Only the Few

by L. N. Denison

  What she saw when the three of them arrived at the pen was the shadow of a man, kneeling in the dirt with his hands tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth. He seemed lifeless, or maybe he was faking to lull them into a false sense of security... Who knew?

  CHAPTER 24

  “Get the prisoner ready,” Major Clarke commanded. “We’re moving out of this godforsaken place,” He moved away from the holding pen, not giving Judd a second glance.

  As it happened, Judd was the only scavenger still alive after the skirmish to liberate the camp, and Hyde was glad he would have plenty of time to think about what would happen once the small convoy of all-terrain vehicles made its way back to their London barracks. He would have to accept his punishment and stand trial for his crimes against humanity.

  Two privates padded towards the pen apprehensively, opening the steel door and looking down at Judd, who was sitting legs crossed and eyes down. Each young man grabbed an arm and hoisted him to his feet. The privates marched Judd to the rear of one of the vehicles, which sat on the outskirts of the encampment and lifted him in. He was forced to sit on the floor between three other soldiers before his escort climbed in and shut the doors.

  ~

  With his hands still tied behind his back, and five soldiers training their weapons at his forehead, Judd knew any attempt at escape was pretty much a non-starter. He felt honoured to have so many watching over him, but uneasy at the same time. Why so many? He was only one man against the might of five, what the hell did they think he was going to do? Little old Judd, trussed up like a prize pig with nowhere to go, but at least he didn’t have the gag to contend with now. They had relieved him of that as soon as they’d left the pen.

  “You blindly follow orders, yet you have no idea what’s really going on. What makes you think you’re working for the good guys?” Judd seethed through gritted teeth. “I did what I did for a reason, you will learn that sooner or later.”

  “I suggest you pipe down,” one of the soldiers said, waving the dirty rag in front of Judd’s face, “unless you want this shoved in your gob again?”

  Judd didn’t say another word.

  ~

  The all-terrain vehicle veered to the side then came to an abrupt halt after about an hour. Judd tried to peer through the side window, but was told to look away. He held his head down and stared at the floor, waiting. Was there a downed tree in the road? Highly unlikely, considering most of the greenery had been destroyed by the blasts.

  Everything went quiet. The feeling of apprehension grew throughout the back of the vehicle.

  “What’s going on?” one guard asked, glancing around at the others. “Why have we stopped?” He got nothing but shrugs in response, so he slid the latch open and asked the driver.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I can’t tell from here,” the driver replied.

  “A lot of use you are... Can’t you radio to the others?” He shut the latch and turned back to his colleagues. “We should check it out,” he said, grabbing the body of his rifle.

  One by one, Judd’s guards jumped from the transport to see where the others had gone, leaving one man behind to keep an eye on the prisoner. The rest of the convoy sat back from their vehicles, not knowing what was going on. The soldiers from those transports joined Judd’s guards to see what had happened with the others. Judd felt helpless, he needed his hands. Do I really feel helpless? No. Do I see an opportunity to escape? Yes. This silly little boy in front of me will be easy to win over.

  “Cut this cable tie off me, will you?” he pled with the weary soldier who sat opposite. “I need to be able to defend myself.” Judd pulled his hands to the front as far as he could. The private just stared at him, looking uncertain whether or not he could trust him.

  “Hey! I didn’t do what they said I did, you know?”

  It was the wrong thing to have said. The soldier pointed the tip of his rifle under his chin. “I don’t believe you,” the young private said shakily as he pushed the nozzle into Judd’s neck. “I suggest you stop talking, or the gag goes back on.”

  Without warning, there was a loud knock on the vehicle’s door, making both prisoner and guard flinch. The private slid to the end of the bench and swung the doors open, almost knocking the instigator on his arse.

  “Nothing to worry about private. Just some deer passing through.” the sergeant stood there, grinning. The young private’s expression shifted into one of curiosity. “Deer? But how? Have we already travelled that far south?”

  Judd watched as the other transports began to offload, so people could stretch their legs before continuing with the journey. No one came anywhere near him; and he hadn’t expected them to. He obviously wouldn’t be granted the privilege of alleviating his cramped muscles. He shifted along the bench and tried to look out the side window to see if there was any way to escape. All he got was an eyeful of Hyde, who was staring in at him with unfiltered loathing. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of looking away. Rather, he replied with a gaze of equal hatred.

  Marcus approached Hyde, taking off his manky silk scarf as he walked. She smiled as he drew closer, wishing she could show him how she felt about him. But now was not the time, nor the place. She had to concentrate on the bigger picture, and that was justice for all of Judd’s other victims, including the three men who died because of his botched raid on Marcus’s cave. Maybe, when all was done and dusted, she would try to pursue the man she had grown to love.

  “Don’t you worry, we’ll be in London before you know it.” She tried to curtail her thoughts with a pointless statement. Walking away from him, she grabbed the silk scarf and headed toward Judd and wrapped it around his eyes. He said nothing as she shut him back in the transport.

  ~

  The journey to the next destination went without a hitch. Judd heard someone say that they had arrived in Sheffield.

  “Next stop, London,” another soldier commented as the all-terrain vehicle came to a standstill with a slight judder. Judd’s body slid towards the front as the brakes hit hard. His head smashed into the metal wall separating the front of the vehicle from the back.

  The next thing he heard was footsteps coming toward him. Someone grabbed his legs and started to pull on him. The dragging stopped, and he felt himself being hoisted out of the van. He landed awkwardly on his feet, and a sharp pain shot through his ankles as they twisted underneath him.

  “Stop, my ankles,” he moaned as he was pulled along. But cry as he might, nobody seemed to take any notice of him. He wasn’t surprised, of course. They wanted him to suffer.

  Someone shoved him to the ground. He spread his fingers over the ground in an attempt to get his bearings. Straw? It has to be. It’s too coarse to be grass. The soldier who’d escorted him removed the scarf from his eyes. He squinted in the bright light while his eyes adjusted. As he suspected, it was straw rubbing against him. He was in a stable, which was only made more evident by the smells that invaded his nostrils.

  Judd jerked his body in an attempt to grab one of his captor’s attention.

  “Have something to say, Captain?” one of the soldiers probed, scowling down at him.

  “Let him speak,” the senior man replied. “We can always gag him if we don’t like what comes out of his gob.”

  “Get me some water will you?” Judd said, gesturing towards a small trough that was used to water horses. He didn’t really care what drank out of it previously, all that mattered was quenching his thirst. “Just drag me over there will you?” he said, looking over at the trough. A couple of soldiers grabbed either side of him and dragged him to the water. By the smell of things, it was stagnant. But what other choice did he have?

  CHAPTER 25

  Hyde hadn’t seen Marcus since they had arrived at the new shelter, which consisted of a battered bomb-damaged cottage with the old stables adjacent, which were both just about habitable on the surface. She tried to imagine what it was like to live there before the bombs. She had vi
sions of horses frolicking in the nearby fields, which brought a small, but brief smile to her lips. Only to be broken by the protruding skeleton of an equine’s head. She quickly focused on something else. Marcus mainly, and why she hadn’t seen much of him since their arrival.

  Is he avoiding me? She hadn’t felt this lonely since the bombs dropped and she’d lost her family. She wondered if it had something to do with what happened in the doctor’s lean-to back at the encampment. She hoped not. Surmising that Marcus had chosen to spend quality time with his daughter, she drew herself away from such thoughts.

  Just then, she heard footsteps. A pair of hands landed on her shoulders from behind and began to massage them. Rather than relax her, she stiffened at the touch, almost too frightened to turn around. She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes before summoning the courage to see who was touching her.

  “What are you doing in here on your own? You should come and join us.”

  Hyde’s breathing became a little erratic as it became apparent Marcus was behind her. Heaving a deep sigh, she turned to face him, nodded, not sure what to do, then followed him out of the small stock room.

  Off they strode into the distance, heading towards the other survivors of the scavenger camp, all of whom had been placed in a makeshift dining area of the bomb shelter. The shelter wasn’t quite as well equipped as ‘Uncle Frank’s’, but nevertheless, a decent place to eat and rest for a bit.

  ~

  Marcus and a couple of soldiers had been out foraging for that evening’s meal. The kids were weary and acting out because they were hungry, and the women were trying to calm them down the best they could. The rest of the group sat up against the nearest sound structure, waiting for the hunter-gatherers to return.

  Standing at the entrance of the rustic bomb shelter, Hyde watched as three silhouettes appeared on the horizon. They seemed to be carrying something substantial. It looked like everybody was in for a feast tonight. Once they’d arrived, the men hauled their load off onto a small patch of grass and beckoned people over to help. They were going to eat Al Fresco tonight.

  Despite pain from countless injuries, a smile crept onto Hyde’s face at the thought of eating a proper meal. She couldn’t wait to get her teeth into a juicy venison steak.

  For what felt like hours, she lay on the grass, watching and waiting, licking her lips in anticipation. Jas approached her with a laden plate and a big smile. She sat up as Jas got closer, stretching out her hands to receive the food despite the twang of pain lifting her arms caused. She attacked the huge portion of rare meat like a rabid dog.

  “Slow down, will you?” Jas said as she grabbed Hyde’s hands. “You’ll end up with wicked indigestion.”

  Feeling like a chastised child, Hyde began to chew her food, instead of just biting and swallowing.

  “That’s better.” Jas said.

  Hyde paused, closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. She let it linger for a second, then expelled a long sigh as she breathed out. “Wow! I needed that,” she said, full to bursting.

  Marcus came over and grabbed her hands. He helped her up, and she winced as the tendons in her shoulders pulled tight.

  “Suck it up, Corporal. I thought you soldiers were tough as nails?” he said, his mouth twitching with a suppressed smile.

  She playfully poked her tongue out, and looked up at him with a playful glint. Marcus stared at her, his piercing blue eyes melting her heart.

  Still on the ground, Jas cringed then shuddered. “Ugh. If you two are going to moon over each other like that, can you at least get a room?” With that, Jas got to her feet with all the flexibility of youth and stomped away. Catherine broke the stare, hanging her head in embarrassment.

  ~

  Major Clarke and one of his subordinates made their way over to Marcus and ushered him away from Hyde, keeping a little distance between them.

  “Can you follow me please, Sir,” Major Clarke said with indifference as Marcus approached. “We have received a transmission from survivors further North. It seems they may be in a bit of bother.”

  Marcus followed with a sense of urgency attached to each step.

  “What’s going on? What do you mean, ‘bother’?” Marcus questioned.

  “Cavers are beginning to move away from their natural habitats. They are becoming more attuned to the fact that there are greater food sources beyond the cave areas. The same message has come through twice. On the second occasion, your name was mentioned,” the major replied.

  John and the others? Who else could it be? Someone needs to help them.

  “We need to get to them, quickly.” The fear in Marcus’ voice betrayed him.

  “I can suggest that we send both ATV’s with a small team of men to retrieve them... and I suggest that when my men and I leave to make the pickup, you start walking.” The major suggested. “If cavers can start moving this far south then we may be in trouble.”

  Marcus nodded in agreement as they entered the makeshift radio room, just inside the shelter.

  ~

  White noise filled the room. Only a faint voice could be heard behind the static, but it was instantly recognisable as John.

  Broadcast number 3:

  Mayday! Mayday! My name is John Cummings... If anyone is listening to this, please respond. Cavers have overrun the area we are in. We’re trapped. We need help. I don’t know how long we can keep them from entering the shelter... please hurry!

  “We need to get to them... and soon.” Marcus’ voice was filled with fear, thinking only of those he had left behind.

  The major took a thoughtful stance before replying, his indecision angering Marcus.

  “Look!” Marcus snapped. “You said you were going to send a team out after them ... is that happening, or not?”

  “We just need to gather a bit more information first. Can you help with that Mr. Dench?”

  “All depends what it is?” Marcus replied.

  “Whereabouts are your people? How easy are they to get to?”

  “Hyde and I left them in Fearby, just West of Masham. Are you familiar with it?” Marcus probed.

  “I know of it, yes,” the Major replied. “The ATV’s guidance system will guide us, if it still works. It hasn’t been used for a while.” He waved over another couple of privates to join him. They hurried over and stood to attention.

  “Suit up gentlemen, we’re heading out on a search and rescue mission. Bring your weapons, you’re going to need them!” With that, the men saluted their superior and headed back to the main body of the shelter to retrieve their equipment.

  “Sergeant Jackson will be in charge when we leave. Follow his lead, and you’ll be fine,” he reassured Marcus, who appeared sceptical. “I shall inform him of the situation. I suggest you do the same with your people. I will suggest that you head toward Chesterfield. It is the nearest big town to get to from here.”

  The major walked out of the room, leaving Marcus to his thoughts. You’ll be back with us in no time, John...try and keep out of the cavers reach... please. I need to tell Jas and Hyde what’s going on.

  Snapping himself back to the reality of the situation, he ran from the room to find his daughter and Hyde.

  ~

  Hyde was where he’d left her, and Jas was approaching from another direction, watching the ATV’s pulling out as she made her way towards her father.

  “What’s going on? Why are they leaving?” Jas asked, puzzled by the sudden departure. “Are they leaving us to fend for ourselves?”

  Marcus lowered his head, shaking it as he did so.

  “It’s nothing like that,” he replied. “John and the others are surrounded by cavers. They are going to bring them back to us.”

  “What do we do in the meantime? Wait?” Jas asked, her voice wavering.

  “No, it isn’t safe for us here anymore. We need to leave. The major and his men will rendezvous with us in the next big town, which I believe is Chesterfield. I suggest you and Catherine get some food
in your bellies before we set off. I’ll ask the others to do the same, as I think we are moving out soon.”

  Marcus turned to Hyde.

  “Are you okay to walk?” he asked as he looked down on her.

  “It’s not my legs that are hurting me, it’s my shoulders... as I recall, I don’t walk on my hands.” Marcus appeared unamused by her indirect answer. “I’m fine to walk, Sir.”

  ~

  Marcus rallied everyone together, ready to move away from Sheffield. Judd was collected from the stable and tethered to one of the privates. Jas linked arms with Hyde, supporting her as the group began to move away. They headed towards the next destination, Chesterfield, twelve miles from their current position, or so the signpost read.

  Hyde wondered if she would make it that far, as Marcus was intent on carrying on straight through without stopping. She doubted that the kids would want to travel that far either. She thought they would force Marcus’s hand, as he wouldn’t be able to withstand the constant grumbling from the exhausted children, their parents and eventually her, too. Marcus pushed on regardless.

  We could’ve done with the all-terrain vehicles right now, but getting John, Aggie and the rest of the gang back to us is the main priority.

  CHAPTER 26

  The encampment survivors had been on the road for what seemed like hours. The strong autumnal wind was relentless, making the journey twice as difficult. Every muscle in Hyde’s body screamed. It was no good; they had to stop, whether Marcus liked it or not.

  She turned to Jas, “We need to get close to your father,” she said, trying to limp her way forward, continuing to use Jas as a crutch. She couldn’t believe how strong Jas had become. She guessed she’d needed to be, with all that had been through. Hyde was proud of her for that. All she could do was stare at her, a small smile playing across her bruised face.

  Jas’ brow furrowed. “What? Have I got something on my face?”

  There she was. The Jas Hyde knew. The moody, unpredictable Jas. “No, it’s just—” she tried to find the words to express how she felt without sounding sappy. “Never mind.”