The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 452

Chapter 452

Nicole had plenty of rebar in her storage space. After cutting it down, the two of them quickly welded three sand

screens.

They were sturdy. Nicole looked them over. “Should we give one to the others?”

Oakhaven Gardens had given them a comfortable place to stay. The rent was only 20 pounds of grain a month. It was worth it.

No one knew what was coming next, but three years into this world, people who still chose kindness were rare

As long as it didn’t cost her anything important, Nicole didn’t mind helping a little. Compared to those carrying blades and bad intentions, people like this deserved a chance to make it.

Zeph didn’t object. “Sure.”

They set out early the next morning in temperature-regulating clothes with full sun protection, bringing the two little ones along.

Half an hour later, they drove their cargo truck over the broken road and stopped by the Westbridge River.

The earthquake had split the river. Residents worked upstream, while Nicole and the others took a spot downstream, nearly 200 yards away.

When someone from the community passed by, she called out, “I got a sand screen from a friend. You can borrow it. Just return it when you’re done.”

The man lit up, thanking her over and over.

Hoisting it onto his shoulder, he shouted back to his group, “Zeph and Nicole lent us a screen!”

Better sand meant more points. It gave them hope.

Zeph stepped into the riverbed and chose a flat stretch, clearing weeds and silt with a hoe.

Poppy followed with a small shovel. Then, her eyes lit up. “Nicole, something’s growing!”

She crouched and brushed away the hardened mud. A thin blade of grass pushed through the dirt, reaching toward the light.

Nicole watched it for a moment.

Life held on.

Digging sand was hard work. Under the sun, Zeph kept going without slowing, steady as a machine. He didn’t let Nicole or Poppy do much, but Cola refused to stay out of it, pawing at the sand with stubborn energy.

Even the coarse gravel wasn’t wasted. Later, when they bought a villa, it could be mixed into concrete for patios or used to build walls.

Progress was slow. When Poppy wasn’t looking, Nicole quietly stored some of it away.

The four of them worked for hours. The pile grew, but not by much.

Poppy frowned, realizing she hadn’t contributed much. She started pushing herself harder, ignoring Zeph when he tried to stop her.

1/2

+15 Benus

At noon, they stayed where they were and ate under a shade tarp. They kept it simple in case anyone passed by.

By evening, they had finally gathered about half a truckload of sand.

The others headed home, but the three of them kept going. Only when it grew too dark to see did they stop and pack up.

Zeph waited by the roadside with Poppy. Nicole took Cola and drove off to deliver the load. Once they reached quiet spot, she stored everything away.

They kept at it for half a month.

Zeph’s skin had noticeably darkened under the sun.

Aside from what they set aside, Nicole’s storage space now held seven truckloads of fine river sand and three of coarse gravel.

The residents of Oakhaven Gardens collected even more, working day and night as if they meant to strip the river bare.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify