“You wouldn’t happen to have a piece of paper I could write our list of supplies on, would you?”
Matthew patted his pockets and pulled out a small coil notebook with a nub of pencil shoved in the spiral and handed it to him.
“Here you go, son. I’m sure once we present this to the group everyone will be in agreement and we can move on and get Leslie and the kids settled in better accommodations.”
Josh made a non-committal hum in the back of his throat as he quickly scribbled some words on the paper before ripping it out fully and putting it in his pocket, then handing the notebook back to Matthew.
“Alrighty then, let’s go get this done.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the girls and gave them a quick wave before following Matthew and Agnes out the door. There wasn’t really much more to say, so they walked the path in silence and entered the main building where the communities’ meals were served. Right away, they could hear the hum of conversation and every head turned in their direction when they walked into the big room. There was a beat of silence before many voices started calling out as Matthew walked Josh to the front of the room and up onto the raised platform.
Josh stepped up onto the platform right behind Matthew and waited while the man held up his hands and called for silence in the room. Once he could be heard, he gestured towards Josh.
“I’m sure you all remember Josh from last night’s meal where he and his friends gave us an accounting of what’s going on outside the city and in some of the world. He’s brought a list of supplies that they’re offering to the community in exchange for taking in the new members we discussed. Josh, would you like to say a few words?”
Josh nodded and stepped forward looking out over the room without saying anything. He scanned as many faces as he could, making eye contact before he began to speak.
“Her name is Leslie, although it should be Saint Leslie. She’s a trauma nurse that worked at the Children’s Hospital. She was there that day when all the lights went out and everything stopped working. I’d like you all to take a minute to think about what that would be like. Surrounded by sick and dying children when all life support came to an end. She was there when child after child died. She was there when parents - overcome with grief and unable to go on in a world without their children – threw themselves off the roof of the building. She was there when the doctors, nurses, and other staff walked away. She stayed. She stayed to care for other people’s children so they wouldn’t be alone at the end. She helped remove all the bodies when they brought them to the courtyard and burnt them to try and stave off even more disease and death. When it was finally just her and an elderly security guard left, she stayed and watched over the sixteen children that were left with no family members to care for them. They’ve managed to survive in the hospital for the last eight months based on what that one security guard could scavenge to feed them and anonymous donations of food from survivors still out there.
“I don’t know if it was the stigma of taking from sick children that kept the scavengers, gangs, and junkies away or if they’ve just been incredibly lucky but whatever it was, that luck ran out today. Shortly before we arrived at the hospital they were attacked by a group of junkies. The lone defender, an elderly security guard, managed to scare them away but shortly after we arrived there, they attacked again with a bigger force. My friends and I managed to repel the attack and kill most of them but sadly that security guard, Albert, was shot and killed. Two of my friends were seriously wounded in the battle. Staying at the hospital is no longer an option with Leslie as the only adult with sixteen children. My friends and I have agreed to take seven of them back to our home to care for them but the other nine children are unable to travel such a far distance. You see, they wouldn’t survive the trip because eight of them will be dead soon from the terminal diseases that are killing them. Leslie expects most of them to not last longer than two weeks. They’re sick and they’re weak and they’re scared and they just need somewhere safe and warm to spend the last few days of their lives. The ninth child is healthy but he refuses to join the children on the trip to our home because he made a promise to Albert. He promised Albert that he would watch over and try and protect Leslie and the other children.”
Josh paused and looked around the room. The majority of the faces showed sadness at his tail with the exception of one table that was filled with hard, indifferent faces that Josh recognized as the group of men who had tried to steal from them the night before. He focused on them as he held up the piece of paper he had scribbled on.
“Here’s the list of supplies you demanded. It’s an inventory of what was in it for you before you’d be willing to consider letting Leslie and these children into your community.” He glanced at it and waved it in the air. “Quite a lot of goodies on this list. Things that would greatly benefit your community. A whole lot of meat, beef, and pork as well as many dozens of fresh eggs that I know you’ve all been missing. Then there’s the major firepower you could use to protect your community.” He paused again as his expression turned hard and then crumpled the paper in his fist. “You don’t need an exact inventory though, because you won’t be getting any of it. Leslie’s skills and training as a trauma nurse should have been more than enough to welcome her into the community. She would have helped you all stay healthy as well as deliver the babies that are on the way. Compassion, kindness, and human decency should have been all it took to accept those dying children. Clearly, that’s not who you all are, so I’m not going to leave these innocent children here in this community. There’s another group that had traded with Leslie in the past that we’re going to take them to and they’ll receive this list of goodies to help their community instead.” As the uproar of voices filled the room, Josh kept his hard gaze pinned on the group of men and spat out, “You disgust me!”
It was the man, Aaron, that had tried to steal the sleds from them the night before that jumped to his feet was a look of anger on his face and yelled out.
“Good! We don’t need any more deadweight here!”
A scream full of anguish and rage pierced the room causing all the voices to become silent and all heads to turn in that direction. It was a woman that had climbed up onto her chair that had made the noise. She had dark circles under her eyes and her face was a mask of anguish and anger. She wasn’t looking at Josh though, she was looking at the table of hard-faced men that opposed bringing Leslie and the kids into the community
“No! Just no! You don’t speak for us. You’ve never spoken for us. You and your friends have done nothing but cause trouble with your angry, bitter, toxic attitudes. My daughter was one of the children who died in that hospital. My husband was one of the parents who took his own life. I will not stand here and let you turn those babies away!” With a fierce expression she turned away from him and looked around the room before calling out, “I call for a vote to allow the nurse and the children to stay here. And then I call for a vote to expel Aaron and his trouble-making friends!”
The room erupted in a roar of angry voices. Josh stepped back and glanced at Matthew, who was trying in vain to settle the crowd back down. When he looked past him, he saw Agnes step onto the stage with the cowbell she normally used to call people to dinner. Her eyes met his and he saw a look of satisfaction in them.
Apparently, this was exactly what she was hoping would happen. Agnes rang the bell repeatedly until finally the room settled down and all eyes were back on the three standing on the platform. Before Matthew had a chance to speak, his wife’s voice rang out.
“I second the motion for the first vote and I second the motion for the second vote. All those in favor of allowing the nurse and children to join the community, raise your hands!”
Every single person in the room except for the one table of men raised their hands. Agnes gave a firm nod towards the audience.
“The ayes have it. Leslie and the children will be now added to our community and we will do whatever is needed t
o ensure their comfort and safety in the last days of their lives. Matthew?” She turned towards her husband. “Would you call the second vote, please?”
He gave her an exasperated look before shaking his head and turning towards the audience.
“I know that a vote has been called, and seconded…,” he shot an annoyed glance at his wife, “but I think before we vote on expulsion, we should consider a vote of probation first.” He didn’t give the room time to erupt again, he just immediately called the vote. “All those in favor of placing Aaron and his group on probation with the next infraction being expulsion from the community, raise your hands.”
Over half the room raised their hands at this so Matthew declared it passed.
“Thank you, everyone, for your input on these important community matters. It’s getting late and I think we should wrap this up. We should all head back to our quarters and reflect on how we wish to go forward as a community, united for the betterment of all of us.”
He didn’t wait for anyone to come and speak to them but grabbed both his wife and Josh’s arms and ushered them out of the room, down the hallway, and out of the building before speaking again. He started with his wife.
“Agnes, that was a little over-the-top don’t you think? Voting on expulsion like that.”
She scoffed at him. “Matthew, there’s a time for talk and there’s a time for action. That vote has been long overdue. Those men have been nothing but bullies and trouble to the whole community for months. It was time they were put on notice that their behavior would no longer be tolerated. I’m content to let you manage things for the most part but sometimes drastic measures need to be taken to move things forward.” She patted him on the arm and sent another wink Josh’s way before striding ahead towards the garage where the rest of the group was waiting.
Matthew let out a deep sigh and turned to Josh. “It is a blessing and a curse to love a strong-willed woman!” He studied Josh for a moment and then asked, “Would you really have taken them to this other community?”
Josh scrunched up his face and looked down to where he was using the toe of his boot to make a line in the snow before answering. “Ever play poker, Matthew? Sometimes, you’ve just got to bluff!”
Matthew stared at him with an exasperated look for a few moments before his lips tucked up into an amused smile. “As I said before, you’re a real pain in the ass!”
Chapter Four
By the time Josh and Matthew made it to the garage, Agnes had spread the good news. A group of ladies followed them down the path to come and help relocate Leslie and the children to more comfortable accommodations. As they were getting that organized, Josh chatted with Matthew about their plans for the med run as well as a few other questions that he had.
“I forgot to include Cooper and Lisa in my little speech in there. Is there going to be a problem including those two as well?” Josh asked.
Matthew shook his head. “No. When I first presented the deal to the group I had included both of them. With Lisa being Kirkland’s daughter, there wouldn’t even be a question about including her. With his experience and skills, having Cooper join us is almost as good as gaining Leslie. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we have a shortage of level-headed men to help defend the community, so having him here will really help.”
Josh nodded, looking towards the corner where he had last seen Lisa resting and saw Kirkland sitting quietly with his daughter’s head in his lap, gently rubbing her hair. The look of love and concern on the man’s face erased any doubts that Josh might have still had about leaving Lisa here, so he turned back to Matthew.
“I’m glad that’s settled. I’m still hoping that they will make their way home to us in the spring but it takes a weight off my shoulders knowing that they’ll be accepted here.” Josh rubbed at his face, feeling the exhaustion from a very long day before asking, “You wouldn’t happen to have that map of the city on you would you? Leslie gave us an address to the medical supply distribution center. I’d like to take a closer look at the streets around it and try and plot the best route for us to take to get there.”
Matthew started patting at the various pockets of the parka he was wearing while nodding his head. “I actually do still have it on me,” he said, before finally pulling it out of an inside pocket.
They moved over toward one of the sleds while Josh waved at Dara and Emily to join them and Matthew spread the map open over the sled’s long bench seat. He used a finger to circle an area.
“You said it was Inglewood you needed to go to?” At Josh’s nod, Matthew poked the map inside the circle. “This area right here is the neighborhood of Inglewood. It’s actually just across the river from us. It’s a mix of residential, business and industrial and had gone through a refurbishing not that long ago. It’s only nine or ten blocks from the core of downtown so you’re going to have to be cautious to get in and out without running into any of the gangs that prowl around down there.”
Josh leaned over the map and muttered the address that Leslie had given him as he ran his fingers over the streets until he came to the one he was looking for. Luckily, Calgary’s streets were numbered making it easier to find the cross street by the address number Leslie had given them. He traced back from the intersection they needed to get to, to the river, and across to the zoo before leaning back and nodding his head.
“This actually doesn’t look too bad,” he said, looking up at Dara and Emily. “We should be able to get over there, get what we need and get back here pretty quick, as long as we don’t run into any trouble of the human variety.”
Emily shrugged her shoulders. “Shouldn’t be a problem even then. I doubt anyone is walking around with assault rifles like us. They weren’t exactly common in our country before lights out so I doubt anyone’s gotten their hands on them after.”
Josh looked up into the ceiling reverently. “From your mouth to God’s ears Em! I’d like to leave here no later than five in the morning if that’s okay with you guys?” he asked. “Hopefully, all the bad boys have hit the sack by then and we can get across and back before they have time to get up, get dressed and track us down. That’ll also let us get back up to the hospital in plenty of time before the noon deadline I gave Quinn to head out without us.”
Emily nodded in agreement but Dara just chewed on her lip with anxiety at knowing her friends would be heading out without her. Josh met her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile of understanding.
“It’s okay, babe. You know I’m bulletproof! Nothing’s going to go wrong. We’re due to have a little bit of luck. We’re racking up the good karma here so it’s bound to come back our way!”
She shook her head at him. “Sweetie, we both know the only part of you that’s bulletproof is that hard head of yours. Seriously, I need you all to come back in one piece with no extra holes, okay?”
Josh nodded his agreement with a serious expression for a change and Emily reached out to sling her arm over Dara’s shoulders and give them a squeeze. Just then, Leslie walked over and join them.
The woman’s face was lined with exhaustion but her eyes were filled with relief. She shot a quick glance over her shoulder as the last child in her care was carried out the door to their new quarters before turning back to the teens. Her voice was filled with emotion when she addressed them.
“I can’t thank you all enough for what you’ve done for us. You have no idea what it means to me to know that the last days of my kids’ lives will be spent warm and safe with enough food in their bellies that they won’t go to sleep hungry. I can never repay what you’ve done for us.”
Emily dropped her arm from Dara and reached out to rest a hand on Leslie’s.
“There’s nothing to repay. We only did what any decent human being would have done if they could. You’re an inspiration, Leslie. Staying at the hospital and caring for all those kids, you deserve any comfort you can get now and so much more. I’m sure if the parents of those children could, they would be on their knees in
front of you in thanks for what you did for their babies. As for us, without you sending us to the right location to find the medicine we need for our town, we would be faced with hundreds of deaths, so there’s no debt to be repaid. You have my promise that we will make sure that every single child we’re taking home with us receives all the love, safety and food that they need. I truly hope that you’ll consider joining us in the spring.”
Tears were trickling down Leslie’s cheeks as she nodded her head, overcome with emotion and unable to speak.
Emily shifted the focus of the conversation. “I have the list of medicines that you made for me for cystic fibrosis treatments but is there anything else that we can get for you while we are there?”
Leslie sniffed a few times and cleared her throat before replying. “If you have time, try and grab any antibiotics and painkillers that you see. Those two things will always be needed. I’ll speak to Agnes when I join them at our new rooms and check with her to see if there’s any specific medication anyone in the community needs. We’ll give Matthew a list for you if there is.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the empty door, clearly wanting to be off to be with her kids so Emily pulled her into a quick hug and moved out of the way so the other two teens could say their goodbyes as well. They stood watching as she left the building with one final wave and then turned back to look down at the map. Josh scrubbed his face again before shaking his head and folding the map back up.
“It’s pretty straightforward on how to get there and how to get back so I think we should wrap it up for the night and try and get some sleep. I don’t know about you guys but I’m knackered to the point where I can barely think straight.”
The girls agreed and moved over toward where Lisa was laying with her dad. Emily squatted down in front of them and was happy to see Lisa’s eyes were open so she wouldn’t have to wake her friend.
“How are you feeling, honey?”
STRANDED: Box Set: Books 1-6 Page 99
