I rested my gun against the back of the truck, lifted my gas mask and jumped up. All three of them looked at me in shock. The first person I released was Duncan. Lance had given me a handcuff key. I used this to release Duncan’s arms, when they were free he ripped the tape from his mouth.
“Good to see you,” Duncan said smiling.
I just nodded, handed Duncan the key and my rifle and jumped back down onto the grass. Moving swiftly I went back to our truck and asked Maria and Lizzie to pass me down their rifles. Once in possession of these I ran back to the prisoner truck. By now both Jackson and Lana were free. I passed the rifles up. Jackson tapped me on the side of the cheek and Lana kissed me on the other cheek.
I pointed out Lance to Duncan and whispered to him that he was responsible for them being free and he should not be killed. Duncan nodded and ordered Jackson and Lana into action.
Lana crept round one side of the truck, Duncan around the other whilst Jackson climbed up on top of the truck. Moving to one side I kept myself out of sight and stood at the back of the other truck. I looked at Maria and gestured with my hands to the side of my head. She appeared to get the message and covered Jesse’s ears.
Suddenly, there was a burst of gunfire. It echoed across the field and stopped within a few seconds. Moments later Lance appeared at the side of the truck.
I moved round the truck to the front and gazed at the dead bodies on the floor. Jackson jumped down from the top of the truck and slapped me on the back.
“Good work, Kaleb. Great to see you,” he said.
“Are you ok?” I asked looking at his bruises.
“Of course I am,” he laughed.
Duncan walked over and placed both his hands on my shoulder. He paused and pulled me closer, giving me a tight hug.
“You have our thanks, big man,” he whispered.
It wasn’t long before we were joined by Maria, Lizzie, Jesse and Bruno who was now un-muzzled and bouncing around excitedly. Lance sauntered over and stood in front of Duncan who eyed him suspiciously.
“It’s ok, he’s the reason you’re free,” I said.
“Is that so?” Lana said moving in closer.
“And why would an IGS officer help out wanted criminals?” Duncan asked.
There was an uncomfortable silence as Duncan and Lance stared at each other, neither man flinching as though it was some kind of tough guy contest.
“Hey, Duncan, just remember we can all change our minds. Look at me?” Jackson finally said.
“Thank you, Jackson,” Lance said.
“How do you know his name?” Duncan asked.
“It was my job, Duncan.” Lance smiled.
“What the hell is this?” Lana asked angrily.
“Oh, don’t worry Lana, I’m not here to cause any trouble,” Lance said looking in her direction.
Duncan lunged forward, grabbed hold of Lance’s overalls and forcing him backwards until he hit the side of the truck. Pushing his face right up to Lance, Duncan snarled and eyed the IGS officer up and down.
“Stop it, Duncan!” Maria shouted.
Duncan glanced over and gave her a curious stare. Jackson and Lana both looked down at the floor.
“He knows about all of us, he knows about me, you and Jesse,” Maria paused. “Kaleb knows about me, you and Jesse,” she repeated quietly.
Duncan slowly released his grip, still gazing at Maria. Turning he looked directly at Lance.
“I’m sorry if I seem a bit intrusive, it was my job you see.” Lance straightened his overalls.
Duncan switched his stare and looked over at me. I just stood there watching the spectacle unfold in front of me.
“Let’s get these bodies put away and that truck hidden,” Duncan ordered.
Duncan could not look me in the eye and quickly walked by me.
“Were you ever going to tell me?” I asked.
“Not now, Kaleb,” Duncan said quietly.
DIARY ENTRY 37
Jackson, Lance, and Duncan had placed the bodies into the back of the truck and hidden it in a wood just down the lane. Once they were happy that it was well concealed we loaded up the other truck and made our way off.
The infected in the distance had been drawn to our position by the gunfire earlier so it was decided we should be moving off.
Lance decided to drive and I sat in the passenger seat whilst the rest were packed in the rear of the truck. I could hear whispered voices speaking in the back. I was unable to make out what they were talking about but I could have made a damn good guess.
We came to a junction, fields as far as the eye could see. Lance looked both ways and turned to me.
“I’m thinking of double backing on ourselves. If the IGS come looking they may not think we are stupid enough to do that.” Lance gave me a cheeky smile.
“If you think that’s the best idea,” I replied.
“What’s the hold up?” Duncan asked from the back.
“Nothing to worry your little Scottish head about,” Lance joked.
The material separating the driver’s cab from the back was sharply pulled back. Duncan’s head appeared.
“I can hear you,” Duncan said angrily.
“You were meant to,” Lance replied.
“What’s the hold up?” Duncan asked again.
“Lance is thinking of going back on ourselves to fool the IGS,” I said.
“Sounds stupid enough to work. Now, get a bloody move on,” Duncan said.
Lance took the hint with a smile across his face and turned the truck right as Duncan dived back into the rear. We moved off down another narrow lane. The fields began to merge into woodland, the overhanging trees blocking out the sky. Lance turned off down a thin track that led into the woods.
The truck bumped down the track until we were completely hidden from the road.We came to a stop in a clearing surrounded by fir trees.
Everybody in the rear of the truck had already jumped out. I joined them soon enough.
“Looks like a good place to lay low for a while,” Duncan said gazing around at the thick wood.
“I’ll grab some logs for a fire later, you can help me Lana,” Jackson said.
Maria and Lizzie started to unpack the bedding and supplies which were inside the truck. Lance scouted around just to make sure no infected were about. Jesse was put in charge of keeping Bruno entertained.
This left me alone with Duncan. I gazed over at him and he smiled nervously at me. I think everybody knew we had to talk and made their excuses to leave us alone.
“So!” I eventually said.
“Aye,” Duncan replied.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“I probably should have done.”
“Shall we walk and talk?” I asked.
Duncan nodded and we wandered off towards the tree-line. The sun was still up above and occasionally sprayed light through the trees. As we walked along we kept our eyes peeled for any unwanted visitors until we reached a thick log lying on the ground. Sitting down we sat in silence for a moment until Duncan spoke.
“I think you of all people will understand what it’s like to be afraid for your family,” Duncan said.
“I do, it was just a bit of a shock,” I replied.
“So how much do you know?” Duncan asked.
“I saw the bite mark,” I said gazing out into the wood.
Duncan stared at me in disbelief, and looked down to the floor.
“What do you think?” He asked.
“I don’t know what to think, I mean, Maria is immune you must be happy about that?”
“Happy isn’t the first word that springs to mind.” Duncan paused and I noticed a strange look in his eye. “Knowing that she could be killed.”
“How did you find out she was immune?” I asked.
“Well, we knew Maria was immune before she got bitten.”
“Really?” I asked surprised.
“Maria was a scientist at a lab in Scotland. She was te
sting blood samples that had been taken.”
I thought back to when the blood test units arrived at the depot in North London where I worked and took samples from all of us, they said at the time it was just routine.
“Go on,” I said.
“Well, all the samples went to the labs to be tested. Maria took a sample of her own blood, which was strictly against the rules and she tested herself. She came home and told me she had tested positive as immune to the infection.”
“Did she tell anybody?” I asked.
“Bloody hell, man.!” Duncan raised his voice. “No. She couldn’t. If the authorities knew she was immune that was it, I wouldn’t see my wife again. We had to get out.” Duncan’s voice began to crack with emotion as he spoke.
“So you got out of Scotland?” I asked.
“Not at first. Maria had set to one side a few samples that she had taken which also tested immune to the infection.”
“There are others?” I asked.
Duncan nodded his head and gazed out towards the wood. He stopped for a few moments and touched me on the shoulder.
“I think we need to get back to the rest of the group,” Duncan said.
“How many others?” I asked.
“Maria knows of at least ten people,” Duncan replied.
“And she knows who these people are?” I asked as we walked back towards the clearing.
“Each sample had a serial number which related to where that particular batch was taken. Maria was able to tally them up with the register of people tested.”
This was a bolt out of the blue, I thought, that ten people were immune to this infection. I wondered for a moment how many others out there were immune and did not know about it.
“Are you immune?” I asked.
“Don’t know,” Duncan replied laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“I never got tested, so I don’t know.”
We reached the clearing and I saw the rest of the group setting up camp. Jackson had already covered the perimeter of the clearing with wire from the back of the truck. He had attached tin cans with pebbles inside them to act as security system. Maria and Lizzie placed the sleeping bags in a circle around the mound of logs which Lana had placed in the centre ready for the fire.
Bruno was tied up now to the back of the truck. He obviously had been trying to run off into the woods and the last thing we needed was for him to attract any infected to our camp.
Lance stacked the supplies up in a tent next to the truck. He slowly walked over to me as we returned to the clearing. Duncan walked over to Maria and wrapped his arms round her. Jesse skipped over and joined her mum and dad in the embrace.
“Everything ok?” Lance asked.
“I think so,” I replied.
Something inside me told me I still wasn’t being told the whole story. I gathered up a sleeping bag and placed it under a tree. I glanced over at Duncan who was looking in my direction. He closed his eyes and continued to hug Maria and Jesse.
My eyes shifted to Jackson and Lana who were staring at the family cuddling. Jackson saw me looking and nodded in my direction, a gesture I took to be that he was grateful for saving him from the firing squad.
DIARY ENTRY 38
Jackson put the finishing touches to the wire surrounding the camp. He had commandeered the empty tins and punched a hole in the unopened end with his boot knife. He constructed the same alarm system Duncan had used by putting stones in the tins.
Lizzie sat herself down a few yards from me. I looked over and gave her a smile.
“Thanks for what you said back at the compound,” I said.
“No need to thank me. I understand how hard it must be, not knowing where your family are.” Lizzie climbed inside her sleeping bag.
“They look happy,” I said to Lizzie as I looked back across the fire towards Duncan and his family.
“I still don’t understand why they kept it quiet,” Lizzie replied.
I had to agree with her. If I was the only one not to know, why not just tell me or at the very least show some kind of emotion towards each other?
I thought for a moment and I confirmed it inside my mind that not once on this long, harrowing journey had I seen Duncan or Maria engage in any meaningful conversation.
“I still think we’re not being told the full story,” I said quietly.
“You probably aren’t,” Lance said from behind me.
I spun round, startled, as Lance handed me a cup of hot coffee he had been brewing near to the truck.
“Thanks,” I said gratefully. “You seem to know a lot more than any of us. Is there anything else we need to know?” I asked full of curiosity.
“One can never to be too certain, Kaleb. Hopefully over time, Duncan will be able to enlighten us further as to what is happening.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as Lance sat next to me.
“Well, Maria is a scientist. She had been working on the samples of blood taken and also on infected tissue inside that lab of hers. She must know more about what is going on than any of us.”
“And how do you know all of this?” I asked.
“I’m getting my head down,” Lizzie said. “Night.”
“Not a bad idea, I might just do that myself,” Lance replied. He winked at me, stood up and walked away.
Duncan, Maria and Jesse also had the same idea on the other side of the camp. I gazed over as Duncan looked at me, smiled and then mouthed the word ‘goodnight’ to me. I smiled and raised my hand in acknowledgement.
I could hear Jackson and Lana checking the wire around the camp. Bruno was curled up on a blanket near to the camp fire, his lead tied to a metal pole which Lance had secured into the ground. Jesse took great pleasure in telling Lance about how Bruno had run away at Kings Cross Station, although she stopped short of telling him what happened to Griff.
That all seemed so long ago to me now. I had almost forgotten about Brendan and Griff until tonight. That could have been any one of us, I thought to myself.
The minutes ticked by. It had not taken Lance very long to fall asleep, the snoring informed me of this. Lizzie too had drifted off pretty quickly. I got up off the dusty floor and wandered over to the truck to get a coffee refill. I couldn’t sleep, even though I had not managed to get much sleep since leaving London. I think my body had adjusted to the harsh life we now lived.
Jumping back I saw the silhouette of a figure move in front of me. I dropped the coffee cup on the floor and was about to race back to the camp fire when Jackson appeared.
“Sorry, mate. Didn’t mean to startle you,” Jackson said picking the up the coffee cup.
I breathed a sigh of relief as he filled my cup and handed it back to me.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied.
“What’s your story, Jackson?” I asked.
Jackson took a cup from the back of the truck and began to pour himself a coffee. He took a sip and let out a satisfied gasp of air.
“What do you mean?” Jackson replied.
“Well we all know about Duncan. What’s your role in all of this?”
“I think it’s more important that we concentrate on staying alive,” Jackson said and stared at me.
“And what are we actually staying alive for?”
“I’m sure everything will work out fine for us if we just look out for each other.”
Jackson walked away sipping his coffee to the other side of the camp. As I turned my head to follow him I saw Lana standing a few feet away from me. She smiled and slowly walked over.
“His moods change like the weather,” Lana said softly.
“You’re telling me,” I replied.
“You really are a sweet man, Kaleb.”
“I just want to find my family if I can.”
Lana looked down towards the floor for a few seconds and brought her gaze back up to meet mine.
“I hope you do.”
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“You are very suspicious.”
“I think I have every right to be. I mean look at what’s happened.” I took a long sip on my coffee and looked over at the camp. “Duncan and Maria are married with a child and Maria is immune to this infection.”
Lana moved round in front of me, she touched my arm and smiled warmly at me.
“I’m immune too,” Lana said quietly, before walking off.
DIARY ENTRY 39
It had been a restless night for me, thinking about Lana’s last words and listening out for any sounds which might signal the infected entering the camp.
Lana was immune? I could not help but think I was being spoon fed little pieces of information, but why this was happening was beyond me. I decided that at the next opportunity I would pull Duncan to one side and have a word with him. He would have to tell me the entire story or else I would refuse to go any further. How could I go on with these people? Trust was something that is earned and I felt I did not trust these people, with the exception of Lizzie who we stumbled across in Stevenage. Lizzie! I decided I would talk to her first.
It was a cold morning, frost had settled on the ground and as I peered up through the trees I could see the grey clouds hovering above. Ever since the war, or more specifically the bombs were dropped, the weather conditions seemed strange and different.
The camp was pretty busy. The girls packed away the bedding and I made sure the camp fire was fully extinguished. The rest of the group took down the wire alarm system. Duncan and Jackson went out into the wood just to make sure no nasty surprises were waiting for us. I tried to make eye contact with Lana, but apart from a little look here and there she would not acknowledge me. I saw Lizzie placing the bedding into the back of the truck. I wandered over and began to help her.
“Lana is immune too,” I said quietly.
“How do you know?” Lizzie asked.
“She told me last night.”
“Why would she tell you?”
I shook my head, not knowing the answer to this particular question and glanced over my shoulder. Lana was walking over in our direction.
Rogue Evacuation Page 13