Chapter 74 Chapter Seventy-Four
Juliet shivered from the cold, but she helped the orphan to his feet.He grabbed the railing with both hands and stood up unsteadily.
"Can you walk?" She kept staring at the stairs above, afraid that someone would appear suddenly.The man attacks the orphan and almost kills him.
"It should be possible." He raised his hand to touch his forehead, looking at the blood on his hand, "However, I don't know how far it can go."
She helped him up the stairs.The smell of burnt rubber wheels and gasoline was pungent, and my clothes still felt damp.Clouds of white mist kept coming out of her mouth when she was breathing, and her two rows of teeth would chatter when she was not speaking.She bent down to pick up the knife on the ground, and the orphan grabbed the outer railing.She looked up at the top, thinking about how to get to it.It is impossible to go directly to the top information area.She had been deprived of oxygen at the bottom for too long, her lung function had not yet recovered, and her muscles were weak because of the trembling too much.And orphans seem to be faring even worse.He opened his mouth slightly, his eyes were in a trance, and he seemed not fully awake yet.
"Is there any way you can get to the security station?" Juliet asked.When she went to the supplies area to look for things, she often slept there.I don't know why, but the detention room is very comfortable to sleep in.The key to the cell is still on the shelf.They can lock the door of the detention room and keep the key with them, so they should be more at ease when they sleep.
"How many floors to climb?" asked the orphan.
He's unfamiliar with the bottom, which is the exact opposite of Juliet.He never got to the bottom because he didn't dare run that far.
"About ten floors. Can you climb?"
He raised his foot and stepped on the first step: "I'll try it."
So, they set off, the only weapon of self-defense is the knife.Juliet was glad the knife was still there.When she was floating in the dark in the mechanical and electrical area, it was a miracle that the knife didn't float away.She clutched the knife tightly, the handle was cold, but her hand was colder.This knife was originally used for cooking, but I didn't expect it to become a weapon now.In the past, she always wore the watch on her hand, never leaving it for a moment, but now the knife replaced the watch.When going upstairs, every step she took, she would reach for the railing, and the handle of the knife would hit the railing.With her other hand she held the orphan, who groaned in pain with every step he took.
"How many of them are there, do you remember?" She watched his footsteps, then looked up nervously at the stairs above.
The orphan moaned and said, "There must be no one." He shook, and Juliet hurried to support him. "Everyone is dead."
After climbing a flight of stairs, they stopped to rest. "But didn't you survive yourself?" She reminded him, "Didn't you live well all these years?"
He frowned, raised his hand and rubbed his beard, panting. "I'm an orphan. I'm all alone." He shook his head, as if sentimental. "They're all dead. All dead."
Juliet looked up the stairwell above, at the gap beyond the railing.There was a dim green light in the stairwell, but it was pitch black higher up.She clenched her teeth tightly to keep her teeth from chattering loudly.She had to listen carefully to see if there was any movement above, if there was anyone.The orphan struggled up the stairs, Juliet close beside him.
"Did you see what he looked like? What do you remember?"
"I remember—I remember him being around my age."
Juliet seemed to hear him crying, but it might just be that he was too tired from climbing the stairs and was panting too much.She turned to look at the door they had just passed.It was pitch black inside the door, apparently the power from the information area hadn't reached here.Would the people who attacked the orphans be hiding inside?Will there be no more bad guys chasing them?
She secretly prayed that it would be so.They still have a long way to go.Even if it is far enough to go to the security sub-station, it is almost impossible to go back to the information area.
In this way, they silently climbed up the first and a half floors.Juliet was trembling all over, and the orphan kept moaning, with a pained look on his face.She rubbed her arms from time to time, because of climbing the stairs and helping the orphan, she found herself starting to sweat.If it weren't for the wet clothes on her body, she shouldn't feel cold.After climbing three floors, she suddenly realized that she was very hungry, and felt that her whole body was about to go limp.Like a machine, the body needs fuel to keep warm.
"One more floor and I have to stop and rest," she told the orphan.He muttered yes.Knowing that you will soon be able to rest, you will be more refreshed when you climb the stairs.He could count how many more stairs to climb, not indefinitely.When they came to the platform on the 132nd floor, the orphan sat down while leaning on the railing.Holding the crossbar with his hands, he slowly moved down one by one, sat down slowly, and then lay down, covering his face with his hands.
Juliet prayed secretly that he had only a mild concussion.She saw a lot in the electromechanical area before.Some men think they are tough guys and refuse to wear hard hats, only to get hit on the head with tools.At this time, they can't be tough guys anymore.Orphans will be fine as long as they rest well.
However, the downside of stopping to rest is that she starts to feel cold again.Juliet stomped furiously to keep the blood circulating.I sweated a lot when I climbed the stairs just now, and my clothes were wet, but now it is even colder.She could feel the circulation of air in the stairwell, the air passing over the icy water below, creating a puff of cold air blowing up from below, like natural air conditioning.Her shoulders kept shaking, and so did the knife in her hand. She could barely see her own reflection on the blade, only a blur.Although going up the stairs is tiring, it is even more terrible to stop and rest.Moreover, she still couldn't figure out where that person was hiding, so she could only pray secretly, hoping that he was underneath.
"We should go," she said to the orphan.She looked at the door behind him, and the window was dark.What would she do if someone burst out of the door and attacked them?Can she beat him?
The orphan waved his hand up. "You go first," he said, "I'll stay here and rest."
"No, you must go with me." She rubbed her hands together, exhaled hot air on her hands, and pulled herself together.She went up to the orphan and took his hand, but he withdrew it.
"I have to rest," he said. "I'll catch up to you later."
"I can't say anything—" Her two rows of teeth chattered, her whole body was shaking, and her arms were shaking non-stop.She waved her hands desperately to let the blood circulate, "—I can't leave you here alone."
"I'm so thirsty," he said.
Even though she had been in the water for so long, Juliet was thirsty.She looked up at the top: "Let's go, climb another floor and you will reach the soil cultivation area. That's it for today. There will be water to drink, something to eat, and maybe dry clothes. Let's go." Come on, orphan. Let's go up. It doesn't matter if it takes a week to walk to the information area, we just can't stop here."
She grabs his wrist.This time he didn't withdraw his hand again.
They climbed that floor for a long time.Several times the orphan stopped, leaning against the railing, his eyes fixed on the next flight of stairs.Blood continued to flow from his head and down his neck.Juliet stomped her feet desperately, cursing herself secretly, why did she do such a stupid thing.Too stupid.
Go up a few more stairs to the platform.She let the orphan continue to climb slowly, and walked up to the platform by herself first, and went in to check the soil cultivation area.The next wire from the information area extends all the way to the innermost part.It was left a long time ago, maybe people like orphans hid here trying to survive.Juliet looked inside and found that the plant lights were not on.
"Orphan? I'm going to turn on the timer of the plant light, you can take a rest here first."
He said nothing.Juliet pushed open the door and tried to drive the knife into the iron grid at her feet, but her hands shook so badly that she couldn't get the mesh right.At this time, she noticed that the clothes on her body emitted a smell of burnt rubber, as if her body had been burned.
"I'll come." The orphan stood against the door, sat down with his back against the door panel, and pushed the door panel against the railing.
Juliet hugged the knife to her chest: "Thank you."
He nodded, waved, and closed his eyes. "I want a drink." He licked his lips.
The light from the stairwell barely reached the foyer of the plowing area, and it was pitch black any further.There was the sound of a water cycle motor in the distance.She had heard the same sound a few weeks earlier in the hydroponic area above and had freaked out, but now she knew what it was.That sound means there is water to drink.There is water and food, and maybe dry clothes to change from.Now, she just needs to turn on the lamp to see everything.She cursed to herself why she didn't have an extra flashlight, why the supply bag had been stolen. After she climbed through the revolving door, she was submerged in darkness.Fortunately, she knows the way here very well.For weeks, she and the orphan lived off the contents of the pump as they modified it.Juliet thought of the big water pump down there.She had already connected the wires to the pump, and now, she began to wonder, whether the wires were connected.If she had turned on the switch on the platform before she came up, would the pump not work?Of course, it's a bit unrealistic to think about it now, because neither of them is out of danger yet, but even if she can't live to see the pump start, deep down she still longs for the water in the bunker to be drained.Just now, she suffered a lot under the water, but now, for some reason, she suddenly felt that everything was very far away, as if it was a dream.But no matter what, she still hoped that her work was not in vain, and that the orphan was not injured in vain. When she walked, her legs rubbed against each other, her wet clothes buzzed, and she made a "thump" every time she lifted her foot.She leaned on the wall with one hand and held the knife in front of her in the other.When she got here, she began to feel a residual heat. Obviously, it wasn't long before the plant lights were turned off.She was suddenly glad that she was no longer standing in the stairwell outside.Now, she feels much more comfortable.Her eyes had gradually adjusted to the darkness inside.She wanted to find something to eat, some water, and a place where she could sleep in peace.She secretly made up her mind that tomorrow she must go to the security sub-station on the middle floor.Here, they can find some self-defense weapons, take a good rest and recharge their batteries.Tomorrow, the orphan will definitely be stronger.He must have physical strength. At the end of the corridor, Juliet groped in the dark and reached the door of the control room.Out of habit, she reached for the light switch in the door, but the switch was always on.It hadn't been touched for decades. She groped her way into the control room, the knife held out in front of her, and after a while she came to the wall and scraped the point of the knife against the control box.Juliet stretched her hand into the air to feel for the wire hanging from the ceiling, then along that wire she felt for the timer, and then she touched the timing knob, turned it slowly, and the knob immediately made a ticking sound . At this time, she heard the whole row of relays in the greenhouse outside snapping one after another, and then the plant lights began to light up, and it took a few minutes for them to fully light up. Juliet walked out of the control room and walked outside to the nursery.There are many long nurseries with many walkways between the nurseries.In the nursery outside, all the fruits and vegetables have been pulled out.She walked into one of the aisles, and the fruit trees in the nurseries on both sides were so thick that their branches and leaves straddled the aisle.She walked all the way through the branches and leaves to the water cycle motor. She wanted to pour some water for the orphan, and she herself wanted to keep warm by the light.She muttered in her mouth, praying that the lights would come on soon.The surrounding light was dim, and there was a faint mist, which felt like a cloudy morning outside. She passed a long-abandoned bean nursery, picked a pod from a vine, and stuffed the bean into her mouth.The motor sounded louder and began to send water to the sprinkler hoses.Juliet chewed on the beans, swallowed them, and climbed over the rail into the clearing beside the motor. Since she and the orphan often came here to drink water and pour water into the kettle, the mud floor here was hardened by their tread, showing a dark color, and several cups were scattered on the ground.Juliet crouched beside the motor and picked out a tall glass.The plant lights above her head began to light up slowly, and she seemed to feel the heat of the lights. She grabbed the drain bolt under the motor and gave it a few hard turns.The water pressure in the motor is so high that the water is sprayed out immediately.She held the cup under the bolt so the water wouldn't keep spraying out.The water was sprayed into the cup with a "squeaky" sound. After she filled one cup, she first took another cup to catch the water, and then took up the glass of water and drank it in one gulp, getting some grit between her teeth. After both glasses were filled with water, she pressed the bottom of the cup into the dirt so it wouldn't tip over.Then, she tightened the bolt, and slowly, the water stopped spraying from the bottom.Juliet put the knife under her arm, picked up two cups, walked to the railing, put the cups and the knife outside first, then stepped on the railing with her legs, and turned over. Now, she had to find something to wear quickly so that her body would be warm.She picked up the knife, leaving the glass where it was, and walked around the corner.There are several offices there, and a restaurant.She still remembered the first piece of clothing she wore when she first arrived in the Seventeenth Bunker: a tablecloth with a hole in the middle.As she rounded the corner, she couldn't help laughing, because she felt as if she had regressed more and more, and after a few weeks of busy work, she seemed to be back where she started. The long corridor in the middle of the two nursery areas was dark, and there were rows of wires and water pipes on the ceiling. Some places were obviously constructed in a hurry. The wires and water pipes hung from the ceiling, forming sections of waves along the corridor. All the way to the nursery in the distance. Juliet looked inside the office, but there was nothing to wear on her body, no overalls, no curtains.She walked towards the dining room, and when she was about to enter the door, she suddenly heard something in the nursery next to her.It sounded like a "click".Is that the sound of a relay?Maybe the relay is stuck. She looked down the corridor and saw the nursery area.The lights there are bright and warm.Maybe it's faster over there.She walked down the corridor to the nursery like a fly to a light.She was so excited that she had goose bumps all over her arms at the thought that she could dry the clothes later and her body would warm up soon. She walked to the edge of the nursery area, when she suddenly heard another voice.A "creaking" sound, like the sound of metal rubbing against each other.Possibly another water recirculation motor started.She and the orphan hadn't checked out the other water cycle motors.There were only two of them, and the first nursery area was enough for them to eat and drink. Juliet was startled, and immediately turned to look behind. In this abandoned bunker, if she wanted to find a place to live, where would she choose?Information area, because there is electricity?Or here, with water and food?She could imagine some sort of orphan who had survived the war, struggled to survive, and hid here for years.Maybe he heard the sound of the air compressor, so he went down to check, got scared, hit the orphan on the head with something, and ran away.Maybe he saw the bag and took it away.However, it is also possible that the bag was placed next to the railing, and he accidentally kicked it, and it fell from under the railing and sank to the electrical and mechanical area below. Holding the knife in front of her, she moved along the corridor among the leaves, rustling.The plants here are too dense, it should not be a very attractive place, and there is no trace of picking.Seeing this, she felt a little conflicted.On the one hand, she hoped that she had guessed correctly, that the voice was nothing special, and she had heard it often in the past few weeks.But on the other hand, she very much hoped to find this orphan-like person.She wanted to meet him so much that she would not have to worry about wherever she went, not knowing where that person was hiding. The question is, what if there is more than one person?How can a large group of people stay here for that long?If there are many people, is it possible not to notice it?The bunker was huge, but she and the orphan had been at the bottom for weeks, coming and going in and out of the cultivated area.So, there should be only two people, if any, an old couple, not too many people.The orphan had said that the man was about his age.So, it should be an old couple. Thoughts raced through her mind, imagining all kinds of different situations, and telling herself that there was nothing to be afraid of.She was shaking all the time, but her emotions were high.She has a knife in her hand.Lush and tangled foliage brushed across her face.Juliet walked among the leaves, knowing that she would see something at the other end later. The nursery area here looks different, someone has obviously tidied it up and it looks neat.Juliet suddenly felt a burst of fear, but she also breathed a sigh of relief. The two contradictory emotions spiraled like a spiral staircase.She didn't want to be alone, and she didn't want to see the huge bunker empty and uninhabited.But on the other hand, she doesn't want to be attacked either.On the one hand, she was tempted to yell and tell the man that she meant no harm.But on the other hand, she unconsciously grasped the knife tightly, her teeth chattering with nervousness, and she wanted to turn around and run away. After a while, she had already walked to the innermost part of the nursery area. There was a corner in front of the corridor, and it was pitch black.She leaned against the corner to look, and there was a place she had never been to.Here is the other side of the soil cultivation area, shrouded in darkness, with faint lights seen in the distance, it may be another nursery area. She was sure there was someone here.She felt that someone was watching her, that someone was whispering.She had been feeling this way for weeks.But at this moment, this is no longer an illusion.She was no longer confused, and no longer wondered if she was crazy.Knife in hand, she knew she could fend off this man and protect the unarmed orphans behind.She walked forward slowly, finding courage to enter the dark corridor.On either side are office and tasting rooms.She leaned on the wall with one hand to find out the direction—— Then, Juliet stopped suddenly.Something is not right, there seems to be some sound?Is someone crying?She turned and walked back to the door of the previous office, seeing the darkness in front of her eyes, she suddenly realized that the door was closed.Of the offices in the entire corridor, only this door was closed. She took a step back and squatted down.She heard voices inside.She is sure.It sounded like weeping.She looked up at a row of wires on the ceiling.In the dim light, she saw a wire branching out and entering the room from the wall above the door. Juliet approached the door, knelt down and pressed her ear to the door.There is no sound.She reached for the doorknob and felt it locked.How could the door be locked unless— At that moment, the door was suddenly pulled open with a "crash", while her hand was still on the doorknob, and she was dragged into the dark room.Then, she saw something bright flashing in front of her eyes, and then someone rushed up and pressed on her, trying to hit her on the head with that thing. Juliet fell back on the ground when a bright white mass swung past her and a heavy wrench hit her on the shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Juliet let out a cry of pain, but suddenly a shrill scream came from the room, drowning her out.She raised the knife and swung it forward, and it felt as if she had cut the man's leg.The wrench fell to the ground immediately, and she heard more screams.Juliet immediately jumped from the door, stood up and pressed her shoulders.She originally thought that the man would rush over, but she didn't expect the man to back away, with one leg limping.It was a boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old. "Don't move!" Juliet pointed the knife at him.The boy's eyes widened in horror.A group of children huddled together and hid by the wall inside. There was a broken mattress and some blankets on the floor.They hugged each other tightly, their eyes fixed on Juliet. Juliet was extremely confused.She suddenly felt that she had made a big mistake.What about the rest?What about adults?She seemed to feel that someone was coming in the dark corridor behind, ready to attack her.These are their children.To protect the children, they locked them inside.That mom will come back soon to settle accounts with her for violating their home. "Where are the others?" Her hands were shaking badly, partly because she was cold, partly because of confusion and fear.She carefully looked at all the people in the room.The boy who had attacked her was found standing in front of her, he was the oldest one.There was also a teenage girl sitting on a blanket with a younger girl on top of her and two other young boys. The big boy looked down at his legs, the trousers of his green overalls were stained with blood. "How many of you are there?" She took a step forward.She was terrified, but the kids were clearly more terrified than she was. "Go away! Let us go!" the big girl screamed.She seemed to be holding something in her arms, and the little girl next to her buried her face in her lap, as if thinking that others would not be able to see her.The other two little boys stared at Juliet angrily, but did not move. "Why are you here?" she asked them.She pointed the knife at the big boy, but it immediately occurred to her that pointing a knife at a group of children seemed stupid.The boy looked at her in bewilderment, as if he didn't understand her question.At that moment, Juliet suddenly understood.This bunker may have been fighting for more than ten years, and the trust between people has long been lost. "You were born here, weren't you?" No one answered.The boy frowned, looking puzzled, as if wondering how she could ask such a question.Juliet turned to look behind her. "Where are your parents? When will they come back? How long will it take?" "They're not coming back! Never coming back!" the girl screamed, tense and flushed. "They're dead!" After she finished speaking, she still opened her mouth, her jaw was trembling, and the veins on her neck were exposed. The big boy turned his head and glared at her, as if trying to tell her to shut up.Juliet kept telling herself that they were just children.She knew that there must be adults here.It is grown-ups who attack orphans. However, she couldn't help looking at the wrench on the ground.That's an orphan's wrench.It is rust-stained and recognizable at a glance.But, how is it possible?Orphan doesn't mean-- At that moment, Juliet suddenly figured out what the orphan said.Up to now, the orphan still believes that he is only a teenager, so he will say that the person who attacked him is the same age as him, the same as the big boy in front of him.It was when he was a teenager that he began to live alone.So, have the bottom survivors died only in the last few years?Did they leave kids behind too? "What's your name?" Juliet asked the boy.Her hand holding the knife hangs down, and she opens the other hand for him to see. "My name is Juliet," she said.She was going to say she came from another bunker, but she was afraid it would frighten the little kids. "Rickson," the boy growled, then puffed out his chest. "My dad is Rick the plumber." "Rick, plumber." Juliet nodded, and turned to look at the pile of daily necessities and garbage by the wall, as well as her stolen bag.She noticed that the clothes she was about to change were poking out of the pockets.Her towel must be in there.She walked slowly towards the bag, her eyes fixed on the children on the mattress.They watched carefully the older boy's reaction. "Okay, Rickerson, hurry up and pack your things." Juliet squatted next to the bag, reached into it and rummaged for towels, and quickly found them.She took out the towel, wiped her hair, and suddenly felt very comfortable.These children cannot be left here.She put the towel around her neck and turned to look at the other children.They all stared at her. "Come on," she said, "go and tidy up. You can't live like this—" "Don't worry about it," said the big girl.However, the other two little boys got up from the mattress and were going to get the pile.They looked at the girl, then at Juliet, not knowing what to do. "Go away and go back to your own places," Rickerson said.The two older kids seem to be very dependent on each other and can encourage each other, "Also, take away that noisy machine of yours." It turned out to be the case.Juliet remembered that the compressor had been pushed to the ground and was beaten badly, and the orphans were not beaten so badly.She nodded to the two little boys.They looked about ten or eleven years old. "Go," she said to them, "I need your help to get my friend home. We have good food and electricity and hot water. Hurry up and pack up—" At this time, the little girl suddenly burst into tears, crying very terribly.It was this cry that Juliet had just heard in the corridor outside.Rickerson suddenly started pacing up and down, looking from her to the wrench on the ground.Juliet left him and walked to the mattress to comfort the little girl, but she soon discovered that the little girl was not crying. The big girl seemed to be holding something in her arms, and that thing could move. Juliet walked to the side of the mattress and suddenly froze. "God." She muttered softly. Rickson suddenly walked towards her. "Don't come here!" She pointed the knife at the boy.He looked down at the wound on his foot, so he didn't dare to move.The two little boys, who were packing the bags, were too frightened to move.At that moment, everyone was motionless, only heard the baby crying loudly, moving non-stop in the girl's arms. "Is that a baby?" The big girl suddenly turned her back to Juliet.This is a mother's instinctive action, but this girl seems to be less than fifteen years old.It was difficult for Juliet to imagine having a child at fifteen.Maybe that's why, she thought, that's why women in the bunker were born with contraceptives inserted.Her hand unconsciously touched the back of her buttocks, as if she wanted to touch the contraceptive device. "You hurry up," the big girl murmured, "We haven't been doing well without you." Juliet put down the knife.It felt weird putting down the knife, but it was even weirder walking up to the girl on the mattress with the knife in her hand. "I can help you," said Juliet, and turning to the older boy, she said, "I used to work in a babysitting place. Come, let me see—" She held out her hands to the older girl .The girl cringed even more, twisting inward even more, preventing Juliet from touching the baby. "Okay, okay, don't be nervous." Juliet spread her hands, "But you can't live like this anymore." She nodded to the two little boys, then turned to look at Rickerson.Rickerson still stood there without moving. "No one should live like this. Not even the end of the world." She nodded unconsciously, and had already made up her mind: "Rickson? Go and pack your things, get the necessities first. We'll come back later to get something else." Then she nodded to the two little boys.She noticed that the knees of their trousers were torn and muddy.The two little boys saw her action and knew that she wanted them to continue tidying up their things.They obviously hope that an adult will come forward and call the shots.They don't seem to like their brother directing them very much.Rickson might be their older brother. "What's your name?" Juliet sat on the mattress with the two girls.The boys were busy arranging things.She was shocked to see a teenage girl give birth, but she tried to act nonchalantly. The little baby was howling, obviously hungry. "I'm here to help you," Juliet said to the girl. "Can I see the baby? Is it a boy or a girl?" The older girl seemed less afraid.She lifted the blanket to reveal the little baby inside.The little baby looked like he was only a few months old, blinking his eyes, pouting his mouth, and waving his hand at his mother. "It's a girl," she said softly. The other little girl hugged the older girl tightly, and turned her head to peek at Juliet. "Did you name her?" She shook her head. "not yet." At this time, Rickerson seemed to have said something to the two little boys, telling them not to quarrel.The two little boys seem to be robbing something—— "My name is Alice," said the little girl.She finally stuck her head out from behind the big girl.Alice pointed to her mouth and said, "My teeth are shaking." Juliet laughed suddenly: "I can also fix your teeth for you, if you want me to help." As she spoke, she stretched out her hand and rubbed the little girl's arm. At that moment, she suddenly recalled the scene when she was a child.In her father's parenting area, she has seen many worried parents, seen many cute babies, and seen those parents with hopes and dreams on their faces.That's what they worked so hard to get.Then Juliet suddenly thought of her brother.Her younger brother didn't even have a chance to come into this world.Thinking of this, she couldn't help but burst into tears.How much have these children suffered?Orphans have at least once had a normal life.At least he knows what it means to live with peace of mind.How did these five children grow up?What have they been through?She suddenly felt that they were so pitiful, and even had a morbid thought, wishing that they hadn't been born at all— But she quickly dismissed that thought.She felt guilty that she would have such an idea. "I'm going to take you out of here," she said to the two girls. "Pick up your things quickly." One of the little boys came up to her and put her bag on the ground.He had put all her things back and told her he was sorry.At this time, Juliet suddenly heard a strange "squeaky" sound. what's next? She wiped her mouth with a towel and watched the two girls reluctantly start packing up.They glanced at each other, as if not sure if it was the right thing to do.Just then Juliet heard another rustling in her bag.She unzips the bag with the handle of the knife.The place where these children live is like a pigsty, maybe there are mice hiding in the bag.She listened carefully and found that it was the voice of someone speaking. Someone is calling her name. She threw away the towel immediately and reached into the bag to rummage.Inside were tools, a water bottle, a set of overalls, and some pairs of socks.Then she touched the radio.Was it the orphan calling her?impossible.The other radio was in her hazmat suit, long gone— "How are you?" said a voice on the radio. "Juliet, are you there? I'm Walker. Gosh, tell me how you are—"
The light from the stairwell barely reached the foyer of the plowing area, and it was pitch black any further.There was the sound of a water cycle motor in the distance.She had heard the same sound a few weeks earlier in the hydroponic area above and had freaked out, but now she knew what it was.That sound means there is water to drink.There is water and food, and maybe dry clothes to change from.Now, she just needs to turn on the lamp to see everything.She cursed to herself why she didn't have an extra flashlight, why the supply bag had been stolen. After she climbed through the revolving door, she was submerged in darkness.Fortunately, she knows the way here very well.For weeks, she and the orphan lived off the contents of the pump as they modified it.Juliet thought of the big water pump down there.She had already connected the wires to the pump, and now, she began to wonder, whether the wires were connected.If she had turned on the switch on the platform before she came up, would the pump not work?Of course, it's a bit unrealistic to think about it now, because neither of them is out of danger yet, but even if she can't live to see the pump start, deep down she still longs for the water in the bunker to be drained.Just now, she suffered a lot under the water, but now, for some reason, she suddenly felt that everything was very far away, as if it was a dream.But no matter what, she still hoped that her work was not in vain, and that the orphan was not injured in vain. When she walked, her legs rubbed against each other, her wet clothes buzzed, and she made a "thump" every time she lifted her foot.She leaned on the wall with one hand and held the knife in front of her in the other.When she got here, she began to feel a residual heat. Obviously, it wasn't long before the plant lights were turned off.She was suddenly glad that she was no longer standing in the stairwell outside.Now, she feels much more comfortable.Her eyes had gradually adjusted to the darkness inside.She wanted to find something to eat, some water, and a place where she could sleep in peace.She secretly made up her mind that tomorrow she must go to the security sub-station on the middle floor.Here, they can find some self-defense weapons, take a good rest and recharge their batteries.Tomorrow, the orphan will definitely be stronger.He must have physical strength. At the end of the corridor, Juliet groped in the dark and reached the door of the control room.Out of habit, she reached for the light switch in the door, but the switch was always on.It hadn't been touched for decades. She groped her way into the control room, the knife held out in front of her, and after a while she came to the wall and scraped the point of the knife against the control box.Juliet stretched her hand into the air to feel for the wire hanging from the ceiling, then along that wire she felt for the timer, and then she touched the timing knob, turned it slowly, and the knob immediately made a ticking sound . At this time, she heard the whole row of relays in the greenhouse outside snapping one after another, and then the plant lights began to light up, and it took a few minutes for them to fully light up. Juliet walked out of the control room and walked outside to the nursery.There are many long nurseries with many walkways between the nurseries.In the nursery outside, all the fruits and vegetables have been pulled out.She walked into one of the aisles, and the fruit trees in the nurseries on both sides were so thick that their branches and leaves straddled the aisle.She walked all the way through the branches and leaves to the water cycle motor. She wanted to pour some water for the orphan, and she herself wanted to keep warm by the light.She muttered in her mouth, praying that the lights would come on soon.The surrounding light was dim, and there was a faint mist, which felt like a cloudy morning outside. She passed a long-abandoned bean nursery, picked a pod from a vine, and stuffed the bean into her mouth.The motor sounded louder and began to send water to the sprinkler hoses.Juliet chewed on the beans, swallowed them, and climbed over the rail into the clearing beside the motor. Since she and the orphan often came here to drink water and pour water into the kettle, the mud floor here was hardened by their tread, showing a dark color, and several cups were scattered on the ground.Juliet crouched beside the motor and picked out a tall glass.The plant lights above her head began to light up slowly, and she seemed to feel the heat of the lights. She grabbed the drain bolt under the motor and gave it a few hard turns.The water pressure in the motor is so high that the water is sprayed out immediately.She held the cup under the bolt so the water wouldn't keep spraying out.The water was sprayed into the cup with a "squeaky" sound. After she filled one cup, she first took another cup to catch the water, and then took up the glass of water and drank it in one gulp, getting some grit between her teeth. After both glasses were filled with water, she pressed the bottom of the cup into the dirt so it wouldn't tip over.Then, she tightened the bolt, and slowly, the water stopped spraying from the bottom.Juliet put the knife under her arm, picked up two cups, walked to the railing, put the cups and the knife outside first, then stepped on the railing with her legs, and turned over. Now, she had to find something to wear quickly so that her body would be warm.She picked up the knife, leaving the glass where it was, and walked around the corner.There are several offices there, and a restaurant.She still remembered the first piece of clothing she wore when she first arrived in the Seventeenth Bunker: a tablecloth with a hole in the middle.As she rounded the corner, she couldn't help laughing, because she felt as if she had regressed more and more, and after a few weeks of busy work, she seemed to be back where she started. The long corridor in the middle of the two nursery areas was dark, and there were rows of wires and water pipes on the ceiling. Some places were obviously constructed in a hurry. The wires and water pipes hung from the ceiling, forming sections of waves along the corridor. All the way to the nursery in the distance. Juliet looked inside the office, but there was nothing to wear on her body, no overalls, no curtains.She walked towards the dining room, and when she was about to enter the door, she suddenly heard something in the nursery next to her.It sounded like a "click".Is that the sound of a relay?Maybe the relay is stuck. She looked down the corridor and saw the nursery area.The lights there are bright and warm.Maybe it's faster over there.She walked down the corridor to the nursery like a fly to a light.She was so excited that she had goose bumps all over her arms at the thought that she could dry the clothes later and her body would warm up soon. She walked to the edge of the nursery area, when she suddenly heard another voice.A "creaking" sound, like the sound of metal rubbing against each other.Possibly another water recirculation motor started.She and the orphan hadn't checked out the other water cycle motors.There were only two of them, and the first nursery area was enough for them to eat and drink. Juliet was startled, and immediately turned to look behind. In this abandoned bunker, if she wanted to find a place to live, where would she choose?Information area, because there is electricity?Or here, with water and food?She could imagine some sort of orphan who had survived the war, struggled to survive, and hid here for years.Maybe he heard the sound of the air compressor, so he went down to check, got scared, hit the orphan on the head with something, and ran away.Maybe he saw the bag and took it away.However, it is also possible that the bag was placed next to the railing, and he accidentally kicked it, and it fell from under the railing and sank to the electrical and mechanical area below. Holding the knife in front of her, she moved along the corridor among the leaves, rustling.The plants here are too dense, it should not be a very attractive place, and there is no trace of picking.Seeing this, she felt a little conflicted.On the one hand, she hoped that she had guessed correctly, that the voice was nothing special, and she had heard it often in the past few weeks.But on the other hand, she very much hoped to find this orphan-like person.She wanted to meet him so much that she would not have to worry about wherever she went, not knowing where that person was hiding. The question is, what if there is more than one person?How can a large group of people stay here for that long?If there are many people, is it possible not to notice it?The bunker was huge, but she and the orphan had been at the bottom for weeks, coming and going in and out of the cultivated area.So, there should be only two people, if any, an old couple, not too many people.The orphan had said that the man was about his age.So, it should be an old couple. Thoughts raced through her mind, imagining all kinds of different situations, and telling herself that there was nothing to be afraid of.She was shaking all the time, but her emotions were high.She has a knife in her hand.Lush and tangled foliage brushed across her face.Juliet walked among the leaves, knowing that she would see something at the other end later. The nursery area here looks different, someone has obviously tidied it up and it looks neat.Juliet suddenly felt a burst of fear, but she also breathed a sigh of relief. The two contradictory emotions spiraled like a spiral staircase.She didn't want to be alone, and she didn't want to see the huge bunker empty and uninhabited.But on the other hand, she doesn't want to be attacked either.On the one hand, she was tempted to yell and tell the man that she meant no harm.But on the other hand, she unconsciously grasped the knife tightly, her teeth chattering with nervousness, and she wanted to turn around and run away. After a while, she had already walked to the innermost part of the nursery area. There was a corner in front of the corridor, and it was pitch black.She leaned against the corner to look, and there was a place she had never been to.Here is the other side of the soil cultivation area, shrouded in darkness, with faint lights seen in the distance, it may be another nursery area. She was sure there was someone here.She felt that someone was watching her, that someone was whispering.She had been feeling this way for weeks.But at this moment, this is no longer an illusion.She was no longer confused, and no longer wondered if she was crazy.Knife in hand, she knew she could fend off this man and protect the unarmed orphans behind.She walked forward slowly, finding courage to enter the dark corridor.On either side are office and tasting rooms.She leaned on the wall with one hand to find out the direction—— Then, Juliet stopped suddenly.Something is not right, there seems to be some sound?Is someone crying?She turned and walked back to the door of the previous office, seeing the darkness in front of her eyes, she suddenly realized that the door was closed.Of the offices in the entire corridor, only this door was closed. She took a step back and squatted down.She heard voices inside.She is sure.It sounded like weeping.She looked up at a row of wires on the ceiling.In the dim light, she saw a wire branching out and entering the room from the wall above the door. Juliet approached the door, knelt down and pressed her ear to the door.There is no sound.She reached for the doorknob and felt it locked.How could the door be locked unless— At that moment, the door was suddenly pulled open with a "crash", while her hand was still on the doorknob, and she was dragged into the dark room.Then, she saw something bright flashing in front of her eyes, and then someone rushed up and pressed on her, trying to hit her on the head with that thing. Juliet fell back on the ground when a bright white mass swung past her and a heavy wrench hit her on the shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Juliet let out a cry of pain, but suddenly a shrill scream came from the room, drowning her out.She raised the knife and swung it forward, and it felt as if she had cut the man's leg.The wrench fell to the ground immediately, and she heard more screams.Juliet immediately jumped from the door, stood up and pressed her shoulders.She originally thought that the man would rush over, but she didn't expect the man to back away, with one leg limping.It was a boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old. "Don't move!" Juliet pointed the knife at him.The boy's eyes widened in horror.A group of children huddled together and hid by the wall inside. There was a broken mattress and some blankets on the floor.They hugged each other tightly, their eyes fixed on Juliet. Juliet was extremely confused.She suddenly felt that she had made a big mistake.What about the rest?What about adults?She seemed to feel that someone was coming in the dark corridor behind, ready to attack her.These are their children.To protect the children, they locked them inside.That mom will come back soon to settle accounts with her for violating their home. "Where are the others?" Her hands were shaking badly, partly because she was cold, partly because of confusion and fear.She carefully looked at all the people in the room.The boy who had attacked her was found standing in front of her, he was the oldest one.There was also a teenage girl sitting on a blanket with a younger girl on top of her and two other young boys. The big boy looked down at his legs, the trousers of his green overalls were stained with blood. "How many of you are there?" She took a step forward.She was terrified, but the kids were clearly more terrified than she was. "Go away! Let us go!" the big girl screamed.She seemed to be holding something in her arms, and the little girl next to her buried her face in her lap, as if thinking that others would not be able to see her.The other two little boys stared at Juliet angrily, but did not move. "Why are you here?" she asked them.She pointed the knife at the big boy, but it immediately occurred to her that pointing a knife at a group of children seemed stupid.The boy looked at her in bewilderment, as if he didn't understand her question.At that moment, Juliet suddenly understood.This bunker may have been fighting for more than ten years, and the trust between people has long been lost. "You were born here, weren't you?" No one answered.The boy frowned, looking puzzled, as if wondering how she could ask such a question.Juliet turned to look behind her. "Where are your parents? When will they come back? How long will it take?" "They're not coming back! Never coming back!" the girl screamed, tense and flushed. "They're dead!" After she finished speaking, she still opened her mouth, her jaw was trembling, and the veins on her neck were exposed. The big boy turned his head and glared at her, as if trying to tell her to shut up.Juliet kept telling herself that they were just children.She knew that there must be adults here.It is grown-ups who attack orphans. However, she couldn't help looking at the wrench on the ground.That's an orphan's wrench.It is rust-stained and recognizable at a glance.But, how is it possible?Orphan doesn't mean-- At that moment, Juliet suddenly figured out what the orphan said.Up to now, the orphan still believes that he is only a teenager, so he will say that the person who attacked him is the same age as him, the same as the big boy in front of him.It was when he was a teenager that he began to live alone.So, have the bottom survivors died only in the last few years?Did they leave kids behind too? "What's your name?" Juliet asked the boy.Her hand holding the knife hangs down, and she opens the other hand for him to see. "My name is Juliet," she said.She was going to say she came from another bunker, but she was afraid it would frighten the little kids. "Rickson," the boy growled, then puffed out his chest. "My dad is Rick the plumber." "Rick, plumber." Juliet nodded, and turned to look at the pile of daily necessities and garbage by the wall, as well as her stolen bag.She noticed that the clothes she was about to change were poking out of the pockets.Her towel must be in there.She walked slowly towards the bag, her eyes fixed on the children on the mattress.They watched carefully the older boy's reaction. "Okay, Rickerson, hurry up and pack your things." Juliet squatted next to the bag, reached into it and rummaged for towels, and quickly found them.She took out the towel, wiped her hair, and suddenly felt very comfortable.These children cannot be left here.She put the towel around her neck and turned to look at the other children.They all stared at her. "Come on," she said, "go and tidy up. You can't live like this—" "Don't worry about it," said the big girl.However, the other two little boys got up from the mattress and were going to get the pile.They looked at the girl, then at Juliet, not knowing what to do. "Go away and go back to your own places," Rickerson said.The two older kids seem to be very dependent on each other and can encourage each other, "Also, take away that noisy machine of yours." It turned out to be the case.Juliet remembered that the compressor had been pushed to the ground and was beaten badly, and the orphans were not beaten so badly.She nodded to the two little boys.They looked about ten or eleven years old. "Go," she said to them, "I need your help to get my friend home. We have good food and electricity and hot water. Hurry up and pack up—" At this time, the little girl suddenly burst into tears, crying very terribly.It was this cry that Juliet had just heard in the corridor outside.Rickerson suddenly started pacing up and down, looking from her to the wrench on the ground.Juliet left him and walked to the mattress to comfort the little girl, but she soon discovered that the little girl was not crying. The big girl seemed to be holding something in her arms, and that thing could move. Juliet walked to the side of the mattress and suddenly froze. "God." She muttered softly. Rickson suddenly walked towards her. "Don't come here!" She pointed the knife at the boy.He looked down at the wound on his foot, so he didn't dare to move.The two little boys, who were packing the bags, were too frightened to move.At that moment, everyone was motionless, only heard the baby crying loudly, moving non-stop in the girl's arms. "Is that a baby?" The big girl suddenly turned her back to Juliet.This is a mother's instinctive action, but this girl seems to be less than fifteen years old.It was difficult for Juliet to imagine having a child at fifteen.Maybe that's why, she thought, that's why women in the bunker were born with contraceptives inserted.Her hand unconsciously touched the back of her buttocks, as if she wanted to touch the contraceptive device. "You hurry up," the big girl murmured, "We haven't been doing well without you." Juliet put down the knife.It felt weird putting down the knife, but it was even weirder walking up to the girl on the mattress with the knife in her hand. "I can help you," said Juliet, and turning to the older boy, she said, "I used to work in a babysitting place. Come, let me see—" She held out her hands to the older girl .The girl cringed even more, twisting inward even more, preventing Juliet from touching the baby. "Okay, okay, don't be nervous." Juliet spread her hands, "But you can't live like this anymore." She nodded to the two little boys, then turned to look at Rickerson.Rickerson still stood there without moving. "No one should live like this. Not even the end of the world." She nodded unconsciously, and had already made up her mind: "Rickson? Go and pack your things, get the necessities first. We'll come back later to get something else." Then she nodded to the two little boys.She noticed that the knees of their trousers were torn and muddy.The two little boys saw her action and knew that she wanted them to continue tidying up their things.They obviously hope that an adult will come forward and call the shots.They don't seem to like their brother directing them very much.Rickson might be their older brother. "What's your name?" Juliet sat on the mattress with the two girls.The boys were busy arranging things.She was shocked to see a teenage girl give birth, but she tried to act nonchalantly. The little baby was howling, obviously hungry. "I'm here to help you," Juliet said to the girl. "Can I see the baby? Is it a boy or a girl?" The older girl seemed less afraid.She lifted the blanket to reveal the little baby inside.The little baby looked like he was only a few months old, blinking his eyes, pouting his mouth, and waving his hand at his mother. "It's a girl," she said softly. The other little girl hugged the older girl tightly, and turned her head to peek at Juliet. "Did you name her?" She shook her head. "not yet." At this time, Rickerson seemed to have said something to the two little boys, telling them not to quarrel.The two little boys seem to be robbing something—— "My name is Alice," said the little girl.She finally stuck her head out from behind the big girl.Alice pointed to her mouth and said, "My teeth are shaking." Juliet laughed suddenly: "I can also fix your teeth for you, if you want me to help." As she spoke, she stretched out her hand and rubbed the little girl's arm. At that moment, she suddenly recalled the scene when she was a child.In her father's parenting area, she has seen many worried parents, seen many cute babies, and seen those parents with hopes and dreams on their faces.That's what they worked so hard to get.Then Juliet suddenly thought of her brother.Her younger brother didn't even have a chance to come into this world.Thinking of this, she couldn't help but burst into tears.How much have these children suffered?Orphans have at least once had a normal life.At least he knows what it means to live with peace of mind.How did these five children grow up?What have they been through?She suddenly felt that they were so pitiful, and even had a morbid thought, wishing that they hadn't been born at all— But she quickly dismissed that thought.She felt guilty that she would have such an idea. "I'm going to take you out of here," she said to the two girls. "Pick up your things quickly." One of the little boys came up to her and put her bag on the ground.He had put all her things back and told her he was sorry.At this time, Juliet suddenly heard a strange "squeaky" sound. what's next? She wiped her mouth with a towel and watched the two girls reluctantly start packing up.They glanced at each other, as if not sure if it was the right thing to do.Just then Juliet heard another rustling in her bag.She unzips the bag with the handle of the knife.The place where these children live is like a pigsty, maybe there are mice hiding in the bag.She listened carefully and found that it was the voice of someone speaking. Someone is calling her name. She threw away the towel immediately and reached into the bag to rummage.Inside were tools, a water bottle, a set of overalls, and some pairs of socks.Then she touched the radio.Was it the orphan calling her?impossible.The other radio was in her hazmat suit, long gone— "How are you?" said a voice on the radio. "Juliet, are you there? I'm Walker. Gosh, tell me how you are—"