Jack followed Dee over to their gear and started to assemble it. He lifted his pack over his shoulders, smiling at the bright green fabric. If this pack could tell stories, it would keep people entertained for weeks. He checked his rifle and slung it over his shoulder. He looked over to Dee. She wiped the black gore off the blade of her Katana, then slipped it back into the webbing of her pack. He paused, admiring her for a moment. She had certainly adapted well to this new world order and wielded that blade with the ruthless efficiency of a samurai.
Jack looked up as Hone strode over. He waved a greeting. “You guys ready?”
“Just about, thanks. Thanks for your hospitality, Hone.”
“You’re welcome, Jack. Look after your little Eowyn.”
Jack grinned at his reference. “So what is this place, Hone?”
Hone glanced between Dee and Jack. He had a proud look to his posture. Squaring his shoulders and lifting his head higher, Hone replied, “A couple of years ago, I decided to search out a lost Pa. Songs in our history told of a lost, abandoned Pa on top of a mountain. A few of us wanted to try and live by the old ways. We were tired of the way we were losing our children to lives of crime and seeing them waste away in prison. We searched for a few months, and after a few flights over, we found it. I then advertised for like-minded people to join me, and here we are. We call ourselves ‘Tamariki o kohu Te Maunga’. Simply put, ‘Children of the Misty Mountains’.”
Jack grinned at him. “Like in The Hobbit?”
Hone laughed, a deep bass laugh, and clapped him on the shoulder. “Yes, just like in The Hobbit.” He turned, looking Dee up and down. “Look after yourselves, you hear. Don’t be strangers.”
“Thanks, Hone. I love what you have done here.”
“Keep up the fight. We’ll take back our land.”
Hone turned and walked back over to the burning funeral pyre, greeting some of the men shoveling the ashes back into the fire. The acrid smell of burning wood and flesh stung his nostrils. Jack turned, shouldering his pack.
The distant thump of the incoming chopper reminded Jack of home. He associated the sound with rescue. With hope. Now he hoped it would take them to the boys. He moved over to help Eric with Tony, using duct tape to secure him to the makeshift stretcher. The thumping grew louder as Jack picked up one end of the stretcher, straining his tired muscles to lift the worsening Tony.
The wash of the rotating blades blew soil and leaves into Jack’s face as he struggled with the load. Moving into position, he waited for the chopper to descend.
The Maori warriors who had saved them gathered to wave them off. A couple ran over and helped load Tony into the chopper. Jack looked into the cockpit and was surprised to see the pilot had Asian features. He stood back, looking at the chopper. Come to think of it, he wasn’t familiar with the model. He shrugged his shoulders and leapt in, taking a vacant seat. Dee jumped in and went to the cockpit; Jack watched her speaking to the pilot and pointing towards their cabin. The pilot nodded and Dee moved back joining him. Ben shook Hone’s hand and jumped in beside his Renegades.
The engines whined as the chopper lifted off, throwing more debris into the air as it pulled away. He looked down with pride as they flew away. He’d thought that all was lost on the mainland, but here, on top of this mountain, a determined group of people were holding out. They had refused to surrender to the Variant horde. So far, they were succeeding. Jack vowed to come back and fight with them. From what he’d seen, the love and empathy of the people there deserved everything he had. They had opened their homes to the Renegades. He wanted to stand with them and fight. Jack turned his head, looking east towards Mayor Island. His home. First, he had to secure his family.
Fourth phase: We fight back.
The red corrugated iron of their cabin roof appeared out of the bush. Jack’s heart leapt at the sight. The pilot circled it and Jack looked down, urging someone to emerge. He cupped his hand over the small microphone. “Can we land? I want to check it out.”
The pilot shook his head. “Sorry. I can’t spare the fuel. I can circle a couple more times.”
Jack nodded and kept looking down, waiting. After a couple more circles, the chopper banked away, heading south-east. Jack shook his head and looked down at the metal floor of the helicopter. Dee slid her hand into his.
Ben patted his shoulder. “Sorry, Jack.”
Jack held his gaze for a while before turning to watch the bush-clad Kaimai Mountains whizz by. Far below, small towns lay still and silent. Nothing moved on the roads. It was like someone had clicked the off switch on a giant Scalextric set. The bush gave way to fields of grass and fruit orchards. Jack watched as the chopper buzzed over the land, then swept out over the Pacific Ocean, whitecaps broke on the surface.
A primal howl echoed around the cabin, breaking Jack out from his reflection. He swivelled his head. Tony arched his back, straining against his duct tape bonds. His eyes were yellow and reptile-looking. His mouth still looked human, but his teeth were now deformed and also yellow. He howled again. Eric jumped down onto him, holding his arms down. Tony spat and hissed at him. A rotten fruit smell emanated through the cabin.
“Hold him down!” yelled Ben, joining Eric in sitting on Tony’s legs.
Tony howled again and arched his back violently, throwing Eric and Ben off with ease. The duct tape snapped.
Jack pulled out his Glock, aiming for Tony, but Tony had spun into a crouch, his back to the door. The creature that was once Tony tilted his head, looking at the Renegades, assessing them. His yellow reptile eyes flickered, and his mouth deformed into a snarl.
“What the hell is going on back there!” shouted the pilot.
Ben reached up for the door handle. “Just keep flying. We’ll sort this out.”
He pulled on the door and air rushed in. The creature dug its claws into the frame and, with a snarl, leapt at Eric.
Eric rolled back and held it off with his feet. “Get him off me!”
Jack held out his Glock, trying to get a clear shot. There was a glint of metal, and Dee lunged forward, spearing the creature through the throat with her Katana. Blackish blood gushed out, coating the floor.
Eric shoved the creature off him with a kick. It reached up, trying to stem the flow of blood pouring out of the wound. Eric backpedaled against the seats.
Jack watched, amazed, as Dee kicked the creature out the open door. It sailed through the air, tumbling and thrashing wildly, before it splashed down into the waves of the ocean.
Ben slammed the door shut and the air within the cabin stilled.
Jack reached over and patted Eric’s shoulder. Eric shoved his hand away. Jack left him to his grief and glanced up at the distinctive shape of Mayor Island approaching.
Smoke poured from the small settlement, and Jack’s heart sank. He couldn’t see much from this distance, but seeing the smoke rising from the island confirmed all Jack’s fears. He glanced at the pilot, urging the flying tin can to go faster. He was eager to fight the bastards that had attacked their sanctuary.
Dee nudged his shoulder and pointed west, towards Tauranga. A number of boats were making their way into the harbour. He felt the hairs on his neck bristle. This day was getting weirder. Jack reached down and laced his fingers in Dee’s. He needed something loving and familiar to help settle his shattered nerves.
Jack turned his attention back to the island as the chopper flew closer. Sunlight pierced through the swirling smoke and mist, giving it a surreal, mystical look. Jack shook his head, shaking away his fears. He squeezed Dee’s hand. He knew he had to persevere. They hadn’t come this far, fighting the darkness, to fail now. He rubbed a hand over his carbine, eager to dish out some punishment on the Variants.