The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 472

Chapter 472

They climbed out of the SUV and stretched until the post-meal sluggishness wore off.

Then Zeph asked, “Head back to Westbridge?”

Nicole thought it over for a moment. “We’re not far from the military base. Why don’t we stop by and see how Hughie and the others are doing?”

Surviving was instinct. Caring about the people they loved fulfilled a different human need.

Since they were already nearby, they might as well stop in and check on them. It would give her some peace of mind.

Zeph had no objections.

The four of them got back on the road. The highway leading to the military base was much broader, and they passed several battered vehicles heading the other way.

Nicole guessed they belonged to base residents out scavenging for supplies to earn points.

The imposing Hummer drew plenty of curious and envious glances, but no one dared make trouble this close to military territory. With the roads in good condition, they covered the 18-mile drive in no time.

Before long, the military base came into view. Built around Lake Evergreen, it stretched to the horizon, its countless buildings covering an enormous area.

A base built to house 300 thousand people was too vast to take in all at once. Even the portion they could see was enough to leave them speechless.

They followed the highway until they reached a checkpoint about three miles from the base.

An armed soldier waved them over after noticing they didn’t have entry passes. “What’s your business?”

Nicole rolled down the window. “We’re looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“My cousin and his girlfriend. We got separated during the extreme heat. They came to the base with supplies and left some belongings at our place, saying they’d come back for them. It’s been over a year, and we haven’t heard from them.”

“Park your vehicle and go to the office on the right. The staff there can check our records.”

Nicole hadn’t expected the military base to have a system like that. “Thank you.”

Since Cola couldn’t get out of the SUV, Zeph stayed behind with Poppy.

Carrying her ID, Nicole walked about 500 hundred yards to the one-story office. A handful of people in worn-out clothes were already waiting in line outside.

A few minutes later, it was her turn.

She handed over her ID. “Could you check on someone for me? He came here from Westbridge more than a year ago.”

After verifying her identity, the staff member pulled up the database. “Name?”

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“Hughie Norman.”

“We have a Hank Norman, in his forties.”

Nicole froze. How could Hughie not be in the system?

It didn’t make any sense. Had something happened to them on the way to Halloway?

Panic tightened in Nicole’s chest. Fighting to stay calm, she quickly asked the staff member to check for Beatrice. and Jeremy as well.

There was no Beatrice Blair.

There were three people named Jeremy Cross, but none were the right age.

Nicole left the office with her mind in complete disarray. What could have happened to them?

Even after she got back into the SUV, her thoughts were still a tangled mess.

In a world ravaged by natural disasters, no one could predict who would live or die.

Zeph tried to reassure her. “Don’t worry too much. Maybe they changed their minds and went to Jazenville instead.

Nicole didn’t think that was very likely. Even after paying the grain required for entry, they still would’ve had enough food to live comfortably for a long time.

Besides, Zeph had told them from the beginning that the military base was the safer option.

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