Chapter 25: Whence Comes Courage

Madison’s words immediately captured everyone’s attention; even Doris couldn't help but lean toward the doorway to look at Gavin.

Facing the expectant gazes of the group, Gavin rested his elbows on the bed of the T-Rex truck and smiled. "Of course it has an impact, but it’s not a major issue. I think a few scenarios will likely play out once they encounter the Ennis zombie horde."

"On one hand, if their small group merges into the larger Ennis horde and continues toward us, we simply proceed with the original plan."

"On the other hand, if they push through the Ennis horde and keep moving, the intersection of those two groups will inevitably cause further dispersion within both of their ranks. Even if we encounter them then, we’ll have a high chance of breaking through their lines, which would be even thinner than they are now."

"Even if that fails, we can just follow behind them. Once they cross the Ennis junction, we can accelerate and pass through Ennis, heading toward Coscan Town."

With that, Gavin rubbed the corners of his eyes, as if clearing away sleep. A sleepless night was never easy, though he was thankful for the hour of dozing he’d just managed, which had dulled his headache significantly.

At the door of the RV, Eugene heard Gavin’s explanation and clapped his hands with a loud laugh. "Haha, Quarterback, I’m starting to like those theories of yours!"

"You’re getting attached too soon. I believe the best is yet to come for Gavin," Madison said, patting Eugene on the shoulder. Eugene scoffed, dodging the touch, and continued to address Gavin.

"Well, I’m looking forward to it. I’m almost tempted to start pampering you, Quarterback. Are you rested enough? Do you need to sleep a bit more?" Eugene then pointed a mocking finger at Doris and added, "I just walked past the oven and found out that the lady has set the roast to cook for another two hours. We won't be eating until eight or nine tonight!"

"So why don't you get some more sleep? Dinner is still a long way off~"

"Oh, dear..." Doris immediately lowered her head in shame. Staring at her own toes, she bit her lip, silently bracing herself. *Doris, be strong! Be strong!*

After steeling herself, she looked up at Eugene’s rough, scarred face. Hurriedly averting her eyes, she felt a lump form in her throat. "W-wuh... I’m sorry... I... I rarely make pot roast in the morning, so it takes a bit longer, wuh-wuh-wuh..."

"Mom!!!" Winnie nearly spat her soda out through her nose.

Seeing this, Gavin waved a hand impatiently at Doris. "Just go finish the cooking!"

"I understand, wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh..." Doris’s sobbing intensified as she scurried back to the gas stove, rushing around in a panic to get things ready.

Watching Doris retreat, Winnie’s face fell. Glancing at Gavin’s dissatisfied expression, she reluctantly walked over to him, clutching her soda and offering a sheepish defense. "I admit my mom is a bit of a crybaby, but believe me, her cooking is genuinely delicious! Before she married my dad, she even ran a French restaurant, a fast-food joint, and a bakery. She just stopped working after they got together."

"Oh, is that so?" Gavin patted Winnie on the head. "How old is your mother?"

"Forty-two. Why do you ask, Boss?" Winnie looked at him warily.

Gavin smiled back. "Only forty-two? Doesn't look like it. But she married quite young—your brother is almost an adult, right? So, kid, given that she married so young, why did she manage to run so many businesses before settling down? I’m guessing those restaurants went out of business pretty fast, didn't they?"

"Boss!" Winnie couldn't help but roll her eyes, though she was secretly curious about Gavin’s remark. After a moment, she wandered over to her mother to ask about it.

Seeing both women retreat into the vehicle, Gavin pulled out a cigarette and offered one to William and Eugene. As they stood there exhaling smoke, William leaned against the body of the T-Rex and turned to Gavin. "Gavin, I... I think... I want to..."

"If you have something to say, spit it out! You look like you're suffering from chronic constipation, man!" Eugene, clearly annoyed by William’s hesitation, stepped forward to snap at him before leaning back against the truck.

Pushed by Eugene, William cast a nervous glance at him, then looked even more apprehensively at Gavin. "I want to say... when we pass my house, can we... look for my brother? I want to know if he’s really turned into a zombie."

Having finally let the words out, William let out a long breath and hung his head, bracing for judgment.

Gavin fell silent for a moment, then looked at Eugene with a blank expression. Under Gavin’s gaze, Eugene felt a sharp prickle of alarm. In an instant, Eugene lunged at William, grabbed him by the collar of his police uniform, and growled, "Are you a hero? Tell me, are you Superman? William, you’re just a damn intern cop!"

"Do you think you’re the only one who cares about your family? You’re obsessed with your dead father on one hand, and worried about your brother—whose fate is unknown—on the other. But what do the living mean to you?"

"You’re such a good son, such a good brother! What about me? Am I trash? I know my sister and nephew are in Ennis, but I haven't even dared to look in their direction!"

"You think you’re so noble, and that I’m just some pathetic coward, right?"

"Wait, that's not what I meant!" As Eugene hoisted him up, William struggled and shook his head frantically. "You know I didn't mean that, Eugene! I just... I just can't let it go!"

"Haha, 'not what you meant,' that’s a laugh!" Eugene scoffed, releasing William’s collar and jabbing a finger hard into his chest. "After I saw your dead-beat dad and those thousands of zombies trailing our RV, I didn't even dare to look for my own sister for the sake of our lives!"

"Because I know that if my sister is alive, she wouldn't want me to die just to reach her, and if she’s dead, she’d only want me to live on for her sake! But now, because you 'can't let it go,' you want to drag all of us into an Ennis crawling with zombies. Is the lake not safe enough for you? Are you trying to get us all killed for kicks?"

With that, Eugene felt a surge of frustration and wanted to kick William, but he was too annoyed to even bother. He paced around him, spitting on the ground. "That Quarterback kid and his theories—they’re annoying as hell, but I love them, because every single one of them reminds me how to survive!"

"And you, William? You’re an intern cop, yet you’re always reminding me how to get us killed! What is wrong with you? Where is your head? This is the apocalypse! The world has changed; we’re lucky we haven't turned into zombies yet!"

Unable to contain his rage, Eugene shoved William against the T-Rex. William stumbled and slid to the ground, sitting there in dejected silence. Seeing him like that only made Eugene angrier, and he hovered over him with a half-empty bottle of soda in hand.

Seeing this, Gavin patted the side of the truck. "That’s enough, Eugene. Let me talk to him."

Pushing Eugene aside, Gavin walked over to William and nudged his outstretched leg with his boot. "You want to go find your brother? Fine. If we make it safely to the Ennis junction, you can take the Ford and head back into Ennis yourself."

Gavin signaled to Madison. "Mac, give him his USP."

"You got it." Madison nodded, retrieved the pistol from the T-Rex, and tossed it into William’s lap.

William stared at the gun, his throat bobbing as he struggled to find his voice. Silence stretched between them.

Gavin exhaled a cloud of smoke and said softly, "I don't like taking risks, but I admit that there are times when we have no choice. However, Officer, when you decide to take a risk, I hope you don't pin your courage on anyone else."

Gavin crouched down and placed a hand on William’s shoulder. After staring at the silent man for a moment, he withdrew his hand and asked, "So, William, where does your courage to return to Ennis actually come from?"

"It certainly won't come from me."

"That’s a shame, because I rarely take risks for people I barely know."

"What about you?"