by S G Read
When he returned the fish were packed in ice and the men were waiting for him.
‘Had fun did we?’ John asked.
‘We did actually.’ Jericho answered. ‘Let us load up, we can go up to Sittingbourne and find ourselves some transport.’
They did just that and moored the boat in an empty boat house where it would be safe from the ravages of weather and time before driving back with their load.
Ray was still on the gate with Tom when they returned although Clem had gone round to the rear gate for a change of scenery.
‘Good fishing?’ Tom called down.
‘Good everything.’ Jericho called up as the gate opened.
‘Lucky sod.’ Tom called back down.
‘And don’t I know it.’ Jericho called back and drove through.
Ray watched as the gate closed but nothing tried to get in or even moved.
‘You could have had a break you know, that’s why I was here.’ Ray declared.
‘And do what? I have my books, something to cook with, plenty of water and a toilet. By the time I got back it would have been time to return. Besides it is nice to have something to do! A couple wanted to do the right thing by me and put me out of my misery, that is why I came down here.’
‘Well if they turn up don’t let them in!’ Ray declared.
Tom laughed. ‘Now that would feel really nice.’
‘I will come and see you again Tom. Tell Clem I am on the way.’
‘She has company.’
‘Inside or out?’
‘Outside but it all looks okay, she is opening the gate.’
Ray looked into the monitor.
‘Matilda and Otis have come to call: I’ll go and say hello.’
Ray drove round the wall and Tom told Clem he was on his way. A car drove out from the house to show the visitors to the main house. They were there before Ray and Clem reached the house and Ray hurried down to see them.
‘Nice to see you again, any reason for the visit?’ He asked.
‘Getting hard to catch fish at my age and there isn’t much other food left round where we live so we thought we would take you up on your offer.’ Otis answered.
‘And welcome you are. Find a room for our guests and tomorrow you can decide where you are going to live, we have four little cottages which are empty and just wanting a good family to live there.’
‘As long as there is something I can do!’ Otis declared. ‘I didn’t come here to be put out to grass.’
‘No, here only the cattle get put out to grass. I have a job you can do which you might enjoy, well at least getting there, and Matilda can help with the cooking. We are having a canteen built to save wasting food, once the new power infrastructure is in place.’
‘I like to cook,’ Matilda replied, ‘but for how many?’
‘I don’t rightly know there must be over eighty of us by now.’ Ray answered.
‘Closer to a hundred.’ Donna said as she came down stairs. ‘Hello Matilda, I am glad you could join us.’
‘Have you lost any more babies Donna?’ Matilda asked.
‘We are, well Ralph is away, trying to save one now, in another colony we found by accident; I hope he is successful. We have a lot riding on this one.’
‘I didn’t see little Billy when we came in, I expected him to be sneaking about the place.’ Otis declared when he saw the other children.
‘Yes, he is a one that Billy.’ Matilda agreed but she saw the look on Donna’s face and knew the news was not good. ‘Has something happened to Billy?’
‘He was playing with Rachel and tried to fight off a tiger. It killed him but he saved Rachel.’ Donna answered.
‘And I thought things were getting better.’ Matilda retorted. ‘I hope you killed the tiger!’
‘We did and made sure it could not happen again.’ Ray replied. ‘It was my fault; I chose the place for the settlement.’
‘You were not to know about the tunnel.’ Brian declared. ‘I am to blame for not seeing it coming and going!’ He added. ‘It was there on the disc if you looked close enough!’
‘This will get us nowhere.’ Clem complained and walked up to give both the newcomers a big hug. ‘Nice to see you again, how is Hastings.’
‘Getting cold and windy as the season gets close to winter.’ Otis answered. ‘And the fish were refusing to take the bait!’
‘It was your method old man.’ Matilda declared.
‘There is that as well.’ Otis admitted. ‘Sleeping when you are supposed to be fishing, does not catch fish.’
Later that evening when all was quite Matilda stood in front of Billy’s grave and cried silently. She had liked the little terror. She saw Dawn’s grave next to Billy’s and remembered the trauma of her short life with regret.
‘That bloody plague.’ She muttered and walked inside to be with some company, she needed that now.
In the morning Ray showed Otis his new job, driving round the wall perimeter when he wanted to and liaising with Tom. As the cottage they had chosen to live in was near the back gate, he was primarily stationed there.
As soon as he was settled in his new job Ray was off to Mayfield, they had not heard anything and he wanted news. James and Clem were already there when he arrived.
‘How is she?’ Ray asked the first person he saw.
‘She is still alive and yelling her little lungs off.’ The man answered. ‘The doctor says she is over the worst and he is getting ready to go on to his next patient.’
‘If I had a cigar I’d hand them round Bill.’ Ray declared and hurried inside.
The baby could be heard from the stairwell in the hotel, they had opened the door to let the sound travel.
‘They’ll soon get fed up with that Bill.’ He called back.
‘That’s why I’m outside.’ Bill answered, still standing outside.
Later that day he saw Ralph off on his way to Wales with his bodyguard after they had sat down to a meal of fish supplied by Jericho and the two who went with him. When he returned he brought a man and a woman with him to learn how to code talk, they were also given a radio with a small generator to be able to charge its battery. It was only a small settlement but it was a settlement and it would grow.
‘How did it go today Will?’ he asked when Will walked in, after a hard days graft.
‘We have run the cable between the two pylon runs and connected one end. Tomorrow we will send someone up to connect the other end and then we will be ready to connect up. We can give Mayfield, London and East Anglia power when ours is up and running; we can get it all ready at the farm and connect each run as soon as it is ready. We have men coming from East Anglia to find out what to do and how.’
‘Good, I’ll be glad when I don’t have to go out and get more diesel for the generator!’ Ray declared. ‘You are making sure they are safe when they are up there?’
‘They? Who do you think is going up in that bosun’s chair?’
‘Are you trying to prove you are not too old to do it?’
‘No. No one has a head for heights that is why the East Anglia mob is sending men so they can learn, as I am so old!’ Will declared.
Ray laughed. At that point Ralphy walked in.
‘London has had a visit from a northern settlement Ray; they have things to trade so they sent them down to us. Some of the women with them are looking for husbands as well.’
‘Thanks Ralphy, any idea when they will get here?’
‘They are spending the night in London and driving down here tomorrow.’
‘In that case I think I will have an early night so I can be up and greet them looking every inch a leader.’
‘Women eh?’ Will echoed. ‘I think I will be up early exercising.’
‘Feeling younger already Will?’ Ray asked.
‘They say you are as old as the woman you feel.’ Will answered and walked off.
It was not much later when Ray went to bed, he felt a happy man now that they could beat th
e plague.
Everyone was up early in the morning, waiting to see the visitors, who of course were late arriving. The one visitor who turned up was Nelly the elephant and she was refusing buns and pushing at the gates which caused some interest. Ray drove round to the gate to see for himself. He used his radio to talk to the house.
‘Are they clever; elephants?’ Ray asked Felicity, the school teacher.
‘Quite clever I think, and they have good memories.’ Felicity answered.
‘So what do you think she wants?’
‘I think she wants in.’ Tom called down from the gate.
‘But why.’ Ray asked.
‘To have her baby in safety and keep the baby safe?’ Felicity surmised.
‘Well it would be wrong to refuse her that but where do we keep her?’
‘The garage.’ Otis said from the top of the wall, he had come round to see the visitors. ‘We could let her stay in the service bay, it is big enough.’
‘We could, and it has been cleaned up in case someone had to sleep in there. Have you farmers got any straw or whatever she will need?’
‘Plenty of it but she will eat a lot.’ Jeremy replied.
‘Open the gate.’ Ray called up and Tom did just that. ‘Throw me a bun or two and I will lead her to her new home.’
By now a crowd had gathered. Nelly walked in and stopped just inside the gate. She seemed to wait for the gate to close behind her. Ray held up a bun and when it had no effect Clem held out an apple. That did the trick and Clem led her away to the garage with Jeremy, Felicity and James following.
The visitors eventually drove up to the gate at midday and Tom greeted them.
‘Are you from up north?’ He called down.
‘We are, are you the Kent settlement?’ A man asked back.
‘We are. I hear you want to trade.’
‘We do.’
‘I’ll open the gate, there is a reception committee.’
There was actually more than a reception committee. Ray had stationed men in strategic positions to be able to help just in case it was some sort of trick. It was a form of insurance, a just in case, measure which meant that Will was unable to be there to meet them, as well as a few others. The gate opened and Ray walked out.
‘I am Ray King the leader of this settlement.’ He said as he walked through the open gate.
The man who had done the talking walked forward. ‘I am Macgregor McLeish. Mac to my friends.’
‘Well bring your entourage inside Mac so that we can get acquainted.’ Ray said and walked inside again.
The three trucks drove inside and were led up to the house by Ray in James’s car. The sharpshooters on watch waited where they were, in case of trouble while they drove up to the house and they watched as men and women climbed out of each truck. Several women lined up on one side and the sharpshooters chose that as a sign that everything was fine. They joined the others at the house.
Chapter 16
Ray stood back trying to look like a leader with Mac while his people assembled but when one woman dropped out of the back of a lorry and was half turned away from him she took all his interest. He watched as she walked along the line of people and turned to face him. His legs nearly gave way when he saw her face. Had he been looking for his wife, he would have sworn he had found her but he had buried her, with a great many tears. This woman looked just like his wife in size, looks and hair colour.
‘With your permission I would go and talk to one of your women.’ He said not looking at Mac.
Mac followed his line of sight. ‘The women in that line are looking for husbands.’ He answered. ‘Be my guest.’
Ray walked down to where the woman stood. ‘Excuse me. I am Ray the leader of this group and I understand you are looking for a husband.’
‘I am.’ She answered without showing pleasure or disappointment.
He voice was just like Miriam’s.
‘I would like to show you something before we go any further. Something which might help or not, I do not know, but I have my duty to do first.’
‘I can wait.’ The woman answered.
Ray realised that he was all shaky as he walked back to where Mac stood. ‘Thank you.’
‘Is she to your liking?’
‘Very much so but she has to agree as well, we will not make anyone do anything they are not happy with, although the women are encouraged to have babies, whether they have a man or not.’
‘The second line of women just want to go home pregnant.’ Mac replied with a knowing smile. ‘We understand you have a good doctor?’
‘We have but he is in the Welsh settlement at the moment trying to help out. A woman is just about to give birth and he is there to make sure the plague does not kill it.’
‘You have a cure?’ Mac asked.
‘He just saved one baby from the plague.’
‘Can we see it?’
‘It is in a place called Mayfield but I will take you there if you want?’
‘I will swap all we have with us for some of the cure we have lost three babies to the plague.’
‘The serum will not cost you anything.’ Ray replied. ‘I don’t see why someone should die, when someone else can cure them!’
‘Then I will shake your hand as a true friend.’ Mac answered and did just that. ‘We are a big settlement and we have other babies soon to be born, so how soon can he get up to us?’
Ray looked round the waiting faces until he saw Donna. ‘Donna.’ He called and signalled for her to come over to where he was.
‘Yes Ray?’ She asked when she arrived.
‘Do you know how to use the new serum?’
‘Oh yes. We will not lose another Dawn.’
‘Babies are due to be born up north, can you- will you go up and help?’
‘Of course Ray. When do I go?’
‘We will greet our newcomers and have a meal, then we will make preparations.’
Donna showed signs of wanting to go back to where she was without saying anything but Ray recognised the symptoms.
‘Seen someone?’ He asked.
‘Oh yes!’ Donna answered.
‘Of you go then.’ He turned to Mac. ‘Now what have you got to trade and what do you need?’
Later, when he had spent time discussing things with Mac he sought out the woman, he now knew was called Rebecca Scott.
She was sitting in the library all alone when he found her.
‘I am sorry to be so long but I have my duty to your leader.’
‘Mac is a good leader,’ Rebecca declared, ‘and I have been alone a long enough time not to worry about a short delay.’
‘Will you come to my room please?’
She looked at him with interest but followed where he led. When he opened the door and let her walk inside the first thing she saw was her photograph on his dressing table.
She took a sharp intake of breathe but picked it up to study it. She did not recognise the place at all and she was obviously aware that the photo was being taken and looked very happy.
‘Who is she?’
‘That was Miriam my wife. The plague took her and I have been alone since. I don’t know if her looking like your twin will help or get in the way but you are the first woman I have looked at since she died.’
‘The likeness is uncanny, tell me about her.’
They sat on the bed together talking and Ray told her about Miriam, how and when they met, their marriage and how her mother and father died in a car crash soon after. Ray had never felt such at ease with a woman for some time and Rebecca made no move to go. She was very interested in Miriam, her life and why they looked so alike.
‘I do not know if her looking like me will help or not but I am willing to become your wife.’ She said when it fell quiet. ‘Should we see if everything else is alright?’
They made love. Ray did not know how it would be but it felt wonderful, after all the time without and with someone who looked just like Miriam.
When they walked back down the stairs Donna was waiting for Ray.
‘I have found a man, after all this time but I have to go off to their settlement and try to help these babies.’
‘Then you will go. I will send you up as quick as is possible.’ Ray answered and hurried off to find Justine. ‘Can you get as far as their settlement in your plane?’ He asked when he did find her.
‘I will probably have to refuel on the way, I am not sure though as I have never flown that far in one go.’ Justine answered.
‘What about all the local flying, how far did you go before you were low on fuel?’
‘I’ll check my log book that will tell me.’
‘You still fill out the log book?’
‘I have to it is the- well now I suppose it is just habit.’
‘Let me know about it and soon.’ Ray said as she walked off.
‘I will.’
Ray found Mac with his woman, not his wife as the plague had taken her.
‘I also need you to marry me and Megan.’ He declared.
‘My second wedding since becoming leader, getting to be a habit!’ Ray complained. ‘We ought to rename this place Gretna Green!’
‘Was that a yes?’ Mac asked.
‘It will be my pleasure to marry you two.’ Ray answered.
‘Good, we have been waiting until we are married before we- well- you know.’
Ray looked up at Rebecca.
‘As soon as possible then?’ He noted.
‘Yes please.’ Megan answered.
‘You may not recognise the service, I changed it a little, it now reads it the sight of your settlement and all other things are the same. I say in the sight of your settlement, as they will be the ones who judge you, should you fail to keep to your vows. I also added a bit which allows your man to father children by another woman who will not be considered as his wife but purely so that she can have children. It makes it a bit longer but it is a lot less pompous and more obvious. You can say no to it if you want.’
‘Very forward thinking, so any man here can sire children as long as their wives agree and then we can go back to our settlement to await the births?’