"Major," Dr. Mario said, coming to Jason's room and seeing him leaning against the wall, "we've been here so long, and I want to know what's going on next to Tampa, where my institute is still there, and it's like my child.

Jason poured his body back and stood up when his legs landed.He picked up the army green T-shirt on the bed and wiped the sweat on his body, saying to Mario, “The connection between us and Tampa has been interrupted, and I am afraid the situation is not what we expected.”

“Is there any news from Washington?”Mario asked.

“Our guys tried to get in touch with them, but the lines didn’t get in,” Jason put on his T-shirt and took a sip of coffee on the table. “You know, the satellite lines are in control, and my force has a low priority, so I have to make way for the high-priority line.”

"It's not the way to go, I think we'll be trapped here," said Mario, "and what plan do you have for the current situation, Major?"

“Not yet,” Jason said, striding and walking two steps back and forth in his room, “I was given the order on the plane to keep you safe, so all my work would revolve around that.”

"Not so, Major," said Mario excitedly, "from the way back to Washington, and until now, our scientific progress has been suspended."This is a critical moment for the race, the world is on the brink of destruction, and my country and our people are still suffering, which makes it impossible for me to stay here with peace of mind.”

“Dr., I understand your mood, but the situation is very bad, and you should see it on the way from Miami International Airport to get here,” Jason said before the military map hanging over the wall, which had been marked with a lot of information by his signage, “Now where can we go?”Do you want to go back to West Palm Beach?”

“Can’t you try it?”Mario is still unrepentant.

“Based on the base’s reserves of gasoline and ammunition, and the fighting capabilities of all of us, I have calculated that if we were to go north along Miami’s East Beach, we might only have to reach Savannah, and in the middle, through Orlando and Daytona Beach,” Jason pointed to a large red circle on the map.

“We can’t go back to Tampa, and Orlando can’t get through, can’t we really just be stuck in Florida’s corner?”Mario's eyes are sweeping around the map, and Jason's analysis of his situation makes his mood very anxious.

“Fort Myers!Here, look here.”Like discovering the New World, Mario excitedly pointed to a location on the map and said, "Although we don't have a plane, we can go here to find a boat, and with a boat, we can go through Appalachian Bay to New Orleans or Houston, where we have our institutes."

Jason looked down Mario’s fingers toward the map, a route that Dr. had just pointed out was indeed feasible, and as long as they could get to Fort Myers and find boats there, only the waves of the Gulf of Mexico could threaten them on the way.

Fort Myers is about 200 kilometers from the military base in a straight line, and if you walk along the conventional road, the distance will be doubled, and Jason is not too sure.

"Still, Doctor," said Jason, "I have only twenty-seven fighters, but we have twenty-two non-combatants in our ranks."On average, every soldier protects the safety of a non-combatant, and the risk of this operation is too great.”

"We can also take up guns and fight, Major," Mario, after the hopes that had just been poured cold water on Jason, he reluctantly argued, "there is nothing in America that the people of America will not take the gun."

"Listen to me, Doctor," said Mario, but Jason was not quite convinced of the armed fighting power of non-professional soldiers. "We have to deal with not a few gangsters or wild animals, but thousands of zombies, and you have not experienced the scenes of fighting with them, and that kind of blood and cruelty are unimaginable to you."

“We had more than 5,000 people at the Miami base, but after the mutation, our brothers didn’t exist, and General Johnson died for the country in battle,” Jason’s palm spread out on the map, and the palms covered the entire city of Florida and Miami.Doctor, in scientific research, we are not as good as you, but when it comes to war, you can't.And I'm responsible to everyone here, and I can't risk their lives."

“Didn’t you shoot some zombies very easily on the way?”Mario said.

“So there are only a few zombies, do you think they are wild animals?”Jason has lost some patience with Dr. Mario, "If the zombies on the road were all wild animals, I wouldn't refuse to try your plan, which is really great, but it's not for us."

“Wild animals...” Mario’s eyes fell straight into the corner of Florida on the west side of the map above.

“If nothing else, I’d like to take a break, Doctor,” Jason began as a guest, but Mario didn’t heed Jason’s words, but instead moved his finger forward along a line on the map.

“God, it is difficult for people to do scientific research, and they always think of their rich knowledge and noble status and look down on others.”Jason complained, "Especially looking down on our soldiers."

"Look here, Major, I've adjusted my plans," said Dr. Mario, excitedly speaking, pointing to Jason, "and I'm sure you won't deny it again after you've heard it."

Jason touched a forehead, just there faintly a little pain, he endured the dissatisfaction with Mario came over, "you say, I hope you adjust the plan will not waste my rest time, the military also need to supplement sleep."

“Look here,” Mario’s finger said at the point where the tip of south Florida was on the map, “here’s the Everglades National Park, and we can choose to cross this area without taking the road.”

"Major, although you are afraid of a large number of zombies, I think you are not afraid of the wild animals here."Mario smiled subtly, imitating Jason's tone, "I just heard who said, "If the zombies on this road are wild animals, I won't refuse to try your plan, and, seriously, it's a great plan, but it's not for us."

Jason ignored Mario's taunts, and he looked at the area of Everglades National Park on the map, and his head began to rapidly calculate the feasibility of crossing it.

“I take this plan, Doc,” Mario stood quietly by, watching Jason analyze it in front of the map, waiting for the next moment to come up with his long-awaited remark.

"OK, Major, I'm taking back what I just said and apologize to you," Mario said, seeing that Jason didn't care about his mockery, and couldn't help but admire him a little more.

“Do you know anything about the Everglades National Park?”Jason asked.

"Of course, I was there when I was young to do some research work, and it was your words that inspired me, so I thought I could go down this route."Mario said: "This area is very large, almost 1.5 million acres, and the water network here is very developed, the wide freshwater river through this vast plain, a large part of the area has become a vast swamp."The data I’ve got in my previous research show that it’s the largest subtropical wildlife sanctuary on the nation, and your main opponents are the American crocodile and the Florida Panthers.And manatees, of course, they generally don't attack humans on their own."

“It’s good that we can also supply food and fresh water along the way without consuming our very little reserves.”Jason listens to Mario explain the information he has on the Everglades National Park, and analyzes valuable information from it.

“They’re all wild conservationists, and are they so good as food?”Mario hesitated, “Major, although human society is nearing ruin, I do not wish the world to continue to suffer otherwise.”If we can, we should minimize the killing while ensuring safety.”

"I'll think about your advice, Doctor," Jason thought, "and please continue to share more of what you know about it."

“Okay, this Everglades is more than 160 kilometers long and about 80 kilometers wide.In the middle of it is a shallow river, and we can travel along it.The trees here are mostly hardwood groups, including evergreen oaks, mahogany trees and pine trees.”Mario recalled the information he had learned while doing his research here, and told Jason the important part, "The main threat here comes from the special geography of the marshes and the American crocodiles, which can grow to a length of five meters, their tails are very hard and powerful, and they are very good at lurking, and they will launch a surprise attack on enemies or prey."Remember, Major, that you must emphasize to your soldiers the danger of this creature, and I do not wish any of them to give their lives for this project.”

"I will convey your advice to my soldiers, Dr."Jason nodded his head.