“So the tree was cut?” Breytenbach shook his head. “I should have known.”
Max nodded. “By a two-man team. They must have planned the whole thing, drawn the infected there.”
“So Ke Tau’s back to his old tricks. I was wondering how long he’d wait.”
“I think the failed ambush on Ronnie and the team made him wary, but I guess he’s ready to resume hostilities.”
Breytenbach chewed on this. “What do you want us to do now?”
Max shrugged. “I don’t know. We haven’t heard from Michael yet. If we ever do, and if we attack now without more information…”
“We’ll most likely lose,” Breytenbach summed it up. “Especially with Tallulah out of commission. When can we get her back?” The armored vehicle was an integral part of their attack plan.
“I’m putting all extra hands on that fence, so we’re working on it.”
“What about supplies?”
“That’s the thing I wanted to talk to you about,” Max said. “We’re running very low. The harvest was sparse, and the winter crops aren’t near ready yet. We’ve got the goats and the buck in the game reserve, but we can’t kill too many of them, not if we’re looking at a future here. Same with the chickens.”
“You want me to go out?”
Max nodded. “If you’re willing. I know it’s dangerous.”
“I’m willing. The question is, where do I go?” Breytenbach asked. “Ke Tau runs Welkom now. He’s appropriated anything of worth there, and Riebeeckstad’s tapped out.”
“Hennenman?”
Breytenbach nodded. “It’s a distance, but we’ve been there before. The problem is, with us gone you’ll be vulnerable here, and short-handed. I don’t like leaving while knowing Ke Tau’s back on the offensive.”
“I’ve thought of that. I’m pulling everyone in except the fence team. No guards on the outer walls and everybody off non-essential duties. We’ll man the inner walls and sit tight until you’re back.”
“When I return, we’ll have to make a decision. We can’t sit here while Ke Tau is out there making plans. He has the advantage right now and can attack at his leisure. Last night was just a taster.”
“I agree. I’ll have Tallulah and our people ready when you get back. Just hurry back and bring us what we need. More ammo would be great too.”
“I’ll do my best,” Breytenbach replied, already mapping out a likely route in his head for a quick supply run.
“When do you leave?”
“Now,” Breytenbach replied. “Tell Kirstin, won’t you? She can meet me at the lot.”
“Will do, Captain,” Max replied. He strode off, leaving Breytenbach with a head full of problems with no likely answers in sight.
He directed his feet toward the wall where he knew Ronnie stood guard. “Hey, Ronnie. We’re going on a raid. Gather Mike and Lenka.”
“Who’s taking over my watch?”
“Max will send someone. Get your gear and meet me at the lot in ten.”
“See you there, Captain.”
Breytenbach made his way to the rooms he now shared with Julianne and Meghan. His path carried him past the schoolroom where he spied the kids playing together on the swings. As ever, Meghan was bossing everyone around, prompting a smile from him. She was a real little firecracker and caused Julianne sleepless nights with her escapades.
After gearing up, he forced his feet to carry him to the kitchens. He did not look forward to confronting Julianne with the news. She’d be less than thrilled at the thought of him leaving during such a time, but he knew there wasn’t any choice. Needs must.
He found her peeling carrots from the garden along with a somber Elise who prepared pickle jars for the peeled vegetables. Julianne gave him one look, and her lips thinned into a strict line. “What’s going on?”
“I’m going out.”
“Now? With everything that’s happened?” She slammed her hands on the counter. “What if you don’t come back? What if you die out there?”
“I won’t, I promise. I’ll be cautious.”
“You don’t know that.” She stabbed the peeler in his direction for emphasis, and he stepped back while contemplating that zombies weren’t the most dangerous things out there.
“We need supplies, love. The camp needs it.” He raised his hands to ward off the incoming kitchen utensil.
“I don’t care. Meghan needs you. Sam needs you. I need you.”
“I know, but―”
“But nothing. Your place is here.” Suddenly, her angry face dissolved into tears. “I couldn’t stand it if I lost you. Not you too.”
“Ah, love.” He gathered her into his arms while she cried on his shoulder. “You won’t lose me, I promise.”
Elise cast him a sympathetic look but kept out of it, much to his chagrin. It took ten minutes before Julianne calmed down enough for him to say goodbye, and after a tearful farewell, he made his way to the parking lot.
His team was already assembled, geared up and ready to go. He eyed their grim faces one after the other and reflected once more how fortunate he was. Never have I seen a stronger unit, not even among the elite.
“No Tallulah?” Ronnie asked.
“Not today. We’ll need more than one vehicle anyway. You take the Ranger with Mike, and I’ll take the minibus with Kirstin and Lenka.”
“Done.”
They split into two groups and piled into their respective vehicles. No one had much to say. Not even Mike had a funny comment or a weird quirk for them. They can all feel it, Breytenbach surmised.
The events of the past few weeks had built up to last night, and now a storm loomed on the horizon. One far bigger than the previous night’s one had been. This one would break over them like a tsunami, destructive in its power, and it would determine all their futures.
We’d better not lose.
Chapter 7 - Julianne
After Breytenbach left, Julianne attacked the last batch of carrots with vigor. Anything to keep her mind off him going once more. She chopped and sliced with speed before remarking, “We had a decent harvest this Autumn.”
“Yup, we did. I think we’ll have a good crop of potatoes and beets too,” Elise replied.
“That’s nice.” Julianne sighed. “I miss fresh tomatoes, though. To me, they taste like sunshine.”
“Spring will be along soon enough,” Elise said. She turned and looked at Julianne with shrewd eyes. “Not that you’re bothered about vegetables are you?”
“What do you mean?” Julianne asked.
“Come on. I know that look. You didn’t want him to go.”
“No, I didn’t,” Julianne admitted. “Not this time.”
“What’s different about this time?” Elise asked. “He goes out all the time.”
Julianne shrugged. “I don’t know, but something’s changed. I feel it.”
Elise stared at her with a perplexed frown. “Changed?”
“It sounds silly, but I know something’s wrong with Christo. He’s not himself, and it scares me.”
“Have you tried asking him?”
“I’ve hinted at it, but he brushes me off. I’ve spoken to Jonathan too, but he just avoids the question.”
“Jonathan?” Elise put down the jar she held. “So we’re talking medical problems here?”
Julianne nodded. “I’m sure of it, but I can’t get either of them to confess.”
“You must be so worried,” Elise said. “Men.”
“You’ve no idea.”
Working in silence, they chopped the last of the recent harvest and bottled it with vinegar and salt. Once the final jar was sealed, they moved out into the garden.
Julianne picked a row and weeded it with care. The feel of sun-kissed dirt beneath her fingers removed some of the terror that beat inside her heart, the fear of never seeing Breytenbach again, but not all of it. I need him. More than that, I love him.
Soft sniffles intruded on her thoughts, and she looked up in su
rprise. Tears shimmered on Elise’s face, and Julianne felt ashamed all at once. I’m so selfish.
“Oh, Elise. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I can’t imagine what you must be going through.”
“It’s my fault. I chose to see the best in someone who ended up being the worst.”
“I know it’s hard, but you must believe me,” Julianne said with urgency. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is.”
“No! We all thought…” She rubbed her temples where a headache had begun to form. “We all thought he was innocent after a while, Elise. All of us.”
“Maybe, but if it weren’t for me, he’d never have stayed, and Joanna would still be alive.” Elise broke down, her sobs harsh and unforgiving.
“Oh, my dear.” Julianne gathered her friend into her arms and held her while she cried. It took a long time before Elise was well again, but it served a purpose. Afterward, she seemed more at peace while Julianne was once more reminded that she wasn’t the only one with problems.
“Feeling better?”
“Much.” Elise glanced at the sky. “You need to hurry; it’s almost dark. I can finish up here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Besides, I’d appreciate it if you could watch Anne for a bit.”
“No problem. I’ll bring her by later.”
“That’s perfect.” Elise waved her off with a wan smile. “Now shoo.”
Julianne hurried toward the schoolroom where she found ordered chaos. Michelle ushered the kids out in a row while they laughed and chattered. Hovering beside them were Erica and Tumi. Both nursed their babies, and she paused to admire them each in turn.
Henriette, named after Henri as promised, looked much like her mother. She was both blonde and smiling, all dimpled cheeks and blue eyes.
“She’s such a pretty little thing,” Julianne exclaimed.
“That she is,” Erica agreed. “Sean is such a proud papa; he can’t get enough of her.”
Sean showed up at that moment as if to prove her words were correct. “Hi, Julianne.”
“Hello.”
His face became wreathed with smiles when he spotted Erica and the baby, and he lost himself in wonderment. With his sandy head bowed over Henriette, he clean forgot about anyone else.
Julianne laughed and moved away from the young couple to Tumi who also held her son in her arms. Thabo was a big baby for his age, and the birth hadn’t been easy, but Tumi couldn’t be happier. Neither could Joseph.
As Julianne looked down into his dark eyes, the color of polished ebony, she thought she caught a glimpse of his father’s somber wisdom and courage. “He’s so big. What are you feeding him?”
Tumi smiled. “Joseph says he takes after his grandfather.”
“Well, his grandfather must have been an impressive sight.”
“So I hear,” Tumi laughed. “A veritable giant.”
A small hand tugged at Julianne’s sleeve, drawing her attention away. “Yes, my sweet?”
Meghan stared up at her with earnest eyes. “Can Anne come play for a bit?”
“Of course. She’s staying with us while her mom finishes with supper.”
“Yes,” Meghan cried, acting like she’d scored a victory. She bounced around with Princess on her heels, the little terrier no longer a puppy. Buzz joined in on the fun and chaos ruled for several seconds.
Julianne shook her head at the child’s irrepressible spirit, thinking not for the first time that she had a lot of Morgan in her. Always so brave, but also so reckless.
Michelle handed Sam to her with a smile. “She’s getting big.”
Julianne hefted the toddler in her arms with a grunt. “That she is.”
No longer a baby, Samantha was flourishing under all their combined care. She was a sturdy walker and very curious, a trait that necessitated constant supervision.
Julianne nuzzled her her soft cheek. “So how’s my little Sam doing today?”
Sam smiled a toothy grin and clapped her hands together. “Mama, mama, mama.”
“She ate a bug today,” Meghan exclaimed with a suitably horror-stricken look.
“Oh, what was it?”
“A beetle. It was this big.” Meghan held up her hands to indicate an insect of imposing proportions.
Michelle laughed and whispered. “It was just a Christmas beetle, and I took it away in time.”
“Gotcha.” With a wink, Julianne herded Meghan, Anne, and Samantha back to her place.
Michelle stayed behind with the dogs, Mark, and Jenny. She’d adopted all four of them, and together they formed what was perhaps the strangest family in the camp. Though Princess belonged to Meghan, Julianne had neither the time nor the space to look after her. It wouldn’t have been fair to keep the little dog away from Buzz either as the two had formed a bond over the months. They’d grown very attached to the two orphans, Mark and Jenny, as well, and nobody had the heart to split them.
Julianne hustled Meghan and Anne inside and closed the door. With one eye on the girls, she fed and bathed Samantha. Afterward, she boiled tea then read them all a story. It took her mind off of Christo, though she couldn’t help but stare out the window at the darkening sky with worry. Where is he?
At dinner, she took them all to the common room where they had a frugal supper. Afterward, she handed Anne off to Elise before finding Max deep in conversation with Kirstin. “Max, have you heard anything from Breytenbach?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. Not a thing.”
“All right, but if you do…” she trailed off into a strained silence.
Max nodded. “I’ll let you know immediately.”
“Thank you. I’ll be up for my turn at the watch tomorrow morning,” she said before returning to her cottage.
Meghan tugged at her arms and chattered non-stop, her face bright and vivid. As ever, it cheered Julianne, that and the company of the more sedate Samantha, but once they were put to bed, the silence oppressed her.
With a sigh of regret, she closed the bedroom door and crawled into her bed. She shivered, feeling lost and lonely without Christo’s warmth next to her. Silent tears leaked from her eyes as she sent up a silent prayer. Don’t take another one from me. I couldn’t bear it. Not again.
Chapter 8 - Nadia
After Logan left, Nadia stood for a long time, rooted to the spot. His words rang harsh in her ears, and his retreating back felt like a slap in the face. Tears pricked at her eyes, stinging her lids with bitter recriminations. Doesn’t he want me to go with him? Doesn’t he care whether I stay or not?
She turned in the opposite direction and followed the sidewalk. Her left hand picked at the surface of her right forearm in an unconscious gesture, her nails scratching the delicate skin until it was raw. She knew she was being unfair toward Logan, but her conflicting thoughts allowed no room for rational thinking.
“Nadia? Is that you?”
A voice cut through her thoughts, and she swung around. Her eyes fell on the tall, slender figure that strode toward her with determined strides, and her heart stuttered. “Donya?”
“It is you!” The girl in question halted a short distance away and regarded Nadia with deep blue eyes from a tanned face. Her hair was scraped back into a tight ponytail which cast her square jaw into sharp relief. “I can’t believe it. After all this time.”
“Donya,” Nadia uttered once more, her mind unable to comprehend what it saw. Of all the faces from her past, this was one she’d never expected to see again. “You’re here.”
“In the flesh.”
“You survived. How?” Nadia reached out to the other girl with a tentative hand but stopped when anger flashed across Donya’s face.
“I’m here, alive,” Donya replied. “No thanks to you, of course.”
“What do you mean?” The words were like a physical blow, and Nadia backed up a step.
“You know what I mean.” Donya’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“It was you. You were the one who infected Brandon. You were the one who murdered us all. Even Joshua who took you in when you had nowhere else to go. He was good to you. We all were.”
“I’m sorry,” Nadia whispered as guilt rose to envelop her entire being. It was a futile gesture made more from a sense of despair than true denial. “I didn’t know.”
“You should have guessed,” Donya said, one finger pointed at Nadia in accusation. “You should have known you’d be infectious. You and that stupid boyfriend of yours.”
“But I didn’t. How could I know something like that?” Even as she uttered the words, Nadia felt disgusted at the wheedling tone in her voice. She hated being on the defensive. It went against the grain. “How did you find out?”
“It wasn’t all that hard to figure it out. You were the only link between Brandon and the virus, after all.” Donya leaned back on her heels and folded her arms across her chest. “Besides, after you bailed, I stumbled upon Elias. He told me what you said.”
“Elias,” Nadia whispered. She remembered again the night it all happened, the memories as sharp and intrusive as a knife. The screams, the blood, Elias’s hand dragging her through the house and then out into the night. He saved her life that night, and she repaid him by leaving him alone to die. “He told me to leave. He was bitten.”
“Oh, I know. We found him toward the end, just before he turned.”
“We?”
“Harry and I. We made it out, both of us.”
“You did?” Hope blossomed inside Nadia’s chest.
Donya nodded, and her features softened by a small degree. “He saved me.”
“Where is he?” Nadia asked, looking over the other girl’s shoulder.
“He’s gone.” Donya’s expression hardened once more. “He died about a week ago. Zoms got him. Ripped him to pieces right in front of my eyes.”
“Oh.” Disappointment crushed the fragile hope that had sprouted for a brief moment in Nadia’s chest. “I’m sorry.”
Donya’s mouth twisted. “Because of you, I lost everything. We lost everything. He could still be alive today.”
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