18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 527

At the southern base of Kindle Chest, no one could open it without sensors and the code, making it a useless treasure to outsiders, yet it was a civilization built with the blood, sweat, and tears of Australia. If they hadn't stumbled upon it, it would be one thing, but now that they had, Stella and Jasper were determined to secure it. Safety always comes first. They layered up with thermal clothing, strapped on bulletproof vests, and topped it with tattered jackets, smudging their faces to blend in.

As for their wolfish guile and dogged determination, well, some things just can't be hidden. It was a two to three-mile trek on foot. As they neared their target, caution painted their expressions. Snowflake was sly, circling with Cooper for a flank attack. Trusting this instinct, Stella had Jasper lead the animals on a detour while she and Rosie drew the attention head-on. Roles were set; places taken. Disguised as weary travelers, they trudged along sluggishly.

"Look, there seems to be a chest up ahead." They hurried over, Stella noting a scattering of footprints but nothing too unusual. Just as they approached, a man with a battered hat and a gun in hand burst from the side. "Hey, I found it first!"

He sounded fierce, but it was only a verbal threat; no shots fired. A foreigner, speaking English. Blond hair, a hawkish nose, a lean figure. Stella raised her hands, speaking in broken English, "Don't shoot, we mean no harm."

The man insisted, "I found it first; the chest is mine." No sooner had he spoken than Jasper knocked him down from behind with the butt of his gun. The man hit the ground with a thud, crying out in pain but not knocked out. Jasper picked up the man's empty gun. Now it was Stella's turn to aim at him, "You seem quite interested in this chest."

The man quickly raised his hands, his voice tinged with panic, "Don't kill me, we can split the reward." Stella was puzzled, "Reward?" At her confusion, the man explained, "I'm a bounty hunter, out here looking for the chest."

Stella's mind buzzed, "Who sent you to look for the chest?"

Could it be Ocean Point Naval Station? They were busy with land reclamation; did they even have time for this? And if they did, how would they transport it back over such a distance? "Griffith's offering a bounty, find the chest and get a load of food, or become a citizen of the base." Griffith? The trio was stunned. Stella lowered her weapon, taking a deep breath to calm herself, her voice softened, "Where's Griffith, and who's in charge?"

"We mean no harm." Seeing the man's confusion, she calmly explained, "We used to live in Griffith, Australia."

The man, regaining his bearings and rubbing his sore neck, said, "I don't know who leads Griffith, but it was established by the Australian military, about five hundred miles from here. It's mostly soldiers living there, and some regular survivors..."