by Benson, Tom
“Bill,” Tina called, “would you come in here for a moment?”
“Yes, what have we—” He stopped halfway into the room. “Wow, these will be useful.” He lifted two laser rifles from an open cabinet and placed them on a nearby table. “The pulse mechanism would need to be charged, and they’ll need to be stripped and inspected, but we’ll take them.”
“I remember seeing them being used,” Tina said, “and they’re adapted from military use. There are more than two settings so that a wild animal can be stunned instead of tranquillised.”
Bill reached for the weapon in the third rack. “This one on the end isn’t adapted, it’s an antique.” He gave the old rifle a rapid inspection and then worked the bolt action several times. “This is what game hunters and poachers used before laser weapons became readily available.”
“Would it still work?”
“It would if I had ammunition. This is a true find, Tina, in so many ways, although it will only be used for defence—not the original purpose.” Bill started pulling open drawers in the cabinets of the small room. “You can leave me here for a few minutes while you see what else is around.” Bill lifted off his backpack and rested it on a nearby counter.
The team were ready to leave the clinic thirty minutes later.
Norman said, “Has anybody else noticed the variety of animal sounds around here?”
Flint nodded. “I thought it was just me, but there is much more than birdsong.”
“Keep in mind, guys,” Tina said, “just because some of the animals are still around it doesn’t mean that they’re still behind fences.”
“Thanks for that,” Flint said and grinned.
Before moving on, they secured the broken window but in such a way that they could gain entry again quickly. They left several items they’d pick up on their return journey.
Flint said, “I was thinking that this might be a better option than our homemade tent if we’re staying out overnight.”
“Good idea,” Norman said, “and then we could all get some sleep instead of doing shifts beside a campfire.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Bill said. “What do you think, Tina?”
“I think it gives us more time to investigate what is and isn’t here as long as we get back before it’s too dark.”
As they set off, Tina led the way once again with the map, confidently leaving her safety in the hands of her three companions. Bill was carrying the ‘antique’ hunting rifle complete with telescopic sights fitted. He had discovered a box of fifty rounds of ammunition but for the time being, only took five loose in a pocket and loaded the small magazine with another five rounds.
Without the map, navigation in the reserve would have been hit and miss due to the wooden directional posts having been broken or twisted. The decorative pointers were meaningless.
“An observation tower,” Bill said, “up ahead and slightly left.”
“Seen,” Flint responded in a military response after a glance over his shoulder.
“It’s shrouded in trees so the position might be overgrown,” Tina said. “I can’t see the barriers.”
“That doesn’t bode well for the gate kiosk,” Norman observed.
“High alert now, guys,” Bill said.
Fifteen minutes later they took the left fork on a barely recognisable road junction. As the group walked along what had once been a narrow road, they saw the remains of a small wooden cabin. Beside the ruins of the kiosk were two sets of metal gates which joined to high mesh fences on both sides of the roadway. This would have raised confidence that some large predators were still within the massive secure area, except that all of the gates were wide open.
Bill approached the base of the wooden tower and looked up. “This was built to last, and it has a trapdoor, so I don’t expect any nasty surprises in there.”
“We’ll still let you go first,” Flint said and laughed nervously.
Before ascending the steps, Bill tapped his hand against one of the tall supports. No response from above. He went up with the rifle upside down slung over his shoulder. He pushed on the trapdoor which lifted easily, so he flicked it up firmly. There was no response from a wild creature. He climbed up into the tower.
“Come on up, guys,” Bill called. “All clear with room for four and an all-round view.”
Tina was followed by Norman and then while Bill kept lookout from above, Flint ascended, and they closed the trapdoor.
They each took a large opening to survey the reserve with their newly acquired binoculars.
“Forestry, some monkeys and a lot of birds,” Norman said.
“I’ve got a wide expanse of open countryside with occasional groups of trees,” Bill said. “If there are any grazing animals in that direction then they’re a long way off.”
“Nothing to report from this angle,” Flint said, “except trees and what looks like small man-made compounds with pools in them and rock formations with caves and ledges—no animals.”
Bill said, “Anything interesting from your view, Tina?”
“Oh yes, most definitely interesting. By referring to the map I’ve located the huge fenced compound where the wolves had been housed, and I can see the reptile house.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Norman said.
Tina lowered her binoculars. “Yes, it’s good Norman because now we know for sure that the wolves are free and the reptile house is destroyed. The only part of it remaining is a big poster which has probably got pictures of the small but deadly creatures which once lived there.”
4 - Perceived Threats
An hour after leaving the first observation tower, the team arrived at the second. Initially, there was little difference in what could be seen. Norman spotted a massive compound full of empty cages which confirmed that security had been breached for a large aviary full of birds of prey. The birds which had been captive at one time would have included species of vulture, so if there were any carcasses locally, they’d be cleaned to the bone.
The gates at the second security barrier were torn from the hinges like the first so that the only remaining obstacle was a metal grid between the gates. Unlike domesticated cattle or sheep, a metal grid wasn’t much of a hindrance to wild animals because it could quickly be cleared in a leap. Apart from this, a thoughtful soul had laid torn mesh fencing over the grid.
Flint said, “Could somebody look out there into the middle distance. I’m sure I saw movement in the longer undergrowth—about three hundred metres and to the right of the small group of trees.”
“Got it,” Tina said. “Oh my god … well-spotted, Flint. She’s a beauty. A tigress and two cubs which is both good and bad, and I know I’m repeating myself from earlier.”
The three men all zoomed in to see the incredible sight of the big cat and her cubs roaming freely a few hundred metres away, but none of them queried Tina’s comment.
“The bad news, of course,” Tina continued, “is that the daddy tiger will be patrolling a territory of his own.”
“Great,” Flint said. “Do you think he’ll still be somewhere on the reserve?”
“No, because the big cats tend to establish an expanse of several square miles so if the female is here with the cubs the male will have found his way out of here and could be anywhere.”
“This just gets better,” Norman said.
Bill winked at a smirking Flint.
Rather than walk out into the remote stretches of the reserve, the small team headed back towards the reception area. The general look of the pasture land, the trees and the sounds of nature all indicated that life was good here. It would take several days of dangerous exploration to see how many species of wildlife were flourishing in the vast park. The empty aviary and the tigress with cubs had been promising signs.
Late in the evening, Bill and Tina rearranged the clinic to provide an area for sleeping overnight. Flint and Norman set up a small campfire outside to prepare a simple meal using the vegetables they’d p
acked for the purpose. They’d each also brought fruit and plenty of water so hunger and thirst wouldn’t be an issue.
After the meal, they sat together around the campfire outside the clinic, the fading daylight causing the flames to create strange moving shadows in the area around them. Occasionally, there would be chirping or chattering sounds from creatures amidst the nearby trees or undergrowth. While Tina sat casually drinking her herb tea none of the men were about to admit any anxiety. After all that they’d been through, for some men there was a stigma attached to showing fear in front of a woman.
Tina was aware of individual sounds. Without making it obvious, she kept her senses about her, casting a look in particular directions when pairs of eyes reflected the flames of the small fire. She’d been a professional vet for several years before the apocalypse. As she’d divulged while living in the mountain, during her career she’d taken several opportunities to travel and work with wild animal reserves and sanctuaries around the world.
The group sat quietly for a while each contemplating their situation as they gazed at the campfire.
Flint said, “I know you’ve said before about having tended to animals in various countries, Tina. Thinking back, what would you say was your favourite region?”
“Undoubtedly, Africa. I think it must have been the sheer range of species that appealed to me and I went back there at one time on a six-month transfer. One day I could be assisting with an operation on an elephant, a giraffe or a lion, and the next day we could be trying to save the life of a tiny bushbaby.”
The idea of working on such a range of wild animals captured Flint’s imagination, and one question followed another as the time passed. An occasional query by Bill or Norman kept Tina occupied with anecdotes until they all felt ready for some shuteye and went inside.
Bill said, “Flint, Norman and I can stretch out on the chairs or counter areas to stay off the floor. It would be appropriate for you to have the comfort of the operating table, Tina.”
The others all laughed as they settled where they’d sleep for a few hours. Bill teased back the shutters to seal the broken window. For a while, at least they all lay awake. It felt more like they were sleeping in a lodge on the Serengeti than in a disused building in a Scottish wildlife reserve.
.
Saturday 9th July
Bill and Flint were sitting at the campfire, chatting quietly when Tina and Norman made an appearance. “Good morning,” the two early risers chorused.
“Good morning,” Tina chirped and pulled up a box to sit.
“Hi,” Norman said. “I have to say I slept soundly. I was probably tired from all the excitement and walking yesterday.”
Flint used the large mug to serve mint tea for the recent arrivals to share.
“Thank you,” Tina said and sipped some of the refreshing hot liquid before passing it to Norman. “I know it’s probably a strange thing to ask, Flint, but how long are those composite mugs supposed to last?”
“The mug is designed to fit over the top half of the water bottle. It’s made of the same material, and if care is taken, they’re meant to last for a career—a long time.”
“In my day we had a plastic variant,” Bill said. “The world was still developing long-lasting composite materials, and the military would have been the last to have them.”
“Well,” Flint said, “that was probably the case because you served about two hundred years ago.”
They all laughed at the younger man’s military humour creeping in at such an early hour.
Norman said, “What’s the general plan for today?” He looked around at the others.
Bill said, “Unless any of you want to venture into the wilderness, I thought we could salvage as much as possible from that retail stockroom at reception and then set off home.”
“Back in time for lunch?” Norman said and recoiled, pretending to be offended when they laughed. “What?”
“That sounds good to me, Bill,” Tina said. “Why haven’t you told us what’s in the stockroom?”
“I thought if Flint and I took turns at standing sentry near the front door, we could all have a look and select what we thought would be useful in a one-off grab-and-go.”
“Surely we could make another couple of trips?” Norman said.
“We could, of course,” Tina said, “but I’d be inclined to agree with Bill. Now that we’ve learned how much wildlife is treating this as its home, we might be best advised to stay away.”
“I’d go along with the grab-and-go plan,” Flint said. “I’d be happy to come back, but from what we’ve seen, this might become a stronghold for a few of our wild brethren.”
“Oh, this place is amazing,” Tina said. “I can see now why you guys didn’t take anything when we first arrived.”
Bill said, “Due to the business of the reserve, the focus of the shop would have been souvenirs. If we make a couple of stacks, there are backpacks for adults and children so we could fill a few of those.”
“The T-shirts would be useful,” Norman said, “especially for the children and we could take a variety of sizes.”
Bill said, “Even if we’re all willing to carry the extra weight we’ll only be able to manage so much. We’re not in a hurry so we must go for the optimum selection.”
“I have an idea,” Norman said and lifted the long sharpened spear he’d been carrying for defence. “We could pack a few of the larger backpacks and then slide this pole through the top straps. If we did the same with Tina’s spear, and two of us shared the load on our shoulders like a stretcher, it would be easy.”
“Genius,” Tina said and lifted a handful of the backpacks. Some had wild animal motifs while others were finished in a military-style camouflage design. “Okay, if we go with Norman’s idea it looks like we could get five of these hanging on each spear once they’re packed.”
“T-shirts, pens, pencils and a few of the books would all be good for the children.” Bill lifted a box from a shelf. “Add a few of these mugs too.” He nodded with satisfaction. “I’ll go out and take over from Flint for a while so that he can come in and offer an opinion on what else to take.”
“Hi,” Flint said. “It looks like our furry friends want to see what we’re up to in there.”
Bill surveyed the troop of baboons. “How many are there?”
“Twenty if you don’t count the ones in the trees. The younger ones came first, and then that big boy moved forward to eyeball me, and the rest stepped out with more confidence.”
“Yeah, he looks like the alpha male. He won’t tolerate any shit within the troop, but equally, he won’t be happy about strangers in his territory.” He nodded towards the doorway. “Go on inside for a look, mate, and see what you think about our treasure.”
“What will you do if alpha baboon advances—”
“I’ll wave my arms about, screech and look threatening. If I want him to see real ugliness, I’ll give you a shout to come back out.” He winked. “Oh, and before you go in there, I didn’t mention it earlier, mate, but I’m pretty sure one of the activists didn’t make it out of here.’
“What makes you say that?”
“When we were up in the second watchtower, apart from looking out to the distant areas, I panned around with my binoculars a bit closer to the trees and scrub nearer to the broken security fence. The pile of bones had been there a couple of years, but they were once a human—not an ape.”
“You’re sure?” He paused. “How do you know it was an activist?”
“I’ve seen enough human skeletons and skulls to recognise them. I don’t think the average tourist carried a set of heavy-duty bolt croppers for cutting through fencing. I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t more skeletons out there somewhere. Wild animals would appreciate their freedom but might not show it with a nod and a shake of the paw.”
“Well on that sobering thought, I’ll go take a look inside.” Flint tapped Bill’s shoulder.
When the team left t
he reserve half an hour later, they were laden with ten backpacks apart from the ones they’d arrived wearing. They were acutely aware that there might be something more dangerous than deer or monkeys in the forest. Due to three of them having walked the route more than once they felt comfortable.
Bill took point and apart from having a laser weapon, he had the old hunting rifle hanging from a shoulder. Tina and Norman were next in line, supporting the long poles on their shoulders between the pair of them. Flint brought up the rear, his senses on high alert. He kept his laser rifle at the ready and over his free shoulder were slung the two spare laser rifles they’d discovered. They would have to be thoroughly checked, but they were a great discovery.
It had been agreed before setting off that with the possibility of predators among the greenery the group would do without conversation unless something was seen or suspected. They also walked more slowly and with greater stealth than on the outward journey but this, when combined with carrying extra weight, was tiring.
Two hours from the reserve and deep into the forest, Bill raised and lowered a hand slowly and they all got together for a short break.
Bill whispered, “I’m sure Flint is okay, are you guys in the middle doing alright?”
“Yes, we’re good,” Tina said. “I raise my arm when I want to lift the poles from my shoulders to carry them low, and we’re changing over regularly.”
Flint passed his bottle to the others, and after a few sips of water and a ten-minute rest, they set off again. Using one bottle avoided the necessity to unpack personal supplies.
When they’d been walking for a while again after their break, Bill used a closed fist and then an open hand lowered to indicate that they should go to ground. Within seconds, Flint was squatting close by Bill’s side but still covering to the rear defensively.