by RR Haywood
Walking alongside the long wall of the units, Maddox made his way across the camp towards the pit, his mind still making mental checklists. Halfway along he entered the units through a single door propped open. The pungent smell of cannabis filling his nostrils instantly and the humidity from the watered plants prickling his already hot skin. Walking through the units he briefly checked each growth stage, looking for any plants wilting or hanging low from lack of water. The women working their way from plant to plant with hoses nodded, smiled and waved as he walked through.
After several minutes of walking he reached the last unit, this one set aside solely for the Bossman’s use. Knocking on the door he waited for the invitation to enter.
‘Enter,’ a deep voice boomed out. Maddox grinned to himself and pushed the door open to see the Bossman sat behind a desk staring at sheets of paper laid out in front of him.
‘Boss,’ Maddox nodded respectfully.
‘Maddox, how you doin’ son? Everything alright is it?’ The Bossman looked up, his voice friendly in genuine warmth at the sight of his deputy.
‘All good,’ Maddox replied. He walked over and sat down in a big comfy chair opposite the desk, noticing the heavy smoke of a recent joint hanging in the air.
‘So how was Ryker?’ The Bossman asked with an interested but obviously stoned gaze. A medium built man with close cropped hair just starting to grey at the temples. Dressed in a suit he could be a high class lawyer, dressed in overalls he could be a reliable mechanic. The Bossman suited anything he wore and with his easy smile and laughing eyes he got on with just about everyone he met. People liked him, people wanted to like him, but more importantly, people wanted him to like them.
‘Good,’ Maddox nodded, ‘we found one man in his house but he refused to pay so we had to resolve the situation,’ Maddox explained. The street language dropped now as he spoke in calm measured tones.
‘Who did the talking?’ The Bossman asked.
‘Ryker started but I took over at the end, he clearly wasn’t going to pay so we had to sort it. He came out with a bat and started taking swings at the crew.’
‘Who was it?’
‘A bald man in a semi-detached house on Sycamore Avenue,’ Maddox replied.
‘What old Naylor?’ The Bossman looked surprised for a second, ‘he always was a bloody idiot, good builder though I’ll give him that. Christ so he survived it did he?’
‘He did,’ Maddox answered, ‘but not now.’
‘Oh well, serves him right. You had to do what you had to do,’ the Bossman nodded deeply with a knowing look. ‘So everything else alright is it?’
‘Zayden left his post out on the junction to go for a piss, sorted him out though.’
‘What that little lad out there on his own?’
‘He’s on Darius’ crew; Darius said he’s a good lad.’
‘How did you sort it?’
‘I gave him a hard stare till he shit himself then gave him a bollocking, told him I knew Lauren fancied him so he didn’t want to miss the party by being in the shit.’
‘Good lad,’ the Bossman laughed appreciatively, ‘good work, never use a slap unless you have no other choice. Win ‘em over and they’ll work their bollocks off for you.’
‘I know,’ Maddox nodded listening intently. He always listened when the Bossman explained things. It was the Bossman that got him out of talking street as he called it, when they were together, telling Maddox that a king had to be able to talk with all his men. It was also the Bossman that taught Maddox getting people to love you gave them more loyalty than fear will ever give. But fear, used at the right time and the right place, will do the work of a thousand requests.
‘Liam was on the gate sweating in his hoody, he hadn’t drank any water for hours,’ Maddox continued.
Shaking his head and tutting, the Bossman looked worried as he rolled another joint, ‘we need to sort that out Maddox, this heat will have them dropping like flies if we ain’t careful. Are they washing? If they don’t drink and don’t wash they’ll get sick. Ever heard of dysentery?’ Maddox shook his head, ‘It’s what the soldiers used to get when they went days without clean water, shit food and not cleaning themselves. If we get that here we’ll all be down with it, gives you the chronic shits and makes you weak.’
‘Okay boss,’ Maddox nodded, ‘so we need to get them washed and drinking clean water. I was getting worried about the shit they’re eating too, and smoking weed all night.’
‘Here’s what you do,’ the Bossman leant in speaking quickly and using his hands with quick movements, ‘get the crew chiefs to be responsible for making sure they’re washed, but make sure the girls to do the girls I don’t want any perving going on mind, get some exercise equipment outside and get the kids seeing you and some of the other fit lads training, they’ll want to join in and be like you but then you tell ‘em that unless they start eating decent they can’t train. Give ‘em an incentive, as for the weed. Well it keeps ‘em settled. That Darius is a fit lad, get him and that Ryland in on it.’
‘We got stacks of those multi-vitamins here boss, can we start giving them out in the mornings?’
‘Bloody good idea Maddox,’ the Bossman smiled encouragingly, ‘yeah do that, anything else?’
‘The party. I got some televisions taken from the houses near here and I got the Xboxes all rigged up, you still alright if we switch the power over for a few hours, we got a DJ booth rigged up too.’
‘Maddox, you do what needs doing son. I told you, you’re in charge on the ground so you make the decision. I’m here for the bigger things, to oversee it all and make sure we got enough of everything.’ The Bossman replied lighting the joint.
‘Yeah sweet boss…’
‘Maddox! What have I told you about your language?’
‘Sorry boss, I meant thank you.’
‘That’s better. You speak to them how they understand it but you got to know how to speak with everyone.’
‘I understand.’
‘Do you? Well I am not sure I fully understand the last statement of confirmation you made, and I would ask that you kindly elaborate for me?’ The Bossman switched to a cultured tone; sounding intelligent and refined he looked as expectantly at Maddox, just as Maddox looked expectantly at Liam just a few minutes ago.
‘Do I have to?’ Maddox groaned with a sheepish smile.
‘I would rather that indeed you do have to.’
Sighing, Maddox sat up straight and rolled his eyes as the Bossman smiled in good humour, ‘well in reply to your previous comment concerning my assent of confirmation I would hereby state, for the record, that my confirmation of understanding was given in a truthful manner and one which I can barely see any reason for doubting. Therewithal I challenge any doubt on my words and seek clarity should there be any further confusion on the subject.’
‘Maddox! That was brilliant!’ The Bossman beamed and leant over to shake his hand, pumping it greatly, ‘it’s getting better all the time!’
‘Thanks boss,’ Maddox answered.
‘Look I know the world is fucked beyond repair and those fucking things are stomping about eating everyone, but you never know when you might need to speak properly. A king needs to talk with all his men. There is a world beyond this estate Maddox. Other survivors that will come here and want to trade. We heard that explosion a few days ago so we know there is shit going down in other places. Now anything else?’ Maddox nods in response. They had all heard the explosion of the housing estate detonated by Dave and Jamie, and they all felt the tremor in the ground as window panes rattled in their frames followed by a huge mushroom cloud boiling up high into the sky. It was early morning, barely dawn and it brought every youth out into the open grounds of the compound and staring off into the distance and it served to remind them all of the things that must be going on in other places.
‘The planting of crops I mentioned…’
‘Maddox, it’s only been a few days. Slow down son,’ the Boss
man sat back in his chair and puffed on the joint, ‘let’s get tonight out of the way, give the lads some chill out time, we’ll get together over the next couple of days and work out exactly where you want to do it. Okay?’
‘Yeah okay boss,’ Maddox relented with an easy smile.
‘Good now piss off; I got plant feed and yields to calculate.’
‘Okay,’ Maddox got to his feet and crossed the rug covered floor.
‘How’s it going with Skyla?’ the Bossman asked quickly.
‘Skyla? Yeah she’s alright,’ Maddox replied aloof as always when the bossman asked him about women.
‘Just alright is she? She looks more than alright to me son.’ He said lighting the joint and inhaling deeply.
‘We’ll see,’ Maddox grinned before letting himself out and slowly closing the door. The grin faded as the door shut with a click. Maddox liked the Bossman and was genuinely pleased that he had given him the top job, but he also knew he had earned it. Sorting through a thousand tasks every day that came through him instead of the boss. As the days went on, his reputation grew as did his sense of responsibility. Even the women in the units saw him as the go-to-man. The Bossman was friendly enough but after the initial mad rush of the first few days, getting the compound secure, stocking food and getting weapons he spent more and more time in his office, worrying and fretting about plant food, what yields he would get from the plants, smoking joints and leaving everything to Maddox. The bossman had always smoked weed, but never this much and it worried Maddox.
As he left, Maddox thought back to that first night. He’d been with the Bossman driving through the estate in the big Mercedes as Maddox counted out the nights takings.
‘You done well tonight then Maddox?’
‘Yeah very well,’ Maddox replied quietly as he leafed through the thick bundle of twenty pound notes.
‘Any trouble?’
‘Nah, couple of those jumped up college kids again trying to give it large.’
‘Be careful with them,’ the Bossman warned, ‘don’t deal to them yourself. Get one of the kids to do it, if they get nicked they’ll bubble you up quicker than anything.’
‘I did,’ Maddox replied.
‘Good lad…what the fuck is that?’ The Bossman leant forward, looking through the windscreen at the figure stood in the middle of the road.
‘He must be pissed,’ Maddox chuckled.
‘What round here?’ The Bossman replied looking round at the quiet residential street.
‘Is he bleeding? Look he’s hurt,’ Maddox peered at the man covered in blood and staggering around on unsteady feet.
‘Who is it?’ The Bossman asked, ‘is he one of ours?’
‘I fucking hope not,’ Maddox answered knowing that anyone touching one of their kids would be dealt with very harshly.
‘Nah that’s a man that is, not a kid,’ the Bossman brought the car to a gradual stop a few metres from the figure.
‘I’ll go and see,’ Maddox replied.
‘I’ll come with you,’ the Bossman said. They climbed out of the vehicle and moved towards the figure, both of them staring hard and trying to see who the man was. Thick wet blood coated his face and a large open wound was flapping on his neck.
‘Alright mate?’ The Bossman called out, ‘what happened?’ The figure turned and stared towards the Bossman, a low growl coming from his throat.
‘Boss,’ Maddox shouted the warning as the figure burst to life and ran at the Bossman. Maddox met the man just feet before he reached the Bossman and powered him to the ground. The injured man writhed and bucked, howling loudly as it tried to lunge and bite out.
‘Fucker’s trying to bite me,’ Maddox yelled and slammed his fist into the side of the man’s head. The blow had little effect as the man kept thrashing his head and gnashing at Maddox.
‘Hold up son,’ the Bossman ran in and kicked the downed man in the ribs. Still no effect and the thing raged and fought furiously.
‘Fuck me he must be on crack,’ the Bossman shouted, ‘have him Maddox.’ Maddox responded with a flurry of hard powerful blows aimed down at the side of the man’s head, purposefully avoiding the already bloodied face and not wanting to get blood on his hands.
‘He ain’t stopping,’ Maddox shouted in alarm.
‘Shit…’ the Bossman leapt back as another howling figure lunged at him. The fight stepped up a notch as both men realised the danger of their situation. Two crazy men trying to attack them on their own turf. This must be serious. Maddox jumped up and slammed his foot down onto the man’s face and heard the snapping of bone. Without further delay he turned round to see the Bossman flick the blade out on his switchblade and stick the sharpened point repeatedly into the chest of the attacking figure. Maddox ran over and grabbed the man from behind, pulling him away as the Bossman plunged the knife into the throat.
Dropping the body to the floor they both stood in shock, staring at the bodies then at each other.
‘What the fuck was all that about?’ The Bossman asked quietly.
‘We gotta go boss, the fed’s will be all over this.’
‘Yeah right, fuck is that another one?’ They both turned to see another figure running at them. A middle aged woman dressed in a paisley dressing gown and pink fluffy bunny slippers. A ragged wound on her face and blood coating the front of her night clothes.
‘You are fucking joking…’ the Bossman shook his head.
‘Boss, give me that,’ Maddox took the knife from the older man and walked at the figure charging towards them. Side stepping at the last second as the woman lunged forward with her lips pulled back. Maddox punched her hard to the side of her head and she went down thudding her head into the side of the Mercedes.
‘Watch the bleedin’ car!’ The Bossman shouted.
‘Sorry boss,’ Maddox replied. The woman showed no reaction and clambered quickly to her feet, turning to lunge at Maddox. He danced backwards trying to fend the woman off with his free hand. Feeling the side of a car behind him and knowing the woman was going to bite him he lashed out and swept the blade across her throat. A crimson spray of blood spurting out and soaking Maddox’s clothes.
‘You’ll have to burn them now,’ the Bossman tutted, ‘you’ll be covered in her DNA.’
‘Boss, what is going on?’ Maddox shouted, ‘they’re trying to bite us.’
‘Fuck me…more?’ the Bossman shouted as more figure appeared further down the street running towards them in that same jerky manner.
The powerful headlights of the Mercedes illuminated the throng of night clothes wearing attackers as they poured up the road. The Bossman watched them intently, taking in the injuries, the blood soaked clothes, the jerky motion of their running and finally….the red bloodshot eyes.
‘Maddox, get in the car son…quick.’ They both climbed in and slammed the doors closed. Without hesitation the Bossman put the vehicle into gear and pressed his foot down hard. The car shot forward, accelerating quickly and heading straight towards the oncoming group.
‘They ain’t moving,’ Maddox shouted as the first ones impacted on the bonnet and went flying over the top of the vehicle. More thuds as the vehicle ploughed them down and sped off.
Each street they went through more bodies were out in the road. Groups of people were fighting each other, more on the ground being bitten and savaged. Screams and shouts pierced the air as they drove quickly through the estate.
‘Get to the units,’ Maddox shouted through the window at a group of youths running down the street. They swept through shouting the same thing to any youth they recognised as one of theirs, telling them to pass the message on.
By the time they got back, there were already crowds of youths standing about and looking either pumped up or terrified.
That’s when the Bossman showed why he was in charge. Within minutes he had the units open and the youths safely inside and watchers out guiding more kids in.
He was a good leader and despite the now constant we
ed smoking, Maddox felt a deep sense of loyalty to him.
Re-entering the drying area he quickly inspected the drying crops, counting the bundles and checking the correct amounts were there. No one would dare steal from the Bossman or Maddox but it didn’t hurt to check everything once in a while.
‘Lenski,’ Maddox called out to the high cheek boned woman walking past the door with a clipboard in hand. Lenski had been one of the young adult women accepted into the compound as society outside the gates crumbled. Quickly proving herself to be intelligent and capable she effectively “ran” the inside of the units when Maddox wasn’t present, holding the keys to the food and alcohol stores.
‘Maddox, you are back then,’ the Polish woman replied, her English good but still retaining a strong Eastern European edge.
‘Yeah, everything okay here?’ Maddox forgot to re-introduce his street talk, sticking to his preferred normal voice while talking to the beautiful but very hard faced woman.
‘Is good Maddox, all is good here yes?’ She nodded back giving a brief smile.
‘The sentries aren’t drinking enough in the heat and they don’t have the brains to come and get something. Can you make sure someone takes water out to them every couple of hours and make sure they’ve got food too.’
‘Sure, I do this,’ Lenski nodded again, making a quick note on her own ever growing list of things to do.
‘Also, can you get the packs of multi-vitamins out and make sure there’s a bottle in every tent…’
‘Multi-vitamins,’ Lenski added it to her list.
‘And we need to make sure they’re washing properly, are they using the baby wipes you gave them?’
‘I do not think they use these,’ Lenski replied in her husky voice, ‘the packets they are still full no?’
‘I’ll speak to the crew chiefs and get them on it but we might need your help with the girls, yeah I’ll get you and Sierra to talk to the girls and Darius and me can talk to the lads.’ Sierra and Darius were both crew chiefs and also an established couple. At seventeen years old they were also older than most of the youths and looked up to as figures of authority.