Chapter 18
Conflicts at the Camp
Campsite, Daryl's tent.
Daryl lay on his cot, his back to Moore, stubbornly refusing to communicate.
Seeing his younger brother's expression, Moore grinned, "What's wrong? You can't beat someone, and you won't let me say anything?"
Daryl instantly flew into a rage, threw off the covers, and stood up abruptly. The pain in his back made his face twitch, but he still forced a glare at Moore.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Moll laughed heartily, truly stubborn and tenacious.
Daryl, who had originally intended to retort, was at a loss for words upon hearing his brother's laughter.
Moore's laughter lasted a long time, gradually becoming hoarse and coughing, his face turning red from laughing.
Moore stopped and sat on a camping chair.
The tent gradually quieted down, and Daryl lay back down on his cot.
Moore suddenly said, "I almost died."
Daryl stubbornly twisted his head, but still turned around to look at Moore, who was smoking.
Moore and Daryl exchanged a glance, and Daryl realized that his brother hadn't lied to him.
Just as Daryl was about to press for more information, Moore chuckled hoarsely, "This is the end of the world, brother. Everyone will die, including me."
"So, be less kind and think more about yourself."
"Do you know what I was thinking then? I was thinking, how will you live after I die?"
"You're so stupid, so kind, that you'd go hunting and searching for supplies for these bastards. I'm worried they'll screw you over."
Moore stopped talking, knowing his brother wouldn't listen to him.
Moore looked up and saw Daryl's tearful eyes. "Are you a little kid? Still crying?"
Daryl raised his arm and buried his head in the blanket, concealing his vulnerability.
Mohr didn't know how to comfort Daryl, so he just continued talking.
"Caesar saved me."
"He is strong, has a plan, and is determined. I believe that following him will allow me to survive a little longer in this messed-up world."
"I'm planning to go with him. What about you, bro? Shall we go together?"
After waiting for a while, a muffled sob came from under the covers: "Okay."
Having received a reply, Mohr didn't linger any longer, stood up, and walked out of the tent.
As soon as he stepped out of the tent, Moore glanced back at Daryl, who was hiding under the covers, paused for a moment, and then zipped up his pants.
……
The lake was calm, and the pickup truck was parked on the shore.
Several baskets of clothes were carried down, and Andrea and the others sat by the lake to wash them.
Pour on laundry detergent and rub vigorously.
Andrea wasn't the type to patiently do housework, and as she was doing it, she glanced behind her.
Then, he deliberately spoke loudly.
Why do we women have to do so much housework?
"I also went out to gather supplies; that's better than some of the men who stayed in the camp waiting to be fed!"
"I still have to do laundry, and some men just stand there watching."
Carol, sitting next to her, sensed something was wrong and looked uneasily at Ed, who was leaning against the truck bed.
Ed was a typical chauvinist; his bruised eyes betrayed his impatience. He took a drag of his cigarette. "Woman, do what you're supposed to do!"
"ha?"
Andrea was like a firecracker, ready to ignite at any moment: "What needs to be done?"
"What do you mean I should do? Wash your clothes, cook for you, fat pig, and fatten you up, huh?"
Ed, who was already impatient, irritably threw down his cigarette butt and walked toward Andrea with his pregnant belly: "Don't make trouble for yourself."
"Otherwise, you will be punished physically."
Andrea also stood up and stepped forward, and the women around her all stood up as well.
Carol was among them, her head hanging low, unsure of what to do.
Ed looked at the swarm of women, hesitated for a moment, and decided to avoid confrontation for the time being. He reached out and pulled Carol, "Come on, come back with me."
Unexpectedly, Carol was suddenly surrounded by women who wouldn't let Edra leave.
Ed grew anxious and urged, "Carol, you know the consequences."
Ed's eyes flashed with ferocity, and Carol knew from his gaze that if she didn't leave soon, her daughter might also...
Carol pushed through the crowd and walked out, glancing apologetically at her companion who had stood up for her.
Andrea wasn't so easily appeased, and angrily flung her water-soaked clothes at him: "Hey, Ed, go wash your own clothes."
The heavy clothes struck Ed's face.
After stumbling, Ed could no longer hold back. He threw off his clothes and fiercely attacked Andrea.
Carol was behind him, trying to pull Ed back, but to no avail.
Andrea and her sisters surrounded Ed and started beating him up.
They lacked the strength to do more than slap Ed, and could not cause him any real injury.
The noise attracted the attention of many people.
As the camp's manager, Sean has led Rick into the woods to search for traces of the walkers.
At that moment, the passenger door of the pickup truck opened.
Beth, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, pulled out a wrench and walked toward the noisy crowd while smoking.
Walking up behind Ed, Beth called out, "Ed."
Ed pushed the women in front of him aside and turned around.
A slap in the groin, and everything was smashed.
Ed's eyes bulged out, and he clutched his wound and screamed in agony.
Beth was no soft-hearted person; she turned and swung the wrench, striking Ed's head heavily with each blow.
His head was bleeding profusely, and blood splattered onto Bass's face.
Ed also fell down, and Beth took two steps forward and continued to smash down.
Ed's body convulsed, and blood splattered high into the air.
The women around were stunned; what was supposed to be a dispute had suddenly turned into a criminal case.
The blood, the swinging—Bass clearly didn't hold back.
After hitting it for a while, Beth got tired. Her wrench was sticky with blood. She took one last deep drag of her cigarette and threw the butt away.
"Be more careful next time."
After Beth walked away, Carol was the first to react. She reached out to touch Ed, but was afraid of touching Ed's wound, and tears welled up in her eyes.
But when Carol looked up and saw Beth's back, she couldn't help but think to herself.
So this is how women can live.
……
Dale held his binoculars and looked toward the small hill behind the camp.
The hill was low, but there was a platform in the middle where Dell could see a figure wearing a baseball cap, tirelessly digging a hole, with dirt flying everywhere.
Dell didn't understand but expressed respect, though he would look back at it every now and then.
Wearing a fisherman's hat, Dale could feel the intense heat, which made him start to worry about Jim, who was digging the hole.
Dell glanced at the camp.
The walkers that appeared near the camp this morning, Ed suffering a concussion and serious injuries, the situation between Sean, Rick, and Lori, and Caesar and his two companions not yet returning from the woods...
There are too many things to do, and it's too complicated.
Dell thought for a moment and decided that he, this old man, should go and take a look.