They used their fingers to dig the awful hole. When it was deep enough, they laid the kids to rest before replacing the sand carefully. After adding some water, they managed to pat it flat.

Cheryl gazed over at the waiting town and pointed to a path.

“That should lead inland. If any farm exists, it should be in that direction.”

Mandy followed wearily as they trudged off the beach and into the wild interior. They ignored the quaint town to their right as the land rose sharply ahead of them. They took great care in avoiding the loose rocks as the path flattened out again.

After a mile or so, they came to an open metal gate and wandered inside.

“This looks promising,” Cheryl said as they closed the gate behind them. They could see that the land had been fenced off ages ago due to the heavy rust.

“Probably dates back to imperial times,” Mandy suggested as they spotted a quaint white washed farmhouse.

“They better not have dogs,” Cheryl muttered. “We lost our weapons.”

Thankfully for them, the home seemed deserted. When they entered the rustic kitchen, Mandy called out.

“Anyone here?”

There was no reply so they entered the short hall and started climbing the stairs.

Within the first bedroom lay the remains of an elderly couple. The next room was habitable enough for them.

“Let’s see what the lounge holds,” Cheryl suggested.

The living area was quite well decked out. A thick carpet covered a stone floor, and the furniture was fairly modern but rather moth eaten.

“We better look a little further,” Mandy suggested.

After opening the rear door, they stepped onto a dirt yard. At the nearside lay a chicken coop and the sound of healthy birds was almost too much to bear. A small shed stood to one side and this was filled with bags of feed.

At the left stood the pigsty where four large pigs played in the mud.

“This looks really well managed,” Mandy commented. “That couple could not have perished that long ago.”

At the top end of the yard stood a fully stocked hayloft, and beyond that a small field. Sheep, cattle, and a happy cow grazed upon the lush grass, which was safely fenced in.

“So we have meat, eggs and milk then,” Cheryl said softly.

“We’ll have to find flour to make bread but that won’t be a problem.
The town should have plenty.”

Cheryl suddenly coloured up.

“I’ve never actually milked one you know.”

Mandy laughed.

“That is not the problem my dear.”

“We have a problem?” Cheryl asked.

Mandy pointed to the nearby stream.

“We can get water from there,” the cop pointed out.

“I wonder how far it floods in the autumn though.”

Cheryl cuddled her.

“After what we have been through my dear, flash floods are the least of our worries.”

Mandy shook her head.

“We both need a proper rest eh? This lot can wait till the morning.”

They returned to the farmhouse arm in arm as the chickens clucked in contentment.
...
Cruising at a depth of two hundred, the USS Virginia lay a hundred miles west of Midway. Wilma sat within her cabin reading the latest reports from Pacific Command.

“How bad is it?” Vanderhofen asked casually.

“Our population centres took a bad hit but the farming communities seem to have escaped much loss.”

“That’s a good sign then.”

“The military stands at sixty five percent loss though, and we have
lost touch with the CDC.”

“You could send a unit over to check it out.”

The president grinned.

“Already done that captain. How are things here?”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Crew seem a bit down. That is to be expected and sonar reports contact fifteen points from our bow.”

“A sub?”

“No mam. He reckons it’s a large liner.”

Wilma put down the report and followed him to the command area.

“Take us to periscope depth helmsmen.”

When it was reached, she peered into the viewer.

“It’s a liner and Japanese too by the looks of it. Seems to be
drifting.”

“What do you want to do mam?”

She thought it over.

“Take a small team captain and dress them in the NBC suits for protection. Check out the ship for survivors.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“We couldn’t cope with civilians aboard mam.”

She shook her head.

“If you find any put them into lifeboats and we will tow them to
safety.”

As he carried out the order, the sub broke surface once more.

Wilma watched as the hatches opened and the team trooped on deck.
Once the dingy was launched, the team rowed toward the huge stricken vessel.

“Nearly there sir.”

“Ready the grappling hooks. We’ll damn well climb on board.”

When these were thrown and secured, the dinghy was attached and the suited four-man team climbed up the slippery keel until they reached the safety rail. As they looked, only clothes and burnt out bodies could be seen.

“Never mind those,” Vanderhofen muttered. “We need to reach the bridge.”

Even though the suits were clumsy, reaching the bridge was no problem, but no living person was to be seen.

“I want the power restored now,” Vanderhofen ordered.

He watched the team examine the controls before pressing emergency buttons. Vanderhofen smiled when the console came to life. He walked to the intercom and said smartly, “Any survivors please report to the boat deck at once. We are the US Navy.”

He glanced around at his team.

“Nogoya...Say that in Japanese please.”

The happy officer repeated the message, and they trooped toward the
boat deck for the expected response.

“You think people may still be alive sir?”

“Nogoya, I really do hope so.”

Vanderhofen watched the rolling waves and started counting. This was an old trick for counting the passage of time and he was well versed in such things.

“Well,” he said at last. “That’s ten minutes gone and still no one around.”

“Why not go below sir?” Nogoya asked.

“It would take far too long and expose us to a greater risk of exposure mate. We wait here until an hour is up.”

After half an hour, two women suddenly scrambled into view.

“What took you so long?” Vanderhofen asked.

“Our friend refuses to come sir. Perhaps you can persuade her?”

“Take care of her. You tell me where your friend is.”

“Deck D sir.”

“You better show me the way. Take her to one of the boats and wait there.”

He followed her into the silent bowls of the once living liner until they reached the cabin. A short bloke lay in bed with a rasp as he breathed.

“You never told me that he was ill.”

“Would you have come if I had?”

Vanderhofen shook his head and moved closer. He gasped when he saw the livid red blotches.

“There is nothing that can be done I’m afraid.”

“You’re not going to leave him surely?”

“We have no choice mam. Now come with me.”

She stepped away and drew out a thick blade.

“You will take him.”

Vanderhofen stared at the knife and nodded.

“Just allow me to check his temperature.”

He bent over the sick man and grasped the pillow. Then rapidly pulling he turned and whacked the woman hard. As the blade went flying, he pounced.

“Now listen to me!” he yelled. “We are leaving now.”

He put her in an arm lock and marched her back to the deck.

“Take care of her, but if she resists toss them both overboard.”

The shocked submariner obeyed the order and took her to the waiting lifeboat.

“We have to leave,” the captain said. “There is no one left here.”

Returning to the lifeboat, he poked his head inside the orange cover.

“We’ll launch you now so prepare for the shock.”

Before they had a chance to protest, he punched the button hard. The davit was automatic, and the raft was swung out and lowered to within twenty feet before being released.

When it hit the ocean, the captain led his men back to their waiting dinghy.

Coming alongside the sub he shouted with visor up, “We need dowsing mam.”

Wilma nodded and hit the com.

“Fire team to the deck. We need a hose.”

They arrived promptly and thoroughly soaked the suited team. As the
captain came aboard, he looked worried.

“They were caring for a sick friend mam. We dare not return them to
Midway.”

Wilma’s face fell.

“We cannot just abandon them captain.”

“That’s the burden of command mam. We need something much harsher today.”

She well understood the meaning.

“All hands prepare to dive. Take us to periscope depth.”

When the sub vanished, Wilma gazed through the viewer at the defenceless boat.

“Load tube one.”

Moments passed as she lined the bow up. Then a hand fell upon her trembling shoulder.

“Allow me mam.”

When she stepped back, the captain gave the order.

As the orange raft vanished in a searing flash of heat, he turned to the president.

“What about the liner mam?”

“Take her down captain.”

Vanderhofen nodded sadly.

“Prepare tubes two through four.”

When these were ready, he said softly, “Fire two through four.”

He watched through the viewer as the liner detonated with the powerful warheads. The ship broke in two almost at once before slipping beneath the boiling surface.

As he ordered a deeper dive, Wilma put her hand to her mouth and muttered, “I think I am going to be sick.”

Everyone watched as she dashed for the cabin to protect her dignity.
...
Governor O’Malley had been lucky to survive. Despite his emergency team being located beneath governor’s house in Washington DC, a coughing team member had spread the virus to all and sundry.

Now he stood with the first infantry corps outside a smashed and looted food store.

“We found these two inside sir.”

“You know the sentence for looting.”

“We ran out of food and water. What do you expect us to do? Die I suppose.”

The governor ignored the plea in these desperate times.

“By the power invested in me by the state of emergency, I sentence you both to death.”

As the looters were hauled towards the wall, they howled.

The governor stood resolute as the criminals were tied to posts, and the troopers took up position.

“Fire when ready captain.”

The officer saluted as the squad knelt and took aim.

Moments later, they went limp as the bullets struck home.

“I hope that is the last today,” the governor sighed.

“You want to return sir?”

The governor nodded.

An APC soon appeared and the master of the capitol ventured inside.
As the vehicle moved toward the deserted White House, bullets ricochet off the thick armoured plating.

“No worries sir,” the corporal reported. “These beasts can take light tank shells.”

The governor smiled at the idea of tank shells being fired within the heart of the US. When he was safely delivered to the Oval Office, he gazed around at the emptiness.

“I should have been president,” he moaned. “Not that damn woman.”

An advisor walked inside.

“Sorry sir but the visitors are here.”

The governor cheered up.

“Just send them in.”

He sat back relaxed as the women entered.

“Afternoon governor,” the taller said.

Governor O’Malley nodded.

“Glad to see you both.”

The women approached the famous desk and whispered, “What would you like today sir?”

The governor laughed.

“A little cheering up, after the harsh things that I’ve been forced to do.”

“We can help there,” the shorter said.

“That would be a thousand bucks,” the taller said calmly.

“What is the use of money today?” O’Malley asked.

“We are looking forward to the future sir,” the shorter woman replied.

The governor sighed deeply.

“A thousand bucks for what?”

The taller woman glanced at her companion and whispered, “Anything that you want sir.”