18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 227

After about half an hour of waiting, Stella was sweltering in the heat when Monkey finally arrived, driving a truck marked as hazardous material. "Sorry to keep you waiting." He huffed, jumping out of the truck, "The roads were terrible. Had to take a detour."

"Driving this thing around, you're not afraid of scaring folks off?"

"Well, no choice there," Monkey wiped his sweat and explained, "It's actually a water tanker. The boss had it repainted and labeled as hazardous material." With a water tanker now, the refugees, parched and desperate, would tear it apart.

Stella inspected the vehicle before finally speaking, "I need your help with something."

Help? She actually said help? Monkey was flabbergasted, "Just say the word! I'd go through hell and high water for you."

"I need a high-powered sprayer."

"A sprayer? From the way you're talking, it sounds like you need an agricultural sprayer."

Stella thought for a moment, "Yes, something with a strong spray."

Monkey frowned, "Those machines are heavy and hard to move. They were flooded and ruined during the flood. It'd take at least half a month to find one." "I need it now."

"Even if you chopped me up, I couldn't get it that fast." Monkey looked defeated, "I can find a broken one and try to fix it up for you, but it'd still take time."

"I don't need the entire machine. Just fix the sprayer." Stella couldn't wait any longer. She threatened, "I'll give you five hours. If you can't deliver, you can forget about this water."

"Ah!!!" Monkey shrieked in alarm, instantly flustered, "How could you threaten me like this? If I don't get this water, Austin is sure to kill me!"

"If you don't want to die, then figure it out."

foot and agreed, "Fine, I'll stake my entire reputation on this. I'll do my best

situation in Griffith, Stella arranged a meeting point for the water delivery and drove

five hours, she was asking for

and chose less populated routes. She encountered a few groups of people on the road. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the moving vehicle. If they could hijack the truck and steal the gasoline, they could trade it for food and water. This was a

years of hardship, could barely keep them on their feet, let alone hijack a truck. They couldn't even

also those who tried to stage a robbery, suddenly charging out from behind a

they come up with a more modern way to scam? Did they think she was blind and didn't see the men hiding behind the broken wall, with

tanker rolled over them, and the men hiding behind the broken wall rushed out, with

building, Stella didn't hesitate and drove in. There

there was only an hour left before the trade. Stella left Arcadia, cautiously climbed the damaged

cream, and two popsicles, she saw a pickup

and his team. For safety, they'd brought four or five people. They were vigilant, watching all directions. Once she was sure they weren't followed, Stella took

few minutes later, the pickup

Monkey got out, "Hello?"

moment before Stella emerged

in all the favors I had." But he had managed to modify the sprayer as she'd requested. They brought down the machine, showed her how to assemble it, start the

to understand, "Mhm, mhm...mhm." She

demonstrated it on the spot, "Rest assured. It'll work perfectly.

also explained potential issues a novice might encounter and how to fix minor malfunctions,

them, "My ride hasn't arrived yet. Could you help me move

to check the water, she pulled Monkey aside and secretly handed him two packs

pack of cold medicine and one pack of antibiotics. Not much, but considering the current

for you. Keep

tell they were pills. His eyes reddened in gratitude. Indeed, no one was