“She’s coming,” I whispered.
We continued to roll up the sleeping bags and threw them on the back of the truck. I heard the polite clearing of a throat behind me and turned to smile at Lana.
“Morning,” I said.
“I know you are talking about what I told you,” Lana said.
“I’ve got some more things to collect,” Lizzie replied.
“No, wait there,” Lana ordered in a low voice.
The three of us stood there in silence for a few seconds. Lana gazed around to make sure nobody was looking.
“I don’t know what is going on here,” I said.
“It’s complicated,” Lana replied. “I’ll try and explain more if we get a moment,”
I looked over to the wood and saw Duncan and Jackson returning from their scouting mission. Lana slowly walked away and continued to roll up the wire.
“What is going on?” Lizzie asked.
“I wish I knew,” I replied.
Jackson walked over to the truck. Lance appeared from the other side. He smiled at me and for a split second I wondered if he had heard the conversation I had just had with Lana.
“We’re moving out,” Jackson said throwing his ruck sack into the back of the truck.
“I take it no nasty’s are out there?” Lance asked still smiling at me.
“All clear up to the road,” Jackson replied. “What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing at all. Isn’t it great to be out camping in the open?” Lance said cheerily.
“You’re not the full ticket, mate.” Jackson shook his head and walked away.
Lance stepped forward and stood inches from my face. I felt slightly nervous at his constant smile.
“Always hard to know who to trust, isn’t it?” Lance asked staring into my eyes.
“Is it?” I replied.
Lance gave a little chuckle and walked into the centre of the camp to help the rest of the group pick up clothing, bedding and ruck sacks.
“Do you think he heard what Lana said?” Lizzie asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied.
It did not take long to load the truck up. I decided to sit in the rear of the truck, whilst Lance took driving duties with Jackson up front in the passenger seat. I had made up my mind I would not talk to Duncan just yet. Maybe I would be able to get some more information from Lana. Throughout the entire journey from London I had not spoken to her much either, she had stayed on the edge of the group.
We left the wood behind and travelled down the country roads. I could see the scenery we left behind out the rear of the truck. As we moved closer to the town I started to spot infected walking about in the fields. At first there were one or two, then clusters of five to ten. Lance had advised Duncan it would be best to go back to my home town. The IGS would think we had made a run for it going in the opposite direction.
We reached a junction and Jackson shouted back that he could see vehicles up ahead. Lance parked the truck behind a group of thick trees and bushes. Sure enough within a few minutes the unmistakable sight of three black trucks and two machine gun mounted jeeps drove by and headed away from the town. No doubt looking for us. Lance pointed out that the IGS officer who had been looking for Duncan was in one of the jeeps, which confirmed our thoughts they were looking for us.
A minute passed by and once Duncan thought it was safe he gave the order to move on. The truck trundled along the country road and before long we came to the outskirts of the town centre.
The road bent road and there was a driveway which led to the massive hill which overlooked the town. We came to a stop by the bollards and all of us jumped out from the back of the truck.
I gazed out at the rooftops below. I could see the town centre and some streets which peeled off in different directions. I could see little groups of infected staggering around, I also saw one jeep hurriedly trying to make it out along the winding road where I had made my way with Ben to my house. That brought back sad memories of how he had to die.
“Kaleb, just go along with what I say,” Lana said to me softly.
I had no idea what she meant but as I turned to was strutting over to join the rest of the group.
DIARY ENTRY 40
Duncan and Jackson had been checking the supplies in the truck. Lance sat on the top keeping a look out for any infected.
“We’re going to need more food,” Jackson announced.
“I agree,” Duncan replied.
“I’ll go,” Lana said.
Duncan and Jackson looked at each other and back at Lana. Jumping down from the back of the truck Duncan walked over and smiled at her.
“You can’t go on your own,” said Duncan.
“It’s ok. I’ll take Kaleb with me.” Lana nodded in my direction.
“Kaleb?” Jackson asked, poking his head out from the truck.
“Well someone needs to go who has a weapon and Kaleb knows this town, so if we get in any trouble he’ll know a way out.” Lana smiled.
“Maybe me and Jackson should go,” Duncan explained.
“So, you’re saying that I can’t do as good a job as you and Jackson?” Lana’s face changed to ‘unimpressed’.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Lance shouted down from the top of the truck.
“Why are you here?” Jackson shouted back up.
“Ok, ok. Come on let’s not start arguing guys,” Duncan touched Lana on the shoulder. “Just get in, get the food and get out,”
Lana glanced over to me and nodded. She did have a point. If we got into trouble I would at least know some alternative routes out of the town centre, but I knew that wasn’t the real reason she wanted me to go.
“I’ll grab a couple of ruck sacks,” I said.
“Just stay safe.” Duncan grabbed my arm.
Nodding, I shook his grip loose and wandered over to the truck where Lizzie was standing.
“Why does she want you to go?” Lizzie asked.
“I can only imagine she wants to talk, away from everybody else. Maybe I will get some truth at last.”
I grabbed two ruck sacks, throwing one at Lana. As I walked by Jackson he just stared intensely at me. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was suspicious or jealous. Even I had noticed there was some sort of connection between him and Lana, whether it be friendship or sexual.
The hill we were situated on was quite steep. To the left hand side were the flats and to the right the cover of trees to the small wood. This was the path we chose to take so we were camouflaged against the backdrop of trees and bushes.
On the way down I had noticed approximately ten infected stumbling along the main road to the church. It took a while for them to pass by as they moved slowly. I can only assume they have been infected for some time.
Moving down the hill we eventually reached the bottom with no trouble at all. Straight ahead of us was the long road leading down to the high street. I could see the department store at the bottom, but this was not the one we would be looking for as this only sold home ware and garden products.
Lana positioned herself behind a car. I slammed in against the metal and raised my head slightly to look through the rear window down the long road.
It was a scene of carnage with cars abandoned all over the place. Some were burnt out, obviously from bombs which I can only assume were the act of the IGS trying to clear the area. I couldn’t see any sign of the infected.
Lana gave the signal to move out and we sprinted across the road. I kept looking left and right to make sure no infected were about. We reached the junction and Lana dived into the shop doorway of the old wedding dress shop. I followed her in and after a few seconds checking we were not being followed we sprinted up the pavement towards the top of the road.
We reached the traffic lights at the top of the road. Lana tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the mini-market situated about a hundred yards down on the right hand side. Lana moved off first.
The front of the mini-mark
et was pretty much destroyed with glass shattered on the floor and parts of the window pane hanging off. Once inside it was pretty obvious other people had the same idea as us to stock up, possibly IGS trying to stock the compounds where we had been held. Tins of food and bottles of water were strewn across the floor. We started to load up our ruck sacks until we could fit no more inside the pouches.
Lana moved off to the till area to grab the first aid kit which was pinned to the wall next to the cigarettes. She ran back over and smiled at me.
“You okay?” She asked.
I was just about to answer when the figure appeared directly behind her. In the rush of grabbing food items we had forgotten to make sure the shop was clear. We had not noticed any infected bodies stumbling around and wrongly assumed the coast was clear.
The decomposed body appeared from out of nowhere, its hand clasping hold of Lana’s shoulder. I screamed her name as she flinched, but the infected creature had already lowered its head and began to tear the flesh from her neck.
Lana yelled out in pain. I was holding onto a tin of food and my immediate reaction was to throw it. The tin hit the creature right on the forehead causing it to stop biting and look at me. Lana spun round, her weapon moved up and she unloaded numerous rounds into its head. The body stuttered back as the head blew into small pieces and toppled onto a shelf. It finally fell to the ground twitching.
Lana grabbed hold of her neck. She was bleeding heavily and began to bend down towards to the ground. I rushed forward and held onto her.
I knew we had to get out. The gunfire would attract other infected quickly. I slung her arm around my neck and placed my arm around her waist. She was moaning in pain and I could see that her dirty white vest was now covered in her blood.
We reached the main door of the mini-market. I gazed up the road and noticed more infected were gathering at the top of the high street. We had to move to somewhere secure as I knew we would not be able to out run them.
“It’s going to be o….” My words stopped suddenly.
Lana’s head jolted back the blood splattered against my cheek causing me to look away. I felt Lana’s body become too heavy to hold. Her arm around my shoulder went limp and she slipped from my grasp onto the floor.
I stared down in disbelief as she lay on the floor. The bullet had taken out the right side of her forehead. I gazed across the road and saw Jackson standing in a shop doorway shaking as he too looked at her dead body.
“What the fuck are you doing? Fuck! Fuck!” I screamed.
“You got her killed! You should have been on look-out!” Jackson screamed back. “I had no choice. She was infected!”
“Stupid, dumb-fuck!” I screamed back. “She was immune!”
Jackson staggered across the road. His weapon lowered and he just stared down at Lana.
“What?” He asked in shock.
“She told me yesterday.”
“No!” Jackson began to cry.
“What the hell have you done?” I asked in disbelief.
Jackson sunk down to his knees, the tears streaming down his face. He took hold of Lana’s lifeless hand and brought it up to his face, gently kissing the back of it.
“I didn’t know,” he sobbed.
Looking away I noticed the large group of infected were now making their way towards us.
“Jackson, we need to move. Like now!”
I quickly picked up the ruck sack Lana had been carrying and placed it in front of Jackson and then I grabbed her weapon which was covered in her blood.
Jackson did not move, I shouted at him again and yanked him to his feet.
“We need to go!” I ordered.
“Oh god!” Jackson sobbed.
I moved off first, pulling Jackson to his feet. We had moved about fifty yards down the street when I looked back and saw infected bodies gathered around Lana feasting on her.
Whatever it was Lana wanted to tell me, it died with her there on the pavement.
DIARY ENTRY 41
The two shortcuts we could take back to the hill were blocked off with even more infected, so the only other alternative was to go around the long way back up to the train station.
Jackson hadn’t said a word to me since we left the scene of Lana’s death. We just jogged up the long road to the roundabout near the train station.
I heard the jeep first. The nearest place of sanctuary was the pub near to the warehouse. We dived down the driveway which led to the car park at the back and climbed over the wall into the patio beer garden.
It was nice to see the benches were still in place, I had frequented this pub a few times. The small ornamental pond situated in the corner was now full of dead fish, the water had drained away and the decomposed remains just lay on the plastic sheeting which covered the bottom.
Jackson was going to shoot the lock on the back door leading inside but I grabbed his gun before he started firing. I felt he had done enough shooting to attract the infected for one day.
I took off my t-shirt, wrapped it around the butt of the rifle I was carrying and launched it through the glass panel. Reaching inside I was able to find the latches and before long we were inside the bar.
Although dusty and dirty, everything was still in place. I put my rifle on top of the bar as Jackson slumped into one of the wooden chairs near to the side window. This gave an excellent view of anything moving towards us from the train station.
“Why did you follow us?” I asked.
“I didn’t think you’d look after her,” replied Jackson.
“Well that’s a bit rich coming from you,” I said angrily.
“Why didn’t she tell me?” Jackson asked.
I didn’t have a reply for him, instead I decided to do what I should have done back at the mini-market. I had a look round the bar to make sure we would have no nasty surprises. The upstairs living area, the bar and the cellar were all clear of anything dead or living. We were the only ones in the place.
“Where are the rest?” I asked, once I was happy everything was clear.
“Still up the hill I guess,” Jackson replied.
He was behind the bar and pouring himself a whisky from a bottle he had taken down from the optics.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked.
“It’s the best idea I’ve had since this whole mess started.”
I declined Jackson’s offer of a drink, although I really fancied one but I thought it would be best to keep a clear head. I went down to the side window and could see one of the infected just standing in the middle of the road staring down the street towards the pub. There was no way it could see us as the net curtains blocked out anybody or anything looking inside. I just looked at it standing helpless in the middle of the road.
Jackson downed his third shot of whisky in a row and as I reached the bar he was starting on his fourth.
“You sure you won’t have one?” Jackson asked.
“No, thank you,” I replied.
“Why did she tell you?” Jackson asked.
“I don’t know. I think she was going to tell me something back at the mini-market, but she never got the chance.”
“What happened back there?” Jackson swigged down his fourth shot.
“One of the infected just appeared right behind her, there was nothing we could do.” I looked up at Jackson. “She would have got over it. Like Maria,” I continued.
“So you two never got to talk?” Jackson asked.
“No.”
Jackson poured another drink and moved out from behind the bar, clutching the bottle of whisky in one hand, the shot glass in another and his rifle hanging over his shoulder.
“Are you immune?” I asked.
Jackson walked over to a chair next to another window looking directly out onto the street. He placed the bottle and glass on the table top and sat down. Looking over at me he smiled and began to laugh.
“No. Well I don’t think I am,”
“So how did you end up he
re?” I asked.
“I’m a deserter, Kaleb.”
“What happened?”
“I was being sent to the border to fight. We had been told about the spread of the infection and how some soldiers had been bitten. I didn’t want to die like an animal. I’d rather die like a soldier,” he said.
“How did you meet Duncan?” I asked.
Jackson poured yet another drink and stared out of the window.
“I was on guard duty on a checkpoint near to the border. He appeared in an old car and it was Maria who did all the talking. I didn’t have any suspicions about her being the enemy because she had an English accent.” Jackson swigged another shot of whisky. “They said they were escaping Scotland. The fighting had become too intense, it was then that Duncan spoke and straight away his accent gave him away.”
“Why didn’t you arrest them?”
“As I said, Kaleb, I wanted to get away from the fighting. They told me about Maria being immune to the infection and how they had to track down other people who were immune. That was my meal ticket out of there. So I said I would join them rather than arrest them, as long as they kept me away from the military and the IGS.”
I sat on the stool at the bar and thought for a moment about what Jackson had just said.
“They know where the other people who are immune?” I asked.
“Yep,” Jackson replied. “We picked Lana up just outside Nottingham, I didn’t know she was immune, just thought she was another survivor.”
I walked over to the table, grabbed the bottle and placed an empty glass down. I poured myself a whisky and drank it quickly.
“This is all really confusing,” I said.
“Well, we bumped into Brendan and Griff in South London,found Brendan robbing a jewellers and Griff was hiding in a university complex. Duncan wanted to save as many people as possible, whether they were immune or not.”
We sat there in silence for a moment, and Jackson smiled at me.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“Maria has a list of people who are immune and where they were tested.” Jackson leaned forward on the table.
Rogue Evacuation Page 14