Remains of the past III E-Book

S. C. Loader

• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 387

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Silently and without warning, the first wave swept away civilisation. On a carefree Sunday morning in early June, most of the world's population suddenly died, falling instantly dead where they stood. There was no opportunity to express any loving sentiments and no famous last words to fill future history books, just silence. A second wave one week later reduced the number of survivors even further. Some of those who had outlived these cataclysmic events formed two communities: the larger one in Weyhill Castle and a smaller one, a short distance away, in Lower Nieder Castle, a former five-star hotel: Personal links between the two groups help to establish cooperation between them, allowing for the sharing of technical skills, knowledge and, inevitably, intimate personal relationships. Despite the fast-approaching seventh anniversary of the waves, members of the two communities are still discovering the grotesque depths to which some survivors have plummeted. To ensure their own long-term survival against these deviants and those who covet everything they possess, both castles initiate a program to strengthen their defences, but with the restricted availability of materials and transportation, this is no easy task.

Leseprobe

Also by S.C. Loader

Helping Hands

The Realm

Three Wishes

The Last Chapter

Remains of the Past

Remains of the Past ll

Remains of the Past

III

The Future is

a Consequence

of the Past

S. C. Loader

www.tredition.de

© 2025 S. C. LoaderK(1)Coverdesign: RebecacoversISBN Softcover: 978-3-384-40317-9ISBN E-Book: 978-3-384-40318-6

Printing and distribution on behalf of the author:tredition GmbH, Heinz-Beusen-Stieg 5, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany

The work, including its parts, is protected by copyright. The author is responsible for the contents. Any exploitation is prohibited without his approval. Publication and distribution are carried out on behalf of the author, to be reached at: tredition GmbH, department “Imprint service”, Heinz-Beusen-Stieg 5, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany.

Das Werk, einschließlich seiner Teile, ist urheberrechtlich geschützt. Für die Inhalte ist der Autor verantwortlich. Jede Verwertung ist ohne seine Zustimmung unzulässig. Die Publikation und Verbreitung erfolgen im Auftrag des Autors, zu erreichen unter: tredition GmbH, Abteilung “Impressumservice”, Heinz-Beusen-Stieg 5, 22926 Ahrensburg, Deutschland.

Love

does not dominate,

it cultivates.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Für

Maxi Mädei

unsere kleine Puppe

Preface

Remains of the Past:

Silently and without warning, the first wave swept away civilisation. On a carefree Sunday morning in early June, most of the world’s population suddenly died, falling instantly dead where they stood. There was no opportunity to express any loving sentiments and no famous last words to fill future history books, just silence. A second wave one week later reduced the number of survivors even further.

Remains of the Past II:

Some of those who had outlived these cataclysmic events formed two communities: the larger one in Weyhill Castle and a smaller one, a short distance away, in Lower Nieder Castle, a former five-star hotel. Max’s intimate links with both groups helped establish cooperation between them, allowing for the sharing of technical skills, knowledge and, inevitably, personal relationships.

Remains of the Past III:

Despite the fast-approaching seventh anniversary of the waves, members of the two communities are still discovering the grotesque depths to which some survivors have plummeted. To ensure their own long-term survival against these deviants and those who covet everything they possess, both castles initiate a programme to strengthen their defences, but with the restricted availability of materials and transportation, this is no easy task.

Chapter One

Maja and Mary, Max’s future wives, wandered off to discuss which one would be the honeymoon bride, an issue they had overlooked in their meticulous planning of their joint marriage to Max.

The prospective groom breathed a sigh of relief. For the time being, at least, he had not been expected to step into the veritable minefield and make the decision himself.

Left alone and wondering how the two women in his life could possibly resolve this latest conundrum, Max stared vacantly at the hot wax making its way down the side of the candle, the only form of lighting in Lower Nieder Castle once the sun had gone down.

Suddenly, two grinning faces appeared on the opposite side of the candle’s flame, breaking Max’s reverie.

‘We’ve got a problem, mate!’ announced Justin, one of the five men within the Lower Nieder group.

‘We have?’ queried Max.

‘We have!’ confirmed Ray. ‘Most of the women want to attend Liam and Lisa’s wedding this weekend…’

Max interrupted, ‘If it’s still going ahead, there’s talk that baby Maja’s surprise arrival may necessitate a change of plans.’

‘Even so, your wedding is a week later, and literally everyone wants to attend your nuptials, but we only have one saloon car, which means we can only ferry three people over to Weyhill Castle at a time.’

‘Why only three?’

‘Because, like your group, we also have the rule that no one travels alone. Someone has to ride in the shotgun seat.’

Max made a hurried calculation. ‘There are twenty-two of you here, so that’s seven trips back and forth to transfer the guests from one point to another, half if we use the Weyhill pick-up.

‘Twenty! Two will remain to keep guard,’ Ray informed him.

Max mulled over the options. ‘Shame we don’t have something larger. That would make life a little easier.’

Justin grinned. ‘Strange you should say that because we do… sort of!’

‘What does “sort of” mean?’

‘It’s a GCC multi-personnel carrier, seats ten, thirteen at a squeeze, plus driver.’

‘Wow, they’re nice motors. I suppose it’s petrol-driven?’

‘No, second generation electric, with a solar charger and cables on site and compatible with the charger J.D. installed for us here in the castle.’

‘No key?’

‘It’s on the hook in the manager’s office.’

‘So what’s the problem? Ha! I know, the tyres are shot, and the rims have locking wheel nuts.’

‘Admittedly, the tyres have passed their use-by dates, but the rims are removable and easily replaced with any standard five-stud rim fitted with an R sixteen tyre.’

Ray took over. ‘And as luck will have it, there are four such items fitted with brand new winter tyres on-site.’

‘So what’s the problem? Are the garage doors welded closed or something?’

‘No, it has a fully functioning, chain-operated roller-shutter door.’

‘Okay, I give up. What’s the problem?’

‘We’ll show you tomorrow morning!’

Mary rolled onto her side and lovingly smoothed her fingertips through Max’s short beard, ‘You’re quiet. What’s troubling you?’

‘What makes you think something is?’

‘Max, this is not the first time we’ve shared a bed, is it? And when we have, you have been the most incredibly attentive and, if I may say so, the most passionate lover any woman could wish for. Yet tonight, you seem a little absent-minded, and those hands which would cause a nun to abandon her vows, her habit and her inhibitions have fallen unusually still. So what’s wrong?’

‘Sorry, I feel a little uneasy knowing Maja is within these walls.’

‘There’s no need; you know the agreement. While you’re here, I’m your wife, and you’ll sleep with me. In Weyhill, Maja is your wife, and you’ll sleep with her. For Maja and myself this is the simplest way to avoid causing any undue jealousy, even when our paths cross like tonight. You have two wives… enjoy us!’ A short silence passed before Mary thought to add, ‘Although preferably not at the same time.’

‘This is weird, talking about swapping wives when we’re not even married yet. Have you two resolved the issue over the honeymoon yet?’

‘Yes, and we’ve also agreed you’ll start the first fourteen-day wife-swapping rotation from tomorrow with Maja, and as we will marry during her rotation, she will be your honeymoon bride. My turn will come later when you begin your two-week rotation with me on the fifteenth.’

‘Which of you two came up with this fortnightly rotation idea?’

‘Maja.’

‘Why not longer, like a month, for instance?’

‘You know Maja’s objective: as she cannot have children, she wants me to fall pregnant by you, and the timing of the rotation is intended to aid that outcome.’

‘And you’re still okay with that?’

Mary snuggled tightly up against Max. ‘I would sell my soul to the devil rather than be without you, Max. Since that day in the barn, you have been my reason for living. When you left to find Lenny the pig farmer, I cried like a lovelorn schoolgirl for days. Now that I have you back in my life, I would agree to anything to keep you there.’

‘But you could end up pregnant.’

Stretching up, Mary placed a series of faint but highly sensual kisses on his lips. ‘And I would burst with pride knowing I’m carrying your child.’

Max drew her into the security of a comforting embrace, then quietly corrected her, ‘Our child.’

Brandishing a shotgun each, Ray and Justin led the way up the gently inclined street. Following them and accompanying an unarmed Mary were Max and Maja, both sporting nine-millimetre pistols and knives. Bringing up the rear of their party were Diana, Lower Nieder’s hunter, and her partner Kay, both armed with rifles.

Casting an eye over all the weaponry prompted Mary to admit to Maja, ‘I’m beginning to forget what it was like to walk down a street alone; now we dare not. Now we move in pairs or groups, automatically watch every window, door and alleyway, assume every large object is hiding someone hostile to us, and we carry a multitude of weapons, but despite all of these precautions, nothing eases the apprehension induced by the eerie silence that surrounds us.’

Maja sighed. ‘Once upon a time, I would have held one of my son’s hands while out walking, simply for the comfort of knowing he was safe. Now I feel for my pistol for the comfort of knowing I’m safe, but I must admit, it doesn’t always work. Who knows, perhaps one day we’ll be able to walk alone again.’

Max accessed the overturned three-and-a-half-ton, curtain-sided truck blocking the forecourt of the Lower Nieder Coaching Company, where the multi-personnel carrier was garaged. ‘Okay, I’ll agree it’s not worth righting the truck because, without compressed air, the brakes won’t release, but why not use your forklift to shift the whole unit out of the way?’

‘Our forklift is only rated to lift one ton,’ replied Ray.

‘It doesn’t need to lift it. Clear the cargo to reduce the weight, and your forklift could easily drag or shunt the back of the truck away from the garage door.’

Ray smiled and nudged Justin. ‘Do you want to tell him, or shall I?’

Justin rapped the bottom of an exposed steel bollard with his boot. ‘That’s a hint.’

Max examined the wreck a little more thoroughly. Puzzled. He looked up and down the street, ‘Okay, pray tell. How does a truck travelling along a perfectly straight road end up on its side impaled on three retractable security bollards?’

Ray shrugged his shoulders. ‘Practice?’

A smirk crept onto Justin’s expression as he suggested, ‘Ask the driver. He’s still in the cab, or what’s left of him is.’

‘I suppose I should be grateful; at least he missed the fourth one.’

‘Hopefully, this shouldn’t take too long,’ stated Max confidently. ‘Okay, let’s get organised. Kay, can you escort Ray back to the castle to fetch your forklift? Maja, you’re with me and Justin. Mary, please stay with Diana.’

‘Why can’t I come with you?’ she asked.

‘Confined spaces like the inside of a building are dangerous. If we are attacked, you do not have the raw strength or the hand-to-hand combat skills to fight off an adversary, but you do have twenty-twenty vision, which makes you an invaluable lookout.’

‘Where are we off to?’ asked Maja.

‘The garage’s workshop, where Justin assures me there are some oxyacetylene tanks. If we cut through those bollards, we will be able to shift that truck.’

‘Why didn’t you do that?’ Maja asked Justin.

Justin laughed. ‘Lass, in my job, the only metal I ever came into contact with were staples and paperclips.’

‘What job was that?’

‘I worked as an accountant for a small company producing cardboard packaging, and in my department we didn’t have much use for oxyacetylene welding equipment. Shame really; it might have proved very useful in seeking revenge on that sadistic vending machine that frequently refused to cooperate or return our money.’

While Maja kept watch, Justin watched Max run through the safety checks on the tanks, their cylinder valves, pressure gauges and regulators, the hoses and various points on the torch. ‘Okay, everything seems in order. Grab those gloves and visor, and I’ll drag this lot out to the truck.’

Once Max had set up near the first bollard he intended to cut, he advised everyone to stand well back, not to watch the flame or breathe in the fumes.

Maja kissed his cheek. ‘Please be careful. I’ve heard those cylinders can explode.’

Max looked puzzled by Maja’s comment, ‘You’ve seen me do this countless times, and you’ve never once asked me to be careful before. What’s so special about today?’

‘We’re getting married soon, and I want you in one piece when we do, and I suspect Mary would also prefer you intact as well.’

Mary nodded in agreement.

Looking at the oxy torch in his hand and then at Justin, Max asked, ‘How did women hone to perfection this ability to make one nervous without meaning to?’

‘Beats me, mate. Is it true they can explode?’

‘Yes, poor working practices, incorrect gas pressures or a kink in a hose can lead to a flashback.’

‘Flashback?’

‘That’s when the flame travels backwards up a hose from the torch towards the cylinders, commonly resulting in a burst hose or, less frequently, an explosion.’

‘Christ! I don’t feel so bad about that vending machine now.’

Two hours later, Max finished cutting the bollards off at ground level, enabling the forklift to shunt the lorry away from the shutter doors, allowing their prize, the GCC multi-personnel carrier, to escape its prison. Maja and Mary found relief in Max completing his work without incident, or worse, an explosion. Justin, however, found amusement in the fact that he returned the cutting equipment to its place in the workshop.

‘Why did you bother, Max? You could have saved yourself the hard work and left it outside.’

‘One day it might be needed, and if I had left it outside the hoses would have deteriorated beyond use.’

‘So? You have a set in the castle workshop.’

Max double-checked the cylinder valves were closed before giving an insightful answer. ‘It’s a valuable resource, Justin. Think how many generations will come and go before we have the raw materials, the power supply, the transport network, the labour force and even the knowledge required just to produce the gases for these two cylinders, let alone manufacture an entire set. We are the custodians of everything that has survived the waves, and it’s our duty to look after these things for the sake of the generations that follow us.’

Justin passed an eye over the oxyacetylene equipment. ‘Okay, point taken. But don’t hold your breath if you’re expecting a thank you from those who follow us; we inhabit a different world now.’

‘There’s no denying that. Come on! Show me what all this work was in aid of.’

Heather, the leader of the Lower Nieder group, welcomed Max, Maja and Mary on their arrival back at the castle. Looking past them, she asked, ‘Where are the others?’

‘The boys have a new toy, and Diana and Kay are making sure no one takes it away from them,’ answered Maja.

‘They only have two days to get it roadworthy. Do you think they’ll manage it in time for Liam and Lisa’s wedding on Saturday? Providing they’re still getting married, that is?’

Max nodded. ‘They’ll have it ready in no time. It only needs charging up, a change of wheels and a good wash, but unfortunately, there’s a question mark hanging over Liam and Lisa’s wedding.’

‘They haven’t changed their minds, have they?’

‘No, no,’ answered Maja, ‘in fact, they are even more determined to get married now that baby Maja is here, but her birth has taken its toll on Lisa, and she’s not sure she’ll be up for walking down the aisle so soon after giving birth. We’ll let you know what’s happening tomorrow evening.’

‘That would be appreciated.’

Tom, the Weyhill beekeeper, and Alice, the Lower Nieder beekeeper, joined them.

‘Heather, you do know of Liam and Lisa’s… family ties, don’t you?’ asked Tom.

Heather grinned, ‘If that was a subtle way of asking whether we knew they’re brother and sister, then the answer is yes, we do. We suspected as such when they first arrived here, and of course it’s been confirmed since.’

Heather’s answer piqued Max’s curiosity. ‘Then why do so many of the women here want to attend their wedding?’

‘Their relationship may be incestuous, but theirs is a delightfully beautiful love story, and their wedding is the next chapter in that story, just as baby Maja was.’

‘So that explains the enormous interest in mini Maja, sorry, baby Maja.’

Heather nodded. ‘We have inherited a world where violence rules beyond the walls of our respective castles, so when something beautiful happens, we want to celebrate it. Anyway, we digress. Tom has something he would like to ask.’

‘Would you mind if Alice comes back to Weyhill with us later? She’ll return after the wedding.’

Max looked to Maja, ‘I’m okay with that, are you?’

‘No problem here. I can’t think of any reason to object to one beekeeper wanting to show another beekeeper his... bee collection.’

Mary nudged Maja. ‘I think it’s his… beekeeping equipment he wants to show her!’

‘Given that they kept half the castle awake last night, I think he already has,’ added Heather dryly.

Tom and Alice blushed heavily; everyone else grinned.

After she had said her goodbyes to everyone else, Max stepped up to Mary to give her a parting kiss, a particularly intimate kiss that demonstrated how they felt about one another without the need for words, but on catching sight of Maja a short distance away, he hesitated.

‘What’s wrong?’ queried Mary.

‘This feels really awkward. If I kiss you the way I want to, it will probably upset Maja. To avoid upsetting her, I should avoid kissing you, but that would then upset you.’ After letting a sigh have its freedom, Max added wearily, ‘If this is a foretaste of what married life will be like, then I’m beginning to question the wisdom of agreeing to marry you both.’

Mary beckoned Maja to join them. ‘Max won’t kiss me goodbye because you’re watching.’

‘Why not?’

‘He thinks it would upset you.’

‘Max, do you think that the emir who once owned Weyhill Castle would have worried about such things when he kissed one of his four wives?’

‘Had one of his wives voiced or shown any hint of displeasure, the emir would have done what all ridiculously rich men tended to do back then: tossed her to one side and replaced her. I’m not the emir, and I would never treat either of you like that. I want to treat you both equally, with respect, and avoid doing anything that would upset either.’

Maja kissed his cheek. ‘We will hold you to that!’ Then she turned her back to them. ‘Okay, I’m not watching! Do whatever it is you’re going to do, but no sloppy wet ones.’

Mary immediately grabbed Max and drew him into their goodbye kiss.

A short while later and still a little breathless from their kiss, Mary informed Maja, ‘It’s safe to turn around now.’

‘I’m glad about that. The view in that direction is really boring.’

‘I think the view in the opposite direction would have been even less to your taste,’ suggested Max.

Mary nudged Maja. ‘All this fuss over a kiss! What do you think he’ll do when he realises he’s called one of us by the wrong name?’

‘Run screaming from the room before throwing himself in the moat, I expect.’

‘Then let’s hope he does that in Weyhill.’

‘Why?’

‘Your moat is dry! Ours is full of water and four metres deep.’

‘Then let’s hope he can swim.’

As Max was about to climb aboard the Weyhill pick-up truck, Heather rushed over. ‘Ray has just contacted me on the walkie-talkie. Could you stop off on your way past? He has something he would like you to pass on to J.D.’

‘Of course.’

‘See you on Saturday… hopefully!’

‘Likewise!’

Chapter Two

A welcoming committee met the pick-up on its arrival back at Weyhill. Jack, Arthur and Karl, three of the four Weyhill farmers, beckoned Max to drive on through to the garage rather than, as was their usual practice, stop in the porte-cochère. Maja hung her head out of the passenger window to enquire, ‘What’s going on?’

Meadow, Maja’s deputy security coordinator, rode the pick-up’s running board while Max drove across the castle’s quadrangle. ‘Hi boss, it’s good to have you back again. Our glorious leader Sophie has discovered there are insufficient mattresses to go around should all the Lower Nieder group attending Liam and Lisa’s wedding stay overnight, and consequently has got herself in a bit of a state. So the three men have volunteered to go and find some more!’

‘We don’t know if there will be a wedding yet.’

‘There will be. Lisa is adamant that she will marry Liam on Saturday, even if she has to crawl down the aisle.’

‘Love conquers all.’

‘So they say.’

‘Who’s acting as security for this trip?’

‘Lilith and myself, but you can go in my place if you prefer.’

‘No, that’s okay, but make sure the men take a couple of shotguns and Lilith wears her utility belt. She’s a far better shot with a pistol than with a bow and arrow.’

‘Aye, aye, boss!’

Tom and Alice made for Tom’s beekeeping workshop, and after Max had helped hitch the trailer to the pick-up, he headed off to see J.D. As Maja made her way towards the security office in the porte-cochere, Elisa, who had accompanied them to Lower Nieder, joined her.

‘Maja, I need your help with the Weyhill Chronicle.’

‘In what way?’

‘Until now, I’ve been unsure how to start it, but after speaking to Heather, she explained how she intends to start theirs. She’ll begin by introducing everyone who’s there and listing their roles within the group. I would like to do something similar.’

‘But there are only twenty-two of them! There are over fifty here.’

‘And I don’t know all of them or the roles they perform, hence the reason I need your help.’

‘Sophie would have been a better choice of person to ask for this information.’

‘I would have, but she never stands still long enough for me to ask.’

‘She can be difficult to pin down at times. One thing, though: I don’t know anyone’s surname.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I just need an overview for the time being. Take me through who’s who, their roles, and any other information you think might help.’

Maja nodded. ‘Okay, if you have a few minutes to spare, take a seat in my office, and once I’ve secured the gates, I can take you through the “who’s who” of Weyhill Castle.’

‘Tom: Elected registrar and beekeeper.

Bill: Carpenter.

Ralph: Vegetable farmer and Louise’s father.

Daniel: Poultry farmer.

Alex: Plumber, Amelia’s husband and Kathy’s father.

Karl: Farmer and Alexandra’s long-term partner.

Jack: Farmer and Linda’s long-term partner.

Arthur: Farmer and Sophie’s husband.

John: Farmer, Hanna’s husband and Stephanie’s father.

J.D.: Electrician and Meadow’s long-term partner.

Samuel: Shadow to Alex.

Bob: Shadow to Bill.

Michael: Evelyn’s 11-year-old son.

Max Wells: Mechanical engineer, Firearms instructor, Maja and Mary’s husband-to-be, and Victoria’s unofficial stepfather.

Lenny: Livestock farmer, baby Julia’s father and Sarah’s husband.

Liam Brown: Arrowsmith, baby Maja’s father and Lisa’s husband-to-be.

‘Wow, I didn’t realise there were so many interlocking relationships.’

‘I’ll agree there are a few. Anyway, that’s all the males. Do you want me to go through the females? It’s quite a list!’

‘Yes, please.’

‘By the way, the Shadows, or apprentices if you prefer, are all aged between Victoria’s sixteen and Liam’s twenty-one. Beyond that, I have no idea of their individual ages.’

‘Okay.’

‘Betty: Cook and Mandy’s grandmother.

Vera: Cook.

Elsie: Cook.

Sophie: Elected leader, cleaner and Arthur’s wife.

Isabella: Cleaner.

Raven: Hunter, Archery instructor and Victoria’s long-term partner.

Victoria: Shadow to Bill, Alexandra’s daughter, Raven’s long-term partner and unofficially, Max’s adopted daughter.

Alexandra: Hairdresser and seamstress, Victoria’s mother and Karl’s long-term partner.

Hannah: Cleaner, Stephanie’s mother and John’s wife.

Amelia: Cleaner, Kathy’s mother and Alex’s wife.

Ava: Laundrywoman.

Carol: Cook.

Rose: Laundrywoman and Sally’s mother.

Ella: Nurse.

Grace: Teacher.

Lisa: Shadow to Tom and Elisa.

Sally: Shadow to Ralph and Rose’s daughter.

Lilly: Shadow to Alexandra.

Lilith: Shadow to Daniel.

Evelyn: Cook and Michael’s mother.

Mandy: Betty’s ten year old granddaughter.

Louise: Ralph’s nine year old daughter.

Christine: Doctor.

Kim: Cleaner.

Meadow: Deputy security coordinator, Self-defence instructor and J.D.’s long-term partner.

Maja Reece: Chief security coordinator, Max’s wife-to-be.

Olivia: Cleaner and former Novice.

Sarah: Cleaner, baby Julia’s mother and Lenny’s wife.

Linda: Laundrywoman and Jack’s long-term partner.

Lisa Brown: Fletcher, Liam’s wife-to-be and baby Maja’s mother.

And four babies, Maja, Julia, Kathy and Stephanie.

And last but not least, you. Elisa: Elected registrar, gardener and the keeper of fruiting trees.’

‘Wow! That’s some list!’

‘Of course, job descriptions are flexible around here. The cleaners move around when their work is complete and help out wherever it is needed: in the kitchen, the laundry or the garden. The farmers do all the heavy lifting when not working on the machinery or in the fields, and when they are not under tuition, the Shadows double up as security personnel or as hunters.’

‘Christ, with a memory like yours, you should be writing this Weyhill Chronicle, not me!’

Max greeted J.D. as he walked into his workshop. ‘Hello, mate. Ray asked me to give you this copy of Hobby Electronics he’s found. He said he’s dog-eared the relevant pages, so presumably you know what this is all about?’

J.D. nodded. ‘Heather called on the walkie-talkie.’ Shortly, he found the pages with their corners folded down and opened the magazine out on his bench. ‘As you know, Lower Nieder has no electricity once the sun goes down, and they’ve been hassling me for something similar to our spiral wind turbine, but the only one available is the one outside my old technical university. The Lower Nieder group doesn’t have a heavy-lift forklift like we do, so that idea was always a nonstarter.’ Waving a hand across the pages, J.D. added, ‘This was another one of their ideas, small domestic wind turbines, but they have one drawback…’

‘Which is?’

‘No one stocked them! They were hugely expensive, and to erect them required special planning permission.’

‘Why did they require that?’

‘Many local authorities deemed them to be a noise nuisance and a disfiguring feature, ruining village and townscapes. Consequently, there was only a limited demand for them, so they were only available via mail order.’

‘Then why all the excitement over this magazine?’

J.D. showed Max the front cover. ‘Look at the issue date.’

‘Two months before the first wave, so?’

J.D. opened out the magazine again. ‘Look at the advertiser!’

‘Concord! Hey! That’s the company stocking those video cameras I needed to extend the security coverage here. Where are they?’

‘Thorn.’

‘Oh! That’s fifty or sixty kilometres from here. Is it really worth travelling that far, just for one turbine?’

‘I’ve been to this particular outlet. It’s huge! And if they’re stocking these turbines, you can guarantee they will have more than one in stock. And if they have, we’re bringing back everything we can get our hands on!’

‘Why? Lower Nieder only needs one unit.’

‘Max, look at the technical specs. There isn’t a single one listed that doesn’t impress me, and as for the five-kilowatt output... wow!’

‘Sorry, J.D., but voltage, amps and watts are all the same to me.’

‘Okay, a quick lesson in the appreciation of electrical terminology. Think of a cable carrying electricity as being a hose. Voltage is the power required to push the water through the hose. Amps represent the total volume of water moving through the hose, and watts represent the amount of water released from the hose via an outlet, a tap, for example.’

‘So, is five kilowatts a lot?’

‘Enough to power two hundred sixty-watt light bulbs simultaneously.’

‘That’s a few bulbs!’

‘To give you a better understanding of the power produced, you helped me fix twenty-four solar panels to the roof of this castle. With a clear blue sky and under a summer sun, each panel will produce five hundred watts. In total, they produce twelve thousand watts, or twelve kilowatts. One of these turbines advertised here will produce five kilowatts, day and night, so long as there is a wind strong enough to turn the blades…’ J.D. paused to check the specifications again. ‘And according to these specs, those blades start to move with a wind speed between two and three metres per second, and full output is achieved at twelve metres per second.’

‘Sorry, what’s that in real terms?’

J.D. picked up a calculator. ‘Two to three metres a second is about seven or eight kilometres per hour, in other words, a light breeze. Twelve metres per second is about forty kilometres per hour and is a strong breeze. Measure that up against our spiral turbine; that thing won’t even think about moving its lazy carcass until it’s caressed by a twenty-km/h breeze.’

‘Sounds like we could do with one ourselves.’

‘If I had my way, Max, there would be a whole row of them on our roof, but priority must go to Lower Nieder. One turbine would turn their lights on once the sun goes down; a second would help them cook, wash or mill, even on days when the sun doesn’t shine.’

‘Looks like a joint shopping trip is in order, we’ll get something organised when Heather, Ray and company come over for the wedding on Saturday.’

After dinner on Friday evening, a small group gathered around a convalescing Lisa in the recreational room, commonly known as the social club.

Elisa, one of the two registrars, spoke in a semi-secretive whisper. ‘We can’t hide the fact Liam and Lisa are siblings, not only because everyone knows it, but also because Tom and I fear omitting her surname throughout the marriage proceedings, as we did when calling the wedding banns, could undermine the legitimacy of their marriage.’

Lisa began to panic. ‘Does that mean we can’t marry?’

‘Don’t worry, Lisa, you can still marry. Tom has had a simple but brilliant idea.’

Tom spoke in an equally secretive whisper. ‘Maja, when asked to verify Lisa’s identity, please give her full name, and Max, please do the same for Liam. During the ceremony, I will also use their full names, but when we complete the registry, Elisa will spell Lisa’s “Brown” with an “e” at the end and Liam’s without. Then, should anyone question their marriage in future, they will find a Browne married a Brown, making their marriage look fully legal and hiding the fact they were related before marriage.’

Maja nodded. ‘A simple spelling error! Why didn’t we think of this earlier?’

‘Well, in truth, you can thank my Alice, it was her idea.’

Everyone turned to Alice and either congratulated her on the idea, shook her hand, patted her shoulder or, in Lisa’s case, gave her the tightest, teary hug she could muster.

As Tom and Alice walked away, Max asked no one in particular, ‘“My Alice”? That didn’t take long, did it?’

Elisa replied, ‘To quote Heather, “I blame the bees.”’

‘Liam! Before I forget,’ started Elisa, ‘please ensure I have your rings long before the ceremony starts. We don’t want them misplaced or forgetfulness to ruin the big day, do we?’

Liam nodded and squeezed Lisa’s hand. ‘We will make sure you have them in good time.’

Max nudged Maja. ‘I had forgotten about the rings. When are we three going to get ours, and where?’

‘Mine has already been put aside, and so has Mary’s.’

‘Put aside? Where? How?’

‘Max! You really should pay more attention to what is going on. After Liam and Lisa’s banns were called, Sophie had the next off-site team empty a jeweller’s window of all the display trays containing wedding rings. They brought back twelve trays, each holding about twenty rings. Mary needed to choose her ring before she returned to Lower Nieder, as we didn’t think she would be back here before our wedding, and as I was there with her, I chose mine as well.

‘Why didn’t you wait for me before choosing them?’

‘You were nowhere to be found, and time was short, so we went ahead. When you have time to choose yours, ask Sophie. Unfortunately, your choice will be limited to those that fit, as we have no way of adjusting their sizes.’

‘Will I be allowed to see your rings?’

‘Make a point of doing so. It will help you avoid matching your ring to either of ours. You don’t want to provoke jealousy in the wife whose ring doesn’t match, do you?’

The prospect of a jealous wife caused a cold shiver to claw its way slowly up and then back down Max’s spine. ‘Definitely not!’

Max escorted Maja on her last security round before heading off to bed, a simple process of making sure the three entrances to the castle were secure. After checking the two gates and the porte-cochere doors were locked, they made their way across the quadrangle towards the Meadow Gate, so called because a steep path led from it down the meadow. However, long before they reached it, they could see it was still open.

‘Victoria was supposed to have secured that gate tonight,’ volunteered Maja.

Fearing something may have happened to her, they ran the remaining distance only to find her staring into the distance.

Max stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her to help ward off the cold night air. ‘What’s out there that’s caught your imagination?’

‘I was just saying good night to Honey, letting her know she’s not been forgotten.’

‘She’s dead, Victoria. All that’s up there is the empty shell she once inhabited. Her spirit has moved on to be with those she loved.’

‘But it might not have moved on! It might still be up there, scared and all alone. There’s no one else up there.’

‘She knows she will always be welcome down here if that were the case. So there’s no need for you to fret.’

‘Max… could we move Julia up there? Then neither would be alone.’

‘We shouldn’t keep disturbing the dead, Victoria. We have already done that once when we brought Julia here from Enzersham Hall.’

‘But she was murdered there, so that doesn’t count, and now my big sister is all alone by the church. If we bury her next to Honey, then neither will be alone, will they? And it’s only an ossuary chest we have to move, isn’t it?’

Falling silent and lost in thought, Max gazed vacantly out into the darkness towards Honey’s grave.

Maja took Victoria’s hand. ‘I know you loved Julia even though she was not a real sister, and I know your mum loved her equally so. As for Max, he will forever hold her in his heart and blame himself for her death. That hurt him so deeply it’s left a scar on his soul, and he will be loath to disturb her resting place without very good reason. Ask your mum her opinion of your idea. If she agrees, then I’m sure Max will abide by your wishes.’

‘Okay, thank you, Maja.’

‘What for? A little piece of advice?’

‘No. For letting me know that Max still loves her despite marrying you and Mary.’

‘We never forget those we truly loved, Victoria, never.’

Chapter Three

Saturday morning arrived, and everyone had left their beds and was busying themselves long before the sun climbed out of its own bed. Expectations and excitement filled the air, and Sophie bristled with energy and was determined to show off Weyhill Castle in all its glory. In the kitchen, all four cooks and three helpers began preparing the involuntary ingredients for the wedding reception meal: three boar piglets, a small deer, four pheasants and two of their recently acquired turkeys.

Meanwhile, Sophie’s small army of helpers double-checked everything was spotlessly clean and polished, made up all the spare beds with fresh linen ready for the overnight guests, and set out plenty of chairs in the dining hall for the wedding ceremony. Finally, at her insistence, the fully armed Shadows formed an honour guard as the visitors’ car and minibus drove across the moat bridge and into the porte-cochère.

Sophie had nominated Maja and Max as guest greeters along with herself, but within minutes of their guests’ arrival, the porte-cochère filled with Weyhill well-wishers eager for a glimpse of old friends or some new faces. Victoria, Raven and Louise were well known to the Lower Nieder group and received their fair share of hugs and kisses. Waiting patiently at the back of the queue was Mary. After greeting Sophie and Maja, she stood before Max. They silently gazed at one another, but neither moved.

‘Okay, okay! I get it,’ stated Maja unenthusiastically, and turned her back to them. ‘All this fuss over a kiss!’

After a welcoming speech from Sophie and some directions on where to find the dining hall and social club, the assembled crowd began to disperse. With two hours before the ceremony, many of the visitors were eager to satisfy their varying curiosities. Karl volunteered to show Ray and Marcus the static combine harvester. Ralph, Elisa and Victoria guided an interested group around the extensive vegetable garden, greenhouses and store. Linda led the six party animals, better known as the Mailtor girls, into the social club to catch up on old times, and Sophie and Heather went off to discuss and allocate the convoluted sleeping arrangements. After helping to carry the wedding cake and the sweet pastries made by the Lower Nieder cooks into the dining room, Max and Justin returned to the porte-cochère.

‘What shall I do with all the shotguns, Max?’

‘Leave them unloaded in the locked vehicles, then they’ll be safe from inquisitive children, and you’ll know where they are if you need them in a hurry.’

While Justin unloaded the shotguns, Max passed an admiring eye over their newly acquired GCC minibus, the one he had helped free from imprisonment. ‘I can understand that you needed to wash this as it was filthy, but was it really necessary to wax it?’

‘Yes… Heather didn’t want Lower Nieder disgraced by arriving here in what she considered “a mobile embarrassment.”’

‘Understood. Sophie has had everyone running around in circles as well.’

‘Women!’

Max nodded in agreement, ‘How many came?’

‘Eighteen. Mike, Bill and Amy are looking after the castle, and Holly is not feeling her best, so she’s taken the opportunity to put her feet up.’

Max patted the bodywork of the minibus. ‘She’s come in handy already, hasn’t she?’

‘She has.’

‘Given that she has a tow bar, she’ll come in handy again soon.’

‘Sorry? In what way?’ queried Justin.

‘That magazine Ray asked me to pass on, do you know what it was all about?’

‘Yes, some type of wind turbine.’

‘Well, J.D. now wants one, or two, or as many as he can lay his hands on. So when you, Ray and Heather have a few minutes to spare, we need to organise a major shopping trip.’

‘Why major?’

‘Because the shop is fifty to sixty kilometres distant, it’s huge, so several lookouts will be needed to keep us safe, and if J.D.’s dream comes true, we’ll need a lot of muscle power to shift everything he wants and two trailers to transport it all back.’

‘This sounds like it could be an interesting day out!’

‘Could well be,’ Max checked his watch ‘We still have just over an hour. Do you want to see this combine harvester of ours?’

Ray nodded, ‘Absolutely!’

Tom stood and bid the congregation to sit. As soon as a respectful silence had fallen, he began the formalities. ‘We are here today to join Liam and Lisa in matrimony. Their banns have been called, their union has received community approval, and no objections have been lodged. Please may I ask the two witnesses to step forward?’

Max and Maja took their places, Max to Liam’s right and Maja to Lisa’s left.

Tom nodded to Max.

‘I, Max Wells, confirm the groom’s identity as Liam Brown of Weyhill Castle.’

Maja followed. ‘I, Maja Reece, confirm the bride’s identity as Lisa Brown of Weyhill Castle.’

Tom looked out over the sea of faces and asked in his strong, clear voice, ‘Should anyone know of any impediment to this marriage, please speak now.’

Everyone sat with bated breath for the short duration Tom had allowed for a reply. As he did not receive one, he continued.

‘Liam Brown, do you take Lisa Brown to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?’

‘I do.’

‘Lisa Brown, do you take Liam Brown to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?’

‘I do.’

From a small velvet cushion behind him, Tom took a ring and passed it to Liam. ‘Please place this ring on Lisa’s finger and repeat after me … With this ring, I pledge to you my eternal love and fidelity.’

As tears began to well in his eyes, Liam slipped the ring onto Lisa’s ring finger and repeated the words. Lisa’s tears wet her cheeks as she slipped Liam’s ring into place and repeated the same words.

Tom stepped back a little and announced, ‘With the authority vested in me by this community, I pronounce you husband and wife. Liam, Lisa, you may now kiss and seal your union.’

They kissed, and the dining room erupted into a mixture of loud cheering, clapping and shouts of encouragement and congratulations.

Because of its novelty value, the Weyhill Chronicle had been left open for all to view. The first page contained a short history of Weyhill Castle, or as best as Sophie could remember it. The next two pages followed the idea Heather had imparted to Elisa: a list of everyone within the castle; their names, date of birth, occupations, elected positions, and blood or marriage relationship to anyone else within the castle.

The fourth page, the actual chronicle of important events and registrations, now contained the first two entries.

The first was Liam and Lisa’s marriage registration.

Register of Marriage.

Groom: Liam Brown of Weyhill Castle.

Bride: Lisa Browne of Weyhill Castle.

Identifying Witnesses: Max Wells & Maja Reece, Registrar: Thomas Rayne.

Official Witness: Elisa Emily Mills.

And the second was baby Maja’s birth registration. Following the registration and birth dates came:

Register of Birth.

Child’s full name: Maja Victoria Brown.

Parents: Father, Liam Brown. Mother, Lisa Brown (nee) Browne.

Registrar: Thomas Rayne.

In both cases, those named had also signed the register.

Max and Maja added their compliments to those already received by Elisa for her beautiful handwriting, and additionally, they quietly expressed their admiration of her spelling.

On Monday morning, the big post-party clean-up began in earnest. Bob, Samuel and Karl squeezed past Maja and Meadow on their way to the panic room, each carrying a spare mattress to be stored there.

From the doorway of the security office, Maja watched as they slipped the plastic covers over the mattresses. ‘How many more are there?’ she asked.

‘That’s the last of them,’ replied Karl.

‘Did we lose any?’

‘Only one. One of the Mailtor girls had a little too much to drink and threw up over an old one. As it couldn’t be cleaned up, Arthur and Victoria have taken it to the quarry for disposal.’

‘Those girls really do know how to put the drink away, don’t they?’

‘They sure do, but there’s never a dull moment with them around.’

Meadow, who was monitoring the video camera behind Maja, announced, ‘There’s a stranger coming up the High Street towards the castle.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes, unless the shopping trolley it’s dragging along counts as a companion.’

‘Okay, Bob, Samuel, please put your utility belts on and go and unlock the gates. Karl, could you find Sophie, please? And let her know we have another guest.’

‘Sure.’

‘Meadow, you’re with me.’

Maja and Meadow stood at the entrance to the porte-cochère, and after Maja had tidied her hair, she made sure they were both presentable. Although Sophie always gave the welcoming speech, they were also part of the welcoming committee. Accordingly, as representatives of the castle and those within, she felt they should present a favourable first impression of both.

As the stranger turned into the driveway, Sophie joined them. Intrigued to know who would still be travelling alone six years and ten months after the waves, Karl secreted himself in the reception room doorway to watch unobserved.

‘What on earth is that?’ asked a bemused Meadow as the stranger drew closer.

‘An escapee from a freak show?’ suggested an appalled Sophie.

Meadow giggled.

Wearing a heavy, unbuttoned coat, gloves, scarf, sparkly headband, a corduroy dress, pink tights and men’s work boots, the stranger carefully parked the overloaded two-wheeled shopping trolley, then approached the welcoming trio. ‘Praise the lord, civilisation at last.’

Maja looked down at the much shorter, stockily built stranger. ‘Who, or what are you?’ she asked bluntly.

‘Hi, peoples. I’m Shelia,’ and she struck a photographic pose worthy of any classic Hollywood actress.

Sophie’s jaw fell open in disbelief.

Incensed, Maja grabbed her by the throat and marched her backwards until she had pinned the stranger up against a wall.

With her free hand, Maja immediately drew out her hunting knife and pressed the blade’s blunt edge firmly against the underside of the stranger’s nose.

‘I don’t know what you are; either you’re the ugliest bearded woman known to mankind or a pathetic crossdresser, but I intend to find out.

Maja swiftly removed her hand from around the stranger’s throat and grabbed between its legs, squeezing hard enough to make him cry out in pain. ‘So that answers that question. Now listen carefully. Within these walls, there are only two sexes: those that have these,’ again squeezing his scrotum excruciatingly hard, ‘who we call men, and those like me, born with a vagina, who we call women. There are no transvestites, nonbinarys, transsexuals, crossdressers, tree huggers or any other of you weirdos that screwed up society before the waves hit.’

‘We did not!’