by Gavin Zanker
‘Who can say?’ Aiden shrugged. ‘Outside of beating down a few street kids, I haven’t seen them in action. They might buckle under the first attack, or they might keep fighting while their guts are being pulled out.’
‘I’d wager they’ll stick it out,’ Woody said, watching the Faithful trickle up through the city. ‘They seem to run on belief. It’ll keep them fighting.’
They stood in silence for a few minutes, watching as curious residents everywhere were leaving their homes to get a look at the commotion. Gangs of kids sprinted across the rooftops. The drawling shouts of merchants started up as they took the opportunity to hawk their wares. A twangy guitar played somewhere in the distance.
Aiden stared at the emptying Dawnist compound across the canyon. A group of men enter through the gate, though he struggled to make out the figures. One of them started waving his arms around, growing more and more agitated. He railed at one of the people with him, dropping them to the ground and jumping on top of them.
‘Someone’s having a bad day down there,’ Orlen said.
‘Is that… Samuel?’ Aiden asked, squinting.
‘I think it might be, you know,’ Woody said. ‘Look how everyone is scared of him.’
‘Seems to me like he’s losing his grip,’ Orlen said.
‘Wouldn’t you if Ravagers were about to attack your city?’ Woody said.
‘They are about to attack my city.’
‘You know what I mean.’
Samuel stood up, brushed himself down, and marched away into the compound with his group in tow. Aiden stared, a mixture of emotions roiling up inside him. Those Dawnists just kept destroying everything he cared about: they had ruined his life once by taking Kate, he still carried that guilt with him to this day, and now they were doing the same thing with Leigh. Fear coursed through his exhausted, aching body. His heartbeat quickened; faster and faster as anxiety built inside him. Then everything snapped into alignment, and all the muddled feelings inside him came into focus. ‘No,’ he said flatly, gripping the railing until his knuckles turned white. ‘Not again. I refuse.’
‘What’s that you say?’ Orlen asked. ‘You look a bit peaky there, you feeling all right?’
‘I’m not waiting around anymore,’ Aiden said, his gaze fixed on the compound. ‘I’m going in.’
‘Into the compound? That’s suicide,’ Woody said. ‘You’ll never make it inside before they gun you down.’
‘Look around you,’ Aiden said. ‘This is the best distraction I could hope for. The compound is practically empty. The entire army is preoccupied with the defences up top.’
‘I suppose you’re right,’ Woody said. ‘How do you reckon you’re going to get inside though? They’re not going to just let you walk right in.’
‘Probably not. But I have to try. Leigh is in there.’ Aiden looked down at his sullen dog. ‘I won’t abandon her.’
‘Well,’ Woody said with an exaggerated sigh, ‘you can’t go in there alone. I’d better go grab my jacket.’
‘Oh bloody hell, now you’ve done it, Aiden,’ Orlen said, rolling his eyes. ‘I suppose I’d better come as well, if only to stop you two getting yourselves killed.’
Aiden stared at them, taken aback. ‘I’m not asking you to do this,’ he said. ‘This is my fight.’
‘You saved my life down in that quarry,’ Woody said. ‘Maybe I can return the favour. Anyway, this grumpy old sod was just complaining about having nothing to do.’
‘Aye, well, as much as I want some peace and quiet, anything’s better than sitting around waiting for those damn Ravagers to come murder us all in our homes. If you need to get yourself into that place, I can see you inside — there’s not a lock built that I can’t get past.’
Aiden paused and looked between the two men, feeling a gratitude he didn’t know was possible. It had been too long since he had found people he could call friends. ‘Thank you,’ he said, his voice almost cracking. ‘Both of you.’
‘Well, before anyone gets weepy, how about we fetch our gear and make a move?’ Woody said. ‘That compound won’t stay empty forever.’
CHAPTER 55
‘ANY MORE SECRET tunnels up your sleeve, Woody?’ Aiden asked as he studied the compound from an overlooking walkway in the Rusts.
‘Afraid not,’ Woody said. ‘Not this time.’
‘You must be slipping.’ Aiden knelt down beside Hitch and scratched his head. The border collie kept whining despite Aiden’s repeated attempts to reassure him. Crowds of residents milled around trying to figure out what was happening up in the redoubt, but no one paid them any attention.
‘We could probably rush them,’ Orlen suggested. ‘I can only see a few guards at the gate.’
‘There could be a lot more inside,’ Woody said. ‘Not worth the risk when we don’t know what’s waiting for us on the other side.’
‘Hasn’t risk gone out of the window now?’ Orlen said, nodding towards Aiden. ‘Look at him.’
‘What do you mean?’ Aiden asked in surprise as the two of them turned to him with concern.
‘That look in your eyes. I’ve only seen that fire in someone once before, and it scared the shit out of me then. You’ll get inside that place even if it kills you.’
Aiden shrugged. ‘I don’t plan on dying yet.’
‘All right, how’s this?’ Woody said, rubbing his brow. ‘There are still a few pockets of Faithful patrolling around the city, right? We go find some, take them by surprise, steal their clothes, then bluff our way inside the compound.’
Aiden nodded. ‘No one around here will care if they see a few Faithful getting mugged.’
‘Aye,’ Orlen said, ‘and with most of them topside setting up for the Ravagers, it’s doubtful they’ll have any backup either.’
With the three of them in agreement, they headed away from the compound and deeper into the Rusts. Woody still limped slightly from his wound, but hardly slowed them down. They soon spotted a group of four Faithful stood outside The Rats Arms, one of the shady, rundown bars that littered the neighbourhood. Each of them had a wooden bat and an expression informing any onlookers that they weren’t afraid to use them. With the growing atmosphere of unrest and lawlessness in the Rusts, Aiden was surprised they hadn’t already left the area in a hurry.
‘Follow my lead then,’ Woody said. He staggered forward, singing loudly and out of tune. The three Faithful in their simple, white clothing turned to see what the racket was, rolling their eyes at the apparently drunken man.
‘You can’t be here,’ one of them warned. ‘Go home.’
‘Sorry about our friend,’ Orlen said, coming alongside Woody and throwing his arm around him. ‘He’s had a tad too much hooch. We’re celebrating!’
‘What are you celebrating? Being a drunken bum?’
‘We haven’t got time for this,’ another of the Faithful said, nervously eyeing the residents drifting around. ‘We have orders to report at the redoubt soon. Maybe we should just go up now, I don’t like how these people are looking at us.’
‘You would ignore these ingrates and let their behaviour pollute our city? The Divine Bishop would be ashamed of you.’
The nervous Faithful looked at his feet and mumbled an apology.
‘We’ve got just enough time to teach them a lesson in humility,’ the fanatic said, cracking his knuckles. He stepped up to the swaying Woody, but before he could swing his bat, Woody surged forwards, connecting with a savage uppercut. Lifted from his feet, the Dawnist was unconscious before he hit the ground.
‘Look, there’s no need for violence,’ Aiden said, keeping his voice conversational as he walked towards the other, momentarily stunned, men, ‘we’re just a bit worried about—’ Before he finished the sentence, he headbutted the nearest one, sending him sprawling to the floor.
The other two were up to speed now and swung their weapons. Aiden danced backwards, letting the bats sail through the air with a whoosh. Something flashed past his ear and struck one
of the men in the chest. He stiffened like a plank before toppling sideways, spasming. The last Faithful stared in horror before he turned and ran. Aiden looked over his shoulder see Orlen grinning.
‘Never gets old, does it?’ Orlen said, holding up the stun gun.
‘You have to get me one of those,’ Aiden said.
‘What was it we said about them standing and fighting?’ Woody asked as he watched the last man sprint away.
They stripped the Faithful, slipping on their white clothing and taking their weapons as a few local kids watched with interest. ‘I feel like a fool,’ Orlen grumbled. ‘These clothes are too damn big.’
Woody laughed as Orlen struggled to get his hands through the long sleeves of the shirt. ‘You look like a fat kid trying on his dad’s jacket.’
‘Keep the hoods up,’ Aiden said. ‘These guys are all shaved and if anyone sees hair, we’ll be rumbled.’
‘Orlen doesn’t need to worry about that. Do you?’ Woody slapped his friend on the back as he helped him roll up the sleeves.
‘Let’s just get on with it,’ Orlen growled, ‘before we attract a real audience.’
As they headed back to the compound, Aiden threw a wary glance up at the redoubt on the other side of the canyon. The Ravager horde would be arriving soon, and if they broke through, everyone down here would die an agonising death. He forced the thought aside. He had to focus — Leigh needed him.
They came to the locked gates of the compound. Aiden took a deep breath and prepared to step forwards but Woody put his arm out to stop him. ‘I’ve got this one,’ he said with a wink.
Woody tapped on the fence with his bat. A guard with an unfortunate boil on his nose stepped out of the guardhouse. ‘What do you want?’ he asked, looking irritated.
‘We were ordered to come show up back here,’ Woody said.
‘I don’t have anything on the schedule,’ the guard said, narrowing his eyes.
‘Hey, we just do what we’re told. I guess the higher-ups want more manpower in the compound, what with the city no longer being patrolled.’ The guard didn’t look convinced. ‘We can relieve you guys if you want,’ Woody added.
The guard’s expression relaxed a little. ‘Really?’
‘Sure. Since we’re here anyway, no need for us all to sit on the gate.’
‘Hang on,’ the man said, disappearing back into the guardhouse.
A moment later he emerged with two other guards. Woody nodded a greeting. ‘How you doing, fellas?’
The guards shifted the gate open with a loud rattling and let the three of them inside. ‘Where’d the mutt come from?’ one of them asked.
Aiden tensed, tightening his grip on the bat.
‘Oh, this fella?’ Woody said, bending down and patting Hitch. ‘Found him abandoned out in that shit-hole.’ He jabbed a thumb back towards the Rusts and shook his head. ‘No morals between the lot of them.’
‘Right,’ the guard said, eyeing the dog warily. ‘Well be careful, those mongrels can get snappy. My cousin lost a finger to a stray.’
‘Not this guy, he’s a softy.’ Woody said. ‘I think he just wants a meal.’
The guard nodded before looking Aiden up and down curiously. ‘Your friends don’t say much.’
Everyone turned to Aiden. ‘I don’t like to waste words,’ he said. After a brief pause, he added, ‘It goes against the teachings.’
The guard shrugged. ‘Can’t argue with that. We’re supposed to be on duty until five. You three can cover until then?’
‘No problem,’ Woody said. ‘You lads go get some shut eye. Once we’re done with those savages topside, we’ll need all the help we can get back down here in the city.’
The man glanced upwards with a worried expression. ‘Right you are,’ he said before sauntering away into the compound with his companions.
‘Against the teachings?’ Orlen said with a suppressed laugh once the guards were out of earshot. ‘They’re not monks taking a vow of silence, you know.’
Aiden shrugged. ‘I figure none of them actually know the rules that well, most just keep their head down and go along with it.’
‘Makes sense — no one wants to look like they don’t know what they’re talking about,’ Woody said. ‘Nice work.’
‘If I’d known it would be this easy to get inside, I would’ve come sooner,’ Aiden said, looking around in disbelief as the three of them were left alone at the gates.
‘Well you can thank the Ravagers,’ Orlen said. ‘No way this would work on a normal day. Let’s find this door of yours then before anyone clicks on, shall we?’
Aiden led the way through the empty compound. They passed the barracks where he had spent time as a Seeker and met Faye so many years ago. A sadness settled over him as it usually did when he thought of her, but he squashed it with anger; he had spent too long feeling sorry for himself already.
He spotted the studded Zenith Gate set into the canyon wall and strode across to it. He pushed at the heavy wood but it didn’t move. He kicked it in frustration. Hitch sniffed around the door, his tail wagging.
‘No need to worry yourself,’ Woody said, putting a hand on Aiden’s shoulder and guiding him back a few paces. ‘Orlen here could pick the lock on a nuclear bunker.’
‘I guess this is my cue,’ Orlen said, pulling out a small pouch from his pocket and studying the lock. ‘Looks old. Heavy, but it’s not high tech. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.’
As Orlen set to work on the door, Woody and Aiden stood watch. ‘Did you see the boil on that guard’s nose?’ Woody asked.
‘It was all I could look at.’
‘Poor bastard,’ Woody said, with a laugh. ‘He should have a rat gnaw it off his face.’ The faint sound of music from the Rusts drifted to them on the wind. ‘At least some people seem to be having a good time.’
‘They don’t realise what’s coming this way.’
‘Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.’ Woody shifted his weight slightly. ‘Thanks for saving my life down in the Sinking Dust. I don’t think I ever actually said it.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I’m not in the habit of leaving my friends behind.’
‘Oh, we’re friends now? Wasn’t that long ago you were ready to knife me for looking at you funny.’
‘People need to earn my trust, that’s all. Besides, I respect competence.’
Woody nodded in agreement. ‘Shame really, if the world wasn’t falling apart, maybe we could’ve been mates.’
‘You mean like, going for a beer on the weekends, lending each other lawn mowers, that sort of thing?’
‘Yeah.’
‘That would’ve been… nice.’ Aiden readjusted the scratchy, ill-fitting shirt, feeling like an idiot. Talking about feelings was Leigh’s area, not his. For a moment there was just the muttered cursing of Orlen behind them as he fiddled with the lock.
‘Want to hug it out then?’ Woody asked, breaking the tension instantly.
Aiden couldn’t help but crack a smile. ‘Shut up.’
‘Suit yourself,’ Woody said, with his trademark grin.
There was a series of metallic clunks followed by a heavy grinding. ‘Got her,’ Orlen said, standing back as he swung the heavy door open.
The three of them peered inside at the fluorescent-lit, stark corridors of the inner compound.
‘Huh,’ Orlen said. ‘Bit of a letdown really.’
‘What were you expecting?’ Woody asked.
‘I dunno. More than just a white corridor.’
Aiden turned to the two men. ‘Thanks for your help getting here, but this is where we part ways.’
‘You think we’re not coming inside with you?’ Woody said, raising an eyebrow.
‘I know you aren’t. And you know it too.’ Aiden looked from Woody to Orlen, two people he had actually come to trust since the Event had almost ended humanity. ‘This is my fight. You two have your own. You’ve already helped me more than I could have asked.’
Orl
en shrugged. ‘I suppose you’re right. As much as I’d like to clock Samuel in the face, we could be more useful somewhere else right now.’
Aiden shook their hands and thanked them again.
‘Good luck, Aiden,’ Woody said. ‘Get Leigh out of that place. Take her somewhere safe.’
‘Yeah, get her away from this mess,’ Orlen said. ‘And look after yourself.’
‘I will.’
Aiden turned and whistled Hitch to heel. He patted the dog as he stared into mysterious facility before him. This was finally it. He took a shuddering breath, reminded himself why he was here, and advanced through the Zenith Gate.
As Orlen swung the door shut behind Aiden, a retort of gunfire drifted down from the surface above.
Woody rubbed the nape of his neck as he stared up at the redoubt. ‘If we lose the city, we lose everything. Our home, our friends. Everything.’
‘I knew you were going to say something stupid like that,’ Orlen said. He blew out his cheeks. ‘All I wanted today was a bit of peace, and maybe a hot sandwich with that meat gravy I like. And still, I’m disappointed.’
Woody smiled grimly at him. ‘You know, if we go now, we can get there before all the good killing is done. Maybe we’ll even get ourselves some medals.’
‘Medals, you say?’ There was a brief pause as more gunfire echoed down from the redoubt. Orlen let out an exaggerated sigh. ‘Let’s go save the day then. Again.’
CHAPTER 56
CAPTAIN REESE ELLINGTON trudged up the stone steps towards the redoubt, stopping only to readjust the bandage wrapped around his head. He hadn’t needed it, but decided to wear it anyway — he felt it gave him an air of veterancy among the prison guards and police officers he had drafted into following him.
The thought of facing a horde of bloodthirsty Ravagers made his heart race as he climbed, but he did his best to hide the fear. Damn that Reinhold for ordering him up here! What use would he be if he was cut down by the savages? This must be his punishment for bungling the assassination job.
He crested the final step and emerged into the redoubt to find the battle already underway. Groups of Faithful waited in position as Ravagers tried to scramble over the piled rubble, concrete, and rebar-laden walls. Those that did manage to find their way over were injured by the dangerous climb and cut down by the fighters who stood waiting. The gate was another issue though — masses of Ravagers raged and pushed up against the metal chain-link. Already it was warping from the pressure of so many bodies. It would just be a matter of time before the gate came down, and then the only thing stopping the onslaught reaching the city would be the semi-circle of fifty or so Faithful surrounding the gate.
