章 7: Chapter 7 : Procurement of materials
Yingli, naturally, didn't object to their shopping expedition. The two of them ventured into a nearby shop, a place not particularly large but stocked with a wide variety of goods. They decided to purchase their daily necessities there, as procuring mineral water seemed more convenient at Ike's classmate Tom's convenience store.
However, Tom's convenience store primarily focused on everyday essentials, with only a small section dedicated to food items. Hence, they opted to acquire food elsewhere.
Ike harbored concerns as he recalled last year's solar storm in Europe when power had been out for a month and a half. He thought about Tom's family and whether they had prepared enough food to last that long. For safety, they chose to purchase their provisions externally.
Together, they swiftly filled four shopping baskets. Ike's apprehension of not being able to carry everything he wanted kept him from buying even more.
At the store's cash register, the power outage had rendered it non- functional, so they had to rely on a calculator to tally their expenses. However, the products themselves were not labeled with prices, necessitating a time-consuming search through the store's shelves. Their extensive purchases drew the ire of other shoppers waiting in line. One man behind them, who had bought just a bottle of Coke and a pack of cigarettes, couldn't hide his impatience. "Why are you buying so much? It's not the end of the world."
A tall, thin woman, carrying a basket filled with various items, chimed in, "These solar storms are nothing to worry about. We'll probably have a power outage for a while, but it's no big deal." The atmosphere grew tense as more customers expressed their annoyance with Ike and Yingli's extensive purchases. "What's with all this panic-buying?" one woman remarked, her shopping cart filled to the brim.
Another person, who initially supported the sentiment, grew increasingly agitated and verbally attacked Ike. "You're an idiot!" he spat out, ending his rant with a harsh judgment.
Ike recognized the word "idiot" from his earlier thoughts, and he pondered whether it was a more significant concern than the impending solar storm. Amid the heated exchange, the sky outside was bathed in the vivid light of the aurora, casting an eerie glow over the city.
Time: 21:23 p.m.
Once Ike and Yingli returned home, they overheard people jubilantly discussing the unexpected holiday due to the impending solar storm. It seemed that many were looking forward to the extended break.
As they continued their journey, Ike couldn't help but eavesdrop on the various conversations taking place around them. Eventually,
they arrived at Tom's convenience store.
"Uh-oh, what will we do? The power is out, and there's so much ice cream in the freezer," Aunt Linda, Tom's mother, lamented.
The relentless wind and rain had caused the rolling doors of Tom's convenience store to close, leaving only a narrow entrance for a single person.
When Aunt Linda caught sight of Ike and Yingli, she wore a relieved smile. "I told you there was nothing to worry about. It all depends on how anxious you are."
Yingli returned her borrowed raincoat, and Ike replied, "I got stuck in an elevator, but I'm okay."
Linda couldn't hide her concern and said, "Ike!"
Tom, who had rushed out upon hearing the commotion, greeted Ike with a bear hug. "Ike, how come you didn't wet your pants?"
Ike rolled his eyes, unamused by the jest. Tom continued to tease him, laughing heartily at the situation. Though Ike had been temporarily stuck in the elevator, his fearlessness and quick thinking had saved him from any real distress. The electrician had arrived promptly, but the locked fire escape door on the fourth floor had caused a delay.
Tom clarified the situation to Ike, explaining that each floor in the building where Yingli worked was rented out separately.
Consequently, the fire escape door locks were managed by dedicated individuals, and the tenants on the fourth floor were currently off duty. They needed the owner's consent to unlock the fire escape, which had caused the delay in Ike's rescue.
The malfunctioning elevator emergency communication system and the anxious electricians outside had further compounded the situation. Nonetheless, the ordeal had eventually come to an end without any harm.
"Aunt Linda, could you help us get two boxes of mineral water?" Ike requested.
Linda readily agreed and asked Negan, Tom's father, to retrieve the mineral water. As Negan carried the supplies, Linda scrutinized their extensive purchases and muttered, "Why are you buying so much?" Ike considered her concerns for a moment. Everyone was aware of the impending solar storm, but Linda's family seemed to lack a sense of urgency. He felt it necessary to remind them.
"With the upcoming solar storm, we should anticipate a power outage lasting at least a month or two. Aunt Linda, do you have enough provisions at home? It might be a good idea to stock up on some supplies," Ike advised.
Linda waved her hand dismissively. "Our family runs a convenience store. You're worrying too much."
Indeed, their convenience store was only three kilometers away from the wholesale market, making resupplying a simple task. "That's true," Ike conceded, realizing the logic behind Linda's perspective. "But if possible, maybe you could set aside some items and not sell them. Keep them for later," he suggested.
Linda countered, "Ike, you don't understand. This is when our convenience store can make good money. If we close, how will we generate income?"
Ike found it challenging to counter that point and turned to Tom forsupport. Tom, who had grown up alongside Ike, knew what was on his mind.
Tom tactfully chimed in, "It seems like the solar storm will disrupt traffic, right? We might not be able to restock our inventory during that time. Mom, I think what Ike said makes some sense."
Not entirely convinced, Linda countered again, "The wholesale market isn't far."
After a moment of contemplation, Tom added, "It's only three kilometers away, and I can ride my bike there."
Ike realized that perhaps he had been overly concerned about Tom's family. "In that case, I'll head home now," he said.
Negan playfully pushed him and encouraged, "Go on, go on." However, Linda caught his eye and shot him a stern look. Negan obediently stayed put.
Tom helped them move their purchases, and Ike then headed downstairs.
Time: 22:53, nearly eleven o'clock at night. After dinner, the outside world was still bathed in bright light. The aurora in the sky had become even more mesmerizing. Ike couldn't help but marvel at its beauty, a breathtaking spectacle.
Last year, during a major power outage in Europe, the aurora had only been visible from high mountaintops. It was strange to witness such a grand display of auroras in coastal cities this year. Ike wasn't an expert in the field, and he didn't recall any strict rules about auroras appearing only at high altitudes. So, for the time being, he decided to enjoy the stunning sight quietly.
Although they had confirmed that a solar storm was occurring, Ike wasn't overly concerned. After all, Europe had experienced a similar event last year, with significant power outages. It had taken about a month and a half to restore most of the electricity. Since then, countries worldwide had increased their focus on this issue. Ike believed his own country was well- prepared.
In recent years, solar activities had become more frequent, and even those who weren't typically interested in such matters, like Ike, were aware of the situation. With this in mind, he trusted that his country would address the issue promptly, possibly even having taken advanced precautions. Therefore, he conservatively estimated that the economic losses resulting from this solar storm wouldn't exceed the previous year's European power outage. He also estimated that electricity would likely be restored within a month, but to be cautious, he prepared for a two-month outage.
With enough gas, medication, and recently purchased food supplies, Ike felt well-prepared. He had little concern about the situation lasting longer than that.
"Hey, Ike," Tom's voice called from downstairs.
The sky remained bright, and Ike's phone was out of commission, making it impossible for him to know the exact time. Anna's phone was still functional, but Ike couldn't use it, so he relied on other cues to approximate the time.
It was likely early morning.
Ike opened the door, and Tom, wearing his pajamas, slipped into Ike's room, striking a provocative pose as he settled into the spot Ike had just vacated. "Can't sleep," he explained.
Ike looked down at him, maintaining a stoic expression. "Don't get nauseous in my bed."
Tom playfully responded, "You're no fun." In private, Tom was quite mischievous, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. Ike was not interested in such advances; he was not homosexual. Tom let out a sigh and flopped onto the bed, his blanket
covering his face. "No phone, no computer, no internet, no games," he lamented.
Tom's face displayed a mix of sorrow and frustration. "I thought this would be a great vacation, but now I realize it's just torture." It seemed that the dull days ahead would last longer than anticipated.
Although Ike shared Tom's sentiments, he put on a nonchalant façade. "It's a good opportunity to adjust your sleep schedule," he remarked.
"How long do you think this power outage will last?" Tom inquired.
"A month," Ike replied.
Tom was disheartened. "That's quite a long time! Oh my goodness."
Ike offered a reassuring perspective. "What's there to worry about? When the hurricane subsides, I'll have a month of uninterrupted gaming."
Tom tried to comfort himself with Ike's words. "You're right; there's nothing a computer can't solve. And we've got two computers, just in case."
As they continued their conversation, Negan's voice suddenly echoed from downstairs. "Ike, Tom, come and help!"
The wind outside howled fiercely, and the heavy rain fell like a waterfall. In just a few hours, the street outside had turned into a flowing river, the rushing water carrying a strong current.
"No, no, the wind is too strong," Aunt Linda exclaimed, her voice barely audible over the raging tempest even though she stood inside the store's rolling shutter door.
At this moment, Ike, Tom, and Negan were each tied to a rope around their waist. They had done so because a man had ventured outside in the strong wind and been struck by a piece of debris, knocking him down.
Though the man was relatively large, the force of the wind had swept him off the road. He was fortunate enough to grab hold of a telegraph pole in a nearby puddle, but it took him nearly twenty minutes to call for help from his precarious position.
The wind outside was truly formidable, and if possible, Reagan, the man in question, wouldn't have risked this venture with his two children. However, their phones were no longer working, and communication with the police or hospital had become impossible.
"Grab the rope and hold on!" Negan shouted, his words fragmented by the howling wind.
"Steady!" Tom exclaimed, appearing somewhat excited. After all, rescuing someone was a courageous and noble endeavor. It might even make the news, and Tom had already begun to think about what he would say, imagining himself saying it with calm confidence: "It was a piece of cake."
Negan had learned from his earlier mistake and didn't attempt to stand. Instead, he crawled through the muddy puddle, drawing closer to the stranded individual.
The man trapped by the storm looked toward them withgratitude, reminding them to be careful.
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