18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Back in their room, they let Cooper out for some air, and Stella brewed a pot of English breakfast tea. The three of them settled on the couch for a heart-to-heart chat.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Stella felt pretty good about things. Civilization had taken a beating from the disaster, but humanity had never given up. Hope Point was like a phoenix waiting to rise from the ashes.

The infrastructure was buzzing, research was happening smoothly, and the urgent need to restore agriculture was like a beacon in the dark.

It was hard not to admire the resilience that had been ingrained in Australia over five thousand years.

Rosie, sipping her tea, raised her hand and said, "Bro, Sis, I'm thinking about applying for a job as a farmer."

Stella looked surprised. "Are you sure?"

Rosie nodded firmly. "I might as well give it a shot since I'm not doing much else."

Both siblings had ants in their pants, but Rosie was especially industrious. Over the years, she'd done plenty of farming and breeding. She was a real whiz kid at it.

As her sister-in-law, Stella had no objections, but they still needed to consider Jasper's thoughts.

Jasper turned the question back to Stella and Rosie. "What do you think of Hope Point?"

Rosie didn't hesitate. "I like it."

Stella knew what he meant. "We're here now. Let's let time decide whether we stay or go."

They'd been free agents on the move, eating and drinking without a care, but people need to socialize. After making the rounds, they felt more upbeat and at ease.

You win some, you lose some. They'd been adrift at sea for months; a change of scenery could be good.

Jasper nodded in agreement. “Rosie, go ahead and interview. But if you get the job, be careful with what you say and do. We can't afford any trouble."

Rosie was ecstatic. "Don't worry, I'll be cautious." She wouldn't reveal any secrets.

Farming didn't require much physical strength and she wouldn't have to leave Area B. Opportunities like this were rare.

Afraid that someone else might beat her to it, Rosie hurried downstairs to sign up.

Jasper mused, "Rosie's all grown up."

Since they'd decided to stay for now, it was about time to settle into a routine. Stella shrugged it off with a laugh, "I'm not cut out for a job, but if you want to work, feel free."

Jasper was used to her independence. "No rush. We'll see how it goes."

Jobs that were easy and close to home were scarce. Every able-bodied woman in Area B had signed up, making the competition fierce.

An extra eight pounds of food a month was on the line, and it almost came to blows among the applicants.

After all, gardening was in an Aussie's DNA.

Years of disasters had given everyone a bit of a green thumb.

Rosie was nervous about being rejected.

Maybe she lacked confidence because her brother was so accomplished.

Stella reassured her, "Believe in yourself, Rosie. You're the best."

"Do you really think so?"

After receiving Stella's affirmative nod, she playfully kicked Jasper's foot, teasing, "Look at you, Mr. Capable."

Jasper felt a twinge of frustration. If he hadn't been capable, would she have fallen for him?

In the evening, Monkey came knocking. "Sis, I've brought you some goodies."

A brand-new air mattress and some gently used folding tables and chairs.

These items were hard to come by, and he'd put in a lot of legwork to get them.

"There are also pillows, towels, and such. If you need more, I can always trade for them later."

Drifting at sea and still having these luxuries? Monkey was a true hustler, just like his mentor Austin.

Life had to be above board, so Stella accepted everything he offered. "What do you want in exchange?"

Monkey was adamant. "Sis, you saved my family's life. This is just a token of my gratitude. How could I accept anything from you?"

"You're like my own sister."

Despite his tough times, Monkey knew the ropes of human kindness. "I rarely get the chance to repay you, and I'd feel guilty if you didn't accept."

"Fair is fair. These items are hard to find. If you insist on giving them for free, you might as well take them back."

Seeing her firm stance, Monkey compromised. "My wife and kids are not well. Could we use these as payment for medical expenses?" Stella was puzzled. "Doesn't the base have doctors?"

"Seeing a doctor costs food, and even then, there's no guarantee of medicine."

It was just Monkey's excuse, anyway. After so many years of disaster, who wasn't riddled with ailments?

Seeing doctors only added to your troubles.

Stella didn't object. "I'm not an expert, but I can try."

After collecting the items, she followed him to his home at Unit 351.

The three of them crammed into a tiny space that was less than four square meters, barely enough room for a bed, let alone the mountains of supplies that took up every inch of space.

But Miranda was resourceful. She'd built a loft for storage, piling everything up to the ceiling. The space was so cramped, you had to crouch to get in or out.

Even so, for someone who'd spent months at sea, it was more than enough.

Monkey felt guilty for his family's hardship, but even if it broke his back, he'd earn enough to someday give them a better home.

Not wanting Stella to feel uncomfortable, Monkey quickly said, "Beaut, take the kids and bring out some stools."

Miranda and the kids emerged.

The eldest had passed away, and the youngest was just eleven, barely learning to talk when the disaster struck.

Raising kids was tough in those times. Even Stella, with her resources, found it challenging, let alone Monkey with two mouths to feed.

The eleven-year-old was all skin and bones, his large head wobbling on a frail body.

Stella kept her distance, afraid that a mere touch might cause his head to topple off.

But in reality, checking or not, they all suffered the same chronic conditions of disaster and hardship: anemia, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies leading to various diseases, some severe enough to cause organ failure.

The family's list of ailments was too long to fit on a page, and without improvements, their lifespans were at risk.

With the limited means at her disposal, Stella taught Miranda some acupressure techniques that could alleviate or prevent many illnesses.

Monkey was overjoyed. There was no one like his sister.

It was too much to cover in one go, and he didn't want Miranda to forget, so after about half an hour, Stella concluded, "Once you've got the hang of it, come find me to learn more."

Miranda seemed dazed. "Really?"

"Yes, we'll get better."

She often found herself trapped in the despair of losing her child, sometimes staring blankly for days.

Monkey grieved too, but he was the pillar of the family; he couldn't afford to collapse.

Stella echoed the sentiment, "Things will get better. Maybe one day you'll run dozens of stores."

Miranda's smile was wistful. "Thank you. I'll try my best."

Returning to their room, Stella shut the door, and the three of them, plus Cooper, got ready for a night in Arcadia.

Rosie had turned in early, eager to be at her best for the interview tomorrow. She understood the importance of a good night's rest and was determined to wake up refreshed and ready.

Meanwhile, Stella lounged on the

net

couch, dabbing at her damp hair with a towel, contemplating her next move. "The Monkeys have been under the weather lately," she mused aloud Should I mix up some herbal remedies to help them get back on their feet, or should I just compensate for today's mishap with some supplies?"

Her voice was casual, but her mind was busy weighing the options. In this neck of the woods, looking out for your neighbors was par for the course, and Stella had always been the type to lend a helping hand Whether it was with a hearty chicken soup to chase away a cold or a few household necessities to tide someone over, she knew the value of community support.

The question now was which form her generosity should take. Herbal remedies were her specialty, but sometimes, practical aid spoke louder than a concoction of

echinacea and elderberry. Sheel

leaned back, the fabric of the couch hugging her form as she waited for a response, her heart as warm as the tea she'd often brew for friends in need.