Chapter 209


    Mark was ted, "Ste, we''ve reached an agreement with the neighboring vige. We''re going to


    teach them how to drill wells."


    Had it not been for their impressive disy of strength that day, it would have been impossible to


    bring the vige''s arrogance down a notch and negotiate peacefully.


    After the discussion, they hade to believe that the Eastwood Edenmunity genuinely


    wanted to help them drill wells.


    Ste admired Mark''s approach. Instead of resorting to brute force, he had chosen to negotiate the


    issue even when they held the upper hand. He might look weak physically, but he knew how to use


    his wit.


    "Good job," Ste said, her joy undimmed. "Just remember to stay safe."


    "We wouldn''t have been able to turn things around so quickly without your help."


    Ste smiled. "Mark, you said it yourself - once you join Eastwood Eden, you''re family. No need for


    formalities."


    Sheter shared the news with Jasper.


    Jasper wasn''t surprised. "In a post-apocalyptic world, it''s survival of the fittest. It''s rare for someone


    like Mark to choose kindness over retaliation. We can not me the vigers for being skeptical.


    We took our time before deciding to join Eastwood Eden too."


    By helping the vigers secure a water source, they could put their safety concerns to rest.


    But what about after the earthquake? With buildings copsing everywhere, the living conditions


    were rapidly deteriorating, and Ste couldn''t help but worry. "Do you know what happened to


    Eastwood Eden after the earthquake?"


    Jasper shook his head. "We''ll have to wait and see. If it''s too dangerous, we''ll leave."


    Ste agreed. There were no safe havens in a post-apocalyptic world.


    When it was time to pick up their supplies, Ste had arranged for ate-night pick-up.


    After getting out of the Eastwood Eden, she had specifically chosen an open truck. Upon reaching


    the agreed-upon location, Monkey was already waiting, and surprisingly, Austin was there too.


    "Ste," Austin greeted, a cigarette hanging from his lips. "How are you and Jasper doing?"


    Ste exined, "We''re doing fine. We were worried about Aqua Base acting up, so we left an hour


    early. Just as we were reaching the foot of the mountain, we noticed the weather changing. We


    decided to leave immediately, and that''s how we narrowly escaped the disaster."


    Austin mused, "What doesn''t kill you makes you stronger."


    Ste''s order wasplete, and Austin was curious about her request for iodine tablets. He knew


    her supplier could even get ess to tetanus vines.


    When Ste mentioned her supplier, her face darkened. "My supplier was arrested following a tip-


    off. He''s now mining coal in the western mountains."


    Austin was stunned. He had hoped to tap into this supply line to earn some supplies. Not willing to


    give up, he asked, "Can you think of any other way to get freshwater?"


    Ste feigned anger. "Austin, your clients aren''t very decent. They buy water from you and then turn


    around to report you for rewards. If it weren''t for my previous supplier''s strong connections, he


    would have been dead by now. Water is bing scarcer, and their internal checks are getting


    stricter. I can''t smuggle it out anymore. This half truck load was only possible because I bribed my


    way through, and I promised them this was a one-off."


    "Who the hell reported me?" Austin was taken aback. "My clients are all wealthy. Who would be


    interested in the reward?"


    Ste shook her head. "I have no idea. But if you''re caught, you''re going to be in deep trouble."


    Sensing that she was unwilling to make more money, Austin didn''t push it. "Alright, we''ll work


    together when the opportunity arises."


    Austin signaled his men to move the supplies over to Ste''s truck. They agreed to pick up the


    water truck the next day, and Austin would have it delivered that night.


    Austin readily agreed to find iodine tablets for her, "But it''s not amon medication, so it might


    take me some time to find it."


    "Alright, I''ll trade you some grain when the timees."


    With the mention of grain, Ste had a new idea. "Austin, can you get your hands on some grain


    seeds? The kind that can be rented."


    Austin was skeptical. "It''s been two years since the disaster. It won''t be easy to find such seeds,


    and even if you do, they might not germinate."


    Ste left in her truck, "Just do your best."


    Once she was in a secluded area, Ste transferred the water tower into Arcadia, and the rest of


    the supplies were openly transported back to Eastwood Eden.


    After delivering Austin''s half truck load of water, Ste stopped going out. She spent her days


    seemingly lounging at home, but in reality, she was working in Arcadia, preparing to nt corn.


    Jasper and Rosie weren''t idle either. Apart from their thrice-weekly sses, they spent their time


    digging up soil from the ground beneath the building and transferring it to the rooftop. With the iron


    gate installed and the sunshade pulled up, the rooftop started to look like a real garden.


    Rosie crushed the clumps of soil and ced them into the nting trays. "Ste, what should we


    nt?"


    Ste teased her, "What do you want to nt?"


    "I want to nt sweet potatoes, peanuts, greens, beans, and mushrooms."


    Mushrooms wouldn''t grow well in the heat, but the rest were possible.


    Ste gave her some seeds and asked Jasper to teach her how to nt them, only to find out that


    neither of them knew how to. Ste ended up having to demonstrate it herself.


    nting was easy, but protecting the nts in such high temperatures would be a challenge.


    While nting the seeds and listening to the local government''s broadcast about earthquake


    prevention and emergency response, Ste reminded Rosie, "Did you understand the broadcast?"


    "I did, Jasper also taught me."


    Ste quizzed her, "What should you do?"


    "Grab the emergency bag and water and food and immediately leave the house. Go to an open


    area and stay away from crowded or dangerous ces."


    Just as she finished her sentence, themunity loudspeakers came on.


    Mark broadcasted the news from the radio through the loudspeaker, making sure families without


    radios would also receive the information. At the same time, he posted the news and emergency


    procedures in conspicuous ces around themunity.


    The heat and water shortage were already unbearable, and now the news of the impending


    earthquake had everyone on edge.


    But what could they do? Nobody knew when the earthquake would strike. If they chose to conceal


    the information to prevent panic, there wouldn''t be enough time to react when the disaster strikes,


    resulting in even more casualties.


    "Rosie, are you scared?"


    She was scared, but she felt safer with her brother and Ste around.


    After ss, Jasper sipped on the green smoothie Ste had made him. "Tomorrow''s the 14th, and


    we''re due to go to the localmunity center to update our residence information. Mark suggested


    I bring some of the neighborhood folks along."


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    "Did you agree?"


    Jasper nodded. "Someone has to stay and watch over the neighborhood, so we''ll have to go in two


    groups. He''s worried that the food and water we''ll be given might get stolen on the way back."


    Who would willingly choose to y the bad guy if given a choice?


    Ste didn''t object. Water was scarce these days. Going downstairs every day to fetch well water


    while ignoring the food and water provided by the neighborhoodmittee would only raise


    suspicions.