She broke the embrace with Boss and sat back up on her chair. Not for the first time, she wished her Dad was still alive. He’d always treated her with a love and affection that had sometimes bewildered her. She’d always known he’d really wanted a son. He’d taken her on several hunting trips, and shown her how to live off the land. Firing hunting rifles and shotguns, fishing, and camping had all been part of her life, growing up. Dee cursed her luck at the Hemorrhage Virus arriving when the guns he’d left her were being serviced. His death had hit her hard, and she’d foolishly let the guns sit in the basement gathering dust. After Jack had shown some interest in learning how to use them, she had taken them in for servicing. Now they were lost to her too.
What should they do? Move on and maybe get torn apart and eaten, or stay put and starve to death, and maybe get discovered and eaten? Where are you Jack? I need you now, more than ever.
Shifting her weight, Dee nudged Boss again. “Boss.”
“Yeah, what?”
“We need to talk to the others.”
Slightly perplexed, Boss now looked up from his task. “Why?”
“We need to figure out what we’re going to do, that's why.”
“Food?”
“Yes, food, and we need to move on. There are more and more Variants every day.”
Getting up off the floor so he could sit next to her, Boss gave Dee a quizzical look. “Have you noticed how you don’t see them in the middle of the day?”
Nodding, Dee murmured, “Yeah. I think that's our best chance to go. We need to find water, food, and weapons. Real weapons, like guns. Jack and I have this cabin up in the valley, isolated. I think we should head there.”
“What about a truck? Like a concrete truck?”
Smiling, Dee said, “We need to be practical, Boss. It’s not Fury Road.”
Stifling a laugh, Boss nodded his head.
Approaching Matt, Alice, and Aston, Dee waved at Vicki and Mike, trying to get their attention. Getting no response, she nudged Boss. “Go get those two.”
She listened as Boss talked to Mike. “Hey, looks like we’re having a pow wow.”
Mike turned his head away from the ventilation grate. Sighing heavily, he said, “Why?”
“Same old, same old. Food, guns. Lack thereof,” replied an annoyed Boss.
“All right, but what about the watch?”
“I’m just doing as Dee asked, sheesh.”
Grumbling and muttering, Mike went over to Vicki, and they joined the others.
At the small table, Dee had spread out an old map of the city, and next to it, one of the surrounding countryside.
Smirking, Boss said, “What museum did you raid?”
She gave Boss an over-the-glasses librarian look. She watched him sternly, clearly waiting for a cheeky response, but Boss just looked at his feet and kept silent. Dee looked back up and made eye contact with the others gathered round.
“So, we need to decide what to do. Do we continue scrounging through houses for food? Or do we make a run for it? Get somewhere more isolated? Fewer Variants?”
Pointing at the map, Dee pressed on. “If we stay, we just keep scavenging in ever-increasing circles, hoping for food. We could try for that food wholesalers. And we need guns desperately. Or, and this is what I vote for, we take my car and try to reach this valley. Jack and I have a cabin there.”
“Well, I vote to stay. Surely the Army are going to show up soon,” said Mike.
“What Army, dickhead?” replied Matt. “New Zealand doesn’t have an Army.”
“Yeah, we do!” Mike replied, his voice rising.
Cutting in, Alice said, “Guys! Seriously, shush!”
Nodding his head in agreement, Aston said, “Look, yes we do have an Army, yes it’s very small, but it’s there. Regardless, they’re not worried about rescuing us mere mortals. We’re on our own.”
There were murmurs of agreement from the others. Mike, begrudgingly, too.
Turning to Matt, Alice poked him. “We should tell them.”
“Tell us what?” asked Dee.
“Yeah, what?” mimicked Boss.
Matt, Alice, and Aston exchanged a look between them. Speaking up, Matt replied, “Look, we want to head off on our own, Alice’s family own a sheep station on one of the islands in the Gulf. We’re going to head there. Plus, I want to find my family.”
Piping up, Alice said, “Dee, we’re really grateful, truly, but I need to know. Know if they’re alive.”
“I can’t argue with that, Alice. I only have Jack. That’s why I want to go to the cabin.” She clasped Alice’s hand. “I really hope they are, Alice.”
The two women smiled at each other, hope, anguish, and worry for their loved ones written deep in their eyes.
“Well, that’s just bloody Dandy! Safety in numbers, anyone?” Mike slammed his fist on the table, causing everyone to jump.
Vicki glared at Mike. “Mike, shush, for Pete’s sake.”
Dee glared at him too. Days of putting up with his foul moods and impudence finally got the better of her. “Mike! All they want is to see their families. You want to deny them that?” Speaking through her teeth, Dee added, “Or is it the lack of an invite?”
Mike started gesturing madly, his face going red. He started to retort, but Vicki elbowed him in the ribs, effectively shushing him.
“We’re happy to go with you, Dee. Our families are both on South Island. Just until it blows over, then we’ll be on our way.” Vicki added, almost at a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
Still fuming at Mike, Dee decided to let it go for now. “Sure. All right then. Well, I don’t know about you lot, but I’ve had enough of this basement and its foul stench.” She looked at Boss, causing him to grin. She once again marveled at the teenager’s resilience. Seeing his grin gave her new motivation. “Matt?”
“Yeah?”
“You can take my neighbours car. I know where the keys are.”
Matt nodded. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.”
The group spent the next hour gathering what little food and water they had, dividing it up as evenly as they could. Dee gave them all spare clothes from some bags she had meant to take to the op shop ages ago. Gathering her Katana, Dee looked at Boss still trying to cram all the radio bits in a box.
“C’mon, they’ll be active again soon.”
“Yeah, I just don’t want to miss anything.”
“Okay. Meet us in the car. And be careful.”
Distracted, Boss nodded.
Matt was waiting at the basement door, and as Dee approached, he looked over at Aston peering through the grate. Given the all clear, Matt slid the bolt, and they stepped out into the sunlight.
Dee took in a deep breath, the fresh air filling her lungs. Glancing left and right, she gripped her Katana tightly. Seeing nothing, she walked on. Dread washed over her the closer she got to her elderly neighbour's house. The thought of seeing Faye’s mangled body frightened Dee, but she knew she had to do this. She wanted to survive, to see Jack again.
I didn't fight the darkness for it to end now.
Dee walked up to the smashed-in window, and quickly peered inside. On the floor was a thick, congealed blood stain, but no body. Where’s the body? Matt brushed against her as he peered inside.
Not wanting to speak for fear of attracting Variants, Dee using mime demonstrated that she wanted Matt to cup his hands together and give her a boost.
Grunting, Matt pushed her through the window and onto the kitchen bench. Dee did her best to stay out of the glass, but she felt a few pinpricks on her hands. Looking again to the spot where the body had lain, shivers travelled up her spine. Quickly moving on, she grabbed the keys off the hook near the pantry and let herself out the side door.