As they had no bodies to bury, this was the only way they could think of to honour those lost.
Jack and Dee had discussed at length about trying to find Jack’s family. No one they knew had made it to Mayor Island nor any of the other pockets of survivors they’d had radio contact with. Jack insisted his family were smart. They knew about the cabin, so there was a chance.
Jack could feel the sea breeze picking up as it came up off the ocean and met the volcanic island. Perfect, he thought, smiling.
Crunching on the pathway behind him warned of people approaching. Turning, he watched in admiration as Boss, using crutches, his lower right leg bandaged at the stump, walked along behind the others.
Boss had stayed in the infirmary for a further two weeks. The nurses had finally let him out, for a short time at least.
“You guys ready?”
“Yup,” they chorused.
Jack let out a nervous sigh. “We are here today to honour and remember those who we lost. We lost friends, family, pets, everything. But amongst it all, we found each other. We drew strength and courage from each other. These brave men and women on this island, and Ben, who helped us; they give us new hope so that we can carry on. We owe it to others’ sacrifices that we carry on, not only for them, but for ourselves.”
Jack, Dee, Boss and George raised up their arms and opened their palms, allowing the wind to carry away the crushed flowers.
Dee reached over and slid her hand into Jack’s.
George clung between them, leaning out over the cliff to watch the flowers float towards the sea.
“A fine speech, Jack.” Jack turned around. Frowning, he watched Ben hobble towards them. “A fine speech indeed.”
Ben reached out and grasped them all in a hug.
“Benny!” George squealed.
Ben ruffled George’s hair. Smiling at Jack and Dee, he nodded at each of them. “Sorry I’m late. The colonel’s meetings tend to drag on. But we’ve a heap to do and little manpower to do it with.” He stroked his long bushy beard. “Did you guys mean what you said? About letting me train you?”
“Yes. I’m keen,” Jack said, looking at Dee.
She grinned. “Sure, why not.”
“Good, I’m glad. We need everyone we can get. Especially people like you. You both showed real courage under fire. I think that with some training, you two will be real handy in what’s to come.”
“What is to come?” Jack asked.
“I can’t give details yet, but we’re going to fight back. The colonel’s been on the horn to the Americans. That’s all I can say at the moment.” A pondering look flickered across his face. Jack searched his twinkling brown eyes for anything else, but Ben’s face remained a calm mask.
Ben nudged Boss on the shoulder. “Boss, the colonel has agreed to teach you radio operations. He’s dying to know how you reached the Americans on some amateur ham radio. You begin as soon as Doc gives you the all-clear.”
Boss grinned at him, barking out a laugh. “Did I leave that part out?”
“Yes,” Ben said, raising a thick eyebrow.
“You guys ever heard of a place called Guam?” Boss said. “An island?”
“A Pacific island. Yes,” Ben said.
“That’s where the Americans were, until I lost contact.”
“There is an American base there, so it makes sense,” Ben said.
Jack shifted his weight off his injured leg and chortled. He wasn’t sure if Boss was joking or being serious.
Boss smirked at Dee, glanced at Jack and Ben. “You guys know I’m the hero in this rule of three, eh?”
“Hero? In the rule of three? Boss?” Jack frowned.
“Yeah, you know, teenage guy or girl ripped away from his home, orphaned. Meets old wise man. Gets trained and fights back.”
“Ah, you mean the classical hero’s journey. And it’s twelve steps, I think,” Jack said. He laughed and shook his head.
“Yeah, that’s the one, but whatever.”
“Kid, don’t make me laugh. I’m still healing,” Ben said, holding his side. “And just so you know, the rule of three is a survival guide. Basic guide at best.”
Dee wrapped her arm around Boss and held him close. “You’re a goofball.”
Jack smiled as he turned back to see the last of the sun dip down over his homeland. Despite all the horror and trauma he had been through, he was happy. He had survived. He had escaped the Variant nest. He had saved George. Amongst all the chaos, he had found Dee. He was determined not to let this second chance go to waste. To find his family. To give George, Boss and everyone a world to live in.
He wrapped his arms around Dee, feeling her warmth as they watched the first of the stars appear on the horizon.
Not just my stars, but everyone’s. They belong to everyone. To shine a little light down on this dark new world.
George squealed, the noise bouncing around the cliffs as he chased a cicada.
Jack could be forgiven for thinking everything was normal. It felt as if the last couple of weeks hadn’t happened. As if Dee and he were on a camping trip, enjoying nature. Jack sighed as he looked back at the mainland. It was far from over. It had only just begun.
Three weeks without food, three days without water, three hours without shelter, and three minutes without air.
***
One Eye made his way through the field, his subjects following a short distance behind. He could smell the others approaching from the north, west and east. He stopped in the middle of the field and bellowed. Three bellows sounded out in response. They were close. Soon his plan would be put into motion. Soon the remaining humans would be corralled into nests. They needed to breed again, provide him with food.
A human fragment tugged at him. Didn’t he used to do this with animals?
He shook the memory away. The anger, the hunger, gnawed at his soul. First, he wanted to find the little one who had taken his eye. He wanted to feel the satisfaction of ripping the flesh from its bones and sucking out its marrow. The humans had escaped his grasp in the thumping beast that sent stinging, burning rain on him. He had lost many of his tribe chasing them.
Finally the others approached, the Alpha leaders towering over their minions. The other three stopped around him. He looked them over. He could smell the blood as it pumped through their veins. Hear their hearts thumping. Air as it escaped their lungs.
Half of him wanted nothing more than to rip out their throats. To lap up the blood as it gushed out. To feast on their flesh until his hunger was satisfied. But he needed them. Needed their cooperation.
“Where?” he grunted, sniffing the air.
The Alpha who had come from the north signalled behind him. Variants pushed two humans, a man and a woman, forwards, shoving them to the ground at the feet of One Eye.
He gazed down at them. The blonde hair of the woman was matted against her head. He fought the urge to sink his teeth into her neck and taste her blood. The last remaining human part of his brain bubbled to the surface. She’s a real beauty.
He bellowed angrily, then grunted, “Where?”
One of the Variants kicked the male. One Eye looked down at the slightly overweight man with his shaved head and beady eyes. He hissed at him, shoving his face closer.
“I…I…I don’t know where they are, please…” mumbled the overweight man.
One Eye sniffed him. He could definitely smell them on him. He lashed out and speared the man through the head with his claw. With a satisfied hiss, he lapped up the spilling blood and brain matter.
One Eye turned to the Alpha that had come from the east. “Where?”
The Alpha pushed a skinny male out onto the ground. Skinny held up his hands in surrender, pleading, “Please…please don’t kill me… I know where they are.”
He pointed east, towards the mountains.
One Eye snarled with satisfaction. His anger barely contained, he let out a deafening bellow.
He hauled on four chains, pulling
the terrified prey at the other ends towards him. Four children appeared, covered in filth. They were sobbing.
The Alphas smacked their suckers as the gathered Variants howled into the night. The small ones tasted so much sweeter.
One Eye sniffed the skull of the child in front of him and licked the salt off its flesh.
The child began to sob. With a satisfying crunch, One Eye silenced it forever. He moaned with pleasure as he drank the blood and tore into its flesh. Soon the sounds of the other Alphas feeding filled his ears.
The surrounding packs screeched and howled at the smell of the spilt blood.
Glossary
Gallipoli: World War One battle fought between the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) and Turkish forces in 1915. The ANZACs suffered heavy losses, but fought with sheer determination for little gain.
Haka: Tribal war dance performed to intimidate an opponent. Famously performed in modern times by New Zealand sports teams. Each tribe has its own version of the dance.
Hongi: Translates to “The breath of life.” A greeting, where the two greeting each other touch noses and foreheads at the same time. Serves a similar purpose to a handshake.
Iwi: Translates to “people” or “nation”, but it has come to mean tribe. In pre-European times, Maori identified more with a Hapu or sub tribe. Iwi can mean a confederation of tribes.
Kai: Simply translates to “food”.
Kaitiaki: Term used for Guardianship of the Sea and of the Sky. Kaitiaki is a guardian, and the process and practices of looking after the environment.
Kaumatua: Elders in Maori society, held in high esteem. Being the storehouses of tribal knowledge, genealogy and traditions.
Kawakawa: Small tree endemic to New Zealand. Used in medicines and traditional practices.
Kehua: Translates to “ghost”.
Kina: A sea urchin endemic to New Zealand. Considered a delicacy.
Koru: Translates to “loop”. Used to describe the unfurling frond of the silver fern. Signifies new life, growth, strength and peace.
Kumara: A species of sweet potato grown in New Zealand. Traditionally a staple food.
Maori: Indigenous population of New Zealand.
Manuka: Small flowering tree. Famed for its oily timber and, in more recent times, for the honey produced from its flowers. The honey has many beneficial properties.
Mere: Traditional Maori weapon best described as a club. Could be made from a variety of materials. Chiefs had mere made from a hard semi-precious gemstone called “pounamu”.
Moriori: A peaceful indigenous people of the Chatham Islands to the west of New Zealand. Thought to have populated parts of the South Island as well.
New Zealand Flax: Endemic grass plant found throughout the country. Used for variety of reasons. Mainly for weaving traditional Maori objects. Europeans used it as a source of fibre to make ropes, etc.
Pakeha: White or fair skinned New Zealander. Specifically of European descent.
Paua: Endemic species of abalone found around the New Zealand coast.
Pohutukawa: Species of large coast dwelling tree. Often found clinging to cracks and to the side of cliffs. Called New Zealand’s “Christmas tree” because its red flowers bloom in abundance during December.
Powhiri: A Maori welcoming ceremony involving, singing, dancing and finally the hongi.
Paka: An expression of annoyance or anger. Can be used in reference to a person as seen in the film Whale Rider.
Taiaha: A traditional Maori weapon. A close-quarters staff. Made from wood or whale bone. Used for quick, stabbing thrusts and strikes, with fast footwork by the wielder. Often found to have intricate carvings near its tip.
Tangi: A traditional funeral held on a marae (meeting place)
Ta Moko: Traditional tattoos of the Maori.
Tekoteko: Maori term for a carved human figure or head. Sometimes attached to the gable of a house.
Te Reo: The Maori language.
Whanau: An extended family or related community who live together in the same area.
THE FOURTH PHASE
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all the daydreamers of the world.
And to my grandparents who fought and sacrificed so much
so we could live the free life we do.
Thank you.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We shall remember them.
–Laurence Binyon
Acknowledgements
When I set out to write these books, I never realised how many people help an author along the way.
First, I have to thank Nicholas for encouraging me in the first place. You have helped and inspired me from day one.
Frances, you have been there from the beginning, reading every single version of both books. I couldn’t have done this without you. I hope I can repay your kindness in some way.
Rodger, like you say, it’s probably good that we live far away from each other, otherwise we might cause a bit of chaos. Thank you for your encouragement and for keeping my spirits up with your humour.
To the Guardians of the Apocalypse, you are all wonderful people. Thank you for all your support.
A special thank you to Geoff Toni for helping me with the Maori aspects of this novel. Sadly, Geoff passed away before we could finish. I hope I got everything correct. Rest in peace, brother.
To all of my Beta readers: Col (Ret) Olson, Lisa, Shelli, Nathan, Frances, Cynthia, and Michael. Thank you for all your valuable advice and input. If you find any mistakes they are of my doing.
I tried to write these books from an everyman and woman point of view. Two people who find themselves in a crazy, chaotic world, each of them discovering new facets to their personalities.
Since the book is set in New Zealand, I’ve used UK spelling. I’ve also included a Glossary for any Maori terms that you may not be familiar. As always, I’m more than happy to answer any questions. You can contact me on the following platforms:
Facebook: Author: Adrian J Smith
Email: [email protected]
Website: adrianjonsmith.com
Come join our Facebook group: Guardians of the Apocalypse
Thanks again,
Adrian
Prologue
The creature ran through the night. It leapt over rocks. Over tree roots. Through mud and bushes. Thorns and twigs stabbed at it, but the creature ignored it all. Its quarry was close. It scrambled up the steep hill, using its claws to dig deep into any crack, any crevice.
It was oblivious to anything but its prey. Its master had commanded that it track them. Follow them no matter where they went. It paused and sniffed the air, savouring the scents of the humans. Young humans. It could smell their blood. Young blood was different, newer, with a sweeter taste like it was fresh from the source. Full of iron and salts. The creature paused and smacked its sucker-like lips together. It crouched on a fallen tree and flicked its forked tongue into the night air, tasting for its game. No part of its brain was human anymore; it had evolved into something new, something different. Better and lethal. Now it hunted them with its kin and feasted on their flesh.
Not tonight, though. Tonight the master had tasked it with finding two young humans. They had fled into the interior of the island.
The creature threw its head back and howled into the crisp night sky. A chorus of howls answered. It had no trouble tracking the calls. Instinctively it knew the others’ locations by the sounds of their shrieks echoing through the dark.
The beast tasted the air once more and grinned to itself. Other creatures were chasing the humans like sharks in a feeding frenzy. This beast knew better. It knew to wait, to hang back from the humans and their sticks that stung. No, the creature had picked up on a new scent. A musty smell, with dirt and odours like the sea. It tracked the mammal with four legs.<
br />
The creature spat. The four-legged mammal stuck to the humans, picking up on scraps. It didn’t hunt for itself. It waited for them to feed it, something the beast found puzzling. It had limited thoughts, normally just:
Hunt…
Feed…
Mate… But above all, Obey the master.
The master was twice as big and so much stronger. With its own eyes the creature had seen the master tear ones like it in half and eat them.
The creature shook its body and tasted the air again. The humans were close. Another human and the four-legged mammal were closer.
It stayed on the tree and waited. It cocked its head as the bangs of the stinging sticks rang out. It hated that sound and the pain it brought. Its ears picked up on the noise of the humans’ cries and the vibrations of their scrambling feet.
Finally the humans were moving towards it. The creature crept farther into the bush, ignoring every smell that surrounded it.
The master wanted these ones. It wasn’t going to let a snack distract it. Turning, following the smells and tastes, the creature scampered into the undergrowth.
***
How? How did they find us?
Boss pondered this question on a loop as he ran his trembling hand along the smooth wall of the cave. If he was being honest, he knew the answer. Perhaps the better question was Why? Why are they here?
But he knew the answer to that as well.
Six weeks ago, the Hemorrhage Virus had swept across the world. No country was spared. Humans that became infected mutated into monsters, monsters the survivors had named Variants. And Variants reverted to the most animalistic of thoughts and actions: Food. They were now the apex predators. A few Variants had retained some of their intellect and now commanded others, as an Alpha leading the pack. Surprisingly, and tragically, a few humans collaborated with these Variant Alphas and helped them locate survivors.
Extinction New Zealand Box Set | Books 1-3 Page 18
