crimson, chapter twelve

The following morning jack was already outside; he stood staring at the mist but not really looking at it. Kate walked out and stood next to him, “you alright” she asked but got no reply. He was in a world of his own. Moving in front of him she asked the question again, this time she got an answer. “Sorry I was miles away” he said as he focused on her. “I asked if you are alright” Kate confirmed her question. “Yes I’m just thinking that’s all” jack confessed. Seeing the pain in his eyes Kate asked him if he wanted to talk about it but jack shrugged it off and said to her “we should get moving”. Before Kate could reply jack turned and walked back into the hospital and followed by Kate they joined the others. Once everyone was ready they headed out and to the marina. It didn’t take long for them to find a luxury yacht big enough for all of them. Now that they had a boat they began spreading out to gather supplies. Pamela and Tara stayed on the yacht with the younger children and got it ready for leaving. They cleaned out anything they thought was not useful and they moved around things they thought could be useful. Jack and Clive went in search of portable fuel they could take with them, Kate and the two teens went to find food and bobby had gone in search of tools and other things they may need for the boat in case it broke down. Jack and Clive couldn’t find any storage for fuel that they could fit onto the yacht. They did however find a small tanker that they filled up and drove around the harbour to

the yacht. Once they had it moored up close to the yacht they began fixing a towing chain to the

front of it so they could attach it to the back of the yacht. Bobby had found his way to the workshop and filled up the bus with all kinds of tools he found he even found a manual for the same type of yacht they had. Kate, Lethanial and Jessica had been dropped off at a large supermarket and would be picked up and hour later by bobby. They each took a trolley. “Ok Jessica can you go and find things for the kids like clothes and toys then when I’m done ill come and help you with things for the babies” Kate asked the teen girl. Lethanial was sent to find things for the adults and Kate went for food. Up and down the aisles Kate packed the trolley with tinned foods and packets of this and that. Once she had filled one trolley she took another and filled it with bottled water and juice and powdered milk so it would last longer. When she got to the fruit and vegetable section the smell from the slowly rotting fruit was starting to grow strong. Finding some that were still fine to eat she filled another trolley. Leaving the food at the front door she went to find Jessica. Jessica had already found several items of clothing for the babies and Tanisha and molly. She had to guess at the sizes but she also picked up some bigger sizes just in case. She was now looking at toys for Tanisha and molly when she saw Lethanial passing by the end of the aisle. He had a trolley full of clothes and shoes and was looking at the list he had with everyone’s shoe sizes and clothes sizes. He hadn’t noticed her and was gone from sight as quickly as he had entered. Turning her attention back to the toys Jessica picked up some dolls and clothes for them, some drawing materials and some sticker books. She also picked up soft toys of different makes, some story books and dress up items. Kate had begun walking up the aisle to join Jessica with another trolley. “How are you doing” she asked. “Yeah I’m doing ok. I have clothes and toys for them” Jessica replied. Jessica followed Kate to the baby section and they filled the other trolley up with nappies and bottles and baby toys and baby food. Kate also picked up a few re-useable nappies so they could wash them and re use them as not to run out. Once they had finished they took their trolleys to the front and went to find Lethanial. They found him in the electronics department picking up some hand held games. “Hey I don’t think they will be much good” Kate said as she stood next to him. “That’s why I got them” he replied and pointed to the trolley with many different batteries in it. “I already filled two trolleys

with clothes shoes and towels” he told them. “That’s great but we need to get a move on bobby will be here soon” Kate told them and they rushed to finish. By the end of the shopping trip they had filled nine trolleys with food, drink, clothes, toys and books and games. Bobby helped them to box everything up and put into the bus. When they were driving back towards the marina they noticed the mist creeping up behind them. It was slowly closing in on them nudging them to get a move on.