The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 623

Chapter 623

just coughed! Does that mean I’m infected?”

“Everybody stay away from me! And don’t come knocking on my door unless it’s absolutely necessary. We’re not that close!”

“Oh, please. If I’m going down, I’m taking someone with me! Just wait. I’ll be climbing through your window tonight.”

“Enough!” Marcus’s commanding voice suddenly cut through the channel. “Why are you all shouting? We’re supposed to be having a meeting. Settle down!”

The channel instantly went quiet.

“What happened? Did you all suddenly forget how to talk? Say something!”

“Something!”

“Woof!”

Marcus nearly choked. Still lying in bed, he grabbed a slipper and flung it at Dumbo.

“Who told you to bark? Show some respect.”

Dumbo was clearly done with him. He picked up the slipper in his mouth and stalked out of the room.

Marcus glared after him. “Stupid dog. Who does he think he is?”

After nearly half a day of arguing and confusion, the homeowners finally reached a decision. Neighborhood patrols would be suspended for the time being.

There was smog inside the neighborhood and smog beyond the gates. Anyone reckless enough to come looking for trouble could take their chances.

If rioters did manage to break in, neighboring households agreed to help one another.

Anyone who went outside to assist had to wear a mask. Those who didn’t have one could make a simple face covering from several layers of cloth.

Beatrice called Nicole over the radio. “Nicole, is everything okay over there?”

“We’re fine.” Nicole added, “Volcanic ash is acidic. If you have anything growing in your garden, harvest whatever you can or move the plants inside. Otherwise, the plants could die within a few days, and the ash might make the soil acidic, too.”

Neither household had much disinfectant left, but both had stocked up on alcohol, which they could use sparingly for sanitizing.

And so, the first day of smog ended with everyone nervously watching the sun disappear behind the haze.

After dinner at Villa 50, they waited until after 10 p.m. Then Zeph turned to Poppy. “Nicole and I need to go out for a while. You and Cola stay here and watch the house.”

Poppy looked worried. “When will you be back?”

“Soon. Less than two hours.”

hapter 623

+15 89nus

After so many years of surviving together, Poppy knew when not to ask questions. She quietly watched them leave.

The smog was already this bad on the first day, and there was no telling how much more toxic it might become.

Neither of them wanted to take any chances. They put on full protective suits and respirators before heading out

in the Hummer.

The streets were eerily quiet. Only the dim glow of the streetlights cut weakly through the haze.

Even during polar night, there were still rioters roaming the streets. The smog, though, brought the entire city to a standstill. It felt deserted, with no sign of normal life anywhere.

Plenty of criminal groups had spent the past three years playing cat and mouse with the police and military without batting an eye. But the moment the smog arrived, even they stayed indoors.

There was no point rushing out to rob, loot, or set fires. Better to let someone else find out how dangerous the smog was first.

Once Nicole was sure no one was around, she put the Hummer away and brought out two trucks loaded with medicinal herbs.

For the past several years, she had poured nearly all her time and energy into growing medicinal plants, especially the two most important herbs. She treated them like priceless treasures.

Her work paid off. Those two herbs alone filled an entire truck, packed tightly into sealed bags.

The second truck carried herbs that could help support the liver and lungs, reduce inflammation, and fight

infection.

Nicole and Zeph drove the two trucks toward the police station, one following the other.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify