I was aware that a jeep with a mounted machine gun was in front of our truck going across the bridge. I gazed down at the choppy, murky waters of the Thames. Bobbing around in the water I could see pieces of wood, tree branches and then…..Bodies!
Maybe five or six, they moved up and down with the waves. Occasionally they dipped under the water. I felt slightly sick at the sight of these lifeless corpses being dragged down the river. I looked away into the back of the truck.
We moved slowly across the bridge which, although made of iron, wasn’t very secure. The vibrations of the rivets on the floor of the bridge shook through the entire truck.
Exiting the bridge on the south side I could where the streets once branched off. Buildings lay in ruins, there was destruction everywhere. I saw the jeep dart off to the left running parallel to the river, we followed. I could hear the machine gun on the jeep firing, but I was unable to see what or who the gunfire was aimed at.
We passed by a crumbling office block and I could see three dead bodies, face down on the floor.
It was then coming out of the crumbling office block that I saw them. There were five figures staggering and tripping over pieces of concrete, one of them fell face first onto a large piece of metal but got straight back up and continued to stagger along.
They looked very strange. The way these people walked was weird. Their clothes were dirty and torn, like rags. Their hair was matted and wild. Something about them did not seem right at all.
It was as if all they wanted to do was get to us. Why the hell would you move towards a jeep mounted with a heavy machine gun if you had just seen three people get shot dead?
Were they mad?
DIARY ENTRY 9
The jeep stopped near a derelict warehouse which was situated on a bend close to the river. The truck rumbled to a halt.
Within a few moments the soldier driving the truck appeared at the back, his gas mask peering intimidatingly inside. He ushered for me to get down and waited. Holding onto the sides I jumped down onto the dusty floor. The soldier walked round the side and I followed slowly gazing around at the devastation.
The metal fabric of the warehouse we were close to was stripped off in places, aluminium peeling from the thick girders.
The soldier who drove the truck walked ahead, the other two in the jeep had got out and were stretching their arms up in the air and laughing with one another. I heard them joking about shooting the people previously. The gas mask clad soldier who had been driving the truck had a machine gun hanging down by his side.
Suddenly, he pulled the gun up to face the other two soldiers and there was a burst of gunfire. I went sprawling down onto the floor. I gazed up in horror as the two soldiers from the jeep hurtled backwards with the force of the bullets tearing at their torsos and heads. I could hear the thuds as the bullets penetrated their bodies until finally they lay motionless on the floor.
The soldier in the gas mask turned and walked menacingly in my direction.
I pushed myself onto my arse and started to scramble backwards to get away. My arm gave way and my body went crashing to the ground. I felt fear take control of my body. The soldier reached me and stared down raising his gun so it passed over my body. I closed my eyes, blinked with fear and then stared up as the gun continued to move up until it was pointing in the air. With his other hand the soldier removed his gas mask. I turned my head to look away.
“Kaleb.”
That voice? That accent? I couldn’t believe it!
“What’s going on?” I asked in shock gazing back at the familiar face.
Duncan looked around and then offered me help to get up off the dusty floor.
“Come on jump up front in the truck with me. They will start gathering soon,” said Duncan.
Duncan moved off first and after a stunned moment I quickly followed, hauling myself into the passenger seat which was a welcome change to the uncomfortable journey I had endured so far.
“They?” I asked.
“Yes, they,” replied Duncan.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Duncan still ignored me and started to check the mirrors on the truck.
“Not now,” Duncan said in a frustrated manner.
“Are you going to give me an explanation?” I raised my voice.
“Look in the mirror,” replied Duncan, more calmly this time.
I looked. The pale, ghostly figures stumbled and staggered behind the truck as we moved off. I saw the one closest, reaching out for the truck with his hands. His were dark red. It looked as though blood trickled from them. His clothing was torn and tattered, skin blackened with filth.
“What the fuck?” I shouted.
“They…are them,” said Duncan.
I noticed as the truck turned the corner that the figures congregated on the two dead soldiers and they started eating them, tearing at the bodies with their hands and mouths, I’d never seen anything like it in my life.
We continued along the long stretch of street in silence, Duncan was concentrating on avoiding the rubble in the road. I was just sitting in the truck feeling shocked.
I noticed the concrete rubble, burnt out cars and demolished office blocks. Down some side streets I saw figures staggering around and I wondered why Duncan did not stop, but then it dawned on me it was probably more of ‘them’, whoever ‘they’ were?
“What the hell is going on?” I finally asked.
“Welcome to South London,” replied Duncan. “And you’re right about mentioning hell. This is it.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
I felt numb, positively sick to my stomach. I glanced across at Duncan.
“What is it?” Duncan asked noticing I was looking at him.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
Duncan stared straight ahead, I realised I was not going to get an answer so I gazed out the side window at the devastation.
“Won’t be long now,” said Duncan.
“Where are we going?” I asked solemnly.
“We have to stop somewhere first. I will explain later what is going on.” Duncan’s voice was soft and low.
I repeat the previous question I posed to Duncan
What the hell was going on?
DIARY ENTRY 10
Duncan negotiated the winding streets, weaving in and out of abandoned cars. We approached the underground station at London Bridge, close to where we had crossed the bridge with the jeep. An iron gate blocked the entrance. Duncan walked up to it and fiddled with the padlock. After a few seconds he slid the gate back.
Although the air was dry, the interior of the station was clean and tidy, unlike outside. The iron gate clanged shut and echoed. I turned to look at Duncan who was giving me a ‘not now’ expression as though he knew I was going to pester him with questions.
He walked by me and marched off to the ticket gates. The gates were open, not that it mattered as I’m assuming the ticket inspectors didn’t really these days.
“Where are you going?” I shouted.
The echo of my voice reverberated around the station complex.
“To get Bruno,” shouted Duncan as he walked off.
Who the hell was Bruno? I thought to myself. I stood alone in the station for a few minutes just gazing around. I couldn’t believe how empty the place was. No litter, no sign of panic and nobody here.
It did not take long for Duncan to return with Bruno.
Bruno was black, quite bulky, very good looking and at first a bit anxious to see me.
“It’s okay, Bruno. Kaleb is here to help us,” said Duncan.
I moved slowly towards Bruno and stretched out my hand. Stroking Bruno’s head calmed him and he could see I was no danger. He wagged his tail and I gazed down at this little Staffordshire bull terrier.
“Where did he come from?” I asked.
“I had to leave him here. I couldn’t risk taking him over the bridge to get you.” Duncan smiled.
“Why did
you kidnap me?” I asked.
“Kidnap?” Duncan laughed. “We don’t have time for me to explain now…..”
“They will be here soon,” I said finishing off Duncan’s words.
“You learn fast,” replied Duncan in his broad Scottish accent.
“It’s a case of having to today,” I sighed.
“Let’s go,” said Duncan ushering Bruno to follow.
We trudged out of the station and I looked down the street from where we had travelled. There they were. Hordes of them staggering up the street.
“Who the fuck are they?” I asked.
“No time, come on!” Duncan shouted.
I jumped in the front of the truck with Duncan and Bruno, the poor dog was cowering as if he knew what these cannibals wanted to do.
Duncan started the engine just as one of them slammed its face against my passenger side window. I screamed as Bruno snarled and barked at the intruder. For a moment I gazed at it, a few inches away from on the other side of the glass.
It…that’s the only description I can use…had red eyes, blood oozing from them and the nose area appeared to be disintegrating. Pale, dirty skin, it looked dead. It let out a gurgling moan, its hands scrapping at the window. Duncan yanked the truck into gear and we were off.
“Am I going mad?” I asked myself quietly.
I stared in the wing mirror at them as we drove away. I shot Duncan a glare. He briefly looked out the corner of his eye at me.
“It looked like a fucking zombie,” I said. Today was obviously my day to swear.
“That’s one way to describe them. Generally we call them the infected,” Duncan said.
“We?” I asked.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Duncan began to concentrate on the road again as we met more abandoned cars in the road.
“No!” I shouted. “Who is the we business?” I was beginning to get angry. “Why am I here? What the hell is going on?” I was that angry, tears began forming in my eyes.
“We are the survivors. You will get an explanation, but not now.”
It had been a little while since we left the infected horde behind, driving by deserted estates. For a moment I thought I saw movement up on one of the walk-ways of the tower blocks. It became clear to me that areas of South London were levelled when the bomb fell yet other parts were just plain deserted. I can imagine these estates once bustling, full of life. Not now.
The conversation between us had been non-existent. I think he realised how much of a bad mood I was in. I stroked Bruno since we left the station. He appeared to enjoy this kind of attention.
The journey gave me time to reflect. I thought of home a lot. I missed my wife and daughter so much.
“Thinking of home?” Duncan asked.
“I think about it all the time,” I replied.
“Look, I meant what I said. I will help you.” Duncan appeared apologetic. “You have the right security passes and clearance to get us through the checkpoints,” Duncan explained. “I promise I will explain more later.”
As we turned into Commercial Street, the chard road sign stated so, I stared out at the structure.
We got out the truck, Bruno ran over to Duncan and we walked into the derelict building. As we neared the steps, Duncan looked around, I think he was checking no infected were following us.
Everything was clear. Duncan ushered us inside and we walked along the cold corridor, our footsteps echoed as we went. Reaching an iron door, Duncan banged four times. I looked around at the empty part of the warehouse.
There was a ‘clunk’ on the other side of the door as a heavy bolt was pulled back and the door slowly opened.
DIARY ENTRY 11
As the door opened I saw the ‘we’ Duncan had mentioned earlier, a rag-tag bunch who apparently I could help. I couldn’t help but think, ‘we’ was now ‘us’.
The group of eyes immediately fixed on me. I felt like a headline act at a concert, as if they were all waiting for me to do something magnificent. Bruno trotted in and positioned himself on a spare blanket in a corner of the warehouse.
I saw six people, some of them huddled up on make-shift beds, sheets strewn across the floor. Duncan placed his hand on my shoulder.
“There were more of us,” said Duncan, pausing for a moment. “But some of them could not wait any longer.”
I gazed around at the eyes still staring at me, and then glanced across at Duncan who was smiling at me as though I held the answer to all their problems.
“I think we need to talk,” I said.
Duncan nodded and then invited me to step closer towards the group huddled on the blankets.
First in line was Brendan, a huge man, shaven head and lips curled in disgust. He did not speak at all when I said hello.
“Don’t worry too much about Brendan,” whispered Duncan. “He can be a bit moody.”
We moved along the group until we came to Griff. He had fluffy, wavy hair and a spotty complexion. A lanky teenager, he said hello in a very posh accent.
“Slightly brainy, that one. Has some great belief he will be a politician one day.” Duncan shook Griff by the hand.
Next up was a young woman and a little girl.
“My name is Maria and this is my daughter, Jesse,” said the woman with a warm smile.
Jesse waved at me with an equally warm smile on her face. I waved back and bent down to her level, thoughts of my own daughter filling my mind.
“What’s your name?” Jesse asked with a cute smile.
“I am Kaleb,” I replied.
“That’s a funny name,” replied Jesse with a giggle. It made me laugh. “My name is Jesse and I am eight years old.” She smiled at me.
Maria held her daughter close and they laughed together. How can they summons the energy to laugh in this situation found ourselves in?
The final two people I had to meet were not as welcoming, Duncan did warn me prior to walking over to them. Lana and Jackson stood near the windows of the warehouse. Lana was very attractive, short blonde hair, dressed in a white vest and black combats. She carried a machine gun and looked pretty mean.
Standing at an adjacent window was a soldier in full urban camouflage uniform. This was Jackson. I looked at Duncan.
“Don’t worry,” replied Duncan with a smile.
Both Lana and Jackson ignored me and continued to look out the window. Duncan explained to me that Jackson had deserted from the army and was now a wanted man. Lana kept herself quiet, Duncan did not know anything about her, but he did know that both of them were very good at protecting the survivors from the hordes of infected in the area.
Apart from Duncan, Jackson and Lana were the only ones to carry guns, it was their sole duty to keep the infected at bay. Duncan invited me over to a dark corner.
“I think it’s time you had an explanation,” said Duncan quietly.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I replied.
We walked over to the corner as everybody settled back down again. I looked back at Jesse who smiled and waved. I waved back before turning to Duncan who offered me to sit on a blanket.
“Now you need to listen.” Duncan looked at me seriously. “I need you to listen.” I nodded, slightly unnerved by his words.
Duncan explained that the war on the Scottish and English border was the least of anybody’s worries at this harrowing time. Yes the conflict went on, no side was gaining a foot-hold.
The main conflict concentrated on Carlisle, first the Scots would hold it, then the English. It went back and forth like a yo-yo. The bombing campaign on the major cities in England and Scotland followed.
Devastating bombing that wiped Manchester off the map. Duncan described how the whole of Manchester was sealed off.
“Just like South London?” I asked. Duncan nodded his head.
He explained that Manchester was levelled, there was contamination and next the bomb fell on South London. It was a similar scenario, South London was devastated, death, des
truction and infection.
“Scottish bomb?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” replied Duncan slowly. “The conflict is not the important thing now.” He looked around. “The government are trying to stop people learning the truth. They will continue to send out propaganda information about the war. A cover.” Duncan stared at me.
“Those people we saw at the underground station?” I asked.
“The infection is just not solely here.” Duncan nodded at me. “Manchester was the first. After the destruction came the infection. Some soldiers serving up there caught it and the whole thing just spread. Then London got hit and another outbreak in the south.” Duncan sipped some water and looked at the group gathered in the warehouse.
“What infection? Where did it come from?” I asked.
Duncan shook his head. “North London won’t hold on, soon it will be infected as well.”
“How do you know this?” I asked.
“The infection can’t be stopped,” replied Duncan.
“Why am I here?” I asked.
“Well, firstly you helped me and secondly there are still security checkpoints. That night I stayed at your lodgings I found the papers that said you worked in a transportation depot. You were the only person I knew at that time who would be able to get a movement pass.”
“Is that so?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
“I made it my business to see to it that you got an upgrade. Without you, I can’t move these people out. If I don’t move them out, they will die.” His words were full of emotion. “So I’m sorry I did not tell you I was the soldier in disguise, I was afraid that if you knew you could give the game away.” Duncan touched my arm.
“Sounds reasonable, I suppose,” I replied.
“Trust me when I say North London isn’t prepared.”
“So these infected people. What danger are they?” I asked.
I saw a shadow loom over me and gazed up at the massive sight of Brendan.
Rogue Evacuation Page 3