“Thanks Ben,” Dee said. “Oh hey, do you have any fertiliser? We used to use it to mask our scent.”
Ben picked up a large twenty-litre container, grinning. His sharp eyes appraised her. “Not just a pretty face, are you? I use this. Industrial grade disinfectant. I’ll be back.”
Dee watched him go. Normally she would be offended by such a remark, but Ben was an up-front guy. A spade was a spade. She busied herself cleaning out the wound on Boss’s head.
Boss tried to get up, tried to speak. Dee helped him swallow a couple of painkillers and pushed him back down. “Sleep, Boss.”
She heard Ben come back into the room and the huge steel door shut with a clunk. Dee got up and walked over to him. He slid thick bolts across the door, locking them in. Happy that they were secure, Dee turned and took in her new surroundings. She was impressed to see block walls all around. The concrete floor she had already noted. To the left and right were shelves filled with food, water and plastic containers. Three shelves on each side, making six in total, with a gap in the middle forming a corridor reminiscent of a supermarket. She couldn’t quite see the back of the room through the shelves. Turning to her left, she saw a rack behind a cage door filled with guns. She recognised a couple of shotguns and a few more of those same rifles Ben carried with him. A row of handguns and boxes of ammunition were stacked on more shelves.
Dee let out a whistle. “That’s a lot of guns. I feel like I’m in the Matrix.”
Ben grunted and walked with her towards Boss. “How’s he doing?”
“Just concussed, I think. I gave him some painkillers, so he’ll sleep it off.”
“Good. I’m glad. Poor kid. He took a real knock to the head. If you want, I’ll show you around my humble abode.”
Dee nodded, only too glad for a distraction.
“It’s no bomb shelter, but it’s kept those Variants out so far. They’re getting bolder each day.”
Dee followed him to the back right-hand corner where two rooms were separated from the rest of the structure.
As Ben opened one door, he pointed to the other. “Bathroom with chemical toilet in there.” He nodded towards the opened room. “In here is where the fun happens. This is the war room.” He gestured for Dee to enter.
Dee gasped. A desk with four monitors and a keyboard lined the back wall. Two of the monitors were on and she could see camera feeds from outside. A stack of radio equipment lay on the table on the right-hand side, static hissing from the attached speakers. A large table covered in maps was set against the other wall. Dee could see Ben had been marking red Xs through the surrounding small towns, and the town of Cambridge was scribbled out.
“Wow, you’re organised. But how are you getting power to run all this?”
“Solar. I’ve got a bank of them down the hill a bit. It’s enough to keep this going, just. Also gives me a little hot water.”
Dee went over to the map. “I suppose this means no survivors?” She pointed at the red Xs.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Dee traced the river north from Cambridge up to Hamilton. A big red X was drawn through it.
How had her basement group gone undetected? Not only from the Variants but from the collaborators too.
She looked at all the surrounding towns. Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Huntly. All had red Xs through them. Dee rubbed her eyebrows and reached down to her neckline, desperate to feel the reassurance of the necklace Jack had given to her as an anniversary present.
So many red Xs. It started to really sink in just how fortunate she and Boss had been.
Was it luck? Common sense? A bit of both? The Hemorrhage Virus had hit so fast, so furiously, that it had caught everyone but a few by surprise. She and Jack loved post-apocalyptic fiction. The more they read, the more they’d thought: What if? What if something did happen?
They’d thought they were prepared for it. But fate was a funny thing. They’d never taken into account where they would be when it hit.
Now Jack was God knows where and Dee was here. In a bunker. Safe. For now.
Ben took Dee back to the main living area, to all the shelving units stacked with supplies. Pointing to each row in turn, he said, “Food. Clothes. Survival gear, like tents, etc. Batteries, that sort of thing. I don’t have any women’s clothes, I’m afraid, but you’re welcome to try and find something to fit. Feel free to have a shower too, but please, five minutes only. Very limited water supply.”
“Ben, you’re an angel.” Dee’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you for your kindness, and for…” she gulped, unable to voice her thanks further, and waved her hands.
She could see Ben understood, his eyes growing soft. “You’re welcome.”
Dee nodded and started to select the smallest clothes she could find. Though little might fit her, she just wanted fresh clothes. She could still smell the stench of Missing Teeth on her. Shuddering in disgust, Dee headed to the shower.
— 22 —
The cool night air caressed Jack’s skin, causing goosebumps. He leant his head back against the wall and looked down at the sleeping George. Smiling, Jack was amazed at how well the kid had adapted to this new hidey hole. They had hidden here since escaping and had eaten half the supplies from his pack. George had been resistant to the protein bar and beef jerky, but had devoured the chocolate.
Through the tiny window, Jack could see the moon. It was showing its half face. He estimated he had been down in this hell pit for eleven to twelve days. How had he survived with no water or food? For that matter, how had George? He was so small… so young at only eight (maybe) years old. So much for the rule of three, then.
Three weeks without food. Three days without water… Blah blah blah…
Jack could feel some life coming back into his body from the food and water and now felt confident enough to attempt an escape.
He needed a plan. As a teenager he’d been fascinated by WWII escape stories. Had read the small town library out. The daring. The ingenuity. Both were incredible.
Gazing out the window, he could see his stars. His pinpricks of light. Millions of light years away.
There is always a way out of any situation.
All right, so we’re in the hydro dam. Surrounded by monsters that want to eat us. A man is helping them. I’ve probably got two days’ food at best. George’s mum, Sarah, is missing. Dee is God knows where. It’s dark and I don’t even have any sunglasses on.
He couldn’t help but grin at his movie reference. He couldn’t even think of moving until at least midday, so he shifted his weight and closed his eyes. Nothing to be done till then.
Eat when you can. Sleep when you can. Be ready.
Jack woke to the sun shining in his eyes and George poking him in the arm.
“Mister. I really need to pee.”
“Ummm, okay, buddy. Can you hold on a bit longer?” Jack said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
George started squirming, a panicked look on his face.
“I’m going to have to check if the coast is clear, all right?”
George nodded.
Jack jumped up on top of the lockers and searched the room. Seeing nothing, he reached down and lifted George up next to him. Pivoting, he dropped George down to the floor.
“Sorry, buddy. It will have to be in there,” Jack said, pointing to the hand basin.
Jack checked his watch as George washed his hands. He decided to risk some exploration and guessed the room they were in was a couple of levels down. Jack didn’t know the layout of the dam wall, but he trusted his instincts not to go down any deeper. He decided to stick to this level, for now.