Chapter 10: Kenny
The truck cab was deathly silent. Only the engine's rumble and their heavy breathing filled the space. The smell of blood and gunpowder permeated the cramped interior.
Hanks drove with focus, weaving through abandoned vehicles and occasional walkers. His profile was taut, betraying no emotion.
Maggie stared out the window at the ghostly streetscape flying past. Tears slid down silently.
To save her brother, she'd indirectly caused a teenager's death. The guilt weighed so heavily it suffocated her.
After what felt like an eternity, when the farm's outline appeared in view again—
Maggie seemed to recover a bit of strength. She took a deep breath, roughly wiping tears away with her sleeve. Her voice was still hoarse. "...The medications. We got most of them."
Hanks glanced at her and grunted. He didn't want or need to say another word.
He knew Maggie needed time to process.
In this broken world, breaking the first moral shackle was always the most painful.
But he didn't regret his decision.
Keeping himself alive, protecting Clementine, completing the mission—those were his only pursuits right now!
Civilization? Morality? Humanity?
Have the means first, then talk about good deeds and virtue.
The farm gate opened again. Hershel and Beth rushed out anxiously.
The truck had barely stopped when Maggie jumped out clutching the medications, rushing to her father. "Dad! We got the medicine!"
She deliberately avoided Hanks's gaze, avoided that unbearable experience.
Hershel saw the medications. Hope flared in his eyes. He couldn't spare time for questions. "Quick! Bring them inside! Shawn's gotten worse!"
Hanks also got out. He glanced at Maggie and Hershel rushing inside.
Then his gaze turned to Lee waiting by the door and Clementine clinging tightly to his leg.
"Hanks!" Clementine released Lee and ran to throw herself into his arms.
Hanks crouched down and hugged her tight, feeling the little girl's trembling body.
"It's okay. We're back." His voice softened considerably. Clementine gradually calmed down.
Lee limped over, his face written with worry and lingering fear. "How's it out there?"
"Worse than we thought." Hanks kept it brief. "Got the medicine. Hope we're not too late."
His gaze shifted to the farmhouse window. Hershel and Maggie's figures were busy inside.
Whether Shawn could pull through...
Or rather, how long he could last...
Hanks returned to the pickup, taking inventory of the spoils they'd brought back.
One old Remington 870 shotgun with scattered 12-gauge shells. One Glock pistol with full magazine.
One brand-new Beretta 92FS pistol with two boxes of 9mm ammunition—50 rounds each—plus two spare magazines and a matching holster.
"Lee," Hanks turned to look at the limping man approaching. "Take this."
He handed over the shotgun with its limited ammunition and the Glock. "You use the M590 and the Glock. I'll give you a couple pistol magazines in a bit."
Lee accepted the gun, his expression complex. "Officer, but my status... is this appropriate?"
"Just call me by name." Hanks looked him straight in the eye. "I read your case file."
Lee instinctively lowered his head at that.
Clementine tilted her head up, bright eyes moving between them, curious what they were talking about.
"A man does what he has to." Hanks patted his shoulder, his tone firm.
"Laws that protect scum—is that justice?"
Lee looked at him incredulously.
Dude, you trying to get censored?!
Hanks rolled his eyes, ignoring him. He loaded the Beretta 92 and both magazines with ammunition, planning to keep it as a backup weapon.
He also topped off two P226 magazines, saving the remaining bullets as reserve ammo.
After dealing with the spoils, he walked toward the farmhouse. Clementine stuck close by his side, small hand gripping his sleeve.
The atmosphere inside was heavy.
Hershel was injecting Shawn with antibiotics while Maggie helped pass instruments.
Shawn lay in bed, breathing rapidly, his brow furrowed in pain even unconscious from high fever.
After the medication injection, his breathing seemed slightly more stable, but his forehead remained frighteningly hot. The illness was clearly only barely suppressed, not improved.
Beth was bringing over a basin of hot water. Seeing Hanks enter—
A barely noticeable gleam flashed in her blue eyes. She instinctively wanted to approach and talk to him.
Maybe to ask about the situation outside. Maybe to get closer to this powerful, mysterious man.
"Officer Hanks, did you—" Before she could finish—
Maggie beside her suddenly looked up, eyes cold as she glared. She grabbed Beth's arm and yanked her aside almost roughly.
"Beth! Go get a fresh basin of water!"
Maggie's voice was hard, carrying an unmistakable command. She positioned her body to block the line of sight between Beth and Hanks.
She couldn't forget those cold gunshots in the pharmacy. Couldn't forget that boy's desperate eyes.
She absolutely would not let her naive, kind sister have any unnecessary contact with this tyrant.
Beth was startled by her sister's reaction. She felt wronged and confused, but still walked away with the basin, stealing one more glance at Hanks before leaving.
Hanks saw it all. His face showed no expression.
Maggie's hostility was expected. He didn't care. His gaze fell on Shawn.
"How is he?" he asked Hershel.
Hershel shook his head wearily. "Used the antibiotics, gave him fever reducers, but the effect is very limited."
"His temperature keeps rising. I've never seen this kind of infection. It's not like normal bacteria or virus..."
His tone was full of helplessness. Professional knowledge seemed so pale against unknown catastrophe.
Just then, the farmhouse door opened again.
A night breeze rushed in, bringing coolness. Otis led several more people inside.
At the front was a tall man with a thick beard wearing a duck-billed cap.
Worry marked his face. Beside him walked a blonde woman and a timid-looking boy around ten years old.
"Hershel, we heard gunshots and engines over here. What happened? Shawn, is he..." The man in the cap spoke up, his voice rough.
His gaze swept quickly across the room, pausing on the strangers Hanks and Lee before finally landing on Shawn in the bed.
Hershel sighed. "Kenny, you're here. Shawn's injured and infected. It's serious."
"These two are Officer Hanks and Lee. They helped Maggie get the medicine."
"Officer?" Kenny's tone lifted slightly with a Southern accent. "The way things are outside, can cops still do anything?"
His words carried no obvious malice. More like reality-based skepticism.
Hanks met his gaze. "All of humanity's moral order is gradually collapsing."
His words made Kenny's family's faces pale. Everyone present was shocked.
"This damn world..." Kenny cursed under his breath, then looked at Shawn. "Hershel, is there anything we can help with?"
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