"It can't be like this everywhere," Colin said through clenched teeth as he stuffed the meter into his worn cargo pants pocket. "There are others living out here...I know there are." He wasn't completely sure of that, but he had overheard the General talk about raiders trying to break in on a few occasions. He had even been called to handle the raiders once and was forced to kill one of them. The face of the guy's shocked and scared face as he died was seared into his memory, but he didn't dare tell his brother about it. 

"We're going to head northwest. I overheard the general claim the ocean air has cleaned out most of the chemicals in that direction. Do you think you can handle a little journey? Last chance to turn back." He turned to look at him as he holstered his pistol. "Once we pass that fence over there, there is no turning back."