Surviving The Ravenous

by King, Christine

  Mark stopped searching the shelves and hung his head, “It’s true we need to think ahead, to have a long-term plan even if it ends up not being needed, the pier is good for a while but not forever and we need to think of the worst case, that no one is coming. We should tell them what we feel, they might have other arguments for the plan that we didn’t think of.”

  I grabbed some tins and tried to sound like a peacekeeper as I said, “why don’t we go and see the pier with them, it’s not far from here and we can try to make them see the problems with their plan once it’s staring them in the face.” Mark agreed with a nod and grabbed a couple of packets of crackers from under the counter. We headed back out with our hands full of tins and other goodies. When Siam saw us with our arms full, he grabbed his brother and they began to strip the stock room of anything useful or edible, while their mother supervised. It made our small haul seem pitiful, but we let them take whatever they wanted without argument.

  While we waited for them to finish in the stockroom, Mark sat next to Ali and showed her what he had found. Jarl had fallen asleep on one of the booth sofas and we were left pretty much alone. Del walked up and down in an irritated fashion. She began talking to Lara, although as she didn’t seem to need a reply it was more like talking at her. “Haliem is so sweet; he keeps whispering things in my ear. I didn’t know men his age would know some of the things he is suggesting.” She stopped and giggled looking at Jason, but he was busy cleaning his bow with an old piece of cloth. “He is what I would call a real man.” She said loudly and pointedly, “he is defending his family and is able to appreciate what he has.”

  Jason looked up sharply, and I imagined he was thinking of his sister. Looking away from Del, he said quietly to Mark, “What do you think of their plan?”

  I sat near Adam and Geeta on the floor and stroked the puppies while I listened to the conversation going on around the table.

  “We should go with them,” Del reasoned, sitting back down, “it’s a great plan.” Lance shook his head, “We have a plan and we should follow through.” Lara nodded agreement.

  Tessa appeared and put her hand on my shoulder. She seemed enthusiastic about us joining forces. “You have a lot of supplies and it would mean more people to go on scavenger hunts and defend the whole group. I know my family would be happy for us to join together as a group and we have three strong men to help with fighting and working. We could be an asset to you as well.” Mark wrinkled his nose in thought but spoke kindly, “We have already committed to an idea and I am looking forward to seeing the castle, why not come and see it for yourselves?”

  Tessa shook her head, “We need to be near water, those cannibal people won’t come then.”

  Lance nodded, “Yes, but looters might and being on a wooden structure you would be very vulnerable to fire or even rot from the sea, I have no idea of the work it takes to maintain a pier.”

  Tessa was not listening, “We can fish; we can go on supply runs together. It could be great.” The conversation began to verge on an argument as Lara asked where we would sleep and what would happen if we fell into the sea.

  Mark spoke authoritatively as Siam and Haliem returned to the table and it was funny to watch everyone in the room start listening, even the new people.

  “We should go to the pier and have a look, I don’t think it will work as a permanent home, but others may have gone there looking for safety and Tessa seems set on the idea.”

  Jason got up “Let’s go then, we can have a look and then we can be back on the road again quickly.”

  The brothers had finished with the stockroom and they loaded up their car as we moved out, Jarl was feeling a lot better after his nap, colour had returned to his cheeks and he was chatting to Siam as he helped him up out of his seat. We headed back out to our vehicles and as they passed me Jarl stopped and with a tired smile, he said, “Thank you. My sons have told me how you helped us. I hope I get to repay the favour someday” I smiled back and let Siam support his father into their car. We loaded the van with our fresh supplies and Geeta helped us get the puppies back into the box. Once everyone was ready we slowly pulled out of the car park and followed the people carrier towards the sea, the roads were still deserted with a few cars here and there, once we heard a motor somewhere but it raced away into the distance and in the still air we couldn’t tell which direction it was going. The air conditioning in the van was on full as it was getting crowded in the back and we had managed to collect some petrol at the service station. We couldn’t pump it of course because of the lack of electricity, but we siphoned quite a bit from a tanker and other cars. Service stations were a good source of petrol filled cars. All the way Del chatted to Ali about Haliem and his family, she seemed determined to get Ali on her side and seemed not to notice how many times Ali looked towards Mark in the front seat, how she didn’t nod or smile as Del spoke and how she watched Adam sitting on Marks lap and laughing in the front with an eye of satisfaction. Finally, we arrived at the beach there were no seagulls flapping about or swooping down to eat an unsuspecting tourist’s ice-cream and no people stretched out on the scorching sand trying to top up their tans. Litter blew around the deserted streets and glass crunched under the tires as we drove slowly down to the pier. We could see the large wood and steel construction jutting out to sea, it was painted jolly colours and had rides and shops down its length. We pulled up close to the entrance, ignoring the giant No Parking signs that seemed to be everywhere. Locking the van up just in case, we waited at the entrance gates while Mark, Lara, Jason, Siam and Haliem readied their weapons and then headed onto the giant walkway. We could see them in the fading light checking the buildings for signs of break-ins, but it all seemed clear, and they came back a few minutes later with nothing to report. Lara lowered her gun as she came back smiling and Lance visibly relaxed. We all walked onto the structure helping Tessa and Jarl to carry their supplies into the closest building. It was locked but a few blows with a hammer took out the padlocks and the fence, we dumped everything inside the dark interior and we could see the bulky masses that surrounded us were old style arcade machines. A few trips to the car later and all their stuff was inside, we grabbed a few of our own bits and pieces ready to spend the night there as it was getting late in the day. The puppies loved the beach and ran up and down with the kids in the sand. Lance’s handmade leashes worked well, and they all looked so cute playing and fighting, it was hard to believe the situation we were all in when you saw children laughing together and having fun. They all arrived back exhausted and we headed out onto the pier to check the rest of the structure.

  It all seemed sound and in good condition. No struts were missing or broken, but walking around the rides they looked so sad, giant unmoving pieces of crazy colour against the dark blue sky. We climbed onto some of them and checked for anything usable, Lara watched the kids as they clambered over the children’s rides.

  Jarl made them pick their favourite character from a merry-go-round, Adam picked a red car with eyes and a mouth painted on it, and Geeta picked a glittering carriage. They squealed with delight as he fetched his tools and undid them from their couplings, and with Haliem and Siam helping, they carried them into the arcade. I followed them inside and watched them make the children comfy in them. The former ride pieces were converted into fun beds and the children loved them.

  Del and Haliem wandered off together, and no one seemed to notice or worry that they had left the group, but I realised they were both adults and armed so if they wanted to go off alone we couldn’t stop them. Mark taught Adam some basic skills like starting a fire and setting a rabbit snare, Ali stood and watched them, her eyes shone with love and happiness and I realised it wasn’t all aimed at Adam.

  As night took over, we closed the doors and lit some solar-powered lights the family had brought along, but it was still gloomy. The building had no windows and was very stuffy; Tessa seemed happy with it as a campsite for now and begun to cook some cans of chickpeas on a littl
e camping stove. We all helped with the meal, opening up cans of spam and laying places on upturned slot machines. Lara grabbed stools from the change booths and back office. We all sat and had a fine meal with concentrated juice and some tinned treacle sponge for dessert, which the children went mad for. Adam named the puppies with help from Geeta “We call them Tit and Tat” Geeta said happily. Mark shrugged, Jason snorted “I am not shouting out, ‘Here Tit,’” he said, but Mark laughed “Why? There is no one left to hear you, so who cares” Jason snorted again and walked away. So, it was decided.

  We chatted over dinner, Jarl told the children how he would teach them to fish and he listed all the marine life that could be caught and eaten in these waters, we talked about shifts for the night and arranged it so that someone would be always awake at the door with some kind of weapon.

  We tried a few times to explain that this place, although good for a while, could not sustain us all for the future. Tessa seemed not to be listening, and we could see the entire family settling in bit by bit. Jarl got out a palette of watercolours and began to set up an area to paint in. Tessa unpacked all their clothes and set up areas for each of them, the boys pushed machines towards the back of the building creating more space and even little Geeta had some dolls and toys put out on the floor by her new bed.

  As I got ready to take the first shift, I watched them settle in and felt helpless; they had clearly made up their minds to stay, and I knew that if we couldn’t change their minds, then we would have to leave them the next morning.

  The next morning came with no dramas in the night, although with no windows to let in the light it was almost impossible to tell when it was actually morning. Tessa woke us all up by starting breakfast with Del’s help; they clattered about until we all got up and gave them a hand. I spent the morning wandering the beach with Jarl, helping him to find pieces of wood long enough to create a ramp. We also found quite a few mussels clinging to the rocks that would make a good meal. Meanwhile, Haliem and Siam worked to break away the couplings at the end of the pier that secured it to the land. When Jarl and I returned with the piles of wood, we made a crude platform, Jason attached wheels and we broke away the planking on the pier. We took out about 10 meters, throwing the broken planks into the sea and reusing the rest. Finally, we made sure that the ramp was long enough to create a crude bridge across the gap. When we had finished Mark gathered our belongings and Jason leashed the puppies ready for the walk back to the van. I helped as did most of the others, but Del stood looking defiant, “We should stay here,” she kept saying in a sulky voice, Tessa looked puzzled at our choice to leave so we all sat down with the family and Mark tried one last time to explain the reason’s we were going.

  “We can’t stay here,” he stated matter of fact, “we need ground and earth to grow food, we need space for other survivors. The sea doesn’t supply fresh water, this is a hard place to defend, and it is easy to see us moving about from the shore. That could attract ravenous or looting gangs. We need to go to the castle, it has land and strong walls, it is literally made to be defended from inside and it may have old style weapons or machines that can help us. I’m sorry but that is our goal as we have no idea how long we have to survive without help or even if help is ever going to come.”

  Jarl and Tessa looked disheartened, and Geeta cuddled up to her mum, looking sadly at Adam. Del stood up, “that’s just your opinion Mark,” she almost spat, “Some of us may think this is a great idea and want to stay. Alison, Adam, and I are staying. We don’t want to go to a castle; we think we should stay near the water.”

  Mark looked shocked at Del’s outburst and looked at Ali with hurt and surprise in his eyes. He went to speak, but Del wasn’t finished. “I also hope that Jason might stay as well,” she said causing us to all to look at him. He raised his eyebrows and looked around the group with a worried expression. I noticed Haliem looking moody with his head down and guessed he didn’t want Jason to stay. He undoubtedly saw him as competition for Del’s attention. Mark looked at Jason questioningly and I felt myself looking at the floor, I didn’t want to hear Jason gush over Del and decide to stay here just to be with her. Jason’s voice cut into my thinking “I’m not staying here” he said loudly. My head snapped up, and I looked into his defiant face, “I’m going to the castle with my friends; I think that’s the way forward for us all.” He turned to look at me and I felt my pulse race as he said softly, “anyway I’m going where Cathy and Mark go, and I know they both want to reach the castle.”

  I felt my mouth go dry, and I wasn’t sure if I should say something. Why where Mark and I go? Did he think me, and Mark were an item? Surely, he could tell that Mark and Ali were involved? Did he want to come for me or for Mark? Did he pick my name because he knew I was going? I didn’t ask because Mark was still looking at Alison with a lost expression and I suddenly realised he might stay, for her. Del looked hurt at Jason’s words and had gone to sit by Haliem, who looked triumphant. The silence was smothering, and we all felt ourselves squirming, I decided now was the time to speak, “Ok, so who is going and who is staying?” I asked.

  Del was holding Haliem’s hand now and said, “we are staying, we are a family.”

  I turned to look at Mark, but then Alison was getting up from the circle. She pulled Adam to her and turned to face us.

  “We are……we want to ………go to the castle,” she squeezed out every word, her face turning red. It was the first thing she had said since we had met her, Adam looked a little sad but clung to his mother. Mark leapt up and embraced her and Adam. “I’m so glad you’re coming,” he said into her hair and I felt myself smiling. Mark was so happy, but Del had a face like thunder. “You can’t go if I’m staying. You’re my sister!” she shouted, Alison clung to Mark and Adam. Her eyes began to fill with tears, but she turned her face away and it was obvious she had made her decision.

  Del looked like someone had punched her, I wanted to tell her that it was going to be ok and that we could all keep in touch with the walky-talkies’ but I knew they had a limited range and I really couldn’t bring myself to comfort her. I felt a bit rotten but something about her rubbed me up the wrong way and I guess I was secretly glad that Jason was not staying here with her.

  Tessa tried a few times to get us to stay, but we gathered our belongings and wished them all well as we crossed the makeshift bridge and headed back to the van. Geeta cried over the loss of Adam and the puppies, and we promised to visit and asked them to come and find us if they needed anything. Siam shook everyone’s hands, as did Jarl, but Haliem and Del stayed inside and refused to come out and say their goodbyes. Tessa hugged us all and asked that we light a flare at the castle when we got there, so she knew we were safe. Mark, Alison, and Adam climbed in the back of the van with Jason and Lara and Lance got in the front with me. We looked out of the windows over the front seat; the sea looked so still and clear; I felt it should be choppy and fierce to match our emotions, but it looked like a picture postcard. I knew Adam would miss the beach, but I also knew we had to leave.

  Tessa and Jarl stood waving us goodbye, they looked so sad and Geeta was crying as she watched me backing the truck out of our parking space. We waved until we had driven out of sight of the pier, Alison couldn’t stop crying, I had seen her a few times over the course of the morning go up to Del to try to hug her only to be pushed away. She clung to Adam and Mark as I drove the van away from our friends, and I watched in the rear-view mirror as they held each other; I was surprised they had all bonded so quickly, but these unusual circumstances could make you feel as though every moment counted. I looked towards Jason who was sat against the boxes; he was lying there with his eyes closed. Both puppies had climbed onto him and had fallen asleep on his chest. Lance and Lara were sat together holding each other close, I felt a little alone again and as I drove along I couldn’t help wondering what was out there at this castle, had I made the right decision, would we regret leaving the others behind and what would become of us a
ll once we got there.

  Chapter 6 – Arrival

  We all knew we needed to get to the castle as fast as we could with no more distractions, it was only about an hour away, then we could settle in and get ourselves in order. Lance took over driving the van from me and we sped down the mostly empty motorways. We stopped once for a restroom break and had an early lunch in another deserted service station.

  We could almost disregard the situation we were in; it was a little like a road trip with close friends, and now and again I found myself forgetting about all the horror and just enjoying the moment.

  Of course, just as that happened, we would come across the remains of a coachload of people or see a house on fire in the distance and the desperation would fill my mind again. Sorrow and pain clouding out the sunshine and laughter, crushing the breath out of me as I remembered Mary Jane and all the things I had experienced since the day the gas came. At those times I would often find Lara holding my hand as though she knew I needed her, and I saw her do this for all of us at different times, our little angel of mercy helping to heal our hearts.

  For most of the journey, the time seemed to fly by as we all sang songs and played silly games in the back. As we got closer to the castle, we saw no ravenous in the fields or on the roads and our spirits rose.

  I drove some of the way in the front with just Lance. We talked of his family; he had two brothers, both overseas, and he told me in a quiet voice that he prayed for them every night. I explained my lack of relatives and Lance nodded along sympathetically but at the end of my story as I lamented the loss of Mary Jane and of all the family I had ever known he said gently, “you have a family now” and I felt tears of gratitude in my eyes as I realised it was true. My voice broke as I smiled and said, “as do you.” Lance nodded in agreement and glanced behind him at the others.