Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth)

by S. E. GILCHRIST

  “Okay. Let’s head to the bathroom.”

  As soon as I moved, Alex looked over.

  Our gazes tangled together.

  I read the question in his gaze as if he was speaking right beside me and shook my head. No, I’m not making another escape through the roof.

  Satisfied he resumed his conversation with his father.

  The encounter, the way our minds had meshed, tilted my soul on its axis. My knees wobbled as I walked across the workshop floor. I hardly knew what to make of this mind-melding thing but it was pretty awesome.

  As soon as we entered the bathroom, my brother closed the door in an exaggerated manner that made me smile. He grinned as he inspected the hole in the ceiling plasterboard.

  “Did you really climb out through the roof?”

  “Yes and I don’t recommend it. I nearly lost it. The tiles were so slippery I almost slid off.”

  “Good one, Sis.” He joined me at the basins and we stared at each other in the spotted mirror. “Do you think we’re aliens?”

  I shook my head. “No, Mum would have said so. I did ask if we had monkeys or rats in us.” And as I’d hoped, Dan laughed.

  His shoulders straightened. “A tail would have been cool.”

  “What’s up?” I jerked my chin in the direction of the door. “Someone’s bound to come looking if we’re in here too long.”

  “This whole setup worries me.” He peered at me through his flop of soft brown hair.

  My fingers twitched. I wanted badly to soothe it back out of his eyes but knew he’d outgrown my big sister habits. It was time I stopped treating him like a little boy. If I don’t make it, it’ll be down to him.

  Instead I said, “Me, too.”

  “I feel like we’re trapped in here.”

  “Agree. I can’t work out whether we’re being protected or imprisoned.” I turned on the tap and splashed cool water over my face. How long before the water tank ran dry? I made sure I only used the bare minimum, subconsciously adhering to Garroway's ultimatum about one basin-full of water per person per day for cleaning purposes. Plus, Mum and Dad had always made us conserve water, no matter where we were living at the time.

  “I checked my laptop a few minutes ago. The government is broadcasting emergency warnings and instructions. About this virus?”

  My gut churned. In the mirror, my little bro’s face was pale and serious.

  “There are reports coming in on various international forums. It turns people mad, makes them attack each other.”

  The breath froze in my chest, turned leaden. Hoarsely I asked, “Attack? As in...kill?”

  Dan nodded.

  Air whooshed out from my lungs. Every horror movie I'd ever watched flashed across my mind. I blurted, “That’s the perfect way to get rid of your enemy. Have him kill his own people, then stroll in and mop up the few that remain. Bloody hell. This is awful. Does anyone else know?”

  “I haven’t said anything but that doesn’t mean no one else has used their mobile. I saw Emma using hers behind the ute about an hour ago.”

  I sighed. “There’s no way Em would be able to keep something as mind-boggling as that to herself. My guess is she was trying to contact one of her adoptive parents. Let them know she was okay.” Gripping the edge of the basin I leaned forward and rested my aching forehead on the cool glass.

  “According to Mr Garroway, this virus spreads fast. How much time before the next strike?”

  “Um.” Dan checked his watch. “Tomorrow morning sometime, I think.”

  That didn’t give us much time. What could we do? Nausea churned in my belly. I pushed away and paced up and down. “The observatory. Is there anything there we could use to contact these sons-of-bitches and try to negotiate a kind of truce?”

  “It’s a possibility.” Dan’s face brightened.

  “I can’t think of any other way. We’ll have to hurry. We’re not going to achieve anything by skulking about here. At least, I’m not.”

  “I’m going with you this time.”

  “Dan...”

  “We were made, made Sis, specifically to these aliens’ requirements. Both of us. You for communication and I suspect, I’m for inventing engines capable of flying beyond this solar system.”

  “I knew about me but you? Wow. Not that I’m surprised, that drawing I found in your room was amazing.” I enclosed his hand gently in mine. “We can’t remain together. If we’re both caught, it’s over. Not just for us but for Earth.”

  Releasing him, I swung away to pace the room. “I can’t believe I’m saying all this stuff. It’s like I’m stuck inside a sci fi movie.”

  “I know. What are we going to do?”

  Drawing a deep breath, I looked at Dan. “I have to get to the observatory, it’s the only place I can think that may be of some use to us. You stay with Mum and the others. You should be safe here. And don’t worry about me. I’ll have a Warder watching my back.”

  Upon returning to the others, I found some leftovers which Bartholomew happily demolished and gave him a fresh bowl of water. Lurid and nightmarish visions of what was happening outside these walls and the sight of congealed meat made my stomach turnover.

  I remained close to Mum, helping her pack food stuffs back into the eskies, saying little but soaking up the familiarity of her presence, storing all the little things deep inside my memory banks.

  Who knew if I’d ever see her again? The terrifying possibility that Mum and my friends might contract the illness striking down the world’s population spewed poison into my soul.

  “Tara? Can I talk to you for a second?”

  Deep in thought, I hadn’t noticed Marnie approach until she’d spoken. She cast a quick glance around the workshop as if noting everyone’s position. An action that sent my eyebrows shooting to my hairline. Maybe, paranoia was catching on, like a new phase.

  “Sure. I can’t believe how popular I am today.” I grinned glad of a diversion from my depressing thoughts. “I’ll be back in a minute, Mum.”

  She nodded and reaching for a blanket began to fold it neatly.

  Linking her arm in mine Marnie steered me over to the side wall where we sat on large cans with red lettering proclaiming they contained, Grease.

  “How’s it going? Has Dan found that address for you?”

  “He’s working on it whenever Mr Garroway isn’t looking.” She looked over to her family. “I’m scared.”

  “Me too.”

  She gripped my hand and I squeezed back.

  “It’s more than that, Tara,” she whispered, her voice thick as if she held back tears.

  I tensed. My skin prickled in the sudden graveyard chill that crept along my spine.

  “I think I’m sick.”

  “What?” I gasped.

  “I think I’ve caught the virus.” The words poured from her. “I’m so hot I feel like I’m burning up inside. My head pounds and I have visions of ripping into people’s flesh. All I can see is blood.”

  “Jeeze. Fuck. Marnie.”

  “You have to help me get out of here. I can’t stay, I might infect Nic, Nonna, your mum. I couldn’t bear it if I caused someone’s death.”

  “Oh, Marnie.” Hot tears boiled behind my eyes.

  “Please say you’ll help me.”

  “What about…?”

  She finished the question I couldn’t force out of my mouth. “My daughter? Dad will find her for me and keep her safe.” She began to weep. Silent tears that shuddered through her body and that tore at my heart.

  I bounded to my feet and tugged at my hair. “When? How? Do you have any idea?”

  “Yeah, some.” She sounded exhausted, like even the simple act of speaking was a huge effort and my stomach clenched. She blew her nose with a tissue taken from her pocket. “When you guys split so we could lose the soldiers, we stopped to fill up our spare jerry cans with petrol. I needed some tampons so I ran into the servo. Inside was an attendant. He was lying on the floor and I went over to see
if I could help. There was blood seeping from his mouth and nose. And when I touched his hand, he tried to sit up and started coughing. Suddenly there’s all this shit flying everywhere. I know some got on my face. My father came in and pulled me away from him, saying there was nothing we could do for the poor man.”

  Shoulders hunched, she stared at her hands busy shredding the tissue into tiny pieces. “I cleaned up in the restroom and we piled back into the car. Found Alex’s car and followed.”

  What to do? How could I help her?

  I thought of the soldiers who'd chased us down earlier that day. They didn't act as if they were the least bit concerned about a virus. None had worn masks. They could have been vaccinated against the virus or possibly be carrying vaccines with them. If so, what if I could steal a few vials?

  Images flashed into my mind.

  The camp.

  The trucks.

  Dad on the ground.

  Don’t go there. I concentrated on freeing my mind from bits and pieces of clogging crap that wasn’t important. I pushed aside the bitter memories I didn’t have the luxury of indulging in, deliberately relaxed my clenched hands, thinking hard. And the more I thought, the more positive I became that Garroway was right; the soldiers had vaccines.

  And if they had vaccines, they could well have antidotes. I hoped.

  “How long have you felt sick?”

  “A couple of hours.”

  “Then there’s still time.”

  “Time for what?”

  I hesitated then said, “I’m not sure yet, so I’d rather not say. Come on, you need to rest.”

  “I was going to leave.” The purpose in her voice rang like cold steel.

  “Wait a bit, let me talk to Alex.”

  “I don’t see why.”

  “Trust me. Give me a little time.”

  “I guess but I’ll quarantine myself.”

  I remembered how she’d kept to herself during the afternoon. “Fine, you do that, let’s go back to the others.” I tugged her upright and we walked over to the pit. Grabbing a bottle of water, I settled Marnie over in the corner with her father’s dog for company.

  Hands in pocket, I chewed my lip.

  What to do first: flee to the observatory and hope to make contact or go for the medicine? But if I got caught, it was over. Not just for me, but for everyone.

  But Marnie needed help now.

  Every second I delayed, meant her chance to live diminished.

  Of course there was nothing to say I’d even find the vaccines, let alone anything to treat the symptoms. Logic told me though, it made good sense to have both.

  Round and round went my thoughts until I thought my head would split wide open.

  What if I did both?

  If I could successfully bring back vaccines for those I loved, I could then take off to the observatory. If I didn't make it back from my robbery attempt, then Dan could step into my shoes.

  It wasn’t going to be easy to steal away without being observed.

  Every second, every movement I made while I helped Mum tidy the area, I sensed Alex keeping tabs on me from where he sat inspecting his rifle.

  He knew I was up to something. Had he heard my thoughts? I hoped not, I’d concentrated on walling off my mind while I worked over various scenarios.

  But his constant surveillance wasn’t uncomfortable, it didn’t make me feel on edge. Rather I felt protected.

  Warder. How far would he go to keep me safe?

  Garroway marched up and cleared his throat. “Rack time people. We need to preserve our oil lamps for emergencies, so I suggest we get some sleep.”

  He then strode about issuing orders for the area to be cleared and tidied away. We leapt into action.

  “I’m going to sleep in the pit again,” said Mum, appearing at my side and smiling.

  “Okay, Mum. I’m not certain if I want to go back down there. I think I’ll stay up here for a while longer. Take Bartholomew with you, will you?” I still haven’t decided what to do. Come on Tara, think.

  “Of course, love.” Mum picked up the cat and kissed my cheek. “Make sure you get some sleep. Don’t stay up too late talking.”

  “I will.” My chest constricted painfully as Mum walked over and gave Dan a kiss before she and Mrs Tolini crossed to the ladder. Yawning widely and lugging a blanket under her arm, Em followed. She gave a cheery wave and disappeared over the side.

  After spearing me with a cold glare, Garroway stalked off as well.

  Sitting on an upended esky in a patch of moonlight afforded by the large skylight, Dan was playing cards with Nic and Shay.

  Luis was a hunched shadow propped against the wall. He’d been a mainly silent spectator throughout the day, keeping his opinions to himself.

  I was glad. The less I had to do with that slime-ball, the better.

  Several more shots rang out followed by the rapid fire of automatic weapons. Everyone stopped what we were doing and froze.

  It had sounded too close for comfort.

  Alex, Garroway and Nic bounded forward.

  “What’s going on?” cried Em, popping her head up over the side of the pit.

  “Quiet. Shay, check it out,” ordered Garroway.

  No one spoke.

  The minutes ticked by like the countdown to a detonation.

  Shay re-appeared and addressed Alex and Garroway, “I got a good look out the back window. It’s not good. We’ve got some infected out there attacking anything that moves.”

  “And the automatic weapons?” asked Alex.

  Shay shook his head. “Yeah, you got it. The Mundos Novus Force is out front. I saw two armoured vehicles and a company of men.”

  Something rammed against the front door. The building shook under the force.

  Shay unclipped his holster. “I’d say we’re surrounded.”

  Chapter 18 – VACCINES

  Alex

  “We need to get out of here,” I said, crossing to Tara’s side and taking her hand. Her cold fingers trembled in my light clasp, making me want to hug her tight and tell her everything was going to be all right.

  But I’d never been good at lying.

  “What is it? What’s happening?” Mrs Ferguson climbed up from the pit, a leather jacket in her hand which she handed to Tara.

  Within seconds everyone had gathered round the oil lamp where my father took centre stage. I noticed how Marnie hung back in the shadows, her hand on the dog’s collar and I signalled a warning to Shay, something’s up with Marnie.

  I’ll see what I can find out, he flashed back.

  Tight lipped, my father said, “They know we’re in here.”

  “But how?” Tara’s mother sucked in her breath sharply. Her hand clutched her throat. “We’ve been betrayed. Someone amongst us is a traitor.”

  Everyone spoke at once with Mrs Tolini yelling in Italian.

  Looking from face to face, I knew Mrs Ferguson was right. The MN force had found us too quickly. But who’d betrayed us?

  Not my father or Shay.

  I considered the newcomers. Marnie, still standing in the shadows. That girl was an enigma, she was so contained I found it difficult to gain a sense of what made her tick. I found it hard to believe it could be Nic or Mrs Tolini. Luis was off, definitely a coward, and the guy was a crim. Emma was staring at Tara’s and my linked hands.

  I felt bad about that. I hadn’t encouraged Emma but I knew I hadn’t brushed her off either which I should have instead of using her to get closer to Tara. I also knew I’d do it all over again. I’d do anything to keep Tara safe.

  Still, a cool sweat broke out along my spine as I wondered whether Emma had sussed I’d been making out with Tara. Facing a girl’s tears wasn’t something I enjoyed doing.

  Emma’s head jerked up. There was a curious lack of expression in her blue eyes. But then she shrugged and smiled.

  I relaxed, glad to know she wouldn’t hold it against me or her friend. Obviously, she hadn’t been as keen on me
as I’d thought.

  Bloody hell, who could it be?

  Another thud on the door. How long before it shattered beneath the onslaught?

  I held up my free hand and the others stopped arguing.

  “We’ll worry about who’s been feeding info later. For now we need to put some distance between us and those soldiers. I propose a diversion. I’ll go out through the roof in the bathroom. I’ll use a grenade to blow up one of their vehicles. At that same moment, you lot drive out of here.”

  “Not a bad plan,” said my father in a grudging tone.

  “Wait,” cried Tara. “If we go out there, some of us might get infected too.”

  Nic growled, “Too right, but staying in here is akin to suicide.”

  “It’s our only option.” I looked around the group of people. “We take only what is necessary. Emergency rations, water and ammunition. Shay, you take my car with Tara, Daniel, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Tolini. Nic you’re in charge of the ute. We’ll need to put the majority of our supplies in the tray.”

  “Gotcha.” Nic did a mock salute and swung away with Marnie followed him to the pile of boxes and eskies.

  “Just a minute...” Dad began.

  But I over-rode him, saying loudly, “Shay, you’re responsible for Tara’s safety until we meet up. We’ll work out a rendezvous point. If I’m not there in two hours, don’t wait. Get them out of this town.” If I didn’t make it, I knew Shay would take her on as his new mark, regardless of his connection with Marnie.

  Face red, my father strode forward and grabbed me by the upper arm. Pushing his face right up in my personal space, he growled, “I don’t share command boy.”

  “Sorry, Sir, but we don’t have time for a pissing contest.” Heart thumping, I stared back, dead-pan, knowing I was right.

  We had to move.

  Now.

  “We’ll discuss this later.” My father turned around and began giving directions.

  Everyone leapt into action.

  I released my pent-up breath at the very moment, Tara darted in front of me.

  “I’m going with you,” she whispered.

  “No, way.”

  “I feel safer with you. Plus, if it’s me they’re more interested in, the others will have a better chance of getting away.”