After Shocks: REBOOT series, Book 2 by Featherstone Phill

Author:Featherstone, Phill
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781999332433
Publisher: Opitus Books
Published: 2019-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

MAGDA'S PLAN

WITH THE HELP of the gloves and the cream, Lander’s hands improved. Magda’s balm also lessened the pain in his wrists and ankles, sore from the fetters. Best of all, Mickey set him to a different task; he spent the next two days sawing logs. That was hard on the arms and shoulders but gave his hands something of a rest and the chance to heal. And it made a change from the boredom of the brick pile.

The log store was on the other side of the house, so not only did Lander get a change of scene, he was also able to see more of what went on. He caught glimpses of Magda at work. She’d hang out washing, and fetch water from the well and the trough. She opened windows and shook out mats. She waved to him when no one was looking. He also saw Mickey leave in the Mini, his huge bulk crammed behind the steering wheel, and come back a couple of hours later. He was pleased that the chickens had been turned out and that the car still worked, but resentful that Mickey should be using it.

He followed Magda’s example of making a mark on the shed wall for each day he was there. He’d made six marks but it felt as though he’d been there for ever. Hunger was a constant companion, a permanent biting ache. He drank lots of water to try to lessen the pangs, but that meant he needed to use the bucket several times in the night so he never got uninterrupted sleep. He was exhausted and he wondered how long he could go on. What would Mickey do if he – if either of them – became too weak to work? He could guess.

On the morning of the seventh day he awoke at what he thought must be the usual time. Magda was snoring gently beside him and seemed dead to the world. He hurriedly got up and returned to his own hay pile to await Mickey. However, Mickey didn’t appear, and Lander dropped once more into sleep.

He woke again, and this time he could tell it was late. The light coming through the broken roof was different and the shed was warm from the sun. Magda was still sleeping. He thought he must have missed something and at any minute Mickey would be there with the whip, bawling at them for not being ready. He got up, the chain rattling.

Magda looked up blearily from under the hay. ‘What’s up with you?’

‘Look! It’s late! We have to get up. Where’s Mickey? What’s happened?’

Magda lay on her back and stretched. ‘Easy, easy,’ she said. ‘Don’t panic. I forgot to tell you. It’s day seven.’

‘Day seven?’

‘Yes. Sunday. Or I think it must be Sunday. Every seventh day we get the morning off. Mickey likes a lie in and he doesn’t get us up till later. I should have said. I’m sorry.’

Lander felt his anxiety drain. He sighed and let himself down on the hay again.

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