After the riders return, Herb pulls Adam aside and gives him his snub-nosed pistol for overnight protection. Adam hesitates, but Herb insists, revealing he carries a backup weapon. Adam conceals the holstered gun as Brett, Herb, and Rachel leave in Adam’s car.

Adam and Todd spend the day constructing a barbed-wire fence around the Peterson farm. On a break, Lori brings lemonade and tells Adam her father has barely slept since the crisis began. Adam tries to reassure her, suggesting that they will be safe with the fence and extra manpower. Lori asks if Adam can stay another night and mentions that his “friend” is nice. Adam assumes she means Todd, but Lori is talking about Brett. Adam blurts that “Brett isn’t that nice” and inadvertently reveals his dislike of Chad (97). Lori suggests that she dates the wrong guys because the right ones haven’t asked her out. She tells Adam, “it’s time to stop thinking and start doing” (97), but Stan interrupts them before the conversation can continue.

Adam and Todd patrol the Peterson farm that night. Adam carries a baseball bat and Herb’s pistol, which Mr. Peterson knows about.

Todd is complaining about staying up all night to help Adam “impress some girl” (100-01), when they hear multiple people approaching. Adam reveals his pistol to Todd and sends him to get Mr. Peterson. Adam hides behind the tractor, which, per Herb’s advice, has replaced the hay wagon, and activates its headlights, revealing seven men armed with crude weapons and carrying empty water containers.

Mr. Peterson emerges with his shotgun, along with Todd and Mrs. Peterson. One of the intruders pleads that they only need water for their families, and Adam steps forward to de-escalate, emulating Herb’s tactics. He introduces himself, builds rapport with the men, and asks them to put down their weapons.

The Petersons agree to provide water, and Mrs. Peterson even devises a system where the men leave containers at the lane’s end to be filled secretly in the future, allowing the confrontation to end peacefully.

In the morning, Mr. Peterson thanks Todd and Adam, especially for Adam’s handling of the confrontation with the water-seekers. He expresses fear about coming violence, saying he doesn’t want to kill or be killed, and Adam promises to discuss further assistance with his mother and Herb.

Mr. Peterson provides breakfast and drives them partway home on his tractor, lending them baseball bats in case they need to defend themselves. During the ride, Adam spots a small Cessna airplane overhead. The plane circles low, and Adam can see the pilot and passenger. The sight gives Adam hope that his father might find a similar pre-computer aircraft and fly home.

Adam and Todd walk the rest of the way home, and Adam is relieved to reach his neighborhood checkpoint. At home, Adam’s mother, Herb, and four officers are meeting. Kate says they will discuss Adam’s unauthorized overnight excursion later, and Herb takes responsibility.

The officers report that the previous night’s patrol was difficult, with widespread fires, looting, and assaults. Sergeant Evans admits to feeling afraid and powerless. Herb shares privately with Kate and Adam that his shortwave radio indicates conditions are much worse in major cities, making Adam worry about his father in Chicago. Herb predicts the situation will worsen exponentially each night and urges Kate to consider pulling patrols back to defend only their neighborhood, but Kate refuses for now. He also proposes arming civilians, but Kate is uncertain.

After Kate leaves, Herb asks about Adam’s night at the farm. Adam admits there was a confrontation and offers to return the pistol, but Herb tells him to keep it.

Adam finds Rachel crying, worried about their father. He comforts her and her twin brother, Danny, reassuring them that their father is safe with his flight crew. To distract them, Adam organizes a trip to Mullet Creek to fetch water for flushing toilets. At the creek, they discover the water level has dropped to a trickle. Other residents scoop up the last pools with cups. Adam wonders if widespread bucket drawing, including upstream, is draining the already-low flow.

The dwindling water makes Adam think of the Petersons’ well. Walking home, they see a large column of black smoke from a major fire in the distance. Rachel asks what Adam is carrying under his shirt, noticing the bulge from the holstered pistol. Adam deflects and promises to ask their mother if Rachel can go horseback riding again. That night, Adam is too restless to sleep.

The patrol officers gather in Adam’s house for their morning debriefing and discuss the large fire visible on the horizon. Herb raises fire safety concerns due to the dry weather and suggests recruiting neighborhood firefighters for resident education. Herb also proposes moving the gas tanker into the neighborhood, crediting Adam with the idea. He explains they can pull the stalled tanker with ropes, and Kate authorizes the plan. The officers report that having civilian partners on patrol has been successful, and Herb suggests the civilians keep patrol details confidential. The officers report that checkpoints have been effective, though some stores were recently looted. Herb predicts looting will increase as supplies dwindle.

Herb proposes establishing three additional checkpoints and conducting a census to identify residents with critical skills like medical, military, or mechanical expertise. He suggests offering the water from Adam’s family pool as a registration incentive, and Kate agrees.

That evening, Adam invites Herb over to finally explain how he knows so much about how the crisis is unfolding. While waiting, Adam and his mother have tea by candlelight and discuss the well-being of the twins and Adam’s father.

Herb arrives and warns that violence is escalating in cities; fleeing refugees will make their neighborhood a target, and Herb urges Kate to arm civilians. He announces that the census has identified retired police, ex-military, and firefighters, who can be stationed to strengthen checkpoints. Adam confronts Herb about his past, asking if he was CIA. Herb admits he was an “operative” but refuses to confirm specifics, citing classified restrictions. However, he seen worse situations than their current crisis and emphasizes the need to stay a step ahead of devolving circumstances. Adam becomes frustrated with Herb’s lack of transparency, but their conversation is interrupted by an eruption of gunfire near the elementary school.

Adam drives them to the checkpoint, where Sergeant Evans, Officer Howie, and others stand over two dead bodies. John Wilson, the retired officer in charge, reports that the attackers came from behind them. Sergeant Evans explains his patrol arrived during the attack; they exchanged fire, killing two intruders and chasing others away. The intruders dropped bags containing stolen items. Mike Smith, one of the checkpoint guards, was shot in the fight and rushed to the Dr. Morgan’s house.

Sergeant Evans is deeply shaken. Kate and Herb comfort him and send him home. Mr. Gomez and two other civilian guards also leave. Kate orders Adam to drive the guards home and stay to protect the twins. She and Herb remain to secure the checkpoint and remove the bodies.

Unable to sleep, Adam stays on the downstairs couch with Herb’s pistol under his pillow, haunted by images of the dead men. He repeatedly checks all doors and windows.

He finds the census papers Herb left behind and examines them by flashlight. He locates his family’s entry and is pained to see his father is not listed. Adam notices a faint pencil mark, the letter F, beside his family’s name and about 10% of other households. He tries to determine the pattern by examining which occupations are marked but finds no consistent explanation. Suddenly, he realizes part of the word has been erased next to each F. Upon closer inspection, Adam deciphers the complete word: Farm.

Adam connects Herb’s intense interest in the Peterson farm to this notation. He counts 158 marked people and worries the markings may indicate prioritization or relocation planning, potentially leaving many neighbors unprotected. He recognizes that he doesn’t know Herb’s true intent and resolves to confront him and demand the truth.