One kilometer from the perimeter of the CDC.
The newly constructed concrete wall was beginning to take shape, extending along both sides of the road like two gray pythons slithering on the ground.
The construction crew was working overtime—according to Jackie's plan, this wall would eventually enclose the entire CDC, containing farmland, pastures, and residential areas, enough to support a population of thousands.
Rick and Shane were leaning against a humvee, watching the construction crew in the distance and chatting idly.
The sun was bright, and the breeze was light.
Were it not for the occasional roar of a Walkers from nearby, this could easily have been an ordinary afternoon before the apocalypse.
Rick took out a cigarette, lit it, and handed one to Shane.
Shane took it, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it.
"I say..."
Rick exhaled a cloud of smoke and glanced at him sideways: "Have you never thought about finding a girl in the base to date? Don't you feel lonely being single?"
Shane smiled and shook his head: "No plans for that at the moment."
"Why? Standards too high?"
"That's not it."
Shane took the cigarette out of his mouth and twirled it between his fingers: "It's just... I don't have the heart for it."
Rick looked at him with a hint of teasing in his eyes, but didn't press further.
After a few seconds of silence, Shane suddenly asked: "How are things with you and Lori?"
Rick's expression relaxed, a smile playing on his lips: "Much better. She's not acting crazy anymore, and she doesn't bring up the divorce she wanted before the apocalypse started."
Shane nodded, lit his cigarette, and took a deep drag: "In this world, she can't exactly live alone after divorcing you, can she? She isn't stupid, and she won't bring up that feminism stuff with you again."
Rick laughed: "You say that as if you know a lot about women."
Shane laughed too: "A little more than you."
The two looked at each other and laughed.
As Rick laughed, he suddenly remembered something: "Right, a few weirdos showed up a few days ago."
"Weirdos?"
"Yeah, a group of survivors came asking to join, but the first thing they demanded was some kind of general election system, equal distribution of power, opposition to dictators, and the protection of women's rights."
Shane's eyes widened: "People like that managed to survive until now?"
Rick shrugged: "I was going to explain things to them, but Merle just pulled out his gun and fired a few shots at their feet. Those guys were so scared they wet their pants and scrambled away. Before they left, that guy Merle was still yelling that if they wanted to talk about general elections, they should go reason with the Walkerss."
Shane laughed so hard he slapped his thigh: "That guy Merle is actually quite useful sometimes."
"You said it."
Rick also laughed: "Lately, all sorts of monsters and demons have been popping up in the base—cultists, environmentalists, women's associations—all coming to demand offices, refusing to work, and demanding free food and drink, otherwise they'd sue us."
"Sue?"
Shane sneered: "Sue who? God?"
"Kyle and Amy were getting exhausted dealing with them, so they reported it to the BOSS. The BOSS had one thing to say: 'Tell them to get lost. There are plenty of houses out there; they can go wherever they want. Don't let them freeload here.'"
Shane nodded: "That's exactly what should be done. You can't spoil people like that."
Rick stubbed out his cigarette: "The BOSS said that in the future, if we encounter idiots, don't report it, just chase them away. When recruiting, we need to set up questions. Only those with the right values are allowed in; if they don't pass, they get kicked out."
As the two were chatting, the sound of an engine suddenly came from the distance.
A humvee was speeding toward them.
The car was driving fast, kicking up a trail of dust.
When it got closer, they saw clearly—the car was covered in blood, mottled and stained, as if it had just come from a battlefield.
Rick and Shane immediately became alert.
Rick picked up his walkie-talkie: "Gate guards, pay attention. A vehicle is approaching, moving fast. Be prepared."
A response came over the radio: "Copy that."
The humvee braked hard at the wire fence gate, leaving two black skid marks on the ground.
The door opened, and a man jumped out.
Marcus.
The young man who had gone to the University of Georgia with Sandra.
But he looked exhausted, his eyes bloodshot, and there was blood on his clothes.
"I need to see the BOSS!"
He shouted: "Quick!"
The guards didn't dare delay, quickly opening the gate to let him in, while someone picked up the phone to call the third-floor office.
"Miss Amy, Marcus is back. It's urgent; he needs to see the BOSS."
Amy in the office put down the phone and said to Wu Fan: "Marcus is back. It looks like an emergency."
Wu Fan nodded: "Send him up immediately."
A few minutes later, Marcus pushed the door open and entered.
He was travel-worn and haggard, and upon seeing Wu Fan, he walked over quickly: "BOSS!"
Wu Fan stood up and patted his shoulder: "You've worked hard. Sit down first and tell me slowly. Where is Sandra?"
Marcus sat down, took a deep breath, and began to speak:
"We arrived at the University of Georgia. At first, everything went smoothly. There was a refugee camp set up by the National Guard there. Sandra took people in to make contact, and I stayed in the car."
He paused, his expression turning ugly.
"Later, there was suddenly gunfire from inside. It wasn't our people shooting..."
Wu Fan frowned.
"The gunfire drew all the Walkerss in the area."
Marcus continued: "A huge group, swarming from all directions. Sandra and the others were trapped in the teaching building and couldn't get out. I tried to drive in to rescue them, but there were too many Walkerss. I couldn't get in at all."
"I waited for three days."
His voice was hoarse: "I circled the area every day looking for an opportunity, but the Walkerss didn't decrease; instead, there were more and more of them, surrounding the place completely. I never got any word from Sandra..."
He looked up at Wu Fan, his eyes red: "BOSS, I had no other choice. I had to come back for help."
Wu Fan was silent for a few seconds.
The Walkers swarm effect.
Once a large number of Walkerss gathered in one place, it would attract even more Walkerss from the surrounding area.
Just like the Whisperers, it could trigger a migration of the entire herd.
In three days, there were probably thousands, or even tens of thousands, of Walkerss gathered at the University of Georgia.
"Go get some rest first."
Wu Fan said: "Eat something and get some sleep."
Marcus stood up, nodded, and walked out.
When he reached the door, he looked back: "BOSS, Sandra, she..."
"I will save her."
Wu Fan said.
After the door closed, Wu Fan leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.
The smoke slowly dissipated into the air.
He opened the system panel and glanced at his points—over seven thousand.
Enough to buy ammunition, enough for fuel, enough to make the trip.
But the key question was, who would go?
Rick's team had to protect the construction crew and couldn't leave. The others were either novices or not skilled enough.
Only one person could be used.
Wu Fan picked up the phone: "Tell Merle to get over here."
Ten minutes later, Merle pushed the door open and entered.
"Boss, you looking for me?"
Wu Fan looked at him: "How is your team's training going?"
Merle's eyes lit up: "Ready for action at any time!"
Wu Fan nodded and stood up.
"Get ready. Take your people and come with me."
"Where to?"
"The University of Georgia."
Wu Fan put on his jacket and picked up the car keys: "To save people."
Merle was stunned for a second, then grinned.
"Understood!"
He turned and ran out, shouting into the walkie-talkie on his team's dedicated channel as he ran: "Boys! Time to work!"
Wu Fan walked to the window and looked outside.
Hopefully, it's not too late.