The deal
As the last leaves of autumn flutter to the ground, signalling the onset of winter, the chill in the air deepens, and the days grow shorter. The change in weather ushers in a season of preparation and caution. Everyone in our shelter is well aware that the coming cold will bring its own challenges, both in terms of survival and the infected, who somehow seem more relentless in the winter months.
During a routine morning briefing, Yong strides in, a brisk note in his step despite the cold. "The traders are back in town," he announces, a spark of interest in his eyes. "They've set up shop in the city centre, right in the main square. It's quite a sight to behold."
This news catches my immediate attention, and I lean forward, eager to hear more. "Did you see Hyun?" I ask, recalling our unresolved need to gather information from her—a key player among the traders who seems to have her finger on the pulse of everything happening in the region.