In the corner, Julianne lowered her head. She, more than anyone there except Max, missed the Captain and the members of his group.
“I think it’s safe to assume we’re in this fight alone. We can’t count on Breytenbach to return in time to help us,” Max said. “We’re on our own.”
The words echoed through the room like the thud of the final nail sinking into a coffin, sealing all their fates. Lisa closed her eyes. The news didn’t frighten her. She didn’t want to rely on anybody but herself. It would make her stronger, and she’d fight all the harder for it.
She listened with half an ear while Max laid out the plans. Michelle and Ruby were too weak and inexperienced to fight. They’d look after the children inside the schoolroom along with the two young mothers, Erica and Tumi. Hannah, Dave, Dr. Lange, and Jonathan would run the infirmary and take care of any casualties. As the only medical personnel, they were too valuable to risk.
There was some debate over Peter and Thembiso. Neither Elise nor Julianne wanted them to take part, but the boys were nearly grown and well-trained. In the end, Max gave each the role of runner. They’d be used to relay information.
“That leaves only a few others I’m worried about,” Max concluded. “Elise, Julianne, Abraham, Phillip, and Ben.”
“What about me?” Ben asked in his gravelly voice. “I can fight.”
“So can I,” Abraham said, raising a stick-thin arm in the air.
“And I,” Phillip said, placing a hand on Abraham’s shoulders. “I’d never let my friend here fight alone.”
“Aren’t you two a bit old?” Abe protested.“
“I might be old, but I bet I could still teach you young ones a few things, son,” Abraham replied with a chuckle.
“Count me in,” Elise said.
“And me,” Julianne added.
“Are you sure?” Max asked.
“Yes,” they chorused.
“Good. We’ll need as many hands on deck as possible.”
After that, the meeting descended into a back and forth on weapons, tactics, food, water, and positioning. Mpho insisted that Ke Tau would most likely lead the attack with a swarm of undead, just like before. It was a favored method of his, and much of the discussion centered around this.
It was decided two snipers would be placed in the tower, both to keep a bird’s eye view of everything and to provide back-up to those below. Liezel and Abe were chosen for this job. Both were excellent long-range shots.
“The outer wall can’t be defended for long,” Michael asserted. “We’re too few. We should concentrate our forces on the inner walls, especially the main gate.”
“Yes, but we mustn’t forget about the smaller gate either,” Max said. “We need a force stationed there as well.
“What about the goats, and the reserve?” Elise asked. “We can’t afford to lose either.”
“Herd the goats into the reserve for now,” Joseph suggested. “I’ll build an earthen wall to barricade it off from the rest of the farm. I can do the same with the smaller gate.”
“Do you have enough time?” Max asked.
“With a few helping hands, yes.”
A couple of hands raised as people volunteered to help.“All right. That’s decided. As for the rest of you, get some rest. Report to the armory at three to get your kit. You’ll be given instructions then.”
With that, the meeting was closed, and people hurried off to do their jobs. The last to leave, Lisa wondered what part she’d play in the struggle to come. It didn’t matter, though. Win or lose; a few people are gonna be sorry they ever saw my face tonight.
Chapter 19 - Julianne
Julianne fled the meeting with tears burning to be shed. She bit on her fist to keep the sobs from escaping her lips and mumbled excuses to everyone in her path. Her legs sped up to a sprint toward the cottage she shared with Breytenbach, Meghan, and Sam.
She burst inside and paused, heaving for breath. It was just as she’d left it. As he’d left it. The bed they shared at night, safe in each other’s arms. His spare boots and clothes in the cupboard next to hers, the book of poetry he liked her to read aloud at night, and the reading glasses he wore when no one could see.
She fell onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow, breathing in his scent. Alone, at last, she let go of the fears that had kept her up the previous night. The terror that crept into her heart whenever she thought of never seeing Breytenbach again. “Christo, where are you?”
The room had no answers for her.
Unhampered by the need to appear strong, Julianne allowed herself to cry until she had no more tears left. Finally, the shaking stopped and the floodgates closed. When she was reduced to a few sniffles, she sat upright and stared at her hands.
They weren’t soft anymore. Not like they used to be. The nails were chipped and broken, devoid of polish or shine. Calluses from wielding a pitchfork and shovel lined her palms. The skin was rough and weathered.
On impulse, she went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She hadn’t done so in a while. The sight was startling. Despite her puffy eyed appearance, her skin was smooth and tanned. Laughter lines winged from her eyes to her temples while grey streaks mingled with the blonde in her hair. She looked older, yet stronger. Harder.
I’m not a lady anymore, not manicured or pedicured or tweezed to perfection. I’m a woman now. A fighter. A worker. “Just like my hands.”
Julianne turned and walked to the second bedroom. Here she lingered, taking in the sight of Samantha’s crib and Meghan’s single bed, both littered with stuffed toys and colored blocks.
Whether Breytenbach came back or not, she still had the children. She’d always have Sam and Meghan to look after. She couldn’t afford to break down and lose hope. Not now. “They need me, and Christo would expect me to look after them.”
With the decision to fight for her freedom and that of her children made, Julianne got ready for the ordeal to come. She washed her face and tied her hair into a tight bun before slipping on a pair of cargo pants made of sturdy material. Comfortable boots, a tank top, and a zipper jacket completed the ensemble.
Into her pockets, she slipped a flashlight, pocket knife, protein bar, and a bottle of water. Onto her belt, she looped the holster containing her pistol, a combat knife, and a length of sharpened steel with a leather handle made especially for her by Christo. It was her weapon of choice and very effective against infected. How well it would stand up against the living was a different story.
With a final look of farewell, she closed the door behind her and jogged to the infirmary. There she encountered Hannah and Dave laying out medical supplies and readying beds. Jonathan and Dr. Lange attended to the still unconscious Lonny, disinfecting his wounds.“Do you need any help?”
Hannah shot her a gentle smile and shook her head. “No, we’re all right, Julianne. Ben’s on his way to fortify the windows and doors. Other than that, we have everything in hand.”
“Are you armed?”
“No, we’re not.”
“You should be, just in case. I’ll get Max to send over a couple of guns with ammunition.”
“Thank you.”
With the infirmary ticked off her to-do list, Julianne made her way to the main building where Elise was putting away the last of their food and water supplies. Everything except for a full trolley that stood ready to go.
“Is this for the wall?” she asked.
Elise nodded. “I’m closing up here and taking it there now. Ideally, I want supplies stashed at regular intervals all along the inner walls. Who knows how long this fight will last?”
“True. Want some company?”
“Actually, would you mind checking on the children? I know they’re safe but…”
“I get it, no need to explain. I was going to check on them anyway,” Julianne replied. “See you on the wall?”
“On the wall,” Elise affirmed.
Julianne made her way to the schoolroom. Ben had already been t
here, and she was gratified to see the windows had been boarded up and the door reinforced with thick steel.
Inside was a scene of domestic tranquility. Meghan, Anne, and Jenny played dress-up in the corner while Mark pushed around a plastic firetruck. Sam chewed on a colored wooden block with Ruby hovering over her like a mother hen. In a crib slept Henriette and Thabo, while Buzz and Princess dozed on a blanket in a corner.
Overseeing the room was Michelle, Erica, and Tumi. A crate of food and water stood in the corner, and the building had its own compost toilet. Each of them was armed with both a gun and a knife which was a comfort to Julianne. They were as safe as could be expected.
Meghan squealed when she saw her mother and ran over. “Mommy, Mommy!”
“Hi, sweetie. How’s it going?”
“We’re playing Princesses and Mermaids. I’m the Princess of course,” Meghan said with evident pride.
Julianne laughed. “As long as you let Anne and Jenny have a turn too, sweetie. Don’t hog the crown.”
“Why not?”
“Because real Princesses aren’t selfish or mean.”
Meghan wrinkled her nose. “All right, if you say so.”
“I do.” Julianne kissed her on the brow. “Now you be good, you hear me? Do what Michelle tells you, no matter what.”
“Why?” Meghan asked with the sixth sense for trouble all children possess.
“Because she’s the grownup, and you’re not. Now play with your friends. I’ll see you later.”
“Is something going on?” Meghan lingered, reluctance keeping her frozen in place.
Julianne sighed and dropped to her haunches. “You might hear some noises, later on, sweetie, and I don’t want you to be scared.”
“What noises?”
“Well, you know the sick people?” she asked. Meghan nodded. “We think some of them might come here later tonight, and we’ll have to chase them away. You understand?”
“Is that why we have to stay here tonight?”
“Yes. So I need you to be a good girl and listen to the grownups. Be a proper example to the other kids, okay?”
“Okay.”
“That’s my girl. See you later, sweetie.”
Julianne watched Meghan go back to her friends before she walked over to Samantha. She picked her up and kissed Sam’s chubby cheeks while making a silent vow. I will not let anything happen to these children. Not today.
“You’ll look after them, won’t you, Michelle?”
“With my life, ma’am.”
“So will I,” Ruby added.
“We all will,” Erica said, and Tumi nodded.
Julianne felt tears well up but swallowed them with a bright smile. “Thank you.”
She left the schoolroom with a feeling of regret, but while some of them couldn’t fight, the rest of them had no choice. Every available gun was needed on the wall, including her own. “Please, God. Don’t let my children come to any harm tonight. I’ll do anything.”
At the armory, she met Max who handed her extra ammunition for her pistol and a shotgun with shells. “Here, Mom. Take this.”
She hefted the gun with a smile. Never the best shot in the world, the weapon was perfect for someone with limited range and accuracy like her. “Thanks, Max.”
He paused and reached out a hand. She took it, and he pulled her into a hug. “Be careful out there. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”
“Same here, Max. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Don’t forget about the lot in the infirmary. They need weapons too, just in case.”
“I won’t.” He waved as she left. “See you soon.”
After leaving Max behind, there was very little else to do but wait. All the buildings were shut down except the schoolroom, infirmary and one cottage with a bathroom and beds for those that needed it. All spare power was routed to the floodlights positioned along the inner wall, and food and water were stationed at intervals. People walked around with nervous energy, while others dozed in the sun, catching up on lost sleep.
Julianne did a quick circuit of the inner walls to familiarize herself with the overall strategy Max had implemented with the help of Michael. The small gate leading outside to the reserve had been sealed and barricaded by an earthen embankment. After the goats were herded into the reserve, and that was cordoned off as well by a wall of dirt.
“Do you think the animals will be safe?” she asked Joseph who was just about to go to the infirmary.
“They should be. The primary fight will be over here. As long as their fence holds and Ke Tau concentrates his attack on us, the reserve should pass unnoticed by both the living and the dead.
“Unless they try to break in from the outside again like they did with the tree.”
“Not likely. Too much trouble. They could just come straight here through the outer gates. It’s the biggest weak point in our defenses.”
“You’re right as ever, Joseph.”
“I wish to God I weren’t,” he replied before hurrying off to fortify the infirmary.
An argument at the main gates drew Julianne’s attention, and she walked over. “What’s going on?”
Elise turned to her, her face beetroot red with anger. “They want to leave. Can you believe that? They’re running away.”
“Who?” Julianne asked though it was pretty obvious.
“Nick and Sharyn,” Elise exclaimed.
Julianne looked the couple over with shrewd eyes, noting the backpacks and guns they carried. Their faces were set, eyes hooded, though Nick had the decency to blush beneath her gaze.
“You want to leave? As in permanently?” she asked.
Nick nodded. “Yes, we want to go.”
“Why?” Julianne gestured around her. “You’d abandon us at a time like this? After we took you in?”
Nick averted his eyes, but Sharyn answered for him. “We never signed up for this fight, and you can’t keep us here. Let us go.”
Her voice was shrill, and Julianne recognized the signs of panic. She lowered her voice to a soothing pitch and reached out. “Sharyn, please. Can’t we talk about this? I know you’re scared, but we can figure something out.”
“No!” Sharyn backed away like a spooked horse. “I want to leave.”
Nick sighed and shot Julianne a pleading look. “Please, just let us go. She can’t fight. Neither can I. What happens if we lose?”
Julianne mulled it over, but she knew she couldn’t force them to stay. “Fine. I hope you find what you’re looking for out there.”
“Thanks.” They turned to go, ducking through the gap in the gates which still stood open.
Elise rounded on her. “What the hell? Why did you let them leave?”
“What good would it do to force them to stay?”
“But…”
“I get it, Elise, I do, but I’d rather fight alongside my friends than some coward who runs at the first signs of trouble.” She laid a warm hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “A friend like you.”
“Elise sniffed. “Same here, Julianne. I just wish…”
Elise left her wish unsaid, but Julianne thought she knew what it was because she had the same one. Dear Lord, please let us live through tonight. Unharmed and safe.
Chapter 20 - Max
Max stood on the wall like a sentinel, his keen gaze taking in every detail around him. A quick glance at his watch told him it was half past four in the afternoon. The sun had begun its descent toward the earth, its light washing the veldt in hues of yellow and gold. “Not long now.”
As if in answer to his words, a smudge of dust appeared on the horizon. With each second that passed, it grew in size and deepened in color. The horde approached.
“Is it them?” he asked Michael who stood next to him.
“It’s them.”
Earlier that day, Michael had gone on a solo reconnaissance of the area and the roads leading up to it. The news he brought back was sobering. Ke
Tau had gathered a massive swarm of infected, and two of his men on dirt bikes were leading them straight to the main gates.
“Just like last time,” Max said.
“This time, though, they’ll follow up the attack themselves, and they’ll be armed with guns,” Michael said.
“We’re ready for them,” Max replied, though worry gnawed at his gut. With so few fighters, he’d assigned only Ben and Shaun to the back wall with the rest spaced out along the front and sides.
He lifted his hand and waved at the people assembled. The signal was taken up and passed around until everybody stood to arms at their posts. A tense silence fell.
The cloud of dust moved closer by the minute, drawing inexorably nearer. It was rust red and reminded Max of dried blood. A nervous tremor shivered through his right hand, and he clenched it into a fist. Not for the first time, he wished Breytenbach was there to advise him. But he’s not, and it’s up to us to defend ourselves.
The ham radio at his side crackled, and he started. “Max, come in. Max.”
He raised the mic to his lips and pressed the button. “Liezel? What is it?”
“Four vehicles are approaching the gates ahead of the horde.”
“Four?” He exchanged a perplexed look with Michael.
“That’s right.”
“Can you make out who they are?”
“Hold on.”
Max lowered the radio. “It can’t be Ke Tau. He wouldn’t be ahead of the infected, would he? I mean, he’d be trapped between them and the fence.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Michael agreed.
“Unless…” A bright spark of hope flared in Max’s breast.
“Unless what?”
Liezel’s voice came on again, pitched high with excitement. “It’s one of ours in the front. It’s Breytenbach!”
“Really?” Max craned his head toward the far outer gates. As yet, he could see nothing, but he prayed Liezel was right.
“She said four vehicles, right? Breytenbach only had two,” Michael pointed out.
Children of the Apocalypse: Mega Boxed Set Page 68
