18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 482

Amidst the victory celebration at Union Base, the Russians braved the blizzard to infiltrate the seabed base. By now, the Arctic had frozen over, but the entrance to the seabed base was still above the ice. They took out the sentries, poured crude oil down the ventilation shafts, tossed in a few smoke grenades, and once the flames had done their damage, they plugged the vents. Any attempt to escape was met with a hail of bullets, turning the exiters into sieves. That operation alone had cost Union Base half its staff in casualties. Subsequent skirmishes saw neither side gaining the upper hand.

Yesterday’s bloody clash left Russia not just out of ammo, but also desperately short of medical supplies. They couldn’t just watch their comrades die, so they took a chance and came out to try their luck. Meeting Australians was unexpected, but after being pushed back, they had no choice but to dig out bullets with their bare hands. Today, conditions worsened, leading to another risky venture.

Yin Fan reiterated his purpose, “Anything for help – booze or ham, corn or potatoes – anything goes.” Stella didn’t speak but exchanged a glance with Jasper. Jasper looked down at Snowflake, pondering for a moment before saying, “We could give it a try.” Snowflake bore a scar, inflicted by a tool. This confirmed the existence of other survivors in the Arctic. And wolves hold grudges; if the Russians had hurt it, it wouldn’t be as calm as it was now. The old adage held true: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. There was no need for deep alliances, but temporary partnerships in extraordinary times were worthwhile, with no need for enmity. Weighing the options, Stella agreed.

In this apocalyptic world, food and medicine were the most precious commodities. The Russians had food, but medicine... The breadth and depth of Traditional Chinese Medicine was vast. Even if they were given herbs, not everyone, even among their own survivors, would know how to use them. But Stella laid it out bluntly, “We don’t have western medicine, and there’s not much herbal medicine left. We can’t guarantee a cure.” Yin Fan was elated, “No worries, best if it works, but if not, you'll still get a ham and two bottles of booze to cement our friendship.” Stella agreed, “Drag those two patients over here.” They could only drag one at a time; the others had to stay put, not allowed to come closer.

Yin Fan retraced his steps through the snow, calling a comrade to drag the unconscious patient on a sled. True to their Russian nature, they were resistant to the cold. Even dragged across the frozen wilderness in such a state, they hadn't given up the ghost. On the sled lay a ham and two bottles of booze. Russian portions were as substantial as their physiques. A genuine pork ham, wind-dried and weighing over ten pounds. Jasper instructed Yin Fan and his comrade to retreat fifty meters, as Stella crouched to check the patients’ pulses and eyelids.

Infection had set in. The frigid outdoor temperature made wound inspection impossible. After ensuring they were unarmed, Stella, with Rosie’s help, dragged the two back home. Jasper and Cooper stayed put, watching over the Ivans and the distant Russians. Stella collected anything that shouldn’t be there before dragging the wounded Russians inside. The warmth indoors revived them, and Stella began to inspect their wounds. The Russians were indeed tough, spraying vodka on their wounds and digging out bullets with a knife. Infection was inevitable. Stella needed to remove the necrotic tissue and suture the wounds.