by Leo Nix
Breakfast gave them time to wake up and socialise. The boys enjoyed having Glenda with them. For the pubescent males she was nicer to look at and more fun than Nulla and his endless lectures.
Simon left the table and came back from his bedroom with the snub nose special .38 in his hand. He handed it to Nulla.
“Where'd you find this little beauty?” said Nulla. He stopped his stretching and curiously held the pistol up to the candle light and checked its mechanism. He spun the cartridge chamber. “Nice action but pretty useless in a fire-fight. Only the one cartridge? Got any more ammo?”
“Nah, just the single bullet. We took it off a dead body up in the hills before we found you cavalry guys. I just remembered it was in my bag. Do you want it?” Simon stroked his nose with the back of his hand and raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah, thanks. We'll take it with us and see if we can find some bullets for it. Handy in a close fight or sneaking around.” He finished his stretches then said to the group. “Remember, we discussed what we should do when we met some civilians?”
The boys nodded and Glenda looked blank.
“Well, now that we've met civilians what do you think?” he asked.
“I think we need to know more about every group we meet, we need intelligence. Each one is different and we shouldn't have expectations they are good or bad,” offered Luke.
“We should approach civilians carefully and prepare for the worst like we have so far. Some are safe and some are dangerous. Otherwise we risk getting caught with our pants down in the middle of the road,” said Simon offering one of his one-liners.
“Yep, now you know. We take every civilian contact on its merits. Righto, let's get ready to move.” said Nulla.
By the time the sun was rising they'd infiltrated the shopping centre and made their way to the car park entrance. They could see the carnage of yesterday among the parked cars. Nulla made them squat until their legs burned with the effort.
“Pst! Pssst!” whispered Simon in Nulla's direction until he turned and frowned at him. Simon pointed towards the cars. They all followed his pointed index finger. In the growing dawn they saw a pack of dogs rummaging among the scavenger's bodies. It looked like they were eating them.
“Nulla, they're eating the dead people,” came a strangled whisper from Luke. They heard him make a choking sound and up came his beloved porridge.
“We hold our position until it gets a bit lighter, then we'll check the bodies.” Nulla nodded at Simon. “Simon, you partner Glenda today. Make sure you both support each other like in your training.”
As the sun rose above the horizon he lifted his arm, pointed to them, and then with his whole hand pointed in the direction of the bodies. Next he pumped his arm up and down.
Simon ran to the shopping mall's main door and waited while Glenda ran out to the car. She stopped, crouched and nodded to Simon. She raised her shot gun to her shoulder to bring it to bear on any would-be attackers. Simon ran up to her and scanned with his Steyr scope. He gave Nulla the all clear sign.
Nulla sent Luke to secure his position closer to the bodies. The dogs stood stiff legged and growled at him. As Nulla stopped beside Luke, one of the dogs approached, growling low in it's throat. Nulla shooed it off. Reluctantly it turned back to feed with the pack.
Luke used his scope and reported that he saw nothing other than the dogs. Simon and Glenda also gave the all clear. Nulla stood with Luke and the two made their way to the scavengers bodies on the ground. The dogs growled and some stood their ground until Nulla walked closer, swung his boot and landed a solid kick. The mangy dog yelped and ran off. The rest followed, but stopped a short distance away, snarling menacingly.
Simon and Glenda came up to join them. Simon asked Nulla, “Why aren't these dogs dead like the others?”
“They must be outside dogs who didn't drink the poisoned water or eat any poisoned dead people? Or maybe the poison's gone from the dead bodies already?” suggested Nulla, his three troops nodded.
“Can we keep one?” asked Luke.
Nulla looked at him and screwed up his face. “These might be wild dogs, can you see any collars? Besides once they taste human flesh what's going to stop your pet eating us while we're sleeping?” He looked at Luke and shook his head.
Luke initially had the sympathy of the other two, but as soon as they heard that, they shook their heads in agreement.
Each of the scavengers were torn in places showing where the dogs had been feeding. Flies began to settle on their open wounds. It smelled of death. The four collected the weapons: a .22 semi automatic and an AK47. Nulla handed the AK47 to Glenda and showed her how to handle the safety switch and load it. They quickly packed up the Mitsubishi four wheel drive with what the scavengers left lying on the ground.
Luke stood there for a long minute staring at the girl with the nose chain. Flies walked on her opened eyes. Nulla watched as the teenager went to an open car and brought back a cloth to place over her face.
“Are you all right, Luke?” Nulla asked softly.
“Yeah, I'm all right. I just said sorry to her.” He stood quietly for a moment then said, “People stop being pretty when they're dead. If she'd given up she could have been one of us. She could have been one of our friends.”
Totally oblivious to Luke's morose mood, Simon called out, “Hey, Nulla, can we use the dogs for target practice?”
Glenda's head jerked up and she snapped, “No way Simon! What sort of monster are you? That's cruel!”
“I thought they might attack, look at them snarling at us.” He kicked the car tyre next to him, his face was red.
Nulla spoke before anyone could say another word, “No one is going to shoot the dogs for target practice, so everyone just settle down. Righto, I saw an army surplus store inside. They should have binoculars and night scopes.” He picked up his Steyr and sent Simon and Glenda ahead. “Scout ahead while Luke and I take the Mitsubishi around the back and put it next to Glenda's.”
They spent the next few hours going through the mall collecting gear and packing their four wheel drives. Inside the army surplus store they found a nice collection of night vision goggles, scopes and a lot of useful camping gear and clothing.
As they prepared to leave Nulla stretched the street map over the car bonnet and walked them through the plan for the day ahead. They now had to make their way through the city, avoiding the terrorists and find their next safe house.
“We stick close together, you boys will be riding shotgun. Shoot anything that looks nasty. Got that?” Now everyone was nervous as hell.
Chapter 9 - Charlene - Gas Bomb
The Dwellers, as they called themselves, began to meet up at midnight inside the supermarket where they'd met Phil. For Heidi and Arthur it was a reasonably short walk and under the cover of darkness it didn't pose much of a safety problem. They lived in an old suburb with established trees and bushes that almost covered the footpaths. There was always somewhere to hide on the rare occasion the terrorists went on patrol.
On this particular night Heidi, Charlene and Arthur met with the regular dwellers. There they met up with Stacy and Abraham, a middle aged couple who'd lost their children to the poisoned water. They were always sad and depressed and Heidi tried to help them as much as she could. Then there were Lucy, Tony and their daughter Annie who brought a smile to everyone's face. Heidi liked to bring a special gift for Annie each time they met up.
The only other people they knew were Fatima and Phil, who were more comfortable with the apocalypse than everyone else. These dwellers appeared to be the only survivors in their area. There had been others a few weeks back but they seemed to have either been caught by the terrorists, died from illness or just drifted off.
“Hi Annie, I brought you another book from the Pony Club series. Do you have this one?” Heidi handed over a battered hard copy she'd found in one of the houses.
“Thank you, Heidi,” said Annie shyly. “I have three of them and this makes four.�
� She smiled from inside her jacket as she huddled into its warmth. A cold midnight wind was blowing across Bass Strait and in through the shattered doors of the supermarket.
“Fatima, I found a cook book for you and a book on how to make and repair tools for you, Phil.” Heidi handed over two books that she knew they'd enjoy. Although finding fresh meat was difficult there were times when Fatima brought them curried possum, rabbit or pigeon and rice in plastic containers. She was a magician on the gas cooker and Phil had a knack for trapping animals. The dwellers learned that he was an academic but now he turned his hand to trapping, gardening, wood working and any handyman jobs he could find to keep himself busy.
Abraham shrugged his jacket closer around his neck and said in his gruff voice, “What do you all think about the gas bottle situation? I've run out of butane canisters and I'm having trouble trying to fit the LPG gas bottles to my camp cooker. Can someone come over and give me a hand?”
Heidi and Arthur had been to Abraham and Stacy's house a number of times to help them manage. Their depression always lifted when they saw the two teenagers. Stacy tried to mother the youngsters, she even invited them to move in but Heidi fiercely defended her independence. There was no way Heidi would move in with anyone now she was enjoying the freedom of running her own household.
Cooking gas was a problem for the dwellers. All the camping stores had been ransacked and gas canisters were always the first to disappear. They could find no more butane canisters and full LPG gas bottles were scarce. The other problem was that no one knew how to work the enormous LPG gas tanks at the fuel stations. They hadn't tried too hard, fearful they'd blow themselves up. But now there was no other way, they had to find an answer before winter.
Each group had moved into houses with a fireplace where they did most of their cooking. They never lit their fires during the day in case the smoke gave them away. As soon as it was dark they would light their fires to cook their meals, ready for the next day. Firewood was not a problem, they each had their own coveted caches from around the neighbourhood. No one ever bothered to ask for firewood because they knew what the answer would be. It was survival of the fittest and the best resourced, and resources for survival were jealously guarded.
Sometimes they would all gather at Fatima and Phil's house for a meal, each bringing something for the pot. They would arrive after their shopping trips just before dawn. Fatima would finish cooking as the last family arrived and they would usually eat around breakfast time.
Fatima suggested at their first meeting they should all stay over till the next evening, to avoid possible detection. Phil and Fatima even went so far as to collect all the necessary bedding, sleeping bags and pillows, as well as expensive sheets and woollen blankets, for the group. The idea to bring gifts began with Heidi.
The families tried their best to support each other but it was hard. Little Annie had no idea why she couldn't play outside in the parks during the day and was always restless. Tony and Lucy relished visiting Fati and Phil's if only to give themselves a break from Annie's demands for attention. As much as Heidi and Fatima wanted to take her for a holiday in their own homes, they knew that if something went wrong, that precious bond between them would be broken.
It was Charlene who brought up the idea of how to fill the gas bottles from the large depot tanks. She'd watched her father fill their barbecue gas bottles many times. Although apprehensive, Charlene thought she could recognise the special gas tank key and remember how it was done.
Everybody was sitting around Fatima's dinning table at one of their weekly visits where they discussed how they could resolve the gas bottle problem. Fearful of saying the wrong thing, Charlene always tried to avoid making suggestions. Her traumatic experiences had dampened her enthusiasm for adventure, even the thought of foraging was too much for her.
She spoke up just as people were finishing their stew of heavily spiced possum on a bed of saffron rice and stewed peaches. Fati's possum stews were always heavily spiced to disguise its sometimes unpleasant flavour. There is a well kept secret about possums and it's that they'll eat anything. Their flesh tastes like their last meal. The dwellers knew there were plenty of dead humans for scavengers like possums to eat. Fortunately only Fatima and Phil knew the details, not wanting to upset their guests they kept the secret to themselves.
“I think I know how to work the gas tank at the depot,” said Charlene softly.
They all stopped what they were doing and looked at her. It was so unlike Charlene to offer her thoughts on matters other than psychology.
“Go on?” said Tony, careful not to sound like he was rushing her.
“I've seen my dad do it a few times and I think I know what the special key for charging the gas bottles looks like.” She'd said enough and now waited for their reactions.
“You must be talking about that big gas tank at the service station around the corner? That one we looked at last time we spoke about the LPG gas bottles?” Arthur piped up licking his plate clean then placing it back on the table.
“Yes, it's not the same one my father used, but it looks the same. I'll need to check it out, but if someone comes with me to help…?” her voice drifted off.
“Goodness girl, what do you take us for, Numbats?” Abraham turned to the group. “How about we each bring some empty bottles on our next trip? Heidi should stay behind this time and Arthur can take the little trolley he made with Phil. I'll go with Stacy and I imagine Tony will be the first one there with his gas bottles lined up like nine pins.”
“Let's organise as many bottles as we can handle and all meet at the depot at our usual time, midnight. There, it's done!” It was Tony, Charlene was grateful for his support. He always did that on the rare times she ventured an opinion or idea.
“I think that'll work, yes. Is tomorrow night too early? My shoulder pain is bad with this cold wind and if I don't do it soon, I mightn't be able to go out for a while,” said Charlene, gaining in confidence.
“OK, let's do it,” said Abraham turning to their host. “If Fatima doesn't mind another stay over, since your house is the closest. If you don't mind, can you stay at home too Fati, and mind the house with Heidi, Lucy and Annie? The more hands the better but safety and security should be our main concerns, I think.” He turned and smiled with delight at Charlene.
They decided to meet at the depot at exactly midnight. The long, low whistle with a twist upwards was their signal Heidi had decided upon. They were each to bring as many empty gas bottles as they could carry. When filled they were to store those they couldn't immediately carry, inside the station itself, and return each night until they were all filled and brought home.
With their plans set they cleaned up their communal meal, washed and dried the dishes then prepared for bed. It was Arthur's turn to do the rounds for security and while he was out they gathered their pillows and bedding onto the floor of the lounge room. Lucy read a bedtime story for Annie and they all listened like little kids. It had become the dwellers ritual when they had a sleep over. Eventually the dwellers fell asleep one by one in front of the now cooling fire.
The following evening the dwellers collected their empty gas bottles and brought them by their various routes to the service station. Arthur and Charlene had arrived a few minutes earlier. While Charlene was searching the office for the gas tank keys, Arthur set himself as lookout.
Phil and Tony came out of the bushes and placed their gas bottles beside the enormous LPG tank with the markings, HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, written in big letters. Stacy and Abraham arrived soon after, they too placed their bottles in a row. Arthur kept watch for roving patrols and the rest waited quietly in the shadows for Charlene to show them what to do.
The wind blew scudding, dark clouds in the moonlight and they stamped their feet to keep warm. A sudden rain squall made them all huddle inside their jackets, they felt miserable standing there in the pale moonlight. It just as quickly eased off to a light sprinkle then stopped. No one spoke.
Finally Charlene appeared with something in her hands. By blinkered torchlight she unlocked the cage and released the gas tank hose calling softly for Abraham to bring the bottles one by one. She had no strength in her left hand so she quietly showed him how to screw the hose into the gas bottles. He kept getting it wrong until she pointed out that the thread went in an anti-clockwise direction.
The first bottle was filled but not without loud liquid screams from the loose connection until Abraham learned that he had to screw it in tighter. Everybody cringed hoping no patrols could hear the noise. Stacy helped Abraham fill while Phil placed them inside the station using his hand trolley.
Just as their last bottle was filling a noise startled them all. Arthur gave his warning whistle, Phil and Tony immediately raced into the bushes. Stacy was in a state of panic as she tried to help Abraham unscrew the hose and hide the bottles. Abraham panicked and dropped the bottle. The noise was enough to wake even the dead bodies lying on the ground around them.
A voice called out, it was answered by several others. There came the sound of footsteps running towards them. Torchlight beams cut the cold midnight gloom and reflected eerily off the rain-drenched concrete.
Abraham grabbed Stacy's hand and they ran into the fuel station building and hid behind the counter. Arthur raced to Charlene and whispered, “A foot patrol. Just drop everything and run.”
Charlene looked at his frightened eyes and then at the swinging torch lights approaching along the road. They took off along their prepared escape route.
Gas was leaking from the open bottle and the hissing hose connection and they knew they had to put as much distance between them and the bottles as possible. Phil and Tony carried a full bottle of LPG gas each and ran off, hobbled by their precious cargo.
There was a rifle shot, then another. It was followed by a burst of automatic fire that ripped through the tree branches above the running figures. Some of the bullets screamed as they ricocheted off the metal gas tank.
