Chapter 84: Fuel Crisis

"How's it going?" When the off-road vehicle returned, Feng Yusheng bent down to ask.

"Made a wasted trip," Shao Ming said as he got out of the off-road vehicle. "It was empty, no cargo."

"Everyone's dead," Lambert added. "There's someone I recognize..."

"Alright," Shao Ming quickly interrupted Lambert, "No need to mention it."

The train was restarted, and they left just before the mutated creatures attracted by the downed aircraft could find them.

Lambert had replanned the route to be a fast track, bypassing most towns along the way, allowing them to go directly from Calais to Lille.

Not long after the train started moving, the walkie-talkie on the table buzzed.

"Shao Ming, Shao Ming?" Lambert's voice came through.

Shao Ming, who had been talking with Feng Yusheng, picked up the walkie-talkie and asked, "What's up?"

There was a pause from Lambert before he replied, "The train might be running low on fuel."

"How is that possible?" Shao Ming asked. "We just switched to this train not long ago."

"It's been a while," Lambert said, "but that's not the main issue."

"The main issue is, if we take the detour through Luxembourg, we'll have to go through a long stretch of mountainous roads, and the remaining fuel might not last."

"What do we do then?" Shao Ming asked. "You know trains, think of something."

"Only Lille has large train stations where we can refuel," Lambert replied.

Feng Yusheng, who had been listening, spoke up, "Diesel for internal combustion locomotives is the same as for big trucks, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why do we have to go to the station? Can't we just find a gas station and siphon the fuel?"

"In theory, it's possible, but there's a problem," Lambert hesitated before continuing, "The fuel pumps for cars are much smaller than those for trains. Maybe fuel tankers' interfaces could fit the fueling pipes for the train, but the fuel pumps can't."

"Looks like we need to find a fuel pump," Shao Ming said. "We have to go to Lille anyway, right? We need to change tracks there."

"Yes," Lambert replied. "We need to go through Lille to switch the train for the direction towards the French border at Falu."

"One team will find the gas station and fuel tanker, and the other will go into town to adjust the tracks and get the fuel nozzle," Shao Ming looked at Feng Yusheng and the now-arriving Yamada Ryo. "What do you think?"

"Sounds good," Feng Yusheng nodded.

"I have a question," Lambert asked, "We only have four people able to move. Won't splitting into two teams make it harder to deal with the zombies in Lille?"

"Four guns still can't handle them," Shao Ming replied. "Look at the map, see if there's a river in Lille."

"A river?" Lambert asked.

"Agji's method," Shao Ming replied. "The sewers."

"There are a few small rivers," Lambert said. "But there's one problem. I need to stop the train..."

Lambert seemed to be calculating something, then continued, "It needs to be at least ten kilometers from the city. The railway along the suburbs is all lined with houses."

"That's too far," Yamada Ryo said.

"No choice, we leave the train behind," Lambert said. "I plan to stop near two small towns. We can check if there are fuel tankers or gas stations."

"There should be gas stations," Shao Ming said.

"There are plenty of fuel tankers," Lambert said.

"On the road, yes," Shao Ming corrected him. "But tanker trucks don't always carry fuel, and they don't always carry diesel."

"How should we divide the groups?" Feng Yusheng asked.

No one responded.

"Ah, damn it," Lambert muttered. "I got it, I know now. Only I can find where the fuel pump is, and only I know how to get it off. I'll go into the sewers."

"Don't worry," Yamada Ryo said, "I'll go with you."

"Uh... wow," Lambert stuttered, "Really?"

"So, what about the mud?" Yamada Ryo asked.

Lambert quickly said, "Ah, no, I mean... the city is dangerous."

"Doesn't matter," Yamada Ryo said. "I'm not afraid."

Lambert wanted to say, "But I am."

"Then Feng Yusheng and I will go to the town to find the fuel tanker and gas station," Shao Ming said. "Everyone, get ready."

As far as dangers go, the two teams were equally at risk. Though they were heading into a small town for the tanker, if the tanker didn't have fuel, they'd need to stop and refill it. The noise from the trucks wouldn't be small.

For the two going into the city, the biggest threat was the city's complicated sewers. Train stations used for fueling were generally quite open, and if there was a train parked inside, it would be easier to hide behind it.

As long as they didn't fire their guns, everything would be fine.

It was all about walking the edge of danger.

As per routine, Shao Ming slung Agji's sniper rifle over his back and strapped the only five-shot shotgun to his waist. Feng Yusheng, as always, carried her hunting rifle and gripped a crowbar.

The train slowly stopped before a small town. This was the quietest area Lambert could find in the region.

Yamada Ryo went to explain the situation to Agji, who took her pistol off her chest and handed it to her.

Then, Yamada Ryo and Lambert set off towards Lille.

"Stay safe," Shao Ming told Lambert.

"You too," Lambert waved his walkie-talkie and said, "Contact me if anything goes wrong... but don't contact me once we get into the city."

The four of them split into two teams and headed in different directions. Agji stayed at the train's cockpit door, stroking Gordon by her side.

Shao Ming and Feng Yusheng's small town was easy to find. Not far from the train, they saw the town at the edge of a field.

Shao Ming crouched in some grass, using his gun barrel to push aside the weeds blocking his scope.

It had started to drizzle, and the weather that had been cloudy for hours finally began to drop some rain.

Fortunately, it was only light rain, so it didn't affect their visibility or movement too much.

Through the scope, Shao Ming was surprised to see that there were no mutated creatures in the town.

Whether it was at the entrance or inside the houses, there wasn't a single mutated creature to be seen.

"Have you noticed anything?" Shao Ming asked.

Feng Yusheng put down her hunting rifle and shook her head.

This was strange. Shao Ming thought, could this be a ghost town? Had the mutated creatures been lured away, or had the people already left their homes when the disaster struck?