The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 813

Chapter 813

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This time, the blue whale rubbed its head against the submarine instead of its rear end.

The ancient virus had made it much less docile. It rubbed so hard that it seemed ready to scrape its own skin off.

After another two or three hours, Nicole couldn’t take it anymore. At this rate, she worried it would scrape the

hull bare, too.

The moment it left, she moved the submarine. She couldn’t fight the whale off, but she could at least get out of its way.

Nicole soon discovered just how little control she had out here. No matter where they went, the whale found them and went right back to scratching.

Nicole had no idea how she had ended up with such a persistent nuisance.

Poppy, meanwhile, was thrilled. She even named it Blue.

Nicole put the girl’s enthusiasm down to loneliness.

Fortunately, Blue seemed content to use them as a scratching post.

Life underwater did have its perks. Through the observation windows, they watched all kinds of sea creatures, from spider crabs to ocean sunfish.

One sunfish seemed intent on pulling an insurance scam.

It swam straight into the submarine, rolled onto its side from the impact, and stayed there, as if waiting for compensation.

Poppy stared at it. “Zeph, why isn’t it turning back over?”

“They can grow over ten feet long, but they’re clumsy swimmers,” Zeph explained.

“Predators catch them pretty easily, and they get tangled in fishing nets. Sometimes, they float on their sides at the surface like they’re sunbathing. That’s how they got their name.”

Poppy nodded and gently stroked the glass in front of its head. “I think it’s cute.”

It was, in an ugly sort of way.

Nicole was happy to play along with its little insurance scam. The sharks weren’t. They swarmed the sunfish and sank their teeth into it.

The sunfish struggled but couldn’t turn itself upright.

Blood clouded the water, and the sunfish thrashed against the submarine.

Perhaps its helplessness reminded Poppy of her early years, when she depended on the mercy of others. Watching it being torn apart was unbearable, but there was nothing she could do to help.

All she could do was look away.

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Chapter 813

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Zeph saw the distress in Poppy’s eyes and quickly covered the observation window.

“The ocean’s a lot like our world. The strong prey on the weak. You have to get stronger if you wanna protect yourself. You feel sorry for that sunfish, but it eats smaller creatures, too. That’s how it’s stayed alive this long. That’s how nature works.”

Poppy thought it over. He had a point.

“If someone seems helpless, don’t rush in just because you feel sorry for them. Watch what they do. Listen to what they say. Give yourself time to think.

“And if you do decide to help, know your limits. Keep yourself safe, and don’t put anyone else in danger.”

Zeph didn’t want Poppy to lose her compassion. But in a world like this, she needed to learn when to act on it. That meant thinking clearly and judging each situation for herself.

Poppy nodded. She depended on Zeph and Nicole to keep her safe.

She needed time to think. For the next two days, she left the observation windows covered.

Nicole and Zeph still spent time by the windows, drinking coffee or leafing through magazines to pass the hours.

During one of those quiet moments, Nicole glanced up and noticed a dark gray shape in the distance.

She lifted her binoculars. It was another submarine, the same model as their own submarine. 1

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Chapter 814