by Matt Pike
Ye-jun, who was behind me, also got a taste, as did the air cushion, losing another section. By the time we spat the grit from our mouths, cleaned out our eyes and regained our awareness and position on the road, the other hovercraft was no longer ahead of us.
Kelly spotted them cutting across the parklands, or no-man’s land. They were darting their way around trees and trebuchet impact craters, shooting their way diagonally through to the fringes of Kent Town. We’d lost a lot of ground in the chaos and didn’t even know if we still had the pace advantage.
I waited until I had a clean entry point into the same space and followed after them. Nate’s role went from sniper to navigator as he tried to find the most direct path through the mess. If we got this right we could make up some big ground, while a bad turn or two could see us lose them altogether.
We zipped close by the burnt-out remains of the first version of the big rig, the one I had firebombed during the last battle. It was another reminder of a chance that went begging for me to kill the Fat Man.
Ahead and to the east, we could see the enemy hovercraft had made its way to Dequettiville Tce. It no longer had to negotiate the pitfalls of no-man’s land and had another chance to get some space on us. They looked at us, us at them. Nate flipped them the bird.
It took us longer than we would’ve liked to reach the eastern side of no-man’s land. As we did, we watched as they turned down Flinders St.
Nate said what we were all thinking. “They’re definitely heading to the Parade.”
“They’ve avoided any route with an uphill climb, so they must still think we’re quicker,” added Kelly.
It was something we were about to find out, as the chase settled back into a straight line race along the streets.
They must’ve been out to nearly 150m again by the time we hit Flinders St, but we closed that right back up to 70m by the time they turned onto the Parade. Close enough that Nate was back on his weapon again. He managed to put a hole in a section of their air cushion before they made the turn.
“Wherever they’re going, we definitely don’t want them to get there,” said Ye-jun.
Again, it was what everyone else was thinking. Them heading back to the Parade was bad news. It was their home turf, for a start, where they knew the streets far better than us. It was more than that, though. There must be something that made them risk it all to get back here. A weapons stash, a booby trap - something.
We turned onto the Parade. There was probably less than a kilometre of straight road between where we were and their former base. That was all we had to work with if we wanted to stay in control.
Nate had three rounds left. The first was a waste as the road gave us a jolt right as he pulled the trigger. He was about to fire the second one when another bomb was launched our way.
I was prepared this time and was able to steer further away from the danger area of the blast, but it still slowed us down and put us further back.
His next shot hit the base of the hovercraft again, taking out another section of cushion. It was a decent result, but he swore regardless.
By the time he was lining up his final shot, we were passing the Parade oval. The other hovercraft was nearing Osmond Tce and on the other side of that was the heart of their former operation.
Nate took a few deep breaths to calm himself and pulled the trigger once more. The round hit one of the fans, sending out sparks. He swore again.
Then their hovercraft started veering away from the centre of the road. I saw the Fat Man lunge across to the controls. The craft snaked side to side before finding its straight line again.
The gap closed to metres in what seemed like an instant. So close I felt like I could reach out and touch them right off my driver’s side flank. I was so obsessed with catching them, I guess I blocked out the real terror of what it’d be like when I did.
This was real terror.
There was no passing of time in that moment, just this bubble of fear that didn’t obey the rules of normal post-apocalyptic reality. I existed in it, that’s all I know. I’ve heard people talk about out-of-body experiences before and that’s what it felt like. Except, I wasn’t out of my body… I don’t think. Just a participant in the crazy... both in the moment and not. I was there, shit went down. That’s the best I can do to describe it.
I couldn’t tell you if the following account is accurate, but it’s the best I can piece together.
Their driver had clearly been hit by Nate’s last bullet, but he’d recovered enough to take the controls, leaving the Fat Man and the woman free to fire. And fire they did.
Not before Ye-jun got in first. He unloaded most of his clip before bullets came back our way. But when they did come back, it was the most ridiculous and scary moment I’ve ever known. The two hovercraft, maybe 15m apart, no real cover for anyone and gunfire everywhere.
It was a free-for-all.
I dropped to the floor, using the hovercraft as cover, which was no cover at all. I looked up a couple of times, but mostly I was firing blind. I heard the sound of people getting hit, a noise that will stay with me. Ye-jun screamed in pain.
There wasn’t even much talking. No battlefield communication would help this moment. It was just four on three, a flat-out gun battle at close range. It came and went so fast, I just shot and hoped and prayed.
Fast…. But in slow motion.
Eventually, I could hear the sound of, well, no gunshots. It was the first time I allowed myself to be aware, beyond shooting and hoping. Nate’s body was opposite me. His bloodied face was pressed up against the steering column. Dead.
Ye-jun and Kelly were no longer aboard Phoenix.
I held my breath and allowed myself to pop my head up over the flimsy cover to see what was happening. That took everything I had. I saw the bodies of the driver and the woman twisted across the edge of the other craft. Well, when I say bodies, that’s not entirely accurate. I could still hear them. One was making this horrible gurgling noise, while the other was gasping for air, or wishing they weren’t, or something.
Whatever the case, there was no sign of the Fat Man.
It’s at that point I began to hear Kelly. She was talking to Ye-jun. I knew it wasn’t good. I stood up to try and get a visual on them. That’s when I felt the pain. There was blood seeping through my fatigues. My side and ribs screamed.
I managed to roll myself over the side of the air cushion, making an unceremonious touchdown with the ground, and screamed. Like the first round of pain wasn’t enough.
After a few seconds of swearing and deep breaths, I made it to standing once more. I walked over to where Kelly was rendering assistance to Ye-jun. Well, when I say assistance, it was more like words of encouragement for him to stay conscious, present and in the moment. He wasn’t really responding too much, but he was definitely still there, looking at us and, just, there… somehow.
I couldn’t even tell where he was hit, there was just too much blood.
That’s when we heard the sounds of engines. Multiple engines. Seconds later, a number of vehicles appeared out of the misty distance, headed from the city.
It was help.
I turned my attention to locating the Fat Man. I could see his large runaway ass hobbling east along the Parade. He’d put some distance between himself and the carnage. He was now on the far side of Osmond Tce. Back in the heart of his territory.
I exchanged a glance with Kelly. She nodded her approval for me to go after him.
She ejected the empty clip on her pistol, fished out her last full one, clicked it into place, then passed it to me. I nodded, told Ye-jun I loved him, to stay strong and that help was on its way.
This was now a pursuit.
Everything burned, with every step. The only thing that made it tolerable was the knowledge I was walking quicker than him. It was the only thing that kept me going - not letting him out of my sight again; catching him. My prey.
He’d gotten the jump on me, though. He’d halved th
e ground to their HQ by the time I reached Osmond Tce.
I couldn’t tell if he was armed. If he was, I had no idea what with or what ammo he had.
I ran my hand over the crossbow for reassurance and stepped up my pace as best I could.
I knew I couldn’t engage before I could be sure of finishing it. I was too far back to risk it.
I could hear the fleet growing louder behind me. I didn’t know who was there, or how many. All I knew is I had a chance to end it all.
The Fat Man was reaching the entrance to their former base and I was still too far back to take a sure shot. Just before he reached the corner, he turned back and looked at me. I don’t know if he recognised me or not, but there was this moment our eyes connected. All I know is that look in his eyes was unhinged. He hated me and hated his world being pulled out from under him.
I was glad I could give that to him.
He turned away again and hobbled the last few steps to cover. I took my chance to take a shot while I was still in control. Well, three shots. One buried in his upper arm. He swore, but wore it without missing a step.
Then he made it to the entry of his former stronghold and turned in.
I covered the distance as quickly as I could. When I got within a few metres of where he’d disappeared, I became very aware of the trap he could be laying on the other side. Any thoughts of rolling in and surprising him in any potential trap had to be balanced by the fact I wasn’t even sure I’d get up if I made such a move.
Instead, I arced out as I neared the wall, taking small steps as I slowly opened up the walkway beyond. I was looking right down the barrel of my pistol as I did, finger already leaning on the trigger.
He wasn’t there.
There was an empty walkway, about 30m long. It led straight to the entrance of the former Norwood hub. At the end, the automated sliding doors were broken - one had come off its railing and the other had its glass smashed. Inside was dark, at least, it looked that way as I approached.
Now I know why the Fat Man didn’t bother setting a trap for me at the last corner. This was far more dangerous for me, far better for him. Worst of all, I had no idea what was on the other side. Not just him and where he could potentially be waiting to attack, but everything. They’d lived there for nearly a year - hundreds of people. Undoubtedly the space no longer looked like the shopping centre it once was.
I knew the second I walked through that door, every advantage would be his. Behind me, I could still hear the engines, but I wasn’t sure whether to wait or not.
I neared the doors and stopped. I looked around to try to find something to help even up the odds. There was a coffee shop to my side. Norwood had clearly reclaimed it from the ash in their heyday. I grabbed a couple of the chairs, positioned myself as close to the entrance as I felt comfortable with and prepared to do something crazy.
The chairs were made of some red plastic material, while the arm rails and legs were some sort of light metal. I picked one up and hurled it through the broken glass.
It echoed throughout the centre as it bounced then slid to a halt. As it did, multiple shots rang out in quick succession. A couple hit the chair, and something about the impact they had made me sure he was hiding to the right.
I heard the Fat Man swear, before I heard his hobbling footsteps. This was my moment.
I held the second chair up as cover, then moved through the door, pistol aimed to the right.
I saw a flash of him as he made cover around the back of a set of escalators, nearing the grocery store. I dropped the chair and headed after him. The space was still pretty open at that point, enough that I could see where he was headed, but not enough to take a clean shot.
He entered the grocery store and moved out of sight again. I headed in that direction, treading as lightly as possible. Despite the pain, I was still able to move without making much of a sound. Noise was carrying a long way in there. It gave me one advantage back the other way - he couldn’t move without me hearing.
In the store, I could tell he’d moved well in, before coming to a stop. I could only assume he was in cover, ready to fire at me as soon as I turned the corner.
After waiting for nearly a minute, I made my move. My middle screamed with pain as I crouched over and ran for the cover of the service desk. It was only a short gap and I was nearly at the other side before gunfire rang out. He’d missed.
It was enough to give me a sense of where he was. Almost halfway to the back of the store. Hiding to the side of a row of beds.
This was no longer a grocery store, it had been converted into lodging for the masses. I’d only gotten a glimpse, but it was enough to have my eyes trained for when I got a decent look. Rows and rows of beds where the fruit and vegetable section once stood.
I stayed down until I found a position along the counter where I could get a peek at him. Before I did, I lifted the gun above the counter and fired a shot in what I was sure was his direction.
I took my look and stayed in that position when I realised he’d ducked for cover. Now I had the advantage. I could hear movement - shuffling and sliding. I had my gun traced on the noise as best I could, but it was only a guess. There were wardrobes and side tables between the beds and it seemed to go on forever in the same pattern - plenty of cover for him.
Eventually, he spoke. “Why don’t you fuck off.”
I don’t know why I was so shocked to hear him speak, but I was. It took a second or two to process it and make my response. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Look, you little shit, you’ve won. Just piss off back to the city and leave me be.”
“It’s not going to end like that, not after what you’ve done.”
“What I’ve done? I survived… same as you.”
“You are not the same as me. You’ve killed people. A lot of people.”
“It’s called surviving.”
I heard more shuffling before he added. “Anyway, you’re no choirboy yourself, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
That comment threw me for a second. Because I had done bad things. Sure, I had done them for my reasons - my right reasons - but I had done them. “It didn’t have to be like this. None of it did.”
He, too, paused before his next response. “Well, why don’t we change that? Here and now.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so said nothing.
“Stop the killing. Let me go. Let’s end this.”
“Oh, we’re definitely ending it,” I said.
He laughed at that. It was a crazy and full laugh that scared the shit out of me.
“A free lesson for you, you little upstart. I have nothing to lose now, you have everything to lose. Not a fight you want to get into.”
I couldn’t help but think of the poker game at that point. The cards had fallen and the game played out. Now, here he was, grimly hanging onto his last chip. He was desperate and I knew I had to handle the situation carefully. I also knew back-up was bound to be coming my way soon. I was more than happy to keep the stand-off conversation going.
But, he must’ve known that too. Surely he’d heard the engines coming down the Parade, just as I had. Even if he didn’t, I was sure I could start to hear the sound of voices from outside. They were distant, but definitely there.
I didn’t respond to the Fat Man’s last comment.
“There is another way, you know,” he said, eventually.
I knew it was coming, I just knew it.
“And what’s that?” I said.
“We could--”
He never finished the sentence. Instead, he unleashed a wall of gunfire on me. I dropped behind the counter, feeling pain rush through me - but I was pretty sure it was from the injuries already acquired. I’m not sure the early shots even got close to me, but after I’d taken cover, he must’ve seen I was no longer in the advantage spot and fired into the counter.
Bullets whizzed right over where I lay. I just prayed nothing connected.
As the shoo
ting came to a stop, I heard someone yell out my name - it was Zoe. Then I heard footsteps - the Fat Man was doing a runner.
I dragged myself to my feet and popped my head over the counter from behind my pistol. The Fat Man was gone. Despite the ringing in my ears, I could hear his footsteps. He was at the back of the store, shuffling his way to the far end.
“Jack!” Zoe screamed again.
“In Foodland!” I yelled back. “He’s here.”
I’d started off in chase by that point. By the time I’d reached the back of the aisle of beds I heard Zoe’s footprints grow louder than the Fat Man’s. I turned to face her and used a bit of silent communication to update her on where he was.
Of course, I didn’t actually know where that was, but I had a trail of blood for breadcrumbs and the shuffling of feet to guide me. So, the basic plan with Zoe was to sweep the entire length of the space - me from the back, her from the front. If we stayed silent, we’d have a massive advantage.
The trail of blood led to a staff entry door at the back. It must’ve been locked, as it led away again and further across the back of the store. The chase was now on. It wasn’t much different than the one we’d just had on the hovercraft - a rather slow chase with me hoping I was less slow than him… and with Zoe catching up on us the whole time.
The entire store had been reworked. Beyond the beds, they used the supermarket’s first couple of aisles as storage spaces. The next couple of rows before the freezer section had been removed and that had been made into some sort of lounge space. There was another one of those beyond the freezer section.
Zoe kept her progress to my pace. At each point where we could make eye contact, we did. With each passing aisle, the chances of him being there increased. I approached each blind space or corner like he was there - eyes behind the barrel and ready to fire where I looked. I mean, the blood trail guided me, but he would’ve known that as well as I did. He would’ve also known Zoe was potentially squeezing him from the front of the store. Anyway, I was prepared for him to use that blood trail as another trap. So, while I followed what I saw, I didn’t take it as the truth.