One down, one to go.
The second 4x4 managed to avoid the carnage. One of the men leant out the window and fired a volley at the van, hitting the back windshield and showering the cowering children in tiny shards of glass. Leela screamed and ran towards the front of the van. Becs reached out and pulled her into a hug, crouching between the front seats.
Without looking at Alice, Maggie called out, “Try losing them in the suburbs!”
“Okay, I’m trying. I think we’re nearly there!” Alice shouted back.
Maggie squinted through her sights and aimed again for the windshield, but this driver wasn’t as ignorant, and swerved from side to side. She felt the van slow down as Alice squealed around a corner. Out of the corner of her eyes, Maggie could see houses flying past now, lawns overgrown, and the sections littered with rubbish. Several Variants leapt over fences, following them, their hideous shrieks calling out.
Alice steered the van left and right. Maggie was pretty impressed. To her chagrin, though, the 4x4 matched them with every turn.
Gritting her teeth, Maggie turned to get her bearings. She looked over at Alice. “If you have any ideas, now’s the time.”
Alice glanced at her, then grimaced as she took another turn, wrenching the steering wheel down hard. The van squealed as two of its wheels lifted off the ground. The screaming of the children went up a few octaves, piercing through Maggie’s brain. Alice managed to regain control of the van. “I’m trying to reach the city center. Lots of narrow roads.”
“Good idea. Then we can ambush the bastards.”
She turned and, dropping back into her seat, busied herself loading their weapons. Maggie glanced up from her task and looked over at Becs, holding a crying Leela. She reached out and squeezed the girl’s arm, hoping she could reassure her with this small sign of affection. The van screeched again as it took another turn, and Maggie felt it bump and judder as the road surface changed. She looked up through the windshield. Alice had piloted them in amongst the tall buildings of the city centre.
Maggie glanced left to right, looking for a good spot. Up ahead she could see a large fountain. Metal sculptures made to look like plants sprang up from the pool at the bottom. The water had turned green and murky with algae.
Howls and shrieks bounced around the narrow spaces, alerting her to the Variants. Then she heard the squeal of the chasing 4x4’s tires as it tore down the road.
Maggie pointed to the fountain up ahead. “Quickly! Smash the van into there.” Turning to the kids, she yelled, “Hold onto something!”
Maggie reached over and hugged Becs and Leela, protecting them. The van smashed into the fountain. The back wheels lifted up off the ground before thumping back with a thud. Maggie slammed into the door pillar with the impact. Pain lanced down her right side. To her relief, the adrenalin flowing through her system masked the pain.
Maggie looked at Becs. “Keep down out of sight. Don’t move. Please. Whatever you do, don’t move.”
Becs nodded.
Maggie flung open the door and threw a rifle to Alice. “Jump into the water but keep the gun up, and fire when I do.” Alice nodded and jumped in. Maggie eased into the murky water, submerging herself. She lifted the very top of her head above the water and rested the rifle on the concrete lip.
The 4x4 came to a stop a few metres from the van. Three men in red coveralls emerged. One held up his rifle, scanning the buildings to his left. He stayed behind the van door.
Smart. I’ll kill you last.
The other one, on Maggie’s side, moved away from the van and looked around. She watched as he looked back at the man behind the door, shrugging his shoulders.
The man behind the door shook his head. “Go check the van, Terry,” he said, waving his hand.
Terry moved forward, his shotgun pointing at the ground.
Silly boy.
Maggie waited for him to get a few feet from her. Then she adjusted her aim and shot between the door and the 4x4.
The man behind the door’s head snapped back as an arc of brain and skull flew out, his lifeless body crumpling to the floor.
I lied, asshole.
She quickly fired at the one called Terry, a couple of quick bursts into his chest. Terry looked down, shock etched on his face. Maggie didn’t have time to feel sorry for him. There was still another occupant to worry about. She heard Alice fire, and waited for any return fire. Hearing nothing, Maggie swivelled around, her carbine raised, and glanced towards Alice. The remaining traitor was shuffling along the ground, holding his leg and screaming.
Maggie jumped out of the fountain, green water sloshing out after her. She ran up to the front of the 4x4, using the grill as protection. Glancing under the vehicle, Maggie could see that the injured man had moved back a few feet. He tucked his rifle behind him and called out, “Wait! Don’t shoot.”
Maggie paused, her finger hovering over the trigger, planning her next move. She knew that he was trying to stall her. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“I’m unarmed.”
“Tell you what. You answer me a question, and I’ll let you live.”
“Anything. Just don’t shoot.”
“Where do they take the children?”
Maggie heard him cough, a wet, fluid-filled cough. Alice must have hit him somewhere else as well. She glanced over at Alice lying flat in the water, her eyes staring back, questioning.
Maggie turned her attention back to the injured traitor. “I’m waiting.”
“Fine. It will do you no good. There’s hundreds of them. They’re in the dam.”
A high-pitched shriek reminded Maggie of the Variants. She risked a peek around, searching for them. The concrete road exploded next to her foot, bits of concrete and tile stinging her face moments before she heard the crack of a rifle.
Stupid, Maggie. Real stupid.
She lowered her aim and fired at the traitor, hitting him in the torso. He grunted, and she watched as he slumped to the ground, blood and saliva dribbling from his mouth.
Bastard. What did he mean by dam?
She waved at Alice and ran around to the man. Grabbing his gun, she slung it over her shoulder, searching for any danger. The Variants would be close. With all the noise and spilt blood, she couldn’t rely on these disguises.
As if on cue, howls and shrieks echoed around the buildings, announcing the Variants’ arrival.
Maggie looked at Alice. “Quick, let’s grab the kids and find a boat.” She pointed past the fountain, to where several masts bobbed around in the distance. Drawing in a deep breath, the hint of salt surprised her. The familiar scent refocused her attention. She was within reach of going home. With new determination, Maggie ran to the smashed-up van. She helped Becs and Leela out, grabbed each by a hand, and led them towards the harbour. Alice jogged after them with the other four kids.
The sight of all the boats bobbing up and down in the harbour made Maggie’s heart pound in her chest. There was an abundance of yachts and motorized launches of different sizes. Her eyes scanned along the edges of the wharf, stopping on a couple of sturdy-looking fishing vessels. Maggie nodded to herself; that was what she was looking for. Fishing boats were built tough. Her eyes flicked farther out, to where the yachts were moored. One or two looked suitable for a long sea voyage. Was she finally going to head home? She’d never thought she would be stuck in a foreign country in a time of such crisis. She’d always assumed, like everyone, that she would be at home. Home, to protect her family. But instead she was here, herding a bunch of kids to what she hoped was safety.