stonecrandall Chapter 5 Preparation
Chapter 5 Preparation
As afternoon approached, sunlight slanted into the room, bringing a faint warmth.
After most of the day of continuous vigilance and observation, Xu Mo's tense nerves finally began to relax.
The initial panic and unease gradually subsided in the sustained silence and rational reflection.
He forced himself to analyze the situation calmly: the zombies' unusual movements were indeed strange, but since they were leaving en masse rather than rushing inward, it meant that what was attracting them was outside. After several hours of close monitoring since morning, the town remained deserted and silent, which at least proved that it was safe here for the time being, even safer than when there were sporadic zombies wandering around.
"Since it's safe, we can't waste this precious time," Xu Mo muttered to himself, turning his attention back to himself from the window.
He walked to the corner of the room and looked at the pile of supplies that sustained his life. His gaze swept over the compressed biscuits, canned goods, and the few remaining water bottles.
Reason told Xu Mo that he should continue to be frugal, but his body was sending out another, more urgent need—he needed real, high-quality energy to repair the damage caused by the repeated high fevers and malnutrition, and to build up capital for the potentially arduous migration ahead.
The hesitation lasted only a short time. Xu Mo decisively picked up a can of dace with fermented black beans and a bottle of mineral water that was only half full. He unscrewed the cap, carefully took a sip of water, and felt a pure comfort as the cool liquid slid down his esophagus. Then, he forcefully pulled open the can, and the salty, savory aroma mixed with the unique scent of oil instantly wafted out.
Xu Mo didn't wolf down his food. Instead, he found a relatively clean tin lid to use as a makeshift plate, carefully poured the fish out of the can, and even meticulously scraped away the thick layer of grease at the bottom of the can. Using a thin wooden stick that he had found earlier, which could barely be used as chopsticks, he picked up a piece of fish soaked in oil and slowly chewed it.
This isn't a futile effort, but rather a way to ease one's emotions through a pre-meal ritual.
His teeth pierced the fish's fibers, and a burst of salty, savory, and fragrant flavors exploded on his taste buds. This long-lost, complex taste of normal food almost brought Xu Mo to tears. For the past few days, the dry, monotonous texture of compressed biscuits had numbed his sense of taste. He chewed slowly, feeling the fish being crushed, swallowed, and then sinking into his stomach.
Xu Mo could clearly feel a warm sensation slowly spreading from his stomach to his limbs and bones, as his body happily absorbed the precious protein and fat.
Xu Mo ate slowly, chewing each bite thoroughly, accompanied by small sips of water. He was not only savoring the taste, but also "reading" his body's feedback. His stomach felt comfortable, instead experiencing a satisfying fullness; his previously somewhat weak limbs seemed to gradually settle down as he replenished his energy.
After finishing the entire can of food and drinking about a third of the water, Xu Mo stopped. A feeling of fullness washed over him, but it wasn't overwhelming. He didn't move around immediately, but instead sat cross-legged on the spot, leaning against the wall, closing his eyes, and carefully sensing the changes inside his body.
The energy from the food flowed like a gentle stream, continuously replenishing the enormous energy depleted over the past few days. Xu Mo could feel that his spirit seemed more focused; the ethereal feeling, unique to those recovering from a serious illness, as if his soul and body were somewhat detached, was being replaced by a slowly growing sense of "reality." The weakness deep within his muscles still remained, but it was no longer as empty as before; instead, it had gained some support.
After resting for about half an hour and allowing the food in his stomach to begin to digest, Xu Mo picked up a chocolate bar.
He tore open the beautiful wrapper, and the dark brown chocolate bar released a sweet aroma. He broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth. The chocolate softened quickly at his body temperature, and the rich sweetness intertwined with the slight bitterness of cocoa, creating a direct and intense energy signal.
Unlike the salty aroma of canned goods, the sweetness of chocolate is more like a highly efficient fuel, bringing psychological pleasure and a more direct physiological energy boost almost instantly upon entering the mouth. Xu Mo could feel something more active being injected into his blood and muscles along with the absorption of sugar, dispelling the last trace of slight dizziness that might have been caused by low blood sugar.
Xu Mo continued to eat very slowly, letting each small piece of chocolate completely melt in his mouth, as if he wanted to squeeze out every bit of energy from this high-calorie food.
After finishing the entire bar of chocolate, Xu Mo felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. It wasn't just a feeling of fullness in his stomach, but a replenishment of energy at the cellular level. He gently moved his shoulders and arms, and the lingering heaviness and weakness had noticeably lessened. Although he was still far from fully recovered, he was certain that his body had passed through the most dangerous trough and was now on a solid uphill climb.
After glancing at the remaining supplies, Xu Mo had a clearer plan in mind. Before the next "opening," he needed to maintain this stable energy intake to allow his body to continue recovering.
After rearranging the supplies, Xu Mo felt a faint but real surge of new life force within him.
Outside the window, the setting sun began to sink, painting the sky a vibrant orange-red. The town remained deathly silent, but Xu Mo's heart was no longer filled only with fear and confusion. With energy came hope, and with it the confidence to continue battling this cruel world.
Feeling the warmth and power within his body from the food, Xu Mo's mind stirred slightly, and he once again sensed the countdown in his mind.
【01:29:17】
Time was ticking away, and there was only an hour and a half left until the next "opening".
His gaze involuntarily fell upon the seemingly sturdy security door that he had previously used as his "anchor point" in the room. An idea uncontrollably surfaced, tinged with both anticipation and uncertainty:
"If... I open this door again, will I just end up back in the same house as before?"
Once the idea took root in Xu Mo's mind, it quickly became incredibly tempting.
The previous sixty seconds were too rushed; he swept away the most conspicuous and urgently needed supplies like a gust of wind, only to be forced to retreat. That warm yet desolate home clearly held many unexplored corners and potentially more valuable resources.
The backpack! The dark backpack he hadn't had time to grab in the entryway was key to improving the efficiency of his subsequent search.
Another bedside table! Last time I only checked the bedside table in the master bedroom, could there be more medicine in the other drawers? Like the antibiotics he urgently needs?
Deep inside the kitchen, last time I only opened the storage cabinet. Is there still frozen meat in the freezer? Is there still rice, flour, and cooking oil on top of the cabinets?
There's also the study and the second bedroom. Is it possible that toolboxes, spare batteries, or even... some self-defense items are stored there?
As for the bathroom, there might be unopened toothpaste, soap, razor blades (which could be used as tools or weapons), and possibly even some commonly used prescription drugs.
Returning to the same place means you don't need to readjust to the environment. You can proceed directly to those previously left-behind goals, just like executing a precise plan, maximizing efficiency. This is far more advantageous than randomly opening an unknown door and facing a completely unfamiliar environment.
"We must have a contingency plan!" Xu Mo took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement. He immediately replanned his route in his mind, prioritizing "obtaining the backpack" as his first priority, because once he had the backpack, all subsequent looting would be significantly more efficient. Next was the other bedside table, followed by a thorough search of the kitchen…