Chapter 22: Rick's Arrival
Hershel quickly pulled his head back.
"How did we get here?"
"How should I know?" Shawn shrugged, looking innocent.
But in reality, as the effects of the alcohol gradually wore off, Shawn vaguely remembered what had happened last night.
After the party ended and everyone was asleep, he had staggered out of his tent, climbed up to the second floor of Hershel's house, and abducted the 60-something-year-old man.
The reason was simple. The two of them had had a great time drinking and talking, so Shawn decided to let Hershel experience the passion of youth again. At first, Hershel had refused, but Shawn, with his strength-enhanced physique, had carried him out of the second-floor window and to the second floor of the barn.
"You said grind up the walkers, so we grind up the walkers!" This was what Shawn had said after bringing Hershel to the second floor of the barn last night.
Remembering his 'bold words', Shawn could only scratch his cheek, so embarrassed that he wanted to declare on the spot that he would never attend another party.
But after just one question, Hershel seemed to realize that Shawn had discovered the secret of the barn. He sighed and said nothing, just led Shawn out of the second-floor entrance of the barn.
"I spilled everything, huh?" Hershel was the first to break the silence as they walked on the grass outside the barn.
"Mhm." Shawn didn't press the issue. Since Hershel couldn't remember what he had said last night, Shawn would just go along with it.
"I have my own difficulties," Hershel sighed.
"You think they're your family, just sick, and you want to save them?" Shawn had heard this idea from Hershel during their initial negotiation, so his question wasn't out of the blue.
"Mhm." Hershel was silent for a moment but finally nodded. This was what he had been doing all along. Not just his family, but also the walkers who had wandered nearby were kept in this barn.
"You're putting a ticking time bomb next to the beds of your living family!" Shawn's tone was sharp and uncompromising. If he didn't correct Hershel's thinking here at the Farm, Shawn would refuse to let him into the Prison in the future. Because his misguided philosophy would get everyone killed. Without Shawn or Rick, he would probably be the first to die, followed by Maggie and Beth.
Walkers are the dead, the dead are walkers! This was a consensus that needed no further emphasis for most survivors.
Faced with Shawn's anger, Hershel remained silent.
"What difference do you think there is between them and the beasts that eat human flesh raw?" Shawn continued to ask. Hershel still said nothing.
It wasn't that he didn't want to answer, but since Shawn's group had joined the Farm, his own views had been gradually changing through his interactions with them.
Especially last night—that unforgettable party. Hershel swore that even on his deathbed many years from now, he would still remember that night. That night, seeing the smiles on Maggie's and Beth's faces, he had understood many things… but he still couldn't bring himself to make the decision.
As for Shawn, seeing that Hershel was just walking forward with his head down, not saying a word, he didn't bring it up again. It wasn't that he had given up, but he figured the time was about right. When Rick and the others arrived at the Farm, someone would naturally 'help' Hershel face reality.
'Shane.'
Only after truly facing reality would Hershel let go of his obsession, let go of everything meaningless.
In this man-eat-man world, everyone had their own journey. Along the way, everyone grew into a better version of themselves, step by step. This was true even for Hershel, who already had one foot in the grave and could die from an acute illness at any moment in this apocalypse.
Change was for survival in this world.
Change was for a better survival in this world.
Change was so that when others were 'eating people', you wouldn't be 'eaten' by them.
Change put the power to choose whether or not to 'eat people' in your own hands.
So Shawn needed to change, and he desperately hoped his companions would change too.
Lost in these thoughts, Shawn suddenly found himself back at the camp. Andrea saw him return and hurried over, checking him up and down for bite marks. The same thing happened to Hershel. As if things weren't annoying enough, his employees and family kept fussing over him.
"Alright!" Hershel said, annoyed, swatting Jimmy's hand away. He looked at Shawn. "We should drink less hard liquor in the future. It's not a good thing for us."
Shawn knew what Hershel meant by 'us'. It was about the cooperation between the camp and the Farm. Two leaders getting too close would make things complicated.
Of course, the main reason was that Hershel was still struggling with himself, still conflicted. He was just one step away from a breakthrough.
As Shawn and the others were talking, several figures appeared at the edge of the Farm. Their figures were blocked by the fire truck, and it wasn't until they got closer that Shawn and the others noticed them.
"Shawn?" Rick was surprised to see him. So the Farm Shawn had mentioned was here.
Rick quickly scanned the area. The Farm had a wide, open view and very few walkers. It was indeed an excellent location for a camp.
"I found him and Carl in the woods, so I brought them over," Daryl said, clearly siding with Shawn. He leaned close to Shawn's ear and explained in a low voice.
"Hi, Brother Shou," the 'crown prince' Carl said, holding his father's arm and greeting Shawn in a clear voice.
His eyes, looking at Shawn, were sparkling with curiosity and longing. For a boy of Carl's age, he greatly admired a ruthless person like Shawn, who killed walkers as if they were nothing. What he longed for was for Shawn to teach him how to kill walkers safely and effectively.
"Mhm." Shawn nodded silently, but he was already overjoyed inside.
Rick and the others' trip to the CDC had only been about a week, but Shawn had been waiting for them for a long time. With the help of Rick and Shane, taking the Prison would be no difficult task.
And thanks to Shawn's arrival, Otis and Jimmy had been replaced by Daryl and Merle, which prevented our crown prince from having some unpleasant childhood memories.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa~~"
Before he even saw the person, just from the flamboyant voice, Rick knew who it was. Merle was leaning against the fire truck, taking a bite out of an apple, looking every bit the rogue.
"Look who's here. Shawn said you guys would be here soon. I told him he was full of shit."
Hearing this, Rick frowned. How did Shawn know they would come?