Chapter 18 - Chapter 16: An Infection Story
"Whoa, what is this... I'm stunned."
Looking at the state of the ground, I had no choice but to say that. The infected prowling all over the place; both the number and density are far too high compared to anything I've seen until now. It's not hard to imagine that if we step outside even a little, we'll be found in an instant.
Where did all these infected come from? Since we didn't get chased or overtaken by a group of infected on our way to this city, it means they were originally here, but...
"Where did those guys come from?"
"Considering the situation of the bridge over there, they were likely originally here. To prevent the infected who gathered in this city chasing survivors from proceeding further east, the JSDF blew up the bridge. So, what's left is just a large number of infected, I guess."
"Then did we proceed and charge right into a swarm of infected..."
It's the same as a clogged drain. Because the bridge that plays the role of a pipe was blown up and blocked, the infected accumulated in this city. There are no bridges that can be crossed, and the only way to the opposite bank is to swim. But since the infected remain gathered here, does that mean they can't swim?
"Why don't those guys go to the opposite bank? If they have that much athletic ability, they should just swim across the river and chase the survivors."
"I don't know that either. But this infectious disease might be close to rabies."
"Rabies?"
Is that the disease dogs get? When I asked back like an echo, Naomi-san nodded.
"I've been in this city since long before you came here; their symptoms are close to those of rabies. Attacking anything that enters their sight, just moving around when they're not doing that, drooling constantly... Also, becoming feral applies too."
Naomi-san then talked about how similar this new infectious disease and rabies are. The infection route is that the virus contained in saliva enters the body by biting, reaches the brain, and causes ferocity. Becoming excited and aggressive, et cetera, et cetera.
"Well, it's certain it's not rabies, just close. Because if it were rabies, the infected would die in about a week after onset."
"You know a lot about diseases; I only have knowledge about colds and the flu."
"I was taught by an Iraq veteran who lived in my neighborhood when I was in America. That person also apparently received a rabies vaccine and was taught the symptoms and such before going to Iraq."
As expected of America, the word "veteran" comes out so casually. Simultaneously, it's because she has a wealth of such knowledge that Naomi-san has been able to survive alone until now.
Well, I don't know what kind of thing this infectious disease is, and I probably won't know for a while. I don't know how many people like doctors and scientists are still alive now, and to begin with, even if they remained, there's no opportunity to know the results of their research. TV and radio remain silent.
However, what is clearly known is that once you're bitten, it's over, and there is no vaccine for this infectious disease. If you don't want to die, or if you don't want to fall into the fate of chasing your former compatriots while drooling and moaning "ah-uu," you must not be found by the infected.
The infected are overwhelmingly more numerous and stronger than us. It takes luck and stamina to escape, but right now I have no stamina. I'd run out of breath in a few seconds, and I'd be bitten while walking unsteadily. Luck is important, but the world isn't kind enough to let you get by on luck alone.
"For now, could everyone gather? I want to grasp the current situation."
When I call out, Mana-chan, who was peeking at the ground from the edge of the rooftop, and Yui, who was crouching with a pale face, come over. Sharing information, grasping the situation, and making appropriate judgments. That is important for survival. Yesterday, we didn't know the information that there were a large number of infected in this city, we couldn't grasp the situation that the only remaining bridge was impassable, and because we were tired, we couldn't make appropriate judgments. Because of that, we almost all died.
The reason we were saved was just that Naomi-san happened to be in this city and happened to see us escaping. On top of that, it's precisely because she was strong that we were able to survive, but when we fall into a similar situation next time, it's not guaranteed that someone will help us. That's why we must ensure we don't fall into the same situation again.
"Hey, why don't we do the discussion downstairs? There's no point in doing it on the rooftop, right?"
"There is a point; we can see the surroundings, so it's easy to grasp the buildings and terrain."
When I answered that, I felt Yui's face became even paler. I think the sight of Yui, who is usually arrogant, being withered is quite something. I wonder if I was actually a sadist.
But now is not the time to intently gaze at Yui's frightened figure. For now, I wrote down the information Naomi-san knows and the information obtained by looking from the rooftop on a map of the city. Most of the bridges spanning the river that separates this city and the neighboring city have been blown up by the JSDF or blocked by accidents. It seems the same for the bridges upstream, but Naomi-san has apparently never been to the north side of the densely populated area, so she hasn't grasped the situation beyond there. She said there's only one bridge quite far upstream, but we won't know if it still remains until we go there.
"Naomi-san, how much food and water is there?"
"Let's see... for four people, I guess there's about two weeks' worth left. But the problem is water."
"Water?"
There, I finally notice that buckets are placed here and there on the rooftop. Are they placed to collect rainwater? Among them is even one made into a tub by stretching a plastic sheet over a baby crib. But all of them are empty.
"It hasn't rained at all lately. All the water that can be obtained from stores is being used for drinking, so there's almost no water for daily life."
"...Come to think of it, the last time it rained was the day before I met you."
Since Yui said that while her face was pale, I remembered that night several weeks ago. That night I fell asleep alone in a room of an empty mansion while listening to music. Indeed, it hasn't rained since that night.
"Even if we try to fetch it from the river, there are infected swarming outside. Besides, the more water you fetch, the heavier your body becomes and the slower your movements. Yet, it's not good for hygiene not to wash your body, but right now there's almost no water that can be used for anything other than drinking."
The more unhygienic you keep yourself, the higher the risk of getting sick. Even if you go to a hospital, there are no doctors, and since pharmacies will have been looted, you don't know if you can obtain medicine. Even a cold that would have been cured by sleeping for a few days six months ago could bring death to us now.
"Um, is there no food left in the city anymore? In some supermarket or convenience store?"
"I'm sorry, but all the food that remained within the range I can go has already been brought into this mansion. So even if you look in nearby stores, nothing remains anymore."
"Then if we go further away to look..."
"I'd like to do that, but the wider the range of action, the higher the risk of being found by the infected. Besides, if it's too far, you'll use up stamina just by carrying the luggage, so if you're found, you might not be able to escape."
Looking at Naomi-san answering Mana-chan's question kindly, I remembered the convenience store I saw immediately after coming to this city. About half the shelves of food and water still remained there, but it's too far from here. It would be a struggle just to bring it, and there are many dangers waiting along the way.
"If so, it means we have to leave here within three weeks..."
My mood sank all at once. No matter how sturdy a fortress is, if there's no food, the people inside have no choice but to starve to death. Besides, a human needs at least 2 liters of water a day, and more water is needed for washing the body or flushing the toilet. Yet it doesn't rain, and even though it's nearby, we can't go to the river because of the infected. I realized again how convenient water and sewage were.
Even if it rains, we have to go outside once the food stockpiled in the mansion runs out. We can't stay holed up here forever.
"...I'm sorry somehow, because of us."
By the time I noticed, I was apologizing like that. If we hadn't come here, Naomi-san could have used the supplies four times as freely. By simple calculation, twelve weeks' worth just for food. She ended up splitting it into four portions because she helped us.
"That's enough about that; I wanted comrades too. So you don't need to feel reserved or guilty, because I helped you of my own will."
"Naomi-san..."
I almost felt attracted to the smile she showed. No, maybe I am attracted. Naomi-san, who doesn't lose her smile even in such a hell, was like a ray of light shining into the darkness.
"More importantly, let's think about what to do from now on. There are still three weeks; I'm sure we'll manage somehow."
That's right, I shouldn't just lament about what to do, I have to work hard thinking I have to do something. I can't afford to die yet, until I deliver Yui and Mana-chan to a safe place.
...Though before that, I have to do something about the injury on my arm too.
I look forward to your opinions and impressions.
This time it's short. I'm sorry, truly sorry.