Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel(89)

Mike answered this one. “Before Lily made an appearance they were rooting through the warehouse next to the office building. Alan told me they found a bunch of fireworks in there!”

“Don’t think there’s going to be much chance for a display,” said Nick.

“No,” Mike agreed. “But they would be a perfect way to signal help if it ever arrives.”

Nick didn’t think it was a possibility, but he could see the reasoning. “Anything else in there?”

“Yeah, some gardening equipment; shovels and stuff. Alan suggested digging some pits around the edge of the park. Like booby traps, you know?”

Nick nodded. “I like that idea. Over time we could probably dig quite a few.”

“So what are you going to do for the rest of the day?” Annaliese asked.

Nick shrugged his shoulders and then looked up at Lily in the trees. “I guess I’ll fill in where I’m needed. First thing I’m going to do, though, is go and tell Eve about the newest member of our group. She’s been pretty low the last few days – we all have – so maybe it will cheer her up a bit.”

“Okay,” said Annaliese. Then she and Mike waved Nick off as he headed back for the amusement park area and the Big Dog restaurant.

The restaurant was near the centre of the park and was now fronted by a minefield of plates, pans, and cutlery. The theory being that it would create noise if any infected people were to walk across it. The windows had also been boarded up permanently with table tops and chairs. Only a single window was left clear to act as an access in and out.

Our very own Fort Knox.

Heading up the few steps to the building, Nick could already hear the bickering voices of Dave and Shawcross inside. It sounded like they were discussing Jan and Renee, who were still imprisoned in the cellar. Nick had been popping down to see them a couple times a day, bringing them food, beers, and a pack of cards from the gift shop. But their good nature about the situation was beginning to sour and Jan had now expressed a growing desire to be let out. Nick didn’t blame the man at all. It must be mind-numbing having spent so long in that cellar.

“They can help with the jobs around here,” said Dave. “They’re two strong men.”

“They could kill us all in our sleep,” Shawcross rebutted.

“They’re not murders,” said Dave.

“What, because they told you so? You have no way of knowing what they were in prison for. The big one looks like a sodding serial killer.”

Nick hopped in through the window and immediately joined in the conversation. “His name is Jan, and he’s a reformed bank robber. He told me how much he regrets his past and I believe him.”

“Of course, he said that.” Shawcross folded his arms and sighed. “He probably had it rehearsed from all of his failed probation hearings.”

Nick rolled his eyes and decided not to say anything more. There was no point getting caught up in the ceaseless bickering between the two men. Dave probably didn’t even care if Jan and Renee were released or not; he just liked undermining Shawcross at every corner.

Eve and Pauline were sitting at a table nearby, sharing a cup of lemonade between them. Eve rolled her eyes as Nick approached them. “We were supposed to be working out our defences,” she said, “but then they just started arguing.”

“Yeah,” said Pauline. “It’s been about twenty minutes so far.”

“Best to just let them get on with it.” Nick took a seat and started telling them about Lily. It seemed to get a positive reaction, just like he hoped it would.

“So, she’s just sitting there in the trees?” said Eve.

Nick nodded. “Go see for yourself. She seems friendly; even waved to Anna.”

“No shit? Soon as I’m done here, I’m heading straight to the zoo.”

“What’s this supply map, I’ve been hearing about then?” Nick asked.

“Dave’s idea,” replied Pauline. “We’re going to choose a few places around the park and drop off food and weapons, so that if something happens we can resupply. Good idea, I suppose. They’re just trying to work out whether or not to let Jan and Renee out to help. I think Shawcross has taken it far enough now. We should let those poor men out. Cassie told us about what they did to save you in the cable car.”

Nick nodded. “Would be dead if not for them. Hey, come to think of it, where is Cassie?”

The two women shrugged. “I haven’t seen her since this morning when we all woke up,” said Pauline.

“Me either,” said Eve.

Nick had a bad feeling. “I think maybe we should go find her. Nobody should be on their own.”


Both women nodded. Nick could tell they were getting the same bad feeling that he was. All three of them stood up and moved away from the table.

“Hey, you two,” Nick addressed both Shawcross and Dave. “We’re just going to go find Cassie and then we’ll be right back, okay?”

Both men were so busy arguing that they barely seemed to notice. Nick shrugged, and he and the women each crept through the window and passed back outside. They were careful not to step on any plates as they headed into the park.

“You don’t think she’d try to hurt herself do you?” Eve asked.

“I don’t know,” Nick admitted. “But after all that has happened, I wouldn’t blame anybody for wanting to take their own life.”