Chapter 9
The next day was eerily silent. Sigrid had gone mysteriously dark. A snake hiding in the grass. Waiting. Waiting.
A small group had gathered in the rec room to try to find a distraction. Peter was shuffling cards. Loudly.
“Either deal them and play or put them down," snapped Jody.
“Anyone fancy a game of Black Maria?” Silence. “Fine. Another game of Solitaire then.” He lowered his voice to a faint grumble. “Here’s Peter at the table, playing a game with all his friends.”
Sam snorted. He dug his heels into the coffee table where they were propped up. He was fidgeting with a Rubik’s Cube. Jody flipped to another page in a yellowed copy of ‘Mates Magazine.’ Teenagers from the 1970s were grinning up at her in direct opposition to the title of the article, I Nearly Drove My Fella To His Death!
Five paced.
The rasp of the Rubik’s Cube.
The flipping of the cards.
The crinkle of the magazine pages.
The silence was too loud.
Five was about to storm out of the room when Janine stormed in instead.
“We have a message.”
All noises stopped.
“It’s Kefilwe." Janine continued. "She is on her way. She left through the Smuggler’s Chute.” Janine rolled her eyes, still annoyed with Amelia.
“Steve.” Five gasped.
“Yes. He’s…there weren’t many details but…” Janine gathered herself. “Look, I wasn’t always Mr. Sissay’s biggest fan. But there is no doubt he has been an invaluable asset to this team.”
“Invaluable asset?” Five blurted. “He saved my life. I owe him everything.”
“Yes, Runner Five. So we’re going to help him. You’ll go with Dr. Lobatse. I need you ready to run and in the lobby as quickly as you can. Mr. Yao, go get comms ready.”
Five didn’t say anything to anyone.
She just took off to get her running kit.
She didn't even look back at Sam.
She was in the lobby within minutes. Kefilwe had just arrived. She was out of breath and in a panic. Peter and Janine were trying to calm her. It was unsettling. Dr. Lobatse rarely let her emotions take over.
This had to be very bad.
Sam rounded the corner.
“Comms are ready.”
Five wanted to look at him, give him a reassuring smile, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Kefilwe.
“I would not have come to you if I had any other choice.” She finally managed to say.
“We understand, Doctor Lobatse.” Peter gave her a reassuring smile. “We’re all having to make hard choices, now. I, for example, am apparently now the guardian of Runner Seven’s dog, Bonnie. She’s a good dog, apart from the constant mournful howling for her departed master, which I could do without.” Janine elbowed him in the ribs.
“What have I done? There’s no going back to Abel now. Sigrid was letting me treat people again. I’ve left my patients. I’ve left my friends. It’s so stupid.”
“It’s not stupid, Doctor.” Janine said, gently. “We all risk a lot for those we care about.”
“He’s just a friend.” Kefilwe insisted.
“It’s not a coincidence, is it?" Sam sighed. "That’s she’s done this now? She knows everything.”
“She knows I’m alive.” Janine crossed her arms, closing herself off from everyone. “We ditched the plane at sea so she won’t be able to track us, but she wants me. Even if she doesn’t know the extent of what we found in Finland, she wants to find me. Us.”
“Yeah. I could hear it in her voice.” Sam said, quietly. “She’s one of those people who goes stone cold when she’s angry. I had a teacher like that at school. The nicest he ever was was just before he was going to explode. Bloody terrifying.”
“This gambit is an attempt to draw me out.” Janine said.
“So what kind of trouble is Steve in, exactly?” asked Peter.
“Ian has him.” Kefilwe answered. Even without details, everyone knew this was bad. “He has him…they are out in a field only a few miles from here. There used to be office buildings there. He’s in a courtyard. He has Steven…chained up. Tied to his chariot. Dragging him behind.”
Five froze.
She was chained to the back of Van Ark’s jeep.
He was revving the engine and grinning wickedly. “We’re just going for a little drive. Me in the Jeep. You - well, You’re a runner, aren’t you? Then run.”
He would drive slowly and then speed up to where it was nearly impossible to stay on her feet. She ducked under low branches, leapt over crawlers, waded through pricker bushes. All the while listening to him go on and on, teasing her, playing with her.
Five rocked back and forth on her heels. She didn’t want to talk anymore. She wanted to save Steve.
“We’re sure he’s really doing it?” Sam asked carefully. “It’s not just a trick to get us to come running?”
“Oh yes.” Kefilwe nodded. “The Minister has finished with Steven now. She threw him to Ian and said he could do what he likes with him.”
“And he’s decided that what he likes is to announce to Abel that he’s going to drag Steve around a ruined city off the back of a motorized chariot until he dies of bleeding and wounds?” Peter asked.
“A Van Ark favorite.” Five grumbled. Sam rubbed her arm. He was remembering, too.
“Dr. Lobatse, Five - here are your headsets. Sam and I will be on comms. Get on the elevator and go.”
Sam gave Five’s headset a few minor adjustments.
“Be safe.” He whispered.
“I promise.” Five finally really looked at him. He looked worried. She smiled and said it again, more forcefully. “I promise.”
“I know how much you…I know you care about him. But don’t do anything stupid.” Five chuckled.
“I’ll come back to you. I will.”
“You better. I - “ But they had spoken for too long. Janine cleared her throat impatiently and the elevator’s loud *ding* announced that time for goodbyes was over.
Without any further words, Five and Kefilwe got on the elevator. As it made the slow grind up to the surface, Sam and Janine made their way to comms.
The next *ding* might as well have been the starting pistol of a race.
“I’ve got you on cams, Five. You and Bots are heading west. Go! Go, now!” And with each runner thinking only about Steve, they bolted.
There was nothing on comms except the faint clicking of a keyboard for the first several minutes. Then Five heard a sharp intake of breath.
“Oh God, I’ve got him on long range cams. Well, you can’t see him yet, but he’s bloody doing it! He’s got Steve attached to the back of this motorized golf cart, and he’s dragging him across the rubble. Sometimes he can run, and sometimes he just gets… just gets dragged.” Sam’s voice was strained. “This…oh, God. This is…I have definitely seen this before. I …oh.”
“This is a trap. Sigrid wants us to show ourselves.” Janine sighed.
“All you have to do is guide me, Sam. And Runner Five, I could use your help. If you can’t help, I will try anyway, even if I die in the attempt.”
“Un, that’s so romantic.” Five could hear the smile in Sam’s voice. Always able to find something pure and hopeful in any situation.
“I’m just being a good doctor, Sam.”
“Right.” Five snorted.
“Yes, obviously.” Sam chucked. “I keep on forgetting that you guys aren’t Indiana Jones and Marion. Stupid of me. Good doctor, yes. We are going to help, Bots. We’re trying to work out how not to get captured and die. All right. Uh, Five and Kefilwe, head toward that big collapsed skyscraper next to the river. Uh, you’ve got Steve’s bombs, haven’t you, Bots?”
“I do.”
“Okay. Five. Take the bombs and plant half of them at the base of that multi-story car park. Go!”
Kefilwe and Five took off..
“He definitely taught me how to set these up.” Five was starting to sweat. “I just have to remember…” she tapped her forehead, willing his lessons to come forward. “I think…” If my hands would stop shaking it would be so much easier. “There. I think…I’ve got it. All set, Sam.”
There was a click.
Comms were interrupted.
Ian’s laughter came through loud and clear.
“How do you like it, Steve? How do you like the ride?”
We’re going for a little drive. Five tried to shake Van Ark’s cold, cruel voice from her head.
“It’s fine.” Steve coughed.
You know, I rather admire the physiques of you runners. Look at you - healthy, strong. You could probably run for hours without stopping.
The small engine of Ian’s ridiculous cart revved sadly.
“How about now?” It was clear Ian was pushing the cart as fast as it could go. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
“That’s gross.” Sam whispered. “I can’t - Janine, can we turn the sound - yeah. For a minute. Thanks.” Five heard Sam take a few deep breaths.
Sam could only watch on the cameras as Van Ark pulled Five behind his Jeep. He felt helpless, powerless. He whispered directions for Five into the mic, knowing full well Van Ark had snapped her headset. He knew she was going to die. He just knew it. He was going to watch as this monster dragged her to her death.
“Sam? You okay?”
“I’m fine, Five.” He coughed. “Listen, that car park is going to collapse in Ian’s path. You need to keep heading west to be safe. Run. Go!”
Kefilwe and Five sprinted behind a small stone wall when the bombs went off. Five covered her head as small pieces of car park flew at her. Dust coated her throat, irritated her eyes. Her ears were ringing. She had to concentrate to make Sam’s voice come into focus.
“...cars are falling out of the car park…wish I had a camera. That would …YouTube… hell… cars were full of zombies because of course they were, so now they’re mangled zombie car crash victims still wanting tasty human flesh. They’re heading for Steve. He’s left a trail of blood for them.”
“Brake! Brake! Where’s the brake!” Ian’s voice echoed throughout the courtyard. Five noticed Kefilwe’s hands on her shoulder.
“What’s-?”
“You caught a little piece of the shrapnel. Looks like a minor scratch, but watch the blood. You could attract zombies, too.”
Five nodded a silent thank you.
“Looks like Ian’s found the brake, and Steve’s managed to get up again! He really is quite resilient. I mean - “ Sam’s voice momentarily took on a deeper tone, one she had heard many times over the years. Usually shortly before they ended up in bed. Five let out a small huff of laughter which drew a confused look from Kefilwe. Sam cleared his throat and focused. “Bots, Five, this is your chance. Run. Untie Steve and get him out of there.”
Five and Kefilwe ran low, crouched behind the stone wall. As they approached, they could hear Ian desperately trying to get his cart moving again. They stopped when they were close enough to see the bruising covering Steve’s legs and arms. The blood that was pouring from his wrists. The gash on his head.
“Get out of here! Come on. Start for Ian! Come on!”
“The zombies are coming for us.” Steve’s voice still sounded so cool, collected. Five felt her own flutter of admiration in her chest. “I knew I wouldn’t survive this apocalypse. I never thought I’d get to take a sadistic piece of crap like you with me though, darling. Hey! Dead things. You can smell my blood, can’t you?” He started calling the zombies, who collectively started to speed up. Five froze.
“Sam. Sam! What do-” Five started but Kefilwe was done waiting for directions.
“Psst…Steven!” His head turned toward her.
“Kefi? Get out of here! The zombies are coming for us. Get away from me! My blood’s everywhere. They’ll kill you! Kefi, please!” His voice had lost all hint of calmness.
“Ian is occupied with his engine. Crawl over here. I’ll untie you.”
Steve started to crawl toward them. He winced in pain. Five had to look away. How many times had she seen him look beaten and vulnerable? But this time was different. He looked shattered. Kefilwe, however, never took her eyes off of him.
“Can you keep talking? I can’t really see, love. Here are my hands.” He held them out and she grabbed them.
“We’re right here. Right here.” She pulled him in. “Steven. This hand is broken. And your eye. And your face…”
“Ian is obsessed with taking out your eye.” Five added lamely.
“Five! You’re here.” Steve tried to reach a hand for her, forgetting that his wrists were tied together. “Ian’s really worked me over. He’s got an amateur's enthusiasm. Five, can you untie these knots?”
Five took his hands in hers. They were red and raw. She remembered how those hands had provided so much comfort when she needed it. Her fingers fumbled at the cords that held his wrists together. There was so much shaking, she couldn’t tell if it was coming from her own hands or his.
“Five.” He whispered. “Take a breath.” She did. The shaking stopped and the cord gave way. He shook out his arms. “Thanks, love.” In the background, they could hear Ian calling for help.
“Abel, I need a rescue team now! Not in 20 minutes. NOW!”
“Steven. Rest on Five’s shoulders. We need to get you out of here.”
“I don’t need to. I-” Steve tried to right himself. He muffled a scream as he nearly collapsed. Five looked at him, eyebrows raised. She put out her arms. “Okay. Yeah. Maybe I do. Thanks, Five, love.” Five put an arm around him as he slumped over on her shoulder.
“Good to see you again.” She joked, quietly, and led him behind Kefilwe, away from Ian. They weren’t getting far - Steve was struggling and, honestly, too large for Five to efficiently assist. They could still hear Ian.
“No, I don’t need a rescue for the prisoner. He’s…wait. Where is he? Where is he?” Ian sounded desperate.
“Five. Take Steven and just keep going.” Kefilwe doubled back and headed toward Ian. Steve moaned in protest and tried to turn but Five pushed him forward. He fell, hard. Five covered him with her own body to keep him from getting up. She put a hand over his mouth. He bit it.
“Ouch! Damn it, Steve.” Five said as quietly as she could. “Stop. You are in no condition to go after her.”
“Doctor Lobatse!” Ian called. “I see you there behind that rock. Stand up. I said, STAND UP.” Ian was losing control. It was nothing Kefilwe hadn’t seen before.
“Oh, Five. She’s standing up. She’s sacrificing herself so you can get Steve away.” Sam whispered.
“Walk over here, Doctor. Right here. Yes…come to Ian.” Five shuddered at Ian’s disgustingly pleased voice.
“I am a doctor, Ian.” Kefilwe said. “You cannot kill me. I am a valuable resource. Sigrid wants me for her elect- AHHHHH!” Her scream made Steve squirm under Five. She pinned him down with both hands.
“No. Steve. Please.” She begged.
“Five. Let me…” Even in his debilitated state he managed to push out from under Five and started crawling toward Dr. Lobatse.
“Fuck.” She grabbed for his legs, but didn’t need to worry. He was injured and exhausted. Pain took over and he put his head down in the dirt. “What’s going on, Sam?”
“Ian’s grabbed her by the hair. He’s dragged her onto his, er, chariot.”
The engine revved.
“Is he - he’s driving off with her isn’t he?” Steve choked back a sob. “Kefilwe! Kefilwe! Please, we have to go after them.” He got to one knee and wobbled. It was unsettling to see him this way. “Come on, Five. Please…I-”
Steve face planted on the ground.
His body went limp.
“Oh God.” Five grabbed his wrist. His pulse was light, but present. “Oh God. Steve.” She flipped him over and looked at his face. Eyes closed. Gashes and blood and bruises and - Five looked away as bile rose to her throat. “I think he’s just fainted.” She finally said to Sam.
“Okay. Okay, just a sec. You can leave Steve on that rock.”
“What?” Five gasped. “Just…leave him on a rock?”
“He’ll be okay, Five. We’ll send a team to get him. We need you to help Kefilwe.”
“Sam, I-”
“I know. I want to help him, too. But what would he want you to do right now?”
“Help Kefi.” Five sighed. She heaved Steven up to the rock and gently placed a kiss on his forehead. “Someone will come for you, love.” She whispered in his ear. “I’m going to go get your number one back.”
She held his hand for just a second longer. This man had helped her through one of the hardest times of her life and she was just…leaving him here. Practically lifeless. Sam's right. This is what he'd want. She tore her eyes from him, forced herself to turn around, and blinked back tears.
"Ok, Sam. Where do I go?"
“It is okay, Five.” Sam reassured her. “Janine’s sending out a rescue team to pick him up. She’s leading another team to take down Ian. She has a plan. Okay?’
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“You have to go. Follow Ian and Kefilwe. Now. Now! Run!” Sam’s urgency sent adrenaline flooding Five’s body. Five started running.
She thought about Ian’s hands on Steve. Lowering a brick on his face.
She thought about his screams as Ian ordered Kefilwe to torture him.
She thought about his hands on her.
Her anger carried her swiftly through the courtyard, dodging trees and small rock walls.
“Runner Five,” Janine broke through her thoughts. “I’m taking direct command of this operation. Keep running. You’re keeping pace with Mr. Golightly.”
“Oh, Runner Five!” Five stumbled in surprise as Ian’s voice blurted over the headset.
“What the fuck is Ian doing on comms?” She spat.
“I’m talking to you through the doctor’s headset. Say hello, Doctor!” Five heard a thump. Kefilwe screamed. “We know you’ve been communicating somehow without us being able to pick it up, but now we have one of your headsets. Kefilwe didn’t think to destroy it like you did when we captured you, Five.” Five rolled her eyes. I didn’t destroy it. Steve took it, you ass. “We’re going to find out all your secrets.”
“I doubt that, Mr. Golightly.” Janine said. “Carry on, Runner Five. Do try to avoid the zombies.”
Five continued running, racing toward revenge.
“All right. All right. I know you’re listening, Ian.” Sam spoke up.
“Not by choice, Sam. Has anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible radio presenter? Blabbering on. We’d never put up with it at Hot Tamale FM.”
“Oh, you worked with those guys? The ‘all boob chat, all the time’ radio station? Ugh. Now I really hate you. Five, quick. Change the channel to the runner number of the New Canton runner who Zoe fancies.” There was a click and Sam was gone.
Five thought hard. She flipped her switch to 9.
“Sam?” Static. And then an unfamiliar voice. Nope. Shit. That was a while ago. Who was that girl with the purple streak? She flipped to channel 16.
“Sam?”
“Yeah, okay. Sorry. I realize there were a few options there. We’ve got 30 seconds before Ian finds us again, so: he’s heading south. There’s a pile of corpses there from a building collapse, and a lot of rubble and loose shale. He won’t be able to use his chariot there. He’ll have to turn around or be on foot. He’s handcuffed the doctor to him, so he’ll be slow. Keep chasing. You’ve nearly got him.”
Five could see him now, turning sharp corners around buildings. Five could feel the rubble building under her feet. She watched Ian turn too sharply. There was a violent crash, glass shattering. She watched Kefilwe’s silhouette tumble from the cart.
“Oh, bugger. That’s torn it.” They heard Ian. He found their channel.
“Five, switch to the channel of the New Canton runner you met in the paper requisition meeting.” Ah, I know this one. She flipped to channel 28. There was a brief moment of static before she heard Sam. “Okay, Five. Janine, Tom, and Jody are leading teams that have you surrounded.”
“Move toward him slowly, Runner Five. If you can disarm him, we can pick him up and take him in.” Five couldn’t see Janine but knew she was close. She felt a lot better as she crept closer and closer. It was probably impossible to actually smell him, but her nose crinkled at the memory. The sweat. The dirt. The rancid stench of an idiot with too much power. She felt her fists tighten by her side. I should just kill him.
She remembered her sidearm. Her fingers twitched. Just do it. He’s an asshole. One quick…
“Huh.” Sam broke her out of her momentary trance. “He’s thrown his headset away. Is he…is he surrendering?”
“I could kill him right now.” Five said, barely audible.
“Stand down, Runner Five. Something’s happening.” Janine said. Ian’s gaze flitted to where Five was standing. His smile widened as he locked eyes with her. Five’s stomach flipped.
“Oh, Runner Five.” He said, with the air of greeting an old friend. "You have bought us quite a bit of time. Get away from me, Lobatse.” He shoved Kefilwe to the ground. She landed with a thud and a moan.
“What’s he doing?” Sam was clearly trying not to panic. “Wait. Those corpses are getting up. Are they zombies?” Five knew he would be standing now, face as close to the monitors as possible.
“Sam.” She said quietly. “Sam…it’s…oh, God. Sam.” Her pulse started to race. This was wrong. Very wrong.
“They’re soldiers.” Janine explained helpfully. “Golightly knew he was coming here. We’ve underestimated him. Mister Yao…” She stopped for a minute. Her voice quieted. Five’s stomach dropped. “How long since you checked the perimeter of Noah Base?”
“Janine, you don’t think….” Five’s blood turned to ice.
“It has taken us an awfully long time to find your secret hideaway, Runner Five.” Ian grinned.
“Sam-” Five couldn’t think. “Sam?!” Silence.
“Thanks to the doctor’s headset, we’ve been able to triangulate the position of your operator.” No. Fuck. Sam. “We don’t have the exact location yet, but we know the general area.”
“Oh, crap.” Sam said, his voice too calm. Five wanted to run. Her whole body was screaming to move, to get back to Noah, to get back to Sam. Her hand closed over the oversized ring on her middle finger. Get back to Sam. “Sigrid’s soldiers…Janine, they’re advancing on Noah Base from three…no, make that all four sides.” He took a breath. “Crap. Baby Sara is with her mums, but the stuff we took from the cave in Finland is here.” Pause. “I…I’m here.”
Five felt the terror overtake her whole body. Think, Five. Think. Damn it. She looked down to see drops of blood falling to her toes and realized she had her hand wrapped so tightly around the ring that it had dug through her skin. She felt nothing.
“Sam.” It was all she could say.
“You were always a target, Mr. Yao. The Minister wants as many immune people as she can get. I would simply have asked you to initiate the self-destruct sequence at Noah Base but what we have there is too valuable to destroy.”
“You mean Sam, right? Sam is too valuable to destroy?” Five said, her voice raspy with panic.
“Well, it’s possible I wouldn’t have self-destructed myself anyway.” He let out a whimper that was probably supposed to be laughter. “Okay, I’m going to get captured by Sigrid. Right. Well, that’s not the day I had planned.” He laughed again. Nervous laughter. An old habit of his. “Should I, like, pack a bag?"
“Sam, please. We have to do something. Janine, there has to be a plan.”
“Runner Five,” Janine said, “They want you, too. You have to get away. Take the doctor and run.”
“I have to help Sam.” She wasn’t yelling. She just had to think. They just needed a plan. There had to be a plan.
“What are you going to do?” Sam asked quietly.
“Sam, please be safe.” Five sniffed, the tears falling freely now.
“I need you to do one thing for me Five. Run. Just…run.” Sam was giving orders. Operating up until the last second.