After it Happened Boxset: 1-6 Omnibus Edition, page 65
Dan agreed, looking around at the assembled faces. Marie, Kate, Neil, Mitch, Jack and himself huddled in a small circle on the upper deck of the Hope. Leah was inside, relieved of her equipment on Kate’s strict instructions – although Dan doubted she was still totally unarmed – and lying flat, being kept watch on by Sera with the recently sedated dog lying flat against her, snoring loudly.
“Well, we can’t go out to sea without any working radar equipment or anything,” said Neil. “That’s just asking for trouble.”
“Options?” said Marie, fractionally before Dan could utter one of his trademark lines. A small smirk to herself told him that she knew exactly what she had done, and the slightly bewildered look on his face let her know that her timing had been impeccable.
“We’ll have to anchor up in the bay for the night,” said Jack.
They all looked at him.
“Well, we can’t go inland past where we were attacked now, and who’s to say we’ll find anywhere safer there anyhow,” he said, answering their blank looks. “Plus, as Neil rightly says, we can’t go back into the sea this time of day. We’ve got maybe an hour of daylight left at best, and that’s not enough to guarantee finding another safe harbour.”
Nobody had a rebuttal, and nobody offered a better solution.
“Three-hour shifts, two on at a time, though. Mitch, can you take second watch with Adam?” Dan asked.
Mitch nodded his agreement.
“Jack, can you take first watch with Neil, please?” he asked the older man.
“Of course I can,” Jack replied, almost sounding affronted at the possibility that he wouldn’t be asked. “I’ll get some things and be back.” He left without a word.
Mitch and Neil began discussing where to drop anchor, inevitably turning it into a heated debate, so Dan led the two women down the ladder to talk further.
“As Leah’s out for the day, I’ll need a volunteer to work the last shift with me from three a.m. until six, so it’ll be a long day for them tomorrow,” he said to them. He didn’t expect Marie to volunteer, even though she hadn’t once claimed pregnancy to avoid any hardship, but because she simply wasn’t one of those people who could operate without sleep.
“She may be out tomorrow too,” said Kate reprovingly, ever implying that he worked the girl too hard.
A loud noise interrupted their discussion as the loud chorus of the prow anchor chain falling away overtook all other sounds. It stopped quickly, betraying the shallow depth of the small inlet, and began to slowly swing the boat around so that the nose pointed into the flow of the tide, like a compass finding true north.
“Ask carefully,” said Marie when she could hear her voice again, “because some people in there will say yes to anything you want. Now come and eat something before you get some sleep.”
He followed her back to the main cabin as Jack emerged, ready for an exposed few hours. He had a large pump-action shotgun slung over his back, offered a grizzly nod, and climbed the steps to the argument pit that was the flight deck.
Dan checked in on Leah and Ash, finding both well cared for and not wanting to disturb them. Looking around the room, he wondered who to choose as his backup during the dead hours before dawn – always the hardest shift of the night.
Sera and Kate were caring for the injured and unwell – his adopted daughter and his dog primarily, along with the ever travel-sick Phil, who now looked very pale and dehydrated.
Marie was not an option for night duty, nor were Pip or Ana. Lou and Laura had become the worker bees inside the cabin, making sure everyone was fed and watered.
His eyes rested on Henry, who was sitting apart from the others and trying his hardest not to be caught staring at Dan with a devotion which would embarrass Ash if he were conscious.
No, not Henry. He would want to talk all night, and that would be worse than sitting on deck alone. Jimmy was his obvious choice, but since setting sail two days ago, he had been very quiet and withdrawn, no doubt suffering badly with being on the water for the first time in his life.
Another face sat apart, peering through glasses at a small paperback book she had found aboard. Suddenly aware that she was the subject of scrutiny from another human being, she almost dropped the book in panic.
Some time ago, he remembered her admitting that she loved the lab work because she didn’t have to speak to many people. He understood that, but he also knew that there was always a time to be outside of your comfort zone. He moved over to her, seeing her shrink in size and almost try to get in the book without appearing overtly rude.
“Relax, Emma,” he said, “I need your help.”
“Me?” she asked, wide-eyed. “What can I do?”
“Set an alarm for three a.m. and sit on deck with me until sunrise,” he said simply.
Her already wide eyes grew even larger, as she wouldn’t have thought to make any connection between herself and sentry duty.
Dan stifled a laugh at her reaction.
“Last watch of the night, because Leah’s hurt and I need someone with sharp senses to keep me awake. It’s not a date,” he said with a smile, “and bring your gun,” he added.
Bewildered and flattered that she had been asked, she nodded and started to press the buttons on her digital watch as instructed.
He ate beans and sausages cold from the tin before cuddling up with Marie in one of the bedrooms for a few hours’ sleep inside the lurching, cramped space.
Luxurious as the Hope was, he doubted it was designed for so many people and a dog to live on board for any length of time.
The night passed restlessly; most people were in more of a state of semiconsciousness or light hibernation than actual sleep.
At two fifty-five in the morning, Dan’s watch began a high-pitched beep which earned him a sudden and sharp elbow in the ribs from Marie.
He climbed over her to extract himself from the bed, earning more grumbling from her, and slipped into his vest before picking up his carbine. He closed the door as silently as possible and crept outside to find Emma waiting by the doorway wearing her own body armour with the gun on her chest.
She hadn’t brought any extra clothing, it seemed, so Dan picked up one of the blankets stored in a tub on deck for when the rich former owners felt a chill and sent one of the crew to fetch something for them.
They climbed the ladder, nodding to Adam and Mitch and receiving a muttered report of no activity. They switched places with the two men and settled into the warm seats at the controls. A small camp cooker had been set up with a large bottle of water, two cups, and the obligatory jar of instant coffee. Dan set the burner going to heat the two cups’ worth of water he poured in.
Not a word passed between them until the coffee was made, and even then it was only politeness in her thanking him which broke the silence.
That was another reason for picking her.
Only when the tide turned and the boat first went slack on the anchor chain and then turned ponderously around to face the prow where the stern had been did she say anything.
Her sudden panic had elicited a small laugh from Dan, unfairly, as he wouldn’t have known about what would happen either if Jack hadn’t warned him to expect it in the early hours. Before he could explain it, she understood that she was experiencing the changing tide and settled down. He liked that about her: her analytical mind and sharp intelligence only complemented her lack of social comfort around others. She was actually very easy company.
They sat on deck, Dan in short sleeves and his heavy vest and Emma feeling the chilly breeze far more and wrapped up in a blanket, enjoying the comfortable silence and waiting for the dawn.
UNEXPECTED ARRIVALS
The last thing anyone would have expected was for a pair of new additions to arrive.
Two men, both dishevelled, seemed to have been travelling for a while when they wandered up to the gardens on foot overloaded with whatever belongings they could carry.
Although one was armed with a hunting rifle, neither seemed the slightest bit hostile. Still, their unannounced arrival at the gardens elicited a flurry of activity and not less than a few screams of terror.
They were no threat to them; they were dehydrated and exhausted. They were taken into the cool, given chilled water to drink, and fed fresh bread and salad.
The two bearded men ate as though they had never tasted such ambrosia before. They ate until their shrunken stomachs filled, and the pleasure of the food became sudden discomfort.
Maggie was reminded of footage she had seen of prisoners of war being released into the care of their fellow countrymen, of their thin frames and looks of emptiness.
Quietly, she sent Cedric away to call Lexi from the “big house,” as they called it, to inspect and vet these strangers.
They sat, full to the brim on very little food and water, almost comatose as the nutrients washed into their bodies. They could barely contain their gratitude; one of them broke down in tears at their kindness. It was as though they had been walking through hell – it was almost hot enough that summer – and had just reached an oasis.
Maggie accepted their thanks humbly, as was her manner, and returned to the doorway of the room in time to see Dan’s – no, Lexi’s –Discovery fly down the small ramp into the courtyard. She slid lithely from behind the wheel, followed by the muscular and intimidating Paul from the passenger side.
“Where are they?” she snapped at the older woman. Maggie didn’t appreciate her tone; Dan always showed respect and deference to her and Cedric, even when the situation was dangerous. This upstart had a lot of growing to do before she could hope to fill his absent shoes. Still, Maggie shook away the negativity and answered her kindly.
“In the office,” she said, and turned and walked as Lexi fell in step beside her. “They wandered in half an hour ago; both are dehydrated and exhausted. They’ve been carrying everything they could salvage from their vehicle after it broke down this morning. They’ve been walking ever since. I don’t think they are a danger,” she added finally, making her opinion clear.
“We’ll see,” replied Lexi sullenly as she snatched up the hunting rifle they had carried and inspected it before thrusting it at Paul.
In truth, her attitude wasn’t intended to be obnoxious, but was coming across that way out of fear. Dan’s easy manner when gently interrogating newcomers was a talent, not a matter of training. He had looked so many good and bad people in the eyes that he just seemed to have a sixth sense about who to trust. She saw none of that skill in herself, so fell back on being the militant to be safe.
The arrival of two armed people dressed all in black woke the two men slightly, sobering them from their blissful state of being fed and safe. They nervously sat up and waited for instruction from the woman in front of them who seemed barely able to contain her hostility.
“I’m going to search your kit. Do you have any other weapons than the rifle?” she snapped.
“No,” stammered one of the men, seemingly more alert than the other. His voice croaked and cracked, so he tried again. “No. Only a couple of sharp knives for food. We avoid trouble; the rifle is for hunting rabbits,” he said, trying to show as much deference as he could to appease the angry woman.
Lexi said nothing and strode outside, dragging the two large backpacks. She upended the bags and regarded the contents strewn across the ground, sifting through them with her foot as she pulled a face at the smell.
She went back inside, having done nothing to search their belongings effectively other than to display her power like a dominant ape.
“Names,” she ordered them.
“I’m Ben,” said the alert one, and indicated at the half-asleep man next to him, “that’s Will. We’re brothers.”
Lexi said nothing in response, merely looked around for Matty. Finding him, she gave instructions for them to be brought back to the house and cleaned up before being told to wait in the dining room.
“I’ll leave Paul with you to make sure everyone is safe,” she added as she strode to her vehicle to assemble the council. “And don’t let them out of your sight,” she warned her partner as she climbed behind the wheel.
Ben and Will laughed as they enjoyed their first hot showers in as long as they could recall. Paul had sent Matty back to the gardens, embarrassed over Lexi’s behaviour, and he didn’t want to be forced into a discussion about it. He knew that her rudeness was due to her own insecurity, and that Dan’s easy manner was born of a confidence in being the most dangerous person in the room. Usually.
Paul listened to the two young men who, now clean and beardless, appeared to be in their early twenties. Their back-and-forth repartee was amusing, and Paul guessed they had bickered and mocked each other in such a loving way since they could walk. He liked them, and he knew nothing about them yet.
“Come on, lads. Speed it up, please!” he said to them when there was more banter than washing going on. They reluctantly dried themselves off, laughing at their pale chins and cheeks, as they had been sunburned before they had shaved, and dressed in the comfortable grey prison tracksuits that always seemed to be given to the newest arrivals.
Giggling quietly between themselves, they followed Paul downstairs and into the dining hall. Cara had supplied a small snack buffet as she liked to do with all newcomers, although she hadn’t had much opportunity recently. The two men looked between Cara and Paul for permission, and when nodded towards the food, they flew in to gorge themselves. They clearly hadn’t eaten properly for a long time. Noises of childlike joy escaped from one as he found a small tray of puff pastry sweet treats, holding one aloft as though he were blessing his brother with a holy relic. Their joy was infectious, but both Cara’s and Paul’s amusement at their happiness was stifled when the door opened and the council members entered.
Cara became sensible and sat down at her usual place at the larger table, and she was joined by Lexi, Lizzie, Andrew and Mike.
Paul went to take his leave until Lexi ordered him to stay.
“No, keep an eye on them,” she said, simultaneously embarrassing him again and making herself look overly churlish.
Paul held his tongue. Her attempts at trying to let everyone know she had power were starting to wear thin on him already.
“Welcome!” exclaimed Mike to the nervous subjects of discussion. “I hope you’re feeling better now for being clean and eating.”
Ben paused with a pastry halfway in his mouth and was torn between taking it out or finishing the action. Having been raised not to show people the contents of your mouth at the dinner table, he bit down on it and chewed. He looked at his brother for any kind of backup, but it seemed that Will was content to let Ben do all the talking.
Painfully slowly, he chewed until he could force the pastry down in one uncomfortable swallow. Unfortunately, this forced him to require a drink to wash it down and prevent him choking, resulting in twenty seconds of very awkward silence until he finally answered Mike’s question.
“Yes. Thank you,” he said lamely, completely undermining the gravity of the time it took him to think of what to say.
The assembled faces allowed themselves to crack into smiles at the stupidity of the exchange, all except Lexi, who scowled at them.
Their story emerged, haltingly, having to be extracted piecemeal at times. They were brothers. Will was at university in York and Ben worked in an office in Leeds. When it happened, Will told Ben to stay put and that he was coming to get him. They had wandered from place to place ever since, caching supplies and moving on whenever other people threatened their safety. They had no real purpose or aim; they were just waiting to be told what to do by someone. A few tales of hiding and running away from gangs were told, and after the first winter, they decided to stay away from towns and wander the rural places instead. That’s where they found the rifle.
“So you’ve just been moving from house to house, living off what you could find for all this time?” asked Lizzie.
The two men looked at each other, as though they had one collective mind. “Yeah,” they chorused.
Almost stunned by their apparent simplicity, Mike moved on to the subject of them staying.
Again, their trademark eye contact followed by another affirmative chorus.
“So what can you do?” said Lexi quietly, trying to mimic Dan’s presence when he spoke softly but everyone realised he was angry.
“We both climb; we’re good at that,” said Will.
“I meant what can you do to help around here?” she replied coolly. “What use are you?”
Grasping the meaning of the only person who didn’t seem to want them there, Will thought before answering in a measured voice. “We’ve survived for over a year. We’ve been chased, hunted, but never found. We can get in and out of places and people don’t even know we’ve been there. We’ve stolen supplies right out of the pockets of the people who were looking to take ours. So that’s what we can do. If you need scouts, we can do that.”
He sat back, pleased with his speech, and surveyed the room.
They were all convinced, all except the one with the gun on her chest.
“Thank you, both,” said Mike. “Paul, could you please show them into the lounge? I’m sure they don’t need to be watched anymore.”
Paul nodded his head for them to follow, which they did, taking as much of the food in front of them as they could manage. Will looked back and smiled as best as he could with his arms full and a plastic cup held in his teeth.
The door closed.
Mike turned to Lexi. “You said you needed two new Rangers. There they are,” he said.
The murmurs of agreement from all the others made her almost burst with rage.
“We don’t know them! At all!” she exclaimed loudly. “They could be anyone from anywhere, have you considered that? What if they are from another group and want inside knowledge on how to take this place?” She stood as she tried to make the others see reason.
