Aftermath: The complete collection

by John Wilkinson

  ‘Thanks’ he replied, slapping the table with his hands.

  ‘You ok?’ I asked, sensing he had more to say.

  ‘Yeah, I suppose. It’s just, this is it, we are going to go to war. Not a regular war, where you are fighting for politicians hiding away in their bomb shelters. We are fighting to live, for humanity. The most important fight of our generation, of any generation.’

  ‘It’s a fight for everyman.’ I replied.

  ‘Exactly. I remember my father telling me this war would happen, before he died. He was a religious man, he said the bible talked about a war to end all wars, where humanity would be fighting for its very existence.’

  ‘Are you a religious man?’

  ‘Not anymore, although I wish I was. What about you?’

  ‘The same. I have asked God for many things, and he has always failed me. Until I prayed for my daughter, maybe that was answered, or maybe it wasn’t, maybe it was just how things worked out.’

  ‘I only asked for one thing from God, that was to let my dad die quickly and peacefully, without pain. He suffered for five years, before he could finally give up. How can that be right?’

  ‘It isn’t, it always seems to be the good ones that suffer, or are taken too young, I’ve never understood it. Do you have a wife or girlfriend Chris? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you.’

  ‘No, I haven’t got time for all that. I’m glad of it too, I need to be able to make sound decisions without something clouding my judgment.’

  As we talked, Sergeant Davis’s walkie talkie started beeping, so he picked it up and spoke.

  ‘Sergeant Davis receiving message, over and out.’

  ‘This is Second Lieutenant Kane, Security Base Delta. A vehicle has been identified by a spotter, travelling down Woodfield Road towards us at high speed. Over and out.’

  ‘Sit tight Kane, I’ll have some men over to you in a minute.’

  We leapt to our feet, gathering any remaining soldiers with us as we went. There was only four other men in the bar, most soldiers had taken the news of an upcoming war with an early night. I looked at my watch, which said seven minutes past eleven. We ran out of the hotel in the direction of Security Base Delta, searching the sky for smoke. When we reached the burnt out tram, Second Lieutenant Kane held the door open, as we filed through.

  ‘Nothings turned up’ he said, ushering everyone outside. ‘Private Williams, Bale and Horne are positioned three houses up, on the right, and I’ve sent the extra security into the buildings opposite.’

  Sergeant Davis organised a defence, with the men he had on offer, splitting the four soldiers who we brought with us into two groups. He positioned two by the patched up security fence, and told the others to get a better vantage point using the bedrooms of local properties. As the men ran to their positions, Sergeant Davis turned his attention to me. ‘Driver, come with me and stay alert.’

  We walked around twenty steps, in the middle of the road, and then stopped, to listen. There was a low rumble in the distance, as a dirty white van appeared out of the ash and fog. It started to rain gently on us, as the vehicle continued along its path towards us, slowing down to a crawl at around one hundred yards away. The rain and ash drifted past it, as it rolled slowly to a stop. We lifted our rifles, and started walking. It had stopped, maybe fifty yards away, with no movement around it. It stayed motionless for a few seconds, then the driver’s door opened, and a man got out. By this point, we were level with the soldiers positioned in the house to our left. Sergeant Davis signalled for them to train their weapons on the man, as we went to meet him. The rain was now coming down with some force, looking at the clouds overhead, it would rain for a while yet. Sergeant Davis signalled for us widened out to around three metres apart, keeping our guns on him. He walked slowly, like he was completely unaware of the shit storm he was causing. When he got to within speaking distance, Sergeant Davis started shouting at him.

  ‘Stop where you are, and open your coat.’

  The man stopped, but didn’t move.

  ‘Open your fucking jacket, or I will put you down.’

  The man, pulled his hands out of his pockets, lifting the edges of his coat.

  ‘Slow, do it slow. Right, get down on your knees, and put your hands in the air. How many of you are there?’

  ‘Just me’ replied the man, as he knelt down, complaining about the grit on his knees. As we walked over to him, he started to get back to his feet.

  ‘Don’t fucking move’ shouted Sergeant Davis. ‘Keep your hands where I can see them.’

  ‘I have something for you’ shouted the man, as Sergeant Davis forced him to the ground and I covered him. I kept my eye on and around the vehicle, still worried it could be a trap.

  ‘I have something for you’ repeated the man, as Sergeant Davis lifted him to his feet, and searched him for weapons.

  ‘I have been sent on behalf of Mr. Torriero, and I have a proposition for you.’

  ‘What kind of proposition?’

  ‘I need to speak to the general in charge.’

  ‘You’re not going to get near any generals.’

  ‘Then you are condemning us to war. Mr Torriero wants to speak to the generals of Camp Blue, face to face, and see if we can thrash out an agreement, that will halt any further bloodshed.’

  As we frog marched the man back towards camp, he was happy to talk, and explained more about Torriero’s offer.

  ‘Mr Torriero doesn’t want to go to war, but he has been given an ultimatum by the creatures, something he has to deal with. He is throwing a gathering tomorrow, and he would like the generals of Camp Blue to join him, and talk things out, before it’s too late.’

  Extra security was surrounding Security Base Delta, as we walked through the gate entrance, held open for us by Second Lieutenant Kane. We approached the hotel, as the man continued telling us about his offer.

  ‘I need to leave here at dinner time tomorrow, with three senior members of your camp, or the deal will be off.’

  ‘Save it for the morning’ said Sergeant Davis, as we reached the hotel.

  ‘I’ll take him to the basement cell, you go and get some sleep Nathan. This shit will get sorted in the morning.’

  8/12/27 - Time 11:30

  The military meeting must not have taken place this morning, the alarm didn’t sound, and I found myself waking up at around nine am, having slept in. Everyone had slept in, the change in lifestyle must be catching up with us all. The children were unusually quiet, I had a feeling something was on Emma’s mind, but she wasn’t for expressing it. I told Bernard what had happened last night, that one of Torriero’s men had made an offer to the camp on behalf of Mr. Torriero. He didn’t believe the generals would allow anyone of any real rank to attend the meeting, they wouldn’t put their lives in danger. We could send in a decoy, but that’s possibly too risky, if discovered it could jeopardise the whole talks.

  We went to get some breakfast, and it was there Emma finally broke her silence.

  ‘When are we going to see Grandma and Grandad?’

  The question took me a little by surprise, and I took a few moments to respond. While I had been coming to terms with not seeing my Mum and Dad again, it hadn’t occurred to me that Emma was still expecting to see her grandparents, I didn’t really know how to respond.

  ‘I’m not sure Emma, I don’t think we will.’

  ‘Why not?’ She said, her yawn turning into a frown.

  ‘Well, we don’t really know where they are.’

  ‘But they would want to see me again, wouldn’t they?’

  ‘Of course they would, but they don’t know where we have gone. I don’t think they could find us if they wanted to.’

  ‘They’re not dead are they?’

  Her lip was beginning to tr
emble, but I really didn’t want to give her false hope.

  ‘I really don’t know Emma, they might be.’

  ‘But-how do you-’

  ‘I don’t know for sure, I haven’t seen their bodies. We have to live in hope, but they are old, I’m not sure they could survive.’

  James and Josh sensed Emma was getting upset, and started trying to reassure her, but she continued.

  ‘When are we going home then?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean what I said, do you not understand English? When are we going home? They might be there.’

  ‘They aren’t.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘I just do.’

  ‘I want to go home anyway, when are we going to go back to our farm?’

  ‘Our home is no longer there, this is our home now.’

  ‘Here? We are staying here forever?’

  ‘I’m not saying forever, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. But it’s going to be home for a while.’

  She went quiet again, like she was trying really hard not to cry. When Rhino appeared at my side, I was happy for the change of subject.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt your breakfast Nathan’ he said. ‘But you’re needed at a meeting. Sergeant Davis has been speaking with the generals since six o’clock, thrashing something out.’

  I left the table, with Mrs Brownhill arriving to take all the children from our floor to classes. Rhino knew no more than I, but he too was required at the meeting. There were guards on the entrance to the stadium, they walked us up to the meeting room, where we’d previously discussed the kuru mission before it was approved. There were a further two guards on the door, who knocked when we arrived, and let us enter when prompted. Inside the room was generals Morris, Clarke and Harris. We were told General Brown was a little under the weather and sleeping it off. Sergeant Davis was also present, they were all sat around the dining table, and turned to face us as we entered the room.

  ‘Come sit down’ said General Morris, pouring Rhino and myself a cup of tea. ‘Sorry it’s not boiling hot, but it’s drinkable. We have asked you both to this meeting, as Mr. Torriero has made the camp an offer, one that we hope will end the possibility of war breaking out.’ I took a couple of ginger nut biscuits from the table, to dip into my tea, as General Morris continued. ‘Sergeant Davis has put forward a proposition, involving members of Blue and White Company. Torriero has requested a meeting with the generals of our camp, that is not something we are prepared to do. However, we are willing to allow a meeting involving military men, but no higher rank than a sergeant. Sergeant Davis is the most experienced sergeant we have, and has put forward your company for this mission.’

  ‘Keane and Ian are out of the running’ said Sergeant Davis. ‘For obvious reasons. And I’m not sure about Murphy’s temperament, it’s been called into question in the past, and with Torriero’s men responsible for his girlfriends abduction, we thought it advisable he didn’t play a part. So I have put forward a plan for us three to attend the meeting, and complete the talks with Torriero, while trying to gain a greater understanding of what’s going on at the camp.’

  ‘Sergeant Davis has been briefed on the camps position and will take the negotiations’ said General Morris. ‘And you will both provide support, and advice. You will leave the camp at one pm, and should arrive back sometime in the early hours. Although we are hopeful this meeting could end the possibility of war, preparations will continue. If we can gain a better understanding of Torriero and the creatures, we can plan more efficiently. No attempt to communicate with the spy who has infiltrated Torriero’s camp should be made, and his identity must remain unknown.’

  General Morris then asked if there were any questions, and when presented with silence, adjourned the meeting. Before we left, I handed General Harris the list of presents needed for Christmas, so he could organise the supply run. Sergeant Davis told Rhino and I to go and get some lunch, and sort out any loose ends before we leave. I nipped into the stadium to speak to Bernard at weapons training, and told him what was happening. He was slightly concerned about the mission, and didn’t feel I should be put forward for such jobs. But I have to say, the opportunity to meet Torierro excites me, this is a man who we have heard so much about and yet know so little. His character is no more than an outline, and I’m going to get the chance to colour him in. I went to the classrooms, to speak to Emma and the boys, before I left. The school is located in a row of fourteen terraced houses, snaking around the left hand side of the hotel. Each house has been gutted, and furnished with tables and chairs from the local primary and secondary schools, plus any other useful equipment and literature. Emma and the boys are educated in the second house (named Woodhead), which covers the first three floors of the hotel. The houses are named Woodside, Woodhead, Rose Grove, Fishermoor, Holmefield, Spring Garden and Park Hill. All dealing with different floors from the hotel, with high security around them all. I could see Mrs Brownhill through the front window as I past, doting over the children. I patted the clear PVC, covering the window frame, until she noticed me and came outside. I explained I was going away for the rest of the day, and wanted to speak to the children, as they would be asleep when I got back. I didn’t tell her, or the children what the mission involved, I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily. I would be there and back before the true extent of the mission was revealed. They were excused from class for five minutes, so I could explain that Bernard would be looking after them tonight, and not to play up for him. I went for an early lunch, where the only other person eating was a sergeant, that I recognised, but couldn’t remember where from. I collected my food and sat at his table, as his face re lit my memory.

  ‘Welsh isn’t it?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘What you doing on this floor, you lost?’

  ‘They wouldn’t feed me on my floor, useless set of wankers.’

  ‘Oh, maybe if you were a bit nicer to them, they’d have fed you.’

  He snarled his lip at me, like the thought was ridiculous.

  ‘You were sent out to seize control of a possible new site weren’t you?’ I asked. ‘For a new camp?’

  ‘Yeah, they called for us to return though, need all offensive companies back in preparation for the war. You’re in Blue and White Company aren’t you?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘You be careful, that Davis will get you killed’ he sniggered, like a school boy.

  ‘Funny, he seems to be the go to man when it comes to important missions, for the generals at least.’ Welsh snorted loudly at the thought, and carried on eating his lunch before responding in his typical bitter way.

  ‘He’s the generals fucking pet, that’s for sure.’

  ‘I honestly cannot think of a reason to dislike Chris, it must be you. Do you like anyone? Does anyone like you?’

  ‘I don’t give a shit if anyone likes me, I get the job done, if I piss people off in the process, so be it. People don’t like the truth, like you, you shouldn’t be anywhere near an army, I sure don’t want you fighting next to me.’

  ‘Oh’ I laughed, ‘It’s good to see you’ll give a new soldier the time he needs to bed in.’

  I packed up my half eaten food and left him to his lunch, still amused by his level of arrogance. I could understand why no one, including his own men, like the prick. I had thirty minutes before we were due to leave, so I wrote up the mornings diary entry.

  15/12/27 - Time 13:00

  The mission had been kept top secret, even from other military personnel, it was certainly not mentioned in any conversations that took place prior to leaving. There was no big send off, it was as low key as the army is possible to be. I met Sergeant Davis and Rhino outside the stadium, and we waited for Torriero’s man, who was brought by armed guard from the cells, in
the basement of the hotel. He was in a jovial manner when he arrived, and introduced himself as Tom Bradshaw. He was a big fella, all stomach, with a dirty beard and long dirty hair that was receding.

  ‘So you guys are the best the camp has to offer?’ He said, with a wry grin. ‘I’m going to have to check you for weapons.’

  ‘Ok’ said Sergeant Davis, raising his arms in the air. ‘But I must tell you Tom, I have a handgun, which I will not be surrendering until I’m happy.’

  ‘Fair enough’ he replied, as he patted us down individually. ‘But they won’t allow you into the camp with it.’ Sergeant Davis nodded his understanding, as the white van was brought around to the front of the stadium by a guard, who climbed out and handed the keys to Bradshaw. I rubbed some of the ash and grime off the side with my hand, revealing a logo for a sign company, in central Lancashire. It had a Preston address, so had been sourced locally. Tom opened the back doors, their hinges creaked and groaned as they hit the metal side panels. The inside had an off putting smell, and was littered with rubbish. One at a time we climbed in, brushing the rubbish off the metal bench seats across each side of the van, and sat down.

  ‘Hope you’re comfortable?’ Bradshaw shouted, as he slammed the doors shut, and locked them. The inside of the van was dark, with little light coming from the windows on the back doors. The vehicle started up at the second attempt, and slowly moved away. Once past the security base, the vehicle headed towards Preston. I stood by the back window, until we were on the M55, and I was comfortable we were heading in the right direction. I assumed we would head towards Manchester, along the M6, before taking the M62 to Leeds. It would be an hour and a half journey, maybe a little more in this vehicle. The drive was bumpy, the van sounding like it could fall apart, as we navigated between abandoned vehicles and debris. ‘How long have you two known each other?’ I asked, settling in for the journey.