The Fight for Life

by S G Read

  ‘Heaven forbid.’ Donna replied and they both returned to what they were doing.

  Later both Justine and Clem were out with the others learning about bricklaying. They had trouble lifting the blocks but they did not mind making the cement, which the rest used to lay the blocks. They proved to be quite good at making it just as Jethro liked it. As James was starting to get the idea about laying blocks there were able to keep up with making the mortar for him and the others. Ray tried to lay blocks but it was obvious that he was never going to end up a bricklayer. He walked off with Will, who also had not got what it took. Some of the others were doing well, that left Will and Ray to go out to put up more wire. They both had guns in case a pack of dogs came calling and worked uninterrupted for the rest of the day. They did return for lunch and to find out about Bradley during the day though. They found Ralph looking very tired in the dining room.

  ‘How did he do overnight?’ Will asked when he saw him.

  ‘He died during the night.’ Ralph answered. ‘Twice in fact! I had half a mind to make the third one his last one but he did not try it again. Donna is sitting with him at the moment so I can have something to eat. We will have to have a proper hospital with proper facilities if I am going to deal with gun shots and such!’

  ‘Tomorrow we will go out and get what ever you need Ralph. There is a baby going to be due soon and that could cause problems!’

  ‘But where should we have it?’ Ralph declared. ‘The house is not really the best place.’

  ‘Where do you suggest? The other house? It is empty.’ Ray asked.

  ‘Might be an idea to look at it, now that it is inside the fenced area but I can’t go until Bradley makes up his mind what he is going to do.’

  ‘I saw Evelyn today; you can hardly notice the scars.’

  ‘I know; I am quite proud of the work, I might take pictures for my résumé.’ Ralph declared.

  ‘As I am not going to be enrolled in the bricklayer hall of fame and nor is Will we will go off tomorrow to the local hospital and bring back anything we can load on to the van!’

  ‘I’ll send the girls down to start cleaning the house in the morning then, we might as well start as we mean to go on.’ He started back upstairs. ‘I’ll go and check on my patient. I don’t like to lose them!’

  Ray watched him go then went out to continue with the fence. It was a lot of fence to put round but as soon as it circled the land to keep out unwanted animals, mainly dogs, they could start to plan crops and prune apple trees, not that he knew how to do that. That was down to Jake or Jeremy or anyone who they taught to do it. The need for people who were able to do things, made it necessary for the one, to teach many, so that if the one was killed then the art would not be lost.

  Will joined him in the car and they drove down to the fence to continue. There were no dogs about and none came to investigate while they were working. Ray was hoping that the recent culls were having an effect but it was too early to tell.

  For the rest of the day everyone did what they were supposed to be doing and the fence travelled further and more posts were waiting for them. Jacob and Kevin were collecting and putting in the poles although soon they might have to start cutting down existing poles to reuse. The fence line took in the garage and several more houses, some of which had already been raided but some were in tact, probably with dead bodies and all! They would have to be dealt with, just as the clan would be, but all in good time! Ray had tried to encompass everything it the area, which he thought would be useful to have inside the settlement wall. But as he drew it on the map he found that some places were easier to build a wall than others and the wall may not follow the fence line exactly.

  When he drove back that evening after a hard days fencing he took the time to look at the wall. The second section was finished as far as it was going to get for now and the next section was chest high, this was the section behind the two houses. After that they would be building outside the fence; if they carried on with the wall before the fence was finished. It was something they needed to discuss.

  That night Ray sat there listening to the complaints about sore hands and aching backs, the ‘would be’ builders, knew they had been working. They were soon in bed, even Clem who ached but she had enjoyed herself.

  When the rest had gone to bed, with the exception of Evelyn who was left to do her thing as she seemed to be coping with everything. Ray put on a DVD. This was the same DVD which had caused tears last time, as he watched it Evelyn sensing his sadness forced her way on to his lap and settled down to watch it with him. Blue, who was not far from her side, settled down beside the chair but not to watch the television, he slept.

  With Evelyn for company there were no tears, he watched the DVD and remembered Miriam as he did so. It was a nice memory. He was a little sad that he had no memory of his baby other than a bulge in Miriam’s stomach but now he had Evelyn to cuddle.

  With morning came the trip to the hospital room where Bradley was fighting to survive. Ralph looked even worse than he had the day before.

  ‘How is he?’ Ray asked noting Ralph’s appearance.

  ‘Been running a temperature all night.’ Ralph answered. ‘We have been fighting it with cold towels and ice packs, he is resting now.’

  Ray spotted Donna asleep in a nearby bed. ‘Has she been up all night like you have?’

  ‘Yes, she’s a good nurse. She puts the patient first, which is what counts.’

  ‘A bit like you?’

  ‘As I say Ray, I don’t like to lose one!’

  ‘We don’t want to lose you though.’ Ray pointed out. ‘You look beat.’

  ‘I feel it. When Donna wakes up I’ll have a nap after watching her work, I know he will be in safe hands.’ Ralph said, stretching as he spoke. ‘Are you going to get my supplies today?’

  ‘Yes. We will take one of the four with us as extra muscle, they can put in poles with three of them as Jake and Jeremy did it between them.’

  ‘As I was sitting there with nothing to do I wrote out a list of things to look for and bring back.’ Ralph replied holding out the list. ‘But don’t play around with any X-ray machines you come across, they need careful handling! You are liable to give yourself radiation poisoning!’

  ‘In that case we will steer clear of them then, I know what one looks like!’ Ray replied as he took the list.

  He walked outside and over to the van. Will and Kevin from the four were both in there already.

  ‘Got up at last then?’ Will acknowledged.

  ‘Thought I would.’ Ray answered as he climbed into the passenger seat. ‘Ready for the off?’

  ‘As we will ever be.’ Kevin answered and drove toward the gate.

  It opened as they neared it and they drove through, not bothering to wait for it to close after them. The wooden gate opened as they approached but this time they made sure no dogs went in while it was open, before they drove on. Ray had a target, the hospital he had taken Miriam to for treatment when everyone was dying. He directed Kevin there and they drove right up to the open front door.

  ‘I don’t like open front doors.’ Will declared remembering the last one.

  ‘I rigged up something last night which might help if there are dogs.’ Kevin declared and climbed through the seats into the back of the van. When he reappeared he had an odd looking weapon but when he turned on a valve and lit the flame at the front the other two knew just what it was.

  ‘Short enough range not to burn the place down, if we are careful but with enough range to dissuade a pack of dogs all in one go!’ He explained.

  ‘We?’ Will asked picking up on the word.

  ‘I made one each for you two while I was at it.’ Kevin answered.

  ‘When did you sleep last night then?’ Will asked.

  ‘I haven’t slept much since Charley was taken.’ Kevin replied sadly.

  ‘Well you know she won’t want you to sleep much when we get her back!’ Will retorted.

  Kevin s
miled a rare smile. ‘It would really wind her up if I went out for the count the first night she is back, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘I’d say so.’ Will answered.

  Kevin passed out the mini flamethrowers and they lit them up ready before they climbed out of the van.

  ‘Ready?’ Ray asked as he was nearest the door. He remembered what they had told him about the other day.

  ‘Ready.’ Kevin answered.

  They both jumped out and Will followed Ray out.

  ‘Just don’t set me alight William!’ Ray warned.

  ‘I’ll try not to Ray.’

  They spread out and moved towards the doors. Inside it was gloomy and in the glow eyes shone, animal eyes. With a bark they attacked and the three men turned the flamethrowers on, aiming at the dogs. The charge was quickly followed by shrieking and wholesale retreat. The men followed chasing the dogs and making sure they were aware of the danger of coming near them. Some dogs were alight, others were singed, and others were wise enough to run before they were burnt.

  ‘They dissuaded them.’ Kevin declared. ‘Got any idea what we want?’

  ‘I got a list.’ Ray answered, showing the piece of paper.

  ‘Let’s get loading then before the dogs get their bravery back.’ Will declared.

  Donna opened her eyes to see Ralph checking on Bradley.

  ‘Is he still with us?’ She asked.

  ‘Yes and his temperature is close to normal now. I don’t know if that was what would be described as his fever breaking or just a lull before the next storm.’

  ‘Well just in case, you had better get some sleep or you will be no help to anyone.’ Donna declared.

  Ralph opened his mouth to speak.

  ‘If his temperature goes up by more than half a degree I will wake you! Now get some sleep!’

  ‘Yes mum.’ Ralph answered cheekily and stretched out on the bed Donna had just left. ‘Nice and warm as well.’ He said as he snuggled down. He was soon fast asleep.

  Evelyn came in with Blue ten minutes later.

  ‘Hi evy. Can you do me a favour?’ Donna asked.

  Evelyn nodded.

  ‘Can you ask Mrs. Lacey for some ice please?’

  Evelyn nodded and walked to the door with Blue following but she stopped at the door with it open and turned round. ‘Which one?’ She asked, which took Donna’s breath away. They were the first words she had ever heard Evelyn speak.

  ‘Lulu, the older one.’ Donna replied, not trying to make an issue out of it.

  ‘Okay.’

  Lulu was in the kitchen cooking when Evelyn walked in.

  ‘Hello Evelyn and how are you today?’ She asked, expecting the same pretty smile she always got in answer to the same question.

  ‘I am fine but Mrs Wilcox wants some Ice up in the hospital.’ Evelyn answered.

  Lulu dropped the pan she was carrying and the food slid across the floor.

  ‘Then you shall have ice for Donna, Evelyn.’ She replied, ignoring the food.

  While she was getting the ice, Blue was helping her to pick up the food.

  ‘Thank you Blue.’ She said when she returned with the ice. ‘Here is the ice Evy.’

  Evelyn walked away with the bucket of ice; Blue looked at the food still on the floor then at the retreating Evelyn; turned and followed her.

  Lulu picked up the rest of the fallen food and dropped it into Blues dish, she was sure he would find it later. All she had to do now was to start again but to hear Evelyn talk, it was well worth it.

  Jethro and his band of would be bricklayers finished the wall behind the two houses by lunch time and sat discussing which wall to build next. They had cut the fence and fixed it to the tower to finish the wall and it meant that they could go outside the wall and lay bricks with an armed guard if they wanted to, but it could be dangerous, or they could wait until the fence was finished. No one wanted to wait though and Clem was adamant that the pug she and Justine had mixed up, was not going to be wasted. In the end they decided to build the next tower along in the same line as the wall they had just finished. While the tower was being built some others could be extending the wall which was already protruding from the last tower. It meant they had to be heavily armed as they were outside the fence but if it meant they could work, it was worth it!

  Ray stood looking out of the window on the second floor of the hospital. One of the dogs they had burnt had appeared and was slowly making its way away from the hospital. He wondered how far it would get before another pack of dogs arrived for a barbeque. Will and Kevin were unscrewing the lights from the ceiling in the operating theatre ready to carry it downstairs. As he watched he saw something creeping up on the dog. He watched in awe as it crept closer and closer then pounced on the defenceless dog.

  ‘Come and look at this!’ He said to the others with enough urgency that they stopped what they were doing to come and look.

  ‘Isn’t that a lion?’ Will asked.

  ‘Yes it is!’ Kevin answered. ‘It points to a reason for the dogs to be hiding inside on a day like today.’

  Ray said nothing.

  ‘Where did it come from do you think?’ Will asked.

  ‘A zoo; private or public I suppose.’ Kevin answered.

  ‘Should I shoot it?’ Will asked.

  ‘I don’t really know,’ Kevin answered, ‘what about you Ray?’

  ‘If it keeps the dog population down it will help but if it starts eating live humans it will have to be dealt with.’ Ray answered. ‘Up here it is a long way away from our settlement and the wall when it is built will keep it out but we will have to keep tabs on all the animals like that we see.’

  ‘I suppose we could have all the animals from a zoo wandering round England!’ Will declared. ‘Those terrorists have really started something!’

  ‘At least the CO2 emissions will be drastically cut!’ Ray exclaimed. ‘And a lot quicker than anyone was willing to do it!’

  The two men returned to taking the light fitting down. When it was loose Ray leant a hand and helped them lower it down gently. They carried in down the stairs, keeping an eye on any dogs they saw but none came anywhere near them. They slid the light into the van and returned for the next thing on the list.

  ‘This is going to take forever!’ Will complained.

  By the end of the day the East Anglia three had gone round the perimeter as far as the main road, where it passed out of the other side of the area set out for the settlement. They left the lorry where it stood and returned to the compound. On the way they stopped to look at the wall the other crew were building, it was four feet high all along and the tower was six feet high.

  ‘That is a few poles we don’t have to drill in.’ Jacob declared.

  ‘If we worked slower they might save us even more work.’ Jason replied.

  ‘We could run the wire round to as far as we have got to now.’ Richard said thoughtfully. ‘Is Jethro building the towers by the road to hold the gate or are they going to be wood again?’

  ‘He was talking about blocks for them.’ Jacob answered. ‘Once they have concrete poured inside them they will resist an elephant.’

  As they sat there in the car an elephant appeared and walked across the field they were in only to disappear on the far side of the settlement where there were posts but no wire yet.

  ‘I’m glad you didn’t mention a sabre tooth tiger.’ Richard exclaimed.

  ‘Now you have, we should go or there will be one along any minute!’ Jason declared and drove away.

  They followed the elephant’s route until they came to the gate and then turned ready to go up in when the gate opened.

  ‘At least King Kong’s gate will keep most things out.’ Jason said as he gave the signal.

  They watched the gate close before they drove on, just to make sure the elephant did not follow them in.

  The news of the elephant walking by, made the children want to go out and see it but the

  answer was deferred until Ray ca
me back.

  It was dark by the time the three came back from the hospital with an empty van. They stopped at the house it was going into, to unload what they had managed to cram into the van.

  As soon as they walked in they knew something was up, as everyone was there to meet them.

  ‘Guess what we saw today?’ Jason exclaimed.

  ‘Probably not as exciting as what we saw!’ Will retorted.

  ‘After what we saw today it is probably something exotic.’ Ray added. ‘I’ll guess at it was a

  giraffe!’

  ‘Close.’ Jason answered. ‘It was an elephant! How come you knew it was exotic?’

  ‘We saw a lion pounce on a dog where we were.’ Will answered.

  ‘First an elephant and now a lion, what do you think is going on?’ Jacob asked.

  ‘I think someone survived the plague and was involved with a zoo. Couldn’t cope with

  keeping the animals fed and watered so they let them loose!’ Ray answered.

  ‘So they have been trying to keep them alive and rather than kill them all, they let them loose

  on those left alive!’ Will declared. ‘That is a bit irresponsible!’

  ‘It is in the case of the lion.’ Jacob agreed.

  ‘Does that mean there are tigers on the loose as well?’ Donna asked.

  ‘Yes; if they had tigers wherever the lion and elephant came from.’ John answered.

  ‘Could it be from one of those travelling circuses?’ Kevin asked.

  ‘Could be from anywhere: From now on we look to see what is about before we get out of the

  vehicle, including looking up trees for big cats.’ Ray exclaimed. ‘To look just for dogs is just

  not good enough anymore!’

  ‘Is the whole world going to the dogs?’ Richard asked.

  ‘Not any longer.’ Jericho answered. ‘It looks like they have some competition!’

  ‘What do we do about the other animals? The same as we do with the dogs?’ Jacob asked.

  ‘If they prove to be a threat.’ Ray answered. ‘All the time they are killing dogs it is fine by

  me.’

  ‘What about the livestock which is still out there though?’ Jeremy exclaimed. ‘They will be