�Whoosh!� The jet wheezed as it flew by on its second assessment, almost blowing away the sad-looking distress signal that now reads, �L-L-O�
�Do you think they saw it?� Hannah enthusiastically asked, as she runs to collect a portion of the �H�.
�I don�t see why not. In no time, there�ll be someone to rescue us, Hannah,� replied Selena, with a reluctant smile.Selena was uncertain but she knew the complex situation they were in: not only having to survive the infections, but to raise Hannah the best way they can.
Jim became aware of Selena�s need for corroboration. He consciously smiled at her and said; �I think they flew no more than twenty feet above us if that�s not comforting enough.� Hannah beamed with optimism.
Selena glanced at Jim, who now had a smirk on his face. �What? Why are you looking at me like that?� She suspiciously inquired.
�Oh, I was just thinking that when we�re rescued, you�ll forget all about me,� answered Jim, approaching Selena with a bundle of blankets. Selena coyly grinned at Jim. �I think it�s the other way around,� she hesitates. �Come on, we better lay these blankets out again so when they come back, they�ll know where to find us.�
* ~ * ~ *
Later in the afternoon, Hannah is placing the last rock at the end portion of a blanket so as to not have it blown away. �There, I think that does it.� She wipes her hands alongside her jeans and darts towards Selena. �I�m hungry.
What do you think Jim is making for us?�
�I don�t know, but we better get back before the cottage catches on fire!� Selena sarcastically chuckled. Hannah hops on Selena�s back and laughs along with her.
Hannah and Selena head back to the cottage where Jim is cooking up a storm in the kitchen. As they cross the threshold, a loud crash emerges from the kitchen, and then a thick cloud of smoke began to emanate and carry through the rest of the cottage. �Aaaaahh! Hot, hot, hot,� gasped Jim. �Ooh, this does not look good.�
Jim tries to fan out the smoke.
�What doesn�t look good?� Selena quipped, embracing Jim from behind. She glanced over his shoulder and saw what could have been canned ham. Selena begins to laugh and cough, simultaneously. �Oh, Jim what have you done?�
Hannah, fanning out the smoke, wanders into the kitchen. �Oh my God, what is that black-thing?� Hannah exclaimed with a hint of laughter.
�It�s our dinner�well, was our dinner,� Jim retorted. �I thought frying the ham would be much quicker than having to bake it. I didn�t think it would start a grease fire.� Selena and Hannah could not contain themselves and begin to laugh. Jim is let down at first, but sees the humour in it and joins in. �Well, I think if we scrape off the top layer, we can still have ham for supper.�
* ~ * ~ *
Jim places more firewood in the fireplace as Selena reads a passage from John Milton�s Paradise Lost to Hannah.��That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, Internal Man is but proportion meet, I of brute human, yee of human Gods.'
Now Hannah, what do you think Milton means by this?� Selena asks.
Hannah, looking uninterested shrugs her shoulders and overlooks Selena�s oral exam. �Jim, do you need a hand?�
�No, I got it, thanks.� He turns to see Selena, frustrated, anticipating a response from Hannah. �Hannah, you can help me in the kitchen after you�re done with your studies,� he flashes a smile at Selena.
�Why do I still have to learn all this stuff when there�s no more school?� complained Hannah.
Selena rises from the floor and tosses the book on the chair. �We�ll finish it some other time, then,� Selena spoke under her breath.
To break the uncomfortable silence, Jim speaks out, �The ham wasn�t too bad now, was it? I mean, it was a bit dry but it still had its flavour.� Hannah and Selena giggle. �It was horrible!� They both attest.
�Do you know what I would like right now? I would like to eat a big, fat steak
with baked golden russet potatoes and fresh steamed asparagus.
Mm, doesn�t that sound good?� Hannah with her eyes gleaming, rubbed her
hands together, and licked her lips.
�Yes! Or, tender prime rib with mashed potatoes piled high, up to here!� Selena places her hands between her stomach and to her nose. �I�d like red wine,
preferably Merlot, and for dessert, a big slice of German chocolate cake.
Mm, I can almost taste it.�
�What�s wrong with the ham I cooked? It wasn�t good enough? I rather liked it.�
Jim cried out.
Selena and Hannah look at each other and giggle some more. Hannah then walks over to Jim, pretending to be a waiter, takes her pretend-pencil to her pretend-pad, her palm, actually and asks, �What would you like, sir?�
Jim plays along, �Ahem, I think I�ll start off with the lobster bisque, then I�ll have the roast leg of lamb, and for dessert, I�d like the cr�me Brule. And may I see the wine menu, please?� Hannah hands him a pretend-menu. �Thank you, M�am.�
Selena collapses to the sofa in a fit of laughter. �Stop, stop. That sounds too good.� The jovial moment doesn�t last long; she then let out a hopeless sigh.
Hannah sits beside Selena and lays her head on Selena�s shoulder. �Selena, do you think they�ll really come?� She wraps her arms around Hannah.
�Of course, they will, Hannah.� Assured Selena. �I don�t know when, but I�m sure they will. Look, why don�t you go and hit the sack now. You�ll never know, they might arrive early tomorrow morning. You need all the rest in the world right now.� She kisses Hannah on the forehead. �Good night, Hannah.�
Hannah turns to Jim, �Good night, Jim.� He acknowledges her with a smile.
�Night, Hannah.�
As Hannah was about to leave the room, she marched back over to Selena and thoughtfully said, �Milton is saying that Satan has implied that the serpent is internally a man but his physical appearance is still unchanged.� Hannah sighs as she realizes the irony of their current situation, �But it is not true.�
Selena proudly smiled at Hannah as Jim withdrew to the kitchen to give them their moment. �Thank you, Hannah,� Selena delightfully replied.
Hannah then retreated to her room.
* ~ * ~ *
That evening, Hannah woke up in a cold sweat. She lies, huddled in the corner of her bed. Frightened to move, she fixes her eyes on a shadow of a tree branch swaying against the wall of her room. She imagines that it is her father, reaching out to comfort her. Usually, she would be afraid to glance at any moving object, for fear that it could be an infected, but tonight, the tree branch gave her some solace.
�You�ll be okay, honey.� Frank said, or was it the tree branch. It didn�t matter; Hannah could only hear her father�s soothing voice. �Be strong, my sweet. Jim and Selena are good people and they�ll take great care of you.�
�I miss you, dad,� Hannah mourned. She sat up from her bed and reached for the shadow. �I wish you were here, I wish you and mum were here.� She began to weep. Slowly, the shadow faded away as a hazy cloud covered the moon. �Dad, please come back. Don�t leave me, please don�t leave again.� Hannah pleaded.
Suddenly, another shadow formed against the wall. Hannah peered through her blanket. She notices that the shadow appeared to be more distinct, and she feels its presence. �Dad,� she cried. �Is that you?� The shadow quickly disappeared.
Hannah�s breathing becomes heavier; her palms began to sweat as an unknown presence draws near her room. �Hannah!� it mumbled. Hannah threw the covers over the side of the bed and jumped out. She quickly reached under her bed and flung a bat over her shoulder. Her breathing slowed down, along with the beating of her heart. �Hannahhhhh�� it incoherently mumbled. A bead of sweat slowly skims down the side of her cheek, and gradually falls on her shivering hand, which unyieldingly grasped the base of the bat.
�Who�s there?� Hannah nervously whispered as she carefully tip toed through the doorway into the hall of the staircase. She wavered before taking another step, and looked behind her. She waited, breathing evermore slowly, feeling the presence getting rapidly closer. A soft clatter tapped on the stairs. Hannah leaned against the wall, trembling; bat still in hand, ready to take aim. Again, she timidly asked,
�Who�s there?�
A tall shadowy figure appears at the foot of the staircase. It sloppily staggers its way towards Hannah. Hannah raises the bat over her head anticipating the figure to approach her. Three more steps and the figure will be at the bat�s reach.
It takes a step; the fading moonlight shines on the bottom-half of its face. Hannah�s eyes widened at the sight of a familiar apparition.
�Dad?� she cried, still keeping her distance.
�Hannah,� it called out.
Hannah slightly tilts her head to get a better view. It was Frank. It was her dad! He takes one step closer towards Hannah revealing his red-infected eyes. Hannah screams at the top of lungs and begins to swing the bat. �No, no, no!� she yelled.
Hannah�s piercing shriek chillingly awakens Jim and Selena from their slumber. They hear Hannah whimpering and shouting, �No!� in tandem. Jim quickly grabs hold of an axe and pounces out of bed.
�Jim, no. I�ll go.� Selena demanded, pushing away the axe. �Hannah is probably having one of her nightmares again.�
Selena takes her machete from the side of the bed and quietly creeps into Hannah�s room. She sees Hannah thrashing about in her sleep. Selena drops the machete on the floor and rushes to comfort her. Selena begins to wipe away the tears and sweat from Hannah�s flushed face. �Hannah, wake up. Hannah, you�re having another nightmare.�
Selena embraces Hannah with all her might and tenderly rocks Hannah in her arms. �It�s okay, Hannah. I�m here now. Everything�s going to be okay. Shh! Do you want to take something?� Selena inquired, rocking Hannah like a baby.
�Mm-hm,� replied Hannah wearily.
Selena runs off to fetch her medicine bag and hastily makes her way back to Hannah. She offers Hannah a Valium and Hannah immediately takes it and swallows it without hesitation. Selena consoles Hannah for a while longer until she�s fast asleep, retreating back to bed with Jim.
�Is she alright?� Jim asked with deep concern. �I don�t think we should be giving her Valium every night. She can get addicted to it.�
Selena worn-out, collapses on the bed next to Jim and begins to sob. �I don�t know what else to do, Jim. I don�t know how be a mother. Her nightmares seem to be getting worse. I don�t want her to go through this anymore,
and I don�t want her to feel alone��
�Shh, it�s okay. She�s not alone. Hannah�s got us.� Jim pulls Selena towards him and envelops her in his arms. Gently swaying her, he caresses her cheeks. �We�re in this together, Selena�You know, this whole parent-thing is new to me too, but I think we�ve done a good job with Hannah.� Jim pauses, �No, a fantastic job! She�s fine and
she�s stronger than you think.�
Selena wipes her tears and gazes up at Jim, �Yeah?� Jim nods and gently lifts her face to his. He softly kisses her and smiles. �All better, now?� he whispered.
Selena swiftly seizes the candle votive from the windowsill and blows the fire from the wick. The room quickly dims. Selena whispers, �All better now.�
* ~ * ~ *
A few days after the jet flew by, not another signal of a heroic rescue has come. Hanna�s spirits has descended and she has locked herself in her room. She has not eaten in days or has uttered a single word to either Jim or Selena.
They begin to worry.
Looking up at Hannah�s window, Jim can see that Hannah is wallowing in self-pity in her room. The sun�s ray flickers behind the cottage, onto his eyes causing Jim to set his attention back to the blueberry bush in front of him. He picks a bunch of ripe berries and places it in a basket but pops one into his mouth. This gives him an idea, and he gazes up at Hanna�s window once more.
�Selena, will you be alright here by yourself?� Jim doesn�t wait for an answer as he scampers off to the cottage with a handful of blueberries. �I�ll be right back.� Selena waves to Jim and stuffs a bunch of berries in her mouth.
Jim knocks on Hannah�s door, �Hannah, it�s Jim, can I come in?� Jim waits for a few seconds, and then briskly enters without any utterance from Hannah. He instantly launches into his unrehearsed speech.
�Look, I know we said that someone will be coming to rescue us and I guess we shouldn�t have been so rash to say that, but I firmly believe that someone from the jet did see us and will come.� He nervously begins to pace the room, concentrating on not crushing the berries in his hands.
�Hannah, Selena and I are worried about you. If the virus is not going to kill you, then it�s lack of eating. Please come out and eat. Hmm?� Jim walked over to Hannah. �Selena and I found a blueberry bush behind the cottage.� Jim gaily displays a handful of blueberries. �They�re really good and fresh. Will you have some?�
Jim pops a couple in his mouth. �Mm, they�re sweet and ripe.�
He enticingly waves them in front of Hannah.
Hannah glances up at Jim, then onto the blueberries. �They do look good.� She takes a few from Jim and slowly eats them one at a time. �They are sweet and juicy. Um, thanks, Jim.� She places another berry in her mouth. �I�m sorry for making you and Selena worry. You two don�t deserve a spoiled brat like me and you shouldn�t have to worry about me either��
�No, don�t say that. Selena and I care about you and I think your father would�ve wanted us to care for you. You�re not spoiled at all�it�s me you have to worry about, eh?� Jim grins and gently prods Hannah on her ribs. Hannah is amused.
�Jim! Hannah! Hey!� From a near distance they hear Selena screaming. �Jim, do you hear that? Jim, Hannah, it�s a helicopter! Do you hear it? They�re here,
they�re here for us!�
Selena rushes through door, almost breaking it open. �Jim, Hannah! They�re here!� Selena leans over a table intensely panting. She struggles to talk in between gasping for air. �Do you�hear the hel�licopter?�
Jim and Hannah run out to Selena. Many questions are thrown at her. Selena doesn�t respond right away, still trying to catch her breath.
�Where?�
�Selena, are you okay?�
�How many are there?�
�Is it the military?�
�Where is it coming from?�
�Where did they land?�
�Are they here to rescue us!�
�They landed on the clearing, over our SOS. Are you ready to meet them?�
Selena finally replied.
In unison, they enthusiastically scream. �Ready as I�ll ever be!� Jim shouted as he grabbed hold of Selena and Hannah�s hands. He leads them out of the cottage and through t he garden, howling and hooting as they run in the direction of the clearing.
* ~ * ~ *
As they near the clearing, one helicopter was already grounded and another one in the act of landing. Shielding themselves against the violent, trembling wind of the blades, they managed to reach the first helicopter.
A tall, older man with a slight hunch, dressed in a navy jumpsuit and wearing aviator glasses climbs out of the helicopter. �Hi there. We saw your sign and thought we�d drop by and see what all the fuss is all about.� The man said dryly. �I�m Bruce Norton, but everyone calls me Bruno. Get it?� He lets out a thunderous guffaw that almost echoed out into the forest.
As he laughed, Selena and Hannah meekly hide behind Jim, standing tall and proud as if protecting them.
�That over there is my co-pilot, Charlie.� Charlie, still wearing a helmet and goggles, walks over to Jim and extends a welcoming hand. Jim doesn�t respond. Charlie removes the helmet and goggles to reveal that she is in fact a young, attractive woman, small, built-frame yet still feminine.
�Bruno, don�t frighten these fine people. They look like they�ve been through a lot.� Charlie removes her gloves. �Hi, I�m Charlie,� taking hold of Jim�s hand and shakes it. �Don�t worry about Bruno�his bark is louder than his bite.�
�Hi, I�m Jim and this is Selena and Hannah.� Jim steps aside to introduce the two ladies to their rescuers. Selena reaches out her hand to Charlie, but she does not notice or accept Selena�s gesture.
�Sorry it took us this long to come to you but we had to wait until a clear day came again and to make sure that it was safe for us to travel out here.� Bruno explained. �You�re the first sign of life that we�ve seen in a couple of weeks, Jim. We weren�t even sure if you would still be alive when we came back,� he pauses as if to correct him self, �Bloody hell, here you all are! God save you. Come on, let�s meet your pilot.�
Bruno and Charlie lead the way to the second helicopter. Selena comfortably slides her hands in with Jim�s and walks beside him. Jim turns to Selena and kisses her cheek. Hannah follows behind.
�Jim, Selena, Hannah, this is Crash. He�ll be your pilot today.� Crash, a medium-built man, in his early thirties, walks over to introduce himself. He�s wearing the same navy jumpsuit that Bruno and Charlie are wearing, except instead of a military issued hat, he�s wearing an Atlanta Braves ball cap.
�Howdy! I�m Crash, nice to meet you folks.� He graciously removes his cap and screens the bright sun with it. You can tell from his hospitality and drawl that he is an American from the South. �Don�t mind my name, it�s just a silly little nick name that I got because I�ve come close to crashing many times, but I never have.
Knock on wood.� He nervously chuckles.
Hannah, fascinated by his accent, eagerly pushes her way to the front to introduce herself. �I�m Hannah and these are my mates, Selena and Jim.� They shake hands as they exchange cordial words with Crash.
After the introductions, Jim and Selena escort Bruno and Charlie back to the cottage. Hannah stayed to talk to Crash after she persistently pleaded with Jim to stay behind. Selena agreed, knowing Hannah�s sudden schoolgirl crush on Crash. �It�s okay, Jim. Hannah will be fine. She seems interested in the helicopter; let her be.�
At the cottage, Selena filled four mugs with hot, scalding tea. �We�ve run out of fresh tea so we�ve had to recycle the teabags.� Selena awkwardly explains. �It�s still good just as long as you add sugar and creamer. Sorry, we have no fresh dairy.� She serves Bruno a cup, and hands one to Jim, leaving Charlie to fend for herself.
�Thank you, Selena.� Bruno blows the steam off his mug. �You�re probably wondering where we�re stationed at. A couple months back, right when the rage-virus made news, a small island southwest of the Isle of Man, began to put up blockades around the province. At first, it seemed that the town might have been too fearful, but they were smart and took precautionary measures. Soon enough, when the entire country of England and the adjoining countries became ruthlessly infected with the virus, the only place the non-infected can come to live was the town. It�s a small community of families, business people, doctors, I mean everyone, and they are thriving with each other�s help. Everyone has a job to do, whether it�s securing the town, farming, teaching,� Bruno takes a sip of his tea, �...or cooking. Everyone has to earn his keep.�
�The barricade can�t be enough. How are they being protected?�
Selena curiously asked.
�Mind you, it is a small town, currently, with approximately 300 non-infected people. There are only a few military personnel, so everyone, men and women, even boys take turn securing the barricade.� Bruno continues to disclose.
�No one gets in or out, only by air.�
�If you don�t mind having to work to survive, you�re welcome to come with us.�
Charlie boldly states, eyeing Jim.
Jim doesn�t notice. �How soon will we have to pack up and leave?� asked Jim.
�We should leave at fourteen hundred hours, that�s in a couple hours.� Bruno takes a glimpse at his watch. �Don�t pack too much, just necessities. Oh yeah, we�ll also take what ever provisions you may have here.� He points at the food supplies stacked up against the wall.
* ~ * ~ *
�Charlie�s quite fetching, isn�t she?� Selena implies suggestively. She sits on the foot of the bed and packs a shirt into her knapsack.
�What? I hadn�t noticed�is she?� Jim cautiously answers. Jim pulls out a sweater from the dresser cabinet and stuffs it in a bag. Selena takes it from him and begins to fold it. He grabs the sweater back from Selena and they playfully begin to tug at it on each side. Jim pulls the sleeve inch by inch, drawing Selena closer to him as they finally stand face to face. �Selena, I only noticed you.� He delicately held her cheek and passionately kissed her.
Just then Hannah walks in. �Oh, sorry.� Jim and Selena separate and carry on with their packing.
�I think you�ll like this place, Hannah. I believe there are kids your age and a school. So you�ll be ahead of everyone in class,� teased Selena. �And Crash will be there too.�
Hannah hides her blushing cheeks amid her hair.
* ~ * ~ *
Jim and Crash load the last box of supplies into the helicopter. �I think that�s the last of it,� declared Jim. �I never asked, how long is the flight going to be?�
�About an hour and a half to say the least. I hope none of you get airsick. The chopper can get very turbulent, and I�ll have none of you pukin�, you hear.� Crash helps Hannah into the co-pilot seat, straps her in and places a headset on her.
�Crash is right, it can get very rough, especially when we�re over the sea, so make sure to keep your straps on at all times,� instructs Bruno. �Sorry, we don�t have anything for air sickness except for this.� Bruno hands Jim a paper bag.
Selena opens her backpack and pulls out her stash of pharmaceutical pills. She rummages through the bag and pulls out tablets of motion-ease pills. �Hannah, take one of these.� She hands one to Hannah and to Jim, and takes one herself.
�I think we�re fine now. Let�s move on.�
�Wow, you must�ve needed a bloody prescription for that lot?� Observed Bruno sarcastically.
Selena grinned. �So I�ve been told.�
Bruno and Charlie climb into their chopper and head off. Crash and company follows right behind them. Their journey to this new �paradise� begins a new adventure and a new life for them.
TO BE CONTINUED�