It is not the scarcity, but the inequity, that breeds discontent.
Back in school, despite the limited rations, everyone shared what little they had, and thus, no one complained.
Moreover, Thomas had concealed the true amount of food, so the students never felt unfairly treated. As long as they had enough to stave off hunger, they were content.
But things were different now.
Everyone knew that zombies could be exchanged for roasted chicken!
And with only thirty portions of food for four hundred people, no one could hide their share of the food anymore.
One student, holding two meager crackers in his hands, could no longer contain his frustration.
"Luther...?"
"What?"
"Wasn't it said there would be thirty portions of food? Why have we received so little? And we caught two zombies today—where's the roasted chicken?"
Luther's face hardened as he snapped, "You don't know anything! Thirty portions have to be divided among four hundred people. What, you think there's more? I'm in the same boat, aren't I?"
He was right; dividing thirty portions among four hundred meant there was barely a bite to go around.
But the students weren't convinced.
One of them spoke up, "But then why did Jack and his group get a whole pack?"
"Shut up, did you see it?"
Luther, naturally, wouldn't admit anything, and retorted, "We're all together every day. Who dares take more than their share?"
The boy named Jack scowled and retorted angrily, "Fucking Kevin, you dare accuse me? If you don't back up what you said, I swear I'll deal with you!"
In a flash, Jack grabbed Kevin by the neck and slammed him against the wall.
Kevin, his face flushed with anger, looked evasively at the others, stammering, "I clearly saw it. And Aaron and Donny saw it too... Didn't you all see that night, Jack wasn't alone in the room, sneaking biscuits?"
The two boys nearby, hearing this, shrank back in fear instead of coming forward to corroborate.
Jack, noticing their apprehension, smirked and glared at them, asking, "You two saw me eating biscuits?"
Luther, from the side, spoke in his usual cold tone, "Aaron, Donny, did you two really see Jack sneak food? If you did, then tell me, and I'll split him open right here."
"No... No!"
"We didn't see anything, Luther!"
Everyone knew Jack was Luther's right-hand man. He had been part of Luther's inner circle long before.
The two boys, unable to stand up to Luther, naturally backed down.
"Dammit!"
Kevin, now furious, shouted, "Weren't we supposed to bring this up together today? You guys are such cowards! Fools! Am I the only one who hasn't had enough to eat? You two hillbillies deserve to starve!"
Bang!
Jack's fist slammed into Kevin's face with a vicious punch. "Stop making a scene, Kevin! You're the one stirring trouble!"
Kevin, unwilling to back down after the punch, struggled to push Jack off and prepare to retaliate.
"Enough, both of you, stop!"
Thomas intervened, stepping between the two and pushing them apart. "Jack, apologize to Kevin!"
"Fuck, are you crazy, Thomas? You want me to apologize to him? What the hell's he even worth?"
Jack, stubborn and defiant, cursed under his breath.
Thomas' face darkened, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses as he barked, "I'm telling you one last time—apologize!"
Jack, sensing the tension, glanced at Luther for approval. Luther nodded ever so slightly.
"Fine, I'll apologize, Thomas."
Jack gritted his teeth and reluctantly stepped in front of Kevin, muttering coldly, "Sorry."
Kevin, covering his bruised face, shot him a venomous look but refrained from speaking.
He understood—this was Thomas' way of smoothing things over. The apology was nothing more than a formality to settle the matter, making it impossible for Kevin to escalate things further.
"Kevin..."
Thomas clapped him on the shoulder and spoke in a more measured tone, "Jack's temper is short, don't let it get to you. I see what's going on here. It's just a pack of biscuits, nothing more."
Is this just about a pack of biscuits?
Kevin's heart burned with frustration at Thomas' dismissive words.
They had all worked equally hard, yet he and his brothers had ended up with the least food despite their greater efforts. Anyone in his position would feel the injustice.
"Thomas, this isn't—"
Before Kevin could say more, Thomas cut him off, "That pack of biscuits was given to Jack by me."
"You..."
Thomas was second only to Luther in the pecking order. Even Luther deferred to him in some matters.
Kevin's anger flared, but he had no retort.
Thomas, unfazed, continued, "Yesterday, when we caught that zombie, many of the brothers sustained light injuries. Jack got a kick to the chest from a zombie and hasn't fully recovered yet. Tell me, was it too much for me to give him a pack of biscuits?"
Jack, realizing this was his moment to turn the tide, quickly pulled up his shirt to reveal the bruise on his shoulder.
"Look at this! I've been suffering so you can eat, and you still have the nerve to complain? What, you're still not satisfied?"
Kevin, completely silenced, hesitated before muttering, "I... didn't know you were injured..."
Jack shot back, "What, you want me to send you a report every time I get hurt? What are you, my father?"
His companions chimed in quickly, backing him up.
"Yeah, I took several hits too. I've got bruises all over my legs!"
"Kevin, if you're so unhappy, why don't you go catch the zombies by yourself next time? Don't even think about a pack of biscuits, we won't even look at a whole roasted chicken!"
"Yeah, stop complaining. You're lucky you even get food. Be grateful!"
"Enough from all of you!"
Thomas shot a sharp look at Jack and his cronies. "We're all brothers here. Who doesn't have a bit of a squabble? This ends here. No more of this nonsense from now on!"
"Thomas, I..."
Kevin felt thoroughly embarrassed now.
He thought he had gathered proof of Luther's crew taking more than their share and had charged in to confront them, but with just a few words from Thomas, the tables had turned.
Even though Jack's excuses were obviously flimsy, Kevin couldn't argue.
He had no injuries to show for his efforts...
But just because he didn't get injured didn't mean he had worked less than the others!
Kevin felt a deep sense of injustice, yet his mouth remained sealed.
After sending Kevin and the others on their way, Luther and Jack returned to their quarters.
"Dammit, I can't believe they made trouble for me!"
Thomas muttered angrily as he stepped inside.
Jack, not daring to argue, flashed a grin and said, "You're something else, Thomas. With just a few words, you turned Kevin into an idiot. Haha!"
"Don't talk back to me!"
Thomas, his expression stern, shot back, "You can't even sneak food without causing problems? I covered for you today, but what about next time? Are you planning to hurt yourself every day?"
Jack, sulking, muttered, "Kevin's just a little pussy. I'll handle him anytime, both of them."
"Yeah, you can handle Kevin, but what about the other hundreds of brothers outside? You think you can take them all on?"
Thomas, clearly dissatisfied with Jack's attitude, stepped forward and kicked him, growling, "I've told you a thousand times—sneak food when no one's looking. Keep acting cocky, and next time, I'll be the first to deal with you!"