After it Happened Boxset: 1-6 Omnibus Edition Read online

  Handguns being what they were in Britain – highly bloody illegal – no alternative holsters were readily available for Neil’s weapon. Dan made a note to hit an army surplus soon and get some kit for them both.

  Not knowing what the future would hold, they took an armful of twelve-bore shotguns, six boxes of cartridges, and Dan insisted on a crossbow and a competition bow. “Ammo will run out one day, and on that day, you’ll be glad you know Robin Hood here, unless you want to be vegetarian,” teased Dan.

  Before they left, Dan stopped and stared at something under the glass counter. Neil went over and saw that he was looking at a two-foot-long curved machete, like a cross between a kukri and a broadsword. Dan helped himself to it and fixed Neil in a serious stare.

  “You don’t think zombies will…” he started.

  Neil stared back at him for a long time. “Nah. No chance, that’s just films, mate,” and then he helped himself to a similar tool as they left.

  Neil found the truck he wanted to start loading with supplies: hard sides and a working tail lift. It started easily enough, after they broke into the unit and luckily found the keys on a hook and not in the pockets of one of the bodies there.

  They hit the builder’s merchants and got two large two-stroke disc cutters with spare blades – much quicker at opening doors than a key – and some petrol cans to fill up later. Neil went off to find the stuff he wanted for the fuel pump, muttering to himself and seemingly working it out on his hands as he went, which left Dan free to wander around. He found three petrol generators and went to retrieve them. After trying to lift the first, he decided it would be better to wait for Neil.

  They loaded the three generators, with difficulty, and the other stuff into the truck and headed back to the supermarket. Neil had a plan for pumping out the fuel into jerrycans, which he’d got about twenty of, which should give them weeks of fuel. He said he still wanted a fuel tanker – just a little one – and that Dan should keep his eyes open.

  He seemed to be busy sorting the fuel side, so Dan said he was going to head out past the Land Rover garage because he knew of a specialist 4x4 place where he hoped he could find some of the good stuff for the Defenders. They agreed what to do if Dan didn’t return by dark: Neil would try the radio, and if nothing happened, he would set off to the garage at first light and try to find him.

  Dan checked his gun’s chamber, reassuring himself with the glint of brass he could see, climbed into his Land Rover, and called out to Neil, “Just keep an eye out; not everyone may be as friendly as me.”

  PENNY

  Her feet hurt. She wasn’t used to walking and didn’t own any hard-wearing boots or appropriate trousers. She’d settled on flat shoes instead of her normal small heels and was already in pain. A teacher for more than twenty years, and she had become soft. Penny was not happy with this turn of events. Her car had been blocked in by a crashed van in the road where she lived, and it simply did not occur to her to steal a replacement, let alone move the dead driver of the van. She had called 999 only to get a dead tone until the phone lines went down completely.

  She still thought of taking a vehicle as looting or theft, not survival. To her, these were still the possessions of other people and should be respected as such. She’d stayed at home for as long as she could bear, waiting for the authorities to give direction.

  As she walked, she reasoned with herself that she really had to find something to eat, and a way of getting home to sleep that night preferably without walking. A faint sound permeated her thoughts; it sounded like a lawnmower being started, and she found that distinctly strange. Why would anyone not affected by whatever this was be cutting their grass at a time like this?

  She decided to walk towards the sound and ask the unlikely gardener precisely what they were doing.

  It took a long time, but by following the sounds, she could make out the clear tone of an engine running. Rounding a bend on the footpath, she found the source of the noise to be coming from a petrol station, but it wasn’t coming from a car. She was startled to see a man fighting with some hosepipes and other items that he was trying to fit on what looked like a generator.

  Penny straightened herself, attempted to make herself more respectable by running her hands through her hair, and made a confident approach to the man. He did not hear or see her coming, as he was engrossed in his task, and he jumped in fright when she called “Hello” to him.

  The man stood there panting with a hand on his chest for a few beats and the other behind his back until he took a deep breath and drew himself up.

  “Hi there, I’m Neil. Are you OK?” he said while reaching for a bottle of water that he handed to her.

  “P-P-Penny. Thank you,” she stammered, accepting the water before she straightened and replied far more confidently.

  “I’m Penny. I can’t say how glad I am to see another person who isn’t…” She trailed off; the words were too difficult to say yet.

  She walked towards Neil and extended her hand, which he shook. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t know what to say. Tears threatened to overcome her, so she quickly closed her mouth. Neil switched off the generator and invited her to come back to where they had set up camp.

  Penny followed autonomously, until it dawned on her what Neil had said.

  “We?” she asked hopefully.

  “Yes,” said Neil. “My mate Dan is off shopping at the moment, but he should be back soon. Do you want any food? Drink?” As he turned, Penny saw the clear outline of a gun under his T-shirt where it was tucked in the small of his back.

  She instinctively stopped, unsure whether to question or challenge this new discovery. She decided that in good conscience, she must ask him about it.

  “Neil, may I please ask if you are armed?” she said properly.

  “Yeah, we just don’t know who is friendly and who isn’t. Don’t worry about it, honestly.”

  It was as much explanation as she expected, really. She decided that she probably needed people like these men nowadays, and she shouldn’t be squeamish.

  “It’s OK. I apologise for my tone. I’m just not used to these things, you see?”

  Neil said he understood. He went into one of the two caravans and came out with a bag and arms full. He put the things into the back of a big car, started a camping cooker, and poured water into an old-style tin kettle. He told her the story of how he met Dan two days ago, and how they came to be where they were. He told her about his wife and boys, how he spent a day digging in the garden to bury them before making his way. He said this all in a flat tone, staring off into space. When he finished, he shook the sensations away and forced a smile. In a broad Belfast accent, he asked, “Noy, Penny, can aye get you a cup of tea?”

  WOMEN AND CHILDREN

  Dan pushed the Defender hard on the way back south, testing its limits and capabilities long before he had to find out the hard way. He drove systematically, clinically, like he’d been taught to for so many years.

  He passed the Land Rover garage they’d visited the day before and glanced in as he passed at speed. He pushed on until he reached the place he wanted. One look at the building and he knew this wouldn’t be easy to get into; all the windows were barred, the rear gates were solid and high, and the whole shop front had heavy horizontal anti-ram barriers. A quick assessment looking for the least resistant way in, and he stopped. Out loud, he said to himself, “Fuck it; it’s not like I’m paying for the damage.”

  The heavy chain he’d picked up and attached to the rear bumper was looped onto the bars of the front door. The Defender’s torque didn’t struggle at all to rip the doors out, leaving the horizontal bar in place. He looped the chain back onto the spare wheel on the back door of the Rover and climbed inside.

  Over the next half hour, he posted out the things he wanted – more speed jacks and tow ropes and a set of five big off-road wheels and tyres, completely filling the boot space – before having a good look around the warehouse in the back.
Dan made a mental note to use Defenders and clear the place out ASAP. Neil would need a well-equipped garage, but he could keep a few Land Rovers going for years with this stuff.

  After trying to cover up the worst of the damage to the door, he made his way back towards “base camp,” this time at a little more of a relaxed pace.

  He passed the Land Rover garage again, but this time he thought that something wasn’t right. As soon as it dawned on him, he slammed on the brakes, causing his new looted kit to crash around. He slammed into reverse and backed up at speed, skidding again to a stop in front of the garage.

  Where the daytime lights of the X5 were shining straight at him.

  He got out and drew the gun, holding it behind his right leg. Creeping over the smashed glass, he called out, “Hello? Is anyone there?”

  A glance inside the BMW showed rubbish and empty bottles on the back seat, like someone had been sleeping in the car. A sound made him turn, and he saw a young girl frozen in fear with headphones in her ears and a biscuit halfway towards her open mouth.

  Dan turned his left shoulder slowly forward, hiding the gun behind his back. “It’s OK. I’m not going to hurt you, I promise,” he tried. She didn’t move other than to swallow hard and stare at him. “I’m Dan. You were here yesterday, weren’t you? You ran away.”

  The girl stayed still for a while longer before popping the biscuit into her mouth and chewing fast and removing her headphones.

  “I’m Leah,” she said.

  “Hi, Leah. How old are you?”

  “Twe… Fifteen,” she lied unconvincingly. “Why do you have a gun?”

  Dan slowly holstered the sidearm and held both hands up to her, palms out.

  “It’s to protect me and my friend. He has one too. You saw him yesterday.”

  “OK,” she replied. “I tried to drive your car to Morrisons but I crashed it backwards. Sorry.”

  Dan laughed. “It’s all right, I didn’t really like it anyway! Too flash for me!” He studied her carefully before he decided how to word the next sentence. “Look, I know you aren’t supposed to go anywhere with people you don’t know, but I’d like it if you would come back to our camp so you’re safe and protected. I really think it’s best. We have hot food and you’d have your own brand-new caravan to sleep in, which you can lock with your own keys if you want.”

  Leah studied him with her head slightly cocked. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to try and offer me sweets,” she replied with an uncertain smirk.

  Dan was taken aback slightly that she had given him sarcasm already. “I’m not one of those people. I’ve got…” He trailed off, eyes suddenly glazing over before he tried again. “There are people out there who wouldn’t be kind to you, but we’re not those people.”

  Leah thought about it for a while longer before nodding.

  Dan told her, “Jump in then,” and he climbed into the driver’s seat. He was very wary not to seem like he was fussing over her too much; caring instincts might come across wrong to her at the moment, so he decided to treat her like she was a bit older than she looked.

  Leah just looked out of the window on the way back. Dan drove carefully and just kept the uncomfortable silence. He decided that he’d have to make a trip to get her more appropriate clothes. Maybe later, or tomorrow.

  He pulled back into the car park, passing the fuel station where he expected Neil to be. The generator looked abandoned and the pipes were a mess. He hadn’t cut the top off the reservoir tank yet. It looked wrong.

  Accelerating towards the caravans, he feared the worst, but as he came to a halt in front of their makeshift cooking area, he was speechless to find Neil sitting drinking tea with a woman he guessed was a little older than him.

  They, in turn, looked equally shocked to see Dan return at speed with a confused young girl sitting in the passenger’s seat.

  Then there were four.

  MORE SHOPPING

  “It seems some introductions are in order,” said the woman as she stood and smoothed her clothes.

  “I’m Penny. Pleased to meet you, Daniel.”

  Dan shook the offered hand, dumbstruck.

  “And who is this young lady?” she asked, bending down to Leah with a smile.

  “I’m Leah,” she replied, returning the smile.

  “How did you…” Dan said.

  “Oh, I was just wandering around until I scared Neil here half to death!”

  Neil stood there smiling and offered a guilty shrug.

  Dan recovered slightly and turned to Leah. “Looks like you won’t have that caravan all to yourself after all.”

  “I don’t mind,” Leah said, still smiling.

  Dan shook himself out of the shock of suddenly having two more mouths to feed, and a woman and child to protect at that. “Right then, ladies, I think we need to take you both shopping. You’ll both need new clothes and sleeping bags.”

  Neil offered to stay and cook dinner while they went. All agreed, and Dan started to clear out the scavenged stuff from his Defender. Neil bagged a speed jack and Dan told him that where he’d been would definitely need clearing out to equip the garage he’d have when they got permanently settled.

  Dan drove them to the camping shop where he and Neil had spent a night and started collecting more wind-up lamps and other tools while Penny breezed through the shop selecting items for her and Leah. After ten minutes, they both had a few sets of clothes packed into their new backpacks and a pair of walking boots. Dan suggested they get a good, warm waterproof each, which they did. They took an armful of sleeping bags to boot, which seemed sensible because of the rate they were gathering survivors, and loaded the Land Rover.

  Penny saw another shop and asked Dan very formally if he would kindly open the doors for them and give them both a minute. The large pry bar got the sliding doors to a small Primark open quickly, and he asked them to stay outside just while he checked it was OK; he didn’t want either of them to trip over a body. He couldn’t smell anything as he walked through the shop, gun in hand. He grabbed a few packs of boxer shorts and socks for him and Neil and returned outside.

  “I’ll be out here, ladies. Take as long as you need,” he said.

  They went inside. They clearly needed underwear too, but they weren’t exactly well acquainted enough to discuss it openly yet.

  Dan lit up and kept an eye up and down the high street. He was finishing his second smoke by the time they reappeared, bags in hand and carrying some pillows.

  “I took the liberty of getting a pillow each for you two,” said Penny.

  “Thank you,” he replied. “Do you need to go anywhere else?”

  They didn’t. By the time they got back to camp, Neil had set up more camping chairs and erected a gazebo over the cooking area. Very cosy.

  They sat around, waiting for whatever Neil was cooking to be ready, and discussed the plans for the next day. Thankfully, Penny seemed to be a natural planner; she suggested that Neil and Dan would go out and “shop” again – she still couldn’t use words like scavenge and survivors – while she and Leah stayed there and started to sort out bringing the food out of Morrisons and loading the lorry.

  They talked about plans and ideas for a while. Leah sat and listened until she stifled the third yawn in a row. Penny packed her off to bed after making her do her teeth with her new toothbrush and went in the female caravan for a while to settle her.

  Penny came back out and sat down with a sigh. By this point, Neil had produced the Scotch and poured two; Penny raised an eyebrow at him until he poured a third.

  “That poor girl. She must be very confused about all this, and we must shelter her from these horrors for as long as possible.”

  “Penny,” said Neil hesitantly, changing the subject. “Have you ever used a gun?”

  Penny chuckled and said that she’d done clay-pigeon shooting before. She then said, “So you may as well leave me one of those shotguns and a box of cartridges when you go tomorrow. I won’
t need it, but it’s probably sensible to leave it here.”

  They agreed and sat in silence for a while before their emerging matriarch dismissed them to bed, as they had an early start.

  BAD PEOPLE

  Kev got up like normal in his clockwork life. His mum wasn’t up already, which was strange. He was used to her waking him up for breakfast before he went to work, but she had gone to bed early and he’d fallen asleep to the sound of her coughing.

  He tried to wake her up, but she was still and cold. He put an extra blanket over her and left her to rest, just like she did when he was poorly.

  He was hungry, but he was going to be late for work if he didn’t go soon. He liked his routine; it gave him purpose, and every day ran like clockwork for him. He got dressed, got his bike from the hallway of their small maisonette, and locked the front door before he cycled off to work.

  He got to the industrial area where the factory was after ten minutes. Kev hadn’t noticed that there was nobody around; his brain didn’t work like that.

  Nobody was at the factory, which wasn’t right. Kev didn’t like it when things weren’t right, and he was scared. Two people walked along the road drinking from glass bottles; they saw him sitting there and started to shout at him.

  People being nasty to Kev was something he was used to, so he did what he always did and turned his face away, screwing his eyes shut to ignore them. They stood in front of where he was sitting and shouted, but he wouldn’t answer them. One of them picked his bike up, and when Kev looked at him with his temper rising, they laughed. They threw his bike over the railings where it landed in the small rubbish-filled brook.