“Okay. Copy.”
Maggie let out a breath and, tucking the radio beside her, turned the volume up so she could keep up with any chatter.
She followed the convoy as the road wound up the river valley and climbed its way up into the foothills, heading back to the Kaimai Mountains. Maggie counted twelve vehicles, mainly 4x4s like hers and a couple of white cargo vans. The flatbed truck on which the huge Variant with his grotesque trophy heads rode followed two lead vehicles. It reminded Maggie of a documentary she’d once seen on wolves. A couple of strong wolves led the pack through the snow, with the rest of the pack following.
The Alpha Variant had positioned himself behind two 4x4s, each with five of the creatures clinging to the roof racks. Even from this distance, she could see that they were bigger than most Variants. Maggie caught glimpses of red and the shadows of human collaborators through the windows.
As they climbed higher up into the clouds enveloping the bush-clad peaks, Maggie stole a few glances at the scenery. It was so green and lush. Tall forests of beech and podocarps hugged the rugged hills. She could understand why they had chosen to film Lord of the Rings here. It was perfect. Sweeping fields of grass curved away, and farm buildings dotted the landscape. Farms that had once held sheep and cattle, farms that once hummed with life. Maggie thanked God that Izzy was safe with Him and not living through this nightmare. She missed her princess every day. Thoughts of her daughter motivated her to continue fighting. Maggie could feel her looking down from heaven, protecting her. Maggie smiled. She really did have a guardian angel watching her.
Good. I need all the help I can get for this crazy mission.
Doubts nagged at her with every mile. Was she doing the right thing? Would Alice get Becs, Leela, and the other kids to the safety of Mayor Island? Maggie knew she couldn’t leave the kid Alice knew to the horrible fate that awaited him. What was his name? Bruce? Brian? Something like that. She knew she had to find out where these kids were being taken. If she died saving them, then at least she would know she had died trying. She could be at peace, and finally be with Izzy and God.
Maggie brushed away her doubts and thoughts as the road finally breached the crest of the peak and began its descent. She gasped at the view. A patchwork of fields lay spread out like a giant quilt, stretching away to the west, to the spine of green mountains that ringed the plains. She grinned at the sight. Even during the apocalypse, nature had a way of taking hold of her and capturing the moment. It forced its beauty into her memory, to be thought of and appreciated at some future time. She drove on, her trepidation growing.
The convoy slowed, edging its way between a knot of cars that had tangled with a truck. The truck had jackknifed and snagged itself on the fences. Burned out husks of cars had been pushed aside, allowing enough room for the convoy to pass. The truck carrying the Alpha passed through the gap, scraping against the crashed lorry. The shriek of metal on metal rang in Maggie’s ears, making her shudder. Another higher-pitched shriek echoed out and Maggie watched, mesmerised, as a black wave of Variants poured out from behind the abandoned cars, attacking the convoy.
Maggie slammed on the brakes, bringing her 4x4 to a skidding stop. She glanced in the rearview mirror, checking her six for an escape. More Variants poured out from the fields to attack the convoy, cutting off that option.
Her radio blared to life. “Stay down!”
Chaos erupted as the Alpha bellowed, a terrifying deep howl that shook her bones as it reverberated up through the metal floor of her vehicle. The Alpha jumped down off the truck. The Variants from the two lead 4x4s sprang into action. Five of them jumped up onto the flatbed truck, forming a semicircle around the two kids slumped against the cab. The other five grouped around the Alpha, shrieking and howling.
Maggie locked her doors and grabbed her rifle. The attacking Variants ignored her and the others in red coveralls. Instead, they attacked the convoy Variants. Claws drawn and sucker mouths smacking, the two rival groups smashed into each other. They tore hunks out of flesh and snapped limbs. Maggie watched, horrified, as the huge Alpha waded through the melee, plucking Variants off the ground and snapping their necks with flicks of its huge claws. It speared a creature with a claw and bit off its head with one snap of its mighty jaws. New howls joined in the racket. She turned her head, and watched as a new horde joined the battle to fight alongside the Alpha and its Variants. Tearing, snapping, clawing. As the Variants continued to fight each other, there was no mercy given, no quarter. This was a fight to the death. A no-prisoners massacre.
The Alpha and the new arrivals made short work of the attackers. She watched as some of the attacking Variants were chased down and disposed of. With a final huge bellow, the convoy Variants jumped back onto their rides and the convoy started to move off again, heading west. Maggie shook her head. It was as if nothing had happened. She pulled her cap down tighter over her head, and prayed her disguise would last awhile longer. As she crept the 4x4 through the gap, she could see the victorious Variants picking up the bodies of the dead and lumbering away across the fields.
Maggie held up a shaking hand. She had faced the Taliban in Afghanistan and insurgents in Iraq, but seeing the Variants battle each other had shaken her to the core. She gripped the steering wheel, willing herself to stay strong. She had some kids to rescue.
Maggie glanced up to heaven. Look out for me, Princess. Mom has to fight a demon.
TWENTY-ONE
Jack bent down and helped Dee from the lake. Pain from his fresh wounds shot up his spine. He took the whimpering form of Max from Dee and laid him on sand. Max’s eyes met his. He managed a small wag of his tail and licked Jack’s hand. Gently, he checked over their adopted dog. He had no cuts or tears on his skin. When Jack pressed his hand against Max’s ribs, the dog let out a pained howl and licked at Jack again. Seeing the injured Max, Jack couldn’t help the tears forming. As an animal-lover, seeing any injured animal pained him. Especially a loved pet. He leant down and kissed the dog on his head.
“All right buddy, we’ll get you home. Hang in there.”
He looked up at Dee. She was rubbing herself dry with the small hiking towels they carried in their packs. She paused, smiling at him, watching. He always admired how she found the time to smile at him despite everything that was going on. He knew she was just as concerned about the boys as he was. Six had told them about the Trophy King being on the island, and with what he and Dee had discovered, he was in no doubt now: this attack had been planned.
Could they even think like that?
Like the others, he thought they had left that beast behind on top of that mountain. With this attack, it seemed to Jack that this Alpha not only had retained its human intelligence, but used it to collaborate with humans. And had come for them to settle a score. Memories of the nest he and George had escaped from, and the horrors that lay within, came flooding back. Jack swallowed down the lump that was forming in his throat. Not only did he feel guilty for not being on the island to help defend against the attack, but he felt some responsibility for it. His escape and his actions had caused the Alpha to purposely seek them out to mete out his revenge.
Dee reached out, grabbing his arm. “Hey, come back to me, babe.”
“Sorry, I just feel guilty. What if this is our fault, Dee? What if the Trophy King came here for us?”
“I know, Jack. I feel it too.” Dee knelt with him beside Max and kissed his cheek. “We’re going after him, right?”