Jobless Man’s Zombie Survival Life - Chapter 7: The Drive

Chapter 7: The Drive

Filled with hope, I went to bed and slept like a rock for over ten hours, waking up at 6 a.m.

The weather today is gloriously sunny.

Feels like it’s blessing my future endeavors.

Nah, that’s just my imagination. If my future was bright, zombies wouldn’t even be a thing.

Damn you, sun, tricking me like that.

I munch on vacuum-packed cheese-flavored chicken and a calorie bar, washing it down with a cup of well water.

Once I get a stove working, my cooking options will open up.

By the way, I rigged a hose from the garden hand pump through the kitchen window to fill the bathtub directly.

Drinking water’s secured in a separate container.

If I get the chance, I’d love to grab a bigger one.

I wash my face, brush my teeth, and slip into the same outfit as last time.

Backpack on, bokken tucked into my belt—ready to roll.

Let’s go!

Oh, crap! Almost forgot the cigarettes in my chest pocket. Arguably the most important thing. Lighter too.

I check my surroundings and head to the garage.

It’s just a simple roofed structure, nothing fancy.

There’s the pickup truck.

The cute one with round headlights that Dad uses for fishing trips.

I think he bought it around the time I was starting university, so it’s probably been running for 15 years.

The exterior’s a bit worn, but it’s still good to go.

It passed inspection recently, and the tank’s full.

I toss my backpack onto the passenger seat and buckle up.

Zombies might come running at the noise, so I take a deep breath, start the engine, and peel out.

I climb the embankment behind the house and turn the wheel in the opposite direction of last time’s convenience store.

No zombies chasing me.

Maybe there aren’t many around my place…?

If I keep going this way, I’ll hit the big bridge to the North District.

Hope it goes smoothly…

As expected, the road’s littered with overturned and abandoned cars.

No oncoming traffic, so I weave through them.

The drivers probably died or turned into zombies.

I pretend not to see the meaty chunks scattered on the road and flip on the car radio.

“Figures, radio’s dead too… huh?”

Fiddling with the dial, I pick up something.

“…This is an emergency broadcast. To everyone hearing this, please refrain from going outside and stay in your homes…”

“The outdoors are dangerous. Avoid unnecessary travel and wait for rescue at home…”

It’s just the same message on repeat.

Hmm, so Japan as a whole isn’t completely screwed?

I mean, there’s probably a nuclear shelter for the government bigwigs or something.

Rescue, huh… Wonder how they’ll pull that off.

Helicopters are easy but can’t carry many people. Maybe a Self-Defense Force-escorted ferry or something?

Either way, it’s not happening anytime soon.

“No unnecessary travel,” huh? So I should just starve?

But my trip is essential and urgent, so no problem!

On the way to the bridge, a few zombies stumble out from the roadside.

They scream and chase me, but after about 50 meters, they just stop.

Giving up quick, huh? Thanks for that.

Maybe they’re less active in daylight or bright places?

They always seem to hang out in the dark.

I reach the bridge.

As expected, tons of abandoned vehicles, and a few zombies on the sidewalk.

The pickup’s small size lets me weave through, using the opposite lane and sidewalk to speed across.

Oh, shit!

A high school boy zombie pops out from behind an overturned van, and I clip him.

He spins sideways and tumbles into the river.

Ugh, broke the side mirror.

They got those at the hardware store’s auto section, right…?

No, wait.

High school kid, rest in peace… rest in peace…

I make it across the bridge.

There are five bridges over the river, and I’ll need to check their conditions eventually.

The easternmost one to the highway’s probably a mess, packed with cars.

I cross safely—sort of.

Turn right onto the national highway.

Keep going, and the hardware store should appear on the left.

I pass a burger joint packed with zombies.

Talk about crowded. Did the outbreak hit during lunch rush?

Should’ve eaten there more when I had the chance.

Unlike my neighborhood, I spot zombies here and there inside convenience stores and gyudon joints.

Is the North District crawling with them?

After a bit, the hardware store comes into view.

The big parking lot out front has a decent number of cars.

Gotta be careful exploring this place…

With that in mind, I park as close to the road and as far from the store as possible.

I cut the engine and hop out quick.

No zombies in sight.

“Alright, let’s do this.”

I sling on my backpack and start walking toward the hardware store.