The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set)

by Taylor Michaels

  They waited in the parking lot over the side of the causeway connecting the mountain to the shore as a small boat putt-putted up. Once they all barely fit in, the boat turned around and putt-putted out into the bay. A flash of light ahead identified the fishing boat where they were headed. Ten minutes later, the moonlight appeared from behind the clouds and showed a boat ahead. Shortly, they were aboard and on their way to England.

  "Where are we going, John?"

  "Liverpool, Masako. I talked to Terry Porter just before the boat arrived. He reserved and paid for all seven rooms on a container ship. It leaves tomorrow. He also said that Tom and Elspeth would meet us with the travel details, tomorrow morning. In addition, Elspeth's brother, Harry, has been added to the group. I called Charles and told him to take Cho to Terry Porter's house."

  "Your little group is growing, but, I don't think it's by chance. You planned all this. You didn't have an errand to run to France. Your little bug-out bag was a ruse. You went to pick up Marceau and Pierre."

  "From the beginning, Masako, I figured that no individual would be able to survive. Even a small group wouldn't survive long. The problem is that the bigger the group, the more powerful it is, but the more food it consumes. We will only be able to obtain a limited amount food and we will only be able to grow a limited amount of food. And if we don't have enough, we'll have some hard decisions to make."

  "I thought I remembered that you received a perfect score on your final test in spy camp. You are now living your test. And we about to find out whether you deserved that score or not."

  John smiled, thinking it would be hard to keep secrets from Masako. They learned the same lessons and shared too much history. "Right now, I'm playing it by ear. If you have any ideas, let me know. Please. We needed a cook, a good one. Marceau is great. One of the best. She will be able to make great meals out of whatever is available. We are lucky to have her. Pierre is a doctor and an excellent shot, a great choice. Those were easy."

  "And she is the third girlfriend you have in your little group. How are you going to handle that? Not planning a harem, are you? And not worried about a jealous boyfriend? Or even a jealous girlfriend?"

  "Uh, I'll watch out for all of that. I knew that we had to take Tom and Elspeth to get the ship. They are both practical, have good common sense and will do what needs to be done. They both have a strong will to survive, to do what must be done, especially Elspeth. I've never seen anyone with a stronger spirit. I didn't really have to compromise there. I don't know if Harry will be worthwhile or not. He's young and full of energy, I understand. I don't know if he has a fighting spirit. We'll see."

  "What about me, John. Am I worth it? You never really invited me. I invited myself. Or my father made me invite myself."

  "You are definitely worth it and I did invite you. You said, I didn't go to France to get a bug-out bag. Well, I didn't go to Japan to get one from you either. I was hoping you would join us without my making a big deal of it -- voluntarily, you might say."

  "Voluntarily? You were going to try to force me to come with you? How could you? You didn't say anything at all. Not a word. You didn't even invite me. I kept waiting for you to invite me, but you didn't. I felt bad coming to the hotel and hoping you would take me with you. I didn't know what I would do if you refused."

  "Not a problem."

  "You weren't going to try to hypnotize me -- were you? You used to try to do that all the time when we were at camp. You were never any good at it."

  "Are you sure? If I were good at it, I would have made you think I was bad at it. Right?" He paused, gaging her reaction. "But I'm joking. No, of course not. I would never do that. I just thought we had enough history that you would know what I knew without my spelling it all out. I figured that, once we had talked, you would come to the only reasonable conclusion. Or your father would. He's a smart and well-informed man. He would convince you that this was the only correct move for you."

  "You're still not making sense. We did have history and history is nice. What about the future?"

  "It's ours to make." John looked into Masako's dark eyes, wondering if she were strong enough. Maybe he had made a mistake. Maybe she would have been better off in Japan. A terrible thought, and it would have destroyed his plans, but the future would be grim and challenging and right now, Masako looked weak and vulnerable.

  As John cast an eye toward the sea, the shadows of the clouds formed by the moonlight were ghosts shuffling across the deck. Was one of those hers or his?

  Chapter 14 - The Crossing

  The fishing boat arrived at Liverpool two miles from the harbor just before sunrise and they were taken ashore by another small boat. Terry Porter arranged for the boat and for a car to take them to a hotel where his grandson met them in the lobby. Tom took them to a large suite on the top floor of the hotel where the others were waiting.

  "Elspeth, so nice to see you again. As attractive as ever. I wish it were better circumstances. I assume you know what's going on. How are you holding up?"

  "You know us Brits, John. Stiff upper lip and all that rot. We just deal with it. That's what we were taught since we were children. As I understand it, this is as good as it's going to be. Circumstances will not be better. It is just as in the old Russian saying, 'Today is worse than yesterday but better than tomorrow.' "

  "Of course, the life of any party. I've always wondered what you were like before Tom met and tamed you."

  "No bloody man will ever tame me," Elspeth spouted. "I assume Terry told us the truth. He thinks that the world is coming to an end. What do you say? You were there."

  "Still the life of the party, I see. But let's keep that last bit of information to ourselves from now on, OK."

  "Of course -- but we're all alone."

  "You forget my business. I never assume I'm alone. None of us should. From now on, we watch what we say. Always."

  John never considered himself paranoid, just careful. The likelihood of their being spied on by the government was small, But, a number of people were probably scared enough of the coming virus apocalypse that they were near their breaking point. A few words about prepping for the virus might send them over the edge.

  "What exactly is your business?" said a young man, brown hair, about five foot eight.

  "Ah, you must be Harry," John said, shaking Harry's hand. "My business is everybody else's business. You might say -- information transfer -- one way only."

  "Like Tom and his grandfather."

  "So John, how do you see the -- uh -- current situation?" Elspeth said.

  "Every time I hear any news, it's worse. The danger was originally underestimated. They thought fifty percent mortality. I alerted my people as soon as I heard and several times after that. They paid no attention to my reports, as far as I know. Then, ninety percent is what several sources have said. Over the last few days it's worsened, possibly due to -- uh -- collateral damage."

  "Those are just numbers and strange words. You know I'm not a number person. I'm a reality person. What's the bloody reality going to be like, John?"

  John paused to collect his thoughts, not that he hadn't gone over it many times in his head. But, it was hard to know exactly how far and how quickly civilization would regress. "We won't go back to the Stone Age, not immediately anyway, but most of what we take for granted today will be gone in six weeks: telephone, television, gasoline, trains, airplanes, ships. One odd thing did occur to me a few nights ago. Wherever you are in a month is where you'll stay for the rest of your life. So, make sure you really want to go to the US, because if you go, that's most likely where you'll die. After a few months, maybe sooner, travel beyond a hundred miles will be extremely difficult, almost impossible."

  "Bloody hell, John. Don't sugarcoat it," said Elspeth.

  "I thought that's what you wanted. Reality. The reality is that most of what we take for granted will be gone in three months, food supply, ammunition. Pockets of civilization, but not big ones, may continue, for a wh
ile.

  Tom interrupted, "Grandfather was talking about that. He says that some of the one percent may have prepped enough to last for several years and may have lands ready to plant and a small army to defend them. But anybody with less that a hundred million pounds will have a difficult time."

  "Yes, Tom, we will quickly have to deal with gangs scavenging and with complete lawlessness. We have some experience in the US with short-term disasters, mainly weather related. I have no doubt that life will become difficult and stay that way for a long time. Years, maybe decades. Like back in the Wild West. We have to set ourselves up in a defensible location, stockpile what we can, plant a garden, get some animals and then we will have to become a powerful force, at least locally, to protect what we have. After that, we try to stay off everybody's radar. Charles, is that the way you see it?"

  Charles leaned forward, retrieved a small notebook from his pocket and held it high. "Certainly. I've been busy making lists. Things I thought of and things I read from the internet. I downloaded and printed this small notebook of material. You all might want to look at it. Something to read on a sea voyage. Cho and I talked about this for the last two days." He paused and cast a nervous smile toward Cho. "Some girl you have there, John. What really makes me concerned is that we can't forget anything. We can't make mistakes. The penalty is too great. Starvation. Death from a disease. Freezing to death. Having to spend days and days working around something forgotten that would cost next to nothing if we bought it now.

  Masako motioned for Charles to hand her the notebook, which he did before continuing. "We'll have our hands full prepping and farming. And we have a limited time to do what has to be done. It will be tough. And as you say, all the time we are stocking up, we have to stay off everybody's radar. Not make waves. No arguments. Be nice. Be as close to invisible as possible. Secrecy is the best security. That's contrary to my nature, you know."

  "We could take your gun, Then you'd have to be nice," said Masako.

  "Only after you pried it from my cold dead fingers," he said with a smile. "Actually, I was thinking of acquiring some additional hardware once we hit The States."

  "John, do you have some friends in the US you can count on?" said Elspeth.

  "I've contacted two. Experts in DIY and innovating. One with some farming experience and the other with some military knowledge. We have to be careful not to make the group too big. And several others from outside the US. They may choose not to come. We'll see."

  * * *

  After dinner in the hotel room, John decided to start everyone planning for the next day's activities. "Tom, your father said he reserved seven rooms on the ship. I think it only has seven. So, except for the crew, we'll be alone. As soon as we board the ship we should all go to separate rooms."

  "Really," said Elspeth, "That will be no fun. Not at all. I was looking forward to a week at sea. Sun and the sea breeze. Rest. Drink. Relaxation. Sex."

  "Actually we are nine people and we have seven rooms. You and Tom can be together."

  "I would like to be with Pierre," said Marceau.

  "Yes," said Pierre. "If they can be together, then we can be together. The French will not take -- how you say -- a backseat to the British. We will not be separate while they are together. Never!"

  John had hoped that the threat of the virus would bring people together and minimize petty squabbles. He would need to put together some team-building activities. He sighed and thought, maybe by the end of the trip. I have a lot of work to do.

  "Sure, Pierre. I was about to say that. Cho and I will start with separate rooms. As soon as the ship leaves dock, we reorganize. Any way you want, with anyone you want."

  "Now the future is brighter. I was beginning to get depressed at your predictions. But a new world with all new rules. Rules that we make. I can relate to that. I'm going to enjoy this trip," she said looking around at the men in the room."

  "That's not what he meant, Elspeth."

  "Are you sure, Tom?"

  "Yes. Not anybody you want."

  "You're bloody awful. I don't have a ring, you know," Elspeth said, holding up her ring finger.

  "That's not what I was talking about," said John. "and it's none of my business. All I meant was that in the beginning, we just need to claim all the cabins so they will not bring aboard any more passengers. After the boat departs. Do what you want."

  "See, that's exactly what he did say."

  "Elspeth. That's not what he was talking about. Pay attention."

  "Well anyway, I've brought a few bottles. May not be enough. They'd better have a good liquor cabinet."

  "Each of us should always have at least one other person with us at all times. For the women, that includes in the room as well as out. And don't open your room door unless you are sure who is on the other side."

  "I call Tom," said Elspeth. "And …"

  "Elspeth!"

  "Bloody monogamist."

  "John, what good would all that do?" said Masako. "It's just us and the crew. You said that."

  "I have four guns. Each group can have one."

  "I have gun," said Cho. "No problem."

  "And I," said Marceau.

  "I brought my hunting rifle," said Pierre. "And the pistol you saw back at the l'Arch. And the one I picked up there. I can take care of Marceau. Your weapons will not be needed."

  "I'm fine too," said Charles, in his Scottish accent, then standing and stretching his long legs. "If anyone needs an escort, let me know."

  "You know me," said Elspeth, pulling a Judge from her purse. The gun was almost as big as her purse and twice the size of her hand. "It sounds like you can keep your guns."

  "If anybody else wants one, let me know. Masako and Cho, I think you two should stay together and stay in the room for the whole trip, at least during the day. Like Francois said, the crew may think Masako is Chinese. I'll bring you food and another gun. And if you go outside at night, I want a man to go with you."

  Cho was alert and frowning, but Masako had grown quiet and now stared at her crossed hands.

  "And drink," said Elspeth. "Don't forget to bring them drink. Plenty of it. We will all need plenty. This is all so bloody depressing. I plan to spend the whole trip soused. I find this all so sad. No more shopping at Harrods. No more parties. No more beautiful dresses. No more theater. No more limousines. I'm going to need plenty of drink. The only thing which makes me happy is this new morality."

  John smiled and looked at Charles. He raised an eyebrow. Masako began to weep silently. John took a tissue from the end table and handed it to her. She looked up with tears rolling down her cheeks. John knelt down, took another tissue and wiped her face. "It will be fine. I promise."

  "No, it won't be fine. It will be horrible. I can learn to plant corn, but I'll never learn to see around the next corner to find out if someone is ready to jump me. Japan is -- was -- a peaceful country. Safe. Almost no crime. And now this." She turned and leaned onto the sofa and cried.

  Cho was sitting beside Masako and was frowning.

  "Elspeth, see what you've done," said Tom.

  "Still the life of the party," said John, giving Charles a look.

  Charles went to Masako and put his arms around her. "I'm good at seeing around corners. That's what I was trained to do. Don't worry. I'll make sure you're safe."

  "When we start stockpiling things, I think we should stockpile plenty of bevvies. What do they make in North Carolina? Whisky?"

  "That's Kentucky and Tennessee, but close enough. They do have quite a few producers of white lightning."

  "Close enough," said Elspeth.

  "You think I cannot take care of myself," said Cho. "I took care of you in taxi. You forget. I shoot driver. Cho good shot. Bang, man fall down. All over quick."

  "You and Mama. Mama took care of me in the taxi. Bless her soul. You missed."

  "Mama was great shot, bad swimmer. Always sink," Cho said, as she too started to cry. John went over to her and put his arms ar
ound her.

  Masako dried her eyes and finally said, "John, I forgot to tell you. The body of Cho's mother was found. Twenty miles south of Yokohama. We made sure she received a proper funeral."

  "Thank you," said Cho, turning to Masako and hugging her, tears running down both of their cheeks.

  Charles and John retreated and let the women comfort each other. John smiled at Charles and whispered, "This is going to be a long trip."

  "I do not need a gun," said Marceau. "I can also handle myself."

  Thank God for that, John thought. At least one of the women will not be difficult. "I'm sure you can, Marceau, but two or three crewmen can overpower any one of us, men or women. It doesn't matter whether we are carrying guns or knives or hand grenades."

  "John, you have said some bloody odd things since I've known you, but now, you're just being bloody crazy. In this day and age, who carries hand grenades?"

  Charles held up a hand. "I'm not the only one, am I? Guns are illegal in England, you know."

  "As I was saying, all the old rules are gone."

  "See, he said it again."

  "Elspeth, let the man talk."

  "Thanks, Tom. We have to be more than careful. Every second. There's no almost. No second chances. We make a mistake and we're dead. We're not the only ones who understand the situation. Most people think it will blow over, but a few do understand the reality and a lot more are just crazy."

  * * *

  Just before midnight, they boarded the containership at the dock and were shown to their rooms. The port authorities were not as concerned about those leaving the country as they were about those entering. They looked at Cho's Singapore passport and stamped it without flinching. John wondered whether that was a testament to Dong's ability as a forger or to the desire of the authorities to rid the country of everybody who might cause a problem.

  * * *

  The first day at sea was sunny and cool, with a breeze caused by the boat plowing through the sea and the air. The sky was clear with only a few little white clouds. As John stood by the railing looking out over the sea, one of the crew approached. "Hello mate. Not a bad day for sun bathing. I thought you boarded with four ladies."