by Leo Nix
At midday he tried to wake the boys but they wouldn't budge. Nulla knew what to do.
“Righto boys, hands off cocks and on with sox. Everyone up for lunch or I get to use your face for a toilet.” Sometimes there is only one way to get a teenager out of bed.
The sound of his zippered fly brought an instinctive urge for the boys to leap up and start dressing. As primitive as it sounds it certainly worked, in fact this method never failed, not in Nulla's lifetime.
“Oh my head, my stomach, I feel terrible.” Simon staggered into the kitchen and slid down into a chair at the kitchen table. He tried to look at his bacon and eggs but his stomach revolted and he ran to the toilet.
Luke wasn't as badly off as Simon. He hadn't had as much beer nor smoked as much of the cigarette, he tucked into everything on the table. He called out to Simon, retching in the toilet, that eating might make him feel better. Luke managed to finish everything Nulla placed before him. Later, Simon ate a little dry bread and sipped on a cup of black tea.
“Righto, lesson number one for today: what did you boys learn about the pleasures of smoking and drinking?” he smiled broadly. A hard lesson but an important one he thought, the same lesson his father gave him many years ago. `Not that it worked,' he reminded himself.
“Don't drink or smoke, ever,” came Simon's droll reply, he wasn't feeling well and his face was still a shade of gray.
“Luke?” smiled Nulla enjoying himself.
“If you drink and smoke expect the worst. I guess another lesson is not to trust your elders who've been in the army and belong to bikie gangs.” He looked up and smiled right back at him. He clicked onto what Nulla was up to.
`He catches on quickly, that's good,' thought Nulla.
“Righto, today we talk, train and go on a shopping trip. I don't have to remind you boys that we are in deep trouble. Humanity seems to be hell bent on destroying itself and our goal is to survive.” Nulla looked at his charges. They were smart, willing and quick learners. Above all they had a desire and a hunger to learn everything he showed them.
“We also need to find better lodgings, establish a few other safe houses and develop a network of survivors. All of this must be done with security in mind. No silly behaviour and always tell someone what you plan to do before you do it. And you also… what do you do when you're out with me?” he looked at them expectantly.
Luke grinned and said, “We watch, listen and then act immediately.” His chest puffed up when Nulla patted his shoulder.
“Yep, perfect. Now look around and tell me what you see that might tell you more about what we'll be doing today. Take your time and then report.” He'd placed their three back packs on the floor, their weapons by the back door, and maps on the table.
“Simon, what do you see?”
“Hmm, three Steyrs with ammunition belts, maps on the table, food and water in the backpacks and boots on the back steps. I guess we are either going for a run and weapons training, or do some map work?” came his reply.
“Correct on all counts except one. You forgot cleanliness. After you clean the toilet and the vomit on the floor, get yourselves ready and we'll start.” Nulla told the boys to dress in the fatigues lying on the lounge which he'd found in one of the rooms.
They started with their weapons. He made them clean and oil their Steyrs, again watching everything they did. The boys had to talk through what they were doing at each step.
“Map orienteering next. Stand at the table here and let's get this place checked out. Grab that street map too. The first things we want to locate are shopping centres, why?” he pushed the boys at every chance.
“Shops is where people would go?” ventured Luke.
“Yes, and?”
Simon said, “People need water and food and with no electricity their food is starting to go off?”
“Yes, and?”
“People need to be told what to do and we can tell them?” came back Simon.
“And?”
“We can form an army of civilians and fight the terrorists?” Luke said.
“Hmm, let's think about that one.” Nulla wanted no illusions or fantasies. “Why would we be careful with civilians? What would we do and not do when we meet them?”
“Geez, maybe don't give them weapons… or… maybe we should?” said Simon whimsically.
Luke offered his thoughts. “People are generally stupid and think of themselves first, they might try to control us?”
“Righto, good replies. I now have you thinking so this is your homework for today. First of all: are there any civilian survivors? If so how many? What are their immediate needs? What are they struggling with? What are they thinking of? What will they be struggling with in a weeks time, a month or a year?
“The answers to these questions, my lads, will guide your actions when you meet them. Civilians are not our enemy, but they pose very definite threats to our safety, and to their own. Part of your homework is to work out what these threats could be.” Nulla finished rolling his cigarette and offered the tobacco pouch to Simon and Luke. They both declined and went slightly gray in the face.
“I want you to think about those questions. Now we need to go for a run into town to find some suitable clothing, footwear, more backpacks, hats and anything else you think we might need. We might also meet civilians, if there are any left.”
“Oh, and Simon, I just pulled my bike from the garage so you aren't my passenger today. Let's roll.” Simon's eyes lit up, he was starting to feel a little more human now he had something inside his stomach.
Chapter 6 - Charlene - Zombies, Phil and Fatima
Not long after moving to their new safe house, Heidi and Arthur decided to explore a different shopping centre not too far from the ones they had been visiting. This was larger, and appeared to have more options for their supplies, and fewer scavengers. In fact the only people they found there were dead ones. There weren't any goods strewn on the floor like most of the looted shops in their own area.
“Arthur, you go in first, shine your torch over there so I can see if there are any zombies.” Arthur was accustomed to Heidi's fear of the dark and what he thought was an irrational fear, zombies indeed. But he never criticised her or said a word about how silly it was to fear dead people. He shined the torch around the walls and aisles as she directed.
“OK, it's all clear,” Heidi stated. “You go down the frozen food aisle and see what you can find that's not gone off, and I'll head down the health snacks and dried foods aisle. If you hear anything make sure you come running over - all right?” She looked up at him with both fear and hopefulness, Arthur nodded reassuringly.
“Of course I'll come running,” he said calmly and tried to smile. It was dark and it was scary now that Heidi had him spooked with all that talk of zombies.
Arthur remembered that ever since they'd brought back some zombie comics from the local library Heidi began to have nightmares. Everyone had seen their fair share of dead bodies, and in fact they were as common as house flies. But Arthur knew about her experience in the shopping centre, surrounded by the bodies of people she had known. Even Arthur could tell it affected her though she wouldn't talk about it.
The two separated and their torch beams made the shadows play chase across the floors and walls. Heidi felt uncomfortable, like she was being watched. She had a shopping trolley in front of her and began quietly stacking supplies into it. She slowly relaxed losing all sense of time and place, becoming fully absorbed in deciding which items they would take back with them. Forgetting her fears she was on autopilot working quietly and efficiently.
Without warning a zombie body leaned towards her and she screamed at the top of her lungs. She let go of the trolley, dropped her torch and raced backwards only to be stopped by another zombie creature. She tripped and fell to the floor screaming.
Arthur raced to her aid, his baseball bat in one hand and his torch in the other. He saw Heidi curled on the floor among a scattering of giant, furry to
ys. She was gasping for air and in a faint, her heart felt like it would burst inside her chest.
“Arty, Arty,” Heidi sobbed as she slowly regained some of her composure when she saw the toys illuminated by Arthur's torch. “I thought they were fucking zombies!”
“I thought you were being attacked. Don't ever do that to me again will you.” He was struggling to calm himself as he sat beside her and held her tightly in his arms. The teenagers suddenly sat up in alarm when a moment later they heard a voice calling from just outside the store.
“Hey, you people in there? I'm coming in for some food, please don't hurt me,” called the voice.
Arthur nearly vomited in fright. Heidi somehow managed to reply to the lone voice. “Who are you?”
“I'm Phil, I live near here, I won't hurt anyone. I just need to collect some food for my wife and I. Can I come in, please?” His voice sounded old to the two youngsters, it echoed in the huge store and they relaxed a little.
A torch beam cut through the darkness and as the voice approached they shined their torches towards him. They saw an old man dressed in baggy cargo pants and a long-sleeved khaki shirt. He wore glasses and carried some green shopping bags. The old man came up to them and sat gingerly beside them.
“Hi, my name's Phil and I live near here with my wife, Fatima. I call her Fati.” He gave a snort and a chuckle. They liked him immediately. “I hope you don't mind me asking but what was all that screaming about? It sounded like you were attacked by terrorists but I've been here for two hours watching and I haven't seen anyone besides you two enter. What happened?” he asked, his eyes blinking in the bright torchlight. They politely lowered their torches.
“I, I ah, I touched some soft toys, these ones.” Heidi pointed her torch at the toys that lay jumbled on the floor around her. “I thought they were zombies,” she giggled realising how silly it sounded. She looked at him and smiled. “My name's Heidi and this is Arthur, Arty. We're pleased to meet you, Phil.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you too.” They all shook hands. “I sometimes have that feeling too,” he said, “especially coming out at night. I saw a dead body the other day, in a house, and it was standing up. Can you believe it, someone died standing up and then they dried out in the heat, and now they look just like a real zombie. It scared the bejesus out of me I tell you. So don't think you're the only one to freak out at these zombie creatures. But soft toys,” and here Phil turned his head to the side and smiled mischievously, “now that's funny.” As he smiled his face wrinkled even more than it already was. He liked these two kids with their easy and honest manner.
“When I've finished gathering some food, why not come back to my place and meet my wife? She hasn't seen a living person since this horror began. She'll make a meal you can only dream about. She's the best cook in the country,” he said that last sentence with glowing pride.
Arty and Heidi looked at each other and nodded. “Yeah, we'd love to, Phil. I can't remember the last time I had something that wasn't out of a packet or tin,” said Heidi. “We do have a friend back home who'd love to come along too. She's got injuries that stop her coming out and if we went without her she'd feel betrayed. Is it OK if we bring her too?” Heidi looked at Phil and she saw his face melt.
“You have a friend with injuries? Sure, do you want me to help you bring her? Can she walk? Does she need a wheeled trolley of some sort? I can build it if you need one.” He was talking quickly and thinking to himself about how he might help.
“If we go with you now, and learn where your house is, we can bring Charlene with us tomorrow night. Is that OK?” asked Heidi.
“Yes, of course. I have a few herbs and spices to pick up for Fati. And some rice and lentils and maybe some dried mushrooms, if I can find them out the back, and then we can go.”
Phil's house was a little further than they thought but at least it was in the same direction as their own. Once they got their bearings, Heidi and Arthur were confident they could easily walk Charlene there the following night.
Even though it was past midnight Fatima was absolutely delighted to see the two young people. She was so starved of company that she hugged them and wouldn't let them go until they'd eaten and shared some of her fresh, home-roasted coffee.
“Oh my goodness, you two are so thin, are you sure you couldn't eat any more? Here, I'll wrap this up and put it in a bag so you can take it back for Charlene.” She chatted away fussing over the youngsters. Arthur thought she was just like his own grandmother who had sadly passed away some years ago. He warmed to Phil and was especially excited when he promised to show him his workshop and the projects he was working on.
“And dears, please bring something to change into because we'll have a feast tomorrow night and then you can sleep over. Nothing fancy but we do have spare bedrooms you know.” She looked at her admiring husband. “Phil is going to help me clean the place up. When you come over it'll be like a holiday.” Her face beamed with delight. In fact, thought Heidi, she looked like a young girl for a moment.
“We'd love to, Fatima, thank you. We'd better get moving, it's close to daybreak and we need to get back before first light. We'll meet you here before midnight, OK? We'll bring Charlene too. Thanks for everything.” They prepared to leave.
“Don't forget Charlene's breakfast.” Fatima pushed a parcel that needed an extra bag to carry, it was so heavy. “Enough to feed an army,” she said with a giggle.
They chatted all the way home barely aware of the danger of being caught outside by a terrorist patrol. When they arrived, Charlene was sitting up waiting, her eyes rimmed in red and a worried frown on her face. Heidi saw immediately that her friend had been fretting. Normally they would be home by three in the morning but dawn had already broken by the time they came in through the back door.
“Hi, Charlene,” said Heidi as she leaned over and hugged her, “guess what we did and who we met last night?” she said with a smile and handed the parcel over to her.
Charlene was silent as she opened the parcel and its aroma wafted towards her. She stopped what she was about to say and looked at the wrapped items. One contained a curried meat pie made the old fashioned way. It was still warm and she ate ravenously not realising how starved she was.
“Heidi, I was scared something had happened to you. I didn't know what to do so I just sat and waited,” she mumbled as they sat drinking tea. “I was worried that you'd been taken by terrorists.”
“I'm sorry, Charlene,” Heidi replied putting her hand on her friend's knee, “but we now have new friends and surely that makes up for it?”
“Well yes, I guess so.” Charlene yawned and the three headed off to their bedrooms. They needed to get some sleep before preparing for their trip to Phil and Fati's house that night.
They packed a bag each and headed off. Arthur rode his BMX bike with the bags filled with fresh fruit and jars of preserves that Heidi and Charlene had made. It only took them twenty minutes to get there.
Fati met them at the back door, hugging them all tightly. She fussed over the blond-haired Charlene careful not to touch her shoulder. “My dear girl, please let me have a look at that and see if I can do anything for the wound. Oh, it's still weeping? I've got some salves that might speed up the healing.” Fatima fussed some more until Phil arrived to usher them into their large lounge room and helped Arthur unpack the bag of preserves.
“My goodness, Arthur, did you make these yourself?” Phil chuckled and Arthur went a bright red. “Only joking! When we get sorted out here I want to show you my shed, what do you reckon about that?”
“Yes please, Mr Phil, I'm not much good at anything, I can't cook or make things, I can't even use a screw driver. I'm pretty useless.” His head hung down and Phil looked soberly at the young man.
“Artie, call me Phil, just plain Phil. Now if you can't do anything then maybe I can teach you? How about that?”
“Would you really do that? I can help you make things and maybe I can have my own set
of tools.” Arthur's face lit up.
“Take the boy outside, Phil, and show him your trolley and help him build a basket for his bike too. That old thing he's got tied to it will break any day now. Go on, shoo, I'll call you when dinner's ready.” Fatima turned to the girls and sat Charlene down ready for some treatment on her shoulder. She started Heidi in the kitchen stirring the stew. Fatima had thought that a day like today would never come. These were real living people and she was overjoyed.
Arthur was mesmerised by Phil's handiwork and ran his fingers over some of the pieces of furniture in the shed. He picked up some of the tools on Phil's workbench and asked, “What's this? What do you use it for?”
“It's a plane, it's what you use to make pieces of timber smooth before you sand it down with those pieces of paper there.” He lovingly ran his hands over some chair parts he had lying in neat rows on the garage floor.
“This leather is old so I'm going to freshen it up by rubbing oil into it. I can take just about anything I find, pull it apart, then fix it and put it back together.” He beamed with pride as he watched Arthur's eyes open wide in admiration.
“Is this the trolley Fati mentioned?” he asked.
“Yep, I found some babies prams in a shop in the mall. I pulled the wheels and axles off and brought them back here. Then I brought back a decent shopping trolley and replaced the wheels with these big ones. Now I can put bigger items in and not have to worry about the stupid thing trying to run me off the footpath when I push it.”
“Wow, that's amazing. What's this thing for?” Arthur was holding an old hand drill and spun the geared handle.
“It's a hand drill. I found it in a second hand shop that's got all sorts of junk. But it's not junk any more is it? Some of the hardware stores still have useful hand tools we can use without power. That's where I spend a lot of my spare time, wandering around hardware stores, antique and second hand stores. It's amazing what you can find in them.” Phil pointed to the walls of his shed. Arthur followed his torch beam to see dozens of tools hung up in orderly rows according to their use.