LOSS System: Last Store Standing

Jack went into the storage room and came back with two bulky storage bags.

One held a six-person camping tent. The other was a simple outdoor shower tent.

He dragged both of them under the shade, set them down, then went back into the store for the clean clothes he had left on the first floor.

Elias and Marlin looked at the bags on the ground.

Marlin could not help asking, “What are you setting up now?”

Jack put the clothes aside. “Cass can’t travel like this. And once Susan gets here, the two of them will need somewhere to rest, right?”

He pointed at the larger storage bag.

“It’s not exactly convenient to bring everyone into the store. This is a six-person tent. There should be enough space. For now, we’ll make do outside.”

Then Jack looked at Elias.

“If possible, you should stay tonight too. And when Reed comes back, it’d be better if he stays as well. If anything happens, at least there’ll be enough people here to back each other up.”

Elias was quiet for a moment, then nodded.

“You’re right. Better safe than sorry. I’ll stay tonight.”

Marlin immediately raised a hand. “What about me?”

Jack and Elias both looked at him.

Elias asked, “You’re not leaving?”

Marlin shook his head. “Not today. With everything happening on the roads lately, and now what happened here, things are clearly getting worse.”

He looked toward the deeper wasteland, and the usual merchant’s smile faded from his face.

“I’m thinking of staying put for a few days and sorting things out. Running around like before might not be safe anymore.”

Elias did not object, and Jack nodded as well.

Marlin paused for a moment, then added, “But we still need to discuss the trade.”

Jack almost laughed.

“You really don’t forget business, do you?”

Marlin nodded seriously.

“What else? I’m a merchant.”

Jack waved a hand.

“Fine, fine. We’ll talk after we’re done with all this, okay?”

Cass’s gaze shifted to the clean clothes.

“What about those?”

Jack blinked, then patted his forehead.

“Right. Almost forgot. Those are for you to change into.”

He glanced at the others and was about to say more.

“The clothes you’re wearing right now…”

Elias cut him off at once. “If you have something to say, say it.”

Jack paused, then gave a dry laugh.

“Fine. Serious talk.”

He put away his smile. “Cass has a wound on his leg, so he definitely can’t keep wearing those clothes. If the wound gets infected, that’ll be real trouble.”

Then he looked at Elias and Marlin.

“As for you two…”

Jack paused.

“You’re both basically walking disaster zones.”

Marlin’s expression froze.

Elias went silent for a moment, as if he had not heard that last part.

Cass looked like he wanted to laugh, but the moment his mouth moved, it pulled at his wound. He sucked in a sharp breath instead.

Jack knew when to stop and quickly said, “Anyway, change out of the dirty clothes first.”

Cass scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

“Sorry for the trouble.”

Jack waved it off.

“It’s nothing.”

Jack started with the outdoor shower tent.

Compared with the six-person tent, this one was much simpler. He unfolded the frame, pulled the fabric into place, and before long, a small outdoor shower stood under the shade.

Cass stared at it for a moment, then glanced at Marlin.

“Is this for Marlin? Does he sleep standing up?”

Jack rolled his eyes.

“It’s an outdoor shower. For washing. Not sleeping.”

“Showering?”

Cass looked as if he had heard something ridiculous.

Elias and Marlin did not look much better. Marlin, in particular, stared at Jack as if Jack had just suggested burning food for warmth.

Jack nodded. “Wash first, then change clothes. That lowers the chance of infection as much as possible. Especially for Cass. He has a wound on his leg. We can’t just pretend it’s fine.”

Cass opened his mouth, then closed it again.

In the end, he only said quietly, “Thank you, Jack.”

Jack smiled but did not answer. He lowered his head and continued securing the shower tent.

A moment later, he looked up at Marlin. “Once this is done, I’ll get another tent for you.”

Marlin nodded, then looked at the storage bag for the six-person tent.

“Need help?”

Elias also looked at Jack.

Jack pointed at the tent on the ground. “If you know how, start with that one.”

Then he laughed despite himself.

“Because if I’m the only one doing it, I can’t promise it’ll be finished before dark.”

Elias and Marlin exchanged a look.

Neither of them looked confident.

After a moment, Marlin still crouched down.

“It shouldn’t be that hard, right?”

Elias crouched beside him. “Open it first. We’ll figure it out.”

Jack smiled and wisely kept quiet.

He finished securing the shower tent, then went back into the convenience store and carried out the wooden basin he had used earlier to feed the Dustchucks. He set it inside the shower tent, then dragged the hose over and placed it inside as well.

It was a rough setup, but it would work for a quick wash.

Once everything was ready, Jack opened the shower flap and looked at Cass.

“Can you handle it yourself?”

Cass looked at his injured leg, then at the wooden basin and hose inside the shower tent.

After a moment, he nodded.

“I can.”

“Then go in first,” Jack said. “I’ll get you shower gel and shampoo.”

Elias came over and helped Cass to his feet. Cass leaned on him and slowly made his way into the outdoor shower.

Jack went back into the convenience store. A short while later, he returned with shower gel, shampoo, and a towel, then passed them through the shower flap.

Cass took them.

For a while, there was no sound from inside.

Then his voice came out, awkward and a little weak.

“I don’t think I can wash by myself.”

Jack paused. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” Cass sounded even more embarrassed. “I can’t squat down.”

Jack finally understood.

“Wait here. I’ll get something.”

He hurried back into the store, went upstairs, and carried down the small bedside cabinet from his room.

After placing the cabinet inside the shower tent, he set the wooden basin on top and checked the height.

“This should work.”

Cass quickly said, “That’s enough. This works.”

On the other side of the shade, Marlin and Elias had opened the storage bag for the six-person tent. Both of them were crouched in front of the pile of poles and fabric, studying it like an especially difficult puzzle.

Jack glanced over and decided to make another trip to the storage room for the two-person tent.

While everyone was busy with the tents and the makeshift shower, several small gray figures slowly appeared behind a low dune in the distance.

One.

Then another.

Then a third.

More and more Dustchucks poked their heads out and cautiously moved toward the convenience store.

The one in front stopped, its little nose twitching as if it were trying to make sure it had found the right place.