“I am Smith, I’m at Camp One. The camp is in good condition, supplies are plentiful, and I’m waiting for you here. If you hear this, you must come find me. We agreed to meet here.”

Henry Clark’s voice was already a bit choked. He covered his mouth with his hand, paused to calm himself, and then spoke again in a steady tone: “Today I met a girl. She’s the first person I’ve seen since entering the camp, and I brought her here. If there’s any new development, I’ll let you know. This call is over. I am Smith, waiting for you at Camp One. Over!”

Still just static. After listening to the noise in silence for a few minutes, Henry Clark finally turned off the radio.

“Why did you stop calling? Is there no one? Try calling a bit longer! Call someone else!”

Ashley Grant seemed a bit anxious. Henry Clark shook his head and said quietly, “It’s useless.”

He disconnected the outdoor antenna, put the radio back into the metal can, and then took out a tin biscuit box.

Ashley Grant was a bit impatient, but didn’t dare say much more. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, “Maybe if we wait a little longer, someone will hear us.”

Henry Clark didn’t answer. He just opened the biscuit box and took out a walkie-talkie.

As soon as he turned on the walkie-talkie, a man’s voice sounded, and Ashley Grant immediately fell silent, listening intently.

“…The virus is a new type of virus mutated from rabies, and it can be transmitted through the air. It is highly pathogenic. If you have already received the new rabies vaccine in advance, you don’t need to fear the airborne rabies virus.

But be warned: the virus carried by patients after rabies onset has mutated again. The vaccine is ineffective against this mutated virus, so if you are bitten by a rabid patient, the vaccine won’t work. You must absolutely avoid being bitten, absolutely avoid contact!

If you discover a patient showing symptoms of rabies, protect yourself immediately and take any measures necessary to avoid being attacked. Unfortunately, those infected with the virus can no longer be considered human. Even if it’s your family, your loved one, your friend—no matter who it is—if they start showing symptoms, you must not make contact. You can only choose to run or to kill them. It’s hard, but this concerns everyone’s life. Please, be careful.

Fellow citizens, the current situation is very dangerous and difficult, but please trust our country, trust our soldiers. Our army has already launched a counterattack against the aliens. No matter what the final outcome is, in order to survive, we must fight together to the end!

Fellow citizens, this is not the end of the world. This is war! This is a war against aliens. Even if our enemy is aliens, we must fight to the end!

This is not doomsday! This is war! Unite and resist to the end.

Listeners, this is a rebroadcast. Whoever hears this broadcast, please be sure to spread the message.

We have been attacked. The aliens released the virus on us. The virus is…”

No need to listen any further, so Henry Clark turned off the walkie-talkie.

Ashley Grant was in tears, unable to stand, and collapsed to the floor against the doorframe.

“Why did you stop listening?” Ashley Grant sobbed, looking at Henry Clark with confusion and anger. “Why did you stop? Didn’t you hear? He said this isn’t the end!”

“It’s been two months. They’ve been playing the same message over and over, always the same, never changing. If… there’s no need to listen anymore.”

Ashley Grant choked out, “If what?”

“If the situation had improved—even if there was only a slight change—the broadcast would have changed. But this is still the message from the first day of the outbreak, so there’s no point in listening anymore.”

Ashley Grant closed her eyes. After a moment, she looked at Henry Clark with a look of despair and said, “So it’s all over, isn’t it? The virus was released by aliens, and since the aliens could cross such a vast distance to reach Earth, it means their technology is far beyond ours. So we’re all going to die. It’s all over, isn’t it?”

Henry Clark thought for a moment, then said quietly, “At least we’re still alive.”

“What’s the point of living like this…”

Ashley Grant was actually handling it pretty well. After all hope was gone, the fact that she wasn’t hysterical showed her will was strong.

Of course, it was also possible that Ashley Grant was simply completely numb after countless times of despair.

Henry Clark didn’t answer Ashley Grant’s question. He just said softly, “Let’s start butchering the pig. We’ll have meat soon—pork stewed with cabbage.”

Ashley Grant immediately lifted her head. She looked at Henry Clark and said seriously, “Okay!”

Henry Clark reached out his hand, and Ashley Grant grabbed it. Her body was a bit too weak—after walking such a long distance and with the exhaustion from emotional turmoil, even with Henry Clark helping her up, she struggled to stand.

After getting up, Ashley Grant looked at Henry Clark and said seriously, “Can I ask you a question? Why do you have a radio and a walkie-talkie, and why are they still working?”