by Vance Huxley
“Surely they tried to negotiate at least? Regardless of numbers they never stood a chance.” Sharyn was staring at the heaps. “Do you think they actually caused any Army casualties? I thought the Chinese or someone used human waves to destroy tanks?”
“That was why those canister rounds were developed for modern tanks. To sweep infantry off an armoured vehicle without harming the vehicle. Though they work well on crowds as well.” Like a giant hammer swung by a God, smashing big groups of people into bloody ruin. “There might have been Army casualties when the soldiers got out of the vehicles to finish the job.”
“Out of respect for the dead, the City Centre is declared off-limits for everyone. The RAF will enforce the exclusion zone with napalm.”
Onscreen, flame blossomed on a heap of bodies. For a moment the watchers thought the RAF were going to burn the bodies after all, but that was just a warning.
“It has proved impossible to eradicate the subversive and violent elements in the city, so the area must remain quarantined from the rest of the country.”
The screen showed small groups still shooting at each other here and there in the wreckage. “That’s bullshit. They’ve not carried out a proper sweep to root them out.”
Sharyn’s reply reeked of her bitterness. “No Harold, they haven’t. Now, conveniently, that means the authorities can leave us all in here to rot.” She scrubbed her eyes with her sleeve. “All the killing, all the terror, and they had no intention of letting us out. Why?”
“There were too many people for the resources? People who were conveniently, as you say, grouped together in cities that were already getting more violent and generally lawless. They’ve cured unemployment at a stroke.” Harold hit his forehead with his palm as he realised his reply might be exactly right. “Of course. The gas and oil. No bloody ships, so no food. What’s the betting that the population will level out when the country is self-sufficient?”
“Can we do that? Be self-sufficient?” A shocked Sharyn was thinking furiously. “But won’t the farmers want us to help with the growing if there’s no fuel for tractors?”
“Plenty of fuel for tanks.” They both filled in the next bit. So maybe there is enough for tractors.
“Since the city will remain sealed, measures have been taken to alleviate the suffering of the innocent.”
“What measures? Nerve gas?” Harold wasn’t joking, gas would finish this farce neatly and right now he didn’t discount anything.
“Secure stores have been constructed and fortified. Here the inhabitants will be able to purchase the basics for survival.”
Harold and Sharyn were silent now as the view changed to a huge building surrounded by a wire fence. A fence with watch towers along the length and coils of barbed wire along the top.
“Precautions have been taken to repel attacks on the peaceful employees. These are non-lethal as long as no firearms are used by the assailants.”
An armoured car used a water cannon to sweep away a series of dummies wielding baseball bats. More dummies fell as men in sandbagged positions on the roof fired shotguns at them, and the cameras zoomed on the nonlethal rounds. Then other dummies with guns were torn apart by a machine gun above the main doors.
“Have a nice day, please visit again?” Sharyn’s voice was a whisper. “Surely not, Harold.”
“Any miscreants who are arrested will be sent to work camps to help grow your food. Any shoplifters will be also sent to these work camps. Criminals will no longer be a burden upon the citizens.”
Lines of men and women in orange overalls were shown hoeing or digging. Grim faced guards with shotguns and batons watched over them. The scene shifted to show an armed group running from a bank. Banknotes scattered across the street as they ran.
“Many banks and shops have been robbed, and many credit cards have been stolen and used fraudulently. The perpetrators will not benefit from these crimes. All banknotes are now deemed worthless. All electronic accounts are frozen. Vouchers will be issued to every inhabitant on an individual basis.”
Harold laughed. He couldn’t help it. “We’ll steal anything the criminals didn’t get in other words.” His smile remained. “I’ll bet a lot of the fraudulent use is actually people like us, using up our credit to buy food. At least we’ll never be prosecuted.” Harold held up a hand as if taking an oath. “The criminal elements did it, m’lud. The government said so.”
The TV was now showing a convoy consisting of an armoured personnel carrier, a bus, and an armoured car. The picture zoomed in on the heavily armoured single decker bus. Then the picture jumped to desks with computers and clerks sat behind them.
“These buses will visit each area noted by the Armed Forces as containing peaceful residents. Each resident will enter the bus and give a thumbprint and state their name, sex, age, and previous occupation. This includes every child. Those too young to answer for themselves will be identified by a parent.”
“Please be warned that if the coupon bus is attacked, the weekly service will be stopped. There will be no coupons at that location until the local residents have restored order.”
“Wonderful. We deal with our own local assholes or starve. Who needs police because hungry residents won’t need a judge or prisons if someone stops that bus coming?” Sharyn nodded unhappily. Onscreen the line of people were very definitely not from the city. They were clean, happy and well-fed. As they gave their thumbprint each one was handed pieces of paper which they placed in their pockets. A picture of the paper came onscreen.
“This is a coupon. As you can see the recipient’s thumbprint is printed at the bottom left. To use this coupon in payment, the other box at the bottom right must also be thumb printed. The Marts, the new stores, will have machines to automatically check one print against the other. Anyone attempting to pass a forged coupon will be arrested and sent to the work camps.”
The happy citizens were now shopping in a Mart, and seemed to have brought their own designer shopping bags. None were being provided even for loose vegetables. There was a good selection of canned and fresh food, cleaning materials, detergents, and plain clothing. There was one aisle with washing machines, kettles and games consoles.
Nobody would be doing the trolley dash in there. Steel grills were slid up by hand to allow the shoppers to remove items, one at a time. Except for loose veggies, where there was a scoop being used through a grill. Then the purchasers were shown entering long narrow lanes with high sides. One at a time the shoppers went through a door.
“Please bring your own bags or boxes to carry goods. The checkout will be in a sealed room. The bags and customers will be scanned to ascertain what they are carrying, and someone must supply coupons to cover the cost. The electronic tags will then be cancelled.”
The close-ups showed bar codes printed on even the teabags. Every tiny item had the line of bars and numbers. Then the customers were thumb printing their coupons to pay and leaving, smiling happily.
“These coupons can also be used for barter between citizens. Those receiving coupons with both thumbprint boxes filled can use them in the Marts. If you are engaging in trade, please ensure that the purchaser actually places the second thumb print while you are present. If the prints do not match, you will be arrested when trying to use them in a Mart.”
“Where are these places, and how do we get there? I don’t fancy trying to run a convoy into the city and coming back loaded with groceries.” As it had once before, the TV answered Harold. A map of the city came on the screen and routes were highlighted. All led onto the ring road, the joined-up bypasses that the Army used to seal everyone in.
“The Armed Forces will continue to control the ring road. Unarmed citizens will be allowed to walk along the bypass to their nearest Mart to shop for supplies. To ensure that they are unarmed, there will be scans. Please remember that the carriageway is MOD property and any armed intruders will be shot.”
The happy shoppers were walking along a wide road and being scann
ed by smiling soldiers. “What about anyone who can’t walk?” This time the TV answered Sharyn.
“If any group of residents wishes to send a few representatives to carry out the shopping, all they need to do is thumb print their coupons before handing them over. Then the representative can use them to make purchases.”
Happy old people in wheelchairs were sticking their thumbs on bits of paper and handing them over to people with empty shopping bags.
“Unfortunately, the Marts will not be able to sell prescription medicines. Any person reliant on prescription medication should contact their nearest Army post. Arrangements will be made to take them to a facility where trained staff and medication is available.”
Occupied stretchers and wheelchairs followed people who could barely walk onto ambulances. The same people were then shown in a clean room with comfortable chairs and a TV, and one woman had a cat on her knee. Nurses bustled about and then hot meals were brought in on trays. A view of the outside showed wheelchairs moving through manicured gardens and more nurses.
Harold pointed. “The captain mentioned this. For if some of the residents here couldn’t manage.”
“William is worse, and won’t get better without insulin. Mary, Finn’s mum, is in a bad way though she keeps smiling.” Sharyn was thinking hard. “Karen doesn’t come outside much now, though Stewart is making sure she’s all right.”
“I’ll ask around. Someone might still be using their stocks and need to take advantage of this option before they run out. Betty mentioned that old Harry is running out of something Patricia can’t supply.” Harold frowned. “I don’t know what the effect will be on him. Sandy, the carpenter from the Ashcroft estate, has a lot of arthritis but Patricia says he’s managing on what she’s got. He might not want to face winter without something better. Hang on, more news.”
“Convoys will be escorting tradesmen to repair major breaks in electrical supplies and water mains. Any attempt to attack these will result in the break being left unrepaired. If you know of a break that is easily accessible, please notify the coupon bus.”
The scene showed an electrician hard at work on a big junction box him. Behind the man an armoured car, personnel carrier and soldiers watched over him. “That’s actually a big relief. Though hopefully our supply comes from outside the city so we’ll be all right. After all the shelling didn’t cut us off.” Onscreen the TV showed the progress of the Army convoys leaving the city. There was a knock on the door.
It was Liz. “The armoured lot are nearly here according to the TV. A lot of the girl’s club want to go to the barricade and take boxes and steps. We want to blow kisses.” She grinned. “A couple are putting on frilly undies to give the lads a flash, just as a thank you.”
“Be careful or one of those big tanks might be climbing the barricade. Those lads haven’t met many friendlies of late, and definitely not any flashing their frillies.” Harold smiled at Liz. “You’d better go and warn them since I might lose control if I’m there.”
“Hard luck, Soldier Boy. Half of them are putting on short skirts and frillies on the assumption you are there. Since you’re in charge of Orchard Close, you should be out front waving.” Liz turned and headed for the girl’s club but not without a warning. “They’ll come and get you?”
“Unfortunately she’s right, you should be up there waving. Not only that but I’m not having this place inundated with half-dressed women. What will Hazel think? Go on, scat.” Sharyn shoved him towards the door.
Despite a lot of threats the women restrained themselves to standing on the garages that still had roofs, and the barricade, and blowing kisses. Though several did have their skirt hems high to show a lot of leg. Harold realised that really was very deliberate. He hadn’t seen a miniskirt worn since the attack on the flats. Apart from Halloween and Guy Fawkes night, when some of the ‘disguises’ were very short or tight.
The soldiers who could see waved back very enthusiastically, but none of the vehicles turned up the approach road. When the convoy had passed every single one of the girl club insisted that they couldn’t climb down. A laughing Harold lifted each one down as requested while a group of other residents laughed and shouted advice.
Nearly all of the women had to be hugged and several took the chance to steal a kiss. Holly seemed to have got over her embarrassment and delivered a real smacker before high-fiving Emmy. Berry was lifted down by Seth and was given a definite kiss, his first in public, and that raised a cheer. Matthew’s face was the colour of his hair after lifting Bess down and being rewarded.
The girl’s club accompanied Harold back nearly to his door, laughing and insisting on extra hugs because they were cold. Then they split off and headed indoors to warm up. Personally Harold appreciated the leg show but thought they were crackers. There was a real nip in the air and Curtis had warned of frost. Liz and Casper followed Harold home to talk about the news on the TV, and what it meant.
* * *
The coupon bus was there two days later and everyone filed aboard except William and Mary. The clerk advised the residents to send them to the nursing home, since otherwise they would not receive coupons. That would mean the other residents supporting them out of their own allowance. That bit of news led to the sick making their own decisions. None of them wanted to be a burden, not when there was an option. Though some had no option but to go, because they were dying.
Three days later Harold walked down the small line to say goodbye to five of their small community. Though each had at least one other person with them to carry luggage. The rest of the goodbyes had been said and an ambulance was already making its way down from the bypass. The armoured car at the end of the access road was to make sure nobody misbehaved, Harold had been told.
Mary was in her wheelchair. Harold had actually driven her up the road on the back of a pickup just once. For her bucket list, Mary insisted. Now Finn was pushing his Mum and talking quietly, possibly for the last time. Karen had renewed her blue rinse and was on her feet, but Stewart was more of less supporting her. He shouldn’t be because Stewart had taken a machete blow to his shoulder and upper chest. But the erstwhile caretaker wouldn’t hear of anyone else doing this last chore for Karen.
Harry was walking, but using Matthew’s arm. The feisty old man’s deterioration once his personal stash of medication ran out was startling. He didn’t have any relatives here but a lot of people had stepped up offering to escort him. The last man was on a stretcher. William was only thirty-eight but was in a bad way. There was no insulin and his diabetes was out of control. Diet was no longer enough to keep him going. Robert and Zach, two of the people from the Ashcroft estate, were carrying him down the road. Lillian, Conn’s girlfriend, was carrying William’s bag because they had been neighbours.
The last woman was a surprise. Trish was one of the original inhabitants of the estate, here when Harold arrived. The small, thin, quiet twenty-three year old had stood at the wall with a baseball bat, but kept to herself as much as possible. Now she’d told them why. Trish had AIDS. Her friend Jane had been HIV positive. When Jane failed to return from a doctor’s visit Trish had carefully rationed out Jane’s and her medication to last as long as she could. Now it was gone. Harold gave her a hug and Casper carried her bag.
“Open the gate.” The car with a garage door and sheets of timber across the rear backed into the access road, leaving a narrow gap.
“Let’s go.” Harold led the little procession down the access road. Most of the population had stood along the road inside to say goodbye because they weren’t allowed out here. Not near the ambulance. The ambulance pulled up and two men removed a proper stretcher and dropped the wheels.
Harold pointed. “What about Mary’s wheelchair?”
“We’ve got docking points sir. Not a problem.” A lift came down, and then lifted, and Mary was inside.
She managed a smile. “When this is over I want another ride, Harold. On a motorway.”
“You’ll get one Ma
ry.” Harold moved over to give Karen a gentle hug while Finn said goodbye to his Mum.
Karen wagged a finger. “You keep sorting out the punks, all right?”
Harold smiled at her. “It’s a pity you can’t take the poncy gun. You’d be running the place in no time. Have you got plenty of blue rinse?”
“Ha, I’ll be running the place anyway.” Karen looked up at Stewart. “This fella has packed my blue rinse, so that I’m all pimped up next time we meet.” Karen’s slang would be definitely missed. “I’ve warned him. I’m skipping the gin for the next game and getting straight to the rum stuff.”
Harold left Stewart saying his goodbyes. Harry’s grip was failing when they shook hands. “I hope you’ll look after that cannon?”
“When you get back I’ll teach you to shoot it. Then you can scare the assholes off on your own.” Harold stepped back as the bags were loaded and last goodbyes were finished. Casper gave Trish a hug and lifted her into the ambulance.
The ambulance turned and headed up the ramp, and the small group trudged back inside Orchard Close. The car pulled the section of barricade into place and Billy joined them. The rest were waiting along the road, but now they began to break up into little groups and head home.
Daisy claimed a hand, and Wills went on Harold’s arm. Sharyn put her hand through the arm supporting Wills. Hazel took Daisy’s other hand. Sharyn looked at the departing residents. “From a whole city down to fifty six adults, three adolescents and five kids. That simplifies a lot of things.”
Harold glanced around. “Not everything. We need something better for the front gate, something that doesn’t use petrol and a car can’t get through. That wall wants strengthening as well.”
“That’s it little bro. You do the Soldier Boy stuff, and we’ll deal with putting dinner on the table.” Sharyn gave Harold a little nudge. “Tomorrow you can take me shopping to this TesdaMart. I remember how much you like shopping.” Harold grimaced, then laughed because he never had liked traipsing around with a trolley. Now there’d be no trolley and already he was sorry.