The Undead (Book 23): The Fort

by Haywood, R. R.

  ‘Who’s Henry?’ John asks.

  ‘Someone I used to work with. Lilly? I’d say go for the containers then. We’ll get a good wall up with them.’

  ‘Okay, we’ll do that,’ Lilly says.

  ‘Tell you what might be the best idea,’ Pardip says. ‘Southampton docks. They get the lorries loaded the previous night ready for the morning. Dozens of them all waiting to go out. You just need to drive them back here, oh and get a mobile crane to lift them off and pop them into place…’

  ‘That’s a good idea,’ John says. ‘Get a few drivers and do a fast run up the coast…’

  ‘Put me down for that, Uncle Peter,’ Mary says.

  ‘Can you drive a lorry?’ Kyle asks her.

  ‘Ach, I can drive anything,’ she replies.

  ‘I’ll have a go,’ Pardip says. ‘It’ll be messy, but I can get them moving…’

  ‘Yeah same,’ John says. ‘We might have a few truck drivers in the fort.’

  ‘No,’ Lilly says before Lenski can reply. ‘I’m not risking you two outside…you’re both too essential.’

  ‘We can do it,’ Peter says, interjecting after a glance from Lilly. ‘Leave it with us…’

  ‘That doesn’t feel fair,’ John says.

  ‘John mate,’ Peter says. ‘I get bit it’s just a mark…you get a tiny scratch and you die…plus you’ll kill others. It’s just how it is now…’

  Questions hang in the air. Questions with no answers. Too many things to think about.

  ‘We’d better get on,’ Lilly says. ‘Lenski, are you okay over here? I feel bad leaving you alone…’

  ‘I not alone, I have Colin and Aggie and John and…well, John he does not count. He a bit slow yes?’

  ‘Oi,’ John says, pointing at her with a grin.

  ‘Is fine. I sort the fort. You not far. I call if I need help. Is good. We cope, don’t we, Colin?’

  ‘We certainly do,’ Colin says. ‘Us section heads all sticking together eh? Bit of the old stiff upper lip.’

  ‘Are you a section head?’ Sam asks. ‘Pea was asking who they all were…’

  ‘Oh right, yes. Happy to explain that, Pea…’

  ‘She’s taking the piss,’ Pea says, whacking Sam as they all start getting up.

  ‘But before you all dash off, do have a look at my new notice board…’

  ‘Have we got a new notice board?’ Sam asks. ‘Pea was asking where it is…’

  ‘Sam!’ Pea says.

  ‘Ooh let me show you,’ Colin says.

  ‘I have idea I forget to say,’ Lenski says to Lilly, moving over to the side. ‘Colin and Agatha have big rooms for food, clothes, yes? They have teams work with them. Lots of people they help. The people working with them should stay in those rooms. They work, they use the space. We do this and maybe make fifteen tents to use because we move workers out of tents into rooms…some peoples they have big tent with only two people. That was okay some days ago, but now is not okay. I organise this. Yes? I make better.’

  ‘That’s a brilliant idea,’ Lilly says. ‘Are you honestly okay on your own over here?’

  ‘Yes. I fine. I not alone. Is good. Make wall. Make us safe…we do this together, yes?’

  ‘Okay, but just say if you need me. I’ll be here in a shot.’

  ‘I know this. I come to you if need me. We team, yes?’

  ‘We are,’ Lilly says, smiling warmly.

  ‘I think things are different now,’ Lenski says, lowering her voice and laying an affectionate hand on Lilly’s arm with a simple act that defies Lilly’s invisible wall that projects a clear disinclination towards physical contact. She simply isn’t the huggable type and does not wish that to happen. Standoffish, aloof even. Distant and often cold, so for Lenski to reach out and touch her without thinking about, and without any hint of awkwardness is a thing indeed and speaks of their journey. ‘We win this. I think we will…we no make mistakes other people they make. Maddox and…’ she trails off, not wanting to say it.

  ‘And Howie,’ Lilly says, finishing the sentence.

  ‘I not know. They have bad things happen, many bad things, but we win this. We make this fort good. We no make same mistakes. We smarter than men,’ she adds with a smile. ‘They fight and shout. We are smart. We think. Go build a wall. I see you later, yes? Drink lots. We swim later? I like our swim. I like Mary too, she makes me laugh…’

  Lilly smiles at her, amazed at the flow of words and the passion in Lenski’s expression. The way she smiles and frowns, the way she jokes now.

  ‘I feel exactly the same,’ Lilly says.

  ‘Ladies,’ Joan says, moving over to them. ‘I’d suggest we get some firing practise in for Lenski’s fort defence fort…okay if I get it organised? Oh, and if you and Kyle are doing the sea burial can you take a boat out the back for them to shoot at?’

  Further up the fort, in a big shelter that looks halfway between a crappy circus tent and a yurt, another meeting gets underway.

  ‘Everyone here are they?’ Tommy asks.

  Pamela told Tommy that Lilly holds a meeting every morning. She also said her and Lilly are like totally so close now, because, you know, that Zayden was fingering and fucking both of us and we’re like, so traumatised and sharing our grief, but that’s private and I can’t talk about it.

  Tommy ignored the stuff about kids fingering and fucking Pamela and Lilly. Tommy is many things, but he doesn’t find Lilly attractive. She’s too young. He likes them a bit older. Like Lenski. Mind you, that Pea’s a bit of alright too. Tommy wouldn’t mind a go on her. Nice dark hair and slim. Sam too. She looks fiery which Tommy translates to being a right little goer in the sack. He also quite likes Anika. Yeah, she’d get it. That other one. Mary, she’s hot too.

  When he tuned back in, Pamela had stopped talking and was stuffing her mouth with another chocolate bar. Tommy was quite glad she stopped talking, but also wished she would go and wash.

  ‘You using them showers or what?’ he asked.

  She shrugged. ‘Scared to go on my own, in case someone fingers me again.’

  She slept in the new big tent too. Kipping down near Tommy who made a point of spraying lots of deodorant. Pamela missed that point and went to sleep.

  ‘Fuck me, it’s ripe as shit in here,’ Tommy said, waking up in the morning. ‘Christ, who’s been farting all night?’

  ‘Pamela,’ lots of people said at the same time.

  ‘I got IBS,’ Pamela said, sitting up with dried, scabbed chocolate smeared across her cheek from when she woke in the night and tried to eat another one but fell asleep halfway through.

  ‘Right, so…what we’re gonna do is this,’ Tommy finally says. ‘Pammie, you stick working for them…’

  ‘Eh? But I’ve got a bad knee and IBS and I was finger-fucked and…’

  ‘Nah, you stick working for them see. You be nice and enthusiastic cos you’re our mole. You give us the intel and get to see who’s coming into the fort, and any good ones you send our way. No muzzies though, or darkies, or queers…I don’t mind lesbians cos there’s no dicks involved and it’s not so fucking gross. And get into the food rooms and get what you can. Smokes, booze, choccy bars…that sort of thing…then we’ll get inside here sorted out. Hang up some partitions so we get privacy, make some rooms…you with me?’

  Pamela frowns, pursing her lips and looking up at Tommy while thinking the whole plan seems to involve her working and stealing while everyone else hangs out here.

  ‘Good girl, knew I could rely on you,’ Tommy says, giving her a wink. ‘Right, first things first. Pammie, you go and wash. You stink like a tramp’s arse.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘Come on. Stop fucking about. We’ve got loads to do. Tell you what, we’ll go with you and make sure no teenagers shove their fingers in your fanny…’

  The fort comes to activity and as Joan rounds up the newly formed Fort Defence Force, so Lilly heads to the gate with Kyle and Mary so Tommy leads his gaggle with a protesting Pame
la ushered, cajoled, harangued and physically pushed into a shower cubicle.

  ‘It’s cold!’ she bleats under the hose.

  ‘It’s heavy,’ Lilly grunts to Kyle as they lift the corpse wrapped in a sheet and weighed down with rocks into the first boat.

  ‘It’s hot,’ Joan says, blasting a sigh as she steps out onto the back shore.

  Pamela washes. The water running black for a long time. The pungent aroma of her discarded clothes reaching the others waiting outside the cubicle.

  Two boats set off. Lilly and Kyle taking theirs out wide and away from the fort. Mary driving another boat behind theirs.

  ‘Here will do,’ Kyle says. Lilly cuts the engine and shuffles forward to grab the end of the corpse. ‘You want to pray with me?’ She shakes her head. Her blue eyes staring at his craggy face. He smiles and nods before bowing his head to clasp his hands together, giving Lilly a chance to study his features. ‘Amen,’ he whispers after muttering the prayer near silently.

  ‘I’m glad you were there yesterday,’ she says, earning a look from him. ‘On the beach…and in general too. Just having you nearby gives me huge comfort.’

  He listens, staring at her. Sensing she is trying to say something.

  ‘It’s important to give thanks,’ she says at length.

  ‘You don’t have to thank me, Lilly,’ he pauses again, thinking he can detect the thing on her mind. ‘For what it’s worth I’m not going anywhere. I’m at your side as long as you need me…I’ll not leave.’

  A sudden rush inside. A surge of emotion that she swallows down in a way that hardens her features. ‘Thank you, that means a lot,’ she says, her voice a little too clipped and brusque.

  ‘ARE YOU COMING TO PICK ME UP OR WHAT?’ Mary yells from her boat, breaking the tension instantly.

  ‘Aye, go on now,’ Kyle says as Lilly starts the engine and sets off. ‘It’s a beautiful day to build a wall too.’

  ‘Actually,’ she says. ‘I might go with Mary and Peter’s men for the container trucks…I’m immune, or infected…either way the risk isn’t there for me.’

  Kyle smiles at her, seeing the iron will inside the girl and that although she is posing it as a suggestion she is really saying she is going to do this. Mind you, she’s a born survivor, that is without doubt. ‘Aye, good idea. We’ll keep it running here…’

  Chapter Thirteen

  Day Twenty Three

  ‘Are you sure now?’

  ‘Yes. I am sure.’

  Peter frowns, rubbing his jaw while trying to think of reasons to stop Lilly coming with them. ‘You can’t drive a truck, Lilly.’

  ‘Are you telling me that every single one of these men can drive lorries?’ Lilly asks him, taking in the tough faces of the thirty or so gypsy men gathered about them.

  ‘And don’t even think about lying, Uncle Peter,’ Mary says. ‘I know for a fact Eggy can’t ride a bicycle let alone a bloody big truck…and Callum there never even passed his car test. You’re doubling some of them up. One guard and one driver so that’s what we’re doing. I’m the driver and Blondie is my guard…’

  ‘But…’

  ‘And she’s immune so she’s not at risk…and I already tried to talk her out of it. I said to her Blondie, what the hell is wrong with you? You’ve a perfectly nice fort to stay in with lots of busy shit to do. You know what she said? She said fuck that, Mary. I’m not staying back while those sexist pricks go and have all the fun driving big trucks with no cops about telling them they shouldn’t be driving without a licence…’

  ‘I never said that,’ Lilly says as everyone looks at her. ‘However, I am going. So…’ she smiles at Peter, expectant and ready to move. ‘Shall we then?’

  ‘Peter,’ Willie says. ‘Do you want to put Miss Lilly with you or me and Elvis? Or stick her in with Patrick and Tyson…’

  ‘No,’ Mary calls out, waggling a finger at her brother. ‘Don’t start on this ye ginger twat. Lilly and me are doubling up. I can shoot better than you and I can…’

  ‘Ah for fuck’s sake,’ Willie says, turning away as the group disbands with much grumbling and muttering.

  ‘I can bloody hit harder too,’ Mary calls out. ‘Wankers…’ she adds with a grumble as they set off into the blackened waste-land of the old estate and over towards the now plentiful abundance of vehicles to choose from. A few vans fuelled up and made ready by Bobby and his gang of grease and oil smeared kids. ‘Quick now,’ Mary whispers, grabbing Lilly’s elbow as she runs for the last vehicle. ‘Ye don’t want to be in a van with a bunch of men farting and belching…’

  ‘You bloody stay with us now, Mary,’ Peter orders through the radio. ‘Don’t go tear arsing off and being bloody stupid…’ he adds as Mary tear-arses past him with a wave. ‘Mary! I bloody mean it. Slow down and wait…fuck’s sake. Load up and get moving…’

  Mary laughs as she eases the speed off and winds her window down to let the breeze flow through. ‘It’s nice to be out and moving, eh Blondie?’

  ‘It is,’ Lilly says, watching the world about her through eyes that are now so different from when she first arrived at the fort. A pistol on her hip. A knife in her belt. Grenades in her pockets and a small rucksack holding spare magazines. Simple cargo trousers. Sturdy boots and a black top. Her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her skin now golden from the sun.

  ‘I’m amazed you wanted to come,’ Mary says.

  Lilly was quite surprised she wanted to come too, and never thought she would willingly choose to be away from her brother. But the fort is safer now. The camp is there for a start so that gives protection from the outside. Joan and Kyle are there. Sam, Pea and Lenski. Plus, there’s new people too. John and Pardip. Both big men and it’s solidly re-assuring to have them about the place. Jaspal and Simar too. More guys. More people. A community growing. On top of all that, it just didn’t feel right asking Peter’s men to go out and take all the risks. Why should they? A blur in front of her nose brings her from the deep thoughts as Mary leans over to wave her hand.

  ‘Mary to Blondie…are you receiving me?’

  ‘Miles away,’ Lilly says, smiling at Mary’s hand being too close. ‘You can move it now…’

  ‘Move what?’ Mary asks, her hand still dancing about in front of Lilly’s head.

  ‘Idiot,’ Lilly laughs, reaching up to push it away.

  ‘You’re a strange one you are, Blondie,’ Mary says, finally pulling her hand back.

  ‘Me?’ Lilly asks, volleying the joke back.

  ‘Aye, you’re all in charge of everything.’

  Lilly nods, looking out at the world going by then leaning forward to see Peter’s van now close behind. She looks at Mary again, watching her drive and the way she grips the wheel. A simple vest top leaving her arms bare. A few freckles here and there and the fine hairs seen in the sunshine. She watches Mary’s hair moving in the breeze. So gorgeous and thick and so deep and red too.

  ‘Is it hard to manage?’ she asks.

  ‘What’s that?’ Mary asks. ‘My hair? Nah, I don’t do anything with it mind. Just pull it back…but I admire that about you. Not your hair. Although your hair is nice, I mean I like that about all of you in the fort all mucking in together. You’d never get women in charge like that in a camp. Don’t get me wrong. I love my Uncle Pete, and I love my brother, although he is a ginger prick. They’re good people really, but they’re in the last century in someways. You know what I mean?’

  ‘I think so,’ Lilly says.

  ‘But you though. You were like, stuff that, I’m not waiting for a man to save me. I’ll bloody do it myself…and Sam and Pea are right there with you. Lenski too. And Joanie. You know, I was only going to come over for one night…I thought I’ll get out from the camp, cool down a bit then go back, and I figured you were a right stuck up bitch too, but it kinda draws you in, does that make sense? Like all the goings on and new people turning up and stuff happening and this and that…am I talking too much again?’

  ‘Yes.’r />
  ‘Am I really?’ Mary asks, shooting a glance to Lilly’s deadpan face. ‘Ah piss off, Blondie…’ she adds when Lilly smiles. ‘Go point them blue eyes somewhere else…so tell me about your lad? Nick is it? What’s he like?’

  ‘Nick? Yeah he’s er…’ she falters, expecting the rush to come that isn’t the same as it was when she thought about him before. A deep fondness. A warmth even, but not the surge of emotion that was there before. ‘He’s nice,’ she says. ‘Nice guy…’

  ‘I’ve heard he’s handsome as anything.’

  ‘He is. And sweet too,’ she trails off, thinking about what he did to save her brother, thinking about missing him, about needing him, about the absolute desire she had for him that isn’t quite the same now.

  ‘Right. Good chat,’ Mary says, rolling her eyes. ‘He your first?’

  ‘My first what?’

  ‘First whatever. Boyfriend? Lover? Roll in the hay? That made you laugh…’

  ‘Yes, he was my first. How about you?’

  ‘Me? Ah you know. Dated here and there. A few gypsy boys courted me. That’s different too. Dating in our world I mean. It can be very old-fashioned. Especially when the girl you fancy has a champion prize fighting brother called Willie, whose best mate is also a prize fighter called Elvis and whose Uncle Pete is perhaps one of the most famous fighters in our world, then imagine the girl you fancy has mad red hair and a tempter to boot and can outfight her prize fighting brother. Eh? Will ye think on that now. You think you had it bad? Come and be a gypsy girl…’

  Lilly laughs hard, wiping the tears from her eyes at the way Mary says it all. The accent rising and falling. The facial expressions too.

  ‘Ah but now I’m in your fort. Aye. So any hot men coming in. Yep, they’ll do the same as the others and run the other bloody way!’

  They hit the motorway and the view opens up. The world outside of the fort. Fields bursting with life. Rabbits running everywhere with their white tails seen racing into the undergrowth or sitting in the sun, content to munch. Foxes glimpsed in the treeline. Birds soaring overhead. Butterflies and insects and flowers blooming. The sky so heart-achingly blue and every colour seems so vibrant and so much more alive than it ever did before.