Chapter 228


    As the group brainstormed solutions, various ideas were thrown into the mix. "Let''s scatter shards


    of ss beneath the walls. If they dare to climb over, they''ll be skewered."


    "We also need to secure our water well with additional locks. If that gets taken, we''re done for."


    They immediately set to work, determined to construct the wall before dawn, keeping danger at bay.


    For safety, everyone stepped in, braving the heat to lend a hand.


    Jasper was hard at work too, consulting with Mark about the best way toy the posts for a more


    secure barrier.


    Ste didn''t venture downstairs. Instead, she immersed herself in the darkness, tinkering away. She


    was no mechanic, but after listening to the recording multiple times and puzzling over the machine


    for a good while, she finally managed to set up the sprinkler. She even took it in the Arcadia for an


    experiment. Ah, with this, watering wouldn''t be a problem anymore.


    They worked until the break of dawn, sessfully dividing Eastwood Eden into two with a barrier


    built by countless hands.


    Numerous bricks, cement bags, and heaps of sand are ced beneath the wall with the intention of


    keeping them secure and undamaged.


    Everyone was exhausted, but nobody took a break. They went back to reinforce each building,


    quickly distributing the well water that was pitifully scarce.


    As Ste was having her breakfast, she asked, "Should we enclose the building with an electric


    fence?"


    After some thought, Jasper replied, "If a riot breaks out and a horde of people swarm in like


    zombies, the fence will be useless."


    The ce chosen by the officials for the refugee camp would need to amodate at least a few


    thousand people. An electric fence could keep some people out, but not arge group. If they


    wanted to cause damage, they would find a way.


    And if the fence was damaged, that would be a problem.


    They hoped that the military would arrive soon, for the potential dangers were too great.


    Rosie was watering sweet potato sprouts on the balcony when she suddenly tensed up. "They''re


    here!"


    She hurriedly started to hide things, moving the nters indoors.


    Ste stepped onto therge terrace, only to see a ck mass of people approaching on foot. The


    line of people seemed unending. Each person looked gaunt, dirty, and emotionally numb, like


    emotionless zombies. Although the people of Eastwood Eden were also thin, there was a stark


    difference in both physical condition and spirit. The sight was utterly depressing.


    After moving all the nters and the sunshade from the terrace, Ste called Cooper and Rosie


    over. "From today onward, you two are not allowed on the terrace. Stay inside the room."


    Although they had built a barrier, the distance between building 5 and 6 was just a few dozen


    meters. It was too close forfort.


    On one side were people starving, and on the other were a kid and a dog. Who wouldn''t salivate at


    the sight?


    Stray dogs had a strong sense of good and evil. Cooper, with his stern face, was tense.


    Jasper re-examined the stairwell, electrifying all the stainless-steel doors downstairs.


    As the refugees streamed into the neighboring area, not only did Eastwood Eden increase its


    patrols, but it also shortened the intervals between them. Most of their energy was focused on


    building 5.


    Mark turned on the walkie-talkie. "Jasper, be extra careful in building 5. If you notice anything off,


    immediately inform us."


    All the nters and sunshades had been moved indoors, and all rooms not only had privacy ss


    but also curtains.


    Building 6 was right across the study, where Jasper sat, asionally ncing at the other side as


    he read.


    From morning till evening, each floor of the three buildings was crammed with people, probably no


    less than three thousand.


    Five staff members, two police officers, ten security patrollers, and two trucks arrived with today''s


    supplies.


    Each person received a coarse grain bun the size of a fist and less than a third of a bowl of water.


    The refugees, their faces grimy, came down from the buildings.


    There were elderly and children, but most were young and middle-aged adults. There were women


    too, but not many. Their clothes were ragged, and they all eyed each other warily.


    Even from behind the wall, Ste felt as though she was being watched. Jasper felt the same.


    "There are too many people. We have to be careful."


    Being careful wasn''t the problem. The main issue was the stark contrast. Although conditions in


    Eastwood Eden were harsh, they still had a home and family. The ground still bore traces of their


    harvest. It was like cing a roast beef in front of a starving person. The temptation was too great.


    That night, Ste woke up several times to faint sounds of movement in the living room. Even the


    dogs were anxious.


    In the morning, she found Cooper lying in front of her door. He wanted to protect her again. Ste


    crouched down and gently stroked Cooper''s head.


    Jasper spent the morning in the study and the afternoon upstairs, onlying down in the evening.


    His years of honed instincts were correct. There were a few forces within the refugee camp, all


    surreptitiously observing them. Moreover, one person had fallen from the building in the morning,


    and two more in the afternoon.


    "Fell from the building?" Ste frowned. "Was it an ident, or were they pushed?"


    The buildings were newly constructed and hadn''t been fitted with railings or windows yet. It was


    indeed easy to fall by ident.


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    But Ste wasn''t naive. Everyone knew to be wary of others during these hard times. Who would


    venture into dangerous areas without a reason?


    Jasper spected, "Someone wants to create trouble, forcing the officials to negotiate with


    Eastwood Eden, and allow them to move into the safer buildings with doors and windows."


    As soon as the incident happened, many refugees surrounded the staff, questioning why they


    weren''t allowed to stay in better buildings in Eastwood Eden.


    The troublemakers continued to cause a ruckus, while others kept their eyes on the body that had


    fallen, even as it was carried away by the security patrol.


    Of course, he didn''t share these thoughts with Ste and Rosie to avoid causing them worry. But he


    did tell Mark, urging him tomunicate with the officials and ask when the military would arrive.


    In the middle of the night, they were suddenly awakened by a scream. It was just one scream, and it


    disappeared very quickly.


    Ste woke up to find herself in Jasper''s arms. "Go back to sleep, it''s nothing," Jasper reassured


    her.


    The refugees had just arrived, and even if there were ill-intentioned people among them, they


    wouldn''t act rashly without knowing the situation here.


    Ste ced her gun next to her bed and went back to sleep.


    In the morning, Jasper didn''t let Ste go downstairs. He went to fetch water from building 2. He


    returned over an hourter, carrying less than 10 liters of murky well water.


    The drought continued, and the water level had dropped again.


    Not only had Jasper been following the refugee buildings, but Mark was also keeping a close eye


    on the situation.


    Building 1 was far away, and they hadn''t heard the scream in the middle of the night, but the patrol


    team had. They also noticed that the staff members wouldn''t dare to step into the refugee buildings


    without thepany of police officers or security patrollers.


    What did this imply?


    In an apocalypse, what was most sensitive was the human heart. Facing thousands of ravenous


    refugees, the staff were equally fearful and hesitant to step foot into the shelter unless it was


    absolutely necessary.


    The military was yet to arrive and the local police force was stretched thin. An air of tension hung


    heavily around everyone. And so, they spent three nerve-wracking days on pins and needles.


    Mark managed to withstand the pressure, and the authorities too had their concerns. They did not


    agree to the refugees’ request to change shelters. After all, there were several shelters around


    Griffith, none of which were truly secure. They had to consider not just the refugees, but the safety


    of the localmunity too.


    At sunset, Jasper, sitting in his study, saw a car pull up all of a sudden. It whisked away two


    policemen and fivemunity watchmen in haste.


    The security forces were already limited, so why the sudden dispatch? Unless there was some


    major incident, the police station wouldn''t just remove the officers andmunity watchmen.


    Jasper had a bad premonition. “Ste,” he said, “I reckon we’re in for a rough night.”