Fall of the Cities: Planting the Orchard

by Vance Huxley

  “That lot, that roaming mob, has to reach a crisis point soon and break up. Then the new people can spread out in the damaged houses and bring in more food. Until then they’ll dent our stocks.” Harold looked back at the three just being processed. “How do I turn them away?”

  “You might have to in the end. We have to feed the ones already here and winter is closing in.” Sharyn was in a sombre mood. “It might be a choice between Daisy or some stranger before spring.”

  “Daisy, Sharyn. If it comes to that we’ll throw people out to fend for themselves. I’ll throw them out.” Harold tried hard to un-think that idea while he ate and watched the latest news.

  “Thank all and every God for that.”

  “Thought you didn’t believe?” Sharyn had a little smile until she looked at the screen. “What’s good about that?”

  “They’ve split. If we get one of the smaller ones, and the Army chip in, we might stop them.” On the screen the huge blind monster of destruction had split, becoming a many-headed hydra. Each head writhed across the city, spreading out from the latest huge conflagration, leaving a trail of flame and smoke in its wake.

  “Oh God, they’re heading for the outskirts, for the bypass. They’re really coming for us this time.” Sharyn had gone pale as she realised.

  “Only one of them Sharyn, and they might hit one junction north or south. I really hope they hate the Army enough to go for them, not us.” Harold was paying particular attention to two of those heads when the screen showed their positions. The one that would be the first to strike Army positions, and the one that would come nearest to Orchard Close. Unfortunately Harold was sure the one heading his way would arrive after dark.

  As soon as he finished eating Harold arranged for everyone possible to rest. He warned them, tonight could be really bad. “Did you mean what you said, Tim?” The latest recruit, the younger man, nodded. “Then here’s a baseball bat. This is Matthew. He can’t use a bat but he’ll try with his air pistol. Have you ever used a firearm?”

  “Christ no. But I promise to do my best. I won’t let them get to Toyah.” The young woman clung to his arm.

  “What about you, Toyah? You can use a bat and stand with Tim? That or go on fire-fighting, or help with casualties. Everyone has to help out.” Toyah’s pale face became paler.

  “Fire fighter. I can do that, but nothing to do with blood, please.” Half the residents felt the same, which was fewer than Harold expected. Desperation and some terrible experiences were hardening attitudes.

  “Go down there and ask for Betty. She’ll give you a position, and a bucket and something to beat out flames.” The mob were using fire so Harold was doing his best to prepare for that.

  “I’ll fight with you. I can shoot a hand gun.” Bess wasn’t smiling at all now, nor was she trying to flirt.

  “Really? Don’t mess me about Bess, not on this.” Harold had no intention of fighting alongside Bess because she’d distract him. The backing off wasn’t working and Bess would be trying to attract Harold at the wrong time. But he’d be damn pleased of someone who wasn’t frightened of a firearm.

  Bess looked grim. “My, um, ex. He showed me and let me shoot a few times because he thought it was, well, sexy. I’ve fired five shots and I can keep the barrel down though I’m not accurate. Not unless they’re real close.” Her smile came back but not at full wattage. “If I shoot someone, I might need a hug?”

  “If you shoot some bastard trying to get into Orchard Close you’ll probably get a queue wanting to hug you.” Harold gave her a little smile. “Some might be blokes.” He thought quickly. “Can you put a fresh clip in?” Bess gave a quick nod. “Since you know how to use this gun, you go in the middle house on the side towards the city.” Harold handed her the Minuteman’s weapon, recovered along with two full clips in his coat.

  Harold turned and called. “Matthew, another one for you in the centre strongpoint. One who can use this handgun. There’s two clips as well so over forty shots. Use her to break up any groups that get close.” Harold turned back. “You understand Bess? You shoot when Matthew says so, at groups. No wasting the bullets. One shot at a time and aim.” Harold relented a bit since Bess really did look apprehensive. “Are you OK with that?”

  “Yes? I think so? I will shoot, I promise. I don’t want a mob like that to catch me, not ever.” Harold gave her a quick hug and Bess smiled and then pouted. “That wasn’t a proper one.”

  “See your new boss about hugs though they’ll be one-armed.” Matthew looked startled and Bess looked speculative.

  Harold worked his way through the rest of the new arrivals and they all went to their new homes to wait for the alarm. Harold checked the handgun he’d kept, one taken from the gang who attacked Gabriela, and Sharyn shooed him off to bed as well.

  Chapter 14:

  Firestorm

  “Harold, Harold!” Hazel needn’t have bothered because the alarm outside the girl’s club was clanging and his radio was crackling and shouting.

  “I’m coming Hazel. Go to Betty’s.” Hazel and Veronica wanted to help so they were going to supply warm drinks if the volunteers, half the population, were out on the walls for a long time. Though they were to run for Harold’s house if told to. Harry, Finn’s Mum Mary, and the three new children would be coming here straight away. Harold put on his boots, and his long coat for hiding rifles. The pistol went in his belt, the spare clip in a pocket.

  “Ready Sharyn?” Even as Harold spoke there was a knock on the door. Karen was stood there, her face drawn with pain.

  “I’ll make sure the kids have chance to run, Harold. I’ll do the punk thing and wave this.” Karen waved the poncy air pistol. “I won’t stop them long but maybe long enough?”

  “Get out if you can, Karen, if it comes to that.” Harold gave her a hug.

  “An old woman’s dream come true. I’ve made the girl’s club jealous.” Karen tried for a smile. Sharyn gave her a hug as well. Karen had one serious request. “Tell Stewart not to do anything silly. He’s on about over his dead body and silly things like that.”

  “I’ll tell him to come and follow you if it gets too bad. That you’ll need him so he’s not to get all heroic.” Harold turned to Sharyn. “You go in the middle strongpoint with Matthew. No arguments. It’s a straight run from there to here, all right?”

  “If I have to.”

  “If Matthew says I’m screaming it down the bloody radio, all right?” Sharyn answered with a hug. As they left Harry was coming in with a little girl holding one hand and a young boy the other. The adults nodded to each other and kept going. At the end of Orchard Close Harold hugged Sharyn again. “I’ll be down there, the other end to the gate because it’s a weak spot.” He turned to go and a voice spoke.

  “Hey, no fair. Come on.”

  Harold turned and seven women and Casper were stood with their arms open. “No bloody chance, there isn’t time.” There certainly wasn’t. The sentry at the far end was reporting fires springing up and moving this way.

  “Remember, you owe us all.” Holly turned to the others and they all had a quick group hug. A careful one because of all the sharp metal. Then seven of them headed for their positions.

  “I’ll be in Betty’s house, Harold. I’ll throw things if they get that far, to slow them up a bit.” Liz gave a wan smile. “To give the kids more time.” She turned and headed back in. “It might work since I’ll throw the spare spear heads. Then I’ll run like a bunny.”

  Harold took the big rifle and ammunition from just inside Matthew’s house, and slung it over his shoulder under his coat. Then he ran down the road, because he could see the flames now and they were definitely nearer.

  * * *

  “It’s me, don’t shoot.”

  “I hope it’s you from that direction.” Seth wasn’t joking. He gestured to the crossbow. “That’s only got one shot.”

  “Two.” That was Berry from the next room, and she wasn’t laughing for once.

 
“Plus however many are in this thing.” Harold had taken Nigel at his word. Nigel had said he could shoot to save his daughter, Berry, so Harold gave him a captured firearm. He now had the big revolver from the first group to invade.

  “Six, Nigel. Count them and then try to reload. But wait until they’re really close and aim each one because there’s only another four rounds.” Harold checked the other upstairs room on the corner house. “I’ll be in there if there’s an attack from the side, Seth. You warn me if anyone tries to cross the big car park.” Harold took out the big rifle and patted it. “I’m hoping to hit some of them at the other side, to make them afraid to cross over all that open tarmac.

  “But we wait until they reach the white bricks because that’s crossbow range, right?”

  “Right Seth. That’s where they’ll be close enough for the bolt to go through a jacket we think.” There’d been some experimentation because in range didn’t mean the bolts would penetrate.

  Harold checked downstairs where four more defenders waited with spears and clubs or machetes. “Try to keep them out and we’ll do our best up there, OK?” Four tense faces nodded. “Berry has taken bricks up there in case she runs out of crossbow bolts.” One face smiled, better than Harold had hoped for. “This is why you came to us for sanctuary, remember. So we stand together and survive.” This time the nods were firmer.

  “We can do it.” “Last chance.” “No retreat.” “Shoot the bastards.” The comments followed him up the stairs and at least one sounded confident. Outside the flames were closer still and Harold was hoping their light would allow him to see any attackers. The area of tarmac suddenly lit up and a few moments later his radio crackled.

  “Harold, the Army just lit up the road outside the gate, the one going past the end.”

  “Calm down Billy. That’s good. They can see to shoot but so can you. Just warn everyone again, keep the gun barrels inside the windows. Tell everyone not to look at the bypass or they’ll be blinded for a bit.” Harold pressed the next button. “Have you got a light as well Matthew?”

  “Yes Harold. We can see the first row of damaged houses really clearly. The beam is going backwards and forwards along them.”

  “Good. Don’t let anyone look at the bypass or they’ll be blinded. The gate has got light and so have we, so be doubly careful about showing firearms.” Harold put the radio on the sill and knelt by the window. He rested the rifle barrel on the folded blanket over the wooden table just inside the slit and worked the bolt to load a round. Lastly he stuffed the cotton wool in his ears. Everyone near a firearm was doing that. They’d have to shout, but hopefully wouldn’t be deafened.

  Then Harold waited since some of the flames further in towards the city were already level with the car park.

  * * *

  “There, Harold.”

  “Thanks Seth.” A group of five or six were running towards the small building near the far end of the open tarmac. Harold led them a bit and then put a round into the middle of the group and one dropped. The others paused so Harold shot again and another went down. Four men retreated, dragging one man with them.

  Very little happened for a little while until someone started shooting from the damaged buildings nearby, towards this house. Behind the gunman more flames rose in the already damaged houses. Harold waited because nothing was hitting near the windows. A larger group ran out onto the tarmac heading for that small building again so he fired into the middle of them, twice. Gunfire came back from at least two weapons.

  “Christ!” Seth’s voice was a mixture of shock and awe.

  Harold couldn’t have put it better. A line of fiery streaks descended on the group from the direction of the bypass and tore into the men. “No, just the Army but probably more use right now. Those Army reinforcements brought a machine gun.”

  At the other end of the car park the men broke and ran, many limping or staggering. Seven or eight still shapes were left on the ground. “That’s worth a crate of Berry Beer.” Harold could hear the relief in Berry’s voice.

  “Let’s hope the Army earn some more tonight.” Harold picked up the radio. “Matthew, they’re coming your way. Shoot at the first ones out of the houses. With luck they’ll shoot back. They did here and the Army opened up.”

  Matthew sounded relieved. “They did? Great. Will do.” Harold repeated the information and instruction to Casper, who now had the gate radio, with a similar response. For a few more minutes there was nothing but shouting from the damaged housing, and more flames rising here and there.

  “Let me know if they try the car park again, Seth. Nigel, come through here will you, as backup for Seth. In fact it’s probably better if Berry comes through as well. You can use the firing slots for crossbows alternately while the other one is loading.” It had occurred to Harold that both Seth and Nigel would fight harder with Berry in here to protect.

  Harold settled into the little bedroom, which had a small window in the side so he could see two ways. The larger window faced across to the damaged housing, where he expected the rioters to come from. The small side window gave him a view along the cleared strip in front of the Orchard Close defence line. Figures moved in between and inside the damaged houses, ducking for cover as the searchlight swept back and forth.

  As the light swept back towards the gate end, a group of about thirty broke cover heading for the corner house. Harold shot the first one before he’d taken three steps and the rest scattered back into cover. Harold put in a fresh clip. The reloads this time because it was short range. He’d reloaded the rounds used when laying down the boundary but they were soft lead not metal jacketed. Real man-killers but not as accurate at long range, or so Harold was assuming.

  “Get ready.” Harold shouted as he began to fire. He aimed at belt height and put all five rounds into the bigger group that came the second time. This time they fired back which was what Harold had been hoping for. Harold put in the third clip but didn’t need it.

  “Go Army” came from the other room, and Berry whooped as the tracers hammered in from two angles. Harold had been worried that the house would mask the attackers from the Army, and maybe the attackers thought the same. The Army had certainly considered it. They must have spread along the bypass so the only blind spots would be in near the Orchard Close houses. The squaddies had also brought plenty of machine guns.

  The attackers broke apart and ran for cover, leaving a swathe of dead and wounded out in the open. Crossbow bolts rattled against the side of Harold’s house, fired from the damaged housing. “Don’t waste bolts unless there’s a clear target.” Harold was sorry he’d never had time to knock down some damaged housing and make the clear zone wider as Sarge had suggested.

  Several gunshots sounded and Harold saw flashes. Bullets hit the house but most were nowhere near the windows so the shooters were probably using handguns. “Keep to the sides of the windows in case one comes through.” Harold was wondering why the Army were ignoring the gunfire when there was a crack from behind and a scream from in front.

  “Why don’t they just blast the houses?” Seth sounded indignant but Harold had realised what was happening.

  “It will be the rules of engagement Seth. A group can be fired on if there’s weapons among them, but they can’t shoot indiscriminately into the buildings. So the marksmen are shooting at confirmed targets. Something along those lines.” Harold would settle for what he could get since the shooting from the derelict properties dropped off rapidly.

  Only temporarily. Gunfire rattled further down the line and Harold took a look out of the little side window. “Seth, Nigel, one of you let me know if they come again. I’m looking out the side window.”

  “I’ll do it.” Nigel sounded shaken. “I’m probably best watching there anyway in case they get across the gap. I can use this bloody thing on them.”

  “Good thinking Nigel. There doesn’t seem to be any real organisation so I’m hoping the mob keep moving down the line.”

  “Me t
oo.” That was Berry. “I did my best but I’m not sure if I hit anyone.”

  “Near misses are scary as well. Just take a bit of time and get the range right.” Harold forced a laugh. “At least Liz will get to find out if her new points work.” Unsurprisingly, nobody else laughed. Harold moved across and knelt by the side window. His third clip was in the rifle and while he waited Harold loaded the loose rounds into an empty one. He’d used ten out of twenty-two and this had barely started. So much for trying to preserve the original jacketed rounds.

  When a charge started across the open ground Harold held his fire. He only shot twice, at men stopping to raise weapons, and then the tracers were flying again and the charge came apart. Not completely because up to a score kept going and made it close enough to Orchard Close to be hidden from the bypass. Four went down to crossbow bolts or possibly the two-two rifle, and more stumbled so were possibly wounded.

  Harold was waiting for any to show again because now the line of houses masked the attackers from him. Flame blossomed from about four houses along and there was shouting and the clash of metal. Then a storm of gunfire broke out. Three men broke away from Orchard Close, lit by the flames and the edges of the searchlight glare, but none got far. At least one two-two rifle cracked and crossbow bolts studded the men as they fell.

  Someone was using a larger weapon from a derelict building near where that attack came from. Someone in a spot that the marksmen couldn’t be sure of because he kept shooting. Harold settled down and waited. As soon the weapon fired he put a round just behind the flash, far enough behind to hit the shooter. Then Harold was ducking and rolling across the floor, away from the window.

  “What’s that?” The sheer terror in Nigel’s voice was echoed by Berry’s and Seth’s yells, and Harold wasn’t much better.

  “That was a bloody automatic!” The attackers had automatics and that meant they’d shoot the defenders to pieces at these ranges. Especially if they had jacketed ammo. “Keep down, those might come through the walls.” Harold rolled back towards the window and raised his head a little.