The Island

My name is Charlie Bishop, and I was a worried man. I am stationed on beautiful, windswept Bardsey Island, one point nine miles off the Lleyn Peninsula in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. Its welsh name means "The Island in the Currents." This was my home for six months of the year, manning Bardsey Lighthouse, on the southerly tip of the island to guide vessels passing through St George's Channel and the Irish Sea. It is the only square lighthouse maintained by Trinity House and my honor to be the guardian and beacon for the ships that pass here. It had been four days now since I had lost contact with the Coast guard at Aberdaron. Operational procedure stated I had to radio in twice a day if all was well. Contact was lost when I made my morning call four days ago, the operator had answered, my call but was cut off. I did not think any thing of it at the time till I tried at the end of the day, I received no answer. But even then I was only slightly worried, putting it down to atmospherics, which was not unusual in this area. By the third day my anxiety peaked. I tried the local police on the satellite phone, tried calling ships which may be in the area,same result, Nada. I went through every one in my phone book with the same result. Yesterday the supply ship never arrived. Now I was very worried, I had taken the Land rover over to the north east of the island and used my binoculars to scan the mainland, it had been a waste of time as I saw nothing. Also most unusual was the fact I had seen no shipping traffic since losing contact with the mainland. This was a very worrying sign, a constant stream of ships normally pass the island during the day, trawlers, tankers even the odd day sailor.

So here I was, sat on a lawn chair, out side the lighthouse. The smell of the sea and the Rock Sea Lavender plants mingled with the smell of moss helped me relax, it was the smell of home. For the first time in days the sun was beating down out of a nearly cloudless sky and the wind, though strong was not the gale force monster it had been for the last couple of days. I had checked through my stores and found while I would not starve just yet, I had maybe a weeks supply left of main meal items, less on tea and coffee. I tucked into the chicken and mushroom Pot Noodle I had just made and considered my options, which seemed few. I did not have a radio or TV, so I had no idea of any news from the main land or the rest of the world for that matter. I preferred it this way. The last time I had heard any news was four months ago when I started my stint on the island. My feelings swayed between duty and self preservation. I mean what if I made it over to the main land and every thing was ok and it was just a radio glitch? What if it was not OK?

I had no family, my parents had died three years ago and I was not married, and any way who would put up with the kind of life style I led. The upside being, I did not have to worry about other people worrying about me. I took a sip of my coffee, and gazed out over the wind buffeted sea. I watched several sea gulls dive bombing the waves searching for a meal. My options played through my mind, I had a row boat with a small out board motor, down by the old ferry landing, and it would be my last hope if I did not make contact soon. Although I did not relish rowing to the mainland. The wind ruffled my hair as I stood up. I walked toward the lighthouse but a strange noise stopped me in my tracks. Turning I saw a helicopter heading in from the north, my excitement grew, this could be a rescue mission, was the first thought that shot through my mind, but it looked as though it was in trouble, dipping and wobbling in its flight path. I grabbed the binoculars from the Land rover. It appeared to be only sixty or seventy feet above the ground. I focused on the cockpit and it appeared the pilot was fighting with some one. This was not a rescue mission, this was something else entirely.

The chopper flew above the old village, deserted now after the last resident left a year ago, getting lower until with a lurch, its nose lifted up and it appeared to freeze in mid air, then it dropped to the ground like a one way Yo Yo. The crunch of metal as it hit could be heard even at this distance. Throwing the binoculars onto the passenger seat, I jumped in and headed off for the crash site. My mind was in a whirl as I shot down the only paved road on the island which cut down the spine of the land. Contact with the outside world, hoping to find some one alive, I pulled up eight feet from the crash site, surprised to see no fires. The tail of the chopper had been severed from the main body which was lying at an angle, the rotors all twisted. It was totally black in colour, a Sea King Commando model, the type used by the air force, but it had no markings. I recognised the type from my days as a Marine in 42 Commando, rode in them many times but not one totally black.

Climbing out of the land rover I gingerly approached the wreckage. I was not squeamish, having seen my own fair share of blood and guts in my time but after seeing the action in the cockpit I wanted to be cautious. Rounding the nose of the chopper i saw the pilot half hanging out the windshield, his head twisted at an unnatural angle. The sight brought back images of my best friend who I had tried to rescue from a burning Humvee and I shuddered, pushing the image out of my head it was to upsetting.

The door on the side of the chopper slid open and a man in a orange jumpsuit half fell, half climbed out. Landing on his back on the grass. Blood was pouring down his face from a wound on his head. I took a step back and the man looked toward me, his eyes seemed full of a strange animal madness. They reminded me of the eyes of a rabid wolf I had seen once. He spoke, his voice low and guttural,"Where am I?"
"Bardsey Island," I told him, "Your injured, let me help you."
Before I could turn back to the land rover to retrieve the first aid kit, the man rolled over into a squatting position then launched himself at me, growling and hissing. A shot rang out and his head exploded sending bits of bone, brains and blood flying in all directions. I looked over at the chopper to see a black clad figure half out of the doorway, holding a .45 Glock pistol.
"A little help here please," he said, "I think my legs broken"
I skirted round the still twitching figure on the ground and helped the man out of the chopper, laying him gently on the ground. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, I examined his left leg, the shin bone was broken. There appeared to be no other wounds except for what looked like a bite on his left cheek.
"What's your name Lighthouse?" he had a south London accent.
"Charley Bishop." I said.
"Well Charley, my names Nick Tyler and i want you to take my take my gun," he held it out butt first, "Cause if I change into what he was you're gonna need it"
"Don't be daft, soldier."
"The fucker bit me, what he had is transmitted in the blood, you work it out."
I took the Glock from him and placed it in the pocket of my jacket. I had so many questions I wanted to ask this man, judging by what had just happened was I to conclude the rest of the world had suffered some kind of biological attack. I voiced my fears and the man laughed.
"If only mate, the world has gone to hell on a horse cart." He went on to explain every thing that had happened, all of Pandora's wonders had been unleashed on the world. Israel had been nuked by Iran, that was the precursor for what came next. The west had retaliated with nukes of their own, totally devastating Iran. The Muslim extremists rose up aided by the Chinese and Russians, unleashing hell on the rest of the world. London was a nuclear wasteland and the country was basically leaderless. Biological bombs exploded here there and every where finishing the job the nukes started. The joint red army was storming over Europe, crushing every thing in its path. It was only a matter of time before they arrived on our shores.
"And that guy?" I said, looking at the dead man, "Where do you and him fit in.?"
"I am, was part of an experimental unit from Portland down.," he said, "He was a prisoner infected with a biological agent that was supposed to create super soldiers, it was unstable." He gestured at the dead man, "That is the result."

A deep sense of hopelessness past through me, I sat down next to Nick and ran a hand over my face.
"We need to get that leg sorted," I said.
"Leave it I'm done for, his poison is already coursing through my veins. I can feel it"
"How bad is it over there?" I nodded in the general direction of the mainland.
"Bad enough, a lot of poisoned areas, society has broke down, armed gangs roaming the land."
"I can't believe it has all happened so quick, I mean I knew there was trouble in the world," I said,"I came here three months ago and no inkling of this about to happen."
"A month is all it took, it's amazing what can be achieved when hate takes over from common sense." He groaned and clutched his head.
"Get back, its beginning!"
I jumped up and stepped away from Nick, he clutched at his head, making noises like he was having some kind of seizure. Blood and spittle flew from his mouth and his eyes bulged, the veins on his neck stood out like thick ropes.
"Please!" he growled, "Shoot me now, before it's too late." Tears streamed down his now swollen face.
I knew I had to do it, but still I hesitated. I had killed before but at a distance and that had been self defense, well what the hells this, I thought and quickly brought out the gun.
Nick was grunting and snarling now, some part of his remaining humanity was holding him back. I aimed the gun at his head and fired. It was over just like that, I was once again alone on my island. Pain blossomed behind my eyes as a stress headache took hold. I dropped to my knees and screamed at the sky, at the world and at a God that seemed to have forsaken this world. Afterwards I felt better, my mind seemed focused on what I had to do. Do not get me wrong I am not a weak man, but the news I had just been given would have shook Atlas to his core. The world I knew was no more, and a billion Chinese and Russians were knocking at our door. Adrenaline flooded my system and I knew I had to fall back on my training, become a soldier once again. A smile crossed my face, time to rejoin what was left of the world. I looked out past the village with its Methodist chapel and dilapidated houses, toward the Lleyn peninsula. What waited for me over there, my heart beat fast as images filled my head from the films I had seen, a shiver ran through me. I needed a destination too, and the coast guard station at Aberdaron seemed the most obvious choice, one step at a time and the next one gets you where your going, as my Dad always used to say. My mind was made up, the decision made. I would make the next decision at Aberdaron.


.

Landfall

I scavenged the wreckage for anything useful and came up with several items of interest, HK MP5k, snub nosed submachine gun and extra ammo plus ammo for the Glock, army issue food rations, flare gun and most important of all a N B C suit and a Geiger counter. These all went into the Land Rover and I drove back up to the Light House, I needed to have one last meal, beef dinner I thought, before I set off on my journey. While it was cooking in the Microwave I tried the radio again but all I got was dead air.
The microwave pinged and I took my meal outside and sat in my lawn chair. I could not help but wonder why I had not succumbed to any of the biological bombs that had exploded, only conclusion I could come to was wind direction at the time. That and the radiation would be a big threat once I hit shore. I did not relish walking around for a long time in the NBC suit, I had used them before and always felt hot and clumsy. I finished my meal and packed a few more items into the vehicle, spare clothes, water canisters. Hopefully I would find a vehicle over there to transfer them too.

For the final time I drove across the island down to the ferry landing, the boat was tied up to the jetty, I retrieved the outboard motor from the boat shed, first making sure it had enough fuel. The boat had been used by conservationist to sail round the island checking on the various wild life populations. Next I transferred all my gear to the boat. Luck was with me as the wind seemed to have died down and the sea was calm. Once everything was secured I jumped in and set off, as I pulled away I took one last look at what I considered my Island and said a silent goodbye. I had no idea what lay ahead of me but I had a feeling I was going to need all my training as a soldier in the coming days ahead.

The journey to Aberdaron took a little under an hour and fifteen minutes, the sun was now low in the sky as evening approached, as I drew near to the former fishing community, now a destination for holidaymakers and sightseers, I killed the motor and scanned the shore with my binoculars. The beach with its golden sand was almost a mile long, and in another time would have been packed with sun worshipers, but not today. All I could see was a few small boats tide up, there was some discarded buckets and spades left behind like remnants of a lost civilization. Discarded deck chairs and sun loungers and a few cooler boxes. The promenade which backed the beach was deserted of life, I could hear no traffic noises or the sound of people, the usual back beat to community life. From where I sat in my boat I could almost feel the emptiness before me.

From here on in I did not want to make any sound so I used the oars to guide me in to the coast guard station, pulling up to the boat ramp I climbed out and secured the boat. I took the Glock with me as I ascended the ramp and looked through the window into the boat house. The life boat was there but no signs of life. A walk way ran around the edge of the building to the front, I slowly walked round it till I reached the entrance. The front door was unlocked so I pushed it open and stepped inside.
The lifeboat was in front of me and to the right was the door to the station proper. I opened this and climbed the stairs, which led to the control room and living quarters for those on duty. It was eerily silent. My heart beat faster and my mouth felt dry, as I pushed open the door at the top of the stairs. I felt like some kind of monster was waiting at the other side even imagined I could hear it breathing. Stepping into the control room I found it empty, although there was signs of a hasty departure, overturned chairs, two mugs smashed on the floor and papers scattered everywhere. a quick search of the rest of the building resulted in the same.

I had at least thought I would find something. Some kind of evidence as to what had happened. But nothing. A scream from the direction of the village bit into my thoughts. Quickly i ran outside and looked down the road which led into Aberdaron.
I could see nothing, the sound came again. I started to run down the hill passing quaint lime washed fishing cottages till i came to a T junction, the road going to the left over a small bridge and to the right into the village. just over the bridge was a post office, four men in jeans and T shirts stood around a picnic bench where a girl of about twenty years, with blond hair pulled back in a pony tail was being held down by one of the men. They had not seen me yet, so intent on the girl and what they were about to do. None of them seemed armed, so i casually walked up, keeping the gun hidden behind my right leg.
"Evening lads" I said as I stopped about six feet from them.
They spun round, a surprised look on their faces.
The largest of the four stepped forward and drew a large knife from a sheaf at the small of his back.
"Who the fuck are you?" he said in a thick Irish accent pronouncing fuck as fick, "Fuck off and mind your business,less me and the boys forget our manners."
"You tell 'im Tommy boy!" the skinny one to the left of Tommy Boy said as he spat on the ground.
I raised the Glock. Adrenaline dumped into my body and my senses zeroed to a fine point, it was as though I was seeing, hearing, feeling everything around me all at once. Everything jumped out at me in high definition but a part of me deep inside seemed to be standing back watching the events unfold, recoiling at the horror about to happen.
"Tommy Boy didn't no one tell you not to bring a knife to a gun fight." With that I pulled the trigger hitting Tommy Boy straight between the eyes.
For just a second the others froze then faster than a Nigerian sprinter they turned and ran up the road. I watched them go till they disappeared from view behind hedgerows up the road. My hands had started to shake from the after action come down. I secured the gun at the small of my back and put my hands in the pockets of my jacket.

I turned back to the girl, who was curled into a fetal position on the bench, silently sobbing.
"Are you OK?" I asked, never been any good at this emotion stuff, it left me feeling awkward like a virgin schoolboy.
Slowly she sat up and rubbed the tears from her face which was sporting the signs of a hand print on her left cheek. I stayed where I was not wanting to scare her.
"Thank you, I was terrified they were going to Kill me after..." Her voice, which held a trace of Welsh, trailed off as if she could not put into words what we both knew their intentions to be.
"Are you a Soldier?"
I laughed,"Not anymore," my mode of dress was why she made the assumption, I was dressed in green combat pants, green t-shirt and a camouflaged combat jacket, a pair of Northwest territories combat boots completed the image. I always dressed this way on the island as I found the mode of dress very comfortable
"No Miss er?"
"Sky Llewellyn." she said and added, "Don't ask, my parents were hippies or new age travelers or something like that."
"Well I think it's a nice name Sky, I'm Charlie Bishop I was, I mean I am the Lighthouse keeper on Bardsey."
"Have the others gone do you think?"
"Probably, but we better not hang around here, are you hurt?"
"Only my pride." She climbed off the bench and walked over to me, Sky really did suit her, she was fresh faced with piercing blue eyes, a small nose and full lips.
We started walking back to the coast guard station, i thought that would be the best location as I was familiar with the layout, plus if we had to make a fast getaway we had the choice of the boat.
"So what are you doing here, how did they grab you?" I inquired as we walked up the hill.
Adjusting her pony tail, she replied,"My Ma and Bampi ran the post office, Dad died last year, Soldiers came to the village and started forcing everyone into lorries." she stopped and I thought she was going to cry but she pulled herself together.
"Bampi made me go up to the old gun site along the coast and hide out."
I stopped and looked at her,"Why did the soldiers do that, was it because of the bombs"
"No they never reached down this way, I don't know why but when I came back I found some had been shot."

Once we reached the Station I rustled us up some cans of coke, there was no power, so we had to have them warm. The sun had gone down and it was pitch black outside, I found a couple of battery powered lanterns and a Mag light torch. I secured the front door and we settled in the sleeping quarters which consisted of four pairs of bunk beds. Sky was still suffering from signs of shock so I tucked her into one of the beds and stationed my self by the window overlooking the road.
If Tommy Boys mates came looking for revenge I wanted to be ready. She was asleep in seconds and I felt my own exhaustion creeping over me, looking out the window revealed nothing because the dark was so complete. My eyelids grew heavy and soon I was asleep.

Impressum

Texte: Andrew Scorah
Bildmaterialien: Andrew Scorah
Lektorat: Andrew Scorah
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 03.03.2012

Alle Rechte vorbehalten