The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

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Chapter 86

Jeremy took a bite and immediately made a face. “Man, that’s salty!”

“It has to be,” Nicole said. “With how humid it is, salt’s the only way it’ll last.”

After showing them how to grill the meat, she moved on to braising the pork knuckles, head meat, and bones. Once they got back to the 18th floor, they could just reheat it and eat.

The smell alone had Jeremy swallowing hard. He grabbed a pork knuckle and bit straight into it.

By the time the pot came off the stove, the three of them and the dog were eating with bread, completely satisfied.

Jeremy, full and still running his mouth, grinned. “With cooking like this, I wonder which lucky guy’s gonna end up with you.”

Nicole shot him a look. “Definitely not you.”

Zeph stayed quiet, eating, but his eyes flicked toward her for a second.

“Woof!” Cola pushed in, unwilling to be ignored. He seemed to be volunteering as a candidate.

Nicole rubbed his head. “I don’t need anyone. I’ll just stick with Cola.”

“Come on, that’s not even possible,” Jeremy said with a laugh. “Wrong species.”

Nicole didn’t even hesitate. “Cola, get him.”

The dog lunged immediately, baring his teeth like he meant business.

Jeremy panicked. “Alright, alright, I’m sorry! I won’t say anything again. Take it easy, boss.”

Zeph cleared his throat.

Cola didn’t back off. If anything, he swatted at Zeph with his paw.

They laughed it off and kept eating, then went back to grilling under the night sky.

One pound of fresh meat turned into about half a pound of dried meat. By the end, they had a full bag, dozens of pounds, plus a good amount of cooked meat spread, braised pork, and seasoned bones.

By the time they finished, it was past 3 a.m. With another trade scheduled in the morning, they just stayed overnight at the house.

The beds were still there. They just swapped in their own beddings. With Cola keeping watch, everyone slept deeply.

By the time Nicole woke up, Zeph had already finished the trade. Four boars had been exchanged for over 800 pounds of rice.

They cooked a pot of noodles, ate, and then headed back.

Back on the 18th floor, Nicole stopped him. “Let me check your wound.”

He had taken the lead the whole time and hadn’t said a word about it.

Zeph followed her inside. She tried to examine it, but he was too tall.

“Sit down.”

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Before Zeph could move, Cola jumped onto the spot first.

Zeph ended up sitting on the couch. Nicole leaned in to check the wound and immediately saw that it had reopened.

“Why didn’t you say anything yesterday?”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Poppy’s still a kid. You can’t brush this off,” Nicole said.

With no real medical resources and constant exposure to water, an infection could turn serious fast.

She cleaned and rewrapped the wound. “Keep it dry for a few days.”

He sat while she stood close, closer than usual.

Cola watched them, tilting his head left, then right. Then he pushed his way in and lifted a paw toward Nicole.

He wanted to be bandaged, too.

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