Seb bound over, despite Max’s protests and placed a dead rabbit at his owner’s feet.
“Yes, lovely,” Max said, through gritted teeth. “Come on now, in the car. No! Leave it,” he insisted, when the rabbit was brought along.
He waited until the dog was inside before returning to the front seat and taking over the driving.
****
There had been several bouts of tears from Hannah by the time they arrived on the outskirts of Leeds a couple of hours later. She had just started again, when Max brought the car to an abrupt halt.
She looked up, her grief briefly forgotten, to see why they had stopped.
“What a nightmare; we can’t possibly walk from here,” Judith said, as she looked at the road blocked with vehicles on both sides of the carriageway.
Wide tyre tracks scouring the tarmac ended at a lorry that had crashed through the central barriers and was lying on its side on the opposite side of the motorway. Several cars remained crushed beneath the trailer. As he looked over the wreckage, Max was horrified to see no attempt had been made to remove the occupants when he saw a blood soaked face pressed up against the windscreen of a vehicle protruding from beneath the driver’s cab.
He slammed the car into reverse and turned around. “We’ll find another way into the city.”
Abandoned road works merging the carriageways into one allowed the group to turn off on the opposite side of the road without having to make the twenty-mile trip to the next slip road and soon they were making their way through the smaller villages which blended into towns on their way into Leeds.
“I don’t think we’ll make Kent tonight,” Judith said as the small two-storey houses gave way to department stores and high-rise flats. “It’s almost dark and we’re all tired so, once we’ve checked for your family here, I suggest we find another hotel and move on tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Hannah said faintly. Her tears spent, she sat quietly in the back, looking out of the window as they made their way over pedestrian crossings and ignored red lights on their way past City Square.
Although the shutters were down in arcades and department stores, they could have still almost pretended everything was normal had it not been for the empty streets. It was never that way as, even in the early hours, there was usually always someone around. Shift workers and restaurateurs would be travelling to and from work in a steady stream, no matter what time it was; gone were the days when the world wound down in the middle of the night.
As they crossed the bridge over the River Aire the setting sun, low in the sky, lit up the vehicle’s inner compartment in a warm orange glow. They turned south, leaving the shopping region behind, and soon found themselves once again in residential areas.
As darkness fell half an hour later, they pulled up outside a small terraced house nestled in a network of streets.
Wheelie bins, full to bursting point, lined the road. Black bags circling their bases had been ripped and foraged for tasty scraps and their contents, now exposed, were free to blow around the streets.
“Do you just want me to go in alone?” Joseph asked, when Hannah sat unmoving, staring at the house.
The opened curtains was a sight the group had become unaccustomed to, as most people had died in darkened rooms, but it was black inside and the building had a suspiciously vacant appearance.
“No.” She stepped out of the car and was the first through the gate, with Joseph close behind. As she drew close to the house, Hannah stopped and looked at her husband fearfully.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, then, “Oh...” He stepped around and gently pushed the forced door open to reveal a gloomy hallway beyond. He switched on a torch found in the boot of the car. “I’ll go first,” then led the way into the house.
As he lit up the passage, Joseph could see the property had been ransacked. A small cupboard in the hall had been emptied onto the floor, attesting that thieves had searched for valuables.
Carefully, the pair picked their way over the scattered belongings and moved to the lounge where they found a similar scene, with drawers left open and possessions strewn across the rug and sofa.
“It just looks like a robbery,” Joseph said, trying to inject some comfort, “I don’t think it’s anything more sinister than that.”
“Look.” Hannah pointed at the wall. “I think we should take it.”
Joseph passed her the torch and reached up to lift the family portrait off its hook. He tucked it under his arm and led the way into the kitchen.
The room looked untouched apart from one drawer near the cooker, which was open. Joseph crossed to examine it and realised it contained nothing more than cutlery. Still, his body chilled when his eyes flicked up and he saw the wooden block on the bench with the slot for the large carving knife empty. Turning, he bustled Hannah into the hall. “Come on, let’s be quick.”
“It’s not looking good,” Susan said as she watched them, gently lit in the spill from the beam, pass the front door on their way to the stairs. “Do you think we should offer to look for them?”
“No, they need to do this themselves,” Max said. “Would you have been happy with one of us telling you your mum was dead?”
Susan shook her head. “You’re right; you have to see for yourself.”
“That was quick,” Max said, when the pair emerged from the house moments later. “It doesn’t look like they’ve found anything.”
Hannah climbed into the back of the car, the inside light illuminating her pale skin as she stepped through the door.
“There’s no-one in the house,” Joseph informed them as he slipped into the front passenger seat before passing Hannah the picture.
She smiled sadly and held it out for the others to see. “This is them,” she said, proudly. “Our beautiful children.”
Susan pointed. “Look at those gorgeous blonde ringlets. Aren’t they fabulous?”
Hannah laughed. “Yes, they are. Hilary’s hair is like that when it’s short, but once she grew it long, the weight of it pulled the curls straight; it’s right down to her waist now. She was blonde when she was small, but it went darker in her teens. She needs chemical help to keep it as light as Beverly’s now.”
Max started the engine. “Come on let’s find somewhere to spend the night. I know a gorgeous place just outside of the city.”
****
“This looks rather grand,” Judith said as she prepared to help Max break into The Macdonald, a large country house hotel ten miles south of Leeds. “I always wanted to stay somewhere like this, but could never justify the price. Pity the world has to end before I get the chance.”
Max laughed. “You’re very practical, aren’t you?”
Judith smiled. “Goes with the territory.”
“We’ll never get through here,” Max groaned as they stood staring at the large oak doors that adorned the front.
Judith nudged her head to the right. “Round the back.” She led the way up the path, across the grass and down the side of the building where: “That’ll be a bit easier,” she said, pointing at a set of patio doors that opened from the restaurant.
The bedrooms upstairs were decadent, with each lavishly appointed in its own style. They were lucky this time, since the hotel was empty and they had their choice of rooms.
“Are you all right?” Joseph asked Hannah as he entered the dining room once they were settled. She was preparing the table; he thought it could have been the light, but she looked incredibly tired. She had looked tired all day, which he had put down to stress, but now she seemed exhausted.
She turned away, putting plates on mats. “Yes, I’m fine.” But, as he started over, she quickly finished and hurried towards the kitchen. “You do this and I’ll help Judith.”
Joseph watched her go before turning his attention to the setting.
“What needs doing?”
He jumped when Max spoke from behind him. The two men laughed at his reaction before their mood again turned solemn.
“Nothing, it’s all right, I’ve got it.” He moved around the table laying out the napkins. “I really regret bringing Hannah with me,” he confessed.
“Do you think she would have stayed?”
“No,” he snorted, “but I would have been happier knowing she was safe.”
“Do you think she would have wanted to spend the rest of her life without you?”
Joseph stopped. “Definitely not.”
“We all knew what we were getting into,” Max assured. “And that goes for Hannah as well. There’s no way she would have been left behind.”
Joseph smiled, softly. “Yes, you’re right. Thanks.” He looked at the table, “We just need knives and forks.” He passed Max the cutlery. “Can you finish this?”
“Sure.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Joseph asked, as he entered the kitchen.
“No, we’re done,” Judith said. She grabbed two pots and made her way to the door. Turning her back, she pushed against the left panel and held it open whilst Susan passed through.
“Hang on a minute,” he said to Hannah when she started to follow. “What’s wrong?”
She tried to smile, but she just looked even more tense. “Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“No, it’s more than that. You’re not a good liar, now please tell me the truth.”
She looked uncomfortable. “I’ve felt nauseous since lunch time. It’s got worse as the day’s gone on and when I blew my nose earlier it began to bleed.”
“Do you think it’s the disease?” Joseph asked, fear tightening his voice.
Hannah’s eyes brimmed with tears, she blinked and a single drop ran down the length of her cheek. “I don’t know, but I think for now it would be best if you didn’t touch me.”
Joseph snorted. “That’s not going to happen.” He took her into his arms. “Wherever you go I go. We’ll always be together and no deadly disease is going to stop me cuddling my wife.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Macdonald Hotel, Ten Miles South of Leeds
Judith gently tapped on the door and waited for an answer. She could hear movement and hushed voices inside the bedroom, but she had to wait for about a minute before it finally opened.
Joseph stepped out into the corridor and closed the door behind him, so they could talk without being heard.
Judith could see from his face that things were not good, but still she asked, “How’s Hannah?”
He shook his head, his face held rigid, controlling his distress. “We’ve had a really bad night. All of her dinner came up soon after we went to bed and her vomit was dotted with blood. The nose bleeds have become more persistent and she’s in quite a bit of pain now. I suspect she has internal bleeding, because her abdomen has gone hard and has started to swell.”
“Leeds General is not too far from here. I’ll get some morphine.” She started to move away.
“Wait.”
She paused.
“Take Max with you, I’ll worry if you go alone, and you’ll either have to get more fuel or another car whilst you’re out.”
She nodded, then hurried down the corridor towards the stairs.
Max had chosen a room on the floor below and, as Judith stood at the end of the passage, she realised she did not know which one.
She knocked on the first door she came to. “Max?” she shouted, waited a moment and then moved on to the next. “Max!” She was half way along the passage when her name was called from behind. She stopped and turned to find the nurse standing near the stairs.
“What’s wrong?”
Judith strode towards him, “Where’ve you been?”
“In the dining room, having breakfast with Susan.”
“You could have said where you were going,” she snapped, before storming past him on her way down the stairs.
“Sorreeey.” Max said, shocked by her tone. He followed, a few steps behind. “Why? What’s the matter?”
“Hannah’s really poorly, we need to get some morphine.”
Max briefly stopped his descent, before carrying on. “Sorry,” he said, more earnestly. “I take it she’s in pain?”
“Yes. Leeds General is about twelve miles from here. Joseph insisted you came with me. We’ll leave Susan and Seb here whilst we go pick up some drugs and see if we can get some more fuel.”
He increased his pace. “Okay.”
They met Susan in the foyer and brought her up to date.
Judith handed her a small bottle of pills. “Here are some pain killers in the meantime. See if you can get them down her. Don’t try if you think she might vomit, because it could make it worse if she’s got a bleed.”
Susan pocketed the drugs and said, “Stay here Seb.” She took the dog’s collar when he tried to follow as the pair started from the hotel. Crouching down, she petted the pooch. “It’s just as well you’re a friendly fella.” She ruffled his fur and Seb seemed to smile as he panted in her face. “You’re being so patient, putting up with all this new stuff.” She stood. “Come on, let’s see if Joseph wants some breakfast.”
Judith looked out of the side window as they turned onto Leeds Road. “Every time we drive past houses, a little part of me keeps thinking this is all a horrible dream and any second now we’re going to turn a corner and everything will be normal.”
“Me too,” Max sighed. He went quiet a moment, before, “I dreamt about my brother last night,” he said, slowly.
Judith returned her attention to the nurse and smiled warmly. “That must have been nice.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Why?” She looked surprised.
“Everything was normal at first. We were playing football in the park but, as the dream went on, he slowly started to decompose until in the end there was nothing more than his rotting corpse running around the field.”
“I had a similar situation when my mum died. No matter what I was dreaming about, there was always this decomposing body nearby. In the end, I would look around for it.” Judith’s mouth tightened and her lips thinned. “It was a part of the accepting process. Once my brain came to terms with her death, I started having nice dreams about her again.” She nodded. “It’ll happen to you. You’ll dream about your brother and before you know it you’ll again be seeing him in happier times.”
“It had better happen soon.”
“Why?”
Max flashed her a baleful look. “I don’t think any of us are going to live long enough for anything nice to happen at this rate.”
Judith jutted her jaw in a defiant gesture. “Not if I can help it. I might not be the best, but I’m bloody close.”
He glanced over and smiled. “That’s good.”
“Let’s try here for some fuel,” Judith said, pointing at an approaching petrol station.
“I think it’ll be easier just to pick up another car.”
“No. We know this one is good and if the weather turns cold it’s got excellent traction.”
Max slowed and pulled into the station, then stopped alongside a pump.
Judith jumped out, inserted the nozzle and, “Woo hoo! Success!” she said, when she tried the lever and the pump began to whirl. “Someone’s been too ill to remember to switch off the fuel.” When the tank was full, she returned the nozzle to its housing and climbed back into the car.
“It doesn’t feel right leaving without paying,” Max said, as he started the engine and pulled away. He stopped at the give way sign and checked for traffic.
Judith looked up the road. “I would just love to have someone come running after us, or call the police.”
Max waved a hand, encouraging her to sit back. “I can’t see.”
She laughed. “What are we doing? There is no traffic.”
He pulled away
. “Even if you can get rid of this virus, I don’t think I could ever get used to this.”
As they neared the city centre, a sign for Leeds General directed them east.
“I’d rather avoid the ring road,” Max said when Judith pointed towards the turning.
“Why?”
“In case we have a repeat of the motorway. There’s bound to be another route to the hospital.”
“Well we’ll just turn back if we get stuck. We might get lost and this has got to be the quickest way to get there.”
Max paused. “Alright,” he said reluctantly, taking the turn just in time to make the slip road.
They climbed high up the bank until they got a clear view of the carriageway ahead, before Max slowed the car and waved a hand at the windscreen. “See – this is what I was afraid of.” He stopped and started to turn around.
“Wait,” Judith urged. “It isn’t blocked. We can still get through.”
Vehicles dotted the lanes up ahead, spilling from the emergency lay-by that was crammed to capacity to be abandoned in the middle of the road. Despite this, Max knew Judith was right and he could see a way through. It was essential they got back to the hotel as soon as possible and he knew this route would be quicker.
“Okay.” He straightened the wheels and carried on, slowly picking his way through the discarded cars. “Let’s hope there isn’t a crash up ahead.”
Half an hour later, “I take it back,” Judith said miserably. “It might have been faster to go around.”
Max stopped the vehicle. “We knew the closer to the city we got, the denser the traffic would be, so we might have encountered this no matter what route we chose.” He stepped out and stood on the road. “It’s only a little one.” He looked at Judith, “Maybe we could push it.”
She climbed out of the passenger seat and followed Max to the Mini lying on its side in the middle of the lane. Two other cars nearby meant there was not quite enough room for the larger four-by-four to pass through, with the Mini in the way.
“Mini’s aren’t as small as they used to be,” Judith said, looking at the base of the vehicle, which came up to her chest.
Islands - The Epidemic: An Airborne Ebola Disaster Page 14
