Maggie let the rifle drop. Bile rose up from her liver and travelled up her oesophagus, burning the lining as it went, as if her body was rejecting what she’d just seen. Horrific! She had heard rumours of bigger Variants, but until now had not seen any. She shook her head. This one was not only big, but seemed to have command over the Variants and the human helpers. Maybe it was what Ian had meant when he’d been boasting?
Thinking quickly, she spun around, raced outside, and waved for Alice to come over.
Alice jogged up and looked over Maggie’s shoulder. “Oh, shit.”
“Shit is right. We have to hide. Now!”
They ran the few steps into the cabin. Maggie was struggling to keep her fear for the children from bubbling over and making her do something rash, something stupid that would nullify everything they had done to escape.
Alice started flinging the cushions off the seats, revealing storage cells. “Kids, I’m sorry, but the bad creatures are coming. We have to hide.”
Maggie ran forward and helped them into the spaces. “Just pretend it’s the world championship of hide ’n seek.” She helped Leela in, admiring how they didn’t question why. They just did. She guessed they were used to this sort of thing, hiding from the monsters, by now. After they’d placed the cushions back on the seats, Maggie went to the engine cover and lifted it off. She peered down into the semi darkness. It would be a tight fit, but it would have to do. She turned to Alice. She had her rifle up, watching the boats through the small window. A pained look crossed her face.
“Alice?”
Alice glanced at her, frowning. “I know that kid.”
Maggie looked through her scope. The boats had moored at the next jetty down. A few of the gunmen had driven a couple of vans down, and were herding children into them. Dozens of Variants flanked one side of the jetty, watching. Maggie swore she could see them salivating. The giant Variant lumbered onto the jetty, a figure draped over each shoulder. A teenager with one leg hung over the right, and a small red-haired kid over the left.
“Which one?”
“The bigger of the two the ugly bastard is holding… What is that on his shoulders…? Oh God…”
Maggie glanced at Alice. She’d dropped her rifle and slid to the floor. Maggie sat down next to her and took her hand. “I’m sorry, Alice.”
Alice wiped a tear from her eye and looked at Maggie. “He was whole, when I knew him. Back in the beginning. He hid in the basement with Dee and the others. We, we decided to go our own way. He’s just a kid.”
Maggie stood back up and moved to one side, careful to keep out of sight. She watched as the demons and their human captives moved up the jetty. A small truck with a flatbed backed up to the jetty and the giant Variant bounded onto it, causing the suspension to buckle with its weight. Then it bent down and wrapped its two captives in chains. A couple of men in red coveralls hopped into the cabin and the doors slammed. Then the giant Variant leant back and bellowed. The deep baritone sound reverberated around the harbour, sending shivers up her spine. Everything about the Variants disgusted her. Their smell, their look. That horrible popping sound their joints made when they moved. Their howls. And now this giant Variant’s bellow. Sounds that she could add to the sounds of war. Something else to keep her awake at night.
The warmth of the carbine in her hands penetrated and, remembering her oath as a paramedic and the promise she’d made to her daughter, she decided to act. To fight. To make a stand.
Maggie checked her rifle and reached down to grab the bag she had stolen from the camp guards. She grasped Alice’s shoulder. “I’m going after those kids.”
Alice met her eyes and nodded. “Okay. What about Becs?”
“You take Becs, Leela, and the others to Mayor Island. Hopefully you have enough fuel. If you run out, drop the anchor.” Maggie looked up at the radio. “Radio for help, but only once you’re out in open water. Otherwise you don’t know who’s listening. I’m sorry to do this, Alice, but I can’t bear the thought of leaving those kids to a horrible fate. I’m going to track them to wherever they take them. It’s unfinished business.”
Alice stood up and, shouldering her rifle, drew Maggie into a hug. “Please come back. I like you.”
Maggie smiled. “I’ll do my best. I like you too, hun.” The seats behind them thumped, and she looked back at Alice. “I’m going to go. Tell Becs and Leela to behave for me.”
Alice smiled and hugged her again. Maggie broke the hug and wriggled into the pack. With a last look back, she smiled and jumped over the gap onto the jetty. Glancing towards the new arrivals and seeing no activity, she ran for the cover of the shops.
EIGHTEEN
Jack sat back and rubbed his full stomach. It was the first decent meal he’d eaten for a number of days. He reached forward and started to fill another plate, and Dee elbowed him in the ribs. “You pig, how much are you going to eat?”
Jack smiled at her. “Oi. This is for Eric.”
“Oh yeah, sorry.” She giggled.
Jack let a grin spread on his face. After all she had been through, she still had the knack of lifting his spirits. Maybe her mirth was a cover. Hone and his whanau had scheduled to cremate Katherine and the other casualties at noon. Ben had secured them a lift back to Mayor Island. Jack was happy that they would finally be on their way. He was eager to see how Boss and George were. Eager for a shower and a change of clothes. Jack sniffed at his shirt. Definitely need a shower.
He glanced down at the silver case Katherine had given him. Jack couldn’t help but think it was cursed. All this over the contents of that rectangle of metal. He looked up into the adjoining room, taking in its beauty. Spread out on the floor were expertly-woven flax mats. The building was made from strong native timber, it’s high-raking ceiling soaring to a good six metres. Adorning the walls behind him, and in front, were huge carved pieces. He knew each carving told a story of Hone’s Iwi. He made a mental note to ask him another time; the history buff in him was piqued.
Jack nudged Dee and rose up, grabbed the food-laden plate and, with a nod to Ben, headed outside.
Eric was sitting next to Tony, wiping his brow with a cloth. As Jack drew closer he could see Tony’s skin had become all blotchy with bruised-looking patches. He offered the plate to Eric. “Here, eat. We’ll take over.”
“Thanks, guys.” Eric started shoveling the food into his mouth, eating hungrily.
Jack knelt down next to Tony. He wasn’t quite sure, but he thought he detected a faint fruity smell.
Dee sat down next to him and grasped one of Tony’s hands. She patted it, and then looked up at Jack, frowning. “His nails have grown really long.”
Jack looked down at Tony’s other hand. The skin had become stretched and thin, giving it a translucent look. He picked it up and looked at the nails. On closer inspection, Jack could see that the nails had fallen off, exposing the bone underneath. The bone had hardened and yellowed, and the tips of the bony digits were now sharp claws. Jack dropped Tony’s hand and leapt up, backing away.
“Dee get away, now!”
Dee jumped up and backed away from Tony, a confused look on her face. Her eyes questioned Jack, but she didn’t voice her concerns.