"Miss Ford, something’s wrong! Two of the hens are fighting!"
That afternoon, Evelyn Ford was running an experiment in her space when Wendy called for her from outside. She quickly emerged, thinking some disaster had struck, only to find that it was just two hens fighting.
Looking at the feathers strewn all over the chicken coop, Evelyn Ford rubbed her temples.
"Zoe, why are they fighting?"
Zoe was standing to the side, sniffling and giggling. Wendy quickly wiped her nose and pulled her back, worried she might get hurt by the two frantic hens.
"They both want to brood, so they’re fighting."
After speaking, Zoe sniffled again. Evelyn noticed her clear, runny nose and made a mental note to get her some medicine later.
"Fighting over who gets to brood?"
Zoe nodded vigorously. "That’s right."
They had collected over thirty eggs recently. Evelyn had planned to let one of the hens brood, but apparently, another one wanted the job too, and a fight broke out.
’So the animal kingdom was this interesting?’
"Zoe, tell them to stop fighting. We’ll split the eggs, and they can both brood."
Zoe relayed the message, but upon hearing it, the hens fought even more viciously. The scene devolved into a flurry of feathers and squawking, and Evelyn ended up with two feathers in her hair.
"They say it’s no deal. You can only pick one of them."
Evelyn smiled. She pulled a dagger from her sleeve and flicked it open. A silver glint flashed, and the two hens froze, stunned for several seconds.
"Tell them if they keep fighting, I’ll stew them both. It’s been a while since I’ve had chicken, and I bet a feisty hen tastes delicious. Besides, we still have the third one to brood."
Hearing they might get to eat chicken, Zoe practically danced with glee as she relayed the message. The two hens immediately began to tremble with fear, huddling on the ground, completely still.
’It’s true for humans and animals alike—they all bully the meek and fear the mighty.’
Evelyn sheathed her dagger and took Wendy and Zoe to prepare the nesting boxes. To be fair, each hen was given fifteen eggs to brood over. She also made sure to separate them to prevent any further fights during the incubation period.
"Why didn’t the other hen fight with them?" Wendy asked, confused.
Zoe shook her head. "She might be a mute. She never says anything. Plus, she’s really dumb. All she knows is eating bugs and laying eggs."
"Chickens can be mute?"
"Of course. If you don’t talk, you’re a mute." Having spent so much time with Lola recently, Zoe’s vocabulary was expanding rapidly.
Wendy and Zoe renamed the "mute" hen "Dopey," leaving Evelyn at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.
"Evelyn Ford, do you think I should start Zoe’s education?"
Quincy had appeared at some point and asked the question out of the blue. Seeing his earnest expression, Evelyn Ford knew he truly thought of Zoe as his own daughter.
"In that case, I suggest you talk to Mr. Vance. He has a broader perspective and more life experience."
For once, Quincy didn’t argue with her. "You’re right, but Mr. Vance’s health..."
"I’ve checked his pulse. His condition is improving. The melancholy and his internal injuries are both healing on their own. There shouldn’t be any major issues now."
Hearing Evelyn Ford’s assessment, Quincy breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s wonderful. It really is a blessing in disguise. If nothing else, ever since I woke up from my coma, I’ve felt much better. I used to always have this tightness in my chest and feel short of breath, but not anymore. I suppose I’ve healed on my own, too."
"The climate is so harsh that in order to survive, the body activates its own self-preservation mechanisms." Evelyn Ford watched Zoe from a distance, curious about how high Quincy’s expectations for the girl were.
"I just want her to be able to protect herself. In a world like this, what more can you expect? Just having the ability to survive is an achievement in itself." A hint of worry clouded Quincy’s expression.
"But I’m also worried about pushing her too hard too soon."
"I don’t think you need to worry about that. Zoe might be a child, but she’s not foolish."
Quincy felt Evelyn Ford had a point. After confirming that both Zoe and Taylor Vance were willing, Taylor Vance began his lessons with her.
「Ten days later」
To the excited clucking of the two mother hens, the chicks began to hatch. Evelyn Ford did a count: twenty-six chicks had successfully emerged, but the remaining four eggs had spoiled.
Just then, the third cold front officially hit. Gale-force winds battered the cave entrance, causing the stones piled behind the door to collapse. To keep the freezing air out, everyone rushed to move the stones, restacking them against the entrance.
The gales raged for a full day and night, and everyone kept watch for just as long. Back in the cabin, Evelyn Ford checked the thermometer. It read negative twenty-eight degrees.
With the wind chill from the cold front, negative twenty-eight degrees felt more like negative sixty-eight during the deep freeze. If you got too close to the entrance, the drafts seeping through the cracks were enough to freeze a person to death.
There was even a stove in the latrine to prevent anyone from succumbing to hypothermia while using it.
Lying in bed that night, Evelyn Ford was still shaken. If Ronan Kendrick hadn’t managed to hold the door as it started to collapse, the freezing air would have flooded in, and everyone might have been forced into another "hibernation."
Everyone was used to Ronan Kendrick’s power and had come to rely on it. No one else realized that when he’d stood at the forefront, using his body to block the torrent of frigid air, his countless old wounds had begun to seep blood.
"It’s nothing. The wounds have already closed up. It doesn’t hurt at all."
Evelyn Ford said nothing, only gripping his hand and pressing closer to him in the quiet.
"Angry?"
"No." Evelyn Ford’s heart just ached for him.
She hated the phrase ’with great power comes great responsibility.’ It was nothing but a shackle. It meant the weak could be protected with a clear conscience, while the strong were obligated to charge to the front lines without a second thought.
Once or twice was one thing, but if it happened every time, people would start to take it for granted.
"I’m sorry I upset you." Ronan Kendrick pulled her into his embrace.
"I knew what I was doing. I wouldn’t have let anything happen."
Evelyn Ford shook her head. "Once this cold front passes, let’s part ways with the others."
Ronan Kendrick studied her intently, not missing a single flicker of emotion on her face.
"Of course, Mr. Graham and Quincy will be with us."
"Alright." Ronan Kendrick gently patted her back. "Whatever you decide."
"Ronan Kendrick, don’t try to be a hero for me. I don’t need you to be a hero. We just need to be able to live with ourselves. We don’t have to carry burdens that aren’t ours to bear."
"I understand. No more being angry. How about a hug?"
Evelyn Ford let out a small huff and hugged him tightly.
’That’s just how people are. Live in a large group for long enough, and you’ll inevitably get entangled in all sorts of responsibilities.’
’It happens once, then a second time, a third, and then countless more...’
’Ultimately, no one is responsible for anyone else.’
「The next day」
Everyone sensed a change in Evelyn Ford.
She wasn’t one to wear her heart on her sleeve, but her eyes always revealed her state of mind.
Quincy found Ronan Kendrick and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s gotten into her?"
A bittersweet feeling washed over Ronan Kendrick.
"You don’t need to know."
Quincy narrowed his eyes. "It has something to do with you, doesn’t it? Did you two fight?"