The Fallout

by Knox, J. C.

  ‘I wonder where everyone is?’ Sarah said, heaving her arms through the heavy backpack.

  ‘I don’t know, but they knew we were coming. I don’t trust them, something’s not right.’

  ‘I know it is a tad strange. Come on, if we head towards the smoke maybe there will be someone there.’

  The land is rough and steep, but they continue in the direction of the smoke. Gasping heavily when they reach the top, George spots what looks like a village up ahead. Glancing to his right where the smoke is coming from, he’s curious and wants to investigate, but Sarah is already heading towards the village. Reluctantly he follows his wife but he’s certain they’re being watched. His spine tingles, he glances over his shoulder, but whoever is there stays hidden. George notices several bright white rabbits scattered all around the rugged land. He’s surprised, there’s no wildlife alive on the island not even a sea bird. The rabbits are moving strangely. He watches as a rabbit runs in his direction, but it stops to sniff the air, he realises that it’s blind, looking closer he can see the rabbit’s eyes have cataracts. It must be the radiation all the rabbits are moving in such a bizarre manner he assumes they all must be blind.

  ‘I don’t like this Sarah! we need to be cautious. They know we’re here, so why hasn’t anyone come out?’

  ‘I know George. I wish we hadn’t come. I feel like I’m being watched, it’s giving me the creeps.’

  ‘Shall we just go?’

  ‘Yes, come on before anyone comes.’

  Neither George nor Sarah spot the man walking towards them armed with a shotgun.

  ‘STOP, PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR,’ the man shouts.

  Looking at each other, George and Sarah lift their hands and turn slowly around to find a scraggy looking man pointing a shotgun at them.

  ‘I’m George and this is Sarah. I spoke to Sean earlier, we’re from the island. I told him we would come and bring medical supplies. Seamus and Connor know us.’

  George watches the stranger as he mentally wrestles with what he’s just said. Sarah steps forward and drops her bag on the ground.

  ‘It’s full of supplies, take it and we’ll leave you in peace,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, you can have the supplies, we don’t want anything, my wife is a nurse and wanted to help, but we will go if that’s what you’d prefer,’ George said, as the man lowers the gun.

  ‘Sean’s been manning the radio, he didn’t say anyone was coming, bring your bag and follow me,’ he said turning, walking quickly away.

  George lifts the bag and helps Sarah get it on her back before they walk side by side following the man. George can feel eyes on them but doesn’t look around just keeps pace with Sarah as ash falls from the sky like rain from whatever is burning. Looking around George spots a large yellow digger and a cement mixer along with several concrete patches. As the stranger leads them into a large gated compound, George notices two men with guns aimed at them as they enter.

  ‘Wait there,’ the stranger said, looking up at the armed men.

  ‘Their security is a little tighter than ours’ Sarah said, raising an eyebrow.

  ‘Yeah, makes me wonder why?’ what are they hiding and what are they burning?’ George whispers, his eyes taking everything in.

  It takes a few minutes before the stranger returns with Seamus.

  ‘George, Sarah thanks for coming. We really do need some help. Another baby was born this morning but died just a few minutes ago.’

  ‘Where is the body?’ George asks.

  ‘The baby and her mother are in isolation, the mother won’t give the body up just yet, she’s likely going to die soon anyway, she developed symptoms before the baby was born. No one has lasted longer than twenty-four hours after developing symptoms.’

  ‘How many are left in your community?’ Sarah asks.

  ‘The baby brought our numbers back up to 11 but we’re back down to 10 and if the mother dies, it will be 9.’

  ‘All fit people need to be kept away from anyone exposed. I’m going to need somewhere to work, I want to assess everyone,’ Sarah said.

  ‘Yes! Of course I’ll get you set up in one of the empty houses.’

  George pulls the Geiger-meter out of his bag; it clicks rapidly. Checking the reading, it’s well above safe levels, fury courses through him, ‘How dare they?’ he thought, turning to face Seamus.

  ‘What’s going on? Have you checked the readings recently?’ George said, unable to hide his fury, pulling out face masks for himself and Sarah.

  ‘It has been fluctuating since we left the bunker, and in different areas there are higher levels, but this morning was the first time it didn’t go down.’

  ‘Bullshit, radiation doesn’t fluctuate. Tell me what you’re burning Seamus.’

  George watches as Seamus pulls a face mask out of his pocket and begins pacing back and forth.

  ‘Follow me,’ he said, indicating that both George and Sarah should follow.

  Cautiously they follow Seamus out of the compound in the direction of the smoke.

  ‘Put another mask on Sarah, we’re exposed to radiation here, it’s why the people are getting sick and are dying,’ George said, trying to subdue the pressure building inside him.

  Seamus leads them to a large concrete wall where smoke is billowing out the top, he stops, turning to face them. ‘Listen, I just want to explain that every baby born here since the reactor at Chernobyl exploded has died. Most of the mothers have survived, Sean, our expert, thought the babies absorbed the radiation protecting the mothers.’

  ‘What’s being burned Seamus?’

  ‘Bodies. Baby bodies and animal bodies, have you seen the animals, there were two headed chickens’ chicks hatched the other week, it’s fucked up?’

  ‘You don’t need us, you already know this is why your people are dying, why the babies are being born dead. They have radiation poisoning. You must stop burning the bodies. Why have you bought us here?’ George said, unable to stop his hands from flapping at his sides as he paces.

  ‘We need help George, I’m only one person, nobody here knows anything about nuclear power. No one will listen to me, you have to educate them, me and Connor tried to stop this last week, but we were overruled, we don’t have much concrete mix left and burning is easy.’

  Watching Seamus’s body language, George believes him, he doesn’t want to help, but he knows that he must make them stop burning the contaminated bodies.

  ‘You must keep everyone indoors and masks must be worn. Everyone has been exposed and will develop cancer. In the meantime, I need you to use the Geiger-meter to test at least three times a day. When it rains, it will be acid rain, everyone exposed to rainwater will be exposed to radiation. Keep everyone indoors as best you can. You must stop burning bodies immediately! Sarah and I are leaving, and we will not return, you can keep the supplies, you’re going to need them. You are not to come to the island, if you need me use the radio. Understood?’

  ‘I’ve been trying, how can I get the whole community to listen? no one wants to know,’

  ‘You asked for my help, I’ve given it, get Connor and Sean on side. Stand together and make this happen otherwise you will all die. You can’t eat any food that has been grown outside since you’ve been burning the bodies, all the water will be contaminated you can only drink bottled water that hasn’t been exposed.’

  George is furious and worried for their future as he and Sarah make their way back to their boat. As they reach the jetty there’s a skinny albino dog, its eyes are red, and it’s fur pure white. It watches as they board the boat.

  ‘Have you been using the Geiger-meter to test the air everyday George?’

  ‘Yes, the island is clear, but if the wind changes or it rains, we will be exposed because of these idiots.’

  The wind has picked up, it’s a choppy journey home in the small fishing boat, but George can feel the pressure subsiding, he loves being out on the water. He’s refreshed by the spray blasting into his face. He
’s glad to be leaving the mainland, but also wonders if it would be more merciful if the boat capsized and they were to drown rather than face the future living like this? He knows the land all over the United Kingdom and Ireland will be contaminated for thousands of years, probably tens of thousands of years. Babies that survive are likely to be born with severe deformities, cancer is an almost certainty for everyone. No food grown outside will be edible, all water sources will be contaminated. No, it’s going to be difficult for the human race to recover from this. He is wondering if he and Sarah should try to go west, head for Canada or North America? there must be some places that haven’t been impacted from the explosion? Maybe North, Iceland would be an easier first trek, it would probably take about a week to get there, but it could be far enough out that it hasn’t been exposed. He’s almost certain that there are no nuclear power plants in Iceland. No Iceland is known for its hydropower and geothermal energy. Sarah doesn’t do well on the water, looking as if she’s about to vomit for the whole journey. George is glad they’re nearly home as he guides his boat toward the jetty on the island.

  ‘I’m so glad we’re nearly home,’ Sarah said, leaning over the edge of the boat.

  Chapter 9

  Iceland.

  It’s been a week since George and Sarah were across the water. George is thankful that the smoke has finally stopped as he stands on the beach looking across. He knows the damage has been done, but at least damage control can be implemented now. The wind is fierce, and it’s coming from the west blowing the threatening rain clouds inland. The waves are powerful and crash against the rocks; it makes him feel almost normal again; he loves the rawness and power the ocean can harness. However, Sarah is not so seafaring; she gets seasick standing on land, looking at the water. He told her his plan to visit Iceland when they docked last week, but she’s reluctant, not wanting to spend a week on the boat. Shortly after they returned from Ireland, George began searching for signs of life in Iceland and quickly found a radio station playing music. He knows there is life in Iceland but neither George nor Sarah speak Icelandic, but they wrote down as many words as they could while listening to the hourly news. As far as he can tell most of Europe, and Asia have been wiped out and most of the eastern side of North and South America have been evacuated. Life is carrying on in the west, but fallout is a worry across the globe. The only places seemingly unaffected are the polar regions far north, far south and central Africa.

  ‘I know you don’t do well on the water, but we have to go, we must find places that are not affected by radiation, where we could have a normal life.’

  ‘Can’t you go alone, find out what you need to, then come back?’

  ‘Not a chance Sarah, don’t you understand we are in danger here, the air is toxic, those survivors across the water will run out of supplies and it’s here they will come. I want us to have a normal life and I believe Iceland may be unaffected.’

  ‘Okay but I wish we hadn’t given so much of our sickness medication away.’

  ‘I have more, don’t worry. I was never going to leave us short.’

  Two days later George returns to the bunker, gathering as many 24-hour ration packs as he can. Packing the backpack, he counts a minimum of ten days’ worth of food and water for each of them. Into his pockets, he adds extra energy bars, fruit pastilles and water purifying tablets. Opening the safe, George pulls out a bag with several rolls of £20 Punts along with several bags of coins. He sews the notes into the hidden inside pocket of the backpack and places the coins into the side pocket. Satisfied he has enough to keep them going for the journey, he steps out into the outer tunnel, pulling the heavy door behind him. Lighting the lantern, George makes his way toward the outer door and opens it.

  The waves smash and crash into the side of the cliff, sending spray high into the air as he makes his way precariously along the narrow pathway. As he nears the cottage, George spots Seamus’s boat parked alongside his own, Seamus and Connor are in his boat. George doesn’t know what to do? He needs to get to the beach, but also wants to hide the bag, he doesn’t want to go back to the bunker in case he’s been seen. Dropping the bag, he hides it in a bush next to the pathway. Satisfied the bag will not be found he makes his way down to the beach. Seamus and Conner have already seen him and jump out of the boat before he reaches them.

  ‘George, good to see you, we were wondering how long it would take you to arrive, longer than I expected, what do you think Conner.’

  ‘Yeah, I thought he would be here before we landed, but we’ve been sitting here in your boat eating your sweets for the last hour.’

  ‘Where were you George?’ Seamus asks, a menacing look on his face.

  ‘What do you want?’ George said, with more bravado than he was feeling, noticing the shotguns on their backs. They’ve never been armed before.

  ‘We need more supplies George; our people are dying.’

  ‘I did warn you not to burn the bodies, all bodies including the animals need to be buried and encased in concrete to prevent contamination. But you didn’t listen and have put us all in danger, now the air is toxic.’

  ‘You didn’t answer the question George, where were you, what took you so long to get here?’

  ‘I don’t have to answer your questions; you are trespassing on my land now be nice or I won’t even bother to give you the opportunity to return to your pathetic death camp. Follow me, I will show you what I’ve been doing.’

  George walks the two men up to the house, hoping Sarah has the shotgun ready and their plan in place for this eventuality. George knew the survivors across the water would be back and he and Sarah planned a scenario for if either of them wasn’t around. Walking up to the house, he’s glad to see the plants piled up in the dining-room door.

  ‘George is that you, can you help me?’

  He hears Sarah calling from inside the dining room.

  ‘Yep, Seamus and Conner are here, you probably thought I’d got lost,’ he calls, as he walks the men into the dining room.

  ‘I thought you were having a sneaky break without me,’ she said, waving as they enter.

  ‘We’re harvesting all these fruits and vegetables ready for freezing. You can take some with you when you go, they’re all safe to eat, unless you don’t need more food.’

  ‘We’ll take the food; we’re starving, the people think everything is contaminated. But since we stopped burning, we have been growing indoors and still people won’t eat anything that isn’t from a sealed packet,’ Seamus said.

  ‘That’s sensible. I don’t think you realise the danger you are all in, you would be safer moving your people north.’

  George is kicking himself for giving too much away.

  ‘North! Why north? Are you going north?’ Seamus asks.

  George doesn’t miss the look exchanged between Seamus and Connor.

  ‘We’re staying here, this is my island, our home, but you have re-contaminated the area around your bunker, you should either move back into the bunker or move away from where you have been burning. Your people will continue to get sick if you stay. Most will die from cancer and other problems caused by radiation, even if you move.’

  ‘So, we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t, is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘I’m saying you can make people’s lives better by moving away from the contaminated area. Sarah gather as much fruit and veg as we can spare and give it to Seamus and Conner, they’re leaving now.’

  ‘We need medicine as well,’ Connor said.

  ‘We’ve already given you most of our sickness medicine, what more do you need?’

  ‘All of it’ Seamus said lifting his gun, pointing it at Georges face.

  They hear a click and turn to find Sarah with a shot gun pointed at Seamus’s head, ‘Put the gun down NOW!’ she yells. George grabs the shotgun from behind the door and points it at Connor.

  ‘Now take your food and get out’ he said, shoving the gun into Connor’s side.

&
nbsp; ‘Okay. Okay calm down, you’re being crazy put the guns down there’s no need for this.’

  ‘No need? You trespass onto our land, threaten us with shotguns then say we are being unreasonable. Get your food and GET OFF MY ISLAND NOW!’

  George pushes the shotgun into Connors side again as the two men lift the box of fruit and veg and begin walking down to the beach. Sarah joins him and the pair of them keep the guns on the men until they are in their boat, sailing towards the mainland.

  ‘I could shoot a hole in the side,’ George said, glancing at Sarah.

  ‘No, they’re going to die soon anyway, hopefully that will be the last we see of them.’

  ‘I have a bag packed, it’s hidden in a bush on the side of the cliff, when we’re sure they’re gone I’ll nip up and get it, I think we should leave in the morning at daybreak.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll finish up freezing as much as I can.’

  They stand on the beach watching the men and their boat get smaller and smaller.

  It’s still dark when the alarm wakes George the following morning, he looks across at his sleeping wife her long brown hair fanning out on the pillow. It still surprises him she agreed to marry him. Sarah is Georges only friend, he fell in love with her the first time they met, he never had friends as a child and still doesn’t know why everyone made such a fuss about it. He was happy on his own, as long as his routines were kept to, he was fine. His routines, however made him an easy target for bullies which continued right through to university. But everything changed at university when he met Sarah, she was different, she understood him, he was studying engineering and she, psychiatric nursing. Sarah suggested that he may have something called autism, but George didn’t want a diagnosis, he told her that is the way he is, and a diagnosis wasn’t going to change that, Sarah accepted his decision. She is the only person he’s felt any connection to; he loved his parents, but they always made him feel as if he was wrong.