Why Not Murder

49. Ambush

49. Ambush

"It's a disgrace, what this says about our national character," the Prime Minister had said and national polls soared in his favour. The police were recruiting new individuals daily to serve on the force in active duty, likewise the military. Training was greatly shortened and eased. This way the authorities were planning to augment their fighting capacity. Salaries for the recruits started immediately after taking the oath of allegiance and they were sent out to quell the protesters. However, it soon became obvious that many did not take the oath of allegiance in the way the authorities presumed. There were many instances of the police and military fighting against their own ranks. The guaranteed annual income was raised immediately and inflation rose so that the net effect was the poor were actually poorer. While the police and military fought ceaselessly to return the cities to safety, it was like putting out a wild fire that continues to grow in spite of all measures. The internet was cut off, electrical power blacked out, and grocery stores suffered lack of stock. The ensuing frustration drove more and more people out to loot and rampage. The slogan, 'eventually the fire will die out', became the dominating words of wisdom.

It was a beautiful hot day and the Laymuir residents were having a picnic outside. So far they felt unaffected by the anarchy. Maya and Dog were also with them. There was nothing Dog could do about their computer system until the internet was restored because there was nothing to connect to. He began to set up an off-grid power supply as he had done at Maya's cabin, capturing and utilizing the intrinsic power present in the air. Meanwhile Cook was baking and cooking using a wood-burning stove and oven. They had plenty of candles and the days were long. Water was drawn from an old well and boiled for extra precaution. They all agreed the food tasted better, especially the bread. It was early days yet and they all wondered what the future would become.

"I think it will all be over soon," Winnie said, "Boredom seems to be driving it more than anything."

"More purchasing power will at least get them shopping," Harriet said, "a great many people have been so brainwashed that everything comes down to acquiring stuff."

Day and Night began barking so furiously that they all stood up in alarm. About eight people came over the fence, all carrying club-like weapons and torches, yelling and chanting what sounded like a war-cry. Conrad, Jim, Dog, Maya and Harriet grabbed what they could use as weapons from the gardening tools that lay near them. The others hurried inside. As the invaders approached they swept their torches along the ground igniting the grass. There had not been any rain for a while and the foliage was dry, quickly catching fire. Day and Night were biting at the invaders, impeding their progress. The torches were thrown at the house and bushes growing at the base of the walls went up in flames. Cook and Winnie rushed out bringing containers of water to drench the fires. Maya, Harriet and the three men were able to keep the invaders back. During the time she was inside, Winnie turned on her twenty drone bees by twisting on the heads. They had all been preprogrammed to attack and who to protect. The combined efforts of the household put the invaders in retreat. One of them stumbled and her leg was bleeding from a dog bite. Another invader supported her as they fled, the dogs snapping at and ripping their clothes. Another invader after being repeatedly stung by the bees, passed out and was left behind by his comrades. As Conrad and Jim moved him into the shade where he would return to consciousness, Jim recognized him and told the other household members that this was the driver who had lost his shoe in the yard the night of the party and who had later come back in the night to get it.

Winnie, Hilda and Gwen sat by the unconscious man waiting. The others were busy making sure that all the fires were thoroughly out. Maya was at the old well drawing bucket after bucket of water which was dumped on anything warm and dry. They assumed the fire was burning along roots because now and then a bush would catch fire from below. Fortunately there was no wind. Water coming through the public water system had been reduced to a trickle when the power out started. There were a number of forest fires spreading outwards from the cities as were the protesters.