The Dust: Book Two - Pursuit Read online

  ‘Wow boss she looks a beauty.’ Archie Stanton said with glee then wolf whistled. ‘Can I have her boss? Please I asked first.’ Archie licked his lips. ‘She looks a right tasty treat.’

  ‘All in good time Archibald, all in good time. Let’s go and meet her first, introduce ourselves, be civilised.’ He opened the driver’s door of the cab and climbed out.

  Archie pushed past Harry James. ‘Out the way gay boy.’ He sneered

  Harry James was having his fill of Archie, sure they were friends but hanging around with Mr Gold had unearthed a whole new side to him and he didn’t like it.

  ‘Hello my dear.’ Lonny sauntered across the deserted road towards the shop doorway. ‘It’s okay we are here to help you.’ He beamed and held out his two hands.

  ‘What’s she doing boss?’ Archie crept up behind Lonny almost using him as a shield between him and the young girl.

  ‘Shhh boy, you will scare her.’ He stopped walking and Archie nearly bumped into the back of him. ‘What’s your name my pretty?’

  The young girl was trying her best to make herself as small as possible in the darkness of the damp doorway and she looked petrified.

  ‘Harry James.’ Lonny turned around to face his young companion. ‘Get one of the women from the truck.’

  ‘Which one boss?’

  ‘Any fucking one, Jesus do I have to do everything by myself?’ Then he stopped himself. ‘No, you're right to ask, young Harry, bring out one of the older ones, the one with the ginger hair, the pogue.’

  Harry James unbuckled the canvas backing to the truck letting the daylight into the large sitting area. He waited for his eyes to come accustomed to the dark and looked around. There she was sat at the back, ginger hair sitting neatly on her shoulders, her piercing blue eyes cutting through the gloom.

  ‘You.’ He pointed to her. ‘The ginger woman, Lonny wants you.’

  ‘She has a name if you can be bothered to learn it.’ A woman closer to the front mumbled over to Harry James.

  He ignored her. ‘You need to come out, we have found another girl.’

  ‘Tell her she’s better off dead.’ The woman near the front mumbled again. ‘And her name is Iris.’

  The ginger haired woman named Iris stood up and made her way to Harry James, he in turn unfolded the small rusty iron steps that lead down to the road. The other women started to stand.

  ‘No just her.’ Harry shouted. ‘The rest of you stay here, it’s not safe.’

  The women sat back down too tired to argue.

  ‘What’s your name my lovely girl?’ Lonny was still trying to get the girl from the doorway when Harry James returned.

  ‘The ginger woman, boss.’ Harry stood beside Lonny and peered into the doorway at the girl crouched in the corner holding an empty bag of crisps.

  ‘The name is Iris O’Neil.’ She said in a soft southern Irish accent and glared at Harry James who was young enough to be her son. ‘And what do you want?’ She then asked Lonny.

  ‘A girl.’ He pointed. ‘We need to save her, we want her to become one of the family.’

  Iris had already rumbled Lonny Gold’s game and knew he wasn’t travelling across the North of England collecting females just out of the kindness of his heart.

  Iris shook her head but walked up to the doorway regardless, at the moment his truck was the safest place to be. Peering into the doorway she was met by a girl of about fifteen years of age who was shaking with fright. ‘Oh my child, you need to come with us.’ Iris held out her hand.

  The young girl stretched her hand out but seemed reluctant to make contact. Her other hand gripped the crisp bag tightly and she started to whimper.

  ‘What’s your name my sweet?’

  ‘The girl opened her mouth but nothing came out, only a solitary tear fell from her right eye and trickled down her soiled cheek.

  ‘Come on my child, it’s not safe here, you need to come with us.’ Iris moved a little closer.

  The girl spoke softly. ‘Hannah.’

  ‘Your name is Hannah?’ Iris asked.

  The girl nodded and then leapt up and ran to Iris clinging onto her as if she was never going to let her go.

  ‘Oh my.’ Iris hugged her back, the young girl was now sobbing into her shoulder. ‘It’s okay Hannah you are safe now.’ She hated saying it because she wasn’t sure herself how true that actually was. She then turned to walk the young girl back to the truck stroking her cropped brown hair.

  Hannah then dropped the crisp packet she was clutching so tight onto the floor and suddenly she became hysterical, frantically looking for it.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Iris released her arm. ‘What’s wrong Hannah?’

  Hannah was now on her hands and knees scrabbling through the gutter when she came across the old packet of crisps.

  ‘It’s okay Hannah we have food on board you don’t need to hang on to that empty packet.’ Iris went to gently take it off her when the young girl pulled her hand way so she couldn’t touch the bag.

  As she did two objects fell out and onto the floor.

  ‘Oh my God.’ Iris stepped back, she was looking down at two severed fingers, one with a gold ring on it.

  Hannah gathered them up quickly and placed them back into the old greasy crisp bag. ‘They’re my father’s okay?’ She screamed at Iris and started crying. ‘One of those fucking lunatics bit them off and then started to eat him.’ Tears and mucus ran from her face and into her mouth. ‘Now he’s dead and this is all I have, his two bloody fingers and his wedding ring.

  Iris pulled Hannah close to her once more and hugged her. ‘I’m so sorry my child.’ She whispered trying to soothe her. ‘Let’s sit you down and clean you up.’ She then led Hannah back into the partial safety of the old army truck.

  Harry James looked on and wandered back to the cab. He shook his head thinking the girl must have been through some pretty bad times over the last week.

  ‘Fucking hell boss did you see the tits on her?’ Archie was rubbing his hands.

  Lonny smiled. ‘You are one sick puppy Archibald but I do love you.’ He patted the youngster on the back.

  ‘You promised though boss, she is mine isn’t she?’ He fidgeted with his crotch pulling at his denim jeans as excitement was stirring.

  ‘You can have that one my boy, she’s all yours.’ Lonny smiled and walked around the front of the cab to the driver’s door. ‘Consider it an early Christmas present from your Uncle Lonny.’

  ‘Oh Christ I’m going to ruin her.’ Archie was almost dribbling as he climbed into the cab and sat beside Harry James. He looked at his friend. ‘She is all mine every inch of her, my property so hands off gay boy okay?’

  Harry James just nodded, he was starting to feel very uneasy about the whole situation he had found himself in.

  ***

  ‘Shall we knock the door?’ Jake asked and looked at Roger. ‘I’m still not used to just breaking into people’s houses and taking what we want.’

  ‘For fuck’s sake do you two need a meeting and a discussion for every little thing we do?’ Angel pushed between them and banged hard on the big oak door.

  ‘Angel stop swearing, it’s naughty.’ Lou Pepper tapped the side of Angel’s leg unhappy with her behaviour.

  ‘Sorry honey.’ She apologised patting Lou on the head. Lou in turn tried to push her hands off and was fed up of telling everyone she wasn’t a dog.

  ‘I can hear footsteps.’ Roger leant closely towards the door.

  All four stood in silence and the metal locks clunked from the inside and the door slowly opened.

  A woman’s face appeared, a ruddy complexion as if she had led an outdoor life but her makeup was immaculate and subtle. Her brown hair was tied back and she must have been in her mid-forties.

  ‘Can I help you?’ She enquired.

  ‘We were wondering if you had any diesel we could have off you, for our truck?’ Roger was the first to speak.

  The woman looked over his shoulder at th
e dusty truck and then back at the gang of four. ‘You will have to ask my brother, this is his place.’ With that she pushed the door to and disappeared.

  Jake turned around to Angel. ‘She could have invited us in.’

  ‘She obviously doesn’t like the look of you.’ She smiled.

  Jake looked into Angel’s eyes, when she smiled her whole face lit up and came to life and wished she would do it a bit more.

  ‘I can hear footsteps again.’ It was Roger that broke their little moment.

  ‘Can we have some cake if they have any?’ Lou asked Angel.

  Angel put her finger over her lips as to quieten Lou. ‘Later.’ She whispered.

  ‘Yes what seems to be the problem?’ It was Charles Rossiter who stood at the door with a towel in his hands, it looked as though he had just had a wash.

  ‘Diesel.’ Jake said trying to keep it short and sweet. ‘Do you have any we could maybe, borrow?’

  Rossiter’s eyebrows narrowed. ‘Do I look like a petrol station?’

  With that Angel turned and started to walk off with Lou Pepper. She hated the silver spoon wealthy and she certainly hated upper class twats who looked down their noses at the hard working common people.

  ‘Where you going?’ Jake walked after her.

  ‘I’m not being spoken too like that. Who the fuck does he think he his?’ Angel stopped and turned to Jake.

  ‘Angel!’ Lou shouted and tapped her leg again.

  ‘Let Roger talk to him, you know what they are like, people like him. They are short on time.’

  ‘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.’
r />   ‘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.