Hannes, Riaan, Taryn and Emma had to hike a further two kilometers into the bush to find the hidden Police vehicle and then wait there for Kate and Zane to bring Nicole and her valuable cargo in the pickup.
"It's just a matter of time before someone finds it," Taryn said.
Riaan and Hannes kept quiet, hoping she was wrong. When they finally arrived at the spot where they had hidden the police vehicle, it was exactly as they had left it. Some branches had blown off but they quickly fixed it up until it was completely covered again.
However, it was not long before they heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. Hannes went ahead to see who was driving along the sandy pathway. True to his style, Zane was standing on the back of the pickup.
"They're here!", Hannes shouted to Riaan and Taryn, who came forward see for themselves as the 4x4 made its way through the bush towards them.
Kate sat with Nicole up front. It was a sight to see, as the old white Toyota pickup was loaded with supplies, boxes and bags and no doubt the goodies Kate so desperately needed. Nathan had sent through a detailed message, the shopping list was extensive.
After checking that no one had followed Nicole, they began to unload the pickup. She had brought a little more than they expected. The first mission of the day was accomplished in under three hours. They had packed all the supplies together for easy carrying back to the camp.
Riaan, Zane and Hannes made quick work of hiding Nicole's pickup. They called the others to inspect. Standing back, the entire group admired their achievement as the Toyota had managed to disappear miraculously under a mound of fynbos.
"It's going to be ok," Kate said as she put her arms around Nicole.
"When it hatches in two weeks' time, it'll be a Land Rover!"
"Ha-ha," she replied, as they all laughed at her silly joke.
All six of them were now heavily loaded; it would be a four kilometer hike back to camp through fynbos and over the sea of dunes. Yet no one complained as they were all too grateful for the supplies.
Nicole was excited for other reasons and spoke all the way, asking question after question.
Who does the cooking?
Where do you get water from?
Where are the toilets?
How safe is it?
Where do I sleep?
"Relax Nicole, it's all going to be ok," Kate had to reassure her.
But she still fired off more questions.
By the time they had walked the four kilometers she had already asked more than twenty eight questions. Taryn, who was always super-observant, began to count them.
"It's flipping hot today, hey!" Kate said to Nicole who had gone all silent.
"I never knew it was peaceful out here," she said.
"Yes, it does that to you sometimes; it simply makes you take note."
They stopped on the crest of the first sand dune and took a break. A sea of sand lay between them and the camp that was barely visible in the distance. It was just a splash of trees that formed a mini-oasis not more than fifty meters in diameter, with shade and shelter, but no water. Every day they would have to trek two kilometers to the ravine to fill up canisters and water bottles. The stream did not flow with a steady current, but merely trickled along towards the river mouth.
The process of water purification would then begin. First they would strain the water, and then boil it for at least five minutes; all twenty liters of it, each and every day. They all took turns gathering wood and fetching water. No one sat around doing nothing. Somehow, since they left the Kruger farm, things became more serious. Nathan was far more focused, losing his patience from time to time. After all, no one really wanted to be there.
Perhaps Nicole would bring calmness to his restless soul, which was constantly in thought. Of everyone in the tribe, Kate had the least amount of clothing and she made it known. Nicole once again would be her saving grace.
The dunes always brought peace to a troubled soul: it was a surreal environment, purest white sand, blinding to the eye during the midday sun, but almost glowing at night.
A figure approached and Hannes spotted it first. Looking through the binoculars he noticed a familiar face, as Nathan came into view. More accurately, he came to meet Nicole……… Guess he couldn’t wait any longer.
At their last meeting, when she handed over the diary, Kate noticed the chemistry between them. They were about to explode with passion if nothing happened soon.
In her own way she was a little envious as she had become rather intrigued with Nathan, but then again, Nicole found him first. Backing off she let Nicole walk ahead, watching her pace pick up when she saw him. Nathan, however, remained at his steady pace. His pride kept him in check; he would not succumb just yet to this beauty now running towards him.
Kate kept everyone else back as they stopped to watch the two embrace only fifty meters ahead.
"Okay, you two, that's enough," Kate shouted after a minute.
Nathan and Nicole had such a good ring to it; even their names seemed to fit.
"Reporting in, Sir," Kate said again, putting on a cockney British accent.
Nicole was glowing, she held Nathan's hand and it looked as if she would never let it go.
After they reached the camp they all relaxed. The sun was still a few hours away from setting and the fire had already been lit. Nathan held Nicole's hand and embraced her openly, which was much of a relief to Riaan, who still carried a torch for Kate. A new dynamic was at play around the campsite.
Kate stood by herself with her arms folded, watching them unpack all the goodies. She noticed that Nicole was gradually becoming the new favorite. A small feeling of jealously came over her but she realized just how foolish she was for having feelings for Nathan anyway.
"Kate, this is yours," Nicole said, holding up a bag with all the things she had ordered.
Walking forward she took it and kissed Nicole.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea just how much this means to me."
Sitting down next to Zane she started to go through the items.
It felt like Christmas for Kate, but she kept her thoughts to herself as no one here, besides maybe Nicole, believed in Christmas. She reminded herself that she was very different from those within the group, but then realized that they were all very different from everyone she had ever met.
I'm the normal one around here, not them, she thought.
Parcels wrapped in plastic contained food stuff and medical necessities. From the look of it Nicole spent a small fortune purchasing the supplies. Much of it was taken from the family store but essentials she had to buy from the Clanwillam Supermarket.
Nathan was very pleased with the small solar charger she ordered, which was hand delivered to the store by DHL - it was perfect for all their devices.
Kate, however, had taken over the ISIS iPad. Nathan had insisted on it. Since Chantel's revelation, Nathan and Kate had made a decision to keep it from the group for as long as possible. Nicole was also kept in the dark. She would have to be brought up to speed as her family may be at risk once again.
With Neliswe now on board, they had set up over fifteen private underground network groups who would no doubt spearhead the awareness drive. The purpose was to reach a critical mass whereby it would spread exponentially, until it became a force to be reckoned with. After all, they cannot shut down the internet, especially as it's used to monitor everyone on the planet.
When all the supplies had been packed away in tents, everyone around the camp started to relax a little. Nathan and Nicole decided to go for a walk alone to the beach. No one dared to follow them.
Kate, Nadine and Taryn decided they would go for a swim a little later. Until then they relaxed in the shade of the day.
But not Kate; she was online already, catching up with the latest news feeds and gossip.
Neliswe had sent her an encrypted email with additional images and useful Intel regarding Staaldraad. Both Kate and Nathan could not speak Afrikaans, but Ne
liswe explained the meaning of Staaldraad to them - Steel Wire was an appropriate description for a concentration camp.
Rumor response from the UWN in Cape Town was that it was a training center. Things would be heating up, especially when Kate downloaded the latest photos, with the exact GPS coordinates, for anyone to verify the complex themselves. Even Google Earth had placed a black-out section over the base, which no doubt got all the conspiracy theorists excited. A red flag warning went up for all to see.
Kate was now dying from the heat; sitting in her tent wearing only shorts and a bikini top, trying to cool down as much as possible. Switching her iPad off to preserve the batteries was just an excuse to get the girls together for a swim.
The boys had found some board games and were now far too engrossed to consider an afternoon swim. Within minutes the three girls were on the beach and completely alone; it was paradise and a perfect time to go skinny dipping. However, they knew Nathan and Nicole were around so they decided to skip it for now.
The water was not as cold as it had been yesterday so they went in quite deep and spent almost ten minutes playing in the waves before they emerged shivering. Sitting together, huddled for warmth, the girls joked and laughed in idle conversation. Kate had found acceptance with the strangest people she had ever met.
It was a good day, a great day. Probably the best day they would ever have. Living on the edge meant that moments were always remembered with far more passion than those who lived in mediocrity.
"I feel like a fag," Kate said.
They all laughed.
"I have some in my tent," Nadine replied.
"What, and you're only telling me now?" Kate asked, shaking her head.
"I'm joking girl, where would I get cigarettes from?" Nadine said.
They sat in silence, just watching the wave’s crash and wash up on the beach. It was peaceful and calm. Soon all three girls sunbathed in the warmth of the sun. Birds flew and dived into the ocean, fishing and feasting. Tonight they would celebrate, thanks to Nicole's arrival.
Not too far along the beach they spotted the love birds, sitting together as well, and watching the same sun set as countless billions across the globe.
Without warning, a spotter plane suddenly appeared further down the beach, flying along the coast line toward them. It was a small Coastguard patrol aircraft.
They immediately rushed for cover and hoped they had not been spotted.
Chapter 32
"What we say will soon be forgotten, but what we do will live on through a thousand years."
Adolf Hitler
In the late afternoon on the 16th of April, 2028, Chantel finally arrived exhausted and drained from the long hike. She recognized the small unused dirt road that first dipped to the left before winding its way around a cluster of rocks before disappearing into the fynbos. It was overgrown, but she still remembered it from her first visit, standing on the back of a pick-up with the other kids. This Kibbutz they said was special; on the far side of the koppie it had a cave that had a crystal clear pool of water in it. They went there for baptism; it was also a natural amphitheater, and the perfect outside church.
Chantel truly felt God's presence there. She never felt it again, and never in a normal church.
However, a cold shiver shot down her spine as she caught the glimpse of a newly erected fence in the distance. She instinctively knew something was out of place and quickly dashed for cover in the fynbos. She listened and waited. It was a little too quiet for comfort.
Please Lord, I hope they're ok, she prayed to herself.
After a few minutes she stood up followed the road that meandered through the fynbos until she came to the fence that blocked all access. She stopped in front of the official-looking sign. It had an emblem of the local government on it and the UWN logo in the corner.
Warning!
Entry to this property is strictly forbidden.
Seizure under section 4723 of the Terrorist Act of 2027 is enforced.
All trespassers will be severely dealt with.
By order of the Minister of Internal Security.
Her heart sank as she realized that Steenkamp had probably tortured someone to death for information about the location of this Kibbutz. The farms had to be kept secret from the other members in case of defectors. Some had left the church and returned to society as they had no stomach for the harsh farm life anymore. For that reason only the Kibbutz leaders knew the location of the other farms. Rumor was rife that only a few Elders knew the location of all the farms. Chantel only knew of three. There could have been dozens of farms scattered across South Africa.
Chantel sighed as she realized the cold truth; yet, there was no anger towards her uncle - he probably resisted until he could no more. Steenkamp was a ruthless brute; she knew his methods very well.
An icy cold breeze blew down her neck. It was time to find shelter.
After crossing over the fence she made her way carefully towards the main house. It had changed much since her first visit as a child while it was under construction. Her uncle was a builder, he owned a construction company in Cape Town, which also employed both her parents. After they disappeared in Somalia, he took her in as his adopted daughter. In a way, he had become her father.
Emotions started to swell deep inside her as she realized that he was probably dead. The promises Steenkamp made were probably all lies. She realized he had no intention of reuniting them again at the rehabilitation center in George.
Anger towards the man turned into cold hatred, one day soon, she prayed, her father would be avenged. If not by herself, then she hoped by Nathan, if he could ever forgive her someday for deserting them.
Upon arriving at the main house she noticed the signs of a struggle, the front door had a large hole that had been blasted through it by a shotgun, yet it still stood. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Broken glass and ceiling panels littered the floor, furniture had been overturned and a child's tri-cycle lay trampled to one side. Then she noticed it; the faint odors of rotting decay.
Bullet holes riddled the walls and ceiling; a sure sign of resistance.
Oh my God, Chantel said to herself.
She looked into the Mess Hall while step by step she walked around taking in the carnage. The Kibbutz would have been their sanctuary until the day of the Rapture, the day God came to fetch His people. But that all seemed like a fairytale now.
Chantel stood still; her backpack lay abandoned like so many disregarded things around her. Her own self-pity seemed to fade when she noticed blood stains on the floor. Walking around, taking everything in, Chantel tried to guess how the scene had played out but she could not. Instead she began to pray, lifting up her hands in the air as if sanctifying the building as a shrine to those who perished. Even though she did not know who they were exactly, or how many perished. She felt it in the air and her spirit began to weep.
The great Ark Kibbutz that Chantel had dreamed about it so many times, was now in ruins. She had even imagined it as some mystical place of spiritual importance. Yet, like all the other farms, it too had been closed down. It was believed to be the most remote of all the farms that had been set up.
Nathan however had never been there. She had asked him once.
The church they belonged to divided itself into different groups - members within each section sold all they had and pooled everything together. They then set up separate survival farms where they could sustain an existence until the Rapture. Even though they had no idea as to the exact date, they felt it would be within seven years after Israel signed their treaty with the UWN. If the Tribulation was upon them, then they would be ready spiritually and physically to weather all storms.
From what Chantel could see, the farm had already been looted to some degree as news of this would have reached the locals in the area. But they would do nothing, they would steal to survive and keep their mouths shut.
One thing was certain, she could not
survive now; not without food and water. Already her stomach had shrunk. Within half an hour she had examined all the buildings; the barns and even the attic, but still no sign of life. Hope of finding some food in the pantry was foolish but she ventured in anyway, holding her breath to avoid the stench. There was nothing left, except for some empty boxes and a packet of two minutes noodles. That would be something at least, and her hopes lifted.
But Chantel knew the signs of flu, she felt it in the pit of her stomach. She was coming down with something alright, she felt dizzy and weak from the long three day hike that had sapped every last bit of her energy.
When she started to shake Chantel realized she would have to keep warm and attempted to retrieve her backpack, but it was too heavy. Without the power to lift it she dragged it along the dirty floor until she reached the inner courtyard where she decided to pitch the tent.
Shaking more now, she knew that within half an hour most of her strength would be gone. Often she suffered from low sugar levels; all she needed was something sweet. Another luxury left behind in the modern world.
So much to give up and for what, she thought.
Finally, when the tent was erected, Chantel got inside and zipped the flap closed. Struggling to get her hiking boots off drained her last remaining energy. However, it was not long before she closed the sleeping bag around her and disappeared into a deep sleep. Exhaustion sent her into a world without any dreams, without any hope.
She awoke in the earliest hours of the morning after sleeping for eleven hours straight. Struggling to adjust to her new environment Chantel soon realized her nightmare was far from over. Some energy had returned to her weary body, yet, at only seventeen, she felt fragile and old.
The incision she made into her wrist two days ago now started to ache; a throbbing, deep pain that went all the way down to the bone. Too afraid to take the bandage off, she prepared to explore for food.
Dawn of Defiance Page 26
