Hurst - Robin Crumby (bookreader TXT) 📗
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Disclaimer
Hurst is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
© Robin Crumby 2016
Hurst
by Robin Crumby
“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them my indignation, all my burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of my zeal.”
Zephaniah 3:8
Table of ContentsThis was an ancient place, remote and desolate. Peaceful, yet witness to centuries of warmongering, standing ready to do its duty. A never-ending vigil set to the rhythmic rise and fall of the ocean.
It was only a matter of time before all this would be swept away. The castle’s resolute defences were imperceptibly weakened by every breaking wave, sweeping in from the Channel, sent crashing against the groynes and stones.
A pale sun rose silently and unnoticed over Hurst Castle. Shadows stretching over the rippled tidal waters that all but surrounded it, bar a narrow finger of shingle linking the fortifications to the mainland.
Hurst’s seventy-four occupants were slumbering in their quarters. The more recent arrivals were camped out in the east wing. Tents pitched where grass and space allowed. In the dorm room in the main building, a shaft of sunlight pierced the makeshift curtains. Two grey blankets strung across the large stone window aperture prolonged the darkness. The shaft of light fell across the pillow of one of the iron-framed beds, bathing the unshaven face of a man in white light as he began to wake.
Zed stretched and yawned, looking around at his companions. Packed tightly together, a sleeping mass of washed-up humanity snored gently. There was a low snuffle of someone stirring in the corner, heavy breathing and the universal stench of unwashed bodies and morning breath. From outside came the low sound of waves breaking gently over the rocks and shingle spit, seagulls soaring above the castle that spoke of a new morning, bringing with it new hope. For many, the sounds reminded them of former lives, holidays by the seaside, long-forgotten memories.
A base need to breathe fresh air and enjoy the peace of the castle in the early dawn compelled Zed to take his morning constitutional walk. He was fond of rising before anyone else was up and having the place to himself.
Stepping outside, he squinted, shading his eyes, taking a moment to bathe his face in the sunshine, inhaling deeply the sea air. His hair was unkempt and unwashed, long sideburns grew down his cheeks and a tuft of hair stuck upright. He wore a grubby T-shirt with chest-high salt stains from unloading stores from a visiting fishing boat the previous day. He had the air of someone who looked after himself, a loner, a survivor with the scars to prove it. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the company of others; he did. But when push came to shove, he had no time for the weak. Survive or die. Get in his way and face the consequences.
Leaving the castle keep and its cold grey stone walls, he meandered sleepily, still yawning, through the Tudor archway. Beyond the gate was a narrow strip of grass that stretched for one hundred metres or so to the western walls of the fort, extended in Victorian times. A large marquee dominated the interior. Half a dozen smaller tents were pitched haphazardly around it. Passing the canteen he took the stairs two at a time. Up on to the raised walkway and ramparts, he looked south-west across the narrow channel towards the Isle of Wight and the Needles rocks. There was still a faint haze that shrouded the island in a light mist, slowly evaporating as the shadows shortened on the water.
Scanning the horizon across the salt marshes towards Keyhaven, a pair of swans glided gracefully against the incoming tide within the sheltered estuary that lay behind a narrow shingle spit. As he turned to look back along the raised roadway that ran on top of the shingle, the movement of a dark shape in the distance interrupted his gaze.
The figure was limping awkwardly. A long heavy coat several sizes too big was draped around its shoulders. On the castle walls Zed reached for the pair of binoculars that lived in a large blue plastic IKEA storage box under the bench seat. He took a couple of seconds to find and focus on the man in the distance. There was no question. What had first appeared as a limp was more severe in focus, the left leg dragging heavily on the shingle, scraping at each step. His progress was laboured, but he showed no sign of discomfort or pain as he approached.
Zed lowered the binoculars and squinted with his bare eyes. The hint of a smile appeared on Zed’s lips. He reached back into the blue container and brought up a hunting rifle. Loading a single bullet into the breach, he took careful aim at the man in the distance. Adjusting his position a couple of times, he relaxed into a wide stance, the rifle resting on the edge of the brick wall. The cross hairs of the telescopic sight danced around the head of the approaching figure. He was still perhaps two hundred metres away now, making steady progress. Zed regulated his breathing before exhaling deeply.
The rifle shot rang out across Christchurch Bay, echoing around the battlements, shattering the silence of the early morning.
A flock of birds rose startled from the salt marshes. In the fenced-off field next to the lighthouse, a herd of dairy cows flinched, wild-eyed and bumping into each other. The two horses bolted. One jumped over the low wire fence and charged away from the noise, its hooves clattering on the pebbles as it galloped along the beach.
Chapter TwoFrom the castle entrances, startled figures emerged from their slumber, still rubbing their eyes, alarmed by the single shot. There had been no bell to warn the inhabitants of an imminent threat. Two men raced towards the stairs to the western ramparts, clutching their boots and clothes.
Zed ignored the commotion behind him, cursing his luck as the figure continued its slow methodical lurch towards the castle, unharmed and undeterred. Its pace seemed to quicken. The first shot had gone high and right, splintering a rock over the man’s shoulder. Zed hurriedly reloaded the rifle. He adjusted his aim slightly to the left to account for the light breeze coming across the bay from the island. Wrapping the rifle strap tightly around his left arm, he steadied the barrel against the raised concrete and fired again. This time the figure’s head rocked back violently, before collapsing onto the shingle, twitching.
Those who had ignored the first shot and passed it off as something else now sat bolt upright. Muffled cries of alarm could be heard throughout the castle. Raised voices joined together as people emerged from every door and tent to congregate in the courtyard pointing towards the suspected source. Zed’s back was turned, silhouetted on the ramparts, the rifle hitched on his hip like a triumphant hunter.
****
Still buttoning his shirt and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jack hurried towards the base of the wooden staircase, breathing heavily from his race across the courtyard. A Royal Navy issue blue sweater with elbow patches had ridden up exposing a neat potbelly. His thinning hair was wild, his brow furrowed with concern.
“What the hell’s going on?” shouted Jack from below, squinting up at Zed.
Zed didn’t respond, but muttered something under his breath that Jack didn’t catch. The older man took the stairs two at a time, his limbs stiff and sore from yesterday’s exertions.
The others stepped aside to let their leader pass. Jack stood panting, fighting to catch his breath. He snatched the binoculars from Zed and slowly scanned the shingle spit, trying to locate the body. Shaking his head, he grabbed the rifle from Zed’s grasp and put it back in the storage box.
“He was unarmed. Why did you have to shoot him?” asked Jack.
Zed stared back at him, defiantly. “He was infected.”
Jack was aware of a gathering crowd watching their exchange. He felt compelled to act, shaking his head. “Every living soul for miles around will have heard that shot.”
“Shame there’s no one left alive to hear it then,” said Zed with a wry smile, unrepentant.
Jack laughed, but there was no hint of humour in his demeanour. Inside he was seething, but trying to keep a cool head. “We don’t know that. Next time, why don’t you hand out invitations, put up signs…” Jack turned to address the others. “How many times? How many times have we talked about this? We agreed no guns for a reason. We don’t want to attract attention. Warning shot only if they don’t get the message. If it’s only one of them, don’t waste the bullet.”
“Just keeping my eye in.” Zed smirked, refusing to back down or admit he was in the wrong. “I haven’t fired a shot for days.”
“And there’s a damn good reason for that. We don’t have ammo to waste. You know that. There are precious few bullets left for that rifle, then what? Congratulations, Zed, you just volunteered yourself to lead today’s scavenging party.”
“Anything to get out of here for a few hours.” Zed eyeballed the older man before wandering off to find something
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