“You have food?”
Laughing, Dee replied, “We sure do. C’mon.”
Dee led them off the jetty and up the path towards the villa. The kids followed, with Alice bringing up the rear. The children looked wide-eyed at all the soldiers walking around, guns slung over their shoulders.
Reaching the old house, she ushered them into the kitchen and pointed to the table. A few of the kids asked for the toilet. After Dee showed them where it was, she returned to the kitchen. She never would’ve thought she would be preparing a meal for six hungry children. It was only after the end of the world and meeting Boss and George that she started to warm to kids. Seeing the children sitting at the table gave her a warm, motherly glow. She subconsciously rubbed her belly. Maybe she and Jack still had time for children.
The kitchen door banged open and Jack walked in, his legs bandaged around the thighs. Dee smiled at him as he took in the scene. Max padded in behind him and gingerly sat down on his bed next to the fire. Alice stood up from the table as Jack walked over.
Dee kissed him on the cheek, searching out his blue eyes. “You good?”
“Yeah. Just a flesh wound.”
Dee elbowed him in the ribs. “’tis but a scratch,” she replied.
Smiling, Jack glanced over her shoulder at the dining room. “What’s all this?”
She turned away from the stove. “Alice. Jack. Jack. Alice.”
Alice pushed back her chair and moved around to meet them in the kitchen. She reached out and hugged him. “The Jack?”
Dee barked out a laugh. “Yes. The Jack.”
Jack looked between the two women. “Okay? What’s going on?”
Dee turned to him. “Alice hid with me down in the basement back in the beginning with the others and Boss. Jack, she saw Boss, George, and the Trophy King in Tauranga.”
“When?”
“Earlier today.”
Jack pursed his lips together. Grimacing, he rubbed a hand through his hair. He let out a sigh. “That must have been those boats we saw from the chopper. We’re definitely going after them tomorrow. I don’t care what Ben says.”
“He’s already agreed, Jack. Let’s eat. Ben’s coming up later to talk it through.”
“All right. I’ll give you a hand.”
Dee turned back to her cooking, busying herself with the task. Thoughts of what that abomination was doing to her boys frightened the hell out of her. Jack moved over next to her and started cutting up some vegetables. She smiled at him, grateful for his silent encouragement. She knew that he was just as keen to get them back. Dee felt wrung out and turned around. In the last twenty-four hours she had found out her mother was probably alive and an animal geneticist, she had hiked up a mountain to escape a Variant horde, and to top it all off, the Alpha they called the Trophy King had attacked their haven and captured her boys.
Dee stared down at the bubbling cheese sauce. It was time to end this.
TWENTY-TWO
The star cluster known as Pleiades hung low in the early morning sky. James smiled at the sight. The festival of Matariki was tonight, his favourite time of the year. Commonly known as the Maori New Year, it was an occasion to remember those lost in the past year, among other things. The civilian population had insisted they celebrate it. He was happy to oblige, and thought it would be a good way to welcome the new arrivals from Indonesia.
He turned, looking over the campground he had sequestered for the refugees. The medical staff were bustling around in preparation. He had insisted that everyone be tested for the Hemorrhage Virus and other common diseases, as well as malnutrition, before being placed in the temporary housing. His gaze drifted out into the bay. HMNZS Te Mana had arrived last night to assist. Seeing the ship settled his nerves somewhat. So far, Captain Koto had kept his word that they were merely seeking refuge. James was a cautious man, so he had ordered his men to stay alert and vigilant. Satisfied with the preparations, he jumped in the awaiting Jeep and headed back to the FOB. He had a helicopter pilot to discipline.
James looked over the man standing to attention in front of him. He kept his face clear of emotion and stared into the man’s eyes. He was struggling to keep his seething anger in check. The pilot had dark hair and brown eyes. He carried a little weight around his middle, as though all the sitting down in the cockpit had forced his fat to his middle.
“You know what, Evans? I don’t even want you to explain to me why you abandoned Team Renegade. Because of you, the one scientist left alive in New Zealand who had any chance of finding a cure to this mess is dead. Gunner Tony Jones is dead. Captain Johns and the rest of his team are lucky to be alive, no thanks to you. I’m stripping you of your wings. You have six months of sentry duty. I look forward to Captain Johns catching up with you.”
James waved him away, dismissing him. He was still seething at the pilot’s cowardice when there was a knock at his door. Badminton entered.
“Morning, Sir. The Indonesian pilot’s report,” he said, handing James a manila folder.
“Thank you, Badminton,” James said, dismissing him.
James flicked through the pages in front of him. Nothing stood out in particular, and everything confirmed what Johns had reported. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to knead out the stiff muscles. His eyes glanced at the Vodka bottle tucked away on his bookshelf, whispering to him to take a sip. James looked back down at the report, reading about the fortified mountain top. Johns had reported it also. He couldn’t help but smile to himself at the thought of an old-fashioned Pa holding out against the Variant hordes. Pride surged in his heart for the resilience of his people. Against all the odds, there were still people alive out there. New hope for his family in the East Cape rose to the forefront of his mind. The Renegades had proven themselves out in the field.
He contemplated sending them on a reconnaissance mission to search for more survivors holding out like Hone and his people after Mayor Island was sorted. Perhaps he could send them to search for Major Hinds. Thinking of the attack, he sighed and swivelled around to the old typewriter. The Brigadier wanted his report.
When he had finished his report, James walked down to the rugby ground in the town. He was keen to see the Matariki preparations for himself. The civilians had been cautious at first after being informed of the refugees. Heated arguments had broken out about whether they should let them in. Half wanted to welcome the refugees, the other half wanted to send them on their way. James had informed them of his orders. Thankfully, humanity won the day.
He reached the rugby ground and glanced around. Several marquees had been set up with long tables stretching along their lengths. Lights had been strung up, linking the tents, and then winding their way up the trees at both ends. Diesel generators sat at the far end. People were gathered around a huge burning open pit, where a Hangi was being prepared. Piles of food wrapped in aluminium foil sat waiting for the fire to die down. Once the fire had heated the rocks enough, the rocks would be extracted and all the wood removed. The rocks would then be placed back in the hole and hit with wet sacks to create steam. Then the food would be placed in old shopping trolleys and lowered into the pits, the heated rocks piled around them, and the wet sacks added before the earth was piled back on top, forming a mound. Three hours later, the feast would be ready.
James looked up to the sky, hoping the gathering clouds stayed away.
“Colonel!”
James turned to the source of the voice. Captain Koto strode towards him, smiling as he looked around. The two men shook hands. “Ah Captain. Thank you for helping us out with your helicopter.”