The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187

Right then, two young couples from the neighboring unit rushed over, each carrying a child.

“Professor Floyd! Where are you all going? Can you take us with you?”

Cyril immediately looked at Hayley. “They’re people we know. Back at the research institute, they worked in the cafeteria. They can cook. Could you take them, too?”

Hayley gave the couples a quick once-over. “Sure. I’ll take them.”

They were ordinary folks and came with kids, but they were sturdy, strong, and good labor.

And with them, the number hit exactly 21. That was perfect.

Hayley would take the whole set.

“You all had better think clearly!” Iris suddenly snapped. “She’s not from Base K1. She’s taking you outside! Who knows what base she’s talking about!”

As soon as she said that, the two couples answered without hesitation, “We trust Professor Floyd. He’s never led us wrong.”

Hayley smiled lightly. “You’ll see soon enough just how right this choice is.”

“Ha! Keep bragging! She could be a scammer, for all we know!” Iris folded her arms and sneered.

“There’s no way anyone’s offering that kind of treatment in the apocalypse! Who the hell even is she? Did any of you check? You’d better hope you won’t get sold off the moment you leave the gate! And even if she’s telling the truth, who gave her the authority to take you? Did she ask anyone? How could she just haul people out of Base K1 like this?”

Her words dropped a cold bucket of water over the group. They didn’t believe Hayley would “sell” them.

After all, slaves weren’t a thing in the apocalypse. Who would even want to buy a bunch of research workers who could barely lift a box?

Still, Iris wasn’t entirely wrong.

Hayley wasn’t part of K1 leadership. How could she just take people?

At that moment, the pager in Hayley’s pocket buzzed.

She pulled it out and pressed the button. Liam’s voice came through. “Ms. Reid, where are you?”

“I’m in the shantytown. Where are you? I need to talk to you.”

“Stay there. I’ll come to you.” The line clicked off.

Cyril and the others immediately brightened. “Captain Reid… Was that Captain Caldwell?”

“Yup.” Hayley nodded. She looked at the group. “Wait here. I’ll talk to him today and get clearance to take you. Tomorrow, you’ll come back with me. I’m going to wait for him up ahead.”

“Pfff! Keep bragging!” Iris scoffed. “I’ve figured you out. You’re just here to talk big! Take them to your base? Ask Captain Caldwell for permission? Do you even hear yourself? Captain Caldwell is busy running an entire base. You think he’d come to a place like this over a pager message? Come on. What are you, some celebrity? You probably played a prerecorded message!” “Can you stop already?” Cyril’s youngest student snapped. “If you’re not going, fine, but don’t ruin it for others. Did we say anything about you staying behind?”

“I’m trying to keep you from getting scammed!” Iris barked. “Do you even understand who Captain Caldwell is? You think he’d personally come and find you? Everyone goes to him, not the other way around! Sure, you’ve studied a lot, but it seems that you’re dumber than regular folks!”

L

The inoment her voice fell, a tall figure appeared at the end of the narrow alley of shacks.

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