Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

Chapter 350: Daily Farm Life 22

Although the situation made everyone a little uneasy, all they could do for now was take things one step at a time. Evelyn Ford, however, was relatively optimistic. After the blizzard began, life for the refugees grew increasingly difficult. Few people had any property to their name, so even if the authorities wanted to confiscate the farm, they would have to weigh their options carefully.

Claire Moss was in very poor health. Wendy told Evelyn Ford that Claire would talk in her sleep, tremble, and even have convulsions. After speaking with Austin Moss, Evelyn learned that Claire had been through a kidnapping. While they were fleeing, hundreds of refugees traveling with them had been ambushed by bandits. Claire had watched Austin being beaten, which left her with deep psychological trauma.

Evelyn Ford wasn’t skilled in psychological counseling, but Wyatt Vaughn was. After Evelyn told him about the situation, Wyatt went to see Claire Moss. Over time, Claire’s condition improved significantly, and Austin Moss’s vocal cords recovered as well.

The snow had stopped, but the temperature remained frigid. The surrounding mountains, though high, couldn’t block the cold fronts. Unless there was something urgent, Evelyn Ford rarely left her home.

"Lola’s skin fungus is finally gone. We can let them out now."

The two birds had been cooped up for so long they’d grown a little depressed. The moment they were released from the cage, they flew outside again. However, the temperature was frigid, and their feathers hadn’t fully grown back yet. They let out shrill cries from the biting cold.

If they could talk, they’d surely be cursing up a storm.

"I told you it’s cold out there. This is what you get for not listening." Evelyn Ford plucked Lola from the air, set her on the table, and parted what few feathers she had left to apply some ointment.

"They seemed very agitated when those people were here before," Ronan Kendrick said suddenly, putting down his book to watch Lola pensively.

"You mean the group that came to collect taxes? Do you think one of them was the one who captured Lola and Red Bird?"

"I wouldn’t rule it out. Lola is an intelligent bird; she wouldn’t lose control for no reason. She either saw the one who captured them, or she recognized a scent."

"There’s another possibility. She might have seen one of those people somewhere before."

Evelyn Ford picked Lola up. "You’ve got a tough hide, and you even knew to fly back. Next time you see the one who caught you, give me a sign. I’ll get revenge for you."

Lola pecked Evelyn Ford’s palm, then flew to her shoulder and closed her eyes to rest.

In the middle of the night, the two wolfhounds began to bark frantically. Officer Graham and the others immediately went out to check. On the western fence, two young thieves who had been trying to climb over were snagged on the barbed wire, unable to free themselves after a long struggle.

By the time Officer Graham and the others arrived, one of the thieves had his leg pierced by a wooden stake and was bleeding profusely. The other was hanging upside down, his face blue from the cold, screaming for help.

The two thieves looked young, around twelve or thirteen. Officer Graham couldn’t bring himself to be harsh, so after a stern warning, he let them go.

"The fence is so high, and it’s got barbed wire. They’ve got some nerve trying to climb it."

"Still, those poor kids."

"We need to inspect the fence tomorrow. Any gaps have to be patched."

The next morning, Evelyn Ford didn’t say much when she heard about the incident. Plenty of people had tried to climb the fence before, but none had ever made it over.

"The thorn bushes on the inner side of the fence have grown much taller. They’re starting to provide some defense, but the thorns are still pretty soft."

"If anyone comes again, give them some ground wheat bran and a few matches. Not too much, just a pound is fine," Evelyn Ford decided after some consideration.

"Sometimes, leaving a way out for others is leaving a way out for ourselves. When people are desperate, they’re more likely to break down and do something extreme. Still, we need to warn them, to keep them from telling everyone."

Officer Graham agreed with the decision. As a former police officer, he had a better grasp of human nature and its weaknesses.

Sure enough, that evening, the boy who had been hanging upside down the night before returned. He saw Officer Graham and was about to run in fear but was called to a halt.

"Where’s your friend?"

"He’s hurt! I’ll never do it again, I swear! Please, just let me go this one time." The boy was panicked and terrified.

"Where did you two come from?"

"We came from Tarr City. There are too many refugees there, so the patrols started driving us out. They even used pepper spray on us. We had no choice but to leave."

Officer Graham was surprised to hear that Tarr City was driving out refugees. He asked a few more questions, all of which the boy answered.

"Here, take this. It’s wheat bran and some matches. It’s too cold out here, you should get back."

The boy didn’t take it. Officer Graham smiled, opened the bag, and tasted a pinch. "It’s not poisoned."

"For me?"

"That’s right. It’s not much, just a pound. When you run out, come find me at the main gate. I’ll give you more then. Just don’t try climbing the fence again. It’s not safe. Now go on."

The boy took the bag and sniffed it cautiously. His eyes immediately lit up. "Why are you giving me food? I tried to climb your fence last night."

"Someone asked me to give it to you."

"Who?"

"I can’t tell you that; it’s a secret. And you can’t tell anyone else about what I’ve given you. Can you do that?"

The boy nodded. "I won’t tell."

"You should go. The wind has died down a bit."

Watching the boy leave, looking back every few steps, Officer Graham sighed. He checked the fence and then headed back inside.

「The boy returned ten days later.」

"My grandmother... she still died. I brought the food you gave me back for her, but she died before she could eat it. Howard Quinn is dead, too. His leg hurt, so he couldn’t go out to find food, and his dad beat him for it. I went to find him, to give him half of my food, but... he was already dead. He was beaten to death."

Howard Quinn was his friend.

The boy’s expression was placid, as if he were discussing something completely irrelevant.

"Howard Quinn’s dad tried to steal my food. They all wanted to steal it. I hid in a cave and was too scared to come out. The day before yesterday, I snuck back, but they were all gone. Grandma and Howard Quinn’s bodies were gone, too. I don’t know where they went. I looked for a long time, but I couldn’t find them. If I hadn’t hidden because I was scared they’d take my food, Grandma and Howard Quinn wouldn’t have been taken away."

Officer Graham felt a lump form in his throat. The boy was clutching a hard clump of wheat bran and his last two matches.

"Grandma hadn’t eaten in so long... If I had just run back faster, she wouldn’t have starved to death."

He rambled on, his eyes completely emotionless.

"The kid’s in shock. I can’t even imagine what it’s like out there. What the hell is Tarr City thinking, driving away refugees? Have they lost their minds?" Wyatt Vaughn said, his eyes red with anger.

"What are we going to do with this boy?"

"If it weren’t for that box of matches, he would’ve frozen to death these past few days. The poor thing... he’s covered in injuries. His feet are black with frostbite and festering."

"I’m going to Tarr City," Evelyn Ford said suddenly.