by Al K. Line
Tomas was happily sat on Kyle's lap, waving his arms and legs about and mumbling away to himself about the big blue sky and the brightness of the outside world.
Al was munching away on a sausage, happy as a man can be: full bellied and warm.
Bos Bos had done his doggie duty and sat patiently waiting until he was fed his breakfast. It was sausages and burgers for all and that made for a happy Bos Bos. Now he was tentatively paddling in the shallows, contemplating going in for a swim but not sure what effect it would have on his delightful odor. He wouldn't want to ruin it or anything like that.
Now and then he barked at silver flashes in the water — little fish darted about and he splashed at them with a paw if he thought it would mean a nice tasty snack.
They had parked up the previous night, one of many beauty spots they had visited since leaving Wales. The journey so far had been mostly uneventful, any encounters had been mostly of the running it over with a bus kind. The few zombie botnet victims they did confront were quickly dealt with by Kyle or Al, and most of them had been scrawny and obviously unfed. There was a new manic side to the infected, one that was more frightening than anything she had seen so far. They had a new focus and horror in their eyes, one that told of suffering and countless changes going on in their bodies to allow them to survive through the lean times. Ven could see it as their lives were ended for the final time — nothing would stop them in their quest for food apart from a death they could never come back from.
She shook, ridding herself of the dark thoughts, coming back to the present swiftly, simply enjoying the company and the uncomplicated pleasant setting.
"I'm going to go and check out the waterfall, anyone coming?"
"Nah, we are good here aren't we Tomas?" said Kyle, bouncing the little man on his knee and being as proud of the baby's bubble blowing as only a new father can be.
"I am being happy here Ven," said Al between mouthfuls. "It is nice being warm and just sitting."
"Okay guys, I'm going to go and see what's in the cave then, and maybe have a shower under the water. You okay with Tomas?" she asked Kyle.
"Sure, no problemo. We are doing great here, aren't we little man? Eh? Eh?"
"A da da da da dugle," replied Tomas agreeably.
"Wow! I think he just said dad. Did you hear that? He did, he said dad." Kyle was grinning from ear to ear and thought it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
"I heard it, he's gonna be talking properly soon, no doubt about it."
Ven wandered off to the bus to get some things together while the men chatted away amiably, enjoying the comfortable morning and feeling of normality, or at least as close to it as they had experienced in quite some time.
As the small group enjoyed the feeling of freedom and companionship it was easy to forget the misery going on in every corner of the globe. People died horrible deaths. Some raped and murdered for fun. Others went to extreme lengths to find a way back Online, just so they could check out their favorite forum, death of a sort following seconds later. But for a morning, while the sun shone and their bellies were full, the group managed to mostly merely revel in the best that the United Kingdom had to offer. And it was even sunny — mad.
"Right, I'm off to get clean and to do some exploring. Wonder if there is a pot of gold in the cave, wouldn't that be cool?" Ven exited the bus carrying a large bag full of essentials. She had changed into shorts and a tight black vest.
"It would be better if it was a ray gun, or a time machine," said Kyle, trying his best not to look at Ven's curves in the tight top. He knew it wasn't a good idea to dwell on such things, it hadn't worked out well in the past when they had got intimate. Well, apart from what the end result was: the little baby bouncing on his knee.
Al just stared, he had no familial feelings for Ven, he was just a man that had had little experience with the opposite sex and would very much like to rectify that if at all possible.
"I would be wanting it to be a magic sandwich machine," pondered Al seriously. Then lightened his mood as he remembered the tight bulging black top he was addressing.
"Anyway, see you later alligator..." said Ven, staring at Al quizzically.
What was he looking so glassy-eyed about?
"In a while crocodile," finished Kyle.
"Boscoe, you coming too?" shouted out Ven.
"Woof."
They made their way upstream, splashing playfully, then clambered around on the rocks to get to the base of the waterfall. Bos Bos bounded about like a puppy, finally jumping into the water, swimming around in circles looking for important sticks that needed rescuing from the spiraling water.
He managed to save a few and set them down in a pile on the bank, going back in for another once he was sure that each stick was safe and could dry out.
"Who's a clever doggie then?" praised Ven. Best not to question Bos Bos' motives for stick rescuing. Encouragement is always best, she thought.
"Woof, woof," replied Boscoe, glad that someone had finally noticed all the hard rescue work he was putting in. Sometimes a little recognition is all a tubby Lab wants.
"C'mon boy, save the sticks later. Let's go check out the cave."
Bos Bos bounded over and together they got to the edge of the waterfall. Ven stripped down to her underwear and grabbed a wash bag, leaving the clothes and large bag on a flat sunny rock. She laid a towel out flat for when she returned.
Together they walked out onto the ledge in front of the sheet of water where Ven could feel the power of the ionized air. It cleared her head, refreshing her; she couldn't wait to feel the full force of the water.
Bos Bos ran through, his echoing bark encouraging her to come explore the dark cavern behind. So in she went.
It felt warm, exceptionally warm for such a dark and damp space. Ven had never experienced anything like it, it was magical. She could just make out the bus and silhouettes of the guys at the picnic bench, the waterfall sparkling in front of her, sun glinting off the cascade like dragonfly wings in flight.
It felt amazing. Just standing there, warm and alone. No zombies, no technology, pure nature at its finest.
The cave was high but not very deep, stalactites dripping mineral laden drops to the solid ground like a faulty kitchen tap. Just a few paces brought her to the rear. So she sat for a minute, stroking a wet Bos Bos, as they enjoyed the sound of the water and the alone time.
"Well boy, what do you think of the nice cave then?"
Wag, wag.
"You know, it's nice to have some time just you and me, like the old days isn't it? Remember when I would be on the computer all day and you would be on your bed? Good times eh? And Paul would come home from work and we would go down to say hello, then later we would go for a nice walk?"
Bos Bos' ears pricked up at the mention of a walk. Never mind that he was outside and could do what he wanted — dog rules had to be obeyed, and that meant getting excited about the 'W' word, no matter the circumstances.
"Then I went and ruined it all Bos Bos, I don't know how, but I messed up really bad. I just wanted to be a bad-ass hacker and make us rich, I didn't want to actually hurt people. Now look at things. The world is dying or dead and hungry for brains, and I'm to blame." Ven began to cry, silently and slowly, grief gently released, not in huge gut wrenching bursts, just calmly, methodically like the ages old mineral formations dripping above her. Accepting it all to some degree, still at a loss as to how she had done what she did, but knowing it was because of her it happened.
"Ugh," whispered Ven, wiping her eyes. "This is no good is it? C'mon boy, let's just enjoy ourselves. I think we deserve it don't we? Time for a wash I think. And then for some beauty regime."
Ven unzipped the wash bag and brought out shampoo, flannel and soap. Already down to her underwear she stepped forward and let the full force of the waterfall pound away the sadness and massage her spirits skyward. Thoroughly soaked she washed her hair twice in the pure water, then stepped back behind the
wall of water and stripped naked. She soaped herself thoroughly and drew water over her body by reaching out into the cascade and splashing it back over herself, rivulets running down her taught and toned body. Once totally clean she slipped her underwear back on and accompanied by her best buddy she went back through the water and they lay down together on the warm towel.
Back at the picnic bench Kyle was busily teaching Tomas how to tell the difference between a sparrow and a blackbird, while Al was trying to focus on his drink and not on the sight of Ven in her underwear lying on a rock, sun shimmering over her drying skin, highlighting her tight curves.
Kyle wanted to be sure that as Tomas grew up he had an appreciation for the natural world just like he did. Animals were always going to be honest with you, unlike people, and with un-infected people now in the minority it was more important than ever to appreciate what else the world had to offer. Not trying to eat you being one of the advantages of many natural wonders. Infected humans were now the only predator in the UK that would aggressively attack people.
"And that is a kingfisher." Kyle stared amazed at the small bird as it launched from its perch and dove into the river, surfacing with a small sprat in its beak, water slinking off its oily feathers.
"When you are older we can learn all the birds' names and their calls, and we might even get to see some rare creatures. We could go to the zoo..." Kyle trailed off, suddenly wondering about zoos and what would be happening to the animals there. Would they have escaped? Who would feed them? Would he ever be able to see a lion? Tigers? An elephant? Were they all roaming the streets somewhere? Were Giraffes sticking their heads through bedroom windows looking for food?
His mood began to darken so he stood up, going over to the barbecue and stoking the coals.
"Another one?" he asked Al, kind of pointlessly really. Of course he would want one.
"Yes please Kyle, I would be liking that very much," replied Al. Never one to use a single word when twenty were available.
The birds chirped, the water gurgled, and the burgers sizzled.
It was a perfect morning and one that was very welcome after so many nightmarish days and unspeakable acts witnessed everywhere they went. Food was a constant issue if they wanted anything but canned or dried, and the morning's fresh meat, found at a butchers they had investigated just the previous day, was a miracle that continued to lift their spirits. Thank god for the quirks of the British power grid. It was pot-luck whether your energy went off within days or carried on working for months it seemed.
It was obvious to them all though that meat was going to be very hard to come by. With no means of mass storage they had room enough for just a few days worth of supply in the small on-board fridge. They would have to learn how to fish, how to hunt, and just as importantly — where to hunt.
Kyle shouted over to Ven, "You want a burger Ven?"
Ven raised herself from her lying position and tried to focus on Kyle, the river half blinding her as it reflected the sun.
"Yes plea—" she stopped short, something not right. "Kyle, look out, by the bus, it's a zombie, coming for you. Now!"
She got to her feet quickly, too far away to be of any help.
Damn, I should have a weapon with me. Stupid, stupid.
It was easy to forget on such a morning that danger lurked everywhere. You should always assume attack was imminent — always have a weapon to hand. They had discussed this.
"Get it Bos Bos, go help Kyle."
"Woof." Boscoe bounded over the rocks, splashed through the river, sprinting to aid Kyle. He was becoming a lean, mean, zombie menacing machine.
Kyle turned as Ven shouted out the danger. Coming from the rear of the bus was what can only be described as some kind of zombie witch. That's the first thing that came into Kyle's mind as he saw the gray haired woman running toward him with her eyes mad and her scrawny arms flailing. She was ashen faced, like she had never seen the sun in her life. Bloodshot eyes and throbbing veins at her temple were the only color to her apart from dark blue bruising around her throat. Liver spots covered her hands and forearms, partially hidden by blood and missing where the skin had been savaged by her very own teeth.
The infected pensioner ran fast on skinny legs, knobbly knees hairy and threaded with varicose veins.
Kyle was not panicked, she didn't exactly look like much of a threat if he was honest. But he was forgetting one very important thing: this was not your average old lady, this was a person that had been infected with the zombie botnet and her whole body had been rewired with one goal only — to get the high only given once her belly was extended to popping point.
As Kyle reached for his mace the woman was nearly upon him, eyes red raw with sores around the rims and gleaming in the sunlight. She actually leapt at him exactly as he was about to grip the shaft. The mess of frenzied bones hit him like a bag of rocks, sending him staggering backwards and nearly ending up in the barbecue coals. He grabbed a pair of tongs that were burning off grease in the ashes and slammed them sideways into her cheek. Singing meat gave off a foul odor where the translucent flesh instantly roasted and he glimpsed bone beneath as he stickily ripped the tongs off her wrinkled face.
She hit the grass wailing in frustration. Frenzied, flailing, grasping for his legs.
Bos Bos hit her at full speed, slamming into her body and obviously breaking something or other; Kyle heard the crack. Bos Bos tore at her arms, dragging her across the ground, savage growls coming from his normally friendly snout.
Kyle grabbed hold of the mace and swung for her head, a satisfying crunch and resulting limp body signaling the end of the latest in a long line of encounters with lone infected.
"Bloody hell, who said old ladies are friendly? Good boy Bos Bos, you're gonna get a sausage for that rescue dude, no doubt."
Wag, wag.
"Woof."
"Yeah, good boy. You're turning out to be one helluva fighter dude, and you are getting strong too. I wouldn't want to mess with you, that's for sure."
"Tomas, where's Tomas?" panted Ven, arriving at the feet of the now very dead woman.
"Relax, he's inside. I put him down for a sleep. The door's locked."
"Thank god, I couldn't see him. You okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Thanks for the shout out. Man, it just doesn't stop does it? You think you can chill out and the bloody buggers sneak up on you when you are just having a damn burger. Jeez." Kyle was just sick and tired of never being able to fully relax. He only seemed to feel safe when driving the bus — knowing he was in full control. He couldn't sleep without having nightmares, and the waking hours were always tinged with apprehension or outright dread.
"Al? Where is he?" asked Ven.
"He went off down by the trees, to take care of a call of nature I guess."
They checked the woman really was dead, hunted around to ensure that she was alone, then Ven checked on Tomas just to make sure he was alright. He was fine and asleep.
"It's just never ending isn't it? You can't get away from them anywhere. Even when you think you are having a nice time there is that little bit of you that is always on edge." Kyle really was fed up with the whole bloody mess and was repeating himself like it would make a difference. If he was honest with himself then he felt guilty too. It wasn't his actual botnet attack, but he played a part in it. He had helped Ven with coding, aided and abetted with the details of how to make it most effective. Working beside her to get it going worldwide as quickly as possible. He may not have done all the research on the actual subliminal data packets, which were obviously compromised anyway, but he was to blame for the death of billions, just like Ven was.
"I know, I know," said Ven, putting her arm around his shoulder and trying to comfort him.
"Um, Ven?"
"Yeah?"
"You might want to put some clothes on you know, you are just in your undies. Not being funny but Al is kind of frisky in case you hadn't noticed." Kyle tried not to think about the firm wet breasts pushed ag
ainst him.
Ven blushed lightly, suddenly realizing she was down to bra and knickers. "Um, right. Sorry, just trying to save your behind from killer old ladies. But you're right, Al is a frisky little fella and I don't want to make him too excited." She winked at Kyle and with a proud Bos Bos went back over to her bag on the other side and gathered up her things.
After finishing off the burgers and packing away their things it was time for the afternoon's mission. One that nobody was really looking forward to. But if they pulled it off then it was going to make a very dramatic difference to their future. It would hopefully make it a much more secure one, and that's all they wanted — to feel safe and to finally get to a point where they could relax and know what the hell to do next. So far roaming about on an ex-sex bus was the best idea anyone had come up with.
There must be a better option, they just hadn't thought of it yet.
2 Hours 'til Tea
"Right you 'orrible lot. We can't get into the habit of taking too long to get what we need. The longer we are out in the open—"
"The more chance there is of getting your brains munched on," Al and Kyle sang out.
"Exactly. So no dawdling and be sure to always look both ways at any junctions. Don't get stuff we don't need and keep your wits about you. If all goes well then we will be home in plenty of time for me to make something kick ass to eat tonight." Ven hoped that the lure of food would do the job. The guys would be sure to be as quick as possible if it meant a nice juicy steak and onion rings for their evening meal. Maybe even some ice-cream.
"Home?" asked Al. "I thought the Basil bus was home now?"
"Well, yeah it is. You know what I mean though. I mean we can drive to the nice place by the river and I can make us something lovely to eat, and it's just a turn of phrase anyway..." Ven trailed off, realizing that she was just confusing the matter further. Al was staring at her oddly and Kyle was smiling like it was the funniest thing ever.
