"I have to say, The Second Base covers a huge area. It’s easy to get lost. Good thing there are streetlights."
"Ethan Dawson, if even you get lost, what are we supposed to do?" Evelyn Ford tossed him a roll of gauze.
Evelyn Ford suddenly remembered something. "Ronan Kendrick, about the swine flu... should we warn the base?"
"Let’s go back first. I’ll tell him about it."
’Him?’
’The Commander?’
’How do they contact him?’
Ethan Dawson was also completely confused. "You just mentioned swine flu. Is there a problem with the pigs at the base’s farm?"
"Yeah, several hundred pigs have swine flu. They haven’t been tested yet, but it’s almost certain. There’s no mistaking it."
Evelyn Ford sighed. "The loss is huge. It’s not my property, but it’s still such a shame."
Ronan Kendrick started the car, and Evelyn Ford rolled up the window. They had just driven two kilometers from the base when, from a great distance, Evelyn heard the sound of laughter and horseplay. It was the group of young people who had driven out in the van earlier.
Their van was parked on the side of the road as they chased each other playfully. Nearby, a broiler chicken sizzled over a bonfire.
"These kids are so reckless. It’ll be trouble if they run into any of the crazies from the refugee camp."
Ethan Dawson glanced at them before looking away. The gash on his arm was quite deep. Even though he had taken painkillers, he was still breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.
"To be able to drive in and out of the base freely, they must be the children of the management."
They still had some sense. Even though they were out having fun, they weren’t far from the base. People from the refugee camp couldn’t possibly make it over here.
"Just because the refugee camp is filthy and chaotic doesn’t mean there aren’t bad people elsewhere, or that everyone in the camp is bad. Sometimes, the more honest and decent you are, the worse off you end up. And the more despicable you are, the better you do."
Ethan Dawson nodded. "You’re right. That was narrow-minded of me."
The pickup truck drove past the van. The young people were still laughing and singing. For kids who could grow up carefree in the base, even the polar night was just a wilder version of nighttime.
Back at the small building, Evelyn Ford first knocked on the door using their code. Quincy must have been waiting right by the door, because he unlocked it the moment he heard the knock.
"What took you so long to get back? It’s been six and a half hours! I was worried sick."
Seeing him look so aggrieved, Evelyn Ford cleared her throat. "Ethan Dawson got hurt."
"What? Hurt? How did it happen? Is it serious? Oh my god, is his arm broken?"
Ethan Dawson wished he could stuff a rag in Quincy’s mouth. "Calm down. I’m fine. I’m not going to die."
Quincy pouted. "I was just worried about you. Evelyn, let me tell you, those three people on the second floor are the absolute worst..."
He started tattling again. On the second floor, the three clumsy thieves heard what he was reporting and wished they could drop dead on the spot.
’This guy is the worst! Reporting something like diarrhea... We may be thieves, but thieves have pride, you know?’
The three of them were mortified. If they had known they’d get diarrhea, they would have rather starved to death, been beaten to death, or jumped from the second floor than eat that large steamed bun.
’But that steamed bun was so fragrant... The wheaty aroma still lingered in their mouths. Just a whiff of it felt so comforting.’
Downstairs, after hearing Quincy out, Evelyn Ford glanced upstairs thoughtfully.
"So. You untied them, and they didn’t try to escape?"
Quincy chuckled. "It’s not that they didn’t want to. Their legs were too weak to walk. They’re completely drained from the diarrhea."
"Did you put a laxative in their water? No, that’s not right. You don’t have any medicine."
Quincy was so mad he practically jumped. "You suspect me too? How could I do something so despicable and shameless? It’s clearly their own weak stomachs! Good thing I only gave them three steamed buns. What a waste of food."
Evelyn Ford was speechless.
’Impressive. She’d say one thing, and he’d have ten retorts ready.’
"Alright, we’re all from the same place. Don’t be so harsh."
Evelyn Ford walked over to the folding bed to check on Annie. Seeing Evelyn return, Annie’s eyes welled up with tears. If he weren’t unable to move, he would have thrown himself into her arms long ago.
"Are you feeling any better?"
Annie nodded. Seeing him look at her like an aggrieved little puppy, Evelyn Ford reached out and stroked his head.
"Do you need to use the toilet?"
"I carried him to the toilet earlier, and I also fed him some congee."
Quincy had a look on his face that was begging for praise.
Evelyn Ford smiled, pressing her lips together. "This is Uncle Quincy. Do you remember him, Annie?"
Annie shook his head. But after spending the last few hours with Quincy, the two had grown familiar with each other. Compared to Ethan Dawson and Ronan Kendrick, he seemed to rely on Quincy more now.
After a long and busy day, everyone was exhausted. Just then, a sudden knock came from the door. Quincy and Ethan Dawson immediately went on alert.
"It’s fine. The person outside is here for me."
Ronan Kendrick went and opened the door. A young man was standing at the entrance. Seeing Ronan Kendrick, he greeted him with a very respectful nod.
"Mr. Kendrick, your new residence has been cleaned. Would you like to move over now?"
Ethan Dawson and Quincy exchanged a look, both completely baffled. They had no idea what Ronan Kendrick was up to.
"Is it far from here?"
The man shook his head. "Not far. It’s a twenty-minute drive."
Ronan Kendrick turned back to look at Evelyn Ford. "Shall we move now? Someone’s delivered a new house to our doorstep."
Evelyn Ford vaguely understood that this was a gift to Ronan Kendrick from that other "test subject." It seemed they had reached some kind of agreement.
"Alright, let’s move."
With the help of the few bodyguards outside, their things were quickly moved into the vehicle. As for the three clumsy thieves on the second floor, they were naturally brought along too.
Quincy, holding Annie, glanced nervously at Ronan Kendrick. For once, Ronan Kendrick didn’t ignore him.
"Relax, it’s not a trap."
Quincy snorted and quickly got into the car.
After leaving the small building, the man’s truck led the way, taking them to another residential area in Flumen.
This area was brightly lit, and rows of small Western-style houses looked particularly luxurious under the streetlights.
Arriving in front of one of the houses, the man stopped the truck and had the bodyguards carry everything from it inside.
"Mr. Kendrick, you can live here without any worries. All the facilities inside are fully equipped. If you need, I can leave two men here to protect you, or I can have a chef come over to cook for you."
"That won’t be necessary. We prefer peace and quiet."
The man nodded. "Alright. Does Mr. Kendrick have any other instructions?"
Evelyn Ford and Quincy watched from the side, completely dumbfounded.
"Evelyn, tell me honestly, has some rich and powerful old woman in the base taken a liking to Ronan Kendrick? He hasn’t become a kept man, has he?"
Evelyn Ford was speechless. ’His imagination is a little terrifying.’
"Is Ronan Kendrick that kind of person?"
Quincy hesitated. "Men can change."
Evelyn Ford decided to ignore him.
The man left a large pile of living supplies and departed with his people. Before he left, Ronan Kendrick told him about the swine flu outbreak at the base. The man’s expression changed the moment he heard the news.
"Is what Mr. Kendrick said true?"
"Absolutely."
"I understand. I’ll head back to the base right now and report this to Mr. Chase."
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