Herb interviews the mechanic, Paul Robson, about his experience, and the community committee invites the Robson family to stay, housing them temporarily with an elderly woman on Adam’s street.

The next day, the neighborhood gathers for Mike Smith’s funeral, an important event that acts as “a ceremony to join together everybody in the neighborhood” (271). Todd’s father built the casket, and a Methodist minister leads the service at a burial site just outside the neighborhood’s perimeter, under a highway overpass. Adam reflects that having space for additional graves is chilling evidence that more deaths are expected.

During the ceremony, Adam notices Herb providing security from atop the overpass with a scoped rifle. Feeling detached, Adam climbs the embankment to join him. Herb explains that Brett is leading security for a scavenging team, noting his skills suit action better than waiting. When Adam admits he distrusts Brett’s unpredictable moods, Herb calls him a useful “wild card.”

Herb spots people emerging from the woods and dispatches Howie and armed men to investigate. The group proves harmless, just hunters, but Adam knows a real confrontation is inevitable.

Five days later, Adam wakes at dawn to the alarm horn and gunfire. Brett, staying in the guest room, is already awake and calm. The two-blast signal indicates trouble at the south wall. After sending Rachel and Danny back to bed, they don body armor and drive to the scene.

At the wall, Kate announces over a bullhorn that the disturbance is over and no one was hurt. Adam joins Herb, Howie, Brett, and Kate near the gate, where he sees a truck that has crashed into the wall. Howie reports that guards saw the truck, were fired upon, and returned fire. Herb insists on investigating immediately rather than waiting for morning. Despite Kate’s reluctance, she agrees that Herb can go with Brett.

Herb orders guards moved to protect the flanks and prevent friendly fire. He and Brett investigate the truck, which suddenly erupts in flames. After they return, Herb admits he set the fire to hide evidence. He reveals that the truck contained an elderly couple and a middle-aged driver, hit by over 100 rounds. An unfired .22 rifle proves that no one shot at the guards first; they killed innocent people.

Howie tries to resign, but Herb and Kate refuse. The five of them agree that only they will know the truth. They will tell the community that the neighborhood was attacked and bravely defended.

Two nights later, Adam attends a committee meeting where members report progress on schools, medical facilities, water harvesting, and the perimeter wall, which is 90% complete. A newspaper, The New Neighborhood News, has been launched, which Adam thinks Herb will use to control information.

Mr. Peterson reports that crop planting is proceeding but warns they cannot feed 1,600 people indefinitely, even focusing on high-yield crops like potatoes. Herb proposes building greenhouses to extend the growing season, and Judge Roberts announces that a civilian court will convene to handle internal disputes.

The committee discusses the recent incident at the south wall. Herb presents the cover story, praising the guards’ defense against three heavily armed attackers, and Howie looks ashamed as Herb lies. Herb then expresses concern over the incident’s “terrible cost”: 300 rounds of ammunition expended. He uses this to justify new protocols of limiting rounds per sentry and requiring permission to fire.

Herb also proposes perimeter lighting using car batteries. Howie reports sentries are observing more people, weapons, and working vehicles outside, and guards struggle to refuse desperate requests for food and water. Herb uses a lifeboat analogy, explaining that they cannot save everyone without sinking themselves. There is just one exception: They can admit outsiders with skills that strengthen the community.

Near the end of May, Adam and Lori attend movie night in the crowded school gym. Afterward, Lori takes Adam’s hand and leads him for a walk toward the south wall along Burnham Drive. Adam feels uneasy near the site where innocent people died but says nothing.

They find Howie at the wall, who takes them outside the gate to demonstrate the new perimeter lighting system—strings of Christmas lights powered by car batteries. Adam feels exposed in the bright lights and urges them back inside. As light rain begins, Howie teases them about their romantic stroll, joking about having them married before they have even kissed. In response, Lori stops and kisses Adam. Adam is thrilled and invites Lori to go for a flight in the ultralight the next day, noting her father has already given permission. Lori is overjoyed.

Adam takes Lori on her first ultralight flight, a mission assigned by Herb and Kate to contact the nearby Olde Burnham Hills community. Both wear body armor as a precaution. They fly over their neighborhood, observing progress in cultivation, greenhouses, and logging operations.

As they approach Olde Burnham Hills, Adam flies low. Lori successfully drops a package containing a letter from Herb proposing a meeting and 30 chlorine tablets, attached to a small parachute. The package lands in an intersection where residents retrieve it.

Lori comments that Herb seems potentially dangerous. Adam confirms he can be but emphasizes Herb’s dedication to the neighborhood’s survival. A gust of wind shakes the plane, and Lori places her hand on Adam’s hand.

High winds prevent flying, so Adam drives Herb to the meeting with Olde Burnham on the bridge between their neighborhoods. Howie and guards secure their end of the bridge while Brett provides sniper overwatch from a cliff. Herb and Adam leave their weapons behind and walk onto the bridge.

Two men from Olde Burnham meet them in the middle. Their leader mentions some of his men wanted to shoot at the ultralight, shocking Adam. During their conversation, the second man inadvertently reveals their limited ammunition supply. They came hoping for more chlorine tablets.

Herb offers more chlorine in exchange for something they have in abundance. Olde Burnham has a large number of mechanics, which has allowed them to repair over a dozen vehicles. Herb proposes they lend mechanics to help convert their lawn mowers into rototillers and go-carts. He also invites them to bring their sick to the neighborhood’s medical clinic and share a meal. The men, moved by the generosity, agree to come the next day with two mechanics and about 10 people needing medical care.

As they walk back, Herb warns that more working vehicles will increase competition for fuel and mobile threats. They must secure all available fuel and strengthen their walls. Herb jokes that Adam’s optimism is affecting him but reminds him that he still had a sniper aimed at the other men during the meeting.

That night, Adam plays Scrabble with Lori and Todd but is distracted, thinking about his father. After Todd makes a joke, Adam has a near-hysterical laughing fit that worries his friends and causes him to abruptly leave the game.

A week later, Adam flies Herb toward a meeting at Olde Burnham. Their alliance has been successful: Doctors have treated Olde Burnham residents, and their mechanics have helped with machine conversions. Revisiting their previous conversation, Herb discusses Adam’s distrust of Brett. He argues that “[c]risis doesn’t change people; it reveals them” (325), saying that Brett is a predictable, controllable asset who is necessary for survival. Herb adds that he understands Brett because he was once similar to him.

En route, Adam spots the Cessna plane on the horizon. Herb orders him to abandon the meeting and follow it. They fly past Olde Burnham at high speed and head toward the city, observing widespread destruction and no agriculture. Herb speculates the population has drastically decreased from .25 million to perhaps 30,000 or 40,000.

The Cessna descends to land at a fortified industrial compound surrounded by people, vehicles, and military-grade weapons. Suddenly, a bullet rips through the ultralight’s wing. Adam executes sharp evasive maneuvers, dropping low behind buildings. Fearing pursuit, he flies a wide, looping route home.

Herb inspects the bullet hole and identifies it as .50-caliber, explaining he has similar weapons and grenades in his personal collection. He notes seeing armored vehicles at the compound and speculates they could be rogue soldiers. Herb decides the discovery will be shared only with the committee.

Two days later, Adam inspects the repaired wing under a newly constructed canvas hangar built to protect the ultralight and hide it from aerial surveillance. Guards have been instructed to watch for the Cessna; Olde Burnham reports a few closer flyovers, but none have been seen over Eden Mills.

Herb joins Adam and paraphrases Winston Churchill about the exhilaration of being shot at and missed. He asks about the ultralight’s vulnerabilities and suggests reinforcing the engine and gas tank with metal plating. Herb inquires about a Cessna’s fuel tank location, gathering tactical information should they need to shoot it down.

Herb theorizes they are currently safe because any attacker would wait for their crops to mature before striking. Between now and then, their goal is to become a “hard target,” possibly forcing negotiation rather than attack. Adam notes that “grumbling” about food shortages has already begun as personal supplies run out, and realizes squirrels and stray dogs are likely being added to community stews.

That evening, a town hall meeting is scheduled to explain the need to ration food. Herb tells Adam his plan is to scare residents enough to ensure compliance without causing panic. He confirms he will not tell the general population about the heavily armed group, as that information remains classified. Herb adds that Adam should not speak at the meeting because he is not good at shading the truth.