18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 581

The submarine's search expanded in concentric circles from the underwater ruins. After a few hours, they detected an obstruction that looked like a storage tank miles away. The team dove down and discovered it was indeed a tank, smaller than a standard oil drum, but it could still hold about 2,000 cubic meters. The team cleaned it up, and Stella made quick work of hoisting it aboard.

Once it was on the transport ship, everyone pitched in, putting in a lot of elbow grease to secure it. Stella recognized the scent immediately; they had about 100 liters of this stuff back in Arcadia—kerosene. Commonly known as coal oil or lamp fuel, kerosene is distilled from petroleum and is one of the first products to come out because of its low boiling point. It wasn't unusual for a refinery to have kerosene. It was used not only for lighting but also as a highly prized fuel.

Jake poured some out, twisted a rag into a makeshift wick, and sure enough, it ignited. As the kerosene burned brightly, excitement surged among them. "If we bring this back, could Griffith light up like a Christmas tree?" someone asked. Unlike now, where only a few places had solar power and everywhere else was pitch black, having light would make the nights less chaotic.

The discovery gave them a renewed burst of energy, and they resumed their search in the nearby waters. Two hours later, they found another oil drum half-buried on the seabed. Stella's guess was right; a recent disaster had scattered the wreckage, making their collection task more difficult and time-consuming. The two submarines split up to widen their search area. More and more oil and kerosene drums were found, and the furrowed brows of the team members began to relax.

While underwater, Stella stashed two oil drums and ten kerosene drums into Arcadia for future emergencies. The special salvage team spent several days in the area, eventually filling the large transport ship with nine oil drums, thirty kerosene drums, and assorted scrap metal from the refinery wreckage. They packed everything in tightly, becoming masters of compression.

On their way home, the serene sea turned traitorous with dark clouds and fierce winds. The waves grew monstrous, threatening to swallow everything. Cole, cool as a cucumber, commanded the nuclear submarine to dive, avoiding the tempest. The once lively team clutched buckets, seasick and pale as ghosts. But after the storm, thoughts of their cargo brought smiles back to their faces. They calculated how much kerosene they would get, dreaming of hot pot dinners, warm baths, and plenty of drinking water. No more worries about firewood!

The future looked bright, and amidst their optimism, they couldn't help but reflect on their years adrift at sea. The hardships of the past were bitter memories. They had to look forward, to a future with sunshine, rain, and the fragrance of flowers.

When the transport ship safely returned to Griffith, not only did the sentries observe with binoculars from the bay's watchpoints, but even nearby survivors craned their necks in anticipation of what the special team had brought back this time. The news of the kerosene brought cheers. Fuel was scarce, and they were left to forage for dry grass and wood, which was becoming increasingly hard to find. Most of the time, they had to drink cold water, eat raw vegetables, and gnaw on sweet potatoes or potatoes, leading to declining health.

Since the last oil find and the successful installation of the seawater desalination system, the town hall set up a hot water supply point, providing 10 liters per household per day. They could finally drink hot water and occasionally indulge in a warm wash. Life was looking up.

Before disembarking, the team members discussed the scattered and possibly damaged oil drums on the seabed, unsure of how many they might find next time. They decided to keep their share of oil and kerosene. Following Stella meant not just wealth but rapid military promotions. They were young, and who knew, maybe one day they'd be in charge of military vehicles and need fuel. What's life without dreams?