Thursday 7th June
“Any sign of the Runners?” Gordon asked. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, then walked over to a table to get a drink of juice.
Lloyd Dickinson ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “No sign at all.”
Lloyd had just come from outside and stepped into the cabin. He was the first one to wake up, decided to get some air and, more importantly, see if there was any sign of danger. It had been a rough night's sleep by all, but now Lloyd looked around and could see Junior, Joan and Marvin dead to the world.
Gordon laughed, and said softly, “Never thought any of us would nod off.”
“Me too.” Lloyd nodded. “But tiredness always wins in the end.”
Gordon and Lloyd stood in the dusky area, the short conversation had dried up already, and they looked around at the sleeping three individuals.
Gordon cleared his throat and said, “That was a turn up for the books with your brother turning up like that.”
Lloyd nodded, unimpressed, then gestured with his head for Gordon to follow him outside.
Gordon quickly put his footwear on and followed Lloyd. He stepped into the sunshine and looked around the small island that they were on, the pond glistened thanks to the fireball in the sky. He tilted his head with his eyes closed. “That feels good.”
Gordon Burns eventually opened his eyes and peered over at Lloyd. Lloyd had his back to Gordon and was staring into nothingness.
Gordon stood next to Lloyd and asked him what was wrong. Lloyd had urged Gordon to go outside with him, so he must have had something to say.
“What's wrong?” Lloyd sighed with a smile. “Apart from the country going to shit?”
“Yeah.” Gordon smiled and managed a short chuckle. “Apart from that.”
“A few things.” Lloyd began to stroke his chin, still staring out, knowing that behind the trees on the other side of the pond was his pub that he had to flee from.
When the Runners invaded his pub, he, Junior, Gordon, Joan and Sue had no choice but to leave and go over the pond.
Thank goodness the Runners couldn't swim, otherwise they'd all be fucked, Lloyd thought.
Unfortunately they had lost Sue, but Lloyd's only concern was his son. Junior couldn't swim, so the trip across the pond was even more strenuous for Lloyd Dickinson as he had to carry Junior whilst he swam the deep part of the water. At least now with having the rowing boat their swimming days were over. Hopefully.
“I'm worried for my son,” Lloyd finally spoke up. “What if this is a long-term thing, man? What if nobody is in control of the country? What if we're on our own?”
Gordon had no answer for the concerned father. “I never really had chance to speak much with your brother, Marvin.” Gordon spoke up, changing the subject. “What's he like?”
“I never asked him to come here.” Lloyd sniffed and added, “Don't put your trust in him, whatever you do, man.”
“Why?”
“He's not to be trusted.”
Gordon began to laugh. Was he being serious?
“I'm not joking,” Lloyd said, halting Gordon's fun. “If he was running away from those creatures, and he was with his child, he'd trip his own child up to save his own arse.”
“You serious?”
“Trust me, man. He's a cunt.”
“Then why did you take him in?”
“He's my brother.”
Gordon cleared his throat and looked behind him once he heard a noise. He said quietly, “Speaking of your brother.”
Lloyd looked over his shoulder to see his older brother, standing outside the cabin, yawning, stretching his left arm and scratching his balls with his right hand.
“Morning, cunts!” Marvin snickered. “Nice day for it.”
“Nice day for it?” Lloyd was the only one that responded out of the two.
Lloyd gave off a small smirk, knowing Marvin wasn't going to like his plan for this morning. Lloyd wanted to go back to the pub, grab the stock that was in there and bring it back to the cabin. The only way to do that was to get a few people, take the rowboat over to the water's edge, near the pub's car park. Then trips to the pub and back would have to be made, transporting the food and drink by hand to the boat.
“What the fuck are you smirking at?” The man from Lancaster noticed his brother's grin and couldn't hold his tongue. He rubbed at his short grey hair, feeling anxious.
“Wait till Joan wakes up,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd knew that Marvin wasn't going to like the idea of going back over the pond, but it was going to be a trip that should benefit the five of them. Marvin was no coward, but if he could avoid doing certain things and find another way, an easier way, he would.
Marvin made a suggestion the previous night that they should grab the boat and take it across the water to the woods, then try and find a nearby village. Lloyd wasn't struck on that idea. So long as they stayed on this tiny island in the middle of the pond, their only worry would be to keep hydrated and fed. The infection was rapid, but the group were convinced it was going to be quick, yet overall devastating.
These things were still human, so they needed to eat. And what they ate was human flesh, and only a few mouthfuls could be taken before the rapid infection took place in their victims. As far as the group were aware, despite them being still human, they never turned on one another. But because they were human, it meant that these Runners could take up to a few weeks before showing any signs of weakness. A human could survive for weeks with no food, but what about hydration? What was keeping these things hydrated? Was it the blood off of their victims as they tore away at their flesh? Or had these things realised that water, whether it was the pond or a lake, could benefit them if they got on their knees and drank? Surely it didn't matter about the state of the water. These things were infected anyway.
Joan finally emerged from the hut and Lloyd gave off a smile as he looked at the thirty-four-year-old from Crewe. She yawned and stretched her five-four frame, before making her way over to the three men and said good morning to all three.
“Sleep well?” asked Gordon with a smile.
“As well as can be expected.” She looked around and took a quick gape at the pond. She released a sigh as flashbacks from the previous evening's adventure had materialised in her head.
“Good,” Lloyd said. “Now that Joan's up, I can organise a little trip over to the pub.”
“Er ... what? Excuse me?” Marvin looked aghast and added, “Don't you dumb-fucks realise where those things came from?”
“We need to do this?”
“Why?”
“Why?” Joan laughed. “What the hell are we going to live on?”
Lloyd pointed over at the pond, where the night before many were at the water's edge. “There are no Runners about. Maybe there's none around the pub. If we go now, we can get all the supplies from the pub. We can also use the plastic bottles to filter the water, if things get that desperate. I'll show you how.”
“So when are we doing this?” Marvin asked, then cleared his throat, making Gordon's stomach turn, then spat to the floor, rubbing the phlegm with the sole of his boot.
Answered Lloyd, “See what we can eat in the cabin, for breakfast, then we'll go.”
“Pissing hell.” Gordon moaned and began to rub at his ear nervously. “Isn't it a bit soon to be going over?”
Lloyd shook his head. “The longer we leave it, the more chance someone else will raid the pub.”
“But if those things are there...”
“Then we come straight back.” Lloyd added, “These things could be well gone by now. This is the Pennines, not a city. We're in the fucking middle of nowhere.”
Joan nodded in agreement. “How're we gonna do this?”
“This is what's going to happen.” Lloyd ran his fingers over his bald head. “There's gonna be three of us.”
“Three?” Joan screwed her face in confusion. “Why three?”
“As soon as we get to the ot
her side,” Lloyd began to explain, “we'll have one person by the boat at the edge of the pond, and the other two volunteers will go into the pub. Whatever you bring out, dump in the boat. The person on boat duty will then row here, to the cabin, and empty it onto the ground. Whoever's here will take the stuff back into the cabin. While the person with the boat is going back and forth, the other two keep on going in and out of the pub until tiredness kicks in. When I mean supplies, I also mean emptying my medical cabinet in the bathroom and grabbing a few tools or knives when we're there.”
“So who's gonna volunteer for this suicide mission?” cackled Marvin.
“Obviously, I'll do it,” Lloyd spoke up and raised his hand.
“Me too,” came a voice from behind.
They all turned to see Junior, standing and scratching his dark hair. He had just exited the cabin.
“Morning, son,” said Lloyd. “And no you won't.”
“I'm not leaving your side, dad,” Junior said, and Lloyd knew that his son wasn't going to back down.
“I need to protect you. Without you...”
“Dad.” Junior gulped and said with a tremor in his voice. “I'm staying by your side.”
“In that case,” Gordon cleared his throat before continuing. “I'll go. Joan too.”
Joan nodded in agreement, not pissed off that Gordon had volunteered her without her permission, and then she added, “And Marvin.”
“Fuck that!” scoffed Marvin.
Gordon decided to try something before an argument broke out. He turned to Marvin and said, “Look, I know you're scared—”
“I'm not scared.” Marvin gritted his teeth in anger. “I just can't be arsed.”
“Can't be arsed to survive?” Joan stared at Marvin with puzzlement on her features. “Well that ain't no help, is it?”
Gordon smiled and said to Lloyd's brother, “You can take care of boat duty.”
There was a little relief in Marvin's face, which he failed to hide. It looked like Gordon and Joan were going to be going in and out of the pub, if the area was safe.
Chapter Two
Marvin, Gordon and Joan got into the boat. Gordon opted to row, and Lloyd and Junior helped to push the boat off into the water. It was going to be a short journey back over to where the pub was situated. Lloyd reminded Gordon that there were bodies floating about, and told him not to worry if his oars hit anything, just the way he hit them on his way over to pick Marvin up.
“If there's just one of those things over there, man,” Lloyd spoke up as the three slowly drifted away, “then come back.”
“You can count on that,” Joan said. “We don't even have any weapons on us, remember?”
“I know.” Lloyd nodded and called over as they continued to drift away. “Straight to my kitchen when you get there. Plenty of knives, and there're tools under the cupboard. Shit.”
“What is it?” Joan called over.
“Come back. You can take my crowbar that's in the cabin. I wasn't thinking.”
“We'll be fine,” Gordon insisted. “We'll get knives and stuff as soon as we get into your kitchen.”
As Gordon rowed, something he had done before, many years ago, Joan and Marvin sat in the wooden boat in silence. The journey was short, and as soon as the boat hit the dirt underneath and had reached their target, all three nervously had a look around. Gordon was the first to get out and grabbed the rope that was attached to the end of the boat, ready to tie it against a nearby tree.
“Don't,” said Marvin.
Holding the rope, Gordon looked at him and hunched his shoulders. “Why?”
“We might need a quick escape.” Marvin tried to explain, “Untying that will just add valuable seconds to our getaway.”
“He's right,” Joan admitted. “Those few seconds to untie that thing could cost us.”
Gordon dropped the rope and waited for Marvin and Joan to exit the thing. Once they did, he then dragged the boat a little further in and nodded at Marvin.
Gordon and Joan looked at one another. Jesus, they should be used to this by now, but they both shook with nerves.
Gordon turned to Marvin. “Are you gonna give us a hand searching the outside of the place before we go in?”
Marvin laughed, “I thought I was supposed to be on boat duty?”
“I'll take that as a no then,” Gordon huffed, shaking his head at the forty-eight-year-old brother of Lloyd Dickinson.
“Come on.” Joan grabbed Gordon's shoulder and urged him away from the pond, away from Marvin, and through the trees and onto the car park. “It's okay. We don't need him.”
They both walked with hesitant feet and stepped onto the car park. They could see the two vehicles. Joan didn't have her keys for her Renault, but Lloyd still had his for the black Subaru jeep that was parked next to it. Leaving in those vehicles was a bad idea, and Gordon was glad that Lloyd opted to stay at the cabin. For now.
Gordon told Joan to stay put. She hung around at the back whilst he went around the front of the pub that was called The White Horse. It was clear, and the road that ran alongside it was also clear for the time being.
Gordon returned from the front of the establishment and gave Joan a relieved smile. “We're okay for now.”
“Right then,” Joan said with a quiver in her tone. “Let's make this fucking quick.”
“Agreed.” Gordon was the first to the back door and opened it.
Joan followed him as they climbed the stairs, and went immediately to the kitchen. Joan told Gordon, “Lloyd said that there were bags under the cupboard.”
“Great. But first...” Gordon went into the kitchen drawer and pulled out a sharp knife. He handed it to Joan.
“What about you?” she asked him.
Gordon bent down, went into the cupboard and pulled out a claw hammer. “I better get something for the rest of the guys. I know these things can't get over the pond, but you never know. We might need them.”
He pulled out a few carrier bags, put steak knives into his back pocket, then began emptying the cupboards, throwing whatever he could in the bags. Mainly tins. Heavy tins.
Once four bags had been filled, Gordon and Joan left the place with their arms already aching from the weight of each carrier bag. The walk across the car park was a struggle, but they managed to get to the pond without having a rest.
As they reached Marvin, who was sitting on the edge of the boat, yawning, Joan snapped over in his direction, “You should be doing this.”
“Why?” Marvin snickered, “Because I'm a man? A bit sexist, don’t you think?”
“Lazy prick.”
Marvin released a belly laugh, making Joan's blood boil. “I know your problem.”
“What’s that?”
“You need a good seeing to, that's what. You're all sexually frustrated and jittery.”
Gordon tried to diffuse the situation between the pair of them and asked Marvin, “Are you getting in the boat, ready to take this stuff over to Lloyd, or what?”
“I am indeed.” Marvin then winked at Joan and said, “Just waiting for you two to empty your bags.”
Joan decided to keep her mouth shut. Gordon remained silent, and emptied his bags in the boat after Joan. Gordon took the knives out from his pocket and gave them to Marvin, whilst he kept one knife and also had the claw hammer in his right hand.
The two of them walked back, now carrying four empty carrier bags. Gordon took a quick look over his shoulder and saw that Marvin had pushed the boat out onto the water, got in and began to row the thing back over to the shack on the island.
“Don't let him wind you up,” Gordon said to Joan, as they both approached the pub for the second time.
“Sometimes I can't help it.” Joan was annoyed with herself that Marvin could easily get to her. “He’s such a cunt.”
“Just remember the situation we're in. Things could be worse. Look at poor Sue.”
“How can I forget?”
The pair returned to the pub. Gor
don instructed Joan that there wasn't many tins left, so once they had removed the food from the kitchen they should try the ground floor bar area. There was an assortment of drinks and crisps to get, and they hadn't even touched the cellar yet.
Once their bags were filled, they made another trip to the pond. They could see that Marvin was making his way over after emptying the tins out of the boat on the island. They could both see Lloyd and Junior taking the stuff into the cabin.
Joan and Gordon placed their bags on the side of the bank and waited patiently for Marvin. This time no unpleasant words were exchanged, no words at all, and the contents of the bags were poured into the boat once again, including two chickens.
The pair of them went back to the pub, whilst Marvin was rowing back to the shack for a second time.
“Last trip,” Gordon announced, as the pair of them entered the pub again. “We can do the cellar another time. I don’t know about you, but I'm fucked.”
Joan didn’t say a word, she just nodded her head in agreement. The pair of them trudged their way through to the bar area. They looked around and could see the smashed windows from the previous evening's episode, but they decided to ignore the carnage from the invasion of the Runners and concentrated on filling their bags with crisps, nuts and other bar snacks.
With the bags full, Gordon said to Joan, “We'll get the liquids another time.”
“One more journey?” Joan asked.
“Nah.”
She had a carrier bag in each hand, and thankfully this was going to be their lightest and easiest trip to the boat.
Their clammy bodies reached outside, and both had to wait a couple of minutes for Marvin to return with the empty boat. As soon as the boat reached Joan and Gordon, they placed the bags in it.
“What're you doing?” Marvin knew that the bags being put in the boat, rather than the bags being emptied in the boat, was a sign that this was their last trip. “No drinks? Go on. One more trip.”
“We'll get the fizzy drinks another time. We're both knackered.” Joan ran her fingers through her dark sweaty hair. “But be my guest if you want to go yourself.”
“Maybe he's right.” Gordon couldn’t believe he was agreeing with Marvin. “May as well get it out the way. If the Runners have definitely gone for good, there could be the occasional driver passing by that would gladly help themselves.”
The Monsterland Trilogy [Books 1-3] Page 16