Chapter 628: Chapter 628: Resentment

"Let’s put it this way. If we don’t fight this fire and just let it spread, it will burn down thousands of acres of pine forest. Once the blaze becomes uncontrollable, it won’t just destroy the vegetation, air, water, and soil in its path—it could trigger an even greater disaster. Do you remember why we had to leave Corinth? It was because a fire broke out there that we couldn’t control. Our only option was to run. This is no different. If this wildfire turns into a global inferno, where on Azure would be left for us to escape to?"

"It’s ultimately about our environment. The habitable areas within our country are already shrinking. No one wants to leave this land unless they’re absolutely forced to, but the conditions outside our borders probably aren’t any better. We can’t go back south—the nuclear power plants are all in the south and the Rocksea Region. That leaves us with the Northwest and the north. If the fire in Varden spreads, the first place it will hit is the Khoros Steppe. We have to fight this fire. There’s no other choice."

Evelyn Ford’s words laid out humanity’s current predicament and the existential crisis they faced with stark clarity. Wendy understood. The others sat on the ground in silence. They all knew the truth: humanity was insignificant. Humans were just one of many species on Azure, no different from the rest, except for a higher intelligence. But they were fragile. Life was not only short but also driven by ambition. Humanity could reach for the stars, yet it was powerless against natural disasters. Whenever catastrophe struck, the unlucky died instantly. Only the lucky managed to survive.

"It’s about time. Let’s go cut the firebreak. We need to hurry up and get it done so the fire doesn’t spread."

Everyone got to their feet. Quincy dusted off his pants and left with his machete.

"Back to work, everyone! Looks like we’ll be working overtime tonight."

Evelyn Ford put the trash away in her space, swapped out her mask for a new one, and followed them.

"It’s getting hot, and the thick smoke is blowing this way. Be careful not to get heatstroke, and don’t push yourself too hard," Ronan Kendrick warned her with a serious expression before he left to chop down trees.

Evelyn Ford broke into a grin. "I know."

Ronan Kendrick ruffled Evelyn Ford’s hair. "Good girl."

He took his axe and went ahead to chop down trees, while Evelyn Ford picked up her shovel and continued digging up the dry grass.

Around 10 PM, Evelyn Ford told the others to get ready to head back. ’Many hands make light work,’ she thought. ’At this rate, the firebreak should be finished in another three or four days.’

After a full day of work, everyone was dead tired. Several people had fainted from heatstroke, and others had gotten injured. Just as Evelyn Ford’s group made it back to the Fifth Team’s camp, the husband of an expectant mother rushed over to find her.

"Dr. Ford, you’re finally back! A woman is about to give birth."

Evelyn Ford figured it was the pregnant woman who suffered from depression. Her legs felt like jelly from exhaustion. After a full day of digging the firebreak, she didn’t have the strength to deliver a baby.

"You should find Dr. Rowe. They didn’t go to dig the firebreak, so they should be at the camp."

"Dr. Rowe and Dr. Joyce are both busy. They’re treating a lot of people for heatstroke and injuries. Dr. Ford, the woman has been in labor for hours, but she can’t deliver. Everyone’s saying it’s a difficult birth."

Evelyn Ford’s brow furrowed. "I understand. I’ll go wash my hands and be right over."

The man let out a sigh of relief. "Okay."

After getting into her truck, Evelyn Ford immediately slipped into her space to wash her hands and face and change her clothes. She ate a piece of chocolate, then left the space, grabbed her medical kit, and headed for the truck where the pregnant woman was.

"Evelyn is working way too hard. I swear, being a doctor has to be the most exhausting job there is," Wyatt Vaughn couldn’t help but remark.

"Everyone’s working hard. The long and short of it is, as long as you’re alive, there’s not a single day that isn’t hard."

"Haha, true that. I’m gonna wash up and head to bed. Where’s Ronan Kendrick?"

"He was worried about Evelyn, so he followed her."

Meanwhile, when Evelyn arrived at the truck where the pregnant woman was, she realized Ronan Kendrick had followed her. The small space reeked of blood and was crowded with other new mothers and children. Evelyn didn’t let Ronan go inside to help. Instead, she asked him to go get a basin of hot water from the front, telling him they would need it later.

Stepping into the truck’s cargo bed, she saw it was lit by a single kerosene lamp. Evelyn took a foldable light strip from her kit, hung it on the inner wall, and pressed the switch. The space was instantly as bright as day.

The woman was not in good shape. It was definitely a difficult labor, and she would probably need a C-section. After examining her, Evelyn asked for her consent while she was still relatively lucid.

"Then do the C-section, Doctor. You have to save this baby. I’m begging you."

For the first time in days, Evelyn saw a flicker of emotion on the woman’s face. Evelyn nodded solemnly.

"As long as you cooperate, the baby will be fine."

Performing a C-section again after so many years, especially under such difficult conditions, Evelyn felt her own confidence waver.

After administering anesthesia to the woman, Evelyn drew a curtain, adjusted the light strip, and put on a protective suit. The surgical tools had already been sterilized and were ready to use.

The truck fell silent; no one else dared to make a sound that might disturb her.

An unknown amount of time passed before the cry of a newborn baby shattered the silence in the truck. The other expectant mothers let out a collective sigh of relief.

The baby’s cry was faint. It had been deprived of oxygen in the womb for too long, and its skin had a purplish tint. Evelyn checked its limbs and facial features, then cut the umbilical cord and wrapped the infant up.

After placing the baby aside, Evelyn began to suture the mother’s incision.

Another forty minutes passed before the suturing was complete. Evelyn staggered as she pulled back the curtain.

"Dr. Ford, is she okay? Is the baby a boy or a girl? Is it healthy?"

Evelyn held up a hand, signaling for quiet.

"The mother just had a C-section and needs to rest. Please try to be quiet. She had a baby girl. The baby is a bit underweight, but she’s healthy."

Evelyn gave a few more instructions, then picked up her medical kit to leave.

"Dr. Ford, is she out of danger? She hasn’t woken up yet. What about the baby?"

"You all can help take care of them. You’re all in your second trimester; looking after a baby shouldn’t be a problem."

"But we’re all pregnant, too. We don’t have the energy to look after them," one of the women said. "Dr. Ford, why don’t you stay and take care of her? You’re the doctor; you’re more qualified than we are. Besides, isn’t it a doctor’s responsibility to care for their patients? It’s really not convenient for us with these big bellies."

Evelyn turned to the woman who had spoken. "I spent the entire day in the woods digging a firebreak. I came straight here to perform surgery and deliver her baby before I even had a chance to eat. There are only five doctors in this entire convoy, and every single one of us is swamped. Yes, I’m a doctor, but no one here is paying me a salary. I treat people and deliver babies out of a sense of duty. You say it’s a doctor’s responsibility to care for patients? Are the babies in your wombs the doctor’s responsibility too?

Furthermore, you’re four months pregnant. Technically, you don’t even qualify to ride in the truck. The rule is that only women who are seven months pregnant or more get to ride. You’ve been resting in here all day. You haven’t had to dig firebreaks, gather wood, or cook. You’re all in the same truck—what’s so hard about helping to look after a baby? Is it really such a burden? Or maybe starting tomorrow, you can all go dig the firebreak too."

The pregnant woman’s face went pale. "Dr. Ford, that’s not what I meant. I just don’t have any experience... I’m afraid I won’t do a good job."

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