Chapter 1: Something’s Wrong with the Brain

　　Awakening from the dark chaos, the young Jason Carter wiped the sweat from his forehead, then looked toward the thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy at the door.

　　"Brian, is there something you need?" Jason Carter asked.

　　The boy called Brian was actually named Brian Cooper.

　　Brian Cooper looked harmless and innocent, but he was gripping a bone knife as he stood guard at the door. It was late at night, and he looked very sleepy but never closed his eyes, because he was on night watch.

　　Brian Cooper shook his head and said, "Nothing. What’s really going on with your head? Even the doctors in town can’t figure out what’s wrong?"

　　"You don’t need to worry about that. It’s not an illness," Jason Carter said resolutely. "It’s almost dawn. I’m getting ready to go hunting. You should get some sleep and go to class on time."

　　"Okay," Brian Cooper nodded gloomily. "What’s the point of studying well in this wasteland…"

　　"If I say it’s useful, then it’s useful," Jason Carter said in a tone that brooked no argument.

　　"I want to go hunting too," Brian Cooper pouted.

　　"If something happens to you, who’ll stand watch? The unconscious me?" Jason Carter stood up, preparing to fetch water from the town center. It was less dangerous there at dawn.

　　Nights here were lawless.

　　……

　　Clouds rolled across the gloomy sky. A drop of acid rain finally fell from the clouds, swaying in the fierce wind before landing with a splat right in front of Jason Carter.

　　The young Jason Carter lay prone on the barren ground, frowning and thinking that luck wasn’t on his side today—he hadn’t seen any prey, but the acid rain had come first.

　　Some say, when walking the wasteland, you must beware of wild beasts.

　　But Jason Carter thought that wasn’t the whole story, because there were many other deadly things on the wasteland—acid rain being one of them.

　　Still, Jason Carter didn’t move. If he didn’t catch any prey today, he and Brian Cooper would starve to death before the acid rain could make them sick.

　　Suddenly, there was the sound of bird wings beating the air. Jason Carter’s eyes snapped open, but his breathing remained steady.

　　Not far in front of Jason Carter was a black iron pot propped up by a stick, with a few dark bread crumbs scattered underneath.

　　A large bird landed beside the pot, watching warily, its gaze sharp. In fact, the bird was almost as big as the pot itself.

　　It stood there preening its feathers for a long time, while Jason Carter remained motionless, waiting.

　　At last, the bird seemed to let down its guard and slowly edged toward the pot, its steps as light as a thief’s.

　　But just as it entered the pot’s range and lowered its head to peck at the crumbs, Jason Carter suddenly yanked the rope in his hand. In the next instant, he leapt up like a wild donkey breaking free, charging at the pot. Before the bird could overturn the pot, he threw himself on it, pinning it down with all his strength!

　　"Whew!"

　　Jason Carter let out a breath. He had waited all night for this sparrow, but thankfully his efforts weren’t wasted—opportunities like this didn’t come every day.

　　From under the pot came the sound of the sparrow struggling, its hard wings scraping sharply against the iron. At that moment, the chimes from the clock tower inside the refuge barrier rang out melodiously.

　　Jason Carter glanced back, wondering when he’d finally be able to bring Brian Cooper into the refuge barrier.

　　To Jason Carter, the people inside the barrier were fortunate, because they didn’t have to face the dangers of the wasteland.

　　But not just anyone could get in.

　　By now, the commotion inside the pot had died down. He sighed, checked that the rag wrapped around his hand was secure, then slowly lifted the pot just enough to slip his hand through the gap, trying to grab the big sparrow’s leg!

　　But life is never that smooth. As soon as Jason Carter reached in, he yelped in pain.

　　He pulled his hand out and saw blood welling from his palm—the rag hadn’t stopped the sparrow’s sharp beak.

　　Jason Carter was angry now. He took off his tattered coat and wrapped it around his hand, then thrust his hand into the pot again. This time, he grabbed the sparrow’s neck in one go.

　　He swiftly pulled the sparrow out, clamped it under his arm, and twisted hard. With a crack, the sparrow’s neck broke, and it stopped moving.