Highschool of the Dead: Fanfiction Darkpenn

Chapter 16: Tanker

Tanker

The younger generation is, it seems, doing just fine.

Saya Takagi was sitting on the porch of the Maresato farmhouse, at a table. She was supposed to be working on designs for an irrigation system for one of the large farms near Julito but was, instead, watching Hirano, Isamu, Kaito and Miu working in the rice field. Not for the first time, she marvelled at how easily he had fun with them, even while teaching them things they needed to know. She loved her children, but she knew that she lacked Hirano's inherent warmth and empathy. She sighed.

Further away, Hanam and Daiki, two of the children of Rei and Benaro, were working in one of the vegetable gardens, with Sora, from Mulitenko, who was doing her 'away' year at Maresato. Since Rei had stepped down as leader of Kaga Town several months ago, she and Benaro had spent much of their time at Maresato, although for the past few weeks Rei had been in Nagoya, playing a leading role in the campaign to take the city back from the zombies.

She looked around the compound of buildings clustered about the farm. Shizuka was at the little clinic, and Shun was at the school. Sachiko and Mukato were in their workshop in the barn, developing their production line for the manufacture of bullets and shotgun cartridges.

From the top of the hill, there was the sound of a horn. Saya saw a large truck, a petrol tanker, come into view. The driver sounded the horn again.

Saya signalled to Hirano, and he and the three children walked to the end of the driveway, where the tanker was heading.

The big truck wheezed to a halt. From the high cabin, Rei emerged, jumping down and shaking everyone's hands. She was wearing grimy work clothes and a big smile.

"So," she said. "What do you think of my new wheels?"

Hirano laughed. "I didn't know you could drive one of these things," he said. "Looks like you've had a few scrapes." He pointed to the front of the truck, where there was obvious evidence of contact with other vehicles.

"A few days ago, I couldn't," said Rei. "And since it started out in the middle of a traffic jam of abandoned vehicles in Nagoya, I think I did pretty well to get it out at all."

"You certainly did," said Hirano. "Is this from the area controlled by the zombies?"

"Formerly controlled," said Rei. "We're pretty sure we've cleared them all out now, including the subways, although it's taken much longer than we'd planned. No casualties, although some close calls. There were a couple more petrol stations and other supplies, and this thing. I had to replace the circuits and recharge the batteries, but, hey, it's not like we've never done that before, is it? I thought I would bring it along to top up the tank here and at Kaga. Everyone must be running on fumes by now."

"Very good, we can certainly use it," said Saya.

"So the Nagoya campaign is complete?" said Hirano. "That's pretty big news."

Rei nodded. "A step on the road back," she said. "And your flamethrowers were extremely useful, Saya. Oh, and Chizu discovered a cache of working laptop computers in a subway storage unit. Once the property of the Nagoya Transit System. I have one for you in the truck, Saya, your others must be pretty well done by now. One for Shizuka as well."

Shizuka came up to them. She hugged Rei, and then said: "Is Kazuki alright? And the other kids?"

"Yes, they're all fine, and they did very well in the fighting," said Rei. Hanam and Daiki came running up and hugged their mother.

The group moved into the farmhouse and sat at the kitchen table for tea. Rei told them about the campaign to defeat the remaining zombies in Nagoya, and then listed the supplies that had consequently become available.

"The tactics we had designed worked pretty well but the subways turned out to be a real problem," said Rei. "Before we cleared them, there was a danger that they would flank us - they're getting very smart. Tunnels, subways, and underground maintenance things are going to be a real problem if we try and clear the big cities. I have to say that I don't know if it can be done."

"We have some news ourselves on the supply side," said Hirano. "The kids are making bullets. And shotgun cartridges. Doing very well, too."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "That's good to hear," she said. "We were careful with ammunition in Nagoya but there's only so far you can cut it back without risking lives. Has their stuff been tested?"

"Yes, I've helped them set up a random test protocol, and so far they have a very good success rate," said Saya. "They've produced over a thousand bullets and two hundred cartridges in a couple of weeks. Of course, it depends on recycling casings, but there are plenty of those lying around, if you know where to look."

"Outstanding," said Rei.

"I hope it doesn't come to a fight again," said Saya. "But if it does, we want to be ready."

It was evening, after dinner. Rei and Saya were sitting together on the porch, enjoying the dusk and watching the various teenagers play a game in the front yard. Hirano was acting as an umpire but everyone seemed happy enough to make up the rules as they went along.

"At heart, he's the biggest kid of all of them," said Saya, laughing as her husband went down under a pile of youthful energy.

"Just how many people are here at Maresato, at the moment?" said Rei.

"There's a list somewhere, but off the top of my head I have no idea," said Saya. "As for adults: Kohta, me, Shizuka, and Shun. Reika was here until yesterday, helping Sachiko and Mukato build a forge. As for kids: three of mine, two of yours, Alice's son Takeo. And Mukato from Nagoya and Sora from Mulitenko, doing their away time here. Sora is training to help Shizuka in the clinic. I have the feeling there's one or two others around, too. The teenagers seem happy to move from one community to another, going wherever help is needed for harvesting or building, working for supplies or a few Hiranotes. I'm never sure how many people are going to be here for any given meal but Kohta always seems to know. Mainly, he just makes big pots of food and everyone digs in. And they all have sleeping bags, and seem happy to bed down in any available corner."

"They seem to be a pretty tough, pretty innovative bunch," said Rei. "Which is probably what they need to be. Funny, when we were teenagers - before the Outbreak, I mean - everything had to be exactly right. I remember getting myself into a stew because my parents said I couldn't go on a date until I finished my homework. I locked myself in my room, which when I think about it was a pretty silly solution. Now it's all about make do, put up with it, enjoy what you have, and turn your hand to whatever job needs to be done."

Saya laughed. "When I think how much time I spent thinking about clothes, shoes, and hair colour, I almost have to laugh," she said. She looked again at the young people in the yard, now playing an improvised game of soccer. "We've done alright with them, I think, under the circumstances," she said.

Rei nodded. "Yes," she said. "I believe we have."