Maybe grab a little nap then if Jerry doesn’t mind watching over me.
The fear that had been racing around inside of her for so long had finally exhausted her ability to care, at least for the time being – perhaps while her mind recharged itself. Her emotions were being overridden by her physical needs for sleep and warmth. She shivered and yawned almost simultaneously as if her body wished to reiterate its demands.
Just a couple minutes now and I’ll be nice and warm. Just a couple more minutes...
Jess descended the stairs to the cellar, Harry lighting the way with his candle. At the bottom they entered the cellar and were immediately met by Steph, who seemed to have recovered partially from her ordeal. Old Graham lay on the floor under a blanket, seemingly drunk from the quiet little song he was muttering to himself and the empty beer bottles that surrounded him. At the edges of the room sat Nigel, partially shrouded in shadow from the lack of candlelight reaching him. Kath also sat nearby, but Jess didn’t care to pay attention to that old cow.
Steph took a step towards Jess and Harry and it became obvious that she was still a little shaky. There seemed to be something she needed to say though. “We have a problem,” she said directly to Harry as though Jess were not even there.
Harry’s happy demeanour seemed to sour slightly and it made Jess feel unsafe again. Please no more problems. She thought. Not tonight.
Harry sighed. “Steph, you should be resting. What’s so important that it can’t wait?”
Steph raised an arm behind her and pointed to a makeshift fire in the centre of the room. The steel barrel was half-stuffed with flammable materials from around the pub, mostly cardboard boxes, some cushions, and wooden legs from the chairs upstairs.
Jess knew straight away what Steph was going to tell them and she didn’t want to believe it. She shook her head in despair. “That’s all we could find to burn, isn’t it?”
Steph changed her focus to Jess and nodded solemnly. “The cardboard recycling was done yesterday morning and we’re all out of coal. I was going to buy some from Kath’s supermarket tomorrow to stock up. We have a couple of crisp cartons that went empty today, and some handtowels from the toilets. But even if we burn the tables it won’t be enough for both fires. In fact it’s barely enough for one.”
Jess was still shaking her head as she blurted out, “We’re all going to freeze to death.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“What the Hell do we do?” asked Nigel from the floor, still shrouded in shadow.
Harry thought for a moment. “Steph, you’re absolutely sure that there’s nothing else we can burn? What about in Graham’s place upstairs?”
Steph shook her head. “Nigel already checked. It’s like a closing-down-sale up there. Barely enough furniture to fill one room. We’ll burn what’s there, but it’s not much.”
Harry thought again, shivering as he did so. He wondered whether he was as cold as he felt or if it was just his mind exaggerating. Before he had time to decide which, his musings were interrupted by Jess.
She asked a question, “What about the supermarket?”
Harry looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“Yeah,” Kath chimed in from the other side of the room. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Jess said, impatiently, “that the place is full of, like, a thousand cardboard boxes, plus all the bags of coal in the warehouse. If we grab one of the trolleys we can cart it all over here. There’s painkillers and other stuff too that we could give to Peter.”
Old Graham piped up from his resting place in the middle of the room. “Don’t bloody forget about me!” he slurred. “I could use some pain relief too.”
Harry smiled. “Excellent. Then we have a plan?”
“Not yet we don’t,” Kath objected. “That is supermarket property you’re talking about. I can’t just let you in to ransack the place. It’s theft.”
Jess cursed out loud. “God sake, Kath, you still don’t get what’s going on, do you? Screw the supermarket! Our lives are more important.”
Kath snickered. “That’s debatable.”
Harry was starting to see why Jess hated the woman so much – she was wretched indeed – but before things got out of hand again, he decided to butt in. “Come on, the both of you. Fighting isn’t helping, is it? Enough people have already gotten hurt tonight.”
“Yeah,” said Kath, rubbing the swollen cut on her forehead. “I’m well aware of that, thank you very much.”
“Look,” said Harry in his calmest tone. “We’re lost without you here, Kath, and if you were kind enough to let us into the supermarket then we’d all be in debt to you. Our survival would most likely be down to you and we won’t forget that.”
Kath immediately seemed smug, as if her previously sour expression was just painted on and was now melting in the heat of the candle she held in front of her. “Well,” she said. “I guess I can’t just let you all freeze, but I hope you realise the sacrifice I’m making. I have responsibilities that can’t be taken lightly.”
“Thank you,” said Harry. “So, you’ll give us the keys?”
Kath laughed, as if he’d tried to convince her that the world was made of mashed potato. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “The store keys are to remain on an authorised key holder at all times.”
“What are you suggesting?” asked Steph.
“That should be obvious. I’m going to have to be present at all times. I’m coming along.”
Harry bit his lip, seeing no other way to proceed. Great, I get to be escorted by Cruella Deville.
“I also must insist,” Kath added, “that Jess is to remain here. Her employment was terminated earlier tonight and ex-employees are prohibited from entering the premises. Petty vindictiveness is all too common these days, I’m afraid.”
Harry caught the sight of Jess about to explode and quickly moved the conversation on. “Okay, that’s fine. It’s too important that Jess stays here, anyway, to keep watch over Peter and Damien. We can’t risk her going outside.” Jess seemed to settle down, but Harry couldn’t help but wonder how long he could keep the two women from each other’s throats. No time to worry about it now though. He clapped his hands together, ready to get going. “Okay. Let’s get to work then. I’ll go ask Lucas if he’s up for the trip too. Nigel would you be okay to watch over the women and our two wounded?”
Steph laughed. “Oh thank you, kind sir. What would we ladies do without a man to protect us?”
Harry leaned in close to her and spoke so that only she could hear. “After what you’ve been through tonight there’s no way I’m going to leave you on your own. Nigel’s a big guy and I’d feel safer with him around. It’s more for my peace of mind more than it is yours.” Steph seemed emotionally affected by Harry’s words but he didn’t have time to wonder about how she felt. He turned back to Nigel, who had now stood up. “You okay with that, Nigel?”
The big man nodded. “I’ll protect them with my life. You can count on me.”
Harry reached forward and shook Nigel’s hand. “I know I can. Thank you. And if that thug tries to get free, you have all of our permissions to throw him on the fire.”
Nigel nodded and Harry made towards the stairs, starting to climb them one by one. As he ascended, he thought about whether or not it was really a good idea to leave the modest safety of the pub. After what Jess and Jerry had said happened to their friend, Ben, and the fact that something outside was strong enough – and crazy enough – to throw a human being through a window, Harry was half-expecting to be met by fire breathing dragons the moment he set foot into the snow. Not to mention giant plumes of impossible fire climbing into the sky while people burn to death on crosses. He tried not to think about it too much, but deep down he understood that something was very wrong with the world, or at least his small part of it. One thing for certain though was that they would all freeze to death without a constant fire going, so there was little choice really. Any way Harry looked
at it, the risk of death was definitely better than the certainty of death. Whatever it was outside, he would have to face it.
It was time to start facing his problems.
“Harry Boy, I take it you’ve been informed of our grave situation?”
Harry entered the bar area to find Lucas still watching over Damien. “Yeah, they told me. Nothing’s going right tonight is it?”
“You can say that again. Still, I’m guessing you’re a fella with a plan.”
Harry nodded. “And you’d be right. Kath and I are going to go raid the supermarket for supplies. I wanted to ask you to come along.”
Lucas’ reaction was unexpected. The man seemed afraid. “Well, um, you sure that’s the best course of action now, Harry Boy? Should I not stay here and keep an eye on the womenfolk?”
“Nigel will do that. Plus, Jerry is over by the fire with Peter.” Harry moved forward and placed a hand on Lucas’ shoulder. “I really need your help, Lucas. We need the bags of coal they sell at the supermarket and I won’t be able to carry them all on my own.”
Lucas shuffled uncomfortably, but slowly seemed to come round to the idea. “Well, okay, I guess. I have little choice in the matter, do I? Can’t let an honest fella like yourself down. Bring on the snow, I say.”
Harry patted Lucas on the shoulder again. “I really appreciate it. Anyway, we’ll be fine. Quick in and out, military style. Like you said earlier, I’m Major Jobson and you can be Captain Fergus.” Harry snapped off a mock salute and stood straight.
Lucas chuckled. “Sounds like a plan. I just can’t help but worry about bumping into something unpleasant out there. I’m not the bravest man, you know?”
Harry understood the man’s fear; in fact he felt it himself. “I’ve been trying not to think about it too much,” he admitted, “but it’s either a quick trip to the supermarket or waiting until we all freeze to death. Besides, we’ll go out there armed. Anyone – or anything – that tries it on will soon regret it.”
Lucas clicked his fingers and did a little jig. “I like your spirit, Harry Boy. When do we depart?”
Harry shrugged. “No time like the present.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A baseball bat and a handful of kitchen knives – that was the best they could do. Harry hadn’t expected guns or a flamethrower, but still hoped for something a little more intimidating than kid’s toys and cutlery. Still, what they had was better than nothing.
“Right,” said Harry, handing the baseball bat to Kath and arming himself and Lucas with a chef’s knife each. “The plan is to get across to the supermarket quickly and quietly, sticking together at all times. Once we get there it’s over to you, Kath, because you know where everything is.”
Kath nodded and took over. “Our main priority is, of course, the coal, so we will gather that first. There’s some on the shop floor, but it would be prudent to ignore that and get the main supply from the warehouse. However, once inside, no one touches anything without my say so.”
“Would you mind if we breathe the air,” said Lucas.
Kath planted her hands on her hips. “If you’re not going to obey my rules then we can just forget the whole thing.”
“Fine,” said Lucas. “Although, we could just tie you up like our young friend, Damien, and take the keys for ourselves.”
Kath stared at Lucas and seemed worried.
Lucas chuckled. “Just pulling your leg.”
Harry slid off his stool and straightened himself up. “Okay, Nigel, you keep an eye on everything here and we’ll be back as soon as we can. Jerry, you make sure that Damien stays tied up nice and tight.”
“No,” said Jerry. He was holding the fire poker down by his thigh and shaking his head. “I’m coming with you.”
Before Harry had time to object, he found that Jess had beaten him to it. “Are you insane?” she asked her friend.
Jerry was still shaking his head. “No, I’m not. Just tired of being useless. That’s all I ever was when Ben was around and I’ll be damned if I’m going to carry on being like it now he’s gone.”
“That’s very noble,” said Harry, “and we all understand you wanting to honour your friend, Jerry – but there’s no need to take the risk. We’ve got it covered.”
“Dude, I don’t really know you and you sure as hell don’t know me, but one thing you’ll learn real soon is that all of the shit me and Jess told you about is real. None of you have seen the dude in the hood up close, but I have.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “What’s your point?”
“My point is that I am more qualified than you to go out there and face the crazy, so what right do you have to tell me anything?”
Harry shrugged and started to wonder if he actually had the energy for this. “We don’t have time to argue,” he said wearily, “so I guess you’ll be coming along too.”
Harry watched Jess put a hand on Jerry’s shoulder and turn him to face her. He couldn’t hear their conversation so he decided to take the remaining time to check up on Steph. She stood behind the bar, relighting any candles that had gone out.
“You okay?” he asked her. “You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
She smiled at him, her features so delicate and faded that she almost seemed like a shivering ghost in the candlelight. “No more than normal,” she said. “This place was never exactly Disneyland to start with.”
Harry took her hand and felt a jolt run through his skin when he felt her squeeze back. The room was freezing, but her palm throbbed out heat. He smiled at her. “You don’t have to pretend, you know?”
Steph’s eyes welled up as though a tap had been turned loose somewhere inside of her. “You mean I should just be honest and say that I think we’re all going to die tonight?”
Her words hit Harry like a haymaker to the kidneys. Just when he’d started to find some strength and positivity inside of himself, Steph had lost hers. It was tragic because he knew that his strength had, in part, come from being around her positivity. He’d taken advantage of Steph’s emotional strength and now the poor girl was drained. He squeezed her hand tighter. “No one is going to hurt you, Steph. I promise. I agree that some weird business has been going down tonight, but things only seem bad because we’re all afraid.”
Steph laughed and wiped at her nose and face. The skin of her wrist glistened as she pulled it away. “There’s nothing to fear but fear itself, huh?”
Harry smiled. “Something like that.”
“You just get back here in one piece, okay! Then I’ll stop crying.”
“Okay, deal!”
Steph let go of Harry’s hand and pushed him away. “Well, get going then.”
Harry turned around. The others were waiting; Jerry, Kath, and Lucas forming an orderly queue by the door. Lucas still seemed reluctant to go outside and Harry wished he had more time to find out why. But time was something none of them had while temperature continued to drop. Crisp layers of frost had started to form on the wooden surfaces of the tables and a pile of snow had formed at the foot of the exit door. The weather was coming in to get them.
Harry moved to the front of the queue and placed a hand against the lock, ready to unbolt it and push open the door. For one quick moment, Harry lost the nerve he needed to continue, but he took a breath, swallowed, and managed to continue. “Let’s go,” he said, pushing open the door and stepping out into the snow.
###
Outside, the landscape was featureless and blank like an unused canvass. Harry looked about himself but could see nothing but whiteness, so pure that its gleaming intensity made his eyeballs ache. But despite the blankness, there was movement everywhere; shifting, dancing specks of snow fluttering in the air; each flake individual but also part of the same never-ending whole. Harry thought about rushing back inside the pub, regretting the whole idea, but when he looked over his shoulder he could no longer see it.
Lost already!
Lucas, Jerry, and Kath were following closely behind,
linking arms to form a human chain. All of them seemed worried by what they were seeing; they we’re looking for Harry to lead them.
But lead them where exactly? These people’s safety is in my hands and I don’t even know what to expect.
“You alright there, Harry Boy?”
Harry turned to Lucas. “I’m just…thinking.”
“Well, perhaps you’d like to do your wonderings some place a bit warmer. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s a tad cold out here this evening.”
The Final Winter: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel Page 16