by Leo Nix
“Wow, you've got everything.” He didn't say much more but spent his time before dinner touching tools and Phil's odd jobs and asking questions. Phil was delighted to have an admiring audience to show off his work.
At meal time they all chatted away about the apocalypse, the terrorists, what they did before the `end of days' as Fatima called it, and about how they had survived.
“I can't imagine God agrees with what these Revelationists have done,” said Fatima. “They're killing and raping and God's knows what and it's all against what it says in the bible.”
“Now dear, please, don't go on about it. If God were here he'd zap them all with his lasers but he isn't, he's on holidays somewhere and forgotten all about planet Earth,” said Phil.
“Don't you go on about holidays, Phil. One day God will call us all to answer for our deeds, and these terrorists will find they'll spend eternity in damnation for their evil ways.” Fatima said over her shoulder as she collected the empty plates. She asked the girls to help her serve up their dessert.
“Phil always says there's no God, the heathen. I think he's spent way too much time with his head in history books and not enough on preparing for his finals, his day of judgement,” she said it loud enough for Phil to hear.
“I heard that,” he called out from the dining room.
Heidi and Charlene looked at each other then broke into laughter as they realised that this was a game the two played.
“He makes it so hard for me, I have to pray twice every night, once for me and another for his lost soul. Bah, but who cares, these Revelationists think they know everything about God and religion but they're just murderers. They'll get their comeuppance one day, of that I'm certain.”
Fatima handed Charlene a large spoon to pour a delicious caramel sauce over her fresh baked orange and plum pudding. The aroma was pleasant and to the malnourished youngsters it was almost overpowering. Everyone was so thin from their forced diet but Arthur still managed seconds and then ate Charlene's left overs.
The beds were all made, but before they were allowed to head off to sleep, Fati and Phil showed them how to take a shower. The three were shown a simple pulley, roped to a bucket with a shower head.
“It's dead simple folks,” explained Phil. “Just fill the bucket with warm water, pull the rope and wrap it over this hook, twist the tap and voilà, a hot shower. Arty, I'll help you make one to take back with you.” They had no trouble getting the three youngsters showered after that simple demonstration. With an entire city of spare sheets, blankets and towels, Phil and Fati's house was a veritable motel.
They slept soundly until mid afternoon waking to Fatima's cooking, another stew with lentils, chick peas and dried mushrooms. It was heavy with spices, home grown potatoes and sprinkled with fresh parsley.
“You kids eat up now, when we finish we want to sort out a visiting program so we can do this once a week, we need to stay in touch so we can help each other.” Fatima then turned to Arthur and said, “Phil says he wants to teach you how to work his tools. One night he wants to take you out to the hardware to get a collection of tools for yourself.”
Charlene had been quiet for most of their visit, unsure how to contribute and feeling self-conscious of her useless arm. Fatima had rubbed a warmed oil with herbs and spices into her shoulder and wounds which helped soothe the pain. They had chatted a little then but now that it was almost time to leave she had clammed up.
Heidi looked across at Charlene to see if she wanted to say anything but noticed she had withdrawn back into her shell. It was time to head home, she thought.
“Thanks Fati, thanks Phil,” said Heidi looking at each in turn, “we'd love that. I have a few ideas too but we can wait till later, this is too nice to talk over.” She tucked into her meal not looking up again until she'd finished.
When they returned to their own home the three slept like they had never slept before. Little did they know that their adventures were just beginning.
Chapter 7 - Nulla - Glenda
Nulla and his new recruits took the back streets into town and rode around for a while to orient themselves. They couldn't help but notice the dead bodies and smashed cars, their drivers huddled over their steering wheels as if asleep. The sweet stench of death pervaded everything.
They pulled up in front of the supermarket and Nulla told Luke to stand guard over the bikes. The warning signal was to first call out and if no response to then fire two rounds with his rifle. Luke found a shady spot against the wall and sat down with his Steyr held upright beside him.
Nulla and Simon carried their backpacks into the store and looked around. They saw a small group of people standing inside. The group quickly huddled together when they noticed the weapons and Nulla's military uniform.
“It's OK, we're on your side. Anyone with military experience here?” Nulla called to them. No one moved, but then a man pushed through to the front.
“I have some experience, navy medical corps, retired. These people are afraid and confused, do you know what's going on?” He looked like a solid type. Nulla called for the group to `gather 'round'.
“It appears that you are basically what is left alive in this town. Unless you know of someone else it's basically you lot. We rode around the town and saw nothing move. The tap water's poisoned across the entire city so don't drink it, use bottled water, rain water or surface water. The poison should dissipate but give it a week or two before you try the tap water. Grab as much food as you can and store it. Work together as a team and support each other, that's about all you can do right now.”
“Are you from the army?” asked a nervous voice.
“They'll contact you as soon as they can. I'm a forward scout sent to organise a civil resistance but I need your cooperation. If any of you are prepared to join us please step forward. For the rest of you I suggest you stick together.” He stopped talking and looked at the small, frightened group, “Go tribal folks, live in the one big house and organise routines and cooking, protection, that sort of thing. So, is anyone interested in joining a civil resistance?”
Nulla looked at the retired medic but he waved his hand and disappeared back into the crowd. Just as he did a hand shot up.
“I will,” called a sweet sounding female voice. A young Eurasian woman stepped to the front of the group. “I have no one left here, my partner and family are all dead. I'll join if you'll take me.”
“What's your name?” asked Nulla staring at her, she looked to be in her mid twenties.
“I'm Glenda and I might look fragile but I can do anything a man can. I can kill if I need to.” She gave the answer that Nulla's simple question hadn't asked.
“We're pleased to accept you, anyone else?” He looked around but no one moved. “I'm Sergeant Nulla of the 1st Armoured Cavalry, this is Simon, the fellow outside is Luke. We'll drop in on you when we can but it is up to you to sort yourselves out. We'll keep contact via messages we put in that bin there.” He walked over to a bin, tipped it upside down, rubbish fell to the floor. “This is now our mail box. Write your messages and leave them here. I'll do the same. I can make no promises when we'll be back but we'll try. Any questions?”
There were mumbled questions between group members and then the questions started to come fast and furiously. The cavalryman answered them as best he could. Simon looked sideways at the woman, she was pretty he thought.
“So you're Simon? My name's Glenda, nice to meet you.” She put out her hand and they shook. Simon liked the feel of her soft skin. He was dumbstruck, he didn't know much about talking to girls.
“Umm, here's a spare pack, would you like to help us gather food and water?” he offered.
“Sure, I think I know what we'll need. Come on.” She led him into the food aisles.
They gathered as much as their bags would carry. Nulla eventually joined them and asked her if she could drive. He wanted to take one of the four wheel drives he saw in the car park.
“Yes, I can drive.”
She tilted her face up defiantly. Nulla went slightly weak at the knees, he thought she looked like a model. Simon noticed too.
“Simon, relieve Luke and send him along. Walk with me Glenda.” They stepped out through the side doors and into the car park. Nulla pointed to a black Nissan Patrol. A woman's body leaned out of the driver's window. “Which one do you like?”
“So… I have a choice?” she came back at him. “Actually, I'm not too keen on sitting next to dead people, is there another?” she queried.
“Sorry love, no, I want that one. Hang on a sec.” He turned to find Luke. “Luke!” he called in his best parade ground voice. “Get yourself here, now!”
Luke, yelped and raced over. He dropped his Steyr, turned and raced back for it. Glenda giggled behind her hand.
“Here, boss!” yelled Luke as he stood to attention in front of Nulla. Red faced he glanced at Glenda then did a double take when he noticed her breasts dangerously stretching her low cut top.
“Luke, eyes front! See that four wheel drive, the black one with the body hanging out of the window? Tidy it up for the lady here, go gentle on the body, she was once someone's loved one.” Luke looked at the new girl again and smiled at her. “Now, if you don't mind,” continued Nulla.
Luke walked to the Nissan and began examining how to respectfully move the stiffened woman's body out of the window and onto the ground. He was stumped. Its torso was stiff and fluids dripped down the outside of the door.
Nulla spoke to the girl. “Do you think you could help him? I know it's not nice but you're going to be doing things that aren't very nice if you want to join us.” He looked at her carefully, measuring her will.
“OK,” she said politely and walked slowly over. “Hi, I'm Glenda, you must be Luke?”
Death at close range can be quite confronting but together they managed to move the body then wiped the stained SUV with rags as best they could. The odour made them gag but they needed a solid work horse and this was just what Nulla wanted. Glenda sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. With all windows down she drove carefully over to Nulla.
“Ready, Nulla,” she reported.
He directed her to back it up to the double doors and then into the centre itself. They loaded more stores including clothing and other gear for the boys as well as for Glenda. They took a lot of bottled water they found stored in the warehouse still sitting on pallets waiting to be packed in the store shelves. By this time it was almost dark so he directed his troops back home.
It was near midnight and Nulla kept talking. They had been at it for hours now. Nulla made them take short breaks to walk together in the dark and then back again. This was all part of assessing their strengths and weaknesses.
“This strategy comes from the Japanese infantry manual of 1941: when you stop you might as well sit down; and if you sit down then you might as well eat and drink something; and if you have time for that then you take off your shoes and dry your feet; while you dry your feet you might as well check the condition of your skin, toes and boots… get the picture?” He sat back and drew on his cigarette.
Glenda asked, “What about toilets, what do we do if we're outside and there's no toilet?”
Nulla choked and smoke appeared to come from every orifice in his face. “Pfft! Well you got me with that one, Glenda!” he gasped and coughed once more.
“We apply the same strategy,” he managed to say, “and you two boys can stop smiling because that's a good question. If we've time to sit down we've time to piss, I mean pee. And if we have time to pee we have time to poop. Make sense?”
He turned back to Glenda who was glaring at the boys. She said, “But what about toilet paper, Nulla, what do we do about that? I mean, it's going to smell down there if we don't look after ourselves. You know, hygiene is important.”
Turning to the giggling boys he said, “It's important for us to examine these issues, fella's. So what do you boys think?”
The boys stopped their smirking, “When we were in the bush we'd always use a rock or a leaf or something like that,” said Luke having done as such when out riding with Simon.
Simon said, “I think we need proper toilet paper, girls do anyway. Maybe we should all carry toilet paper in our pockets?”
Nulla nodded, “Glenda?” he turned back to her.
“Yes, girls have special needs, thanks Simon. Carrying paper in our pockets would work. So where do we go? In the bushes? Do we dig a hole?” She really wanted to know everything about guerrilla toilet protocol.
“Boys?” Nulla spun it over to his young troopers again.
“We dig a hole if we have time or just poop where-ever we are if we have to. I guess it depends on time. Hey, isn't that what the Japanese manual is all about, how to manage time and activity?” Nulla could see Luke's brain light up.
“Good points, Luke, and yes, correct, we do what we can given the situation and time. Glenda, I suggest you should always take paper in your pockets and choose your opportunities as they present, like Professor Luke here says.” He looked at Luke, smart lads, he thought.
“We try to learn from history, there are lessons in everything and everywhere. Sun Tsu said as much, when we get time we'll go through some of his points. OK, time for bed.” Nulla stood up and looked at them all.
“Glenda, you did well today. I am proud of you and I think your family would be too. Boys, you are turning into rock solid warriors, keep your mind on your tasks though. Soft minds lose lives. OK, bed, up at dawn, last to the table is our toilet cleaner for the week. And boys, there is a lady present. Watch where you water the horses and put the toilet seat down. Good night.”
Just before dawn Nulla woke everyone up, no one tried to stay in bed this time. They ate quietly, anxious, knowing that something bad was heading their way. They watched Nulla's body language like hawks. He didn't speak.
Silently they packed their gear for the day and then set about breaking down, cleaning and assembling their weapons. They left at sun-up. Nulla doubled Glenda on his Norton V4. The boys following behind. They rode into the hinterland outside the suburbs when Nulla finally pulled over at a fuel station.
“I spent some time on the CB last night,” he spoke for the first time that morning. “The terrorists broke through my old unit and they're headed towards the city suburbs. They'd already broken through in other places. My squadron pulled out and are now on their way north looking for a suitable lay-up position. Looks like we need to get up to speed a bit faster than I expected.” said Nulla frowning.
His three troopers began working the small electric fuel pump filling their bike tanks as a matter of habit. Nulla nodded for Glenda to walk with him.
“Glenda, I need you to get up to speed as quickly as possible. I've got a weapon for you in my bag, a shot gun. We're going to do a bit of target practice this morning then head into town for more supplies and find more civilians. Are you ready to handle a weapon?”
Glenda looked sideways at Nulla. She felt drawn by his self assured manner as much as by his rugged good looks. “I said I was ready to kill if I had to. Sure, give me the shotty.”
He pulled out a well used sawn-off shotgun. Glenda noticed how he handled it like he owned it. As he showed her how to use the safety switch he said, “Keep your safety on at all times unless you're in the process of killing someone.” Her eyes grew large at that but said nothing.
After her first shot almost knocked her off her feet she learned to hold it as tightly into her shoulder as possible.
“I hope you didn't think I'd give you a toy gun did you? This lass kicks like a wild woman on speed so treat her with the respect she deserves. Hold her tight, caress her trigger like a…” He stopped, stumbled on a bit, “err, like a umm, just be damn careful where you point it and always remember the safety.” He turned to the boys to avoid her seeing his embarrassed look.
“Boys, check your weapons. Glenda, you too, we're going to engage those targets. Fire when I give the order.” Nulla set up
a few bottles twenty metres away and told the boys to fire single shot first. “Use the sights Simon, don't just expect the bottles to step in front of your bullets.”
“Luke, slowly, don't jerk your trigger finger, you don't need to rush it. Don't forget your safety switch. Use it all the time when you load and when you stop to check the target.” When they'd emptied their magazines he called a halt. “Stop. Safety on, all of you, you too Glenda. OK, let's check our score shall we.” Not one of the bottles had been touched.
When they reached the bottles he asked, “What have we learned today?”
Luke spoke first, “We're crap shots.”
“Simon?”
“We are definitely crap shots.”
“Glenda?”
“I'm as good as the boys, just plain crappy.”
“Righto, those were accurate assessments of your performance. What can we do about it, suggestions?” He was starting to enjoy himself again after the upsetting news of his unit's losses and withdrawal.
Luke said, “I guess we should practice more?”
“Correct. Any advances on practice?”
“Read up on how to fire better?” said Simon stabbing in the dark.
“Hmm, yes I suppose that might help, Glenda?”
Glenda wasn't sure what to say so she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Mmmm?”
“Good answer my dear - it's just not that easy is it? Looks easy on TV but in real life it's not. We'll do more target practice when the opportunity arises. Righto, on your bikes, follow me and observe, listen, act immediately I do. Got it?” They all nodded and climbed onto their bikes.
They parked away from the main town centre and walked the ten minutes towards the shops. The closer they got towards the town centre the more bodies littered the ground. Some had started to swell and decay but a small group appeared to have been shot recently. The blood was still wet. Nulla stood beside the bodies and called his troops over.
