Chapter 16: A Friend and the Greenhouses
In a short span of time, ten days had quickly passed. Dominic spent his time studying the lands around the fortified walls, ensuring the most important location remained well protected. Additionally, all areas surrounding the remote grounds of the warehouse were undergoing renovations.
The thirty workers who had been with him since the beginning were the same ones constructing these very peculiar structures, which had a unique purpose for the future. Tanker trucks stored fuel in an underground warehouse, carefully built for this purpose. These trucks would depart at night to replenish fuel and return to this location. The entire area in this warehouse was undergoing significant changes, with specialized zones and restricted-access fields.
"The modifications for the two trucks parked there are in the middle phase, but I have a question: are they legal?" One of the mechanics hired by Dominic wasn't sure about what was happening.
Dominic looked at the enormous trucks undergoing modifications, then at the man beside him, and said, "They won't be used; don't worry. Besides, the film I'm collaborating on requires the trucks to be functional with turrets and everything else. Stay calm; I'll take responsibility for everything happening here."
"It's not that, sir; I just wanted to make sure I wasn't involved in what was happening here."
"Do you really not want to be a part of this? If you have nowhere else to go, there will be plenty of work to do here. As you know, money is not a problem, especially with the facilities now that we're building a hospital." Dominic walked towards the exit to observe the installation of the greenhouses.
Relatives of his trusted workers were also working in this place. There was top-quality machinery and sufficient resources to ensure the construction never halted. He was being very cautious in this regard; at least for his shelter, this would be the heart of everything they would work towards later.
The greenhouses Dominic was placing within the walls being constructed were very cost-effective, so cheap that he could build hundreds without any issues. He knew that in the near future, food would be a problem. Not everyone had the necessary knowledge to maintain a place like this, so he hired a family from rural areas and brought them here to train specialized personnel over the next nine months to take over.
"Where will you move them when winter comes?" Oscar, a worker overseeing everything happening within this place, asked Dominic about this confidentially.
Tunnel-type greenhouses are specially designed for small areas and small-scale crops like trailing or low-height horticultural crops. They are cost-effective because of their simple and sturdy structure, which allows for easy relocation. This was what they needed; Dominic couldn't afford something better because time was limited.
But when winter comes, crops stop growing; this is something someone with experience would know. Dominic watched as the construction progressed quickly and asked instead, "Do you know why I'm doing this?"
"I don't want to pry, but I suppose it's for something significant." Oscar was an undocumented immigrant who came with his family to work in this country, so as long as it generated money, he wouldn't ask questions.
Dominic looked at Oscar and said, "The simple ways our world can plunge into darkness are endless, but we're on the brink of a collapse that will affect all world powers equally. I like you, so let me ask you something: do you want to move with your family to this place? You'll have one of the houses that have been built; you'll have the best that the end of the world can offer you."
"That's..." Oscar was speechless, not expecting something like this, so with more attention to detail, he asked, "A war?"
"A biological weapon. My dad worked for a private security company and got privileged information about a virus that will spread uncontrollably worldwide. By then, this place will be built, and you and your family can come here to seek refuge."
"That would be an honor, sir. Can I call my cousins' families?"
"Only trustworthy people can you control. You can't imagine what I'm risking by telling you all this. But you're trustworthy, so select the most reliable workers who will be invited along with their families to this place. The wooden houses being built not far from here will be for all of you."
"I'll definitely select the people, but I think they won't believe me."
Dominic didn't need to tell them everything, just a small part, so he said, "Just gather the names; I'll have a meeting when the time comes with all of you, and I'll reveal the information I have with me."
"That's what I'll do, boss; don't worry."
By the time his thoughts were consuming him, Dominic had reached his car parked outside the containment walls being elaborately crafted to keep walkers out.
In addition to those enormous walls resembling a prison's, Dominic looked at the empty watchtowers and then at the electricity being installed in the vacant areas. The windmills were the most crucial thing here; without them, many places would cease to function.
"I'll risk everything with you all." Dominic started his car and stepped on the accelerator.
He knew he couldn't survive alone in what was to come. That's precisely why he needed to trust people and, more importantly, have people by his side who could meet all the basic needs in the future world.
These honest workers would first want to ensure their families were in a safe place. By meeting this need, Dominic would gain all the gratitude and loyalty a man could offer another. That's why he needed their help as much as they needed his—a mutual exchange that would occur. He wouldn't survive the end of the world alone, let alone being weak.
As for the downsides, they might steal some things from his property, but that's a risk he had to take in the early days. The most valuable things were well protected in the vaults, where only he knew the security codes; as long as he had the codes, he was indispensable.
When he arrived at his school, it was earlier than usual, so Dominic got out of the car and walked towards the mostly empty courts, except for a few people painting the wall.
Dominic leaned back. He had spent the last fifteen days running around buying many things and preparing for the end of the world, and he had forgotten how important resting was.
"Weren't you expelled?"
Raising his head, Dominic looked at Alicia, this girl who was Madison's daughter and with whom he shared classes. He really didn't know what world he was in until his father told him that zombies existed. Now it turns out he was close to some truly incredible people. He didn't want to admit it, but he was piecing things together, and it turns out this particular world seemed very familiar to him from his memories.
"My classes resume tomorrow; everything will go back to normal." Dominic smiled a bit before closing his eyes.
Alicia felt slightly envious of Dominic's carefree attitude; at least that was an aspect she would wish to have in her life.
"Dominic, what are you doing?" Tibias appeared in the distance and shouted at Dominic, who immediately sat up.
"We need to talk."
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