Anna and the Apocalypse by Katharine Turner

Author:Katharine Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imprint

15

BY THE TIME night fell in Little Haven, things at the school had gone from bad to worse. Tony couldn’t understand it, the army base was only two miles out of town. What was taking them so long? It was hours since they’d last heard anyone drive by with an announcement, and each was the same as the last: Stay where you are, help is on its way. But help was taking its sweet time.

The building shuddered with the sound of another explosion as the fluorescent lights of the cafeteria flickered in and out. Tony gripped the handle of his toolbox and thought about Anna. Never in his life had he felt so helpless.

“I don’t know how much longer I can sit here, doing nothing,” Julie said, sitting down next to him. He’d never noticed that she bit her fingernails before today; now they were practically gnawed down to nothing.

“I know, Jules,” he said with what he hoped was a comforting pat on the back as another burst of gunfire echoed through the night. It was getting closer. “I wish I knew where they were.”

“It’s got to the point where I can’t decide what would be better,” Julie said with a weak smile. “Do you think there’s any chance they got to the army base?”

“I think there’s every chance,” he said. “My Anna and your John? Unstoppable team, those two. I’ll bet they got wind of what was happening last night and hightailed it out of here to get help. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d done a runner, would it?”

“Remember when they ran away to join the circus?” Julie managed to laugh at the memory. “I’ll never forget the look on John’s face when we went to pick him up.”

“Bloody clever of that clown to put them on horse shit shoveling duty.” Tony nodded. “Anna cried all the way home. Ruined her new boots.”

“Wherever they are, I hope they’re together,” Julie said, sucking the air in through her teeth. “He won’t admit it but I think John’s a bit sweet on Anna these days.”

“He doesn’t have to admit it.” Tony put an arm around Julie and she rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s written all over his face. Anna’s too wrapped up in this traveling nonsense to notice.”

“Anna’s a clever girl, she’ll work it all out,” she said, pulling a blanket up over their legs. “You’ve done a good job, Tony. Liz would be so proud of both of you.”

Tony couldn’t help but sniff at the sound of his wife’s name.

“Aye,” he replied. “I hope so. And I do hope they’re together. John’ll look after Anna, I know it.”

“More like the other way around,” Julie said, shaking her head but still smiling. “They’re both going to be all right.”

“They’re both going to be all right,” Tony repeated. “And we’ll see them again soon.”

* * *

While everyone else huddled up in groups, sharing memories or trying to sleep, Lisa stayed by Bea’s side, clutching her hand as she groaned quietly with her eyes closed.

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