Adam leaves for a walk, angry at Herb’s plan and worried that his father would be unable to find them if they relocated. He reflects that he now knows his neighbors as people, making the idea of abandoning them more painful. He thinks of them as the “walking dead”—people unaware they might be left to die. Adam walks past houses where residents still cut grass and tend flower gardens in a strange attempt at normalcy.

At the mini-mall, he peers into the grocery store, knowing the seemingly full shelves do not contain enough food for everyone. He continues on to Erin Mills Parkway, which has “always marked the western boundary of [his] world” (164), and wishes he had brought his gun. An idea suddenly strikes him for an alternative to Herb’s plan. He runs home to speak to Herb and his mother together.

In the kitchen, Adam sends a reluctant Danny and Rachel upstairs so he can have a private conversation. When Herb arrives, Adam presents his counter-proposal. He first agrees with Herb that the neighborhood is unsustainable as is, but he then suggests they stay and turn all green space into farmland. He proposes dismantling existing fences to build a single perimeter fence around the neighborhood, inviting the Petersons to move in with their equipment and expertise. Adam suggests training residents to defend the perimeter with conventional and alternative weapons and proposes digging wells for water.

Herb agrees the plan is possible, though difficult. Adam insists the decision must be put to the people, advocating for democracy. Herb expresses “genuine sadness” as he compares his “cynicism” to Adam’s youthful optimism. He quotes Winston Churchill on democracy and questions whether they are preserving life or a way of life. Adam’s mother agrees they must try Adam’s plan, and Herb outlines the first steps: Speak to the Petersons to see if they will relocate, and keep the plan quiet until then.

A couple of days later, Adam, Herb, and Todd drive to the Peterson farm, where Howie and Brett have been stationed for added security. On the road, they encounter an old truck carrying five men who eye them suspiciously before passing. They also reach a makeshift roadblock of abandoned cars that Herb investigates alone before waving them through.

Arriving at the farm’s driveway, they find a dead man lying across the road. Herb orders Todd to help him, and Todd flips the mutilated body over before rolling it into the ditch. They proceed and see two more bodies and an abandoned flatbed truck blocking the way. Todd spots a rifle barrel, but Howie emerges holding the weapon. Howie explains that dozens of men launched a coordinated attack on the farm the previous night, setting a shed on fire as a diversion that spread toward the barn. He praises Brett, saying the rookie cop took charge and saved them all. Howie admits he was initially immobilized by fear and believes Brett killed the three dead attackers. Brett appears, acting casually and saying it is better to take a life than have yours taken.

Inside the house, Lori hugs Adam, and the Petersons recount the attack. Mr. Peterson, fearing another assault, asks Herb to take his wife and daughter back to the neighborhood and requests more men to help defend the farm. Herb says he has none to spare and asks Mr. Peterson to abandon the farm, bringing his family, animals, and equipment. Mr. Peterson refuses, saying he cannot abandon his ancestral home. Herb informs him that Howie and Brett cannot stay either, as it would be leaving them to die. After a pause, Mr. Peterson agrees to send his family and equipment but insists on staying himself.

Herb bluntly tells Mr. Peterson he will be dead within days if he stays. Adam speaks up, explaining their plan to turn the neighborhood into a farm to save hundreds of people who need his expertise. Lori adds her plea, and Mr. Peterson relents.

Late that afternoon, a large convoy assembles at the Peterson farm to transport the family, livestock, and equipment back to the neighborhood. Judge Roberts leads the convoy in his classic car with Herb in the passenger seat. The convoy includes Mrs. Peterson driving the tractor pulling wagons filled with livestock, tools, and supplies while armed officers Sergeant Evans and O’Malley ride in the front wagons. Mr. Peterson drives a horse-drawn carriage, then comes Adam’s Omega carrying Todd and Lori, Mr. Langston’s Camaro, and an abandoned flatbed truck at the rear carrying more armed men, including Howie and Brett.

Before departing, the Petersons hide remaining supplies in the root cellar, covering the access with soil. They take a final, emotional look at their home. Herb gives the group a pep talk, stressing that they must stay together and meet any force with greater force.

The convoy is stopped by the barricade they passed earlier, now manned by armed men. Herb decides to negotiate and tells Adam to come with him, explaining that an old man and a boy are less threatening than armed officers. He instructs Adam to leave his pistol behind, and they walk toward the barricade with their hands up. The men at the barricade order them to remove their shirts and escort them behind the cars. Herb offers a toll of one cow, but the men want all eight. After the captors huddle to discuss, they take Adam hostage and order Herb to wave the convoy through so they can trap them.

Herb feigns a heart attack, and when shoved, he spins around, revealing a hidden pistol. He bluffs that his weapon is fully automatic and that he just came from a violent raid, intimidating the men into dropping their weapons. He forces the five captors to strip naked and move a car to clear a path. Adam signals the convoy to advance while Herb sends the naked men running. Adam grabs the captured rifles and jumps into his car. His hands are shaking too badly to drive, so Lori takes the wheel, and they complete the journey home.

The next morning, Adam is woken by one of the Petersons’ roosters, now living in Herb’s backyard. It is still early, so Adam decides to work on the ultralight plane he built with his father. Lori joins him in the garage, interested to learn about the ultralight. Brett arrives, calls the plane a “toy,” expresses fear of flying in it, and leaves to sleep. Determined to prove Brett wrong and impress Lori, Adam wheels the ultralight outside and attaches the wings. Just as a test, he starts the engine and taxis the plane onto the street. On impulse, he accelerates down the empty street and takes off. Adam knows he is making a mistake, but he circles the neighborhood, waving to people below, and decides to extend his flight beyond the brief demonstration he had planned.

He climbs to 300 feet, flying over surrounding areas and retracing the convoy’s route from the previous day. He suddenly realizes with dread that he never checked the fuel level before taking off. Worried, he banks and follows a major road back toward the neighborhood, flying low to conserve fuel. He sees people on the ground staring up in shock at the sight of a flying machine. He successfully makes his approach and lands on his street. Just as he reaches to hit the kill switch, the engine sputters and dies—he is completely out of fuel. Kate, Herb, Lori, and neighbors rush toward him as he climbs out.

Adam’s mother furiously scolds him for his reckless, unauthorized flight. Danny and Rachel excitedly ask to go flying, but their mother refuses and assigns them to watch the ultralight. After her anger subsides, Kate unexpectedly asks Adam to fly her somewhere. She wants to do aerial reconnaissance of another police precinct, which is rumored to be abandoned. Herb argues that Kate is too important to risk and that he should go with Adam instead. She reluctantly agrees.

Thirty minutes later, Adam prepares the ultralight for a second flight, having refilled the gas tank. Herb arrives with binoculars, a scoped rifle, and two armored vests, which they both put on. They take off in the two-seater, watched by a crowd. The plane struggles to climb with the extra weight. Herb admits he is terrified of heights but came because he needs to see the situation. He requests they fly low to be a harder target, citing World War I fighter tactics.

During the flight, they spot another fortified neighborhood with guards that Herb suggests they might form a trade agreement with in the future. Adam asks about Herb’s past again, but Herb deflects. When they finally approach the other precinct, they see the station has been burned out and is still smoldering. Herb observes through binoculars that the damage indicates an explosion, not just a fire; burn marks suggest a rocket-propelled grenade was used. The station has been attacked and overrun. Herb says they must return immediately to warn Adam’s mother that her station could be the next target.

After the reconnaissance flight, Herb convinces Kate to abandon her precinct. She and her team relocate all weapons, supplies, and personnel from her precinct into the neighborhood that day. Over the next three days, Adam’s mother and Herb meet with community leaders—Judge Roberts, Councilwoman Stevens, doctors, the fire chief, and others—to secure their support for the new plan to fortify the neighborhood and make in self-sufficent. Fifteen days after the outage, they hold a community-wide meeting in the elementary school gymnasium.

Adam’s mother, in full uniform, addresses the packed gymnasium of 900 residents. She announces that her police station and four additional officers have been moved into the neighborhood, bringing the total of active officers to 10 and making the community their sole priority. She states that the crisis will likely last for many months, causing an uproar. She introduces Herb, who takes the podium and explains that the lack of foreign aid or any foreign attack indicates the crisis is global. He warns that while they are currently safe, their two-month food supply—and their lives—will be threatened by outsiders. He presents the community plan as the solution for survival.

Herb unexpectedly calls Adam to the stage, introducing him as the person who first proposed the plan. Adam gives an impromptu, heartfelt speech. He urges the community not to deny what is happening but to work together to build a world guided by justice and fairness. He asks who will stand with them to survive, and Herb asks everyone who supports the plan to stand. After a moment’s hesitation, the entire crowd rises to its feet, cheering and applauding. As the crowd celebrates, Adam tells Herb they did it. Herb replies that the hard part is just beginning and explains that he had Adam speak because his youthful certainty was what the people needed to believe.

Three days after the community meeting, the neighborhood is being transformed. Mr. Peterson plows the large field beneath the power lines with his tractor, turning land unused for 50 years back into farmland. Throughout the neighborhood, residents convert yards and parks into gardens using rototillers and hand tools. People now recognize Adam everywhere and thank him for his speech.

A defensive fence is being constructed along Mullet Creek, part of the eastern boundary, using recycled materials from dismantled backyard fences. Todd’s father takes a lead role in construction, with Todd working beside him and showing unexpected skill. Five families have opted out of the plan, and their fences remain, a decision Adam’s mother insists on respecting despite some residents wanting to expel them. Sentry ledges are being built along the tall concrete highway noise barrier on the north side.

Adam finds Herb on one of the new ledges, observing the quiet highway. Herb warns that a large, well-armed group could still easily overrun them. He speculates that the group that attacked the other police station could have been a militia or even rogue military members. He says their best defense is currently the lack of transportation and communication available to potential attackers. Herb explains the irony that the more they build up defenses, the more they will attract attention and attacks, “like a flame to moths” (250). The best they can do is continue to prepare.

That evening, a leadership committee of a dozen people meets in Adam’s living room. Adam listens from the kitchen while pretending to clean, and Danny and Rachel play hangman at the kitchen table. The committee agrees to open a day care and school for children 12 and younger. They review medical progress: A clinic is open, and a small hospital with eight beds is being created in the pharmacy at the mini-mall, powered by a generator. A dentist has also begun seeing patients.

Adam’s mother reports on security. The detail is divided into three units of 65 members, each working 12-hour shifts. They have 10 police officers, along with retired officers, former military members, security guards, and firefighters, with enough firearms for 120 people. Howie shares that guards struggle with turning away desperate people, including acquaintances, at the gates. Herb suggests they could consider letting in people with specific, valuable skills.

Mr. Nicholas, an engineer, reports on rainwater harvesting from roofs and gutters into collection barrels and swimming pools. He explains they are also looking at blocking sewers to store rainwater underground. Dr. Morgan expresses concern about human waste contaminating water and causing disease outbreaks. Herb claims that wells are needed, and Mr. Nicholas says the water table is shallow; he can start organizing digging the next day.

The discussion turns to food. They have staples for two months, but crops will not be ready for four. Mr. Gomez reports on daily scavenging progress, and Herb prioritizes scavenging for nonreplicable resources, specifically fuel. He proposes draining underground tanks at the gas station and storing fuel in car tanks throughout the neighborhood. He also suggests bringing stalled cars from outside the walls for their fuel, tires, and parts. Mr. Nicholas suggests car parts like alternators could be used to build windmills to generate electricity. Howie notes that removing cars from outside will improve defense by eliminating cover for attackers. The committee approves the plan and adjourns.