The earth is beautiful.
Countless dazzling green patches dot the mountains and plains. The sky is pure blue, and just one look at it can make people feel spiritually cleansed. On a clear night, you can even see the dazzling starry sky like gems inlaid on the dark satin. There are also blue seas and colorless pure water. These are beautiful colors that cannot be described in words.
Jack licked his chapped lips with his tongue, but there was almost no saliva on his tongue. Not only did the action of licking his lips have no effect, but it broke the newly scabbed wound, leaving a fishy and salty taste like a dying man. Maggots writhed unwillingly on the taste buds on the tip of the tongue.
Jack came back to his senses from the mythical stories passed down orally from his ancestors. The thick canvas cloak was pulled higher, but this only turned the direct sunlight into the sweltering heat brought by the cloak.
He raised his head and glanced at the alternating gray and red sky. Even though he was blocked by sunglasses, this brief glance still hurt Jack's eyes.
There is obviously thick dust in the sky. According to Jack's knowledge, dust can cover everything, but it cannot cover the scorching sun. It seems that he has heard that there is something wrong with the atmosphere, but this is not what Jack cares about. He only cares about it. I want to know how to prevent problems with the atmosphere and one day be able to see with my own eyes the beautiful earth in our ancestors’ stories.
It is precisely because of this dream that he is always laughed at by others that Jack braves the scorching sun and risks being attacked by homeless people and mutated animals to patrol around the settlement every day so that the scientists can study the lost animals with peace of mind. science and technology.
"Damn, a few pieces of moldy dry bread and a small bowl of smelly water every day actually require us to stay in the sun for more than ten hours. This is really not the work of humans."
Coulomb behind Jack complained while pulling off a layer of sun-wrinkled scalp on his bald head.
Even though he had been with Coulomb for a while, every time he saw his behavior, Jack's scalp felt numb, as if it was his own scalp that was being torn off.
In this era, due to the existence of a large amount of radiation, not only animals are mutating, but also humans are constantly mutating. The only difference is the speed and degree of mutation.
Unlike Jack's grandparents, whose parents lived in underground facilities and were relatively little exposed to radiation, Coulomb's family has lived in urban ruins severely affected by radiation for several generations. The mutated genetics of the two generations plus Coulomb's The accumulation of radiation himself has made his body tissue very different from other people's.
In fact, each mutant is very different, and various mutations will not always bring benefits. Some people have lost their eyesight, some have lost their fertility, and some even look horribly energetic. , the belt life is only one-tenth of the normal standard.
Coulomb's luck is quite good. His main mutation is in his skin, which can automatically fall off after accumulating a certain amount of damage to protect muscle tissue. However, he has a relatively large demand for food and has to eat for a long time. The state of not being full.
"Stop complaining and keep your eyes open. If you can find some good food or edible animals, you can enjoy it when you go back."
Jack called out. In fact, the so-called enjoyment is just a few more sips of clean water and a few more pieces of mutated animal meat. As for the real enjoyment of wine and women, it is rare for people like me to come into contact with it.
But Coulomb seemed a little too excited today and was easily stimulated by these words. Even though he was the only two people around, he still leaned into Jack's ear and whispered, "What good things can there be if the surrounding area has been trampled to pieces?" If we go further, we might actually get something good.”
"Farther? How far do you want to go?"
There was a hint of nervousness in Jack's tone. They are neither hunters who specialize in killing mutated animals, nor warriors who are good at killing people. They say they are patrolling at risk, but the areas they patrol are all areas that have been cleaned up and are relatively safe. Even if they encounter something in this area, they don't need to go up to fight hand-to-hand. They only need to run away desperately and bring the news of the attack back to the settlement. Others will naturally be solved by others.
Once you get out of this safe area, you may really be able to find something good, but the greater possibility is that you will become a good thing found by mutant animals or refugees.
Coulomb rubbed his scalp as cold as a baby, "Do you know that guy Inigo? I heard that last time he went for a walk not too far away, and he was lucky enough to pick up a handful and a full A pistol with bullets. Not only did he show it off for a long time after he came back, but he also used the money from selling the gun to spend three days on the woman."
Jack had indeed heard about this matter. After hesitating for a while, he finally couldn't resist the temptation of the proposal, "Then we can't go too far...and this is not for women, but to help scientists..."
"Okay, okay." Coulomb narrowed his eyes and chose a direction. "If you can find something, just say that the goal is to find a woman for you to fuck, and others will regard you as a hero. If there is nothing If you haven't found it and died outside, even if everyone knows that you died for the benefit of all mankind, they will only regard you as a fool."
Jack opened his mouth, and finally decided to save his words. He had never won an argument on this issue. He obviously felt that he was justified, but in the face of the facts, these reasons had never played any role.
Before the war, this area was a large comprehensive scientific research base in a sparsely populated area. It was not directly hit by the nuclear bomb attack. For a long time after that, the survivors were grabbing supplies in the city or where food was stored. This kind of scientific research base, which is the most valuable but cannot be used or eaten, is the most completely preserved.
The settlement area that Jack and the others relied on was built based on this scientific research base, but it only occupied a corner of the entire base.
Although there has not been much man-made destruction here, countless mutated animals have settled here. In the long-term confrontation, humans who lack the support of technology and productivity have not gained much advantage. It can only be discovered bit by bit, not only for safety, but also for human beings to face up to their own abilities.
The reason why some legends arouse jealousy and envy is that people subconsciously believe that they can hardly do it. But as a mutant who has been dealing with mutant animals since he was a child, Coulomb has enough courage to expand his subconscious bottom line. However, Jack, who has a body and mind that is relatively close to ordinary people, is cautious enough.
Coulomb's initial target was the weapons research and development area ten kilometers away, but Jack strongly objected and chose the accommodation area closest to the safe area. Although the accommodation area had been rummaged by many brave people, At least the risks and rewards are within Jack's acceptable range.
There were originally two spacious roads from the current location to the accommodation area, and they could be reached quickly by walking straight on, but the two of them did not dare to walk. The most important point in the rules of survival in the apocalypse is to never expose yourself to a place with a clear view at any time. And I heard from the hunter responsible for cleaning up the mutated animals that these two roads have been completely occupied by an astonishing number of rats. The little rats, which are nearly one meter long and can easily bite through 5 mm thick steel plates, also know that among several places, To wander around, taking the main road is the fastest way.
The route they finally chose was to go through the open space parallel to the road beside the safe area. This place used to be a garden, but after the death of the plants and repeated cleaning by mutated animals for decades, this most fertile land turned out to be deserted. It has become a wasteland that even mice can't stand. But it is precisely because of this, coupled with the broad field of vision, that this place has become a buffer zone between humans and mutated animals.
In this buffer zone, there are several water diversion canals used for irrigation. Although they have been severely damaged and have thick soil accumulated inside, as long as you keep your body low and observe carefully, you can pass through most of the buffer zone relatively safely. .
The two people who can live in this era have vigilance and survival skills that are no less than those of the special forces in the past. This is forced by the environment where a little carelessness may lead to death. The two people who have been working together for a long time have a tacit understanding of when and what they should do.
Because Jack was wearing sunglasses, his field of vision was greatly affected, while Coulomb had completely adapted to the strong sunlight and ultraviolet rays, and was responsible for the task of looking up from time to time to observe the surroundings.
They reached the end of the aqueduct without any danger along the way. Coulomb carefully observed for a while to make sure that no mutant animals came out to bask in the sun. He was about to climb out, but was pulled back by Jack.
"There's the sound of a mouse." Jack lowered his voice and took out a steel pipe more than half a meter long from his back.
Coulun also listened attentively, and could vaguely hear the sound of rustling earth. More than ten seconds later, a mutated mouse poked its head out of another aqueduct only forty or fifty meters away from the two of them. After shaking his head and observing, he completely came out and ran away from the two people.
"Damn it, I've never heard of a rat being able to lay an ambush." Coulomb cursed in fear, "If the mutation continues like this, not only the body shape, but also the brains of these ghosts will be smarter than us."
Coulomb said that mice became smarter rather than just chalking it up to chance because there was already too much evidence to prove it. When they first fought against the rats here, these guys would just keep charging at the guns. But after a short time, they learned to identify the weapons and charge directly to those with cold weapons. If someone has a gun, they will sneak attack or evade. Later, the rats were already able to use simple tactics such as outflanking, dividing their troops to attack, and luring the enemy deeper. Now he actually learned how to use the right location to set up an ambush. If this continues in a few years, it won't be too surprising if a rat holds a gun and fights with people.
