by S G Read
James looked at him. ‘Yes, I think so anyway. What am I learning next?’
‘Well it probably won`t be as exciting to you as what you just learnt.’ Ray answered reading between the lines. ‘But it might also save your life!’
He took James outside and round the back of the house.
‘This is a pistol.’ He said and gave it to James.
There followed a short demonstration of loading and firing in which James fired two shots at the wall, hitting it both times.
‘Ammo is not short at the moment but it will be so in the future so make every shot count!’ Ray added as he walked back with James who offered him the gun. ‘No that is yours, for protection. Mainly against dogs but we have come up against a group of men who want to make us do what they want and we aren`t doing that!’
‘Have you killed any?’
‘A few. A damned waste if you ask me, as humans are in short supply! But, better dead than a bad person.’ Ray admitted but not telling all. He was still aware that James might be a plant by the clan, although he had not said as much to the others. Not showing James where the weapons were kept was a way of making sure. If he asked or seemed too interested in where the guns were, it would point towards him being up to no good but Ray was keeping an open mind.
The next day, they went off hunting for cameras and viewers to enable them to keep a watch. They chose cameras with PIR devices built in to turn them on if someone approached them. When the camera turned on a noise would sound in the house to let who ever was on watch know the camera had been tripped. They used the digger outside to dig a trench from every tree or whatever they used to hold a camera. They used cameras which were small enough not to be noticed: unless someone was actually looking for them. They backfilled the trenches and spread leaves and other debris over the turned soil, to disguise it. They tunnelled under the wall at one place and made sure the digging could not be seen afterwards. The trenches in the lawn were left as the lawns were soon to be gardens to grow food.
They congregated in the kitchen where the viewers were set up temporarily but there was nothing to see. Ray drove out of the gate, closed the gate and drove down the road as far as the farthest camera. As he passed a camera, they all turned on, except one, they changed that camera and Ray tried again. All the time men were working on the cameras, someone had to be on watch against dog packs. They encountered one while they were out and killed seven dogs before the others could run away. They buried the dogs in a hole made by the digger but not near a cable, in case the dogs decided to dig their comrades back up to eat them.
They all watched a film in the television room in the evening, with the exception of Will who was reading near the viewers. The alarm sounded and he turned to see a pack of dogs run by the farthest camera. He watched until the camera turned off again, then he returned to his book.
Morning came with Clem sitting by the viewers, she had the last watch of the night which had lasted from four in the morning until the others came down, now there were people to hear the alarm she went up for a bath. By the time she came back down for breakfast the others were all in the television room. The children were watching cartoons and the rest talking amongst there selves. She walked in with her breakfast, went to perch on the arm of a sofa but decided not to. Her father’s complaints when she did so at home invading her thoughts. She thought about doing it anyway, the others would not say anything but she sat properly in a chair next to Will.
‘So what are we doing?’ She asked before she started eating.
‘James has told us about a couple who are living in Hastings, near the sea front and I thought we`d go that way scavenging today. If we find them we can let them know we exist and if they want to come back with us they can, if not we can drop off a few supplies to help them stay alive.’ Ray answered.
‘Where`s the catch?’ She asked, reading between the lines.
‘No, no catch. Donna here says she will stay here with the children and man the videos, just in case the Clan find the house. So we will all go.’
‘In whos` car?’ Clem asked.
‘Will and I will be in the van and you and James will start out in the car but on the way you will find James a car to drive, preferably a people carrier or something like it, so that if we do find some people who want to come back with us, we can bring them all.’
‘I hope one of them can cook!’ Donna complained but said no more.
‘I told you I can cook woman,’ Will retorted, ‘but you won`t let me in the kitchen!’
They waited until Clem had eaten, then drove out the gate with Blue barking a farewell. They watched the gate close to make sure no dogs ran in, before they were closed. When they clanged shut the party drove on. Clem flashed her lights when she saw a people carrier and the motorcade stopped while they found the keys inside the house it was parked in front. The next stop was a garage to fill it up with fuel, while they were there, they all filled up with fuel while the generator was attached to the pump. They also raided the shop in the garage forecourt for anything they thought they might need before driving on. When they saw a shop they investigated, first to see if anyone had been inside and second was there anything inside they wanted?
James took the lead when they were near the place where the couple lived and stopped outside the house. Ray parked behind him with Clem behind him. Ray stepped down from the cab as a woman came out to greet them. He saw the curtain was slightly lifted with the muzzle of a shotgun showing under it.
‘Hello Mrs. Wishburn.’ James greeted as he slid out of the people carriers` seat.
She smiled when she saw him. ‘Driving now are we?’ She asked.
‘Clem taught me.’ He pointed to Clem who still sat in the car behind the van. ‘This is Ray, he is the leader of this little group; that is Will.’ He pointed to where Will sat in the van.
‘Will you come in for a drink?’ She asked politely.
‘It will be a pleasure.’ Ray answered. ‘We have a few things for you as a gift.’
Ray signalled and all three walked round to the back of the van and brought a box with them.
Mrs. Wishburn looked in the first box. ‘Otis, we have coffee!’
The shotgun barrel disappeared and a man appeared. Ray took him to be Otis.
‘Real coffee Matilda?’
‘Real coffee Otis.’
They sat and talked in the little house. Ray explained about their walled house to keep the dogs at bay and their reason for touring the area. The old couple were happy where they were, although she did miss her soaps. The sea and nearby stream supplied fish for them to eat but the cans they had just been given would be a welcome change.
‘We thought you might be with that other lot.’ Matilda declared. ‘We hid when they went by in their armoured car.’
The words armoured car sent warning bells ringing in Ray’s head but he said nothing.
‘They took Ralph’s wife when they saw her, didn’t take no for an answer. Shot Ralph in the foot when he tried to stop them and it is infected now. His two boys will have no one left.’
‘Where is this Ralph?’ Ray asked. ‘We have a nurse back at the house and we have a surgery set up to treat sick people.’
‘Otis will come round with you, or you`ll never find them. If Trudi had not been out fishing, they would never have got her!’
Ray and Otis drove round to the place the three others were hiding, taking Will in case the man had to be carried. Ralph was in no state to do anything, he was delirious and his two sons, Ralph junior and Peter were crying, when he was carried out. They followed without question and the six climbed into the people carrier.
‘We`ll be off now.’ Ray said shaking Otis by the hand. ‘We need to get Ralph senior back to the house so that Donna can look at his wound but we`ll come and visit and bring a few goodies, we`ll also let you know how Ralph senior is.’
He kissed Matilda on the cheek and climbed into the van. The two boys waved as they drove away. They took the direc
t route back to the house but as they drove down the road towards the gate, they saw that the gates were wide open. They stopped and looked from a distance.
‘What do you think?’ Ray asked Will who was fingering his pistol.
‘I think I might get the Kalashnikov out!’ Will answered. ‘The clan must have been here or why else would the gates be open?’
‘But they aren`t damaged.’ Ray argued. ‘They have been opened, but why?’
‘Only one way to find out.’ Will answered and pulled the Kalashnikov from under his seat.
They drove up to the house, expecting trouble but nothing happened. Ray stepped down and walked inside. The kitchen looked like an empty house again, nothing made it look lived in. He investigated more as Will followed him inside. The television room furniture was covered in the dust sheets that he liberated from the builders merchants and the power was off.
‘I think we had visitors and Donna did this to try to fool them into thinking this was an empty house!’ he walked to the bottom of the stairs and a horrible smell caused him to stop.
‘Phew, what`s that smell?’ Will asked.
Ray smiled. ‘It is supposed to be dead people rotting upstairs I suspect.’ He answered. ‘Probably concocted by Donna. Are you about Donna?’
They heard the attic door creak open.
‘Is that you Ray?’ Donna called.
‘Yes and we brought you a patient!’ Ray answered.
The children were first down the stairs to get away from the smell, blue was next followed by Donna.
‘We had visitors. I had already made it look like it was empty when I saw them coming. I opened the gate so that they had no reason to smash them open and made the smell to keep them downstairs. They did not stay long after they reached the smell! Where`s my patient?’
James and Will carried Ralph senior inside and laid him on the sofa.
‘There will do for now, until I get rid of the smell.’ Donna said and looked at the wound.
Ralph senior woke as they were putting him down.
‘I can cut it off and make sure you stay alive or try to save your foot and risk you dying!’ Donna said bluntly.
‘Will you look after the children?’ He asked weakly.
‘Yes and we aim to get Trudi back as well!’ Ray answered.
‘Then it is two feet or I die, do you understand?’
Donna nodded but looked at Ray for confirmation.
‘His choice.’ Ray exclaimed. ‘It is how it has to be. It we cut his foot off to save him against his will we will be as bad as the ones who shot him!’
‘I`ll do my best.’ Donna declared. ‘Sweep the area for dogs after you have closed the gates.’ She added. ‘Some were prowling around earlier.’
‘Where are the kids?’ Ray called.
‘Clem is outside with them.’ James answered. ‘Will has gone to start the generator.’ As he spoke the refrigerator hummed into life. James used the remote to close the gates.
‘You are with me James, we are going dog hunting.’ They met Will coming in as they went out. ‘Get Clem and the children inside while we make sure there are no dogs out here. You stay with them in the television room, to make sure any inside do not get a free meal. When we`ve done outside, we`ll all do the inside, every room!’
Chapter 4
In the morning they gathered in the kitchen, sitting on whatever they could, to discuss what had gone on while the children, including the new arrivals watched television.
‘So when are you going to try and get Trudi back?’ Will asked from his precarious perch.
‘When we find out where they are keeping the women.’ Ray answered. ‘How is Ralph senior?’
‘I cleaned it all up, let out a fair bit of pus and dosed him up with the strongest antibiotics I have. It`s up to him now!’ Donna answered. ‘He was a bit feverish during the night but he doesn`t have a disastrous temperature this morning.’
‘How do we find out where they are keeping them?’ James asked.
‘Well if they come by again we`ll ask them.’ Ray answered.
‘They won`t tell us!’ Clem retorted.
‘No, not at first,’ Ray replied, ‘but with a little gentle persuasion, they might decide to tell us.’
‘What torture them?’ James asked.
‘Have you any truth serum Donna?’ Ray asked.
‘Not that I know of.’
‘In that case, yes we torture them!’ Ray concluded.
‘We have to get our hands on one first.’ Will pointed out.
‘That is true William and I have no idea how we are going to manage it!’ Ray admitted.
Suddenly Blue leapt to his feet and charged out the door, barking viciously.
James was the first to react and saw a dog with its jaws clamped on little Evelyn’s throat. Before he could draw his pistol and fire Blue leapt at the dog, which released its’ grip to meet the attacker head on. Evelyn fell to the floor and the remote gate control fell from her hands. Another dog went in for the kill but James pushed his arm in between it and Evelyn’s bleeding throat. The dog clamped its’ jaws on his arm and despite the pain James calmly shot it between the eyes. By now the rest were falling out the door, shooting as they came. Dogs yelped in pain and fell dead or wounded, jaws snatched at limbs to get a purchase. Clem saw the open gate, the dogs still coming through it. The remote control was still on the floor by Evelyn. She dived for it and closed the gates, ignoring a dog to do so but Donna weighed in hitting it with her preferred weapon, the frying pan. Once the gate was closing Clem shot the dog and any others she saw; Donna stood there and killed any other dogs which went near Evelyn or James. With the gates closed they could concentrate on the dogs inside the wall and very quickly killed the ones which fought on. Some ran off but with no where to go, they would soon be hunted down and killed.
When there were no more there to kill, Donna scooped up Evelyn and carried her inside.
James was bleeding out of his arm wound.
‘You go in and wait your turn to get patched up.’ Ray ordered, looking closely at the wound. ‘Clem you make sure no dogs come out, or go in to the house. James take Blue in with you, he needs attention. Will you are with me, we will go and get the ones who are still inside the wall!’
‘I didn`t even see her go out, let alone take the door control.’ Will replied loading his pistol as he walked. He also walked over and took the Kalashnikov out of the van. ‘Let`s get to it then!’
Again they had to purge the area inside the wall of dogs, then they did the same inside the house, just to make sure but the only dog inside was Blue.
Donna carried Evelyn upstairs and laid her carefully on her own bed.
‘This hospital is short of beds!’ She complained.
‘Nothing has changed then.’ James retorted as he closed the door.
Donna was too busy working on Evlyn to do anything for James or Blue, so James patched himself up and then Blue. Donna told him what to do and what pills to take afterwards, while she sewed up Evlyns` throat.
‘This really needs a doctor.’ She complained as she worked.
‘My dad’s a doctor; well he will be when he is better.’ Ralph junior said from the now open doorway.
‘If he is awake he can tell me what to do.’ Donna replied.
‘I`ll see if he is awake.’ Ralph junior exclaimed and ran into the next room.
If Ralph senior was asleep, he did not stay that way for long! Ralph junior saw to that.
Donna and James were both surprised when Ralph senior hobbled into the room, with the aid of Ralph junior. Despite the pain he was in he stood there and took over from Donna. He sewed up the tears on Evelyn’s throat neatly and quickly. He then looked through what was available and told Donna what to inject her with.
‘A dog was it?’ He asked.
Donna nodded.
‘Got any anti rabies vaccine?’ Ralph senior asked.
‘Not really. Anything which needed refrigerating has been compromised b
ut I tried some of it on you and it seems to be working. So if we do find some, it is worth bringing it back here and putting it into the fridge.’ Donna answered.
‘So I was the guinea pig?’ Ralph senior retorted, raising his eyebrows.
‘It was either that or watch you die.’
‘Not much of a choice then.’ Ralph senior concluded. ‘Thank you for not chopping of the peg.’
‘If it was you in a hospital, what would you have done?’ Donna asked.
‘That far gone it would have been touch and go but I hope I would have saved it. Some of the other doctors would have taken it off in case gangrene set in!’ He answered. ‘Here, with very little to help, I think you did well to stave off worse infection than I already had. Ralph was very helpful, he’s quite a bright lad, he did as I told him to, even though it hurt me, or I’d have been dead by now!’
‘I`ll go and help out downstairs.’ James declared when Ralph senior stopped talking. ‘What should I tell them about Evelyn? They are bound to ask.’
‘We’ll keep her alive alright,’ Ralph senior replied, ‘but I don’t think she will like dogs after this!’
‘But Blue saved her life!’ James declared.
‘And so did you,’ Donna replied, ‘but Blue is a dog and it will take time for her to accept Blue as a friend when all those other dogs just saw her as a meal!’
With the house cleared of dogs all those with wounds came up and were duly patched up.
‘Clem, you and James collect all the dogs and throw them into the back of you car.’ Ray ordered.
Clem opened her mouth to argue about the blood in her car but then realised that she could just go out and get another one, so she closed it again. They drove around, throwing dogs into the back of her car until there were only the ones round the other side of the house to collect.
‘What shall we do with them?’ She asked when she saw Ray.
‘We’ll burn them on the lawn near the border; we’ll be digging that up as soon as we are ready to.’ Ray answered.