Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) (29 page)

If I could successfully bring back vaccines for those I loved, I could then take off to the observatory. If I didn't make it back from my robbery attempt, then Dan could step into my shoes.

It wasn’t going to be easy to steal away without being observed.

Every second, every movement I made while I helped Mum tidy the area, I sensed Alex keeping tabs on me from where he sat inspecting his rifle.

He knew I was up to something. Had he heard my thoughts? I hoped not, I’d concentrated on walling off my mind while I worked over various scenarios.

But his constant surveillance wasn’t uncomfortable, it didn’t make me feel on edge. Rather I felt protected.

Warder.
How far would he go to keep me safe?

Garroway marched up and cleared his throat. “Rack time people. We need to preserve our oil lamps for emergencies, so I suggest we get some sleep.”

He then strode about issuing orders for the area to be cleared and tidied away. We leapt into action.

“I’m going to sleep in the pit again,” said Mum, appearing at my side and smiling.

“Okay, Mum. I’m not certain if I want to go back down there. I think I’ll stay up here for a while longer. Take Bartholomew with you, will you?”
I still haven’t decided what to do. Come on Tara, think.

“Of course, love.” Mum picked up the cat and kissed my cheek. “Make sure you get some sleep. Don’t stay up too late talking.”

“I will.” My chest constricted painfully as Mum walked over and gave Dan a kiss before she and Mrs Tolini crossed to the ladder. Yawning widely and lugging a blanket under her arm, Em followed. She gave a cheery wave and disappeared over the side.

After spearing me with a cold glare, Garroway stalked off as well.

Sitting on an upended esky in a patch of moonlight afforded by the large skylight, Dan was playing cards with Nic and Shay.

Luis was a hunched shadow propped against the wall. He’d been a mainly silent spectator throughout the day, keeping his opinions to himself.

I was glad. The less I had to do with that slime-ball, the better.

Several more shots rang out followed by the rapid fire of automatic weapons. Everyone stopped what we were doing and froze.

It had sounded too close for comfort.

Alex, Garroway and Nic bounded forward.

“What’s going on?” cried Em, popping her head up over the side of the pit.

“Quiet. Shay, check it out,” ordered Garroway.

No one spoke.

The minutes ticked by like the countdown to a detonation.

Shay re-appeared and addressed Alex and Garroway, “I got a good look out the back window. It’s not good. We’ve got some infected out there attacking anything that moves.”

“And the automatic weapons?” asked Alex.

Shay shook his head. “Yeah, you got it. The Mundos Novus Force is out front. I saw two armoured vehicles and a company of men.”

Something rammed against the front door. The building shook under the force.

Shay unclipped his holster. “I’d say we’re surrounded.”

Chapter 18 – VACCINES

Alex

“We need to get out of here,” I said, crossing to Tara’s side and taking her hand. Her cold fingers trembled in my light clasp, making me want to hug her tight and tell her everything was going to be all right.

But I’d never been good at lying.

“What is it? What’s happening?” Mrs Ferguson climbed up from the pit, a leather jacket in her hand which she handed to Tara.

Within seconds everyone had gathered round the oil lamp where my father took centre stage. I noticed how Marnie hung back in the shadows, her hand on the dog’s collar and I signalled a warning to Shay,
something’s up with Marnie.

I’ll see what I can find out,
he flashed back.

Tight lipped, my father said, “They know we’re in here.”

“But how?” Tara’s mother sucked in her breath sharply. Her hand clutched her throat. “We’ve been betrayed. Someone amongst us is a traitor.”

Everyone spoke at once with Mrs Tolini yelling in Italian.

Looking from face to face, I knew Mrs Ferguson was right. The MN force had found us too quickly. But who’d betrayed us?

Not my father or Shay.

I considered the newcomers. Marnie, still standing in the shadows. That girl was an enigma, she was so contained I found it difficult to gain a sense of what made her tick. I found it hard to believe it could be Nic or Mrs Tolini. Luis was off, definitely a coward, and the guy was a crim. Emma was staring at Tara’s and my linked hands.

I felt bad about that. I hadn’t encouraged Emma but I knew I hadn’t brushed her off either which I should have instead of using her to get closer to Tara. I also knew I’d do it all over again. I’d do anything to keep Tara safe.

Still, a cool sweat broke out along my spine as I wondered whether Emma had sussed I’d been making out with Tara. Facing a girl’s tears wasn’t something I enjoyed doing.

Emma’s head jerked up. There was a curious lack of expression in her blue eyes. But then she shrugged and smiled.

I relaxed, glad to know she wouldn’t hold it against me or her friend. Obviously, she hadn’t been as keen on me as I’d thought.

Bloody hell, who could it be?

Another thud on the door. How long before it shattered beneath the onslaught?

I held up my free hand and the others stopped arguing.

“We’ll worry about who’s been feeding info later. For now we need to put some distance between us and those soldiers. I propose a diversion. I’ll go out through the roof in the bathroom. I’ll use a grenade to blow up one of their vehicles. At that same moment, you lot drive out of here.”

“Not a bad plan,” said my father in a grudging tone.

“Wait,” cried Tara. “If we go out there, some of us might get infected too.”

Nic growled, “Too right, but staying in here is akin to suicide.”

“It’s our only option.” I looked around the group of people. “We take only what is necessary. Emergency rations, water and ammunition. Shay, you take my car with Tara, Daniel, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Tolini. Nic you’re in charge of the ute. We’ll need to put the majority of our supplies in the tray.”

“Gotcha.” Nic did a mock salute and swung away with Marnie followed him to the pile of boxes and eskies.

“Just a minute...” Dad began.

But I over-rode him, saying loudly, “Shay, you’re responsible for Tara’s safety until we meet up. We’ll work out a rendezvous point. If I’m not there in two hours, don’t wait. Get them out of this town.” If I didn’t make it, I knew Shay would take her on as his new mark, regardless of his connection with Marnie.

Face red, my father strode forward and grabbed me by the upper arm. Pushing his face right up in my personal space, he growled, “I don’t share command boy.”

“Sorry, Sir, but we don’t have time for a pissing contest.” Heart thumping, I stared back, dead-pan, knowing I was right.

We had to move.

Now.

“We’ll discuss this later.” My father turned around and began giving directions.

Everyone leapt into action.

I released my pent-up breath at the very moment, Tara darted in front of me.

“I’m going with you,” she whispered.

“No, way.”

“I feel safer with you. Plus, if it’s me they’re more interested in, the others will have a better chance of getting away.”

“You know they must never capture you.”

“You’ll keep me safe. I trust you.” She gazed into my face and I thought my heart would explode in my chest, so painfully did it swell.

I traced the line of her lips with a shaking finger. “Damnit, Tara.”

She kissed my fingertip before saying, “We need to get our hands on some vaccines.”

“No way,” I said in a strangled voice. “We have to get you to a safe place so we can make contact.”

Her gaze locked onto mine and she placed her free hand on my cheek. The grim acceptance I read in her brown eyes sent a fresh shaft of heartache piercing through my body.

I knew then there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her.

“I don’t believe there is a safe place. And if I don’t make it, Dan will step into my shoes. I’m positive I saw boxes marked with a red cross at the camp. These guys would never leave something so valuable behind. They’d have it with them wherever their new base camp is located.”

She took a deep breath. “Alex, there’s more.”

And I braced myself.

She linked with me and allowing me access to her thoughts.

I stiffened, my blood turning to ice. That explained how Marnie had kept herself apart from everyone the past few hours. “Bloody hell!”

“I think Marnie’s infected.” Obviously needing to spell it out anyway, she ran through everything her friend had told her thirty minutes ago and her belief the soldiers would have more than vaccines with them.

I let her rattle on while I thought. When she stopped, I ran a hand through my hair. My lips flattened. “Your safety is paramount.”

“He’s right and our orders are clear. You must complete your mission,” said my father, appearing beside us.

How much had he heard? I knew my father. If he believed someone would jeopardise the mission, he’d have no hesitation in pulling the trigger and putting a bullet in their brain.

If it came down to it, should I stop him?

Could I stop him?

I didn’t know but I prayed I’d never be put to the test.

***

Tara

Garroway pulled Alex away from me, saying “I’ve decided on the rendeavous point.”

My hands curled involuntarily into fists while Alex and his father huddled over a map and muttered together. I thought of Marnie, the vaccines. What was I going to do?

Marnie’s life, my mother’s, all these people here…I couldn’t allow them to die so horribly. And what about Alex? What if he needed the antidote?

There, decision made. I had to take the risk.

But would Alex help me? It was obvious a little subterfuge would be needed if I intended to escape from Garroway and his eagle eyes.

I hurried off to help toss supplies into the trunk of the car then scooped Bartholomew off the ground. After giving him a big hug, I handed him to Mum.

“Tara,” Mum hesitated before continuing. “You’re going after the vaccines.”

No flies on my mum.
“I have to Mum. I’ve got a good reason.”

She juggled the cat in her arms, then gently pushed aside hair from my eyes. “I know.”

Our gazes met and I knew she’d sussed something was up with Marnie.

“Be safe,” choked out Mum.

“I’ll try.” The tightness in my chest was like a band of steel so hard did it press into me. I blinked away tears.

The garage door splintered.

“Quick!” bellowed Garroway, grabbing me by the upper arm and hustling me toward the ute, He picked up his rifle off a crate as he passed. “Everyone into the cars. Alex. Do what you have to do.”

Heart hammering, I shot frantic glances around at my friends and family.

Things were happening too fast.

How was I going to get away?

Another horrendous smash. The front bay doors buckled under the onslaught. I spun around and saw Alex running for the bathroom, his boots slapping hard against the concrete.

He flashed,
Be careful. I’ll catch up with you. Try the courthouse.

A little of my anxiety eased. Not only did he have my back, the sweet guy was going to help.

Then Garroway practically threw me into the front passenger seat and slammed the door on me before taking shot-gun position in the back of the ute. Mum with the cat squirming inside the towel she’d wrapped him in, Dan and Mrs Tolini crammed into the back.

I wrestled into my jacket and did up the zip with a snap.

“Seat belts on,” ordered Shay in a quiet undertone.

Clicks resounded as we obeyed.

Then in silence we sat waiting.

Our eyes were glued to the garage door.

Slits of bright light glared through the cracks in the heavy timber planks. It was down to seconds.

Would Alex make it in time to set off the grenade before the door collapsed?

Another thud resounded through the workshop.

The walls creaked and shook.

In the backseat, someone pumped a shotgun readying it for firing. I swivelled around. My mother had wound down the side window and now rested the gun on the pane, her finger steady on the trigger. Dan, clutching the cat, gazed at me sadly.

“Mum?” I said, gaping at her.

“Get ready, Tara,” Mum said calmly and I knew she wasn’t talking about our forthcoming escape attempt from the garage. She intended to give me the chance I needed.

Another slam against the door.

Wood fragmented and a hole appeared.

Garroway doused the oil lamps leaving the only source of light coming from outside. The soldiers must have several spotlights aimed at the building judging by the glare flooding inside.

In the distance a massive explosion rent the air.

Alex.

Shouts erupted from the soldiers. Engines rumbled into life.

“Here we go, people,” said Shay as he turned the ignition and rammed his foot down on the accelerator.

The car leapt forward.

We smashed through the already weakened garage door and roared across the carpark scattering soldiers in all directions as they leapt out of the way.

From the backseat, my mother let loose with a volley of shots. The car cleared the spread of jeeps and Shay spun the wheel, turning left onto Wattletree Drive. Bullets pinged into the rear. Mrs Tolini produced a hand gun and, cursing in Italian, fired back through her open window at the soldier-filled jeeps chasing them.

My gaze fixed on the road ahead; waiting. Stealthily, I released my seat belt, shrugging it off my shoulders.
Wait for it.
As the car sped toward the T-intersection ahead I reached for the door handle.

This was my only chance.

As I’d hoped, Shay braked for the sharp corner.

The car slowed its rush.

Turned.

I opened the door. “Don’t follow me.”

Shay sent a startled glance in my direction. Flung out a hand.

My mother leaned forward and pressed her rifle muzzle against Shay’s head. “Let her go.”

I leapt out.