Chapter 922 - 401 Reunion
There were more survivors in the southern district than Lin Wu had expected, and perhaps because of this, the density of zombies in the area was quite low. Lin Wu even saw two groups of survivors armed with various melee weapons facing off in a grain and oil shop on the business street. Lin Wu didn’t want to stir up trouble, so he walked on the other side of the street, and moved forward relying on trees or cars to avoid getting shot. Even if the others didn’t have guns, they might have bows and arrows or the like.
One must absolutely not be taken down, and should never think they’re the main character of a movie or TV show who can befriend their attacker after being assaulted. Once you lose the right and ability to defend yourself and counterattack, you’re essentially signing your own death certificate.
The two opposing groups seemed to know each other; their gazes turned to Lin Wu, and they even stepped outside the shop, mumbling quietly as if considering the idea of turning a foe into a friend by addition to their own strength. However, they didn’t take action. For one thing, Lin Wu moved too quickly; for another, they dared not lightly provoke such a lone ranger. Anyone who dares to move through the city like that must have some skills.
Moving stealthily and cautiously, by around two in the afternoon, Lin Wu reached the vicinity of Triumph Building. Triumph Building was at the upper right corner of an intersection on the business street, and at the lower left corner of the intersection was a construction site. The site was still tidy, only a foundation had been laid. The main part of the foundation was concrete, interspersed with steel rebar every ten meters or so, apparently for the building’s columns.
Inside the fence of the construction site were three cars, two black and one white, unexpectedly all waterlogged and unable to be driven. Another car was a food truck, parked in an empty spot, probably to solve the dining and teatime needs of the construction workers.
The food truck faced the foundation, while its back was towards a three-meter-deep pit. Lin Wu opened the door of the food truck, which against his expectations, was devoid of any smell, presumably because it wasn’t ready to open for business yet. Inside, indeed, it was spotlessly clean. Even the refrigerator was completely empty.
If there was anything, it would be the half bottle of olive oil and some bulk condiments on the counter, as well as the bowls and chopsticks in the disinfection cabinet. Lin Wu found the car keys in the driver’s seat and tried to start the vehicle to no avail. Though the water hadn’t reached above kitchen counter level, half of the truck must have been soaked in water for an extended period.
Lin Wu took a piece of scrap paper and crumpled it in his hands. Then he poured half a bowl of olive oil and soaked his makeshift paper wick in it, leaving a bit of it outside the oil. After the paper had absorbed the oil, he lit the wick with his lighter, pulled down the food truck’s extension board, and placed the oil lamp on it.
To keep the oil lamp from going out, Lin Wu used a few acrylic boards he found nearby to make a lampshade, encircling the oil lamp. After finishing, he looked up at Triumph Building, about thirty meters away, and took out his satellite phone to call Maya.