Chapter Sixteen: Seizing the Fuel

Rebuilding Civilization Without Barriers

Qi Feiwu’s character, after two days of observation, was now somewhat familiar to Xie Han. Despite her formidable presence among the others, deep within, especially in the late hours of the night, she always revealed a helpless side. It was precisely for this reason that whenever Xie Han demonstrated strength, Qi Feiwu would unconsciously seek him out to discuss any matter at hand. Not wanting Qi Feiwu to worry, Xie Han offered her a reassuring smile and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to solve the fuel problem.”

The midday meal was evidently a vast improvement over the morning’s—at least nothing had been burnt this time, although the half-cooked food still left Xie Han rather frustrated. Fortunately, after the events of the morning, all portions were now distributed by Qi Feiwu. Only now did Xie Han truly appreciate the ingenuity of the team; the minibus had become a storeroom, filled with all sorts of odds and ends. Watching Qi Feiwu rummage out ten bowls, Xie Han couldn’t tell whether they were refugees or scavengers.

Barely half-full and unable to eat more for the sake of his stomach, Xie Han handed his remaining half-bowl to Lu Haiyang. After all, as he’d said at the time, children were growing and needed to eat more. The words moved Lu Haiyang so deeply that he burst into tears, overwhelmed by the kindness in such a bleak world, and felt an impulse to devote himself to Xie Han.

The road ahead was difficult. Three years of neglect had left cracks everywhere, with weeds sprouting through and some growing taller than a man. While these weeds posed little threat, they did make driving troublesome, obscuring visibility and forcing Qi Feiwu to slow the minibus to twenty kilometers per hour. This, of course, made the fuel issue even more pressing.

Xie Han consulted the map on his spatial watch. After confirming the minibus’s location, he was fortunate enough to spot a gas station about forty kilometers ahead. Yet, seeing the village icon beside the gas station, he felt uncertain—was it a blessing or a cause for concern?

The next forty kilometers or so mostly traversed mountain ridges; deserted as they were, there was little fear of zombies suddenly appearing. The passengers quietly rested, except for the curious Xie Han and Chu Tianhe, who conversed in hushed tones. From Chu Tianhe, Xie Han finally learned the full roster of the team. Qi Feiwu, though a woman, possessed remarkable foresight. The three elders each had a valuable skill: Yang Huaiyuan, for instance, was a master mechanic with forty years of experience—the minibus’s continued operation was thanks to him.

The other two were equally impressive: Gu Chengyi, with over thirty years as an electrician, and Wang Hengbo, nearly thirty years repairing electronics. Together, these three could solve any problem the minibus encountered. Their contributions were pivotal to the team’s survival thus far. The three juniors, all middle schoolers, were the team’s main force; in time, with enough firearms, they would surely grow into its firepower.

After leaving the mountains and driving another five kilometers, the minibus finally drew within sight of the Yunling Petrochemical gas station marked on the map. To avoid alerting the nearby village, Qi Feiwu stopped the minibus five or six hundred meters away from the station. Xie Han and Xu Qiang jumped out, each carrying a twenty-liter fuel can. If all went smoothly, two cans would be enough to reach the provincial base.

The open plaza in front of the gas station was crowded with dozens of vehicles of various types, their arrangement suggesting that Xie Han’s group was far from the first to target this station. All indications pointed to a grim fate: every group that had set their sights on this gas station had been left here permanently by the zombies. The sight filled Xie Han with unease; judging by the number of vehicles, there were likely far more than a few dozen zombies inside.

Watching several zombies emerge sporadically, Xie Han signaled Xu Qiang to crouch behind a patch of weeds and whispered, “Xu Qiang, this gas station is more dangerous than I thought. In a moment, I’ll draw the zombies’ attention. You take the chance to fill both cans. Once they’re full, don’t wait for me—head straight back to the minibus. I’ll deal with them myself.”

Xu Qiang’s soldierly disposition left no room for hesitation. He handed his automatic rifle to Xie Han, but Xie Han refused, brandishing his steel pipe instead. “I’m just here to attract them. You keep the gun—it’ll help if any slip through.” Xu Qiang, knowing Xie Han’s skills surpassed his own, made no further protest and said with concern, “Be careful. If you can’t hold them off, don’t worry about me—just get away.”

Xie Han nodded. He sprang from the weeds and dashed towards the gas station. The patch was only seventy or eighty meters away, and at full speed, he reached the station’s perimeter in seconds. The zombies’ reaction was quick; more than ten on the outskirts surged towards Xie Han. Their movements were faster than a normal walk, but slower than a run. Once targeted by zombies, only by running could one escape, which required considerable stamina.

Completely disregarding the dozen zombies converging on him, Xie Han leapt onto a sedan. Before the zombies could reach him, he used his steel pipe to smash the car windows, sending shards flying with a satisfying crash. Raising the pipe high, he roared at the approaching zombies, “Come on! Come on, you damned trash! If you’ve got the guts, turn me into a zombie too!”

His roar stirred the previously tranquil gas station. Zombies emerged en masse from the toilets, cafeteria, market, and office, a dense horde surging towards Xie Han atop the car. The crowd was a mix: those in suits, those in military uniforms, and even attendants in station uniforms.

Xie Han swallowed hard, surprised by the number hiding within—by his estimate, no fewer than two hundred zombies crowded the station, a spectacular sight. He fought off the urge to retreat; since the zombies hadn’t fully left the station, Xu Qiang had little opportunity.

The first group of zombies had reached the sedan, some clawing at Xie Han, others ramming the vehicle itself. Xie Han wouldn’t let them touch him; his steel pipe rose and fell, crushing zombie skulls. Yet the sedan shook violently under their assault, making his footing precarious.

After dispatching several zombies, the horde inside finally exited, flooding towards Xie Han. Without hesitation, he leapt from the car, luring them towards the barren land behind the station, drawing them away from the road to avoid blocking the team’s escape.

Almost as soon as the zombies left the station, Xu Qiang sprang from the weeds, rifle slung over his back and fuel can in hand, racing to the pump. With Xie Han successfully diverting the horde, Xu Qiang got the nozzle into the can’s mouth.

Xie Han breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Enduring the revulsion of leading the zombies in circles across the wasteland, he calculated that filling two cans would take at least three minutes, and factoring in retreat, he needed to occupy the zombies for five minutes. As the horde slowly encircled him, Xie Han wondered if he truly had the confidence to hold them off for five minutes.

(ps: For authenticity and immersion, future gas stations in this setting are only slightly more advanced than those commonly seen today.)