The Great Crash Part 2: The Barter Economy The incident at Mr. Patel's store had changed something. The fear was still present, a cold stone in the pit of Anya's stomach, but the successful de-escalation had sparked a new feeling: resolve. "That was a close one," Anya said to Alex as they walked back to their apartment building, the adrenaline slowly fading. "It was," Alex agreed, his gruff voice softer than usual. "But it won't be the last. People are desperate. And desperat
