The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 432

Chapter 432

Nicole waited for about half an hour. The heat pressed down until it felt like she was baking in place, before Weasel finally showed up in a truck marked for hazardous materials.

“Sorry, sorry,” he said as he jumped down, breathing hard. “Roads are trashed. I had to take a long detour.”

Nicole glanced at the truck. “Driving that thing around, aren’t you worried you’ll scare people?”

“Didn’t have much choice.” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “It’s actually a water tanker. Boss had it repainted, weathered it a bit, and plastered it with hazmat stickers.”

A real water truck would get swarmed the second it appeared. Desperate refugees wouldn’t think twice before tearing it apart.

Nicole walked around the vehicle, checking it over carefully. Only when she was satisfied did she speak again. “I need a favor.”

Weasel froze.

A favor? Did she actually use that word?

“Just say it,” he blurted. “I’ll make it happen even if it kills me.”

“Find me a high-pressure sprayer,” she said.

“A sprayer?” He frowned. “You mean like an agricultural rig?”

“Something with strong pressure.”

Weasel shook his head immediately. “Those are big, heavy, and hard to move. Most got flooded and wrecked. You won’t find one easily now. Give me two weeks, minimum.”

“No,” she said, “I need it now.”

“I couldn’t get it done that fast even if I tried!” he shot back, exasperated. “Even if I find one, it’ll be busted. I’d have to strip parts from a few machines and piece them together. That takes time.”

“I don’t need the whole thing. Just make sure the spray unit’s working.”

Nicole didn’t intend to wait.

“Five hours. If I don’t see a working spray unit by then, you’re not getting this truck of water.”

Weasel let out a strangled yell. “You’re my only supply line! How can you threaten me like this? If I don’t bring water back, Boss will kill me!”

“Then figure it out.”

He fumed, but there was nothing he could do. In the end, he stomped his foot and gave in. “Fine! I’ll do everything I can. I’m staking my reputation on this.”

After asking him about road conditions near Westbridge, Nicole set a meeting point for the trade and drove off.

Weasel ran in the opposite direction, already cursing under his breath.

Five hours! This might actually kill him.

Nicole avoided the refugee zones, sticking to remote roads whenever she could.

1/2

+15 Benus

Even so, she passed several groups. The moment they spotted a moving vehicle, their eyes lit up. If they could take it and drain the fuel, they might trade it for food or water. It could mean the difference between life and death.

But reality didn’t cooperate. Years of hardship had stripped them down to skin and bone. Some could barely stand upright.

Chasing a vehicle was out of the question.

Others tried a different approach. They rushed out from behind collapsed walls and threw themselves onto the road, trying to block her path.

Nicole didn’t slow.

It had been over two years since everything fell apart. Were they still using this tactic? Did they think she wouldn’t see the knives in their hands, the others waiting in ambush behind the rubble?

She pressed the accelerator.

If they wanted to lie in the road, they could stay there.

The tanker rolled over them.

The ones hiding behind the walls surged out with clubs and chased after her.

They were quick; just not quicker than four wheels.

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