Ch.151Chapter 20. Patriot (3)

Between the Southern and Western Districts lies an unfinished elevated highway. It was being built along the outer boundaries of the five districts—East, West, North, South, and Central—and if completed properly, it would have significantly reduced traffic congestion in each district.

The groundwork was finished and most of the pillars were erected, but the zombie outbreak halted any further progress.

For both the gangs and the fanatics, it’s like a chicken with no meat—worthless yet hard to throw away.

As the name “elevated highway construction site” suggests, there’s nothing worth taking here except construction materials. Just countless zombies.

The reason for the high zombie population is that when construction stopped and the outbreak worsened, people with nothing left were driven here and formed shanty towns… at least according to the Baytra newspaper.

“Warning: Do not disturb the ‘buffer zone’ between the elevated highways. Save ammunition,” it says.

Notes like this were often found in the notebooks of fallen gang members. The term ‘buffer zone’ was helpfully explained on the back pages.

Both gangs and fanatics know this fight is a long-term war of attrition. They understand it’s not just about killing each other, but also about fighting countless zombies.

So they avoid unnecessary confrontations and only raid places of high strategic value.

Keeping a horde of zombies in the “border area” between the two forces is quite a sensible choice. The zombies act as guard dogs—anyone trying to cross from one side to the other must break through the zombie wall and withstand a barrage of gunfire.

We decided to exploit this very point. We would infect the zombies between the elevated highways, spread the infection to both sides, and advance toward the center.

If it works, it’s the safest strategy. But we can’t afford to get caught by either the gangs or the fanatics. It’s not that I have qualms about shooting people. I don’t know about the others, but I certainly don’t.

I just don’t want to recklessly provoke two forces that vastly outnumber us and have superior firepower. This is a truly massive city, with resources comparable to a decent-sized military unit. I have no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation.

“So all four of us don’t need to participate in the ‘infection’ operation. We can leave our supplies in a safe place and just move the truck loaded with zombies. I’ll definitely go, and I need one more person to cover me…”

Camilla raised her hand first, followed by Leticia. Surprisingly, Cassandra also slightly raised her hand.

“Not you, Cassandra.”

I feel bad for cutting her off so sharply when she seemed to have mustered up courage.

“Who would treat us if you got hurt?”

“I can do it too…”

“You could. But if you’re doing all the treating, standing guard, and going on missions, what am I supposed to do? It’s okay.”

Camilla comforted Cassandra, who finally seemed to accept it with a nod. The problem now was choosing between Camilla and Leticia.

“And she can’t go either.”

Camilla pointed at Leticia, specifically at her backside.

“With that butt, she can’t even climb through windows without getting stuck.”

“Oh, so you’re saying you’re tactical because you have no chest and a small butt?”

“Having everything plus a pretty face is why you were a model, right?”

Leticia lunged forward like a lion with arms outstretched, while Camilla raised her hands like a tiger. Before Leticia could get a lump on her head or Camilla could get a scar on her face, I stepped between them.

“I’ll take Camilla.”

“Eeeek!”

Cassandra’s face turned pale blue. If I go with Camilla, Cassandra would have to stay with Leticia.

“W-why? What do I lack compared to Camilla?”

Thankfully, Leticia froze.

“I don’t doubt your skills. It’s just that Camilla and I have more experience with this type of operation. It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s that I’m more comfortable with her.”

“Yeah. We’ve done plenty of crazy things together.”

Camilla added what sounded like a complaint. Leticia’s eyes immediately rolled back.

“If you’ve done it so much, you could take a break! And if I only go with people who’ve already gone on missions, when will I ever gain experience?”

“If you’re upset about it, you should have joined earlier than me.”

Camilla kept grinning. Before Leticia could get angry, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

“I trust you. That’s why I can leave Cassandra and all our assets with you. If I didn’t trust you, how could I leave you and Cassandra behind?”

This is true. If Leticia had ulterior motives and ran off with our property, we’d be finished.

“But I know how to position myself and snipe and stuff. I’m agile too…”

“I know. Once you gain more experience, we’ll go together.”

“Promise?”

Leticia was finally calmed down, and next was the still-trembling Cassandra. After working out the detailed plan, I waited for blood collection time when I could be alone with Cassandra.

“This way…”

Cassandra wanted to set up a medical room inside the trailer, but having living quarters and medical facilities together didn’t seem like a good idea.

We had no choice but to remove the back seats of the pickup truck and cover it with vinyl. Though crude, we had a solar generator and power packs, so electricity supply was manageable.

“Cassandra.”

“Yes?”

“Does Leticia still mutter to herself on her phone afterward?”

Cassandra hesitated, then looked around. She quietly nodded. I wonder what Leticia is doing.

“Y-yes. Just like you told me before, Johan, I pretended not to notice.”

“Camilla still doesn’t know?”

“No…”

“Hmm. I know it must be scary to be with Leticia, but for my sake… could you let me know when she talks to herself like that? Don’t push yourself. If it’s too much, you don’t have to.”

This is sincere. She doesn’t have to do it if it’s too much. But I can help ease her fear. Instead of being afraid of Leticia, she can become an observer. Having a task gives her an excuse to cope.

“Oh, okay. I’ll try. But in return…”

“In return?”

Cassandra blushed again. Then she covered her chest with both arms.

“Ah, never mind.”

“What is it?”

“Really, it’s nothing. You can go now. We’re done here.”

“Is something wrong?”

“…Later. Johan. Later.”

Now I wonder if I should ask Leticia what’s going on with Cassandra.

* * * * *

The next day. And the day after that.

We kept moving to explore new areas of the elevated highway.

Until now, just releasing zombies was enough for things to sort themselves out, but now we’re heading into the inner city areas rather than the outskirts, so there are more zombies and quite a few patrollers around.

I drove the truck slowly forward. The highway pillars came into view. The pillars had vertical lines drawn from top to bottom and the words “Night Wolves on this side, Cult on that side.” Night Wolves seems to be what the gang calls themselves.

“That’s a bit annoying.”

It was a mutter to myself, but Camilla must have heard.

– Huh? What is?

“Nothing, just that a mere gang is using such a cool name. Night Wolves, seriously?”

– You think that’s a cool name?

I glanced at the building where Camilla might be, through the truck’s window. Of course, she was well-hidden and not visible.

“It sounds better when I say it out loud, but the caricature is pretty cool. Can you take a picture and send it to me?”

– I can see it from here. Ugh, it’s messy.

Where on earth is Camilla?

I scanned the buildings lining both sides of the elevated highway. They were quite tall, about 20 to 30 floors, making the construction site between them look like a valley.

All the building windows were broken, with obvious bullet marks. Some buildings had chunks torn from their sides with exposed rebar. Looks like they were hit by RPGs or something similar.

I slowly drove the truck under the elevated highway.

Beneath the highway stretched a shanty town. It seemed to be an administrative no-man’s-land, neither Western nor Southern District.

There were drums with wooden sticks for fires, makeshift tents made of tattered banners sewn together. A fishing chair with a broken guitar on it. A pile of rainbow-colored stones showed signs of past bonfires.

I spotted a teddy bear. One ear was torn off and its belly was ripped open with stuffing poking out, but the grimy, well-worn look suggested it had once been cherished.

“Grrrr…”

Or perhaps it still is.

A girl in her late teens stares at me with wild eyes.

I stopped the truck and had a brief staring contest. The zombified girl looked around and snatched up the teddy bear. Behind her, more than twenty zombies were shambling about.

“Camilla. See any people around?”

– No.

“Then I’ll turn the truck around. Let me know immediately if there’s a problem.”

– Okay.

I reversed the truck in the open space. Beep-beep-beep—the loud backup warning. The zombies shambled toward the truck. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. The ones in the cargo area seemed excited too, pounding on the walls.

“Opening.”

Bang! Crash!

As soon as I released the remote lock, there was a commotion.

“Screech, raaar!”

The sound of our zombies attacking the ones ahead. The zombies that had approached the driver’s side ran to the back. After they disappeared, I flung open the driver’s door.