Chapter 125: The First Visitor |
The clock's hands pointed to five in the afternoon. After resting for three hours, Bai Mu's stamina was fully replenished.
He did not feel particularly hungry, just very thirsty. To rehydrate, he drank another half-bottle of mineral water.
He collected his urine in an empty water bottle. If a true emergency arose, urine could also serve as a source of hydration.
The notice had stated that water would be supplied between five and six in the evening.
Bai Mu went to the bathroom and turned on the faucet, but no water flowed out.
'Could the water supply already be cut off?' Bai Mu frowned.
There was a landline in the living room, and the notice provided a contact number for the water bureau. Just as he was about to call and ask about the situation, a sputtering sound came from the pipes.
It was the sound of compressed air being pushed out. Then, at exactly 5:06 PM, a slightly murky stream of water finally poured out.
Bai Mu quickly cupped some water in his hands and washed his face. The water was already warm without needing to be heated. He washed the sweat off his body. He had long since gathered all the basins, buckets, and bowls in the house. Opening the faucets in both the kitchen and the bathroom simultaneously, he did his best to fill every single container.
Bai Mu pondered for a moment before deciding to dial the number. He primarily wanted to know if something had happened on the government's end.
The line was consistently busy. He kept redialing for fifteen minutes until he finally managed to get through.
"Hello, this is the water bureau. How may I help you?"
A rather exhausted male voice answered.
"I only received water for ten minutes before the faucet stopped. Didn't the notice state that water would be supplied from five to six?"
"It's like this, sir. Water resources are exceptionally tight right now, and we have to ensure every household has access to it. Therefore, once your daily output exceeds a certain quota, the supply is automatically cut off."
"I assume the water you collected should be sufficient for your daily needs today? Or does your household have a special situation? For instance, if you have multiple children or sick individuals at home, you can report it to the city hall staff during the next inspection. Once we receive their report, we will adjust your total daily water allowance accordingly."
"When will the inspectors come next?"
"The inspections are irregular, but as long as it was confirmed last time that someone is living in your residence, we will visit at least once a week. Do you have any further questions? If not, I need to take calls from other citizens."
"No, that's all."
The other party hung up, and Bai Mu placed the receiver back on the cradle.
Judging from this brief information, the authorities were still maintaining a facade of order. This was the first time he had heard about these inspectors.
This matter had to be taken seriously. On one hand, it was the official method for verifying if a residence was occupied. He needed the inspectors' feedback to continue receiving his water supply, and perhaps he might even receive some free supplies.
On the other hand, Doppelgangers might disguise themselves as inspectors and come to his door. He would have to distinguish them carefully.
He moved all the collected water to the sunless bathroom. In those ten minutes, he had filled a half-meter-tall red plastic bucket, an aluminum washbasin, and five glass bowls.
The water wasn't completely pure; it carried a slightly murky, rusty-brown and muddy hue.
Bai Mu dipped his finger in and tasted it. There was a bitter, astringent flavor, likely from rust scraped off the inside of the pipes as it flowed through.
It was drinkable, but he needed to wait for the impurities to settle. Ideally, it should be boiled before consumption.
As long as the government could function normally, the daily water allowance would be enough for his needs.
The time reached half past five. The sky outside turned a dusky yellow, and the temperature began to drop gradually.
The television started broadcasting the news again, and Bai Mu returned to the sofa to catch up on the latest updates.
"Please note, only those wearing this uniform are our official inspectors."
"Do not easily trust any suspicious individuals who come to your door. Do not open the door for them, as they are very likely Doppelgangers.
"
An entirely enclosed hazmat-like suit appeared on the screen. It was an overall dark yellow with a single zipper running down the back. The face was obscured by a pale yellow plastic visor, and a yellow windmill logo was printed right on the front.
To avoid making any mistakes, Bai Mu took out his Camcorder and snapped a picture of the uniform.
It seemed there was no more news for today, as the channel began replaying previously shown segments.
The sky gradually darkened. Around six-thirty, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the temperature dropped further.
Signs of human activity finally appeared on the streets, far more lively than Bai Mu had anticipated. It seemed most people were going stir-crazy indoors. Even after being informed of the existence of Doppelgangers, they still couldn't resist going outside.
Some gathered by the side of the road to drink, while children played under the trees.
Bai Mu saw green military vehicles driving along the asphalt road. As night fell, armed soldiers patrolled the area, presumably to deal with the Doppelgangers. At the same time, they urged the citizens loitering outside to hurry back to their homes and stay indoors, warning them that it was best not to venture out at night.
On its first day, the city held much more vitality than Bai Mu had imagined.
He watched the scenes outside through the window. It wasn't until 8:00 PM, when the sky had turned pitch black, that someone knocked heavily on Bai Mu's door: "Knock, knock, knock."
Through the peephole of the security door, he could see the face outside. It was a haggard middle-aged woman with chapped lips and unfocused eyes.
"Hello, neighbor, are you there?" the middle-aged woman called out. "My husband went out last night and never came back. He said he was going to find some food for the kids, but I don't know where he went."
"Maybe he planned to abandon us. I just hope he hasn't run into one of those Doppelgangers from the news.
"Oh, please don't refuse me. The children and I haven't had a proper meal in days. Do you have any food left? Could you spare a little for us?"
"I don't have anything on me to trade, but if you want, perhaps I can sleep with you."
The woman pressed her lips together, looking pleadingly at the security door.
Bai Mu observed her nails. Although the woman was a bit unkempt, there was no mud visible under her fingernails.
Based on this alone, he couldn't be certain whether she was a Doppelganger. If a Doppelganger could watch television, they could easily see the news broadcast; the mud under their fingernails could simply be washed away with water.
He had two choices: refuse the woman, or open the door and share some food with her.
Behind the door, he had already gripped his revolver.
He didn't even have enough food for himself. Giving it away out of pure charity would be far too foolish.
But perhaps he could trade for something that held no value to her, yet was extremely useful to him.
"Do you have money?" Bai Mu asked.
"Money?" The woman froze for a moment. "You need money? Neighbor, but... money can't buy anything right now. I mean, if you need something valuable, I do have a gold necklace and a diamond ring my husband gave me."
"I only want money, in cash," Bai Mu stated. "If you have some, I can give you some food."
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