Tales of the Dead Tropics - chapter 47

"Lori!"  Joe's aghast cry brought the captain about.  His eyes widened as he saw the gun aimed at him.

"I'm sorry, captain." I said steadily.  "We're not going anywhere.  Going back to Cairns is a death sentence and the speedboat cannot carry all of us to safety.  You leave me no choice."

The captain held my gaze for a long moment.

"You would not kill an innocent man." The captain said confidently.

"You're right." I agreed with a calmness I didn't feel.  "But to save my family, I am perfectly willing to shoot an innocent man in the leg." I adjusted the aim of the gun slightly.  "And as I am a nurse, I can ensure the wound is treated properly so the risk of death will be low."  I hoped I sounded a lot more confident than I actually felt.  "If you - and anyone else- are determined to return to Cairns, in spite of all we have told you, then you can  take the speedboat.  But this boat is not going anywhere."

"For God's sake, Lori, put down the gun!" Joe hissed, appalled.  He doesn't really believe me either, I thought sadly, or he wouldn't be trying to stop me.

The captain nodded slowly.  "I see. Well, I guess I see your point."  He looked at the gun pointedly and then at the other men.  "Any of you want to go back to Cairns?"  Two of the men in the fishing expedition stood up and joined him.  One looked back at us and shrugged helplessly.  "If what you are saying is true, I have to go back and try to find my family."

I nodded, keeping the gun raised.  "Good luck to all of you."

Silently, we watched them climb into the speedboat and head into the horizon.  I knew we would not see them again. 

Long after they had disappeared from sight, I stood at the back of the boat, staring into our wake as Ken guided it in a long arc down to the town of Townsville.  Joe came and stood silently beside me.  As the stillness between us lengthened, I forced myself to face him.  "I'm sorry, Joe, but I couldn't let him take us back or force us back onto the speedboat.  You don't understand what we've been through.  I did what I had to do to protect my family."

His face was somber.  "I know you did, Lori. I'm just having trouble coming to grips with...everything."

"Do you believe me?" I asked in a small voice, dreading the answer.

He sighed, resting his elbows on the railing as he gazed out to sea.  "You cut off our daughter's arm.  Either I'm married to a crazy woman or you're telling the truth." He looked at me, his eyes tender.  "Of course I believe you."

Resting my head on his shoulder, I closed my eyes.  "I had to believe you were safe out here on the water.  The thought that something might have happened to you..."

Joe covered my hand with his.  "I had no inkling... it was really only on our way back that we began to even have a clue that something was wrong.  No other boats, no radio contact, no satellite phone...nothing."

"I'm glad.  If you had come back early, God knows what you would have sailed into." I shivered at the thought.  Joe wrapped an arm around my shoulders.  "One of these days you are going to have to tell me the whole story.  Some of the things Michele has told me...well, I'm sure she must be exaggerating your exploits somewhat."

I laughed.  "Oh, is that right?  You don't think I'm capable of handling myself, mister?" Giving him a shove, I glared at him with mock outrage.  Joe stepped back with a grin, hands raised in surrender. 

"Well, come on, we are talking about you, Lori.  You are the most harmless person I know.  Although after seeing you with that gun..."  He stopped abruptly, the blood draining from his face.  Slowly, I turned around.  The horizon was aglow, a glorious crimson false sunset. 

"My God," Joe murmured, eyes wide with disbelief.  "They really did it."

All I could see, as I stared at the hauntingly beautiful and dreadful sky, was Mike's face.  My heart ached with the knowledge that he was gone.  Really and truly gone.  Mike with his dry wit and laconic nature would never make me laugh again or give me comfort just by his presence.  The only thing that made the loss bearable was knowing he wouldn't have suffered, that he wouldn't have had time to turn into one of those monsters.

One by one, the others joined us.

"Do you think it will work?" Michele ventured eventually.  "You know, get rid of the virus?"

I blinked and dragged my eyes away from the rosy horizon.  It still seemed impossible that our government would choose to explode a nuclear bomb in their own country.  "God, I hope so, Michele."  If this virus succeeded in escaping our town, our country was going to be in a whole heap of trouble.  "If they destroyed our town with all those innocent people, for nothing...it doesn't bear thinking about."  I thought of Travis and his group, of the school hall full of kids - now nothing but ashes.

"What if it doesn't work?" She asked  in a small voice.  Kaye and I exchanged a glance.  It was a thought that had plagued both of us.

"Then we find somewhere safe and hole up." I answered steadily.  "We've survived this long by ourselves.  We can continue to do so."

A gloomy silence fell over all of us. I sighed and shook myself.  "Is anyone looking after the babies or are they running riot downstairs?"  I looked around and saw Jessie was missing.  Somehow that didn't surprise me.  For one so young, she had shown herself to be responsible and motherly towards the babies. 

"I'll go check." Michele said and headed belowdecks with Lucas close behind. Smiling, I tried to remember the last time I'd seen them apart.   Ken went to check on the new member of the group who was at the wheel.

I looked at Kaye as she hovered nearby, looking like she had something to say.     Years seemed to have fallen off her since she'd been reunited with Andy.  "It still feels unreal, having my all family together and well.  It would never have happened if it hadn't been for you, Lori."

I blinked.  "It wasn't just me." I muttered, pain flitting across my face at the memory of those we'd lost. 

"I know.  But you were the driving force behind us.  We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."  Impulsively, Kaye hugged me.  " I don't think I would have had the strength to face what we went through if you hadn't been there.  Heck, I know I wouldn't have survive and neither would my kids.  But now we're all together - and safe.  I just wanted to say thank you, Lori, for everything."  I nodded mutely.  As she walked away to join the others downstairs, Joe flung an arm around Michele and me and pulled us close.  "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"  He whispered fiercely.

"Aw, Dad." Michele protested happily.  "Puh-lease."  He looked at me over her head and the look in his eyes warmed my heart.

Below decks, Jessie and the dog were keeping my babies happily amused bouncing on the double bed.  I winced but let it go.  Kaye was right.  We had a lot to be grateful for.  I had my family together -and they were safe.  For the first time in days, my family was safe. 

Laughing, I threw myself on the bed in the midst of the mayhem.  I grabbed Jessie and tickled her till she squealed in delight.  Alex and Sarah demanded to join in while Lizzie the dog hopped around the bed and barked hysterically. It was bedlam and it was wonderful.

Was the danger posed by the virus truly gone?  None of us could know what tomorrow would bring, but if the last few days had taught me anything, it was to live for today.  And today I had the people I loved with me - and that was enough.

THE END

Tales of the Dead Tropics - chapter 43

Grabbing a sheet, Mike made a sling around his torso, swinging his gun out of the way.  "Ready." 

I smiled at Sarah.  "Time for a piggyback ride with Uncle Mike."  Unprotestingly, she let me tuck her into the sling. I hesitated a moment and then, grabbing a nappy from the nearby change table, wrapped it around her eyes.

"Mummy!" She protested.

"Ssh." I said firmly.  "You're not allowed to look until I say so."  Once we stepped out on the ledge, we needed to proceed with total silence.  I couldn't take the risk of her being frightened and alerting the corpses to our presence in the tree.  She pouted but subsided.

Banging on the bedroom door made it clear that our time had run out.  Over the window sill, Mike stepped carefully out onto the slim ledge running along the length of the building.  Fingers grasping firmly at the gaps between the bricks, he slid a foot along the ledge.  My heart in my mouth, I watched his progress.  My daughter sat trustingly on his back as he sidled along the wall, blindfold obscuring most of her face.  Now it was my turn.  As I stepped nervously onto the ledge, a hinge on the bedroom door gave way.  The corpses would be in the room in seconds, I knew.  I squeezed my fingers into the millimeters-thin gap between the bricks and resolutely slid my feet along the narrow ledge, one at a time, until I had left the safety of the window.

My fingers started to shake from fear and the strain of holding on to such a narrow gap.  Just keep moving, I told myself firmly, one foot at a time.  Time seemed to still as my focus narrowed to my fingers and toes maintaining contact with the building.  From the corner of my eyes, I could see Mike's comforting shape.  Finally, I saw him clambering over the balcony and as I, too, reached it, Mike grasped my hand firmly and helped me over the railing. Gasping, I stretched my aching fingers.

"Ready?" Mike queried gently.  I nodded.  As ready as I'll ever be.    My fingers dug into my palms as he balanced carefully on the balcony.  Even though I trusted Mike with an absoluteness that surprised me, it was nerve-wracking watching him prepare to leap across a twenty-five foot drop with my daughter.  I needn't have concerned myself.  He made the leap with a surety I could only envy.  Balancing on a thick outlying branch, he gestured to me.  My turn.  Swallowing, I sat on the balcony's edge.  I looked over at Mike who smiled encouragingly at me.  I knew he could see my fear and I appreciated his silent understanding.  Okay, here goes nothing.  I pushed off with both feet, aiming to hook my arms around the branch.  I hit it with my chest, knocking the wind out of me.  As I flailed in panic, trying to get a footing, Mike reached down and gripped my hand firmly.  I calmed down, knowing he had me and would never let go.

Once I'd found my feet and regained my breath, we started carefully making our way down the old mango tree.  The horde were gathered only thirty feet away, so we made our way down with excruciating slowness and quietness.  As we crouched on the lowest branch, Mike whispered.  "We need to hit the ground running.  Head for the back of the golf club.  Ken said he'd leave keys in a golf cart for us."

I looked at him askance.  "Golf cart?  They're not very fast, are they."

"They just need to be faster than those things." He tipped his head at the mob.  Point taken.

Mike lowered himself to the ground quietly, the thick  trunk between him and the horde.  Then I swung down and let him lower me quietly to the grass.  Taking a deep breath, I nodded to let him know I was ready.  He held his hand up, watching the sky.  He was waiting for cloud cover, I realised with no little admiration.  Without the moonlight revealing us, we might actually make it across unseen!  Excitement and  renewed hope filled me.

The night darkened further as the moon disappeared behind black heavy clouds.  "Now." Mike whispered and we bolted into the open.  Trying to run fast but lightly, I fought to keep pace with Mike's long stride.  We made it halfway across the park before the moon appeared again.  A distant moan suggested that we had been spotted.  As we entered the car park, I saw the remainder of the horde, a large group of at least two hundred,  mobbing the heavy doors of the clubhouse.  Hopefully, that meant the horde didn't realise the group had gone already, and not that the group was still trapped inside.  Racing for the side of the building, I heard the excited moans of the mob.  We had been spotted. 

My chest burned with the effort of keeping up with Mike, but knowing what awaited me if I slowed gave me the impetus to keep up with him as we rounded the back of the clubhouse.  There, in a row, were three buggies.  The first and second carts didn't have keys but, with deep relief, I saw that the the third cart did.  Jumping in as Mike turned the cart on, I held on as the vehicle jerked forward.  It darted forward over the landscaped grounds as corpses spilled around the corner.  God, it seemed to go so slowly, even though I knew it was probably travelling at least twenty miles an hour. 

Slowly, slowly, the distance between us and the mob increased.  As we traversed a small hill and they disappeared from sight, I breathed a sigh of relief.  The buzz made me lightheaded.  Grinning, I looked over at Mike and saw my baby still patiently sitting with her eyes covered.  Laughing, I reached over and removed the blindfold.  Blinking, she focused on my face and smiled in response to mine.  Then she saw where she was and clapped her hands.  "Ooh, buggy ride!"

Mike grinned at me. "That's what I love about kids.  So easily pleased."

We steered clear of all dark patches as we drove across the beautifully manicured lawns.  We didn't have the time or inclination to deal with any stray corpses lurking in bushes.  Some minutes later, I spotted the gleam of the creek separating the golf course from the bay upon which the marina had been built.  To my delight, I saw the dark shape of the two other golf carts and the figures standing around them.  They were still here and safe!

Jumping out, I ran into the embrace of my family and friends.  I kissed my children, then Jessie and Kaye.  Mike was confronted by an ecstatic chihuahua who fought her way out of the backpack to jump into his arms and cover his face with licks.

I paused as I came to Ken and Lucas.  As happy as I was to see them, the pain in their faces invoked the loss we had suffered.  Wordlessly, we drew together in a long, tight hug.  Finally dropping our arms, I took Lucas' face in my hand.  "She told me to take care of you, Lucas.  You need to know that you are family - now and always."  He nodded, eyes dark with emotion. 

"We've only got a couple of hours till dawn, folks." Mike reminded us gently, returning an enthusiastic Lizzie to Jessie's backpack and picking up his own backpack, which Ken had been shouldering.  "Let's get across."

"Um, aren't there crocodiles in this creek?" Michele asked nervously. 

"Probably." I admitted.  "Stick together and we should be fine.  They like to pick out the stragglers."  I had no idea if that was true, actually, but we needed to get across that river, regardless.

The creek was only about thirty feet across.  Ken seemed pretty confident that we could walk across, so the guys and Kaye, who was the tallest female in the group, carried the babies on their shoulders as we entered the cool water.  Michele and Jessie stayed firmly in the middle of the group.  I could see Michele casting nervous glances around us.  Maybe I should have been more worried but I had yet to hear of a crocodile attack on a golf course in Cairns.  Still, we all breathed a sigh of relief on making it safely to the other side. 

"What now?" Ken asked, trying to squeeze water out of his shirt.  A slight breeze made our dripping clothes chilly and uncomfortable.  Mike nodded at the sand dune blocking the view of the marina.

"Let's check it out."

Ken, Mike and I struggled up the sandy bank and lay down just below the dune's edge.  Mike pulled out the binoculars and focused on the marina sprawled below us.  A few lights shone from boats moored there.  In the dark, it was difficult to see any other details from the dune.

"What do you see?" Ken asked.

"Walking corpses."

I sighed.  Figured.  Part of me had hoped that the marina was somehow miraculously empty, silly as that now sounded.

Mike lowered the glasses. "We'll never get the whole group safely to a boat via the marina.  I suggest a couple of us fetch a boat while the rest wait by the beach."

"Yeah." I responded heavily.  "Makes sense."  Turning to Ken, I asked.  "Will you lead them to the beach, Ken?  Keep them quiet and out of sight?" 

Glancing from me to Mike and back, he looked ready to protest.  Then he sighed.  "I guess you two are a good team.  You've already shown that.  Okay, I'll wait for your signal."

Scrambling back down the dune, he gathered the group.  I looked at Mike who was staring at me.  "What?"

 "You could sit this one out, you know, Lori."

Could I? As much as the thought appealed, our lives hung on the success of this mission.  I knew how Mike worked, he knew how I worked.  Ken was right; we were a good team.  I wasn't about to risk the group's life by changing things up now.  I shrugged nonchalantly.  "What, and miss out on all the fun? Not likely."