Zombie War: Health + Safety Regs

Chapter 3 - Safeguarding

Kendra Matthews drew her knees up to her chest and dropped her chin on them. The sun slanted through the narrow entrance of the cave, illuminating the pale features of the man lying asleep on his side by the small, smoking fire.

Other than keeping the fire going by feeding it the branches she had gathered out on the mountain earlier that morning, there was little Kendra could do for him. He slept fitfully, occasionally waking long enough to beg for water before falling back into his fevered dreams. The jagged, blood-encrusted wound on his leg must be causing him agony, but all the painkillers were gone. She could only hope Richard and Buddy came across some medical supplies on their foraging expedition, but she wasn't counting on it.

It was ironic really, seeing as how it had been Tate who had argued so passionately against taking Buddy along with them. When they first found the little boy huddled into a corner behind a washing machine in an outhouse they were searching for food and supplies, he had shrunk away from their hands and tried to dig his frail little body even further back into the dark recess.

'C'mon little buddy, we're not going to hurt you,' Kendra had said in a low soothing tone.

A look of terror had flitted across the child's face as he tried to wriggle away from their hands.

'Shush, we just want to help you. Let me get you out of there, you must be feeling so cold and cramped.'

The child's response had been to start a thin wailing, tears dripping down his cheeks.

Kendra leaned over and managed to put her arms around the boy's body. He struggled against her grasp, but she managed to pin his arms. She picked him up and swung him into her arms.

'Here give him to me, I'm a lot bigger and stronger than you,' Richard said with a grin.

Kendra kicked him in the ankle in protest at this slur, but handed over the wriggling, sobbing child with some relief.

'Let's take him outside and get a good look at him,' she said.

Once back out in the bright sunshine of the yard, Richard set the boy on his feet while keeping a firm grip on his shoulders.

'What's your name buddy?'

The child didn't answer. He just looked down at the gravel and cried even harder.

'You can tell us. We've not come here to hurt you; we're just looking for some supplies. Sorry if this is your house and we've upset you going through your stuff.'

When the child continued ignoring Richard's questions, Kendra moved closer and dropped down onto one knee so she was eye-to-eye with the boy.

'Where are your folks? Have you got any family here looking out for you?'

The boy looked at her blankly.

'Can't you even tell us your name?' Kendra prompted.

'We're not getting anywhere,' Richard said meeting Kendra's gaze over the boy's head.

At that moment, Tate had come around the corner of the weatherboard house carrying a cardboard box full of bottles and packets.

'Got some useful stuff here,' he began before he caught sight of the child who had been partially shielded from view by the bulk of Richard's body.

His body stiffened and it was several long seconds before he walked over to where the little group was standing in the middle of the yard.

'What's going on?'

'We found this little guy in the outhouse over there, but he doesn't seem to want to talk to us or tell us who he is,' Richard replied.

'He's terrified,' Kendra said by way of explanation. 'Also looks like he hasn't eaten or had much to drink in a long time. There was a water bottle in there, but there wasn't much left in it.'