Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel(36)

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Think I’d prefer to hear something else as a reason.”

Carl shrugged. “Terrorists, laboratory accident, evil corporations, Mother Nature fighting back. Meteor. God punishing us.”

“Are those all film plots or something?” asked Pauline.

“Maybe,” said Carl. “My point is that something this big doesn’t just happen. It’s an insane scenario, which means it make senses that there’s an insane cause for it all.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Nick. “But I’d rather keep my feet on the ground and my mind focused for now.”

“I know what you mean,” Carl nodded sagely. Then he looked at Pauline. “You fancy helping me get the grills on, darlin’? I think everyone could do with some grub. The power’s on so there should be no reason we can’t get some chow on the go.”

Pauline shot up from her seat. “Sounds good to me. I’m bleedin’ starving.”

Nick laughed and watched them wander off to the kitchens. Then his smile faded as he remembered all of the reasons not to be happy.

How can I even manage to smile with what’s happened? I should be ashamed of myself. My son died only hours ago.

The staff door flew open with what sounded like a kick and Dave re-entered the restaurant. He was shaking his head and seemed pretty pissed off.

“What is it?” Nick asked him.

“The phones are completely dead. There’s not even a dial tone.”

Nick sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “I’m beginning to think no help’s coming.”

“Nonsense! The police must be dealing with this. Probably the army, too. They’ll come eventually.”


Nick considered it. It was a possibility, but really they had no way of knowing. “Maybe they will come, but what do you plan on doing in the meantime?”

“We can stay here, keep trying the phones.”

“Alright. Then we should get that broken window covered up or we’re all going to freeze tonight.”

Dave nodded. His jowls wobbled as he did so. “Good idea. Please get right on that.” Then he turned around on his heel and marched away.

Nick snapped off a petulant salute. “Right, away, sir.” Then he got up and headed through the ‘STAFF ONLY’ door to begin his search for materials.

The tiled hallway inside smelt faintly of lemony bleach. The chemical odour tickled his sinuses. On his right was an open door leading to a small staffroom and sofa. Straight ahead was a door marked ‘MANAGER’S OFFICE’. Nick entered the room and looked around the interior. An old computer perched on a desk and a heavy safe lay underneath it on the worn blue carpet. Beside the computer’s monitor was a telephone. Nick picked it up and held it to his ear. Like Dave had said, the line was completely dead. He didn’t know why he had even felt the need to double-check, but it was nice to know that the man hadn’t been lying about it.

I don’t trust that guy. He’s got an ego the size of the bus he was driving.

Nick looked around himself for something useful to block up the restaurant’s window with and was glad when he was able to find something right away.

On the wall was a large corkboard, more than big enough to cover the broken window. He pulled at it and it came away from the plasterboard easily; it was only held in place by a couple of loose nails.

He walked sideways with the corkboard, down the corridor, and took it back out onto the restaurant floor. Two minutes later, with the help of Jan and Renee, Nick had gotten it positioned over the broken window and held in place by a couple of stacked tables shoved up against it.

“That should keep the wind out,” said Jan.

“Hopefully,” Nick said. “Isn’t the wind that worries me, though.”

Jan patted him on the back with a meaty slap. “Long as we lay low, I can’t see any danger.”

“Long as nobody makes the mistake of sneezing or coughing, else you and Dave will probably smash their skull in.”

Jan glared at Nick. He suddenly felt threatened by the larger man.

“Listen, brother,” said Jan. “I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a killer. That lady was already dead. She’s probably wandering around those woods right now, out of her mind. There was nothing any of us could do for her. Dave was trying to do her a favour.”

“Funny, because it seemed to me like she was begging for her life.”

Jan shoved Nick aside. “You seem to be forgetting that in the end I came around to your way of thinking. Maybe next time I’ll just go with my gut, whether you like it or not.”

Jan walked away and Nick sighed. It was true Jan had not been the one who had tried to kill Kathryn, but he was the one who had suggested it. The man was a criminal when all was said and done.

None of us should forget that. We don’t know how dangerous these prisoners are. They were locked up like animals before any of this started.

One thing was for sure, Nick’s main concern was not about the wind getting in.

***

It turned out that Carl and Pauline were able to rustle up quite the feast. A large freezer in the kitchen contained burger patties, hot dogs, mini-pizzas, and bags and bags of frying chips. With a little bit of fiddling they had managed to switch on the fat fryers and griddles, and within one hour everyone was sitting in the restaurant eating more than they needed.