The Apocalypse Survival Manual

Chapter 444

As the temperature dropped, the long growing cycle of sweet potatoes became a drawback. If they could get vegetable seeds or anything that matured faster, it might ease the food shortage.

Zeph only agreed to ask around and made no promises.

Even so, Alex looked relieved.

Back in Unit 401, Zeph told Nicole about it.

“I didn’t commit. Do you want to trade? If not, I’ll turn him down.”

They had tens of thousands of pounds of sea salt in storage, but the storage space belonged to Nicole. He wouldn’t make the call alone.

Nicole thought for a moment. “How much does he need?”

“There are over 100 people in Oakhaven Gardens. Even if everyone wants some, a few pounds per person would be enough. Anything more would draw attention.”

Between what they had stockpiled and what they had picked up along the way, there were several tons of refined salt. The sea salt would have to be moved sooner or later.

The problem was what the residents could offer in return.

The government had prepared as well. Before the tsunami, they had stockpiled salt and seafood. Those with connections wouldn’t be short on money.

So sea salt only had real value at the lower end of the market.

A few hundred pounds meant little to Nicole.

Giving it away wasn’t an option, but deciding how much grain to trade for was tricky. Too much, and people would feel the loss. Too little, and it wouldn’t be worth it. Worse, it might raise suspicion.

If it came too easily, people would keep asking.

Since the salt belonged to both of them, Nicole asked, “What’s a fair rate?”

Zeph thought for a moment.

“Market price is one pound of salt for ten pounds of grain. Traders are hoarding, but we can stick to that. Let Alex tally demand and cap it at three pounds per person.”

Nicole nodded. That would work.

As for seeds, she could provide some as well.

Five pounds of corn seed. For vegetables, maybe one pound.

They had been saving seeds from their own crops in the black soil garden. Two years of letting plants flower and go to seed had built up a decent supply.

Second-generation seeds might not be as strong, but in times like this, having something to plant was enough. Vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, and pumpkin would still grow.

Seeds were valuable, but Nicole decided to offer them anyway.

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+158gus

She didn’t do it for the sweet potatoes, but for Alex. Three years into this world, and he still held on to something

rare.

She couldn’t live that way, but she respected it.

He was the reason this place still felt like a refuge. Even if they left someday, she wanted the others to make it.

The challenge was giving without drawing attention.

The next day, they went out briefly, then came back and handed Alex a pound of salt.

“It’s from an earlier stockpile,” Zeph said. “Try it first. If it checks out, we’ll talk.”

Alex looked a little embarrassed. “Alright. Thanks.”

Nicole added, “The supplier is someone Zeph knows well. They’re reliable. But there’s no way to fully verify something like this. If anything goes wrong, we can’t take responsibility. How are you planning to test it?”

Alex shrugged.

“Viruses usually don’t survive high heat. I’ll boil it for a couple of hours or dry-roast it in a pan. You two already did us a favor just making the connection. Even if something goes wrong, I won’t hold either of you responsible.”

He meant the salt, not contaminated seafood.

That was only his own judgment. The salt might carry risks, too, but in the apocalypse, staying alive meant accepting risk in the first place.

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Cedella

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