Survivors of the Sun Read online

‘A nice cold coke would be nice, right about now,’ Rebecca said.

  ‘Yes it would,’ Georgia replied.

  However, a coke machine needed quarters, and she didn’t have any quarters with her, and suddenly she realized that she had left her purse behind. No quarters, no I.D. either, not for her or for the children and… oh what the hell, the coke machine would not work anyway, even if they did have coins. She was sure they needed electricity to work. Didn’t they? Or, was the electricity just to light up the coke dispensers, and keep the coke cold? Perhaps it worked mechanically? She had no idea.

  Lately she seemed to know very little about anything. She had never realized quite how much she had relied on the internet as her source of knowledge.

  Don’t know how to cook a turkey? Don’t know how to unblock a sink? Google it! Can’t find a phone number, or an address, or need directions to get to that address, google it all. It was as if the internet had become her external memory drive, if it was not in her own knowledge banks, she could just access the internet memory, but, not anymore and maybe never again. The thought was sobering.

  ‘Can we have a coke when we get there?’ Deedee asked in a very subdued voice.

  ‘Let’s wait and see if there is even a coke machine there still. It might be out of order. But if it is at all possible,’ she added, ‘we will get a drink.’

  ‘Even if there is coke,’ she thought, ‘what would the dogs drink?’ For sure, they could not drink soda and suddenly she was scared again. They moved on in the darkness and then all of a sudden Millie gave a low growl. Georgia could not see what she was growling at but she knew that there must be people up ahead.

  ‘Quiet,’ she hissed, ‘quick, move over to that hedge.’ The four of them slid silently between the shrubs and crouched down. Her heart was thudding. Millie had run up ahead growling, then suddenly she was back, silently moving amongst them. They heard voices, a little way up the hill, coming closer, and then footsteps.

  ‘Don’t make a sound,’ she said, and when Millie started to growl, she poked her in the ribs. She fell still. Ant stiffened in her arms, and for a moment, Georgia was worried she was going to start one of her insanely angry bark-ups. But apart from trembling with doggie rage, she thankfully, remained silent.

  The small group passed them by, talking all the while, they sounded tired, and a woman’s voice kept asking if they could stop for a bit, so she could rest.

  For one horrible instant, Georgia thought they were going to stop right on the other side of the hedge and found herself holding her breath. Thank goodness, Deedee hadn’t saved her tanti for now.

  ‘No way girl, we are not stopping,’ a deep male voice replied, ‘just got to pull it together, we need to get to Jayden’s place before it gets light and at this rate, it isn’t going to happen.’

  ‘Please, just for five minutes, my feet are killing me, and I…’

  ‘They ain’t going to stop hurting in five minutes,’ said another voice, ‘we got to keep going.’

  Slowly they passed by and their voices became more distant and then faded out completely. She gave it a little while longer and then they moved back into the road and they began walking again. She could see that Millie was going to be a real asset; she just hoped she would be able to find water for her and something to drink for all of them.

  They came up over the top of the rise, and there, was the wide-open space that was the car park in front of the Goodwill store.

  They walked along the edge of the parking lot, moving from one scrawny tree to the next. Out in the open here, at the top of the hill, there seemed to be a little more light, and it made Georgia feel nervous. If they could see, then it meant they were also more visible.

  They were half way along the lot when Georgia suddenly became aware of music, what the…., ‘wait, stop,’ she said, ‘do you hear that?’

  ‘The singing?’ Rebecca asked.

  She was right, it was singing.

  They cautiously moved a little closer and as they stood, there in the darkness, a melodic refrain swept around them and Georgia recognizing the hymn, unconsciously began mouthing the words along with the unseen singers.

  Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

  I once was lost, but now am found;

  Was blind, but now I see.

  Then Rebecca began to sing softly and ever so sweetly next to her,

  T’was grace that taught my heart to fear,

  And grace my fears relieved;

  How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

  Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

  I have already come;

  'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

  And grace will lead me home.’

  Georgia was astounded by the relevance of the words. She had sung this hymn, so many times in church and never ever had the words spoken to her as they did now. She realized that the singing was coming from inside the Goodwill building itself. At the same moment, she noticed a pale bluish glow shining through the plate glass windows.

  Hesitantly they walked a little closer. Now she could see that that the shop doors were wide open and here, there seemed to be no sign of looting or destruction. As the singing finally died away she was struck by a feeling of such immense proportions that the only way she was able to describe them, to herself, was that she felt as though God himself, had spoken to her. As though he had put his hand upon her shoulder and told her, ‘have no fear, I am always here, by your side,’ and for the first time since the power had gone out, Georgia stopped feeling afraid.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A large black woman, in a brown dress with white polka dots sashayed up to their little group, as they stood hesitating in the doorway.

  ‘What you standing there for folks, ‘we ain’t gonna bite,’

  She had an ample figure, with hefty ornate curves that strained at the seams of her dress and with every step, the silky hem rode up alarmingly, and just when Georgia was sure that all would be revealed, it would slide down again. She tore her eyes away from the skirt and looked at the woman. There was a large welcoming smile on her face. Behind her stood a tall thin man with blonde and pink tips in his spiky hair.

  ‘Yeah, the door is open for a reason girl! And it ain’t cause we is closed, that’s for sure.’

  ‘Hush Lester,’ the polka dot lady said, ‘she ain’t looking so hot.’

  Then they both turned to stare at Georgia.

  ‘I would ask what happened,’ the polka dot lady said, ‘but I am guessing same happened to you, as pretty much happened to everyone else, who turned up here.’

  ‘Look,’ Jamie laughed suddenly, as he pointed over to one of the sofas positioned on a low dais, the one on special. Stretched out across the floral cushions was Millie, a look of bliss on her face, and judging by the occasional twitch of her back paws she was already asleep.

  Georgia was mortified, feeling color rushing to her cheeks as Polka Dot asked her if the dog was hers.

  ‘Umm, yes,’ she said, the one taking liberties on your sofa is Millie and this is Ant. I am so sorry; I will go and get her off right now.’

  ‘Nah, leave her there, guess they are family too, and in times like these, family has to stick together.’

  ‘Yes they are family,’ Georgia agreed

  ‘We lost Badger,’ Deedee said, ‘but, she is probably staying with Zeus though.’

  ‘Oh really?’ Polka Dot said, and Georgia could tell that she did not want to ask who Badger and Zeus were.

  ‘They’re dogs too,’ Georgia said, by way of explanation.

  ‘Oh I see.’

  ‘So, where are you from originally? With an accent like that, you sure ain’t from around here.’

  ‘From Australia,’ Georgia said.

  ‘Wow, you is a long way from home, and your kids were all born here?’

  It was way too complicated, to start explaining which child belonged to who, when, where, and how, so she si
mply nodded.

  ‘Yep, all born in good ol’ U.S.A,’ she said, and after all it was the truth.

  Polka Dot pursed her lips for a moment and then suddenly burst out, ‘and here you are, all wore out and I am just keeping you here in the doorway talking away.’

  ‘Can I have a drink,’ Deedee asked in such a desperate voice that one would have thought it was three days since she had had a drink, not just a couple of hours ago.

  ‘Sure you can,’ Lester said, ‘I am sure that Bertha will be able to get you a drink in just a minute.’

  Georgia noticed that Rebecca and Jamie were both looking shell-shocked. She was not surprised, she was feeling a little strange too. After all they had been through, to step into this cheery lamp lit haven was the oddest sensation. It had all the hallmarks of a very intense dream.

  She held out her hand to Polka Dot. ‘Thank you. My name is Georgia, and this is Rebecca, Jamie and Deedee.’

  ‘Lovely to meet you all, by the way, my name is Bertha, and this is Lester, we both work here, oh and that girl over there,’ she pointed to a short squat girl, with a pony tail, that seemed to jiggle with every move. ‘That there, is Trixie, she works here too.’

  Georgia nodded as she listened, a little dazed, and could not help thinking how totally different the three of them were, she wanted to giggle about it, but kept calm. She suddenly realized that they were still talking.

  ‘And well,’ Bertha continued, ‘when the thing happened, we were here at work, and no way to get home. People kept on arriving and knocking on the door, and…’

  ‘Weren’t you scared?’ Rebecca asked.

  ‘Good question,’ Georgia thought.

  ‘Well, not at first, then hearing what is happening all around we were a little concerned, then we figured there doesn’t seem much point in robbing a Goodwill..,’

  ‘Yeah,’ Lester interrupted, ‘Goodwill is the name of the store, and it is what we are all about.’

  ‘So,’ Bertha added, ‘we just figured we would keep on giving that goodwill by staying open and so here we are. And here you are too,’ she beamed at them, ‘and it looks to me like you need to sit down, and have a hot drink.’

  ‘I don’t want a hot drink,’ Deedee said.

  Georgia flashed her a look, and Deedee looked down at her feet and added, ‘I would like a cold drink please.’

  ‘I think we could all do with a drink,’ Georgia said, ‘that would be really appreciated, and well the reason we stopped by…,’

  ‘Sure, cause you need things,’ Bertha said, ‘I understand, but I think you need to chill for a bit, sit down, talk with the group, maybe stay the night.’

  ‘Well, we were going…,’

  ‘Nah, you’re staying the night, you all look done in, and Georgia girl, you need that face of yours looked at.’

  Georgia discovered that she had no energy left to argue, so she simply nodded her head.

  As they had been speaking, Bertha led them in towards the back of the store. Now that she was closer, she saw that this area had been converted into a large makeshift dormitory of sorts, the beds that were normally all stacked against walls, priced to sell, were now assembled, and made up with an odd assortment of pillows, cushions and bedding of every description.

  ‘Here, you can use this bed,’ Bertha said, pointing to a double bed pushed up against the wall, between two racks of clothes, which served as dividers. ‘That one isn’t taken yet, and I think you will all fit on that. Dump your gear on it, that way no one will think it is up for grabs.’

  It was with some relief that Georgia put Ant onto the bed and then slid the backpack off her back, and leaned it against the headboard. Ant immediately flopped onto her side, giving an exaggerated sigh and closing her eyes. ‘Anyone would think she carried me,’ Georgia thought to herself.

  She helped Deedee off with her knapsack. Once the caddy and all the bags were stored safely, she made the kids sit on the bed to check them all over for cuts and scratches. As thirsty as she knew they all were, now that they had light, she needed to see what state the children were in.

  Suddenly, she became aware that all three children were staring at her face. Deedee’s mouth was open, her eyes very wide.

  ‘Did, did I do that?’ There was horror in her voice.

  ‘You, when?’ Georgia was puzzled. Then she remembered the petulant slap and was very tempted to tell her it was the result of that, but she didn’t. ‘Oh, Deedee, no, you didn’t do this. I did it when I went back into the house to get Ant, there was so much smoke and I….’

  ‘Walked into a door,’ Rebecca finished.

  Georgia looked at her. For such a featherbrain, sometimes Rebecca could be very astute. ‘Yes, something like that.’

  ‘Does it hurt?’ Jamie asked. He looked very pale and tired Georgia noted.

  ‘Well, a bit, but it’s nothing really.’

  ‘That doesn’t look like nothing,’ Rebecca said.

  ‘That was a really mean door!’ Deedee added.

  Georgia laughed. ‘Yes I guess it was. Anyway, enough about that, let me have a look at you all.’

  Jamie showed her a tiny scratch on his cheek. ‘Got that when I went in to untie Zeus,’ he said.

  Rebecca had no cuts at all, but poor Deedee had blisters on her shins. No wonder she had been so evil tempered.

  ‘You should have said something Deedee,’ she admonished, now really feeling like an evil step-mother. With every step, Rebecca’s oversized moccasins had been rubbing back and forth against her shins. The blisters had burst and they looked raw and angry. She opened up her pack and hunted round for the medical case. There was a tube of anti-bacterial cream that she thought would sooth, and hopefully prevent any infection developing.

  It seemed silly to worry about infection, but she was remembering a time when she was a little girl and had a blister which became infected. Red streaks had appeared and a week of agonizing, penicillin injections had ensued, the early days of antibiotics. Now, she was not certain that even penicillin would be would be available anymore. She covered both the sores with wide Band-Aids. ‘All better now.’ She smiled at Deedee, hoping that that would be enough to get them healing.

  ‘Give me a hug, honey,’ she said. Deedee snuggled onto her lap and she kissed the top of her head, smiling over at Rebecca and Jamie. They looked so tired, and they had been so good. She held out her arms to them as well, and the four of them clung close for a few moments. ‘I am so proud of you guys,’ she whispered, ‘so very proud.’

  Bertha had said to join her and the others when they were settled. She had pointed through the shop to a backdoor. ‘Go through there, and I will see what I can get you to eat and drink.’

  Georgia discovered it led to an outdoor area lit by a couple of bamboo barbeque torches. There was no yard or anything like that, just a wide expanse of concrete. A large green dumpster stood to one side and on the other side was a long trestle table. A few people were seated at the far end, Bertha was amongst them. Stacked at the other end were an odd assortment of plates and cups and flatware and several huge pitchers of water.

  Bertha hoisted her large frame up out of her chair, and came over towards them. There was a round of, ‘hi’s,’ and, ‘how’s it going,’ from the table and Georgia gave a cheery hi back.

  ‘Get yourselves a drink of water, it’s been boiled,’ Bertha added, ‘or if you prefer, there are boxes of soda under the table.’ She pointed to a couple of boxes peeking out from under the plastic table cloth.

  ‘Thank you so much,’ Georgia said and with almost indecent haste she led the way to the table and bent down to look in the cartons. The water did not look that clean. It might well be boiled, but she wasn’t going to take any chances.

  ‘We have Coke, Dr Pepper, Fanta, and Ice Tea.’

  ‘Coke!’ They all said at the same time.

  ‘Coke it is,’ she said, and passed three bottles up. She took an ice tea for herself. Of course, there was nothing cold about it, but it tast
ed like nectar.

  ‘Deedee, slow down, sip it slowly, you will make yourself sick if you guzzle it like that.’

  Deedee made a sound that might have been ‘okay’ but it was hard to tell, however, she did pause before taking another deep drink.

  ‘That barely touched the sides,’ Georgia thought, as she dropped her bottle in the dumpster. The kid’s soda bottles she would keep, they were plastic, and light to carry, the ice tea had come in a small glass bottle.

  ‘Finished mine,’ Jamie said, ‘do you think I could have another one?’

  ‘Well you will have to ask Bertha, she’s in charge,’ Georgia replied. She looked around to see where Bertha was and saw she had gone over to a makeshift outdoor cooking area, a circle of rocks and bricks with glowing embers in the middle, about twenty feet away from the building. A large square metal grill lay across the top, and there was an assortment of bubbling pots and kettles on it. They walked over and though she had no idea what was cooking in all those pots, the smell was intoxicating.

  ‘Would it be alright if the kids have a second soda?’ Georgia asked.

  ‘Sure thing,’ Bertha said, lifting the lid of one of the pots and giving it a quick stir. ‘Have as many as you want, plenty more where that came from.’

  Doubt must have shown on Georgia’s face because Bertha laughed. ‘Yep, plenty more, there is a whole semi-trailer full to the top!’ She pointed with the spatula she was holding in her hand, ‘See over there, the man with the real big nose,’ she cackled at this.

  Georgia had to smile, because it was without a doubt a really big nose.

  ‘Yeah well, he stayed here since that first night, and like he says, ‘ain’t no way he can make any more deliveries and it sure ain’t doing anyone any good sitting in there just getting hot.’

  ‘That’s true,’ Georgia said, but once the truck is empty, then what?

  ‘So can I get another drink then?’ Jamie asked in a quiet voice, tugging at her sleeve.

  ‘Sure Jamie, all of you go and get another drink, and make sure you keep the empty containers, we are going to need them.’