Snatchers Box Set | Vol. 5 | Books 13-15

by Whittington, Shaun

  “I won’t be long.”

  Peter could hear Findlay say something else as he walked away, but it was inaudible to his ears. He went into the building and headed for Ward 22. He could see a guard of name he didn’t know, and said he was here to see Karen. The guard opened the door and Peter stepped inside and could see Karen sitting at her desk.

  “Hello again,” she said with a smile. “Everything okay?”

  “Don’t know yet,” Peter sighed and sat himself down in the opposite chair.

  “Why? What’s up?”

  He held out his hand and Karen’s eyes widened. “How?”

  “It was a dog.”

  Karen looked at him suspiciously. “Are you sure?”

  “Come on, Karen.” Peter looked annoyed at her suspicious query. “Do you think I would get bitten by a Snatcher and hide it or pretend it was something else. That’s a horror cliché.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just...”

  “What?”

  “How did you let a dog get near your hand? Did you pet it?”

  “I gave it the rest of my protein bar.” Peter was getting annoyed with all the queries and said, “Look, I just came here to get it cleaned and wrapped up. Do you think you can do that?”

  “Okay.” Karen stood and went over to the box of dressings and grabbed some disinfectant. “You don’t need to speak to me like that.”

  “I knew what you were insinuating.”

  “And what was that?”

  “You think that maybe one of the dead did this. How could one of them get near me without my knowing?”

  Karen shrugged her shoulders and said, “Did you go for a nap? Or...”

  “No, I didn’t go for a fucking nap!” Peter stood up and the guard from outside entered, asking Karen if everything was okay.

  “Fine.” She nodded and waved the guard away. “It’s okay.”

  “Do you know what?” Peter kicked the chair across the room and snarled, “Stick your fucking bandage.”

  He stormed out and marched towards the exit of the building.

  Karen could see a radio attached to the guard and asked him to contact Drake. She needed to see him. He did as she asked, and both Drake and Pickle turned up at the clinic within minutes.

  “What is it?” Pickle was the first to ask what was wrong.

  She sat down and rubbed her head. “Peter was in earlier.”

  “And?”

  “He’s been bitten on the hand, but he said it was a dog.”

  “A dog?” Drake queried. “How the fuck—?”

  “He reckoned he gave it some of his bar and it bit his hand.”

  “Unless he fell asleep?” said Pickle.

  “I mentioned that and he went off his head.”

  Drake and Pickle looked at one another and were lost in thought for a few seconds.

  Drake turned to Karen and questioned her once more. “What about Roger? Have you spoken to him?”

  “I’m not sure he was present when it happened,” said Karen. “But would he back his brother up anyway?”

  Pickle rubbed his head and told the pair of them, “I’ll go and look for him.”

  He left the ward and headed for the building. He walked around the grounds of the hospital and decided to go into the reception and outpatients building once he reached the main gate where Findlay stood.

  Pickle was whistled over by Findlay and went over to the guard standing with the baseball bat.

  “That’s two more people we’ve lost,” Findlay said with a sigh.

  “What?” Pickle exclaimed. “Dead? How?”

  “No, not dead,” Findlay laughed. “Left. Happens once in a while. People don’t like the enclosure, think they can find something better.”

  “Who’s left?”

  “Peter and Roger just did.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Roger said they were thinking about going anyway, and Peter was apparently not happy about an accusation by Karen.”

  “For God’s sake.”

  Findlay hunched his shoulders and rested the bat on his left shoulder as if he was waiting for someone to pitch.

  Pickle rubbed his face and groaned, “Nice one, Karen.”

  *

  “Hi, Drake.”

  Drake had decided to stretch his legs outside after hearing the news of Peter and Roger’s departure. He wanted some peace and quiet, but it didn’t last long, as he heard his name being called. This was the last thing that he wanted: to be bored to tears by David Marshall about the state of the vegetables. Drake continued to walk on and the man called after him.

  Drake stopped walking and groaned. He turned around and snapped, “What is it?”

  “I wanna show you something,” David said.

  “You’re not gonna whip out your dong, are you?”

  “Um ... no.”

  “What is it?” Drake rubbed his temples and wondered if this was going to be the start of a migraine. “I don’t really have time for your shit.”

  “Just come with me,” he said. “There’s something I’m really concerned about.”

  “Come on then.” Drake released a sigh. “Show me.”

  David walked to the first greenhouse and both stepped inside. Drake followed the annoying man and both stopped when they reached the tomatoes and David pointed.

  “Look,” he said.

  “What am I looking at?” Drake hunched his shoulders and was clearly annoyed by this pointless distraction.

  David Marshall leaned over and specifically pointed at two tomatoes out of the hundreds that were almost ripe enough to eat.

  “They don’t look too clever,” Drake admitted.

  “You know what that is?”

  Drake shook his head.

  “It’s greenfly.”

  “In September?”

  “I killed two of the rascals just.” The man nodded. “I came here yesterday afternoon and noticed that someone had left the door open.”

  “So we have two tomatoes that are almost inedible?”

  “Yes, Drake.”

  “And you thought that was worth dragging me in here and bringing it to my attention?”

  “Um ... well, yes. I did.”

  “Right.” Drake released an angry breath out and said to the man, “I’ve told you many times not to bother me with mundane shit like this, haven’t I?”

  “I know, Drake. To be fair, you told me not to say nom, nom, nom anymore, and I haven’t.”

  “I’m going to say this one more time.” Drake cleared his throat and placed both hands on the man’s shoulders. “If you keep bothering me with this horseshit, I’m gonna have to boot you in the nads before throwing your arse out of here.”

  “But Drake...”

  Drake shushed him and wagged his finger. “No more. Unless the greenhouse is on fire, I don’t want to be bored of this shit anymore. I don’t care if the peas grow a funny way, or if the cucumbers are shaped like a rhino’s cock, or a cabbage looks like Charles Manson if you look hard enough. I don’t care.”

  “I’m just trying to keep you updated, Drake.”

  “You’ve spent a lot of time in these greenhouses, and I appreciate it. And, yes, maybe you’ve gone a bit mad over the last month or so, but no more, please. Otherwise I may have to kill you. Compronde?”

  He then walked away and cussed under his breath. “If ever a prick needs kicking to death it’s him.”

  David watched as Drake made his way over and said under his breath, “It’s comprende.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  September 9th

  David MacDonald was the first individual in his ward to wake up. He brushed his teeth and tried to flatten his hair by spitting in his hands and slapping down the ‘sticky up bits,’ as his mother used to call them when she used to wet and comb his hair before going to school.

  He put on the clothes he had worn the day before and headed for outside. He stepped out and, like the day before, the day was dry but murky.

&
nbsp; He could see a guard at the gate and guessed that it was around 7am. Other people could be seen. He saw three males sitting on their mopeds and it looked like they were about to go out on a run. The red pickup pulled up by the men on the mopeds, and the guard pulled back the gate. The three mopeds and the pickup exited and the guard that David didn’t recognise closed the gate.

  David smiled when he saw Stephanie appear from round the corner of the building, and she waved once her eyes clocked him. She had no bow or bag with her for a change and he wondered why she was up so early.

  “You okay?” she asked him.

  He nodded and asked, “Fancy hanging out today? I was wondering if you could show me how to shoot.”

  “No can do, Dave.” She playfully slapped the fourteen-year-old on the shoulder. “Going out on a run in an hour or so with Pickle, Vince, and a few others.”

  “Another one?” David was hurt that he never got an invite. Pickle had promised he would take him out one of the days.

  “We may as well use the vehicles whilst there’s still petrol. After the winter, we might have to resort to horse and cart,” she joked.

  “Are you taking the van?” he asked her.

  She nodded.

  “And where are you going?”

  “Not sure.” Stephanie scratched the side of her head and then tightened her ponytail. “Some place two miles away called Workout World.”

  “What’s the point in that?” David scoffed. “Are they bringing back dumbbells and barbells back with them?”

  “No, don’t be silly,” she laughed, and David immediately felt annoyed and small when she did this. “One of Drake’s biker guys checked the place out two days ago. The place is supposed to be full of protein powders, multivitamins, protein bars, glutamine, meal replacements, as well as clothes and footwear.”

  “I just thought...”

  “Don’t worry about it,” said Stephanie. “We can hang out when I get back. That’s what friends are for, eh?”

  “Friends?” David groaned.

  “Yeah. That’s what we are, aren’t we?”

  “I suppose,” David mumbled.

  “Alright, kids?” a familiar voice was heard from behind.

  Both Stephanie and David turned around to see Vince Kindl heading towards them.

  “Ready, Steph?” he asked.

  “Are we going now?”

  “Won’t be long.”

  “Just waiting for everybody else to get up,” she said.

  “Oh.” Vince scratched at his grey hair and said, “I thought we were meeting by the gate. I tell you what. You go and get the rest and I’ll stay here with David.”

  Stephanie nodded, and gave David a reassuring pat on the shoulder. She jogged away and left the two males alone.

  “What’s up with your face?” Vince cackled. “You look like someone’s pissed on your corn flakes.”

  “Nothing.” David hunched his shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Is that right?” Vince smirked. “Let me guess. You have a thing for Steph, but she doesn’t feel the same way?”

  David sighed and hunched his shoulders. How the hell did Vince know that? Was it that obvious? “Something like that.” David didn’t see there being any point in lying to Kindl.

  “I get it.” Vince nodded. “Steph’s a nice looking kid. It’s frustrating enough when a girl’s not interested in you. But it’s even worse now, with the lack of people around now. There’s very little choice.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Vince placed his arm around David’s shoulder and said, “It can be a funny time at your age, even in the old world. Your emotions are all over the place, then you get spots, and you’re constantly slapping the old salami.”

  “Vince, please shut up.”

  “I remember when I was fifteen years old. I never stopped playing with the thing. I think my record was six times in one day, and by the sixth time came around I was producing nothing but dust.”

  “Right, I’m going.” David briskly walked away from Vince, leaving Kindl baffled.

  “Something I said?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Pickle, Mildred, Richard and Stephanie were picked to go out on a run.

  Pickle had managed to persuade Drake to allow young David MacDonald to come. Pickle was driving and they were waiting for Vince. He had gone to the toilet and Pickle and Stephanie were in the front, waiting for him. Mildred, Richard and David were put in the back. Everybody wanted to sit in the front, so they all had to pick out blades of grass.

  Despite the portaloos available, Vince only needed a pee and opted to pee in one of the bushes.

  He appeared from around the corner of the reception building, much to the relief of an impatient Pickle, and could see Joanne Hammett waving at him.

  She was just outside the building, at the other end, and had a large empty bag with her.

  Vince walked over to her and held his two fingers up at Pickle, telling him to give him two more minutes, and spoke to Joanne.

  “Everything okay?” he asked her.

  She nodded and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Be careful, okay?”

  Vince looked to both sides of him, at her hands, and said, “I thought we were keeping this a secret. If people see this public affection, they’ll work it out.”

  “I don’t care.” Joanne smiled and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I enjoyed last night.”

  “Good,” Vince snickered. “Just a shame I couldn’t perform the night before, our first time. I was in a right mood most of yesterday, thinking about it. Even Pickle asked me a few times if anything was wrong.”

  “Well...”

  Joanne hadn’t managed to finish her sentence as the pair of them could hear arguing to the side of him. Darren had just stepped out with Stephen Rowley, who was now on crutches, and the pair of them were having a domestic with the new admission, Quint.

  “What the hell is going on?” Joanne asked.

  “I don’t know,” Vince groaned.

  The two of them looked over and could see that the argument with the three men was becoming heated and Vince decided to step in and see what was wrong.

  “I better go and sort this,” said Vince.

  He walked over to the three of them and asked what was wrong.

  “This prick, chap,” Rowley snarled, pointing at Quint. “Me and Darren caught him stealing a chocolate bar from my room.”

  “I haven’t fucking eaten in ages!” Quint yelled. He then looked Stephen up and down, stroking his grey beard, and added, “And anyway, the last thing you fucking need is another chocolate bar, fat cunt.”

  “You are a horrible person, chap.” Stephen huffed.

  Quint snapped, “And you are a hoofwanking bunglecunt.”

  This comment made Vince smirk, but Rowley was confused by Quint’s gibberish and said, “I don’t even know what that means.”

  “You’re adults, for fuck’s sake,” said Vince. “Why don't you sort it out between yourselves?”

  “Quint can’t go round stealing stuff,” Darren spoke to Vince. “Even if it is just a chocolate bar. That ain’t right.”

  “Look, I really need to go,” Vince moaned and ran his hand over his stubbly face. “Try and sort it out yourselves. And don’t tell Drake, or he’ll have Quint kicked out of this place. He’s only just arrived.”

  “Maybe we should tell him,” said Darren.

  “Don’t be a pair of whiny cunts,” Quint snapped. “If you really want your chocolate bar, here.” He put his hand in his pocket and threw it at Stephen, who tried to catch it and then stumbled as his crutches came away from him.

  “You need to have a word with him, chap.” Rowley looked at Vince. “Keep him away from me.”

  “Later,” said Vince. “I’m about to embark on another dangerous run, whilst you three pricks are arguing over a chocolate bar. Two of the guys that are going with us are only fourteen. Just put that into perspecti
ve.”

  “I’ve been on runs before,” Darren spoke up. “How come I wasn’t picked?”

  “Does it matter?” Vince sighed.

  “Yes!” Darren snapped. “I wanna know. How come you’re taking kids?”

  “Look!” Vince yelled, seething with all three of them. “If you have a problem the way things are run, have a word with Drake. Maybe if you didn’t shit yourself three times a day, you will start and get an invite.”

  The three of them looked at him and had no words to respond.

  Vince walked away from the three men, blew Joanne a kiss, and then headed for the van. Stephanie had opened the door for him and he climbed in, sitting next to her.

  “Ready then?” Pickle moaned, ready to pull away.

  “Yeah.” Vince nodded. “Sorry about that. Fucking pricks. Everybody okay in the back?”

  “Aye, they are.” Pickle selected first and pulled away. “Mildred, David and Richard are probably wondering why we’re not moving yet.”

  “Just trying to sort out petty squabbles.”

  The gate was opened as the van crawled out of the grounds, and Pickle went through the gears once they hit Gaol Road.

  Pickle said, “Yer and Joanne, eh? So it’s now official. How the hell did yer manage that?”

  “What are you talking about?” Vince could feel his face flush. Vince lowered his head an inch and could feel Stephanie looking at him. He looked up and to the side and snapped, “What?”

  “You and Joanne are an item then?” Stephanie asked.

  “Well...” Vince looked bashful and slowly hunched his shoulders. “I suppose. If you want to call it that.”

  “Nice one, Vince,” Stephanie cackled. “Don’t be too embarrassed. She’s a lovely woman.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I agree with Stephanie.” Pickle looked at Stephanie and winked at her. “If anything, she should be embarrassed. Good lookin’ girl like that getting into bed with an older man heading for sixty.”

  “I’m forty-nine,” Vince snapped, making the pair of his tormentors giggle. “Sixty? Cheeky bastard!”

  “Well, they do say that beauty is only skin deep,” Pickle chuckled, “The true ugly ones go right to the bone.”

  “Alright, alright.” Vince managed to raise a smile. “Let’s change the subject. Jesus!”