A small medical centre stood on one corner, the sight of which excited Doctor and Nurse quite a bit. They jabbered at one another in Japanese as they went over to peer in through the windows. Our guide told them to go ahead and have a look inside, if they wanted, which of course they did. Several kids ran around in the gloom, one of them coming up to me to ask if my sword was real. I drew it to show him, and a bell rang out from the school while he stared at it in awe. Another kid pulled him away, saying that they had better not be too late tonight or they'd get in trouble again. The guide explained that the kids had a curfew, as occasionally a few Dead might break through one of the barricaded side streets. They only had the chained Dead at their main entrance, to deter potential threats. Other streets had varying degrees of defence, and defenders both.
Just as I was about to sheathe my blade, a scream emanated from somewhere ahead of us, ending in a gurgle as the throat was torn from the victim. “Dead inside the perimeter!” Came the cry, and I rushed towards the sounds, not caring who followed.
Several dozen Dead had broken down a chain-link fence at the end of an alley, many of them hunched over the still twitching corpse of their first victim, chewing away. Far more had, by now, noticed that there were more possible meals around, and shuffled in our direction. Charging into the Dead, Foreman at my side swinging his mighty hammer, I sliced and cut, removing a couple of Dead heads by accident, mostly hacking into their skulls. In moments the Dead lay still, the barely living woman they had torn apart whispering for someone to kill her as she was taken away by a couple of volunteers, the rest jumping to work repairing the fence.
Our guide told us that he had never seen as large a group of Dead as the one we had just put down, not since the first few days in the heart of the city. He had managed to make it to the school, had broken in and was the first person to have had a conversation with The Principal. They had made the first barricade themselves, a couple of locals coming out of the woodwork to help upon seeing some movement outside that was not Dead coming to eat them. Usually only three or four at a time might make it in, or somebody from The School might die. Apocalypse Girl told him that they'd likely be seeing a few more in the near future, citing that huge explosion from The Think Tank as a reason the Dead would likely investigate. Noises meant food to the Dead, after all.
The ten of us, Doctor and Nurse having rejoined us shortly after our encounter with the Dead, were led off to a pair of houses near to The School itself, which lay at the heart of this territory, five square blocks of peace in the heart of Dead Melbourne.
March 12 Year 1 A.Z.
morning
Though we set a watch up overnight, it was hardly necessary. It made getting to sleep easier, knowing that Redbeard and Firecracker were making sure we weren't going to be eaten or worse as we slumbered. The watch that Apocalypse Girl and I had shared last night had been as uneventful as ever, other than hearing the sounds of copulating couples in the distance. That in itself had been unusual. On those rare occasions where Apocalypse Girl and I … well … let's just say that we had learned the value of silence.
We gathered in the street, those few of us that had decided we were definitely moving on, and those who had come this far with us. The Guide from the previous day, our captor, waved at us from across the street, gesturing at us to join him. Breakfast this morning was canned fruit, not a wonderfully inspiring meal perhaps, but reasonably nutritious for all that.
Shortly after our meal, as Firecracker was relating our flight from The Think Tank through thousands of hungry Dead, The Principal arrived, stepping lightly through the snow to greet us with a smile. He asked me to walk with him a while, Apocalypse Girl insisting on coming along.
The Principal nattered away as we wandered the perimeter of the lands he had staked out for his group. Not much of it was relevant, mostly meandering mumblings of a mind that was lost, at least in part, in the past. When we came to the area that we had helped to defend last night, however, he stopped, turned around and thanked the two of us for our assistance, complete with handshake. He apologised for having The Colonel thrown out, saying that he had made certain that a small group from The School were keeping her company since we intended to continue our journey to the national capitol. Apocalypse Girl pointed out, rightly, that had it not been for The Colonel we would have died long ago, and asked The Principal to relent. Smiling apologetically, he shook his head and began trudging through the snow once more.
noon
Another group of Dead had attempted entry while we wandered the perimeter, much smaller than last night, and put down with a minimum of fuss. The Guide had seen to the rest of our group, sharing food from the local supermarket with them, and resupplying us in thanks for our swift actions the night before.
Foreman was loudly ordering people around, making various improvements to the defences, dropping easily enough back into the role he had played before the world had gone to shit. Doctor and Nurse ran about, checking those involved in the defence of the breach for all injuries, Dead bites primarily of course, but I saw a couple of freshly splinted arms and a couple of bandaged heads out there. Those two were certainly busier here than they had been in The Think Tank, that much was sure.
I looked everywhere for Archer and The Twin, but was unable to spot them until Apocalypse Girl nudged me and pointed upwards. They patrolled the rooftop of The School armed with a bow and pair of binoculars. It was almost impossible to distinguish features in the gloom, but having spent as much time with those two as we had I knew them by their mannerisms. Beyond them the clouds hung low, dark and heavy.
evening
In the house we shared with Redbeard and Firecracker, Apocalypse Girl and I spoke together awhile after dinner. This was a community that we had a great deal in common with, we could live here and live well. The Commune had felt like home for a while, brief though it had been, and The Think Tank had been comfortable, if sterile, but had never truly felt right as a place to live. This School did. Nearly half of our group wanted to stay here already, after all. It was pretty clear that Apocalypse Girl wanted to stay too. I could understand that, really. A large part of me wanted to stay here as well. The Principal had a quick wit and a keen mind, he was clearly a good leader.
I told her that I had made a promise to The Colonel, that I would help her make it to Canberra. Apocalypse Girl didn't like this much, but eventually she saw reason. I also told her that when we get to Canberra, The Colonel will go her own way, and the rest of us would be free to either go with her, or head for The Facility, or back to The School. Wherever the fuck we wanted to go, basically. As long as we're together.
Shortly afterwards, the nightly chorus of coupling began. Shortly after that, Apocalypse Girl and I began a quiet little duet of our own.
March 13 Year 1 A.Z.
morning
During breakfast with The Principal I gave voice to our intention to return after our next journey. He was not surprised at all. Smiling, he welcomed our decision, but warned us that to the north were not only huge numbers of Dead, but several groups of raiders and thugs, bandits all. One group in particular we needed to avoid, he told us. They called themselves The Followers and they were led by somebody known as The Disciple. They were a new group on the scene, but by all accounts they were savage and brutal killers that gathered women by the hundreds that they kept chained up to be used at their leisure.
I told The Principal then of The Abbott and Biker, and all that had entailed. He looked grim, and told me that he had heard that The Disciple had been from a group that had been led by a religious figure called The Abbott. The group had been wiped out, apparently, all save for one. Apocalypse Girl and I exchanged a concerned look. The Principal told us not to be too worried, as The Followers, though a fairly large group, were a good distance away and they mark their territory clearly. They enjoyed crucifying anyone who survives an encounter with them, it seemed, and their portion of the city was well-decorated with strung up Dead and dying.
The good news that he had for us was about another, far friendlier group, that The School occasionally had dealings with. Calling themselves The Mech-Techs they specialised in automotive engineering, having started as a few mechanics surviving alone in a small chopshop on the eastern edge of town. They had grown, as the odd survivor had discovered them, moved their headquarters a couple of times, and had recently returned to their starting location with a hundred people, heavily armed, and about twenty working vehicles most of which were reinforced and well prepared for the rigours of post apocalyptic Australia. The Principal had heard recently that The Mech-Techs had even acquired a petrol refinery, but he wasn't sure he believed it. Still, refinery or no, he advised us to seek them out and try to get a vehicle from them, if possible.
noon
Later on in the day, Apocalypse Girl's phone jangled with a message from The Smart Couple. They had managed to hook up with another group of survivors, only three strong. Still heading to The Facility, but they hadn't yet told their new comrades about it. Apocalypse Girl told them in turn that we had a possible lead on a vehicle and would be moving out from Melbourne within the next couple of days. Barely a minute after she sent this last text, her phone blorped once and died. She swore, and put it away.
After a tasty lunch of freshly baked bread and stale cheese we, that is the ten survivors of The Think Tank, discussed the relative benefits of remaining with this community. The Twin and Archer, together with our medical friends from Japan and Foreman had already committed themselves to staying, Firecracker and Redbeard had decided that heading to The Facility once we return from Canberra would be a better move. Apocalypse Girl, speaking for me as well, said that we planned to stay here once we get back. Sister simply shrugged, saying she'd decide later. After all, those of us that were going with The Colonel had to make it there and back safely first.
Apocalypse Girl and I relayed everything that we had learned from The Principal at breakfast, both about The Followers of this Disciple person, and The Mech-Techs as well. The news of the former was greeted with a mixture of disgust, anger and a little fear. The latter, on the other hand, was met with a small celebration from the rest of us making the journey.
evening
Guide came in after we had eaten, telling us that a fairly large group of Dead had moved through the street that the furniture shop was on. He offered to give us a hand cleaning them out tomorrow morning if we wanted him, as there were a bunch of Schoolfolk in there with The Colonel, keeping her company in her exile, at least temporarily. I asked him what he knew of The Mech-Techs, and he replied by saying that all of those that he had met had been decent people, but harsh bargainers. Apocalypse Girl wondered aloud what they might want in exchange for the use of one of their vehicles. Guide looked mildly concerned for a moment, then shook his head slightly. He said that no matter what it was, the price would be a high one.
Redbeard assured him that we would manage, one way or another. Guide looked horrified when he realised Redbeard was suggesting stealing one of their vehicles. He had heard of somebody who had attempted that very thing once. The tale had spread around post apocalypse Melbourne like wildfire. They had attached chains to the limbs of this unfortunate, yet profoundly stupid individual that were each in turn hooked onto the towballs of four vehicles. They had then nailed what was left onto a billboard upon which they painted the slogan “This is what happens when you steal from The Mech-Techs!” in the would-be thief's blood near their main base of operations. What was left of that particular person still twitched and gibbered, hungering for Living flesh, forever nailed up as a perpetual warning sign.
March 14 Year 1 A.Z.
morning
We had just finished packing, and had already breakfasted when the gunfire began. Guide ran into our house shouting that the furniture shop was under attack from bandits, as well as the Dead. The six of us rushed into action, Guide deftly showing us the way back through the sewers to the manhole around the corner from the shop where The Colonel lay under siege.
I was first up the ladder, lifting the manhole cover carefully. I could see the legs of the Dead around the main barricade surrounding The School, and in the other direction nothing at all. I slid the cover off of me, pulling myself up and extending my hand to help Apocalypse Girl. Guide was up next, followed immediately by Sister, Redbeard and Firecracker bringing up the rear. The gunfire had begun to recede into the distance, the bandits retreating, we hoped. When we rounded the corner we discovered differently.
Dead littered the street, some walking still, most lying down dead. We dispatched the few standing in seconds as we rushed to the furniture shop window. I vaulted inside to see blood everywhere. The Colonel was nowhere to be seen, the only people were what looked to be a few dead bandits, and a couple of Schoolfolk lying bleeding on the floor. Guide rushed over to them, bending down to listen to the dying words of one man. Redbeard began making certain nobody was going to get back up as Guide looked up at me, horrified.
“They said they're going to trade the women to The Followers for food” He said. We ran.
noon
The bandits left a trail an infant could follow. Not only were they not covering their footprints in the snow, at least two of them were bleeding, one heavily. We caught up with them in almost no time at all, seeing as they were also burdened with three captives, none of whom were particularly cooperative, one of whom had to be bludgeoned unconscious. I could see The Colonel's bald head among the two standing. There were only eight of the bandits left, and they had begun arguing, loudly, about exactly what to do with their captives.
One of them favoured taking them into a nearby building and having a little fun with them, he had a couple of his fellows already panting, one of them already groping the unconscious woman. We began to move silently from cover to cover as another of his companions argued against it, saying that they should get them to The Followers before nightfall. The Colonel had spotted us by this time, and was obviously trying to convince the bandits that the nearby building option would be a lot more fun than simply giving the three of them over to another group. This kept the bandits looking in her direction, rather than ours, and we advanced closer again.
The one man insisting on delivering them to The Followers first threw up his hands in frustration, stalking off in another direction momentarily. He then turned back, choosing unfortunately to turn in our direction. Guide deftly put a bullet through his left eye as the rest of us opened up on the rest of the bandits. The Colonel launched her fist into the throat of one of her captors, then she pulled his own gun from his holster and fed him two rounds at point blank range. It was over in seconds.
Smiling, The Colonel thanked us for our timely intervention. Guide went to check on his two Schoolfolk, while the rest of us checked the bandits for supplies while making certain they were all dead.
evening
Shortly before nightfall we found a likely looking building, a block of offices before the Dead rose, almost totally free of shambling corpses. My sword made short work of the few that we discovered on the ground floor. One of the Dead had a bunch of keys on its belt, having once been a security guard for this particular building and we were able to raid the guardroom thanks to this. We didn't find a great deal, just a revolver with a box of ammo, a torch that the batteries had corroded inside of, and a couple of bottles of water.
Deciding that the ground floor meeting room was ideal for a temporary bedroom, we set up in there. Guide and the other two women from The School were planning on leaving us the next morning, heading back home, and he showed me a relatively clear route into Mech-Tech territory, or at least it had been a couple of weeks ago.
From what Guide had told me it would still take us a couple of days, perhaps three or even four before we made it safely into Mech-Tech lands, depending on how clear of Dead the streets are, and whether we run into any more bandits. Two days minimum. Guide did, however, assure us that no matter how badly they treat thieves,
they will give the same respect they are given. As long as we act friendly, so will they. He also told us to remember that there are over a hundred of them in case we start thinking of fucking them over. Not that any of us have any intention of doing so.
March 15 Year 1 A.Z.
morning
Guide and his two Schoolfolk women moved out at the same time we did, after a quick breakfast. We said our farewells, then the six of us moved on to the east, while they went north. The streets were bare of Dead, at least for now, and no bandits were evident yet. The snow piled high in the street, turning cars into strange grey humps in the middle of the road. There was absolutely no breeze at all, the air hung still all around us. High above, the clouds began to dance displaying a shower of lightning of different colours blitzing from one patch of roiling darkness to the next, some blue, some purple, one blast even seemed a brilliant pink. As suddenly as it had begun, the display stopped, though the clouds themselves never stopped their motion.
We walked along the road, following the route that Guide had given us. We saw no Dead, no Living, nothing at all other than drab grey buildings set against the darkened cloudy sky. As we walked, The Colonel asked me about The Followers. As soon as the bandits who had captured her had mentioned taking the women to them, the School women had started freaking out, resulting in one of them being knocked out cold.
Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 3): March Page 5