“It all sounds great. I hope that we will never have to leave here and eventually we can build this up to be a place that thrives. Where we can call home. But I also think that these skills are essential. I also think that each of them need to do a basic survival course, how to build fires safely and shelter. A basic training in weapons too” I was happy that the others were on board and honoured that they cared about me enough to consider me as part of their family.
“The captain has already ordered the weapons training for all members of this camp over the age of 14. They will be taken in groups of eight. I’ve asked that Amelia and Kandace be in the first groups. Nia has weapons training from when she was in the force.”
“Uh wait. Nia was in the police force?” I was shocked. We had never spoken of our lives before the disaster.
“Yep, as was I, for ten years. But that’s a story for another time. Get changed ill meet you at the dining hall in ten” he smiled and left my room humming a tune that I didn’t know.
“See you there” I called to a closed door. I couldn’t believe that they were both in the police force and I didn’t know.
I guess once things settled it was a discussion we may have, sometimes the past was too painful to talk about.
I stripped off and got dressed quickly in a pair of dirty grey joggers and a black vest, the only half decent shoes I had were the black boots that the captain had given me and so I put them on.
I left my room, locking the door behind me and made my way to the canteen, I had laced up my boots tightly around my hurt ankle just to give it a little extra support.
Will was sat on the table nearest the door. The room was full of people today. “What’s going on?” I asked confused, the canteen was never this full.
“Scrambled egg day, there’s not much of it to go around but it’s good.” Will replied, shoving a forkful of egg into his mouth.
I legged it to the back of the cue, I hadn’t been at camp long but I knew that when there was scrambled egg or anything fresh on offer then you got there quickly.
“Sorry, all gone. We only have dry cereal or self-heating meals left.” The woman behind the counter called out. Receiving a load of moans and groans in reply.
“This is bloody ridiculous, it’s always the same few that get the food. How the fuck can you run out of eggs. There’s a whole barn full of chickens” one man behind me called. A few other shouted out “Yeah” in agreement with him.
I saw the situation going south very quickly, a few people got up and left, not wanting to be in the way if a fight broke out.
“I’m sorry, but they only lay so many eggs per day, we have made as much as we could and it goes on a first come first served basis” the woman from behind the counter explained calmly. She was a large woman with frizzy curly red hair.
“Well, you fat Bitch, go and make some more, I’ll wait” he snarled, he sat down on the table opposite the serving hatch and put his feet up on the table. His dark hair was tied back in a ponytail, his eyes were so dark that they looked black and he had small, thin lips. He was dressed in military uniform and I could see that it had gone to his head.
“There are no more eggs, it will be a few days now before we can get enough-“ he cut her off.
“Go and cook me some bloody eggs now my lovely or you won’t want to know what happens if you answer me back again.” He stood up and puffed out his chest. A few other men stood behind him, dressed in civilian clothes.
She didn’t reply but I could see that she was getting nervous, she pulled down the hatch quickly and I heard the click of a lock from the other side.
The man roared, jumping over the table in one fluid movement and screamed at the hatch, he started to pound on it.
I moved closer to him as people were moving away “Hey man come on she said that there wasn’t any left” I placed my hand on his arm trying to calm him down.
“Who the fuck are you?” he screamed at me, swinging around his arm he hit me on the chin.
“Oh, hell no” I heard from Will behind me as he ran at us. Then all hell broke loose.
Chapter 9
The fight turned into an all-out brawl. They threw punches and then chairs, then fists. Nobody was badly hurt but there were a few bruises and black eyes. It landed us straight back in the Captains office along with officer dick head.
“I’m so disappointed, I do not have time for this. I thought that I could count on you to keep order here, not start a riot!” the captain roared at us. His face had gone completely red and I felt like a school boy again in the principal’s office.
“They started it, they are pricks. They don’t deserve to wear the uniform.” Gary shouted.
“The way you spoke to that woman was disgusting. My friend here was trying to calm the situation and you clocked him one. You pal are the one who doesn’t deserve to wear that uniform” the venom in Will’s voice gave me the chills. But officer dickhead didn’t flinch. He just curled his lip up into a snarl.
“I have spoken to various witnesses and the majority say that you started
