Strange Red Ground (English Version) E-Book

Ronny Eckert

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 576

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

A British medical student fights for survival after an apocalypse unleashed by microbes from Mars and follows a radio message promising food and shelter for all. He fights his way through countries and continents where he encounters various dangers but also friends who accompany him to his destination. Summary: In 2034, the first space company succeeds in bringing soil samples from Mars to Earth. Scientists start by extracting the rock samples and encounter microbes. Humanity celebrates this discovery until the world suddenly changes. Plants die and food becomes scarce. The wealthy retreat into biospheres and leave the rest of humanity to themselves. Jim, a medical student, and his family are trying to serve up the onset apocalypse in the house. But the riots and looting are increasing dramatically. So Jim is looking for a hiding place for himself and his family in the nearby forest to escape the pack. When he returns, all people have disappeared without a trace.

Leseprobe

For my wife - that huge has supported me.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

You heard it in all messages. The Mars mission. It should be a success, as they did during the moon landing. The first man on Mars. This spectacle was broadcast worldwide. There's hardly another theme, which was represented in the media. Governments and Space Company were with this mission. The full programme was currently on Mars. Collect surveys, soil samples and make measurements. After the astronauts had done their work, they made on the way home with a lot of Mars rocks. The media reported without interruption of the returnees. Then, the day had come. They were back on Earth. All celebrated them as superheroes. After the other was an interview in the media watch. They told of the red stones, bringing with them to Earth. At the same time the scientists began to investigate the rock. Quickly it turned out that these samples consisted of a microscopic heterogeneous group of minerals and deposits of organisms and microbes. This was a discovery as she would have expected none. What has been suggested long time was now confirmed. There was life on Mars. The scientists had to work to extract the microbes. It took several weeks, but then the breakthrough came. The media spoke of an unprecedented event. All Governments and corporations congratulated on this achievement.

But a few weeks later, our world changed. The media reported serious animal and plants die in the regions of space companies. Shortly thereafter, reports piled up, until they came from all over the world. People panicked gradually. Governments tried to calm down, but then became known cases where people the skin reddish colored himself. And there have been more and more. Absolute chaos broke out. Voices have been raised, the microbes from Mars were to blame. The Governments tried desperately to develop an antidote. Everyone wanted to have a dose, because everyone thought it called him as the animals and plants. The secular economy came to a standstill. No one went to work. The anarchy broke out. Then came the news that there is a vaccine. The military drove through the streets and gathered the people. The first received their injections, but something was wrong. A few days after the dose has been administered, the people spitting foam and were epileptic. The military immediately ceased the vaccinations. More than half of humanity has been treated with the vaccine. Wild speculations went around. Wanted to the Government about reduce the risk by she deliberately administered a lethal dose, or simply just toxic was the active ingredient in connection with the microbes? All the people who have been vaccinated so far, died in the end because. Governments throughout the world blocked off himself. Even the big corporate bosses and the multi rich were included. The speech was by subterranean biosphere. Own air, water treatment systems, cultivated food, own Crematories were present. The life on Earth, as we knew it, had completely collapsed. Some said that it would happen the same as once on Mars. Since the microbes were extracted from Mars more than half of all animals and plants have died out. With two exceptions. The man was immune to the microbes. He got only a red skin. Dogs were the second exception. They lost all hair, but not died. But the people in their artificial biosphere knew nothing of all this.

Slowly the entire planet, the Microbe that spread, turned reddish. Water, Earth, everything was red. As the remaining plants gradually died off. Now six months since the outbreak had passed. The food and drinking water was scarce. No one dared to drink the Red water. The media reported worldwide riots, and then they stopped sending. The people on the surface went off each other. It was hell on Earth.

We write the year 2034.

Who am I? My name is Jim Forster.

My goal? Survival.

Chapter 2

I lived with my parents, Steve and margin, as well as my sister Kate, in Harlow, a suburb of London. On the day of the revolt, I was in the Woods, to find a suitable place, where we were hiding from the mob. When I came back, the streets were empty. Not a soul was to be seen. I ran faster and faster and faster, to come to our House. Then I was finally there. The door was wide open and I looked around. The street was swept as empty. It was so quiet. Very different in recent weeks, as we were in the House. I searched all the rooms. From the cellar to the attic. However, it was to find anyone of my family. What happened here? Where is everybody? I cried for hours. They had taken any clothes or similar. It was all still there. What is going on here? I asked myself that over and over again. Then I locked the House and wanted to be seen whether they would come back. There were a few cans of food and some bottles of drinking water. This should give me some time.

It became evening. I looked out through the window, but I could see nothing, it was too dark. No lighting, no bright moon light. Absolute darkness. I was so nervous. I didn't even have appetite to eat. I put me, hoping that my family would be at the door any moment. I fell asleep and dreamed of Sun and sea. It was a comforting feeling. The clean air, the sea and the cry of the seagulls. It was so... Then suddenly there was a knock on the door and I woke up. My first thought was, my family is back. I ran down to the door and opened it. It was my family. It was an older man with full beard and a stick in his hand. He shouted: "Give me your water!"

I tried to close the door, but he bracing himself against it. He shouted again: "Give me your water!" I felt that he was stronger than me. What should I do? A table lamp by Grandma Margret stood next to the door. I took the table lamp in hand and jumped back from the door. The man came into the House and yelled back: "Give me your water!" Quickly, I ran to the closet in which our water was stashed away, took a bottle and threw them against him. He dropped the stick, opened the bottle and drank. Now would be the opportunity to beat him the lamp over the head. But I didn't do it. When the man had been drinking, he said: "My name is George." I looked at him silently. He said we need to lock the House better, and started all furniture from the doors and the window to push. "Help me!" he growled but I couldn't move. Then he was done, looked at me and asked what was going on with me. I whimpered: "Where is my family?" He looked at me as he could not hear me. I repeated my question. We are some of the last, he said. I again spoke to him immediately. I explained that I was not here just one day and all were gone. George looked silently at the ground, sat down and took a SIP from the water bottle. "They're all gone", he grumbled. "Where to?", I wanted to know from him. He did not answer. I repeated my question with a loud voice: "Where to?" He moaned: "you go to sleep. We have tomorrow a day ahead of us." He lay down and fell asleep. I went to my room, sat down and cried until I fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, it was very quiet. The Sun was shining through my window and I looked at my skin with her red gloss. I wondered what actually happens. I got up and went down. I was curious to see whether George was still there. When I came down the stairs, he sat on the floor and looked at me. He didn't say a Word. I stopped and asked what we should do now. He said that I should sit down, which I then did. He breathed deeply: "What do you know about the microbes from Mars?" I replied: "I white that the microbes die out leave everything except for people and dogs." He nodded and looked to the floor. Then he got up and looked out the window. "We must leave here." I looked him quizzically. "Where are you going?" He told me of a radio message he had heard by it was said that in Australia there was open biosphere. "How to open?" He said: "Where everyone in to, not only the Government and the rich." I wondered how he would know this because. He said that he had hidden in a truck and heard this question set in an endless loop in the radio. I was astonished, and said nothing. "He said then:" your family "..." Yes, what for? ", I sighed. Then he was silent again. I asked him if he knew something and if so, I would need to know this. He only muttered: "We here must leave." I yelled: "Where did all the people!" He shouted back: "You're all dead or be held as a Guinea pig by the Government!" I slumped together and was shocked. George picked me up and encouraged me to be strong. "It must go on, boy." "Go...where?" He was furious: "did you not hear me to, the only chance is the radio message about Australia." What don't you get it?" I didn't know what I should answer that question. George steadfastly said we should go tomorrow. "And how?", I asked. "With everything that takes us.", he whispered.

Tomorrow? Morning I had birthday I thought, but I said nothing. Should I wait for my family? What if George was right, and they all were gone? The food was scarce, and I'd be alone. So, I start a journey into the unknown on my 23rd birthday. I thought I would dream about. George said, I had a lot to learn and the world because outside the world was no longer I that knew. "How we should get the hell to Australia and even if we do that, what is there, everything here is so?", I wanted to know from him. He moaned: "If you stay here then you will die. It is only a matter of time before the food runs out. And then?" I knew that he was right and nodded to him. "Take everything with what we could use!", he called, as he at the pantry to. I packed up everything, which might be useful. Matches, Association stuff, drugs and a flashlight. Then I looked in the basement to usable things. In a box, I found an old CB radio of my father. I thought when George is right, would be to hear the radio message. I searched together all batteries in the House and took the radio upstairs in my room. There, I put up the batteries and switched ON. A noise was heard. I turned on the knobs and then I heard it. I was in a State of shock. In all the languages it was sent: "coming to Australia, its safe here. We have accommodation and meals... ", then the connection is torn down. I tried again to establish the connection, but it failed me. I raised his head and George stood at the door. He winked at me and said forcefully: "so here we go." Well, I knew that he was right and began to pack. I also took the radio. I would probably never come back, so I took one thing our family photos and put it in my pocket. "Are you ready?" I replied: "Woe you let me go down." He laughed: "Don't worry kid, it can not be worse."

Chapter 3

I shut the front door so when I wanted to come back soon. George looked at me as if he would want to say, what drives the boy only. But he lost not a word about it. We had left the first meters with our luggage behind us, he grinned "You know why I had chosen your House?" I wondered and asked him why. He said he was watching me as I walked into this House. That was a sign for food in the House. I was quite surprised because I so looked around and hadn't seen anyone when I came back from the forest. I had a lot to learn and that the world as I knew it in any way more is the old woman, he tried to teach me.

When we were a few streets further, he asked me what he should call me because. Whether he still should call me baby or if I had a name. "My name is Jim and I have birthday today." He laughed. "Okay Jim, happy birthday." I thought only what is it happy. I felt my family out of my head. What happened to them? I trust me but speak not George on this topic. He seemed a very sober. It seemed almost as if he was familiar with this situation. "How do you know what you're doing?", I wanted to know. He stopped, looked at me and said: "I was in the Royal Navy." I was amazed. "I've served and they have simply let us ourselves", he continued. He asked me what I was doing so before the day of the Apocalypse. I replied that I was student and I was concerned with studying medicine. He nodded: "Okay doc, good to know." As we continue running awhile it stopped. "Shut up." We quickly ran to a House on the corner. "Duck down and don't move", he wheezed. I was petrified. Then I heard it. A woman screamed in full throat. It was as a worse sound. I said to George: "We need to help." He only said that I should be silent. We went down and looked in the direction from which came the screams. Then I saw her. I was very cold. I got Goosebumps all over my body.

Three men beat a young woman. "Mach what...", I whispered. He interrupted me: "Shut up"! Then, the three men dragged the woman into a House. George called: "... run!" I ran after him. When we were a few corners further, I wanted to know why he did not help. George grabbed me by the neck and pushed me against the wall. "That is no longer Jim the world as you knew it, how many times must I explain yet. Be glad you're alive and you never come to interfere, that do not concern you. Never forget it." Then he let me go again. I was frozen as. "Go on Jim. We must remain always on the move." I ran after him without a Word. At the same time, I thought back to my family. It passed hours until we were on the outskirts of London. George I wondered whether it was not better to go around. "No this is taking too long, and also I'm sure in London we find more food and maybe even a car that has enough fuel and is roadworthy." I suspected that he might be right and followed him silently. He asked me whether I had ever shot with a gun. "No why?" He looked at me and sighed: "Then you have to learn that." I just thought and how? George knew what I was thinking. I could tell by his eyes. "Let's get guns in London, we have to protect ourselves." At this moment, I just thought’s I home stayed rather.

Slowly, it was dark. "We need a camp", George stammered. I nodded to him. Shortly thereafter, we found an old train station. There stood an old wagon. "Look Jim, perfect." The doors were already broken up. We looked together all sorts of things with which one could barricade this wagon from the inside. Then we joined up and put us down. I was so hungry. George had the food and I asked him if I could have a tin can. He looked at me and gave me one. "We need more of it," he growled. I replied: "Yes, I know." "Time for the sleep", he mumbled still and closed his eyes shortly thereafter. I opened the Tin can and shoved me the content with the fingers in the mouth. It tasted really good and I was still wondering why George wanted to eat. I brushed his fingers on his pants me and lay me down also. I thought again about my family when I suddenly heard this Yelp. It sounded awful. My heart was beating faster and faster. Laughing, George turned his head to me: "only the dogs, which are probably hungry. You can open yes no doses." Then he turned back and fell asleep. The howling had simply not slept me, until fatigue finally overcame me.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, George was sitting there already erect and was about to open his Tin can. "Immediately it goes on, you Jim ready,?" "Us Yes nothing else left.", I was quengelte tired. He looked at me and smiled: "Now you got it." He looked out through the slots of the wagons. "We must move only during the day." I wanted to know "The dogs?". "Not just.", muttered George and opened the door.

We marched on the tracks continue in the direction of London without knowing what awaited us there. I looked up at the sky. It was so empty. No birds or airplanes. Simply nothing. I gradually got hunger and asked if I could have a tin can. "No," groaned George. "Why, you've eaten today one?" He remained standing. "You used last night your diet". I was angry. "Listen, this is my food that is surely out of my house. Also I have the radio message heard even, I need you... not George!" "Without me, you're already dead, because you killed you have to help a woman who you didn't know!", he interrupted me when it growled suddenly behind us. We slowly turned around and saw one of these hairless dogs with blood-encrusted mouth. "Oh shit", we both whispered. George pointed his cane at the dog and asked me whether I would see an escape route. "A container of leads on a roof.", I stuttered with trembling voice. "When I say now, there go Jim." "What?" "Now!" George threw the stick on the dog and cried: 'Run!' I ran as fast as never before in my life.

We jumped on the container and then climbed on the roof next to it. I was exhausted. George said it would get away if one would have breakfast not good. I asked him whether he was kidding me. "I wanted to do a can, you have given me no." "At night there is nothing more just yet in the morning, so you're fit. You need no power at night, clearly so far", he wheezed. Now I had understood what he meant. "What we do with the dog?", I wanted to know. George wondered while sneaked the dog around the House. "Just relax as many tiles as possible and they put on a lot." I immediately started. He took the roof tiles and threw one after the other on the dog. When he once met the dog ran yowling. "We need to go quickly, coming again." Without a Word, I followed him. We rose from the roof, ran a while and left the tracks. Then we were in a residential area. Stratford was on the plate. I knew this area. I had studied here in the Newham University Hospital.

Chapter 4

We had to search for water and food, as well as weapons, so we went from House to House. Everywhere cars were criss-cross. Many houses panes were smashed and doors broken. We went low. "We go into this House there." George whispered. "Wait here, Jim.", he said and crept to the said House. He once went around and gave me a sign that I might be. I ran to low on him, when suddenly someone on me shot. I suggested hook and hid behind a car. "Everything okay?", George called out to me. "Yes, where did that come from doing now?", I yelled back. "Stay where you are, I'll get you Jim!" George tried to get to me, but as soon as he came out of his cover was shot on him. There,

I saw that the shots from a house opposite came. I roared it George over. "Okay Jim, you are going to do next, you open the door of the car and triggers the brake." Then you're pushing forth the car as cover next to you until you are with me." "All clear George!" When I moved the car, I waited to be shot at, but nothing happened. A few minutes later I had arrived. I had to make only two meters without protection in the House. "Jumping Jim!" cried George. I jumped off with a set and while I was flying through the air hissed two balls past me. I landed rudely in the entrance. Quickly, we pushed a Cabinet before the door. "We must explore all rooms and shut all inputs." Frantically, I confirmed his statement. He dropped out of two legs and threw one to me. "You'll need it." I was hoping that he was wrong. "And you keep away from the Windows!" I crept slowly upward with the table leg in his hand as if it were a baseball bat until I stood in front of the first door. I opened it and took a step back. I waited briefly and then went in to look around me.

This room was once a children's room. Toys lying around everywhere on the floor. I closed the door and went to the next room. I again opened the door and went in. There was also a children's room. Drawings hung on the walls. I looked at more closely these pictures me, when suddenly something on the shoulder grabbed me. I turned around and picked up my leg. It was George. "You saw through all the rooms?" I stared at him: "here were small children, where are they?" "Ask yourself better, who has shot at us there!"

We searched room by room. It was to find no one. "Here there is no supply of Jim, and we must remain here for the time being, until we know who shot at us there", George sighed as he sat on the floor. "And how do you get out who it is?", I wondered. "We wait until its dark, and then go over there." I thought I heard incorrectly. "Idiot!" "Do you have a better idea of Jim?" I knew not what I should answer that question. "I give you a small task. Such nails and a hammer in the basement!" "What?" He laughed: "We beautify our legs."

I knew exactly what he meant and went to the basement. It was around all kinds of tool. When I was looking for the nails, I found a map of Europe. I opened it and just thought if we should survive this, what would wait probably everything on us. I put the map and sought further nails and a hammer. George called down if I had found something. I didn't answer and was constantly looking for a hammer until I found a box of nails. I dashed upstairs and began with nails to assemble the table legs. It was very tedious, and we alternated us so that one could keep watch on the window. When I looked out the window, I saw wiggle the curtain at the window was shot out of the. But I could see nothing. 'Done!' moaned George. So we waited until it was dark. My heart beat always faster all the darker it was. Then it was time. "Are you ready Jim?" I thought no, saying yes. "Okay little, then going on." We sneaked out the back door and crept through the garden to the next House.

I felt like the nails dug into the Earth. When we arrived at the next House, George stopped. "What's going on?" He did not answer. A short time later he passed a hand sign that I should follow him and we crept me to the next House. Then we would be still a House to the destination. "Stay always down Jim, we don't know whether the night vision goggles." I just thought great, thanks for the tip. Then we had arrived. It was so quiet that I could hear my heart beat when we arrived on a basement window. You could not see into it was pitch black inside.

George levered the basement with his leg on. Knack and it was open. We went quietly and searched for the stairs to the top. Top arrived at the door he whispered: "You're ready, it can at any time go." I knocked twice on his back. "Okay, come on." He opened the door slowly and quietly and put out his head. "Clean", he breathed and crept into the hallway. It was dark in the House and I snuck to him. We searched the first floor, but no one was found. We stalking slowly step by step up the stairs after. My hands started to sweat and my mouth was completely dry. The stairs squeaked quietly. My heart was beating so loud, I thought you could hear it. Arrived on the first floor, we stood before a door under the light shone through. There was a flickering light such as in a candle. My heart jumped me right out of her throat. George whispered in his ear: "We need a distraction so that come out from the room." I took a picture of the wall and hinted the stairs down to throw at it. George winked at me. I understand that as an okay. We introduced us to the wall, and I silently counted to three. Then, I threw down the frame.

It crashed properly when the frame fell down the stairs. I was rigid with fear, because I even did not know what would happen now. We looked at each other, but nothing happened. Then, one could hear quiet steps toward the door. I made me ready for whatever. I thought briefly of my family when all of a sudden the door opened a small gap. But I could see nothing. Slowly, a gun barrel from the door pushing out. George gave me a sign that I should wait. The gun constantly postponed from space. I didn't know what I do should and wondered whether the idea was really good. George jumped to on the run and grabbed the gun. He moved vigorously it and had it in hand. An old man fell to the ground and shouted: "don't hurt us!"

George moved him to himself and pushed him with his foot down, while he took the gun to the chest. The old man groaned again: "don't hurt us!" "How much since her?", George whispered to the old man. He whimpered: "just me and my wife." I wanted to take a step forward, but it didn't. I saw this man lying on the ground and was ashamed. I knew that he had shot at me, but what happened here was absolutely not human. But also I knew that I would be dead without George. George cried in the room: "Get out!" But it did nothing to themselves. The old man moaned: "My wife is deaf." George looked at him questioningly and cried again: "Get out!" It did nothing to themselves again.

George gave me the gun and said I should aim at him. Then he lay down on the floor and looked inside the room. He got up again and was of the opinion that everything is secure. I asked if he knew it exactly. He replied "Look yourself".

I took a step forward and slowly stuck my head into the room. There sat an old woman and she was staring at me. She had fear in their eyes. I had never even seen. She whimpered, but gave a Word by itself. George asked her whether still more in the House were. But she didn't answer. "She is deaf, does nothing for her!", cried the man on the ground. I took the rifle and searched all other rooms in the House. It was to find no one. I felt incredibly strong with the rifle. When I came back, George had already set the man to his wife. "Why you did shoot at me?", I wanted to know. The man looked at me and said nothing. "Why!", I cried. George said I should calm down. The old people clinging to each other. You reminded me of my parents. "Us does nothing", the old man is repeated. "We want to do anything to them, and we shoot strangers", I shouted to him. The old man breathed easier. "This is Mary and I hot Steve", then he offered me his hand. I stopped a moment quietly, and then I went up to him, held him against my hand and said: "my name is Jim. And that's George." The old man nodded and said: "Nice you to meet."

I knelt to him down and asked again: "Why you did shoot at me?" Steve looked at me and whispered: "you're probably not from here? The hell was going on. Initially the army in various neighbourhoods and tried to keep everything under control. But then everybody went crazy. You have plundered. People are died and disappeared, like our son James."

I was petrified. "James?", I asked. The man looked to the floor and mumbled: "Yes, James. Our son wanted to help prevent chaos. So as the son of a policeman has well trained." George interrupted Steve. "Policeman's son?" Silence was in the room. "Yes, son of a police officer. I was formerly the police, before I went into retirement", Steve whispered. I asked if he had heard of the radio message. Steve shook his head. I took out my radio and sought the frequency on which this radio message was sent. Then I had them. Steve looked at me with big eyes. Mary asked him with the help of sign language what was going on and what was heard. He told her what he had heard. She had tears in her eyes. Steve stroked her head and gave her a kiss. She made frantic hand signals and Steve shook his head. "What did she say?", I wanted to ask Steve. "She believes that James is there, but I don't think that. He would never leave us."

George asked whether there would be any other neighbours here in the environment. Steve shook his head. "After the chaos, all were gone, the Navy has caught them." "Nonsense!", called George: "I was in the Navy. You have just left us to ourselves. More, they had no use for us. We all suddenly had no commands, no plan what to be done. The Government has kept soldiers. But not from the Royal Navy. That's why I'm here. I wanted after they have just left us to my wife and my daughter, but she had poisoned himself in the car in the garage. I found it there lifeless. They thought I would be in an artificial biosphere and never come back. I found her in our car and... ", then George broke down. I was in shock. He was always so strong and all-knowing. All were silent. Mary wanted to know what was said. Steve gave her only a kiss and patted her head. Steve looked at us, and then wanted to know whether we would follow the radio message. I nodded to him. He said "Comes with to the attic". George got up and ran after him. I stayed with Mary. "Jim, get up!" called down George. I quickly ran up. Countless weapons lying around. "I've looted the police station when it went off. I could be glad that code was the same as before the door. ", Steve laughed. I had seen this in movies. George looked at me and grinned. "So you can do what." he stammered Merry.

"Steve, you and your wife want to come with us?", I asked nicely. "No we stay here. Maybe James comes back. In addition, we are too old for such a journey. But I think I can you help. ", Steve muttered. "And how?", I was amazed. "I show tomorrow morning my love both of you. Now some rest, I'll keep watch." I looked questioningly at George and he winked at me. I put me in a corner and covered with a blanket me, stretching me Mary. It passed any minute and I was asleep.

I slept very soundly, dreaming I would get with a ship in distress. The waves beat against the ship and it ran into water. But I was not alone on the ship. I was a dog. But it seemed as if he was my friend. Then I woke up. It had become already bright. I was wondering about my dream. He had been so real. But I was wondering why a dog with me had been. The dogs are still our biggest problem. When I got up, the room was empty. No one was to watch. I went to the window and looked out. It was very quiet outside. Red Dust moved through the streets. Then I heard voices from below. I crept to the door and put my ear. I could understand nothing but. Carefully and quietly, I opened it. George's voice was clearly heard. He spoke about the biosphere in which Governments had pulled back. He told Steve things because my legs were soft like butter. There was world no country by the system still existed. I walked slowly down the stairs. George panted: "there he is, well you slept out?" I nodded. Steve said we should come into the garage he would have to show us something.

So we followed Steve. Mary didn't come with what startled me. A door in the kitchen led directly to the garage. When we arrived there was a screwdriver on the tool table. I took it and hid it in my sleeve. I was ready for anything. Maybe would he be shooting at us? Steve stopped and said: "Here is my love." He pulled a dusty cloth from a car and showed on the car. "A Jaguar S-type in my favourite colour, dark green," explained Steve. "Diesel, automatic, 6 gears and leather seats.

It is full of fuel and now belongs to both of you." George and I looked questioningly at. "I don't understand," I stuttered. "As I said we are too old for such a journey. But maybe this will help you. We don't need him." Steve knocked on the roof and grinned. "Jim and I need more weapons, Steve." "We have more than enough". The two went up to grab the weapons. I sat in the car and saw through all subjects. I found a photo of James. I put it on the tool table together with the screwdriver which I had inserted. The trunk I still had to investigate and opened it. A travel bag was located in it. I wanted to just open it when the two came back in the garage. Quickly, I closed the trunk and took a step to the side. George had a huge bag in hand. I helped him to push them into the car. It was very difficult. Mary gave us a box of food. Water and food cans were in it. She smiled and they put me in the hand. I said, thank you, what she lost a tear. Steve took her arm and looked at me very confused. If her James takes please him. There is a photo of him in the car. "Take care and is a good journey." George got in the car and started it. He shouted "Come on already small!". I thought with to take the photo of James, but I wanted to leave it to Steve and Mary. I sat in the car and George pulled away slowly. In the side-view mirrors, I watched Steve and Mary. You stood there, clutching tightly. You looked after us until we disappeared from their sight. The two no longer walked me out of my mind. "We should not have with them?" I asked George. "Forget the two. You'll never again see they". He breathed quietly.

I slowly understood what George means when he said, the world is no longer as I knew her. I was depressed and leaned on the window. We biked into a street, where many dead were around. "Get better", crunched George. It was a sight like out of a horror movie. I couldn't take my eyes off the window. Slowly we continued. It took hours, till we were out of London. I was so glad that it was finally over. I wondered what would expect probably everything to us. The streets were full of cars left behind. Many were totally destroyed or burnt out. "Keep your eyes Jim always nice." I knew exactly what he meant and I was really uncomfortable. George looked at me seriously: "we still have two ways of this island. We try to get a ship to get to France or going through the channel tunnel. Should we choose for the ship, if we find one what is roadworthy, we would have to leave the car." The word ship, I had to think immediately of my dream. "We take the tunnel George." He looked at me and thought about. "What is going on?", I asked him. "Unexpected obstacles in the tunnel might occur." We have still plenty of weapons, I thought and said: "we can do this." We had about two hours drive ahead to Folkestone, where the tunnel began. I reached back and opened the bag with the weapons. It was very good in it. I could however not shoot. I calmed my conscience so that it could be not so hard. "We're soon there Jim. Before we go through the tunnel you take a gun out of his pocket and open the window." I was hoping I would not shoot, but loose said: "Clearly, is done."

Suddenly, I discovered the entrance to the channel tunnel in the distance. As we approached I realized that a page was completely clogged with cars. There were people on the ground. Men, women and children. It was a horrible sight. "We need to another tunnel entrance and see if is free." George wanted to take the ship probably prefer but I pretended as if this was the better choice. "The gun, Jim." I took it out of the bag. He showed me how I should download it. "The window, Jim." He was slowly nervous, what made me too anxious. Only one car was across from the other tunnel entrance. George pushed it slowly with our car to the side. You could look good to the tunnel. He seemed to be free and we went into it slowly. It was very bumpy and insidiously, it was always dark. "Watch on every little thing, Jim." I could hear in his voice that had scared George and therefore the tension grew with me significantly.

We went on a while. I stared forward and backwards. The rifle firmly in his hands. It smelled very strictly in the tunnel. It was a mixture of gasoline and foul flesh. "Kid shut the window,", George panted and held to the nose, but it was hardly better. "25 km. The half we did, Jim." I could hardly wait to leave this hole behind me until George is suddenly stopped. "What is going on," I stuttered nervously. "Back there." I could see nothing. "Take the gun Jim." I loaded the rifle and aimed out the window. "Where George?", I asked with a trembling voice. He growled "One this hell hounds.". I held the gun out the window and shot in the air to scare away the dog that blocked our path. But the dog budges no piece. I could see light up his eyes, which were illuminated by our headlights. I once again shot in the air, until the dog began to howl.

Chapter 5

We continued slowly and I closed the window. Then I could just see the dog. He lay on the floor and looked at us with gloomy eyes. He was different from the other dogs and was somehow true. The blue out of, reflected more eyes from the dark. Three more dogs came slowly with bared teeth at us. One of the dogs snapped after lying on the ground. He fought, while others continue to hold on us. "What about that now!" I yelled. One of the dogs jumped on the hood and deep staring us in the eye. His eyes were so hateful. The car started to shake. "What is it?" The other dog tried to bite a tire and you could feel his power. "We must do something, Jim." "Absolutely," I agreed. "Open the window a crack and shoot in the air." I did what suggested George, but it was nothing. "She doesn’t care that at all, what now?" Our concern was that a dog could manage to bite through the tire. George continued. The other dog also jumped on the hood and banged his head against the glass. Always fixed and fixed. The sounds it made me crazy. I couldn't stand it, took the gun and shot directly through the window. Everything happened so fast. There was now a large hole in the disc. "Are you crazy Jim,?"

I was frozen as and made no sound from me. I held the gun still firmly in the hands. The two dogs were no longer to be seen. "Now we are unprotected," George snapped and put the car in motion. Before us, the other dogs fought right in the middle of the tunnel. I took the gun, loaded it and was aimed at the dog attacked the other. George remained perfectly still. I waited and waited until the opportunity came. Then I pulled the trigger. The Helldog immediately fell for. "The other still.", whisper George. The dog looked at us and hobbled to the side so when he wants to make us the way free. I took the gun and said: "That is not like the others."

As we slowly passed him I looked out of my window to him. It was a strange feeling when the dog also looked at me. He had no sign of aggressiveness. Slowly, we left him behind us. I looked all the time in the rear-view mirror disappeared up to his eyes in the dark. "Stop!", I cried. "Hold on, George!" He got on the brakes and wanted to know what was going on. I jumped out of the car and ran to the dog. I could not see him, it was too dark. I heard him heck and ran to slow him. "Jim! Come immediately back to the car! ", I heard call George. "Jim!"

I ignored him and groped for the dog. At one time, he licked at my hand. I stroked his back and felt that he was hurt. So I picked him up and ran to the car. George suddenly stood there with a gun. "Let the dog be, Jim." I did not what he said, and ran towards the car. "Let's damn the dog lie, Jim!" "He of hurt and needs our help!", I shouted back. "That we can't have, Jim." "Do you stop me? Why don't you shoot? Shoot both us now!" George put away the gun. "You're crazy young." "Open the door, and help me," I panted him to. We put the dog in the back seat and drove on. "If you collect everything what's up friends on the way, then you need a bigger car.", George said indignantly. "You should leave him even though, looking just like me, that this dog is different than the other, or?" "The US will stop only, Jim." "We will see that. I can forgive me, to leave him just so. Do not you see that he seems different as the dogs of hell?" "Yes, Jim I'm worried. That worries me".

We went further into the dark deep hole. I put my hand back on the belly of the dog. He licked my hand again. "I'm going to keep him, because you can do what you want. And I call him spike. „George was still a few seconds. Then he said: "You're really crazy kid."

The trip was always rough. The tunnel was made not for cars but for trains. Once obstacles came, but we could drive around them. "The other tunnel would have been not a good choice, or George?" He looked at me: 'Spike? Really now?" I grinned: "Why not?" The trip went still for a while, and then you could see light in the distance. "I ate nothing yesterday, it will even slow time. And Spike has also hunger. ", I know George. He mumbled "Spike.". "What about that for a name?" he laughed as we drove out of the tunnel in the light of day. "You look to good, Jim." I could see a sign stood on the Calais.

I had never been in France and knew absolutely not where we were. I took the map of Europe that I had found in the House and looked into it: "The city should be next Bethune, if we take the fastest route." George was also briefly on the map: "All right, kid." I didn't like it at all when he called me, but I did not remember me. As we continued, I looked out the window. No people or animals were watching. Everything was as extinct. I thought we're also still here, and then there must be others also still. Maybe my way of thinking was too arrogant, but I hoped it internally. I still looked out of the window and looked at the meadows around us. They were spotted. So some grass then Earth then grass. It gave the impression, as if someone had the grass in places away. The microbes slowly destroying the entire planet. In short I was thinking, what would happen if all the plants would die out? You could then no longer breathe. This idea even more spurred me to create this trip to Australia.

We passed several skeletons of the cow. They were partly right down the street. It was a dreadful sight. We spoke not a word more. I looked back to Spike, and could well see his wound. "I must be peeing.", panted George and stopped. We got both out. He walked a few meters and eased up. I thought that a first-aid kit should be safe in the trunk and opened it. In the trunk and found it finally. Then I saw this bag from old people, in that I still wanted to look back. First, I had to supply but spike. I took the bag and got to him in the back seat. Well, I could see the other dog's bite wound. I joined Spike and gave him some of our meals. "I think I must be crazy!" cried George as he saw this. "You must have a bright boy.

You have idea at all how important is the first aid kit. And let's not talk by the catering. That a dog is doomed!" I jumped out of the car: "this is not a dog, that's my dog!" I saw in his eyes that he found this not good. "Get your ass inside, Jim!" His voice, I could tell that he was really mad. This was however no matter. We continued so. The month of may, we had and actually everything should flower, I pondered to myself and when I looked at the scenery. "Dreaming you, kid?" I looked at him: "Hey old man, watch the road and drive to prefer the dead animals and broken cars, be regarded as me." He rolled his eyes and said nothing. We drove awhile, until we reached a small town. Here it looked like we would have ended up in the middle of a war zone. Shot cars, deep holes in the roads and broken Windows. This sight made no impression. Slowly we slipped our Jaguar through the streets. Suddenly, I saw a book store. "Stop once George." "What again with the dog?" "Just stop, damn it!"

The car stopped and I got out. Carefully, I watched all the Windows. Then I took the rifle, with which I had shot the dog and said: "I'm right back there." I ran to the door of the bookstore, looked into it and came across the door with my foot. I walked down step by step and aimed with the gun in the room. It was a plastic bag on the ground. I picked it up and searched all the rooms that belonged to the bookstore. It looked like a bomb struck. At the rear was a half-decomposed corpse. It stank abominably. Now, I was looking for medicine or something that we could use. Unfortunately I found nothing. Then I took the plastic bag and gathered it, what seemed important to me. Maps to language reading from around the world. I took so much back to the car as fit into the bag and ran.

"What you got there, kid?" "Something that we can use very well." I showed him my selection. "You surprise me. Well done, Jim."

The trip went ahead and we went out so fast it was from the small town. "There were certainly people", George stammered. "Why don't we find them maybe they can help us as well as Steve and Mary?" "Yes, and maybe they shoot well on us, such as Steve and Mary. We have a goal, and this is accomplished without incident. Right so far?"

"Yes, Captain George.", I whispered and looked at Spike. These eyes were so familiar to me. All I knew was still not why a dog was so different. We drove and drove. It passed a feels like eternity. "You see back there is smoke.", noted George. "Yes, and we go to it directly." The fumes were getting bigger, the closer we. I had a bad feeling about this. Suddenly, Spike was restless. The closer we got the smoke, the more nervous up was he. It's not long and we were directly before that. You could see nothing, because the smoke is behind a hill. "We look at it better. This is too huge for a house fire. ", said George. So we went to the Hill to see what was going on there. We ducked and slowly crept up.

When I saw it more precisely, the blood in the veins froze me. Hundreds of people were in a pile and burned. Many were so indescribable. I fell on my knees and was as slain. I could see how men with protective suits threw the dead on the pile and put it with a flamethrower on fire. You could hear the flames into the air. It hissed and cracked. It was so unimaginably horrible. Then, a truck was hit. The men in the suits opened the hatch and pushed living people from the trailer. You were crying and screaming. Then many shots were fired. They were simply shot. Just like that. They also threw the dead on the pile of hundred burning corpses and inflamed them also.

"This is the military of the subterranean biosphere. The Governments are probably above all clean. ", sobbed George. One of these men discovered us. We were ducks. "Vous là, arrêtez!", he shouted. I did not understand him. "We have to leave here now!", yelled George. I ran as fast as I could to the car. First, I was in the car and jumped on the driver's side was used to me. George entered on the passenger's side and shouted that I should go. I pushed the gas pedal fully through. The tires squeal loudly and George grabbed the bag with the weapons, which stood back at Spike himself. He rummaged around in it and picked up a machine gun. "Go, go, Jim!" All of a sudden, I heard the beat of rotor blades. It boomed very deep and loud. Spike began to bark. "Crap, which follow us with a helicopter!" cried George. He loaded the gun and opened the window door. At the same moment, bashed balls at us. You shot at us without a break. I tried the car to steer so that they could not hit us. Also I had to Dodge everything what was in the street. The time just flew by in slow motion. Due to my driving style were to hear barely beating balls in the car. Spike was still barking.

Barely touches of the balls to perceive were George leaned out the window and bombarded the helicopter. The shell casings flew in through the broken windshield in the car. It was so loud, I could no longer hear him barking by Spike. At the same time hit balls at us again. The rear window shattered into a thousand pieces. I screamed "Fuck!", from fully jibe. George came back the gun quickly invited to in the car and leaned out again. I heard swing the helicopter from one side to the other. Steam rose from the hood. Again, the sleeves through the window in the face flew me. Suddenly, it hissed strange from the helicopter. I looked in the mirror and could see that he was hit on the back of George. The ball strikes immediately stopped and the helicopter began to spin. Faster and ever faster. A violent gust was felt while the helicopter past us rushed and fell with a huge bang on the street in front of us. I stopped and looked to George over. He was hanging out of the window. I immediately pulled him in and realized that he was shot in the neck. While bullets flew to us again. They came from the downed helicopter.

I took the gun and shot through the windshield directly at the shooter. I wouldn't let your finger off the trigger. I called "You bastards!", all the while. I shot until the magazine was empty. Then it became quiet. The helicopter was smoking heavily. Nothing is moving. There was no one to see. George whimpered very. I saw after Spike, but he was fine. He had settled on the floor of the car. The rear was totally shot up and the motor cottage. I took another weapon out of his pocket and got out. Slowly I ran to the helicopter. There was smoke everywhere. At every step I made, I could hear crunching the dirt under my shoes. Then I arrived at the helicopter.

I saw three men in protective suits. I shot it again. They were already dead. They had white skin, not like us. It was that of a biosphere. Since I understood what meant George with the clean-up. People in the biosphere really believed that we would die of the microbes. And that's why they sent clean-up teams that should delete all infected. I was looking through the helicopter. The radio was broken. But between the dead, I found a magnetic key. It was X-905KV. I took off the shoes of its military pilots, because these shoes were suitable for me, better than my sneakers. In the helicopter, I was looking for a first-aid kit for George. I could however find one, so I ran back to the car.

He looked at me and breathed heavily. George had torn his shirt and put it on the wound. I thought we might find me something in the next town so I could mend it. So, I went quickly and wanted to go. But the engine was not able to start. I opened the hood and saw that the radiator was shot up. I ran back to the helicopter and tore up the suit of the pilots. It was a kind of plastic, ideal for the seal. I stuffed the fabric into the radiator and filled it with some drinking water which we had received from Steve and Mary. Now, the engine settled finally starts. I went to the scrap heap and gave full throttle as the devil. I called "Holding by George!", again and again. We left a lot behind us. George still whimpered and lost a lot of blood. It ran him down on the whole body. After a while, he was always silent. I looked him over. His eyes were closed. Then I stopped. I jiggled it. "George!", I cried. "George!" But his eyes remained too. I was looking for a pulse, but I found none.

I leaned over him: "George!" He was no longer breathing. I looked finally his wound more closely. The ball had him so badly injured he had lost too much blood. Spike squeaked quietly from behind. I knew that George had finished his journey. He was now in a better place than in this hell. Now, I was put on me. How should I only get further without it? Should I maybe back and waiting for my parents. But what if he's right? Australia. We have one goal and that must we strictly follow he always said. I knew him not, but he had become like a big brother to me. Without him, I would have not made it this far. "Spike, listen to me. "We have a long journey ahead of us and we will this goal knit track." I pulled George out of the car up on a hill. I looked in his pockets. It was a photo of his family in it. I put it back and wondered how they had called the well. I had never asked what I now regret. He should have a respectable burial. So I was looking up all larger stones and covered him thus. From two sticks, I built a wooden cross and rammed it into the ground. "Big. Do it well", I whispered and slowly walked to the car. "Now there's Spike just the both of us."

Spike and I continued slowly on this road. On the seat next to me was all the blood of George and I had once again run the events in my head. I had shot people. What's going on? I'm not a soldier yet. I was bad and I stopped by to pass me.

Spike looked at me so, as he would say, come on let’s go. The car was completely shot up. Bullet holes and also my pocket were all torn up. I checked the radio, but it was broken. The maps were full of holes and scattered in much of our food in the whole car. Everything was still usable, I acknowledged in George BB´s backpack. This one was much bigger and stronger than mine. I remembered that a bag was in the trunk, whose content I still didn't know. So I went to the rear and opened it. I took out the bag and carefully pulled on the zipper. A suit was in it. The same military used. I took him out and searched the bag further. I also found a map. But this was no ordinary map. It marked the locations of underground biosphere. I was amazed. As one of those was Steve? Had he perhaps helped kill my family? It was also possible that he got off and retired with Mary. I was confused. Who would voluntarily go from the biosphere in this hell? Then it rang for me. Mary was sure not with allowed into it. And that's why he had set off. He had lied to us. He was never a police officer. He was old and most likely General or similar. But where did he get all the weapons? I was quite funny at the thought that he could have wiped out its elite troops. I gradually understand what had George tries to teach me: trust not Jim. Don't trust anyone.