Occupation

by Dave Lacey

  She stood and watched his chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm. The only sounds were the hiss and clicks of the ventilator as it breathed for him. If he can’t breathe for himself, he must be bad, Millie thought, wringing her hands again. As she watched him, willing him to recover, she began to nibble nervously at her lower lip.

  “There’s no blood for him, I’m afraid.” Millie jumped a little as the doctor slid up beside her.

  “Jesus Christ, doc, you could have coughed or something.” Emilie continued to look at the patient, a small frown playing at her features.

  “It’s ridiculous really, but we are so helpless sometimes. Utterly dictated to by circumstance and the desperate scrabbling amongst the ruins of a small number of very dedicated people.” Millie thought she understood what the doc was saying but it wasn’t totally clear.

  “But those are the times we live in, doc. No use complaining too much about it. We can’t change it.” Millie felt a little calmer with the doc there. “’sides, it’s a miracle we have the things we do have. It could be far worse.” Millie raised her eyebrows in a ‘you know what I mean’ expression.

  Emilie nodded in agreement. “Yeah, suppose you’re right,” she said, a sad but accepting look on her face. “I just wish we had more, that we could do more.” She raised a lazy hand and squeezed Millie’s shoulder as she continued her rounds.

  Chapter 19

  Millie woke the following morning, at least she thought it was morning, feeling more rested. The remainder of the previous evening had passed in a blur. She had spent a good deal of time with her parents and Junior, who was making a full recovery from his ordeal. She washed and dressed, then went to see how Darren and the others were getting on. She realized that settling in would be strange for them, but not unpleasant.

  Millie’s commune was a good one. It was mainly made up of good stock, just the odd fool or idiot thrown in. She found Darren sitting alone in the Hub. He looked exhausted, but his eyes had lost that haunted look she had become used to. He looked younger, more vital. She sidled up to him.

  “How’re things so far?” she asked, not looking at him but staring straight ahead at the buzzing masses in the busy Hub. Darren drew and released a long contented breath before replying.

  “Not so bad, thanks.” He also continued to stare straight ahead, though his eyes appeared glazed.

  Millie nodded, an automatic response. She’d always loved the feel of the Hub. It looked like everybody had a place to be, yet nobody seemed to leave. The excited chatter felt particularly pronounced this morning, and before replying to Darren Millie frowned. She cocked her head to one side, her brain whirring into action. Something was different. Through her peripheral vision, she sensed Darren looking at her.

  She ignored him. She could almost feel the buzz of the crowd coming up through her feet. There was an edge to the excitement. Slowly, she got to her feet and began to move her eyes over the gathered throng. She was looking for a familiar face of authority, someone who would give her the full story on what was happening.

  Then she saw him. Tom Bradley’s head stuck out above most of the people around him. Millie moved forward with purpose. The people around her became invisible as she focussed on Tom and moved towards him, using her hands, arms and shoulders as if she were swimming through a sea of people. Tom saw her when she was within twenty feet. His eyes hardened, and he lifted his head slightly, backward and left, to indicate where he wanted to talk to her. She followed him across the back of the Hub.

  “What do you know?” he asked. Millie turned, hands on hips.

  “Nothing,” she replied. “Why, what’s happening? Why the buzz?” She swept her hair from her eyes and folded her arms.

  “Hmm, we’ve had some interesting news,” he answered, using his hands in a calming gesture. “Potentially exciting news.”

  “Jesus, Tom, tell me will you.” Millie demanded. Tom glowered at her. He took a deep breath, and replied.

  “You don’t make it easy on yourself.” He paused, then went on. “A messenger has arrived.”

  His words hung in the air, heavy and potent. Millie’s face registered shock. Messengers were used between the communes when something of great importance had occurred.

  There had not been a messenger for years. The last time had been to coordinate an attack on a large nest of ‘Landers that had been discovered. It had been a big and bloody battle. Many lives had been lost. Eventually the humans had won.

  For the first time in a long time, Millie struggled for words. A frown creased her brow, but her eyes were somewhere else. A messenger could mean bad news, as well as good.

  “Millie?” Tom asked, dipping his head slightly to try to catch her eye.

  She started, then looked up at him. “Sorry, different place.” Her eyes finally focussed. “The message?” she asked, lifting her chin in a small gesture of defiance.

  “Let’s sit down. It’s complicated.” Tom said. He indicated a seat carved into the wall. She sat down and leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. Tom’s bulk looked awkward in the cramped space. He looked at her through thick black eyebrows and began.

  “There’s to be a meeting. A big one. Word has reached us. It’s come through so many conduits I can’t begin to tell you. It began life two months ago, I believe. That estimate is corroborated.” Tom said.

  “Who are they? The originators?” Millie asked as Tom paused.

  Tom arched an eyebrow at Millie’s impatience, then went on. “It seems our friends on the Moon are ready to fight back. Messages have been exchanged with Moon Base They want us to start testing out the ‘Lander weaknesses.”

  Tom looked at Millie, already knowing what her reaction would be.

  “What do they think we’ve been doing for the past eight years? Playing hide and seek?” Millie said shaking her head.

  “I understand your point, but they have limited contact with Earth. They can’t know the ins and outs of what each and every community has been up to. We need to go to the meeting. We need to see what they have to say. The messages are a little garbled, but as I understand it they have in mind some sort of weapon. Something new. There are lots of communities, and not just in Britain.” Tom paused, allowing his words to sink in with Millie. “There’s talk of an American task force here, in Britain.”

  Millie frowned. “Tell me, are we relying on Uncle Sam to save us now? Again?” She continued, her face reddening. “I mean Christ, Tom, it’s fucking patronizing. Why are they here? What difference will they make to anything?”

  “Right now? It tells us that other countries have survived. It tells us that others are fighting. It gives us the potential for a coordinated attack.” He sighed. “Why do you have to be so combative all the time, Millie? Why can’t you comply and fit in?” She started to reply, but he held up his hand. “No, never mind. The bottom line is, we’re going to the meeting. And”, he paused, “I think it best that you stay here.”

  Millie sulked for the rest of the day. She understood she had been argumentative, but she had really wanted to go to the meeting. She was regretting her outburst, and she needed to take some time out.

  In the social hall, there was a re-run of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Its gallows humour was bound to cheer her up. The hall’s lower ceiling gave it a warmer feel than the Hub. Millie found her way to her seat – they used candles to light the way, then blew them out. The rescued projector and speakers were decent, and every night they ran films from the old days. Mostly light hearted romantic comedies, Notting Hill, A Good Year, Signs to name but a few.

  She loved the indomitable spirit. Dark and oppressive though their new world could be, somehow they found opportunities to enjoy themselves. She looked round, enjoying the feeling of community. Adults, some enjoying a tipple, and children mixed together. The whole atmosphere was one of family and fun.

  She slept a little in the middle, but woke for the final twenty minutes. Every time she watched this film, she felt as tho
ugh Earth would get a reprieve, but it never did. In the real world they had been lucky in that way at least. They’d been given another chance. Even if it meant living below ground under occupation, in a glorified bunker.

  As the film drew to a close, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her dad stood over her. He looked so tired. A cold, icy hand clamped tight on Millie's gut. She looked up at him with huge eyes, searching for some clue. Then he smiled a small smile. She breathed out. “Which one?” she asked, smiling herself.

  “Smithy. He woke up around ten minutes ago.”

  “And? Is he okay?”

  “Well, he's making funnies and flirting with the doc. So you tell me?” Marc smiled. Millie's eyes closed, and she felt her stomach uncoil a little.

  “And Jack?” she asked.

  Her father shook his head. “Not yet.” He paused and pursed his lips, his frown returning. “The doc says she's worried about internal bleeding.” He drew a long breath, which never quite filled his lungs. Millie squeezed her father’s hand.

  “He'll be fine, Dad. You know what he's like. Drama queen.” Millie smiled and stood up. “Let's go see them.” Marc turned and led her through the warren of tunnels and sub-tunnels, through the Hub, and finally into the medical bay. Smithy had a few more pillows behind him than when last she'd seen him. He had more colour in his face, but he still looked drugged and tired.

  “Ah, the light of my life,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “I believe I have you to thank for my being here?”

  She shrugged. “No need to thank me,” Millie said. “Having you back is all the thanks I need,” she said, giving a smirk.

  Smithy smiled at her flat delivery.

  “Well, at least try to look like you mean it. It’s good to see you, Mill.”

  The humour was gone. Millie softened a little.

  “I'm still pissed at you,” she said, her eyes straying to the wall above Smithy's head, her hands clamped over the iron foot of his bed.

  “Okay. So what did I do this time?” he asked. He shrugged, forgetting the wound in his shoulder, and immediately regretting it.

  “You almost got yourself killed,” Millie replied, her eyes drifting down to meet his.

  He smiled. “You can't resist me can you?” he asked, his face a mask of smugness. “Don't worry, you're only human. It’s hard for anyone to resist this.” Again, he forgot about his injury, and tried to use his left arm to point up and down his body. He winced again, harder this time and his face lost a little of its colour.

  “It’s not so hard when you pull faces like that, sunshine.” Millie moved round the bed and sat beside him. She took his hand in hers and smiled at him, brushing his hair back from his forehead.

  “How's Jack?” Smithy asked. He looked up at Millie and swallowed hard, a little afraid of what the answer might be.

  She stared at the bed clothes.

  “Not yet. He's still out.” She paused, deciding not to tell him too much. “He'll be fine though, he's a stubborn kind of fella.”

  “Hmm. Junior?” Smithy asked.

  “Oh he's just fine and dandy. You'd think nothing had happened.”

  Millie smiled. It was true.

  Chapter 20

  The community leaders organized as many social occasions as they dared. A great many of these involved everyone sitting round, children and adults alike, telling stories. Some recited the plots from books and films they had seen. Some made their stories up. But most just sat and listened, spellbound. Especially the children. Millie considered how much things had changed.

  In the final year of life above ground, things had felt very different. Children and adults alike needed a constant source of stimulation: TV, films, music, tablets PCs, games machines, the internet, social networking and much more beside.

  The art of conversation had been in danger of extinction. People simply had to have something to watch or listen to. But below ground, it had changed. Over the course of a few months, these unimportant things were gradually let go of. People discovered each other again in new ways. Children played, but without electronic devices. They listened spellbound when stories were told. They watched with enormous eyes when they saw dinosaur films for the first time and struggled to comprehend.

  It was, in most ways, a new world. Tonight was one of those nights. Everyone gathered in, huddled together pretty tight, families and friends all as one. The kids were rapt, adults too in many cases, listening to one of the new guys telling a tall tale. But not so Millie. She was tired. The past couple of weeks had wrung her out.

  She hadn’t been at the meeting – Tom had gotten his way. But that didn’t mean there was any less to do. The night forays had stopped for a while, but instead she helped out at the medical bay.

  Smithy was making a good recovery, though it would be some time before he could take up full duties again. For Jack though, nothing had changed. He was still in a coma. And talk had begun about when they would call it a day. She shook her head, clearing those thoughts from her mind.

  She couldn’t think of it right now. Her attention turned to the story being told. She smiled at a few of the almost arcane words the teller used, but he told it well. His voice rose and fell, his stage whispers keeping the children on the edge of their seats. Faces lit up with a terrified excitement.

  Millie reached out and ran a hand through Junior’s hair. He turned and smiled, then quickly turned back again so he didn’t miss anything, nibbling at his fingernails. Millie turned to see her mum and dad behind her. They were listening half-heartedly. She knew they would be thinking about Jack. The medical team had asked them to think about turning off the life support machine.

  “There’s little chance of him waking now, “the doctors had told the family. That’s when Millie had flown into a rage. And for once, Smithy agreed with her. He’d been just as angry as Millie. She heard scuffling sounds behind her and turned. It was Smithy, getting up to leave the room. She rose and followed him out.

  “Where are you going?” she whispered as she caught him.

  He pulled a face. “For a piss, why?”

  She smiled. “Nice, I’m a lucky girl.”

  Smithy kissed her and they continued walking, him with the aid of crutches. It had been ten days since he’d woken. His legs were fine, but the crutches took some of the load off his body. Millie and Smithy made slow progress, but finally reached the latrines. Millie waited outside for Smithy. “Let’s go see Jack,” he said when he came out.

  After a few minutes, they entered the medical bay. Something was in the air. People moved about at pace, and there was an undercurrent, a susurration of chatter. Millie broke away from Smithy’s side. Her hand flew to her mouth as she moved through the gathered bodies. She grabbed a passerby.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, holding tight to the nurse’s white coat sleeve. The nurse frowned, then realized who she was.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.” She paused and gathered herself. “It’s your brother–,” she began, but Millie cut across her.

  “What about him?” she demanded, her grip on the nurse’s sleeve increased. Millie could feel her pulse thundering in her ears. Her breathing became shallow and the edges of her vision had blurred.

  “Well, if you’d let me finish. He’s been awake...for a brief period.” She hastened to finish.

  “How long?”Millie gripped even tighter now, her eyes clearing and her brow smoothing. “That must be good though, right?” Millie was desperate to know more. The nurse nodded, but her expression remained cool. Millie wanted to shake her.

  “It is...but we need to remain calm. It’s also very possible he’ll never wake again.” She took Millie’s hands in both of hers and looked her in the eye.

  “How long was it for? Did he say anything?” A tear forced its way from the corner of her eye. She blinked and it fell.

  “He was awake for around a minute. He said a few words, but they were nonsensical.”

  Millie gave a little shudder. Smithy
arrived and put his arm around her. She looked at him and smiled. He nodded, clearly somebody had briefed him. The nurse went on.

  “It is also possible that he will wake, but...”

  “But what?” asked Smithy. “Brain damage, memory affected?” Millie flinched at Smithy’s harsh words, but looked to the nurse for confirmation. The nurse nodded, smoothing the front of her jacket and looking at the ground.

  “Possibly, maybe both, “she said.

  Smithy swallowed. “But possibly neither? He may not wake up?”

  The nurse didn’t respond immediately, but then looked over her shoulder, a small frown on her face. “You should really speak to the doctor,” she said absently. Her hands slipped into the pockets of her lab coat. Millie gripped the nurse’s arm as she made to walk away.

  “Yes. All of those outcomes are still possible.” She didn’t say any more. But then Emiie arrived at her side.

  “Has Wendy given you the news?” the doctor asked Millie. Millie nodded.

  “Now, we can’t get too excited, but at the moment, things look considerably better than they did yesterday.” She went on, doing her best to lift the sombre mood. “The hope is that he will wake again in the next twenty-four hours.” She paused and gave a wan smile. “If he does, we’re in business.” The doctor smiled and spoke again.

  “Would you like to see him?” she asked. Millie nodded, and a number of tears broke free. The doctor led them both through to where Jack continued to sleep.

  Chapter 21

  Time passed. Four weeks later, both Jack and Smithy were able to move about unaided. As they built up their strength, the looming deadline for the mission grew nearer. Tom Bradley insisted they would not be going. But that had never stopped either of them before.

  They worked hard, spending many hours in the gym and many more walking the miles of tunnels that made up their home. It was a joint mission, so Tom was wary of community letting the others down. But he watched from the sidelines as the two men attempted to make his life difficult.