Anita sighed deeply. She stood up and walked towards the back of the van, peering cautiously through a crack in the curtains.
Lisa watched her. Waiting. Hoping.
Her chest was tightening again. She needed to calm down. Stop getting herself so agitated.
After a few minutes, Anita sighed again and turned to face her. "Ok! Look! As we're so close, let's have one more try to get there today. If we don't make it, we give up and head for the safe zone. Deal?"
Lisa smiled. She got up and hugged her. "Thank you! We'll get there today. I promise."
Anita shook her head. "We'll see. One more day. Ok?"
She pulled the curtain of the back window aside a couple of inches and nodded her head towards the outside. "Anyway, changing the subject, d'you want the bad news, the good news, or the other good news?"
"I'll take all the good news, please." Lisa nodded enthusiastically.
"As I said, it's pretty much clear outside. They've mostly all gone."
"Great. And?"
"Well the bad news will put that into some context. There are definitely no keys. I've looked everywhere. But we do have bikes! There are two on the back of the van! Look!"
"Oh yes!" Lisa jumped up to peer out of the window. Suddenly, the world seemed to be a brighter place again.
They freshened up, ate a breakfast of cereal and cold rice pudding and got ready to leave. Despite her poor night's sleep, Lisa was full of hope. She felt energetic and excited. It was about time their luck changed. It was happening. She could feel it.
They packed as much extra food as they could carry. Lisa kept watch while Anita unfastened the bikes from the rack. They were hybrids. A large man's one and smaller woman's version of the same model. Anita took the bigger one. Her long legs still reached the ground even when she was sitting in the saddle. She helped Lisa to strap her spear over her shoulder with a strap from the bike rack. They filled a couple of water bottles and fitted them into the holders.
They were a bit wobbly at first, as they got used to the unfamiliar bikes and the weight of their backpacks and weapons. During the time it had taken them to get ready, a few infected had emerged from the surrounding properties and had gathered in a straggly group that was moving down the road towards them. But they safely negotiated around the small group and were soon gliding smoothly down empty streets towards Solihull town centre. Lisa was elated. They were moving so quickly. All being well, they should be there within the hour.
But the town centre was blocked off by a series of abandoned military checkpoints much like the one they'd seen on the edge of Coventry on Friday morning. To get through, they had to stop and lift their bikes over the barricade.
The main shopping area was devastated. A smoky, metallic smell hung in the air. It smelt like what Lisa imagined war would smell like. Broken glass and rubble littered the streets. They had to get off and walk again, carefully manoeuvring the bikes around the debris. Some buildings were boarded up, but most had their windows smashed and doors forced open, their contents spilling out onto the pavement. Overturned shopping trolleys loaded with food and water had been abandoned where they fell. Broken glass, empty plastic bottles, torn cardboard and crumpled plastic packaging was scattered everywhere. Lisa saw a large, flat-screen TV sitting in the middle of the road.
There was evidence of fierce fighting, blood smears on walls and vehicles, and fallen weapons on the ground. Military grade rifles and pistols lay alongside makeshift implements like kitchen knives with reinforced hand grips, and baseball bats studded with nails.
And there were bodies. Bodies everywhere. Slumped in doorways and draped over the wreckage of burnt-out cars. The full collection of repugnant injuries were on display. Shredded limbs, spilling guts, gouged throats and disfigured faces.
Lisa was fighting a renewed battle with her spasming airways. Her chest felt like it was in a vice. Her breath was coming in small grunts. She felt woozy and light-headed. She really needed her inhaler now. When Anita stopped once to retch, all she could do was watch.
But they pushed on through the town and out the other side. They had to. After they were over the last barricade, they got back on the bikes and pedalled fast and hard until they reached the top of a long wide road that lead to the suburb of Shirley, and then on to Attwood Common.
Lisa dropped her bike and stumbled to the side of the road. She leant on a low wall and tried to catch her breath. Her vision was blurred, and a high-pitched whine rang in her head.
Anita was behind her. Lisa felt the girl put a hand on her shoulder.
"What can I do. Lisa? How can I help?"
"Nothing … " Lisa gasped. "Need … inhaler."
"Oh, Jesus!"
"Wait … Just wait … Will pass."
It took a while, but it did pass … eventually. Her breathing slowed and her airways began to relax. She gulped fresh air into her lungs. Every breath flooded her body with oxygen. Her head began to clear. The whine began to fade.
Anita sighed with relief. "Jesus! Thank God! You really scared me. Are you ok?"
"Yes … sorry 'bout that. I'm going to be … I am … I'm ok."
She was, but it had been close. Too close! Much too close! She'd been lucky. Next time, she might not be. She had to get an inhaler.
"I'm going to have to get an inhaler, Nita. I thought I could manage without one, but I can't. Sorry!"
"Don't be sorry. And don't be stupid! You can't help it. We just need to find a chemist."
