosie and tackling the tougher ones like curtains and air conditioning themselves.

After lunch, they celebrated their survival with a meal of spicy fish, braised pork, steamed meatballs, and some juice. While enjoying their spicy fish, they felt a sense of relief washing over them.

After the meal, they had two plates of frozen watermelon, which was incredibly satisfying.

Stella sat down with Jasper, "I won't join the rescue team, but you can decide for yourself."

In her past life, she had not received any help from others. The food she found was almost stolen from her. If not for her fighting back, she wouldn't have been able to keep her supplies. They not only wanted to steal her food but also had more evil ideas because she was alone.

"However, if you decide to go, I hope that while you're saving others, you also remember Rosie waiting for you at home."