Pandemic Pt. 02 Ch. 06-10

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I marked 19th March off on our calendar. Only two and a half months since we had arrived. It was so hard to believe.

A trip to properties around Beechamel Hamlet this week had yielded more food and one farm had three small grain silos. The two fixed silos were full of good grain that was free of insects and one of the smaller portable field silos was partially filled. We emptied the smaller silo and towed it back home and refilled it. It took a while but now we had access to more grain that we would need for a couple of years.

When passing through Beechamel we looked out for the blonde enraged and were extra careful. We did not see her although we encountered another pack of half-starved dogs at an orchard. Now we had more grain I was keen to get more chickens, but it seemed only ducks were surviving. Some of the smaller Guinea fowl had survived at two places, but they protected themselves in trees effectively from us as well as dogs, cats and foxes. Another project was started. Mesh fencing to create a dog proof grazing area extending to the western side of the outer wall.

All four corners of the outer wall had walkways. Michael suggested adding metal plates to the towers so that some of the crenations in the wall became protected firing slits. He was concerned in case any of the enraged, or other survivors decided to take the house using firearms. We attached reinforcing mesh over the ground floor windows to further secure the house. It felt safe at night and we helped Michael and Linda do the same to the cottage.

Every three days we drove to the nearby properties, gathering fruit and sometimes killing a beast. Maddy and Annelise were getting better with snares now, so often the beast was a rabbit. The home with the lake and horses was a good source of fish too. Annelise and Linda rode the horses back home with Eliza following on the pony. We converted the end of the stables, which had contained only cars when we arrived, back into stables. It added to the work looking after the horses, but using them for some of the local trips saved fuel. Annelise and Maddy were getting the horses used to humans making loud unexpected noises. Now they ignored a hammer striking metal unexpectedly or the 22 rifle firing. However the horses were still spooked when the larger rifle fired and we needed them to ignore it.

It was getting cold in the evenings and already we were burning a little of the wood to warm the downstairs rooms. We needed to build fireplaces or stoves for our bedrooms for winter. But we were doing all right and tomorrow we celebrated another Sunday and Michael would remind us to be thankful. Maddy had been practicing grinding flour and tomorrow we would try it for the first time.

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In April it started getting very cold in the evenings and we hauled back the pot belly stoves from the holiday accommodation cottages near the silversmith. Michael installed one between in the bar area between the dining room and the lounge. We set up a table near it for dinners and the heat warmed the lounge and our room on the floor above. Soups and stews had become a very welcome warming staple. They made good use of the garden and meat.

Tiffany would generally go and curl up in her bed in the evenings, but we brought a single bed into our room as it stayed warmer. Well Tiffany helped there, she was a furnace of heat herself. She snuggled down among several blankets and a doona and did not stir for the night. Annelise and Maddy always slept with us and Eliza would come in too, to chat before bed and fall asleep. Just as well we were all slim and the bed was large, though five people was cosy and we did end up pushing two double beds together in the room. Richard and Megan's bedroom was really a suite of bedroom, walk in closet, office, dressing room and bathroom. Our room was smaller but was basically one large room plus a bathroom. Maddy and Annelise had similar sized rooms, but rarely used them. Eliza and Tiffany's rooms were half the size but were still large bedrooms. We basically did not use the rest of the upper floor of the house, except for the dining room in the top floor of the tower on Sundays.

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Mid-April we travelled again to Beechamel Hamlet. This time we drove across the river to the east, rather than turning south to Silverwood. We searched eight properties, gathering dry and tinned food, medical supplies cleaning products, tools and anything else that looked useful. The bodies were still gruesome, but we had become used to death. Either the smell was not as bad with the passing of time or we were getting used to even that smell too.

On our way back we saw the blond who had been with the enraged. This time she by herself, sitting nonchalantly on a wooden fence by the river. We paused when she smiled and waved, then we travelled on. Maddy and Linda thought she looked familiar but were not sure.

It had got cold that day and on our return we were in bed early. As I undressed, Maddy came and rested her arm loosely on my shoulder, her naked breast pressing against my back.

She smiled and said, "I need a good fuck and we found rubbers. Sure hope you feel the same."

Karen looked over as she removed her earrings and replied, "I am sure we can get him up to the job."

I rolled my eyes as Karen kissed me. Then I turned, pressed my hardening cock against Maddy's mound and kissed her an answer.

Karen took Maddy's condom and grasped our hands, dragging us towards the bed.

"Hurry, it is cold."

Annelise opened the blankets and we slipped in. Karen burrowed under the bed, finding my cock with her lips, and gently sucking. Meanwhile Maddy had her mouth hungrily against mine and her warm breast pressed against her chest as she pressed her pelvis against the side of my hips. Young soft skin, but muscular beneath as she moved against me.

Annelise pulled the blanket higher to watch while Eliza stayed in the bed next to Annelise but lay on her front, pressing her face into the pillow.

Karen's warm firm lips sucking and massaging felt like bliss. As soon as I was hard she held me in her mouth and put her hand on Maddy's thigh, guiding me over on top of her. Karen twisted, her head emerging as she grasped my cock, easing the head up and down Maddy's hot moist slit, her other hand holding Maddy's lips open. The head of my cock rubbed up and down, over and across her clit and down, across her vagina.

"Is this what you want Maddy?" she growled softly.

I felt her fingers push into Maddy.

"Mmm. You are wet and hot for it aren't you?"

"Fuck Karen don't tease."

"Ow"

Maddy jerked as I felt Karen pinch her clit.

"Want me to kiss it better?"

I felt Karen gently massaging Maddy's clit, her hand and fingers brushing against my cock.

I moved back and lower, my cock easing against Maddy's warm moist hole. She pushed forward easing the head of my cock inside and I pressed against her. Karen played with her clit some more then pulled her hand away as we got more vigorous.

She repositioned herself, trying to roll on top of me, thrusting against my cock. We wrestled, our bodies tight together, joined tightly, my pelvis tight against hers. She was strong and enjoyed any challenge. Our pleasure enhanced by my cock twisting and pulling and pushing against her vagina as we moved. Her ankles hooked around my thighs. The sheets and blankets went everywhere, to Karen, Annelise and Eliza's squawking complaints.

Maddy found herself held still on her back by Karen and Annelise and blankets were returned. I shrugged and kissed her, then grinned and thrust myself deeply into her. Her lips parted, as I thrust again and again, vigorously. Her feet hooked around me, driving me harder against her. Then her legs, stomach and pussy tightened, I slowed barely moving in her, watching her eyes. Then quickly thrust again and again bringing us both to orgasm. Now as she relaxed I played with her beautiful breasts, sparsely dotted with freckles and capped with pale red erect swollen nipples. I snuggled in next to her, spooning Karen, who kindly wrapped a blanket over us.

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In the last week of April we headed even further south east. We passed Beechamel Hamlet and drove across the bridge to seek out a veterinary surgery just five kilometres from Callanup. We took the G-wagon, Hilux and Forester, leaving the truck behind to travel faster. Linda came to give advice on what to take and travelled with Michael in the G-wagon. I took the Forester with Eliza and Maddie drove the Hilux. We passed another service station on the way. It had diesel and petrol fuel pumps and was attached to small store which once sold fast food. Across the road was a hotel and liquor shop.

We paused and agreed to fill up with fuel on the way back. Thankfully no enraged emerged as we stopped and a quick check inside the shop showed it was empty of bodies. The doors had been locked but broken and some drinks and food taken.

Across the road in the hotel were twenty bodies, with a further six bodies in some basic accommodation at the back, a row of single and double rooms. Obviously some had come to drink and die. Broken bottles of spirits littered the floor with clusters of bottles clustered around some of the bodies. Still there was a lot remaining. We gathered a dozen cartons of wine, some port, and gathered some remaining bottles of spirits. The store room had an open freezer and dogs or enraged had found their way in. A dry goods store though yielded lots of valuable items, especially toilet paper.

The day was cool and overcast. Grey cloudy skies threatened rain. About three kilometres later we arrived at the vet surgery. A body lay shot beside a rifle inside one of the offices and several animal patients were long dead in a back room. Otherwise the building was unoccupied. Opened drugs and packets lay on the reception desk and scattered on the floor.

"Looks like several people injected themselves with Hendra virus vaccine." Linda commented, "I guess they thought anything was worth trying once people started dying."

"Would it have done any good?" Annelise asked.

Linda shook her head, "Nope, not unless they were going near the mucous membranes or teeth of an infected horse or bat."

"Should we take any of the vaccines?"

"Tetanus maybe. That can be effective for at least a month out of a fridge and the temperatures have not been high for a couple of months. Most of the others would be definitely useless now."

We collected gloves, masks, gowns and basically anything that Linda thought would be useful. It seemed she thought lots would be useful and we soon had the G-wagon and the Forester loaded. The store room and several storage cupboards were all clean and well stocked. We left the freezer with its residue of decomposed pet food well alone. We did load up all the dry dog food we could find plus stuffed a box full of raw hide treats.

After returning to the service station we fuelled up and gathered spare parts, glues, tape, wire, oil and anything else that might be useful. All was quiet as we slowly travelled back to Beechamel Hamlet.

By the café at Beechamel we had a surprise. Sitting down next to the road was the blonde woman. She wore a clean flowery sundress and light jacket over her shoulders and looked to be in her 20s. She was sitting on the road, her arm bent against her chest and hand on her shoulder, being supported by her other hand. Michael and Linda were in front and slowed the G-wagon and stopped by the service station. Linda got out. I stopped next to them on the roadside and Maddy pulled in behind me. Eliza got out and ran towards Linda.

Linda stood a dozen paces away watching while Michael joined her with a shotgun. The blonde whimpered and ducked backwards to just in front of the hedge. Linda waved at Michael to lower the shotgun and approached the blonde cautiously.

"Linda, wait, be careful!" I yelled.

Michael held her arm and she argued with him.

Maddy got out holding a 308 rifle.

"Maddy", I called. "You look after the cars and to the west and south towards the garage. I'll watch to the north and down the road past the café."

I held the hunting rifle and then reached for Eliza's rifle. The 222 still sat in the front seat.

"Are you alright?" called out Linda to the girl.

"My arm, sore, won't move swollen. Can you help?"

"Eliza, please come here for a moment. Linda and Michael, please wait." I called.

"Please don't just leave me."

The blonde sat on the ground beside the gate sobbing as Eliza returned.

"Eliza, your rifle. Don't just watch the girl, watch behind her and the café too."

"Sorry." Eliza nodded.

She took the 222 and returned as Linda approached the girl, squatting a metre from her. Michael stood at her side watching the café with the shotgun.

I did not like this at all. They were twenty paces away and there was little room between the girl, the hedge and the front of the café. Only Michael had any view of the other side of the café. In contrast there was lots of room between the cars and garage where I was watching.

I called out, "Stay here Eliza and watch the side of the garage, I will help protect Linda."

Linda and the girl scurried back a few paces and I ran towards Linda.

"Linda, she can follow you up the road opposite the orchard and we can help her there where we have a clear view around us."

I looked up from Linda to see a flash of movement as the blonde dived behind the hedge yelling. Three large male enraged crashed through the hedge towards us at the same time. A blast as Michael's shotgun hit one in the chest and he hit the second in the head with the end of the barrel. I fired my rifle, hitting the third in the chest. Another blast of the shotgun and the second was thrust back against the hedge. I shot the one I had hit again, just to be sure. The other two Michael had hit were obviously dead.

Meanwhile the blonde had flung herself forward grabbing Linda. I grabbed her, twisting her arm and tearing her away from Linda. She was much smaller and I quickly had her legs and arms pinned. Although not before she had sunk her teeth into my forearm. Michael's shotgun butt lashed out, smacking against her skull with a glancing blow and she went limp.

I stepped back yelling, "Annelise, Eliza we are fine, keep watching the roads. Any movement?"

Annelise replied, "Nothing moving here."

A shaken Eliza answered too, "Yeah, nothing by the garage or paddock."

We withdrew to the cars while keeping a wary watch on the café and street to the east.

Linda reached for my arm, "Let me look."

I looked down and saw the bleeding bite, "Damn, damn."

She sorted through the veterinary supplies, getting a syringe and antiseptic from the car.

Linda calmly spoke as she syringed the wound with saline, "It has been a long while she is very unlikely to be infectious now."

After cleaning the wound she soaked it with Betadine antiseptic.

"It is only a small wound, really only the upper incisors have actually cut the skin and not far, you pulled away from her quickly."

Linda put a dressing on and bandaged it.

I then noticed Michael had grabbed some duct tape, wrapped it around the blonde's wrists and dragged her limp and groaning to the car.

"Michael, what are you going to do with her?"

Linda answered, "We can restrain her and take her. It is Madeline, we can treat her."

"She might be infectious?"

"It has been a long time, but if she is a carrier, we will stay in the cottage for three weeks. We can put her in the quarantine shelter you built." Linda argued.

"Is it .. Is she worth it? She would kill us all if she gets the chance. You really think she is going to change?"

"We are meant to save her, it is a test. Her name is Madeline."

She was quietly determined and Michael was nodding his head.

"You realise she will have to be restrained or secured until she recovers and she could never recover? I don't want to see anyone injured or killed because of her."

"Nor do we, we will keep her secured. We realise she is sick and dangerous. We agree to keep her secured in any way that is not cruel." Said Michael.

"Alright.", I called out, "Eliza and Maddy. You should stay in the Hilux and stay away from us. Potentially we were all infected except you two."

"Potentially we could be and yes keep away Eliza and Maddy." Linda responded

Then she added, "But we had little contact with the enraged and Madeline was infected long ago, so she is unlikely to be infectious and we will be fine."

Back at the house Michael and Linda carried the blonde enraged, Madeline, to the quarantine shelter, dressed her head wound and arranged bedding and water before cutting her bonds and locking the door. I checked the door, Michael was careful at least. They would stay in their cottage except to look after Madeline.

I prepared to stay in the end of the shed where Michael and Linda had previously stayed. Karen and Annelise supplied food and bedding from the house. Persuading Karen to keep her distance was difficult. She argued that Linda was sure I would not be infectious yet, even if I was infected, which Linda was sure I was not. Mind you, I think she was being carefully optimistic too.

I loaded up the outer room with lengths of wood, and collected some wood carving tools. I would make and smooth some railings for the steps and walkways on the walls. Plus reading material. Karen and Annelise dropped off food and Linda came to change the dressing and apply more antiseptic solution on my arm. She also persuaded me we had a large stock of aspirin and to take some for my arm.

Linda spoke as she was about to leave, "I am very, very sorry she bit you. Her sister was my best friend in primary school and they were lovely kind girls. I felt she was calling for help."

I gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I will be fine. Don't worry about it."

I settled down to sleep, it felt so strange. I could feel the lack of the presence of the warm, close bodies of Karen, Annelise, Maddy and Eliza. And damn, it was cold! Perhaps I could set up one of the spare pot belly stoves tomorrow.

The next day I ate a couple of trail bars and started on the wood work. By midday I was pretty pleased with myself. Then I installed the pot belly stove and had a break reading, but that was not as good at keeping my mind from things.

Linda checked on my arm, after I made her go and get a face mask and gloves. We had lots from the vet's surgery so we might as well use them. That evening I had soup and baked beans for dinner. I had to blow my nose and sneezed twice. Did I do that usually? I could not remember. My temperature was normal, I think, perhaps a touch hot but I had just had a hot dinner. I managed to switch off and sleep.

My arm was definitely warm and sore when I woke. I took it easier, reading rather than working with the tools. Linda syringed it again and had found antibiotic powder which she said was effective without cold storage.

My arm became markedly more sore the next day. It was red and swollen and I felt hot. Linda insisted my temperature was really pretty normal. This continued for several days, then Linda assured me it was healing well, with only a tiny area of infection, she was cleaning it morning and night. A week later and even I was convinced it was healing fine. I started doing some more work on the railings.

Nine days and I was thoroughly sick of being in the same room. But if I were infected and knew I had infected the others I would never forgive myself. I stuck it out. Ten days and I made sure Linda locked the door when she left.

Eleven days and long chats with Karen, Annelise and Maddy, keeping their distance when I insisted. Eliza visited often too, she said less so there were a lot of long pauses. Michael too came for a chat together with Linda that evening.