The Rule of Three

— 16 —

Dee smiled at Alice as she walked over. “We need to have a meeting, guys.”

“Okay,” Alice said, smiling back. “Over by the books?”

Dee nodded and listened as Boss talked to Mike.

“Hey, we’re having a pow wow.”

Mike turned his head away from the ventilation grate. “Why?”

“Same old, same old. Food, guns. Lack thereof,” Boss whispered, tension creeping into his tone.

“Fine,” Mike said, sighing. “What about the watch?”

“I’m just doing as Dee asked,” Boss said, turning his back and shrugging his shoulders.

Grumbling and muttering, Mike went over to Vicki, and together they joined the others.

At a small table, Dee had spread out an old map of the city, and next to it, one of the surrounding countryside.

“What museum did you raid?” Boss smirked.

Dee gave Boss an over-the-glasses librarian look. She waited for a cheeky response, but he just looked at his feet and kept silent. Satisfied that Boss knew it was serious, Dee glanced at 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?”

Dee pressed on. “If we stay, we just keep scavenging in ever-increasing circles, hoping for food. We could try a 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,” she said, pointing at the map. “Jack and I have a cabin there.”

“Well, I vote to stay. Surely the army is going to show up soon,” Mike said, “and take us to one of those evac centres.”

“What army?” Matt asked. “New Zealand doesn’t have an army.”

“Yeah, we do!” Mike replied, his voice rising.

“Guys! Seriously,” Alice said. “Matt, give it a rest. And Mike, he’s teasing you.”

Dee flicked her eyes between them. After ten days of hiding, everyone was getting on each other’s nerves. She knew they had to move on. It was time.

“Yes we do have an army,” Aston cut in, nodding. “It’s 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.

“I ran into a couple of soldiers out there,” Dee said. Boss looked at her, eyes wide. He had asked her about how she’d survived, but she’d skirted the subject, not wanting to dampen his spirits. “I don’t think they’re going to be much help.”

Alice turned to Matt and poked him. “We should tell them.”

“Tell us what?” asked Dee.

“Yeah, what?” mimicked Boss.

Matt, Alice and Aston exchanged a look between them. Matt sighed and looked down at the maps.

“Look, we want to head off on our own,” he said. “Alice’s family owns a sheep station on one of the islands in the Gulf. We’re going to head there. Plus, I want to find my family.”

“Dee, we’re really grateful, truly, but I need to know. Know if they’re alive,” Alice said, looking at Dee.

“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’re okay.”

The two women smiled at each other, hope, anguish and worry for their loved ones written deep in their eyes.

Dee had only known Alice for few days, but she wished it had been in different circumstances. Over the years she’d found it difficult to stay in contact with her friends as they all got married and had children.

“Take the back roads. Last I heard, the motorway was jammed,” Dee said.

Alice and Matt nodded.

“Well, that’s just crazy. Safety in numbers, anyone?” Mike said, slamming his fist on the table.

Vicki glared at 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. “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 silencing him.

“We’re happy to go with you, Dee. Our families are both in the South Island. Just until it blows over, then we’ll be on our way,” Vicki whispered. She bent down next to Dee. “I’m sorry about Mike.”

Dee shrugged her shoulders and grimaced. “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, and once again she marvelled at the teenager’s resilience. Seeing his smile gave her new motivation.

“Matt?”

“Yeah?”

“You can take my neighbour’s 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.

Picking up her katana, Dee looked at Boss still trying to cram all the radio bits into a box. “C’mon, they’ll be active again soon.”

“Yeah I know, 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, who was peering through the grate. Given the all clear, Matt slid the bolt and they stepped out into the sunlight.

Dee took a deep breath, the fresh air filling her lungs. Looking left and right, she gripped the 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. She frowned. Where’s the body? Matt brushed against her as he looked in too.

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 shot up her spine. Quickly moving on, she grabbed the keys off the hook near the pantry and let herself out the side door.

Signalling with a nod of her head, she indicated the garage to Matt and handed him the keys.

They were struggling with the garage door as Aston and Alice joined them.

“Wait a few minutes. We’ll try to leave together,” Dee said, lowering her voice.

Matt nodded.

Alice grabbed Dee in a bear hug. “Thank you.”

Pushing Alice back slightly, Dee wiped a tear from her own eye. “You’re welcome. Good luck, and thanks for all the fish.”

Alice smiled distantly at her, not getting the reference. Embarrassed, Dee jumped over the fence. Crouching low, she made a dash for her car. When she got to her garage, she found Mike and Boss had raised the garage door in readiness. They piled into the car and she turned the ignition. Easing the car out, she glanced around, looking for Variants. Gripping the steering wheel, she indicated right and headed up the road, away from her sanctuary. Dee wondered if she was doing the right thing by leaving. Would Jack know to head to the cabin? She pushed her doubts aside and concentrated on driving everyone to safety.

Matt followed her to the end of the road. Turning south, Dee and her group waved them goodbye. She watched as their car disappeared from view and said a silent prayer of hope. Hope that they would survive to see their families again.