THUD. A sudden impact resounded from the entrance of the small convenience store.
"Why'd you snatch my instant noodles? Why are you taking my stuff?"
"What's all this racket? Are you deaf to what was just said?" The muscular middle-aged man strode over and yanked the two men, who were squaring off like fighting cocks, apart.
One of them, a man in a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses, had a fresh bruise on his forehead, obviously from a blow by the other man.
"He stole my things!" the man with the glasses demanded indignantly.
"Cut the crap and get on the bus," the muscular middle-aged man growled at them. "Hurry up! Stop dawdling, we're about to leave."
"Honey, did someone hit you?" a young woman asked, holding her son as she looked anxiously at the man in the white shirt and his swollen forehead.
"I'm fine." The man gave her a reassuring smile and stuffed the packs of instant noodles and crackers he was carrying into the arms of his wife and son. "Honey, put these away."
Just then, a heavyset woman shot up from a seat in the back and yelled at the driver, "No! You can't leave! My husband isn't back yet!"
"Old Li, drive," the muscular man in the first row behind the driver said, his face grim.
The driver nodded, shut the door with a HISS, and prepared to start the bus.
But at that very moment, a very large man came running out of the convenience store, his gait a heavy waddle.
A heavy black bag was slung across his chest. As he ran, his flesh and the bag jiggled like rolling waves.
"Don't close the door! Don't close the door! Don't you dare drive! Don't go!" the heavyset woman shrieked, trying to climb out of her seat.
However, the aisle was already packed with people, and she couldn't move an inch.
An older woman in the first row near the door complained loudly, "The other buses have already left. Why are we still here? The officer just said we leave right on time, no waiting!"
"What are you yelling about? Can't you see the rotting corpses coming up behind us?"
The men and women in the back row started yelling too. "Hurry up and drive! Zombies are coming!"
"Yeah, what are you waiting for? Drive!"
"Don't drive! Honey! My husband!"
By now, the large man had reached the bus, clinging to the door and hammering on it as he shouted.
A dozen or so zombies wandering on the nearby road were clearly drawn by the noise and began to converge on the bus.
SCREECH. A jeep screeched to a halt beside the bus.
Zhai Ruobai got out of the jeep with another man, cautiously glancing at his companion's furious expression.
"Open the door, quick! The chief is here," the muscular man hurriedly instructed the driver as he stood up.
As the door hissed open, the large man started to push his way on, but an icy glare from the newcomer stopped him dead in his tracks.
Zhai Ruobai and the man boarded the bus, one after the other. "What is all this commotion?" Zhai Ruobai announced. "Everyone on Bus Six will receive a major demerit."
"Accumulate three, and you'll be making your own way to the safe zone."
"Wha—" A wave of wails and complaints erupted inside Bus Six.
The man raised a hand, his expression blank as he gestured for silence. "I'm sure everyone present is well aware that you are core research specialists from various institutes, along with your families. You are all assets vital to our country."
"My name is Gu Chen, and I am one of the leaders in charge of this evacuation to the safe zone."
"The special operations team I lead has never failed a mission, no matter how dangerous or difficult."
"Therefore, I expect everyone here to follow my rules."