The Dust: Book Two - Pursuit (3 page)

‘And short on manners.’ Angel looked past Jake and glared at the figure stood at the door.

‘My friend is a bit touchy, sorry about that.’ Roger felt as though he was fawning a bit towards the lord of the manor but they needed diesel, it was their top priority. ‘We haven’t had the best couple of days.’

Rossiter looked down the driveway to the other three figures. ‘ Me neither, maybe I was a bit curt.’ He fixed his eyes back onto Roger. ‘Diesel you say, I may have a couple of Jerry cans in the barn, would you like to come in?’

‘Thank you that’s very kind.’ Roger then called the others over.

‘See maybe he isn’t that bad after all.’ Jake entered the house.

‘Maybe he realises what a dick he was being.’ Angel stepped inside.

As the four walked down the long hallway to the bottom of the huge stair case they took a left into a large reception room. The oak panelled walls adorned with old oil paintings of hunts and the rolling green countryside. A huge chandelier hung down from the beams that made their way across the high ceilings and a coat of arms sat above a large double door.

Walking through the doorway they found themselves in the orangery where the air was filled with the flowers and plants that sat on cast iron tables and large terracotta pots. Swiftly they moved over the polished porcelain floor and then through another doorway which led out into a small courtyard.

‘This way.’ Rossiter pointed at a small wooden side door that led into the side of a tall brick barn.

‘Bloody hell Rog.’ Jake whispered. ‘This is like something out of the antiques road show.’

Roger smiled but said nothing.

Rossiter opened the barn door and they all slipped through into what could have been a different world. The front of the barn was open and sat in front of it were endless green fields and trees.

‘That is impressive.’ Roger said.

‘Thank you, Wisteria Hall has been in my family for twelve generations.’

Even though Angel still thought he was an ill-mannered pompous git she had to admit the place was impressive. ‘That is one magnificent view.’

‘Can we have cake now?’ Lou asked.

Angel smiled. ‘You will have to ask won’t you?’

‘I believe this is what you're after gentlemen?’ Rossiter pulled back a canvas sheet to uncover several Jerry cans. ‘I need some for myself but I’m sure we can spare two.’

‘That’s very kind of you, thank you.’ Jake looked at Roger and smiled.
Jackpot.
He knew his mate was thinking the same.

‘Have you had any attacks?’ Angel asked him trying to make a conversation with him.

‘Attacks? What do you mean attacks?’ Rossiter seemed a little confused.

‘From the infected. ‘Jake added

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

Roger looked at Angel, he then looked at Jake. ‘You do know what has happened don’t you?’

Rossiter was now even more perplexed. ‘The ash cloud you mean?’

‘And after the cloud, when the dust settled.’ Roger looked at Rossiter.

‘No transport.’ Rossiter swallowed hard, an unease had descended the air.

‘You haven’t been attacked by any naked savages then?’ Jake spoke.

‘Oh my God there was a naked boy in the bottom field this morning, I assumed he had been eating my chickens, one of the gypsy children, you get them from time to time trespassing.’

‘I think we better go inside.’ Roger suggested. ‘Your isolation in your splendid home has meant certain events may have slipped by unnoticed.’

Rossiter was silent, he walked back towards the orangery, the others followed.

***

Joyce Meadows stared down into the water tank, there was barely a cupful left. She needed to think of a contingency plan otherwise it wouldn’t be her poor husband finishing them off.

‘Grandma I’m hungry.’ Amber had a biscuit for lunch and that was about three hours ago.

Joyce looked in the supermarket carrier bag, one biscuit left. She would go without tonight, Amber could have the last one when it was dark.

‘It’s okay my darling we have plenty left.’ Joyce was getting very used to lying.

‘Is grandad better yet?’

This was the question that bit the hardest. Every time Amber asked it bought a lump to Joyce’s throat. She had so many questions to ask herself but there was no one to answer them. She missed Cyril, not the monster that lived on the landing but the proud and wonderful man that she had married.

‘grandad will be back to normal soon Amber.’ Another lie told.

Joyce needed to leave the house, she needed to get food and drink. Walking over to the window she took a deep breath, she knew it would mean climbing onto the roof and somehow lowering herself down onto the conservatory roof, at her age! She opened the window, the sun was getting lower and the shadows were getting longer, the eerie silence was only shattered by a scream and some breaking glass in the distance. Whatever had happened to the world whatever had taken place, Joyce knew it wasn’t good. She hadn’t been this scared since she was a little girl and had to walk up old Mr Wainwright’s drive past the huge sleeping dog to deliver a morning paper. Joyce, just like all those years ago had to be strong, she had no choice. Amber’s life depended on it.

***

Iris sat in the back of the old army truck as it bumped along the road holding onto Hannah who was still crying.

‘There can’t be any more tears left.’ The voice came from a Mediterranean looking woman with a thick Geordie accent.

Iris shook her head and squeezed the girl once more.

‘What’s in the bag?’ Another woman piped up from the back.

Iris looked across to where the voice had come from. It was the thin lady, she hadn’t had chance to ask names and none of the women felt like talking. They had all lost husbands, children, parents and friends.

‘It’s a slight problem.’ Iris said softly so no one else could hear. ‘But I’m sure we can sort it out.’

‘Why is it a problem?’ The Mediterranean woman asked.

‘It’s Hannah’s story to tell.’ Replied Iris. ‘We need to sort it soon though but I’m sure it will all be grand.

Hannah then stopped crying and wiped her nose. ‘Why is it a problem?’ She sniffed.

Iris stroked her back. ‘It’s not hygienic child, we need to put them to rest.’

‘What the fuck had she got there?’ The thin woman’s voice grew louder.

‘It’s okay.’ Hushed Iris. ‘We will deal with it at the next stop.

‘I’m not getting rid of them.’ Cried Hannah gripping the crisp packet.

‘We will sort it out the next stop, don’t worry yourself.’ Iris tried to calm an already fraught situation.

‘What the fuck is in the bag?’ The thin woman asked again and again loudly.

Iris looked her straight into her narrow eyes. ‘Enough I said, we will sort it later.

A thump then came from the cab onto the thin partition. ‘Quiet!’ It was Lonny Gold’s voice.

‘You tell 'em boss.’ Archie laughed. ‘Fucking women always gassing.’

The three sat in the cab, headlights cutting through the dark as the cat’s eyes flashed by.

‘Are we stopping tonight boss?’ Harry James asked.

Lonny threw his cigarette out of the window and the embers danced across the road as it hit the surface. ‘In about an hour young Harry.’

‘What’s the plan then boss?’ Archie grinned.

‘Not what you think.’ Lonny knew the youngster was chomping at the bit waiting to get his hands on the young girl they had picked up.

Archie sighed. ‘When boss?’

‘When I fucking say so and when the two of you start earning your keep.’

‘Keep?’ Archie screwed up his face not understanding.

‘Yes your fucking keep. I want that girl back in my truck as soon as possible.’ Lonny became more animated.

‘That Angel bird?’

‘Yes that fucking Angel bird.’ Lonny thumped the dashboard. ‘I saved her, she owes me and she belongs to me.’

‘And the little girl?’ Harry James asked.

‘Yes the little girl too, she will be worth a lot of money.’

Harry James wished he never asked, there were some weirdos about.

Lonny Gold sat back in the well creased leather driver’s seat. ‘We will stop in an hour for a little while and then we will press on.

They are close, I can smell them.’ He twitched his nose and sniffed at the air.

‘Then they will know who the boss is, believe you and me. This new unruly land is up for grabs boys and I’m gonna be the first one to thrust my stake into the ground.’ He ran his large hand through his curly hair and each gold ring, one on every finger slid through to the back of his thick hairy neck.

‘Then Lonny Gold will be the fucking king.’

Chapter Three

Jake sat out in the courtyard and the morning sun shone down on his thick, freshly squeezed orange juice.
How the hell can one family be so isolated to what was going on in the rest on the country?
He had sat at the large dining table last night dumbfounded at Rossiters ignorance. He remembered clearly how he had laughed at the notion of naked savages rampaging across the land killing everything in their path.
He had even seen one!

That was the craziest thing, Rossiter had told them the story about the naked boy in the field and still he refused to believe what was going under his nose. Of course he believed the dust that had fallen from the skies had ground everything to a halt but he and his sister had no idea about the aftermath. Jake shook his head, it was pointless even trying to save these people, they just don't want to know.

‘A penny for them?’ Angel’s voice made Jake turn around.

‘I didn’t know you were up’ Jake went to stand to make her a drink but then noticed the steaming mug of coffee in her hands.

‘I couldn’t really sleep, lots on my mind.’ She sat down next to him closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun. ‘That is nice.’

‘Worrying about them?’ Jake referred to the constant danger of the infected.

‘God no, if I kept thinking about them I would never sleep a wink.’ Angel smiled. ‘I just don’t get this family. How can anyone be so oblivious to what is going on around them?’

‘I know, and did you see the larder? It’s rammed with every type of food you can think of. Rossiter's sister was in the kitchen when I came down, I can’t remember her name now.’

‘Janet.’ Angel reminded him.

‘That’s her, well she offered me a bacon sandwich.’ Jake looked surprised. ‘A fucking bacon sandwich!’

‘Did you have one?’

‘No, I felt too embarrassed, I mean most people are living off scraps and they have half a pig in the fridge.’ Jake drained his orange juice. ‘Not to mention fresh juice.’ He held up the empty glass.

‘Is your boyfriend up yet?’ Angel smiled knowing Jake didn’t like to be teased about Roger.

‘Don’t start that again.’

‘I’m only joking, it’s good for morale.’ She chuckled.

‘I haven’t seen him yet, he did enjoy that ruby port last night mind.’

‘Yes he very nearly smiled at one point.’

‘Look you two need to get along we have a big journey ahead in a confined space.’ Jake felt like the father telling off his children.

‘Again I’m joking, don’t get your knickers in a twist.’ Angel winked.

Jake needed that, any sign of affection or closeness from Angel was good. They still hadn’t mentioned the kiss from the other night outside York castle and the longer nothing was being mentioned the more awkward Jake felt. Perhaps now was as good a time as any to bring it up.

‘Angel, Angel look what Alice has given me.’ Lou Pepper ran into the courtyard clutching a teddy bear closely followed by Janet’s little girl Alice.

‘Oh honey that’s nice of her, did you say thanks?’

Lou looked at Angel as if she had gone mad. ‘Of course I have, I’m a polite girl who knows all my manners.’

‘His name is Rufus.’ Alice pushed past Lou to stand in front of Angel.

‘I would have called him Charlie like my old bear but there is only one of him.’ Lou looked slightly sad remembering how she had left all her things back at the castle. Angel had promised her at the time they would either return to get him or she would find her a new one.

‘I told you another bear would find you didn’t I?’ Angel was more relieved than anything, it was her idea to slip away from the castle unnoticed and by the time Lou had reminded her about her little rucksack it was too late.

‘Yes you did and now I’m going to keep him with me always.’ Lou gave the soft toy a massive hug.

‘Morning campers did we all sleep well?’ Roger then appeared biting into a bacon roll.

‘How long have you been up?’ Jake enquired.

‘About two hours.’ He licked the melted butter that had run from the bread onto his finger. ‘I have filled up the truck and we have a spare jerry in the back. Then I helped Charles move some of his hay into one of the feeding barns, it’s the least I could do.’

‘Charles.’ Angel whispered and then tutted. She could see Roger was right at home in this environment.

‘So we are ready to go?’ Jake stood up and stretched.

‘Yep, no rush though, I might have another one of these.’ Roger polished off the tasty treat with gusto and then returned into the orangery for another.

***

Joyce Meadows looked down onto the landing, her husband was still there. Only now instead of jumping about and growling he had his back to the hatch, shoulders slumped and he seemed to be in some sort of trance. Maybe this was the time to act, she needed to get help or the very least some more supplies till Jake came to rescue them. She had no doubt that her son wouldn’t let them down, Joyce knew he would move heaven and earth for his ‘Barnacle’.

She moved back to the loft window and gently opened it, Amber was still asleep.
Should she disturb her?
She had to, Amber waking up to an empty room would be more disturbing than actually leaving her and saying goodbye, it was the lesser of the two evils.

‘Amber darling it’s Grandma. I’m popping out to get some food.’ Joyce stroked the side of her granddaughter’s face.

Amber moved from her back to her side and slowly opened her eyes. ‘Grandma, I want toast and jam, just like you do it.’

‘I will get you some my lovely girl. I need to pop to the shops to get some bread.’ She pulled the old dust sheet up to Amber’s neck. ‘You stay here and get some more sleep.’ She went to get up but she knew she needed to warn her granddaughter. If she didn’t and something happened she wouldn’t be able to live with herself. ‘Please stay away from the loft hatch and don’t try and talk to grandad, he’s still very ill.’ Joyce then stood up,