18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 61

Stella was more than willing to make the trade, her dog was a sucker for canned goods. Over a hundred pounds of fish was swapped for 20 cans of dried food.

Gordon was equally pleased with the fish from Joey and his group, fed up with dog food. The fish no matter how plentiful, could only last so long when shared among a lot of people in a neighborhood. "Joey, do you have any more?" Joey was cautious, "How much do you need?"

"How about we trade every three days, two thousand pounds each time?"

"No can do, either tomorrow or the day after. Time waits for no man."

Given the overflow from the reservoir, many fish had been swept away. It was only a matter of time before others discovered the reservoir, so they needed to act fast.

The entire neighborhood feasted on fish, so there was no need for secrecy. Gordon and his group agreed to continue trading, "We meet here after dark tomorrow; we'll take however much you have."

Daytime was too risky;night was safer.

After the trade, they retreated.

Stella and her group were particularly cautious, making sure they weren't being followed before heading back to the neighborhood.

With five hundred pounds of dog food and the supplies exchanged with Monkey and his group, today's harvest was quite abundant.

However, after the initial joy, they discovered a major problem. They were so focused on trading that they forgot to charge their fishing equipment.

"What do we do now?" Joey fretted, "We already promised Gordon and his group."

Food was a precious commodity they couldn't afford to lose.

Cody suggested, "Why don't we ask The Monkey's group to charge it?"

That group was ruthless. Charging equipment would cost 200 pounds of fish. The danger wasn't in giving up the fish. It was letting them see the fishing equipment, which could lead them to the location of the reservoir.

end of the world. People's intentions could change in an instant. Monkey could be fattening

of ways to charge the equipment, but she

Jasper stepped up, "I'll take care of charging it. You guys don't

was going to charge it. Not to mention the Moore

drawn to mystery. Jasper was undoubtedly mysterious; everyone knew it was dangerous to pry. Their lives could be at stake if

boundaries. They didn't receive the same treatment from Jasper as Stella did. Not

the crucial task

into the night, but they

over a hundred pounds of dog food, but also several pounds of rice and fried fish.

that they received 1.5 shares of the haul, she whispered, "The people from the 18th floor are good to us. We must remember this

hiding them in closets, ceiling panels, and inside the range hood. People can be ruthless, and these

had it easy, just tossing

pledge, "Stella, we still have food. When Cooper runs out

the bush, "Sure, I'll trade you something

went into Arcadia for a

been in a few times and was remarkably calm. Finding the spot where the fish was stored, Cooper's eyes sparkled. So

of food. He could

deal with the surplus fish when she

exhausted. After a shower, they enjoyed hot chicken soup, grinning at

swollen belly, came over and sat quietly by Stella. Stella patted its round belly,

attention, silently baring his teeth in a threat-once the bunnies were born, he would

the

Angela stayed home with the kid. She

no one had the courage to ask. The key to survival in

take however much they could catch,

worried that she might not be able to handle it. Stella didn't refuse, so the Moore family and Lukas took turns carrying the boat over the hills. When they reached the reservoir, the water level seemed higher than the day before. They didn't skimp on food before starting work, especially the Moore family. After eating meat,

the fishing equipment, while Stella