At night, in the supermarket.
The roller shutter door was half-closed, leaving a ventilation gap.
The shelves were pushed against the wall, creating an open space in the middle.
Lu Chen, Su Wan, and Shen Wanqing sat around the emergency light, the light jumping and flickering among the shelves.
“We can’t keep this up any longer,” Su Wan spoke first, drawing a line on the ground with her finger.
“There are three forks on the east side of the street, and the zombies are getting more and more crowded.
Before they form a pile, we should clear them all out tomorrow.
It’s better to attack to defend.
Waiting and holding on will only make us thinner and thinner as time goes on.”
“How many wounded have you seen today?” Shen Wanqing didn’t look up, still rolling up a bandage.
“Six in the basement, one on our side.
Infection, dehydration, open wounds – all can be fatal.
Even if the street is cleaned thoroughly, we can’t hold out if people collapse.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Clearing the street is to protect the people.”
“First, protect the people, then you can clear the street.”
Their voices were not loud, but they were like two stones colliding, neither willing to give way.
The light illuminated their faces, making them look pale.
Lu Chen didn’t speak until both sides were quiet.
Then he said, “Tomorrow morning, clear the west street first.
It will take half a day.
After we finish, you two decide who stays and who leaves the list of wounded.”
Su Wan looked at him, gave a huff, and accepted it.
Shen Wanqing nodded.
In the late night.
Su Wanqing guarded the front window, while Shen Wanqing was changing her own medicine under the lamp.
“You sew better than me,” Shen Wanqing suddenly said.
“I’ve practiced,” Su Wan didn’t turn around, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside the window.
Your hand is steadier than mine.”
The lampwick exploded.
Shen Wanqing didn’t respond.
She lowered her head, tightened the bandage, and suddenly said, “Tomorrow when we clear the street, I’ll follow you for the first twenty meters.
I’ll watch the side alleys for you.”
Su Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then looked at her.
“OK,” she said.
“Your way of saving people is like you’ve seen too many dead people.”
Shen Wanqing stopped winding the bandage.
She didn’t look up or reply.
She just wound the roll of bandage tighter and tighter.