Chapter 18. Trust (1)
Escape was easy. It’s so ridiculous.
Even considering that security usually prevents people from coming in from the outside, they are lenient on people trying to get out.
Of course, I felt comfortable physically, but not mentally.
Patrol cars, motorcycles, and vehicles belonging to the National Military Police were roaming around on the road.
The sound of patrol sirens is audible, but sometimes you can hear the message, ‘Officers belonging to the National Military Police, please return immediately. The announcement ‘This is an emergency situation.’ Was quite creepy.
Every time, Leticia gave instructions such as ‘Go to the alley’, ‘Stop here’, or ‘Put back the seat’.
The reason is that if you flip back the seat and lie down in an empty lot full of abandoned cars, it is difficult to tell at a glance whether the car is broken down or not.
“How on earth did you find all these paths?”
Honestly, I was impressed. Leticia acted like it was no big deal, though.
“How did you know? If you want to go out and do ‘good things’, you need to know in advance where the police are. Well, because of the city defense plan, I did some of the major arrangements myself.”
“I left the fish to the cat.”
“Not necessarily. Even if it is the National Military Police, it cannot monitor every place. Even if we borrow the help of the volunteer army.”
Hampton wasn’t such a big city either. It continued to expand as jobs were created and people flocked to the area.
Because of haphazard development, the city became more complex. People who were rich and well-earned lived in square and neat new towns, while those who did not were gradually pushed out to the old towns.
“Back alley. Byway. Sewer… The outcasts and poor of the Hamptons flocked to such places. “Those people just became zombies.”
So, one classic social theory has been proven. ‘Why do you take taxes from the wealthy and give it to the poor?’ – That way, the poor won’t turn into zombies and come to rip you off.
“Virginia leader, no. You keep calling me the leader. Commander’s intentions are clear. The idea was to make the entire Hampton like a huge barracks and organize it so that we could thoroughly manage and care about each other. “As the storm approaches, it feels like the breakwater is being built tighter.”
“It’s not because you have a desire for power?”
It was a half-joking question, but Leticia was quite serious.
“I can’t say there wasn’t one, but it wasn’t for the purpose of satisfying self-interest. I’m seeing a lot of effects. In other cities, the number of zombies has increased and some are on the verge of collapse, but we haven’t seen anything like that yet. “Except occasionally, people with severe symptoms mutate.”
Does Leticia know she is infected? She probably doesn’t know. And I think it would be better if we all gathered together to tell that story rather than tell it myself.
“To the brink of collapse? “The city?”
Instead, she focused on the newly discovered information.
“Last week, a northern city was completely shut down. They said they were living together in a shelter at the dome stadium, but zombies spread quickly there. The local commander was an incompetent bastard, and the soldiers fought valiantly… “Because there was no command center, we were left confused and were devoured.”
Leticia saw my expression and lifted one of her shoulders.
“It’s true. I’m a soldier too, but you’d be surprised at how many incompetent scum there are. In that regard, Commander Virginia was the best person I’ve ever served. But… “Sometimes, it seemed like I was looking somewhere far away rather than here.”
Well, it was said that Virginia was originally from Römer.
Then, are you even thinking about your hometown? I don’t know. That bloody woman is a bit uncomfortable to look at. It felt like I was walking around the field just fine, but suddenly I saw a boss-level monster popping out of an alley.
Leticia raised her finger up.
“No matter what, it is true that a vaccine is needed. And right now, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is unable to come up with a solution, let alone private companies. So, the reason I am cooperating with you now is for the sake of the leader.”
There were more than one mistake, but I don’t think there’s any need to point them out. This is Leticia’s rationalization. The rationalization is that following me is for the sake of the leader and the National Military Police.
But if life was really so rich and perfect, why did we repeat such deviations? Because it wasn’t actually true. Because it was full of dissatisfaction and suffering. Or maybe he was just doing it for the thrill.
Anyway, Leticia needed a deviation. It may be the first time he has deviated from his life of following a set path.
It was late in the evening when I completely left the Hamptons. He had to find a decent hiding place before it was too late. Because he didn’t want to drive on a dark road at night.
Zombies not only don’t know the difference between a road and a sidewalk, but they also don’t really distinguish between day and night. This means that you don’t do things like stand in the middle of the highway or jump into a passing car without thinking about it.
From Noble mtl dot com
I didn’t want to advertise to those guys, ‘I’m here.’
I happened to see a good gas station. It was a place that sold car supplies and also served as a repair shop. Although there were very few usable items left, we had a decent hiding place just by lowering the garage shutters.
I added oil, took out some bottled water, and some expired candy. About four months had passed, but neither Leticia nor I were being picky.
I was quite tired, perhaps because there was too much going on during the day. We laid back the car seats and lay side by side. Whenever I felt a little hot and stuffy, I opened the car door slightly to ventilate and things got better.
“John, have you always been like this?”
“How did you get around?”
“Well, I went to the unit unit. Soldiers stand guard on their own, and executives hold meetings in the command tent. “I’ve never slept in secret like this before.”
As if something occurred to her while speaking, Leticia added.
“Are you staying with that woman? “She came to my house before, she’s the girl with the hat.”
“Yes.”
“… I think I know who she is. Camilla. Right? “She is a member of the Central Liberation Corps and also served as a model for propaganda materials.”
I looked back at Leticia in surprise. It seemed like her actions gave her more confidence than my words.
“Are you a member of the Liberation Corps too, Johan?”
“No. And Camilla is no longer a member of the Liberation Corps.”
“Ha. She’s the woman who made propaganda to join the struggle, but she’s not anymore? “Are you telling me to believe her?”
“Then, listen to it yourself. I don’t really want to talk about other people either. Especially if the person is not present. Was that why she said she was going to sell me out to the Liberation Army? “Do you know that I live with Camilla?”
“… “You got a girlfriend.”
No. I think the point is a bit strange. Leticia shook her head and added:
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Just take it away and that’s it.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I’m tired so I need to sleep.”
* * * * *
Thump. Thud. Thud.
The sound of the shutter hitting was loud.
It is not a sound made by a person. The average person knocks harder than that, and if there is no response after knocking three times, they swear twice.
“Are you a zombie?”
Leticia woke up at some point and was already holding her submachine gun. I nodded.
“About three or so? If the sound of that shutter tapping spreads, more people will flock in. “They are quite sensitive to sounds they haven’t heard.”
“Then we should catch it quickly.”
There is an iron door next to the shutter. It’s literally a sheet of steel, so it almost feels like a wall. How could it be that the zombies are so confused that they knock on the shutter but not the door?
“I guess I can just open that door and go out and sweep it up.”
It’s tiring and cumbersome, so I’m thinking of just shooting it all away. As she took one step forward, Leticia raised her hand to stop her.
“Why?”
“John, isn’t that a bit dangerous?”
“Then shall you take the lead and I will cover?”
After hearing my answer, Leticia crossed her arms this time.
“Have you planned and acted like that until now? “It’s good to be alive.”
“Well, because you have skills?”
The sound of the shutter tapping became louder. It looks like more of them have arrived. Leticia crossed her arms and smiled leisurely.
“Even if you have been accident-free for 100 days, if you have an accident, you have to start over from the 1st. “I want to play it safe.”
“Really? “Then do you want to try it?”
“Then, let me sit in the driver’s seat.”
I changed my seat. Leticia started her engine and skillfully pulled her car back and in front of her. It was parked cleverly enough to open the entrance, but enough to block it.
“I’m the one who opens it.”
She had no intention of doing that. Leticcha opened the driver’s door wide and took a seat behind it, using it as a shield. I deliberately opened the doorway latch with a loud sound, opened the door slightly, and quickly backed away.
“Okay, okay?”
The zombies responded to the beeping sound. The zombies opened the door. The door wasn’t very wide, so only one person could enter at a time. But because there was a car blocking the way, they couldn’t attack us even when they saw us.
Tata soup! Submachine guns and pistols opened fire. Leticia and I both fired with single shots. The shooting location is always the head. It was easy to take action because they were at close range and they were coming in through the door one by one like shooting dolls.
The last one crawled on all fours. It seems like there is a lot of food on the floor. He aimed his pistol and fired. The guy fell down. There is no noise now.
“Even though I look like this, I am a former operations officer?”
Leticia’s eyes sparkled as if asking for a compliment. It’s a simple method that anyone can do, but it’s also a method that I couldn’t think of because I was tired and tired.
“Good job.”
She lightly kissed her cheek.
It seems that Letty is a woman who is weak to compliments.