‘Erm?’ Anne said, trying to remember.
‘Never mind, run down to the kitchen and do it now. Make sure you fill it from the already boiled drum, you don’t want to get sick.’ said Liz.
Anne closed her book and snatched the bottle from her sister
‘I’m not an idiot.’ she snapped, storming out of the door.
To kill off as much of the bacteria as possible, all water pumped from the stream was double boiled, as a matter of course. You didn’t want to drink it straight from the stream, if you could help it. Who knew what or who may be decaying in it up river.
Liz continued rummaging through the chest, checking the other provisions that made up the emergency kit for Anne. Checking the small store of food, some dried fruit with hard biscuits and a large hunting knife were still there. When Anne returned with the refilled bottle, Liz placed it with the other emergency supplies, hoping she would never have need of them. She knew she could trust Mohammad and Alice to look after Anne while she was gone but there was something about this trip that made her hands itch. Raiders were trouble. They tended to travel in small groups, taking anything they wanted and getting away with it just because they were stronger. More often than not they didn’t care who died in the process. If they ever found the Convent, Liz feared there would certainly be bloodshed. The fact that they had left William’s horse and seemingly killed his brother just for the sake of it, was very worrying. These were unpredictable men and that made them even more dangerous. Looking over at Anne as she returned to the happy world that existed now only between the pages of her book, Liz wondered if things would, or even could return to the way they once were. She wondered if simple things like white sugar, soft toilet paper or chewing gum were now just things of Mans past. Their manufacture and meaning would become as unknown to them as the Pyramids. They would be words without meaning in a world of the Dead.
As Anne snuggled down under the blanket, Liz brushed aside one of her curls. Pushing it behind her sisters ear, Liz knew she wanted a better life for Anne. She wanted to wipe this stain of the Dead from their world and Lanherne had proven a perfect starting point. From here they had reached out to other small communities and had even started bartering goods between each other. Where one may have extra produce, another may have medical supplies and another again may have livestock for breeding. Man would endure, of that she was certain but she knew just enduring wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough for her and didn’t want it to be enough for Anne either. She was always like this whenever she went on a trip into the Dead lands. It was if she needed to convince herself that there was something worth fighting for, something bigger than herself and the life she had built here. She was but a small cog in the machine to help Man back from the brink of savagery and with each cog doing its bit, she knew they would get there in the end.
Lying on her back with her hands behind her head, Liz let her mind wander to things that could be. Possibilities of a future life she could share with Imran. With Idyllic scenarios of fat faced babies with warm olive skin held aloft by a proud father, as she looked on content with her lot. At some point she must have fallen asleep because she was woken with a start by the too human screeching of a fox somewhere off in the wood. Anne had pulled the blanket up over Liz before falling asleep herself and now she lay breathing softly, her fingers twitching slightly filling some dream activity of their own. As Liz watched her in the soft moonlight that filled their cell, Anne mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over. Liz lay back down and drifted back off to sleep, hoping she would return to the pleasant dreams of life with Imran but she was once again in her parents living room with her father coming through the door wild and bloody.
DAY 2
As Liz’s eyes opened the scenes from her childhood were gone in an instant, leaving only her heart pounding and an ache in her chest. She hoped that one day she would build up enough good memories to blot out those first few moments when the world changed.
Outside, the rising sun was just bringing the soft grey light of dawn. A swathe of warming colour bleeding into the pale smoky blue sky. The birds, bidding farewell to the night stars and welcoming a new day, began their chorus. Liz listened, as first one bird let forth its song, only for another to join its praise for the forthcoming day, until she could no longer distinguish one song from another. A cacophony of nature’s melodies, rising and falling in waves, as the stars were bleached away by a clean blue sky. Down in the courtyard, the Convents cockerel added its own harsh crow to the morning herald. Liz knew that in the small cells around the convent, other eyes would be opening, their own dreams becoming forgotten memories. Details dancing just out of grasp. No matter how desperately they were reached for, they would evaporate for another day, only to come again when night fell.
Sitting up, she stretched, feeling her muscles tighten and then relax, as her blood washed the slumber from her body. With a yawn she gently rocked Anne’s shoulder to bring her up slowly from the depths of her sleep. A groan of recognition from Anne and Liz got out of bed.
‘Morning sleepy head,’ Liz said, as she reached for the rough towel hanging on the back of the door. She wouldn’t get a chance for a good wash for the next few days and intended to make use of the warm water while she could, ‘I’m off to the kitchen Anne, lock the door behind me.’
As Liz opened the door Anne got out of bed. With her curls flattened on one side and her face still covered in crease marks, she moved to the door. Trying to hold onto the last remnants of sleep, Anne fumbled for the bolt without opening her eyes.
‘You’ve got half an hour,’ Liz said, as she left the cell, hearing Anne slide the bolt across behind her.
As always the warming sun hadn’t penetrated the corridor yet, and despite her thick socks, Liz could still feel the cold seeping out from the worn stone floor beneath. As quickly as she could, she made her way down to the kitchen, where she knew one of the Sisters would already have at least one of the water pans warming. Sure enough when she came through the kitchen door, Sister Margaret was there with two large pans of water already warming on the range.
‘Well, good morning Liz, how are you today?’ Sister Margaret asked, putting another piece of wood in the flames. ‘Here, you take your water and I’ll get some porridge ready for when you’re done.’
Sister Margaret handed Liz a large washing up bowl full of the warm water. Carefully taking the bowl and thanking the Sister, Liz slowly made her way to the bathroom that had been put aside for the women.
Bumping the door open with her hip, she backed into the room. Sitting the bowl in the bottom of the bath, she stripped off her wrinkled slept-in clothes. Once again, Duncan had worked a small miracle in the bathrooms for them all. Attached to the wall above the bath he had bolted a large open topped container from which a tap would let water run through a shower head. All you had to do was stand on a box in the bath so you could fill the tank with your warm water and then, when you were ready, just turn the tap for your shower. Admittedly it only lasted a few minutes but the shower was a luxury she never thought possible a year ago. As she rubbed the rough washcloth over her body the last remnants of sleep disappeared, leaving her skin tingling and fresh. Thoughts of her love making with Imran last night flooded her mind and she smiled to herself. As her tank of warm water ran out, she stood there letting the water run down her body. She looked across at herself in the mirror that somebody, probably Sally, had placed over the now dried up sink. She looked at her taut muscular frame, with her small high breasts and boyish hips and tried to remember what sort of body her mother had had. If alive, would her mother even recognise the wild battle ready young woman looking back at Liz? Broken from her thoughts by a knock at the door, Liz reached for her towel.
‘Come in,’ she said, as she began to dry her short hair.
Alice and Sally both came in bottom first, each carrying their own bowl of water. Just as the door closed behind Sally, Liz caught a glimpse of Adrian as he walked past, their eyes catching e
ach other just for a split second. Before she even thought to cover herself, the door had closed, breaking their contact. But in that instant she saw a brief flash of something cross his face. From that look, she instantly knew how he saw her, his hunger unmasked and plain to see. This was a look, not of love or even lustful passion but a pure desire to simply use. She had seen that look before when they had passed through some of the rougher settlements but hadn’t expected to see it here. In other places, unwanted hands had grabbed at her thinking they could simply take liberties with her. Her abrupt refusal had brought forth foul language and threats in most cases but her swiftness with fist and blade had kept them at bay. She hoped Adrian wasn’t going to be a problem. If he made trouble for her or any of the other women, those staying at the Convent would have to vote on whether he would be allowed to stay.
‘Earth to Liz!’ Alice said, waving her hand in front of Liz’s face. ‘You were miles away… everything alright?’
‘Erm, what?.. sorry, just thinking about something,’ Liz replied, her attention back onto the two other women in the bathroom with her.
‘Have you finished?’ Sally said, gesturing to the shower Liz was still standing under.
‘God, sorry Sally, yes, go ahead,’ Liz stepped out of the bath and moved over to the mirror with her towel wrapped about her. Sally poured her warm water into the tank and let the tap begin to run.
‘Are you sure you’re ok?’ Alice asked, lowering her voice and glancing at Sally to make sure Liz could speak if she wanted to.
‘Hmm, yeah, look if I say something, don’t get the wrong idea, it’s just a feeling,’ Liz said, bending down to pick up her clothes.
‘Well, if that’s meant to put me at ease you’re failing terribly,’ grabbing her arm and pulling her up, ‘Come on, what’s up?’
‘Look, it’s just a hunch…but watch yourself around Adrian when we’re gone. I don’t trust him, there’s just something about him’ she replied, holding her clothes to her chest.
Liz could see the concern written on Alice’s face. She hadn’t intended to frighten her, not just based on a feeling, anyway.
‘I’m probably just a bit worked up about being away from Anne for a few days, that’s all. You know, seeing problems where there aren’t any,’ she said, trying to take back what she had said.
But Liz knew that now the seed of doubt had been planted, Alice would subconsciously be wary of Adrian anyway. After what had happened to her before, Alice didn’t take threats of unwanted attention lightly. As Liz got dressed, she could see Alice going through the various interactions she had had with Adrian, looking for any sign that he could be trouble. Alice had always found Adrian a bit of a loner, not really interacting with the rest of the group. She doubted even Bryon, who Adrian mainly worked with, would class him as a friend. No, she would definitely keep an eye on Adrian from now on. She was a different woman now, she was no longer the woman who had been dragged into the dark by those men. That woman had died the moment she had stabbed one of them in neck with his own knife, as he lay grunting on top her. She had learnt to take care of herself now and would gut Adrian where he stood rather than let him lay a hand on her, Anne or any of the other women at Lanherne.
Sally had finished her brief shower and was combing her short hair in the mirror she had placed above the sink.
‘I used to have such lovely hair before all this crap happened,’ she said, pulling at the knots in her short mousey blond hair. ‘Oh and look at my skin,’ running her fingers along her jaw line. ‘I used to have beautiful skin. Now, look at me. All I see is my mother’s face looking back at me.’
Liz was used to Sally acting like this and tuned her out almost from the moment she started talking.
‘Pass me your bowl Sally and I’ll take it back to the kitchen for you,’ Liz said, gesturing to her own empty bowl she held in her arms, hoping to stop Sally mid flow of her pointless rant.
Barely even looking away from herself in the mirror Sally handed Liz her bowl.
‘Thanks.’
As Alice lifted her bowl of water up to the tank, Liz opened the bathroom door just enough for her slip through, she didn’t want anyone else getting a free view. Walking back down the corridor she could hear the conversation coming from the kitchen. Sister Rebecca had joined Sister Margaret and as usual they were bullying Charlie into taking more supplies than he needed on their trip.
‘Sister Rebecca, we are not going to need two jars of honey. We’ll only be gone for a few days,’ Charlie was saying, removing them from the rucksack on the table.
‘But you never know,’ she replied, ‘what if you need something to trade with? What are you going to use then? Your charm and good looks won’t get you very far Sergeant.’
‘She’s got you there Charlie,’ Liz interrupted, entering the room ‘with that ugly mug of yours we wouldn’t be able to get so much as a cup of water’. Liz placed the two bowls on the floor by the range and picked up the jars of honey.
‘What’s the harm in taking them anyway, and if we don’t use them then they just go back in the stores, no problem,’ Liz said, as she held the jars, one in each hand, for Charlie to put back.
Begrudgingly Charlie took the jars one at a time and grumbling under his breath replaced them in the rucksack. Liz sat down as Sister Margaret placed a bowl of porridge in front of her.
‘Thank you, Sister,’ she said, starting to eat the warm breakfast ‘So is everything else prepared? When are we off?’
‘Well, Lars is getting the horse ready, thanks to the Sisters we’ve now got our supplies,’ he replied, patting the rucksack, ‘and Barry is loading some extra weapons onto the cart. So when you’re ready, we’ll go get Imran, have a chat about where we’re going and head off in about an hour I think’ Liz nodded her acknowledgment, her mouth full of porridge.
By the time Liz had finished her porridge, Alice and Sally were coming back from the bathroom, damp towels flung over their shoulders.
‘Here, you forgot this,’ Alice said, handing Liz her wet towel, as she sat down next to Charlie.
‘Oh, thanks.’
As she folded her towel she noticed that Charlie’s whole body seemed to relax, it’s natural readiness and tension ebbing away as he made idle chitchat with Alice. Something in his face also softened. It was then that she noticed Alice had her hand gently placed on his thigh.
‘Good,’ Liz thought, ‘about time.’
They must have finally given in to their obvious attraction last night when he went to tell her they were leaving today. As Liz smiled to herself, Anne and Justin bundled their way into the kitchen.
‘Uncle Barry says the cart’s ready, Charlie,’ Justin said, jostling with Anne to get his bowl of porridge first.
‘Thanks,’ he replied, as he threw the rucksack over his shoulder, ‘Right Liz, let’s get that man of yours and get this party started.’
Nodding Liz got up and after washing her bowl, thanked the Sisters for her breakfast.
‘I’ll see you before we go,’ she said to Anne, ‘but get on with your jobs as soon as you’ve eaten, Ok.
Anne, already tucking into her porridge mumbled something between mouthfuls. Although she didn’t like her sister going outside the walls, Anne knew Liz could take care of herself and would kill all the Dead in England to get back to her. If Liz said she would be back, Anne knew she would be back. Despite these reassurances she told herself, there was still that niggling doubt at the back of her mind. She had seen bigger, stronger and better equipped people, even soldiers, go out amongst the Dead and never come back. Each time Liz left the Convent, Anne would go to the Chapel and say a little prayer. She didn’t know if she really believed, but the statue of the lady with the chubby baby in her arms had a kind face, and she thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask the lady to look after her sister for her.
Liz and Charlie left the kitchen and made their way back up the worn stone stairs to the sleeping cells to get Imran.
‘So why didn’t you re
ally want to take the honey? Surely they don’t weigh that much?’ Liz asked.
‘If you were a raider and you found those two jars of honey on us, wouldn’t you think you must be near a pretty prosperous settlement? We don’t want to advertise how well we’ve got it here Liz, and those two jars speak volumes. It’s different with the other Outposters and settlements because in their own way they’re each trying to improve life. Raiders don’t farm Liz, they don’t harvest or plan ahead. All they want is to satisfy their immediate desires and that means usually someone gets killed along the way.’
‘Oh, I suppose you’re right,’ she said, feeling a little stupid for not thinking of that.
They reached the cell Imran shared with his brother, Mohammed, to find them each sitting on their beds. They both looked up as Charlie knocked on the door with his knife hand. Two identical smiles beamed forth from two mirror image warriors, but Liz knew which was Imran’s instantly. At his feet sat two quivers almost chock full of arrows. Liz was really hoping they wouldn’t have the need for so many. It took Imran a while to make his arrows, so he didn’t waste them. Luckily with his perfect aim, that didn’t happen very often.
‘Right,’ said Charlie, dropping the rucksack next to Imran, ‘well I can see you’re more or less ready for the off.’
Imran gave his bow string a twang. ‘Yep.’
Charlie pulled out a folded map from one of the rucksacks many pockets and handed it to Imran to un-fold and spread out on the bed. As agile as Charlie was with only having one hand, some things were just easier to give to someone else to do, unfolding was one of those things. Charlie crouched down examining the unfolded map. Some areas on the map had been marked in red and some in blue. The red indicated high concentration of the Dead, while the blue showed areas where the Outposters or settlements were located. Many of the Dead had already been cleared from these areas, so were relatively safe. Places like Newquay, once a large busy town were totally shaded red. You didn’t want to go anywhere near there unless you could help it. The sheer number of the Dead, even though they were all slow walkers, would over power anyone unlucky enough to enter.
Six Days With the Dead Page 7