The Undead (Book 23): The Fort

by Haywood, R. R.

  What she does know however, is that if she can feel Blinky is dead, then it also means the others are not dead, and specifically, Nick is not dead, and so, while the sadness and worry is there, she is also able to process it and seek logic and reasoning within those emotions.

  Nor does she plan to tell anyone else because to impart such news will dampen the fragile energy they have right now, and so she makes coffee in the office as dawn breaks on the twenty second day since the world changed forever and keeps her counsel private.

  A noise in the back rooms. A creak. The sound of footfall. Her hand drops to the pistol on her belt, easing the safety strap off as the noise comes closer with a hearty yawn that makes her put the safety strap back on and she goes back to making drinks as Mary stops in the doorway, stretching noisily. Her gorgeous red hair poking up all over the place, sleep lines on her cheeks, her eyes somewhat puffy but the glint is there and the smile forms easily.

  ‘Morning, Blondie. Slept like the dead back there I did. Some wee fella called Colin gave me some bedding. Nice man but he doesn’t half talk and he looks like a can of cola, don’t you think so? Like his face is all red and his hair is all light and you know what? I thought I talked a lot but dear god, he doesn’t stop. Must have told me he was a section head at least twenty times he did…’

  ‘Coffee?’ Lilly asks when she stops to draw air.

  ‘Aye, Kyle? You wanting a coffee now?’ Mary calls over her shoulder.

  ‘Aye, I will,’ a gruff sleepy voice calls.

  ‘You both slept here?’ Lilly asks.

  ‘Aye,’ Mary says, watching Lilly with her hands on her hips. ‘Plenty of rooms back there. Kyle took one and I took another, but he said you all sleep up the way. I said why not sleep down here? He said he didn’t know and would suggest it.’

  ‘And now you’ve beaten me to it,’ Kyle calls.

  ‘I have,’ Mary says, winking at Lilly. ‘We need a toilet though. I don’t like pissing in a bucket and it’s a fair trek to the toilets. I had a shower mind in one of those cubicles last night though. Cold but nice. Should have one for ladies. Men always piss when they shower the dirty bastards. Sorry, Blondie. Am I talking too much?’

  ‘It’s fine,’ Lilly says.

  ‘You don’t smile so much eh?’

  Lilly glances at her, unsmiling and impassive, a glance and no more before she pours the hot water into the mugs.

  ‘Right, that wasn’t awkward at all then. Good chat there, Blondie. Anyway, so you’ll let me be a guard right? Joanie said you got a full armoury here…’

  ‘Coffee,’ Lilly says, handing a mug over. ‘No offence but I don’t know you and I’m not giving a gun to anyone I don’t know…’

  ‘All of Peter’s lads are armed,’ Mary cuts in.

  ‘What Peter does is down to him. I run my side and until I know someone they are not carrying a firearm.’

  A rush of annoyance flits across Mary’s face. A frustration showing clear. ‘You got that old bloke on the gate but not me?’

  ‘Donald? He’s an ex-soldier and we tested him…he’s lovely.’

  ‘Test me then. Joanie can do it, Pea and Sammie said she’s like a markswoman…’

  Lilly blinks at the familiarity, unsure how to take it. ‘She is, but it’s more than being able to shoot straight. It’s having a gun in the first place…we had too many people with guns here…’

  ‘Ach yeah, they told me about that,’ Mary says with a nod and an almost comical expression. ‘But if I’d have been here it wouldn’t have happened…that’s a fact. Try me out. Let me be a guard for you…;

  ‘Lilly!’ Sam at the door, her voice low but urgent. Lilly turns to run out as Kyle sprints from the back, cursing under his breath while doing his shirt up.

  History repeats itself and Lilly runs fast, seeing ahead to Pea and Alf outside the same room as yesterday morning. Joan rushing over with her rifle and a sense of dread builds in Lilly’s gut. A foreboding as it were.

  Lilly rushes into the room with Joan on her heels, sweeping in with her rifle up as Kyle draws his pistols, all of them coming to a stop at the sight of an old man and woman lying on a blanket on the ground with their bodies entwined.

  ‘Are they dead like?’ Mary asks as Joan lowers down, pushing her fingers into the necks. Both of them cold and stiff.

  ‘No pulse,’ she says quietly. ‘Both dead…’

  ‘Another one,’ Lilly says to herself.

  ‘Another one?’ Mary asks.

  ‘A man hung himself in here night before last,’ Sam says quietly as Alf walks in, joining the group in staring down.

  ‘Found ‘em when I checked the room,’ he says. ‘Didn’t want any more rope being wasted…’

  ‘Alf,’ Sam groans.

  ‘Good rope’s hard to find. At least they done it with pills this time. Couple of pots over there…sleeping pills and painkillers by the looks of it…’

  ‘Well now,’ Mary says sadly. ‘You’ve got yourself a suicide room.’

  ‘We don’t have a suicide room,’ Lilly says.

  ‘Sure,’ Mary says.

  ‘It’s not a suicide room,’ Lilly says.

  ‘Anyone know who they are?’ Pea asks.

  ‘I saw them yesterday, on the beach,’ Joan says.

  ‘Mr and Mrs Kepple,’ a voice behind says, making them all turn to see Norman in the doorway who was wide awake thinking about Robert as they all sprinted past. ‘They arrived in the afternoon. They were looking for their children and grandchildren…’

  ‘Ach now, have you seen this?’ Kyle asks, picking a sheet of paper up from the side. ‘They left a note now…we’re really sorry to cause any fuss. We both wanted to say thank you for trying so hard to help people, but if our families are gone then we’d sooner be with them now.’

  ‘Jesus, that’s awful sad that is,’ Mary says.

  ‘Is,’ Sam says as Joan pushes up to her feet with a heavy sigh and a silence that stretches on for a few seconds.

  ‘Right. Well,’ Mary says. ‘Are we saying a prayer then, only I’ve got a coffee going cold.’

  ‘Prayer?’ Pea asks, still trying to wake up properly and now blinking at the concept of saying a prayer.

  ‘Aye, there’s two dead people there,’ Mary says. ‘Someone should say a prayer. Father, are you doing it?’

  ‘I’ll say a prayer when we take them out I will.’

  ‘Why not just say it now? I’d do it but I don’t know the words. Go on now, Father. Say a few words,’ Mary says, closing her eyes, bowing her head and clasping her hands to the front.

  ‘Fine, I’ll say a prayer,’ Kyle says, bowing his head, closing his eyes and clasping his hands to the front. Sam and Pea share a look. Alf clears his throat, doing the same. Joan too. Norman just stares at the floor while Lilly stares ahead.

  ‘God our Father,’ Kyle says. ‘Your power brings us to birth. Your providence guides our lives, and by your command we return to dust…’

  ‘Amen,’ Mary says.

  ‘I haven’t finished,’ Kyle says.

  ‘Sorry. I thought you’d finished,’ Mary says.

  ‘I say amen, then you say amen after me.’

  ‘Yeah I thought the priest always said amen first,’ Sam says.

  ‘They do,’ Mary says. ‘I just jumped the gun a bit.’

  ‘Can I carry on now?’ Kyle asks.

  ‘Aye, but don’t drag it on. Blondie and me have coffee going cold.’

  A tut from Kyle. A blast of air from Sam as Pea clears her throat.

  ‘What happen?’ Lenski asks, walking in.

  ‘Morning, Lenski. We’re praying,’ Mary says. ‘And the amen comes at the end from the Father…’

  ‘What?’ Lenski asks.

  ‘Am I saying this prayer or not?’ Kyle asks.

  ‘Ach, you are,’ Mary says.

  ‘Oh, they are dead?’ Lenski asks, seeing the bodies on the floor.

  ‘No, we like to pray over sleeping people…’

  ‘Our Fathe
r,’ Kyle continues. ‘Will ye take these souls in heaven and forgive them their sins…these are hard times they are, and not everyone will see it through to the end…’

  Lilly stiffens, lifting her head to stare into the darkness of the room.

  ‘And so many will come to you early, many souls who have suffered but by your divine right they will suffer no more. We ask you guide us to work hard and do the right thing to help those that come our way…and we ask that you help Howie and his team wherever they are. Amen.’

  ‘Amen,’ they chorus the words.

  ‘Can you ask God for more rope next time you talk to him.’

  ‘Alf, I’m not asking God for more rope.’

  ‘There’s rope on the beach,’ Norman says.

  ‘What kind of rope?’ Alf asks.

  Norman shrugs. ‘I don’t know. It looked long and thin…’

  ‘That’s a good rope description there,’ Mary says.

  ‘Can you get it over to me?’ Alf asks.

  ‘Er, sure,’ Norman says.

  ‘Appreciate that. Right. Let me work then. You lot go off…’ Alf says as they shuffle out with Lilly striding ahead. Her mind thinking of Blinky as the fort starts to wake proper. The first rays of light pricking the sky, bringing forth hues of purple and orange that seem to streak from horizon to horizon.

  A new day. A new dawn and Agatha leads the first charge. Stopping by the door to her stores with her arms hanging at her sides as Sunnie kisses her husband and rushes out of her patch of ground, nodding at Agatha. The two women marching first into battle as they go forth into the fray to get food into the bellies of the people.

  Their troops soon join them. Fetching and carrying tins of fruit from the stores to the central cooking area. But fruit alone is not enough. Some of these people will burn thousands of calories today, so they need fuel. They need carbs and fats. Pasta for energy. Beans and canned fish for protein.

  Gas burners started to heat water. Generators chugging to life to get power into the big electric water urn used for teas and coffees.

  People queuing for the toilet blocks. More heading for the new shower cubicles. The back gate open for men to rush out and piss in the sea.

  John leads the second charge. Weaving his way through tent-town, rousing his men and women. Telling them to get fed and watered because today is going to be hell.

  ‘You up lads?’ he says, pausing at the edge of the Singh family patch.

  ‘Two of us are,’ Jaspal replies, kicking Simar’s sleeping form.

  ‘Come over to the offices for the meeting,’ John says, heading off.

  ‘Will do mate,’ Pardip says, standing tall enough to see his wife already working in the cooking section. ‘You on the beach again babs?’ he asks his sister.

  ‘I am,’ Anika replies. ‘Crazy over there like. Worse than A and E on New Years Eve. Right, I’d better go and find Ann. Laters.’

  ‘Crazy everywhere,’ Jaspal says, booting his brother a bit harder. ‘Sim, wake up.’

  ‘Sim, if you don’t wake up I’ll grab your ear,’ their mother says, walking back from the toilet block. ‘Anika, make sure you drink lots.’

  ‘I’m a nurse, mum!’ Anika calls back as she rushes off.

  ‘Simar!’ his mother snaps.

  ‘I’m up, I’m up,’ Simar grumbles, sitting up to rub his eyes.

  Pardip blasts air from his nose. Nodding at his mum who went straight to work with everyone else yesterday. Allocating herself to the kids area and the many orphans that need care while looking after their own young ones at the same time. A deep sigh and he looks about, spotting Tommy and a few other surly looking faces staring over. ‘Morning,’ Pardip calls.

  Tommy lifts his head an inch and no more before looking away with distaste. ‘Fucking joke,’ he grumbles. ‘Think they own the place already…’

  Patricia sits up. Her dyed blond hair plastered to her face. Her husband yawning as he wakes next to her. ‘Where’s Norman?’ she asks sleepily, looking to his empty bedding.

  ‘Gone off to bum someone probably,’ Tommy quips.

  Lenski leads the third charge. Wide awake from the double suicide and she showers in one of the new cubicles before rushing back into their sleeping rooms.

  ‘Up, come on, up,’ she claps her hands, bringing the sleeping children from their slumber. ‘You sleepy,’ she bends to tickle Rajesh’s sides, making him giggle. ‘I no like children…I no like any children…’ she switches aim to tickle Amna, making her giggle then attacks Billy and Milly as Subi sits up to yawn. Lenski so straight-faced and serious being engulfed by four sleepy bodies rushing into her. ‘Get off me, I hate children…no kissing! I no like cuddles…go away.’ She disentangles herself, winking at Subi. ‘You make them brush teeth, wash and change, yes?’

  Subi nods, smiling at Lenski who crosses the room to bend and kiss the girl’s head. ‘Come down to office when ready…stinky children! I hate children…yuck…’

  She rushes out and heads down, greeting Colin already opening his rooms. The proud section-head of bedding, clothes and hygiene products ready for the day.

  ‘Alright, Lenski love,’ Agatha calls, rushing out of the food storage rooms.

  ‘Morning, yes, hello,’ Lenski replies, moving on to stride into the offices and the smell of coffee hanging in the air. ‘Doctor, you see suicides?’ Lenski asks.

  ‘Terrible,’ Ann says. ‘I went up and checked with Anika.’

  ‘Peaceful though,’ Anika says. ‘That Alf is amazing. Wraps them all up he does. Ooh, he said to mention he needs more rope…what?’ she asks at the groan sounding in the room.

  ‘Morning, morning,’ John says, walking in.

  ‘John, you want a coffee now?’ Kyle calls from the back table.

  ‘Hi guys,’ Colin says, walking in behind John. ‘Morning prayers is it? I’ve got a few things I want to raise with the other section heads.’

  ‘Are you a section head, Colin?’ Kyle calls.

  ‘I am yes,’ Colin beams.

  ‘Ach, I didn’t know. Pea said she wants to hear all about it she does,’ Kyle adds.

  ‘Of course,’ Colin says as Pea eases back into a corner while glaring daggers at a grinning Kyle. ‘Pea! Hi, yeah so, section head of bedding, clothing and hygiene products.’

  ‘I know, Colin. I was at the meeting yesterday,’ she replies.

  Pardip heads towards the office door. Norman just ahead of him, slowing as he looks inside to the already busy room.

  ‘Alright, mate,’ Pardip says, as Norman turns to look. ‘Ah it’s you, the guy from the beach. Didn’t recognise you there mate,’ Pardip adds. ‘This where the meeting is?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Norman says, reaching the door to peer in.

  ‘Go on inside,’ Joan says from behind them. ‘Dithering about blocking the door. How are you today? You look better in those shorts anyway. Caught the sun too. Watch you don’t burn.’

  ‘Ah, Norman,’ Ann says as he’s bustled in by Joan. ‘You look better…’

  ‘Par,’ John calls, seeing the tall guy walking in. ‘Come in mate, brew?’

  ‘Love one ta. Anika should be about somewhere too.’

  ‘I’m here you idiot,’ she says from behind him. ‘Bloody hell, and they’re trusting you to build things?’

  ‘If I need a plaster I’ll let you know,’ Pardip replies, pushing past her with a friendly shove.

  ‘Jesus,’ Lisa says, arriving at the door to glare inside. ‘This shit again. Right, we getting on with it or what? I’ve got work to do and sick people to try and stop dying. I’m sure that’s not important though.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Mary says, walking in from the back to see Lilly and Lenski in conversation. ‘What’s this then?’

  ‘Meeting,’ Lilly replies.

  ‘A meeting is it now,’ Mary says, looking impressed. ‘Right. What about?’

  ‘So we stay organised,’ Lilly says, walking off into the room.

  ‘Is so we try and stay organised,’ Le
nski explains. ‘We are not organised. There is organised, and we are at the other end. Yes?’

  ‘Gotcha,’ Mary says. ‘Bit like how we do things then. Is that the office man there is it?’ she asks, spotting Norman now in shorts, t-shirt and trainers. ‘Is that you is it?’ she calls, walking over. ‘Bedlam here or what?’

  ‘Who are you?’ Lisa asks her with a scowl. ‘Who the hell are all these people? Is anyone gripping this?’

  ‘Morning, am I on time?’ Peter asks, knocking on the door. Mary, what the hell are you doing here?’

  ‘Moved in I have,’ she says as Norman and a few others tense, expecting the row to start again. ‘Anyway, morning uncle Pete, you alright?’ she asks instead, moving in to kiss his cheek.

  ‘Aye, you’ll not be starting nothing over here though, Mary. These people have enough going on and I promised Lilly we’d abide her rules. Come back over and we’ll talk later.’

  ‘The meeting is starting,’ Joan calls. ‘We’ve a busy day so we need to get going…’

  Lilly takes the head of the table again. Stern and unsmiling. Blinky is dead, but she still will not share that news. Instead, it makes the energy inside burn harder. The risk of death is there if they fail. Winter will come. The food will run out. So many things to do. So little time to do them in.

  ‘Morning, thank you for coming,’ she says as the room settles with nearly every seat in the office now filled. Norman and Mary standing at the back as though showing they are not included by leaving some distance. Agatha rushes in, wiping her hands on a cloth as she heads for the table.

  ‘We need to be quick,’ Agatha says.

  ‘We will be,’ Lilly says.

  ‘Are we doing this every day?’ Lisa demands.

  ‘For now,’ Lilly replies. ‘The priority is still clearing the bay to open the view. That has to be finished today. Norman’s got us moving faster so there is no reason we cannot match that pace and get it completed today. John, how’s it going here?’

  ‘Er yeah, yeah we’ve got three more lads now. Pardip, Jas and Sim. Sim knocked up the shower cubicles yesterday and said he’d do another couple of toilet cubicles this morning.’

  ‘We need structures,’ Lilly presses. ‘Buildings for people to live in…somewhere for Agatha to cook and serve the meals.