The Gamekeeper

by J Porteous

  ‘Hope is gone,’ he replied, words viscous with venom. ‘And I’m sure as shit not just going to sit here on my ass and wait to get fried like the rest of those poor sods that didn’t make it out. I’m not staying here another night, and I know a few more who think the same.’

  Thwaite shook her head, partly disappointed, partly not believing what she was hearing. ‘So you’re leaving? That’s it? Don’t you care about the other people here? The people who need protecting?’

  The man spat on the floor. ‘Why should I give a fuck? I don’t know anyone and they don’t know me. This world’s a fucked up place, you got to stand up for yourself or you’ll get dragged down with it.’

  I stepped forward into the room. ‘Thwaite’s right,’ I said. ‘If you leave now, you’re damning the rest of us.’

  ‘And?’ He said, turning to face me, face twisted into a sneer. ‘Why should I give a damn about you? I’m taking my stuff and making my own way. If you’ve got any sense, you’d do the same.’

  ‘I’ve got a girl here,’ I said. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’

  The man stepped towards me, the stench of old sweat becoming apparent. He lowered his voice. ‘Then I suggest you take that girl and get out of here.’ He turned to the rest of the group who he had arrived with. ‘I’m leaving. If anyone else wants in, you better hurry up.’

  Thwaite watched sullenly as the majority of the group drifted out of the room, a meagre two staying in place. I grasped Thwaite’s arm, shaking her to her senses. ‘Aren’t you going to do something? We need people.’

  Thwaite tore her arm away, her glare fixed firmly on the now empty doorway. ‘What can be done?’ she said. ‘I can’t stop them, just as I can’t stop those cultists bearing down on us.’ She wiped a tear of frustration from her cheek. ‘We’ll have to make do with what we got. Keep calm and carry on and all that.’

  As much as I wanted to say it, now didn’t seem like a good time to say that what we had was not enough. Thwaite turned towards the window, leaning her arm against the frame as she watched the people she was trying to save walk away from her. A still air hung between us.

  ‘I’ll go check on those traps,’ I said.

  She didn’t answer.

  I left the room, a feeling of weight crushing down on me as I descended the stone steps. Here we were, broken people fleeing from a broken home, and now the group had fractured further. I couldn’t blame them of course, I’d been doing the same thing for years; moving from one place to the next when I needed too. Not any more. Not today.

  I stepped out into the light of day, the wind fresh against my bare face. I closed my eyes and sucked down calming breaths. There was a storm coming our way, and we’d either need to brace ourselves or run. Running didn’t seem like much of an option.

  ‘David!’

  I opened my eyes to see Jessica running towards me, Prism sauntering along behind. Jessica threw her arms around me and gave me a hug. I stroked her head, my rough fingers scraping against her knotted hair.

  Prism caught my eye. She nodded towards the path which the scouting group had left by. ‘Another scouting trip?’

  ‘Not quite,’ I said. ‘They’re gone.’

  Prism’s eyes widened. ‘Gone? For good?’

  ‘For good.’

  ‘What about what they brought back?’

  ‘They didn’t find much,’ I said. ‘A few tools, nothing major. An old petrol depot, but nothing they could have brought back.’

  Jessica looked up at me, confusion in her eyes. ‘They’re not coming back? Are they not going to help us?’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘They’re not, Jess. We’ll have to look after ourselves.’

  She smiled. ‘We’ve done that okay so far.’

  I fought hard to smile back. I knew the chance of us being okay after we got overrun by the cultists was slim. ‘That we have.’ I looked up to see Prism’s face had fallen at my words.

  ‘Jess,’ Prism said. ‘Do you mind going to check on the other kids?’

  Jessica spun around and nodded enthusiastically. ‘Don’t worry, I’m still here to help.’ With that, she dashed back into the manor, humming merrily to herself.

  Prism waited until Jessica had vanished altogether before turning back to me. She frowned. ‘I might be stating the obvious here,’ she said. ‘But this doesn’t look good.’

  ‘We weren’t relying on just them,’ I replied. ‘There are others here who can help.’

  ‘Yes, but loss of manpower is loss of manpower. We’re adrift, and we need all the help we can get.’ She pursed her lips and looked over to the woodland. ‘What did you say they found?’

  ‘Just some tools.’

  ‘No,’ Prism said. ‘The other thing. Petrol?’

  ‘Yeah, an old petrol depot.’

  Prism clicked her fingers, something in her mind snapping into place. ‘That’s what we need.’

  ‘What? The petrol? If they couldn’t get it back here, then what are we meant to do now they’ve left?’

  Prism raised an eyebrow. ‘From the way they couldn’t wait to get out of here, do you really think that they even tried?’

  ‘That’s a fair point.’ I scratched my beard, greasy and thick. I needed a wash. ‘But they were our strongest people, without them I’m going to be struggling.’

  ‘Make a sledge,’ Prism replied. ‘There’s still plenty of snow on the ground, even if the grass is coming through. Strap a couple of barrels to it and drag them back.’

  ‘That doesn’t solve the people issue.’

  Prism shrugged. ‘I can’t help you there, but perhaps your friend could help?’

  ‘Thwaite? She’s got enough on her mind.’

  ‘She’s going to have a lot more on her mind when those cultists come crashing through the trees.’

  I bit my lip, chewing it thoroughly as I gazed out at the treeline, the boughs bending in the breeze. Whether I liked it or not, sooner or later the cultists would find their way here, and we’d have to deal with them with whatever we had left to fight them with. We needed every advantage we could get.

  I thumbed my nose, not quite realising how cold it had become out in the open air. ‘I’ll go talk to her,’ I said.

  Prism grabbed my arm, gripping me with strong fingers, and smiled. ‘Thank you. I just hope it works.’

  I snorted a laugh. ‘So do I.’

  ‘I’ll tell Jess where you’ve gone and that you’ll be back soon. I’m sure there will be enough to keep her busy until you get back.’

  Jessica being kept busy wasn’t my worry. ‘Prism, if they come while I’m gone-’

  Prism grasped my shoulder and rattled me. ‘You’ll be back before they get here.’

  Considering my track record, I found her words lacking the comfort she intended. I grasped her shoulders in return. ‘If they come before I get back, tell me you’ll keep her safe.’

  Prism’s sure-fire smile fell from her lips as the situation settled on her shoulders. ‘If, when, they come for us, you know I won’t be able to promise that.’

  ‘I know,’ I said. ‘I think I’m just needing one of those sweet little white lies about now.’

  Prism took a deep breath and placed a smile back on her lips. Her hands rose up to meet my face, and she cupped my chin gently. ‘She’ll be fine. I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise.’

  In the bleakness of everything, those words still somehow manage to kindle a spark of optimism within me. I smiled. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘My pleasure.’

  Before I knew what was happening, Prism had latched her lips on to mine. The intensity of it startled me, the feeling of her pressing against me overriding any reaction I could have given. She dropped back, the slightly satisfied grin quickly melting away. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.’

  ‘No,’ I said, placing my rough fingers to my lips. ‘It’s just been a long time, that’s all.’

  Prism almost seemed to shrink. ‘Not since your wife?’

  ‘M
y wife?’ My heart thumped in my chest at those words. ‘How did you know about her?’

  ‘Sorry,’ Prism said. ‘Jessica told me.’

  ‘Jessica?’

  ‘We do talk to each other, is that so alien to you? Is that a problem?’

  I gave a small smile. ‘No,’ I said. ‘It’s not a problem. And, no. Not since my wife.’

  She offered a sheepish grin. ‘I’m going to go check on Jessica. Go talk to Thwaite. We’ll see you when you get back.’

  I watched as she darted away, giving one last wry look over her shoulder. I pressed my fingers to my lips once more and found them smiling.

  Thwaite was where I had left her, although her usual resolve had returned somewhat. She gazed out of the window at the grounds below, the pit traps creating oddly dark holes against the remaining snow and new grass. ‘Do you think we’ll ever be safe?’

  I stepped towards her, following her gaze. There were a good number of pits now, more than I had anticipated. It gave me a twinge of hope somewhere in my mind. ‘Not while we’re still alive.’

  ‘I suppose that’s all part of it,’ she said. ‘Being alive, I mean.’

  ‘Even in the old world you couldn’t promise your own safety,’ I replied. ‘Every time you crossed the road you were taking that chance.’

  ‘True.’ She looked away from the grounds, her eyes firmly landing on me. ‘But I assume you’re not here to talk philosophy.’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m afraid not.’

  ‘Spit it out then. I’m sure I’ve heard worse things today.’

  ‘The scout party, they mentioned a petrol depot. I want to take a handful of people and bring back what I can.’

  ‘Oh? And what are you planning to do with it?’

  ‘I want to use it to help fortify the mansion.’

  Thwaite smiled wryly. ‘You want to use fire to ward off some mad fucks who aren’t afraid of the stuff?’

  ‘They still die when they burn, just like everyone else.’

  ‘Sweetly ironic.’

  ‘Is that a yes?’

  Thwaite chewed her lip and stared out onto the grounds once more. ‘I’ve already lost more bodies than I can afford. If you take a few more and don’t come back-’

  ‘I’ll come back,’ I said. ‘Jessica is here. Prism is here.’

  ‘I’m having a hard time believing anyone’s word right now,’ Thwaite retorted.

  I grabbed Thwaite’s arm. ‘I went through hell and back to rescue that girl. I walked miles and miles from Hope to catch up with you and your survivors. Hell, I even led her to Hope to find someone who I already knew was dead. You think I’ll turn my back on her after all that?’ An odd smile came across Thwaite’s lips. ‘Something funny?’

  ‘That’s the first time I’ve heard passion in someone’s voice since we left Hope behind,’ Thwaite replied. She pulled her arm free of my grip. ‘You can go get the petrol, with my blessing. I’ll ask around and see who I can pull together for you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I said.

  ‘No, Gamekeeper, thank you. It’s good to see we’ve got someone here who still has some fight left in them. We’re going to need it.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Two people milled around the small stone outhouse after hearing about the petrol run. I knew that pickings would be slim, but it was hard to hide my disappointment. Still, beggars could not be choosers.

  The man paced restlessly back and forth, churning the ground with his boots. His arms and legs were thin, and I couldn’t help but wonder when the last meal he had was. Jerome, he said his name was.

  Sasha inspired more hope. She leant against the old stone wall as if waiting for a bus, her face calm and collected; the kind of person I wanted to see here. A length of rope was wrapped over her shoulder.

  ‘Is this everyone?’ I asked.

  Sasha glanced up at me. ‘No. One more to come, I think.’

  No sooner than she spoke, footsteps crunched up the gravel path. My stomach sank when I saw who.

  Felix gingerly walked along the path, his eyes twitching over me as if waiting for another beating. I swallowed my ill feelings; after all, I needed all the help I could get.

  Sasha pushed herself away from the wall. ‘Take your time, why don’t you?’

  ‘Sorry,’ Felix muttered, his face still nicely blackened from our last encounter. He looked towards me as a dog looks towards a master who scolded him. ‘I had to put my good boots on.’

  ‘Good,’ I said. ‘I think you’re going to need them.’ I looked at Sasha. ‘I see you managed to get some rope?’

  Sasha nodded. ‘I knew someone that had some packed. They’re currently nursing a nicely sliced arm, so they aren’t needing it any time soon.’

  I nodded. ‘Good find.’

  ‘We’re getting petrol barrels, aren’t we?’ Felix asked. ‘At least that’s what Deputy Thwaite said. How’s the rope going to help?’

  ‘We’re going to strap some of them to a pallet and drag them back,’ I replied. ‘We should have enough rope to turn the pallet into a sleigh as well.’ I held his gaze. ‘All we need to do is stick together.’

  Felix wetted his lips. ‘I can do that.’

  ‘I hope that’s true.’ I looked across at the other two. ‘The way was clear for the scouting group who went earlier, but things can change. There’s only four of us, so it’s important that we have each other’s backs.’

  The three grim faces nodded an acknowledgement. No one wanted to die out there in the cold, especially after cheating death back at Hope. I couldn’t help but glance at Felix again, his own eyes darting away as he saw mine coming towards him.

  Resentment still brewed in my gut, but right now I had little choice. I needed to get that petrol back, and in good time as well. I’d take any able-bodied people I could find.

  ‘Right, let’s get moving,’ I said. ‘Time’s limited and it’s only getting more so the longer we wait.’

  We traipsed away from the manor house, following the direction the scouting group had taken earlier. From what Thwaite had said, it was not overly far to our destination, but if we could follow an already trod path it would make things a lot easier.

  I risked a glance back as we broke the treeline. Movement could be seen among the bushes and undergrowth of the manor grounds; those who were still able to were digging holes and pushing the sharpened spikes into the pits.

  A body stood in the upstairs window, looking out over the grounds. I couldn’t make out the details from this distance, but I had little doubt it was Thwaite. I felt for her. Hope was her way of protecting these people, and without those protective walls, she still had the same task on her hands. Seeing the last of her fittest people wandering off out of sight must have hurt.

  We trekked onwards in silence, with just the sounds of boots scuffing the ground to be heard. A couple of birds flew above us, black shapes against the grey clouds. Felix wandered a couple of steps ahead of me, and I couldn’t help but feel more comfortable with him in eyesight.

  I had little doubt that he could feel my eyes burning into the back of his head. I tried not to, to keep my eyes on our surroundings instead, but with someone who had already betrayed me now in such close proximity, I couldn’t shake the feeling of having danger so close.

  Jerome showed the first signs of strain. My suspicion as to the state of this health was confirmed by his heavy wheezing, his face becoming damp with sweat even with the harsh cold in the air. Sasha fared much better, striding ahead of us and keeping a watch on the route we were taking.

  My ankle still twinged as I strode along, but was much improved over the last day. I still gritted my teeth whenever I hit an odd angle on a stone, but the worst seemed to be over.

  As we traipsed ever further from the manor house, from Jessica and Prism, I couldn’t help but think about the Children of Ash. My mind created terrible images and thoughts as I walked away from the girl I promised to protect.

  What if they get there before we
get back? What if they’ve already found them?

  No matter how hard I tried, the thoughts just wouldn’t leave my head. They drilled into my brain, seeming to twist and squirm. My heart raced, my mind whirling at the thoughts I unwillingly thought of. I sucked down a couple of calming breaths. The only thing I could do was to plough on, and hope we got back in time.

  The depot appeared through the skeletons of trees, a large hulk of metal rising into the air. A number of smaller buildings were dotted around it, and a larger warehouse sat beside it; undergrowth and rust reclaiming all.

  ‘This is it?’ Felix asked.

  ‘I think so,’ I replied. ‘Sounds like what the scouts described.’

  Sasha took off once more. ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’

  I turned back to see Jerome struggling behind us. He leaned himself against a tree when he saw us come to a halt and sucked in pained breaths. I walked over to him: he could barely lift his head to look at me. ‘You shouldn’t have come,’ I said.

  ‘Anything to get me away from that place,’ he wheezed. ‘I’m not staying there to die.’

  Anger washed over me. ‘So you had no intention of coming back? Of helping us bring the petrol back to Highchester?’

  Jerome looked up with his frail face. ‘No. I just needed someone to get me away from there. The petrol depot seemed a good start. I’d get lost out here on my own.’

  I wrinkled my nose as if assaulted with a bad smell. ‘Fuck you.’

  ‘Each to their own out here. Wouldn’t blame you for doing the same.’

  ‘Is everything okay?’

  I looked over my shoulder to see Felix stood a couple of steps behind me. Even without Jerome, we still would have had the three of us anyway. I blew out a frustrated breath. ‘It’s just the three of us now,’ I said.

  ‘Three?’ Felix looked around me at Jerome. ‘Wait here, Jerome, we’ll be back for you to bring you back. Maybe we could put you on the pallet too?’

  ‘The bastard never intended on helping,’ I said, interjecting before Jerome could open his mouth to respond. ‘It’s just us and Sasha.’ I looked back at Jerome. ‘Not like he would have been any use anyway.’