Aggy and the Dinos

Chapter 11

The banks of the winding stream were lined with a stalky, reed-like plant that stood perhaps five feet, and extended about two metres back from the bank. After this the land gave way to coarse, uninviting grass, and after that a dense mist. The three rafts travelled slowly down the middle, for the navigators dare not get too close to land for fear of what fell hands might snatch them. The rowers moved as silently as possible. All aboard were barely breathing.

As they drifted closer to the dock, four figures bearing large guns melted out of the haze and threw forward a rope. The first, a short man with aspiring side burns said:

"You'll have to lose the floats. They don't know we're here yet, but they're pretty good at putting two with two and coming up with four. Everyone off now, quick."

John and Dean once again put Aggy's arms round their shoulders and hoisted her up. The man with the gun made a face and inspected the wound closely for a second.

"Ok, get her inside quickly." He said. The refugees and their new guards made their way quickly from the dock as their old rafts floated off into the mist. 'Hopefully it all stays quiet', said the man. 'If they see those too close to here it might just spell trouble.' He looked at Dean. "They're getting sharper all the time, you know. More canny."

He lead them towards what looked like a solid rock face; marching up to it he rapped on it sharply three times, then five, then one. With amazing speed part of the rock face opened up, and a woman was gesturing them inside. So far, everyone they had seen had a gun. This clan had struck it big indeed. No sooner was everyone inside than the clever camouflage was pulled to behind them, and fastened with large, industrial looking clips. 'Where did you get all your gear from?' John asked, but the man looked at him crossly, and lead them at a swift pace down into what was starting to look like an old bunker.

The place was huge, and well equipped, but none of the newcomers felt safe; there was an aggressive atmosphere, a survivor's atmosphere – the air was tinged with a violence that poured out of the walls, and glinted off the skin of the clan members who watched them as they were lead through the bunker. They were all hard looking, faces worn with sadness and anger, weapons toted on shoulders that had known the true fear of the night for too long. A door was opened, and they were brought through to stand before a man who could only be the leader – he would have been a leader whatever he was doing, be it organising the last resistance, or playing rugby. His leadership was determined by the sheer strength of his huge shoulders and big fighter's hands. He made John look like a schoolboy, and when he looked at them with wise intelligent eyes even Dean had the sense to feel simple.

"Who are you?" He said, although clearly what he meant was 'yuck, why are you here, I need you like I need a mouth ulcer in a chilli eating contest'.

"We need help. Our friend is hurt"

"Gravely," nodded the man. "We have some facilities, we can patch her up. You may stay here until she is fit to travel, but then you must move. We cannot support or protect extra bodies. I must say that your presence here is unwelcome."

"I am sorry to impose on you," said John. "My name is John I am responsible for the lives of these people. There were many of us, but we could not stay where we were. Some went inland, we were forced to come by the river"

"We'll it's a shame to meet you this way, John. My name is Adam Hasani. I am also responsible for a lot of lives."

Some men with an improvised stretcher had come for Aggy. She was borne out of the room, barely conscious, with Geezer trotting along behind.

"Rafts like yours are not improvised vehicles. You meant to come this way."

"Yes, we meant to leave and escape down the river. And yes, I had hopes of finding you. But we did not mean to arrive in such a mess, without food or weapons to offer. We were attacked, last night. All those who did not make it onto a raft are now dead, and we did not have time to load the rafts with food."