“Eight?” Max asked.
“Yes,” Joseph replied with a somber nod.
Max sighed and straightened up, thinking it over. Whichever way he looked at it, the news was terrible. After the horde had attacked, they’d experienced a brief lull in infected activity, but this was changing with more falling into the moat by the day.
“Well, let’s get this over with,” he said as he took up a fighting stance.
Together they leaned over the side to stab the unfortunate zombies to death before hauling the bodies out onto a stretcher, adding to the two already there.
As ever, Max automatically tried to see the human in them. Tried to see who or what they’d been in their previous lives. It was a bad habit for it made it that much harder to kill them, yet he didn’t ever want to forget that they used to be people. Now, however, it was becoming increasingly difficult to tell.
Months had passed since that day, the day the zombie apocalypse arrived. Months during which the weather had done its work, combined with various other factors too, not least of them being wear and tear caused by their continual roaming.
For that was one thing they’d learned. Unless trapped inside a house or vehicle, the infected kept moving. They never stopped in their search for prey. Dr. Lange said it was the virus. That it compelled them to propagate the spread and to keep the host alive.
Whether this was true or not, Max wondered if there’d ever dawn a day without zombies again. A day when the last one died, and humanity was free to leave its high walls behind. He’d do anything to see such a day, if only for the children’s sake.
The wind whipped around his collar and swirled the stink of the bodies on the stretcher up his nose. He sneezed and glanced upward. It was mid-afternoon, and the sky was overcast. The sun hid behind a thick blanket of clouds, and the stiff breeze cut through the bare branches of the trees. With each passing minute, the light dimmed until it resembled a time closer to dusk than noon.
“We’d better hurry back,” Max said. “It looks like a storm’s brewing.”
“Good idea,” Joseph replied. “Tumi will be frightened. She hates bad weather.”
“Right. Let’s move then.” Max took a firm grip on one handle of the stretcher while Joseph managed the other.
Together they sped across the last stretch of the open ground until they reached the gates. Here they paused while Abe and Nick opened for them. They trudged through with their burden and prepared to continue onward.
“Everything clear?” Abe asked.
“All good,” Max replied. “The fence is in good shape, and the moat is empty for now.”
“Happy to hear that.”
“When will your shifts be over?”
“In an hour or so,” Abe said with a grin. He moved with the agility of a monkey, and his smile was infectious which prompted a likewise response from Max.
“Not too long,” Max said. He smiled at the more serious Nick as well and received a sober nod in return. “Great. See you guys at supper then?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Max and Joseph continued on their way, their route taking them to the field where they burned all infected bodies. It was in the furthest corner of the land they occupied, the ground scorched and blackened. Soot clung to their boot soles, and a shallow trench contained bits and pieces of unburned bones, teeth, and even jewelry. Sad remnants of lives claimed by the virus.
A stack of firewood stood to the side along with matches and a canister of fuel. Joseph started the fire while Max unloaded the bodies and put them in a pile. Doused with petrol, the infected burned strongly. The flames raced along their rotted limbs and through their hair, the smoke billowing through the branches of the large trees that stood watch over the pyre. The evergreen boughs served a purpose, though. Their leaves thinned the smoke until only a faint smudge remained in the sky above. Camouflage.
Max rolled his head across his shoulders to ease a spasm that had hold of the muscles. Clearing his throat, he uttered a brief prayer for the undead, wishing them well in the next life. Once finished, he began the trek home behind Joseph with neither of them saying a word. They’d go back the next day to dispose of the remnants.
The walls of the inner camp came into view soon after, much to his relief. He longed for nothing more than a hot bath and a warm plate of food, though it was unlikely he’d get either.
Kirstin met him at the gate and placed a cool kiss on his cheek. Her hand was warm, however, when she wound her fingers through his. As ever when he gazed into her eyes, he felt a familiar tightening in his chest, a feeling that all was right with the world. It was a sensation he hoped would never grow less with time.
“How did the inspection go?” she asked.
“It went well.” Max shot a grin at Joseph. The man stood with his arms around his wife blowing air kisses at the infant in her arms. “Joseph and his team did an amazing job on the fence line.”
“Yes, we did,” Joseph agreed.
“So modest,” Max joked.
“Modesty is for fools and insecure idiots,” Joseph replied.
“I am happy to hear all is well,” Kirstin said before studying him with a critical look. “You look tired. Why do you not have some rest?”
“No time. I need to speak to Breytenbach.” Max looked around for any signs of the Captain.
“It can wait. First, you must rest.”
“I can’t sleep now,” he protested. “There’s too much to do.”
“So much that you cannot even wash and eat?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Seriously?”
“Max, do not make me make you,” she replied in a firm tone. “Go home and wash. Rest.” Kirstin gave him a little push in the direction of their bungalow. “I will bring you food.”
He resisted. “Not yet. I will go later.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she enunciated each word separately. “Go. Wash. Now.”
“Why?” he asked, plucking at his shirt. “I’m fine.”
“You stink.”
“What? I do not!” He took a surreptitious whiff of his armpit and wrinkled his nose as a sour smell hit him. “Okay, maybe I do.”
“Ever since the water rationing started, you have not bathed once.” She pinned him to the spot with a glare.
“I’ve got to set an example for the others,” he protested after making sure no one else could overhear.
“I know, but I’m sure we can spare a little bit.” She waved him off. “Go. For all our sakes.”
“Fine, I’m going, but if you see Breytenbach…”
“Yes, yes, I will call you. Now shoo.” She waved him off without further ado.
Feeling more than a little indignant, Max stalked off in the direction of their rooms. Once inside, he stripped down and stepped into the shower. The water was icy, and there was only a sliver of soap left, but none of that mattered as the dirt sloughed off his body. The water around his feet turned brown and swirled down the drain in a mini whirlpool of foamy scum.
Afterward, he felt like a new man and stepped out to discover fresh clothes on the bed. On the dresser stood a plate of biscuits and dried fruit with a glass of water. “Kirstin, you wonderful woman.“
With quick movements, he towel dried his body and got dressed. Still barefooted, he sat on the bed to wolf down the food. Exhaustion tugged at his eyelids, and his mouth chewed mechanically. He was beyond tired.
It had been a tough month since Ke Tau attacked for the first time. A month during which almost every single member of the camp had trained, kept watch, patrolled, and worked to repair and improve their defenses. All while food and water rations were cut to the minimum.
The other worry he had was Michael. The man had promised to try and win Ke Tau’s trust. He’d incite the others inside Ke Tau’s compound to rebel, while also providing information to Max and Breytenbach by leaving messages in a designated place. This hadn’t happened. Despite twice risking life and limb to check, Ronnie had returned home
empty-handed. Nor had he seen any signs of Michael. I hope he isn’t dead.
Before he even realized it, Max was slumped over onto the bed. The plate slid to the side while one hand clutched a half-eaten dried apple slice. His eyes drifted shut, and he fell into a dreamless sleep.
What felt like several hours later, he awoke to darkness and the sound of pouring rain. It drummed on the roof in one continuous beat, and thunder rumbled through the air causing the very walls to shake and shiver.
He cleared his throat and blinked with lazy somnolence, then jumped when a crash sounded right beside the bungalow. A brilliant flash of light lit the room, and his heart skipped like a frightened hare.
A fist hammered on the door. “Max, come quick!”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, jumping to his feet. He had to shout to make himself heard as he struggled to pull on his boots.
“Trouble by the game farm,” the voice replied through the haze of falling water and rumbling skies.
He opened the door to reveal a wide-eyed Ronnie, his ruddy skin pale and his shock of rusty hair plastered to his skull. Another clash of white light forked across the sky. It revealed banks of roiling clouds across their heads and trees bent double under the onslaught of the wind and rain.
“What trouble?” Max asked as he shrugged on a jacket.
“A tree fell over onto the fence,” Ronnie replied. “Breytenbach’s already there.”
The wind snatched the next words from his lips, and Max leaned closer to hear better. “What did you say?”
“Infected. They’re inside. They’re everywhere!”
Chapter 5 - Lisa
Lisa picked at the bland rice and bean mixture on her plate without enthusiasm. There was no meat in the dish and minimal salt. Only a smattering of tomatoes and onions provided relief from the starchy mess. With the whole camp on short rations, however, it was the best Elise, and the kitchen staff could offer at the moment.
Not that Kabelo appeared to agree. He shoveled the stuff into his mouth at the speed of light. Rice kernels littered the tabletop where he sat, and he chewed with admirable dedication. At least he’s using a spoon this time.
She sighed and looked away from the sight. Her eyes wandered toward the windows. The rain fell in sheets, sloughing off the glass in a downpour of water the likes of which none of them had seen all year. Thunder rumbled in the background and rolled across the empty veldt in a wave of sound while lightning lit the roiling clouds with brilliant flashes of white.
She flinched when one hit particularly close, the sharp crack eliciting a squeak from Kabelo who stopped eating for a moment to stare outside.
Lisa shifted in her seat and pushed her half-empty plate aside. She wasn’t hungry anyway. Instead, she brooded on the past few weeks spent babysitting Kabelo, her prisoner. At first, she’d hated him. Hated him more than anything in this world. She’d watched him like a hawk, following his every move with brooding distrust. She’d even hoped he’d give her a reason to kill him.
But the boy behaved with complete innocence. He shied away from her harsh words and treatment, acting like a skittish horse. When she scowled at him, he cowered. When she commanded him to do something, he obeyed. All with a quiet fearfulness better suited to a terrified child than a ruthless gang member out to murder and plunder.
This put her in a quandary. Not only was she beginning to feel sorry for him, but she even thought that maybe Elise was right. Perhaps he was just a kid and innocent in all of this. He doesn’t look capable of swatting a fly.
There had been one particular incident when he came across the other children playing outside the schoolroom. The wistful longing on his face had tugged at her heartstrings. This despite all her efforts to keep herself hardened against him.
“Can I play?” he’d asked.
“I’m sorry, but no.”
“Why not?”
“The parents won’t like it.”
“Because I’m bad?”
“Because you might be.”
His lips had pressed together in an expression that looked like grief. “I no have parents. Maybe I am bad.”
“Why do you say that?”
He shook his head and turned away from the sight of the frolicking kids. “Maybe I don’t deserve. Maybe it who I am.”
She hadn’t known what to say, and his remarks had bothered her ever since. What had he meant by it? That he was bad because he didn’t have parents? Or that he didn’t have parents because he was bad? That he didn’t deserve them?
Now she studied him through lowered lashes and felt warmth well up inside for the annoying boy. She was not the only one. Even Julianne was beginning to warm up to him and no longer stalked his every move.
“Kabelo, please clean up your mess,” she said. He did as she asked, scooping up bits of food with his fingers before popping it into his mouth. She sighed and shook her head while suppressing laughter. There was no help for it. He is what he is.
She leaned back and looked around. The dining area was almost empty. The only other people there were Elise, Joanna, David, and Hannah. They sat at a corner table and murmured among themselves. The lights above their heads flickered, and she wondered how long the power would hold. It had been an overcast day, so she doubted there was a lot of energy stored in the batteries from the solar panels.
Things had changed since Ke Tau’s attack, and not for the better. Each person in camp was expected to participate in a rolling schedule of guard duty, repairs, food production and storage, cooking, cleaning, and weapons training. It was grueling and made worse by the strict rationing of food and water. Bathing was now restricted to a quick wash once a week, and lunch was scrapped for all but the children and breastfeeding women. Even the lights were shut off at nine each night except for the inner walls.
“I wish this thing with Ke Tau would come to an end now,” she grumbled. Kabelo twitched at the name but remained silent. “At least then I’d be rid of you.”
“You no like me?”
Lisa pursed her lips, unsure how to answer.
“You no trust me?” he insisted.
“How can I?” she answered.
Kabelo didn’t look at her, though his face expressed hurt. He picked at the table with a broken fingernail before shooting her a cryptic glance. His eyes were in shadow, and for a second, she thought she spotted anger.
But the moment passed, and his eyes glazed over with their usual bland disinterest. He threw a meaningful glance at her still half-full plate. After several such pointed looks, she pushed the food across and watched as he dug in with gusto. At least someone’s enjoying that crap.
After swallowing the last of her water, she got to her feet and walked toward the window to gaze into the night. At first, she saw nothing but rain and darkness. When her eyes adjusted, she could make out the various buckets and containers that dotted the grounds. Earlier, there had been a rush as they all scrambled to put the things outside in a bid to catch the precious liquid.
Some, like her and a reluctant Kabelo, had even washed in the rain. But after dinner, things had quieted down, and people either sought their beds or took up their watch for the night. Now, all was quiet.
Or so she thought until several running figures caught her attention. Flashlights bobbed up and down, illuminating the spectacle, and her senses came to full alert. “What the hell?”
Lightning forked across the sky and struck the ground a few meters away in a spray of sparks. The brilliant glow threw the outlines of the buildings into sharp relief while the crack threatened to burst her eardrums. Behind her, a plate fell and shattered. She whirled to find a terrified Kabelo huddling underneath the table while a concerned Elise hurried over to comfort him.
She strode over. “Elise, something is going on outside.”
Elise glanced up from the sobbing Kabelo with a worried frown. “Is it serious?”
“I don’t know. I just saw people running.” She looked from the seemingly incapacitated Kabelo to Eli
se. “Someone needs to go look.”
Elise nodded. “You go. I’ll watch him.”
Lisa hesitated.
“Go!” Elise insisted. “I promise I won’t let him out of my sight for a second. Besides, I’m not alone. What’s the worse he can do?”
Lisa looked from her to Kabelo and the others before slipping her flashlight and knife from her belt. She never went anywhere without them and the gun that rode on the other side in its holster. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Be careful.”
Lisa jogged to the door and opened it to a deluge of water. The muted roar of rain falling on the roofs grew louder, drowning out all other sounds. Her flashlight cast a feeble glow into the deep, and she lunged forward in a run, following the direction she’d seen the others go. Within seconds, she was soaked to the skin, her ponytail plastered to her back and her feet slipping in ankle deep mud.
Her gait carried her to the smaller gate in their inner stone walls that led to the back fields. The gate was open, and cold fear spurted through her veins. What’s going on?
Then she spotted the agile figure of Abe who kept watch and ran toward him. “Abe!”
At her second try, he heard her and turned. “Lisa?”
She could barely hear him as she stumbled to a stop in front of him. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know. There’s trouble at the game farm. A fence is down, and the infected got in.”
“What?” Disbelief reigned for a brief second before she swore. “Shit. I’d better get over there.”
He nodded. “Max and Breytenbach are already there. I have to stay here and guard the gate.
She clapped him on the shoulder and shot through the opening into the fields outside their inner sanctum. She sprinted toward the fenced off game reserve that took up a corner of the land they occupied.
Her mind whirled as she tried to make sense of Abe’s words. How could the fence be down? They were checked daily, and the reserves walls were stronger than most. Add to that the moat that encircled the entire area, and it was impossible for infected to get through.
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