The Herd by Emily Edwards

Author:Emily Edwards [Edwards, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473592094
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2021-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

‘It’s all hyped up, sweetheart.’ Ash tries to sound reassuring but Sara, who has now retrieved the half-empty bottle of wine from the fridge, sits back at the head of the table and says, ‘At last! Something we can agree on!’ Ash looks up at Sara but she doesn’t see him shake his head, begging calm, because she’s too focused on pouring more wine.

‘It’s all about education. Everyone is going bloody berserk because no one plans for these things to happen any more. Everyone’s too busy staring at their phones, so when life does happen, they can’t handle it. With good nutrition and the right support for the immune system, measles does not have to be a big deal, does it?’ Sara looks around her, as though expecting a roomful of supporters, not just Bry and Ash, neither of whom is looking at or even listening to her. Because Bry has a hand over her mouth and looks like she’s either going to be sick or burst into tears again.

She turns to Ash; he reads her thoughts as clearly as though they were his own and starts shaking his head. ‘This isn’t your fault, Bry, it’s not your fault.’

‘Of course it’s not her fault! Honestly, Ash, you do say the most ridiculous things sometimes!’

‘Sara, please. You’re not helping.’

‘Ash, don’t …’ Bry murmurs, but it’s too late. Sara leans forward on the table, her eyes two flames, and smacks her palm down against the wood.

‘Ash, if it wasn’t for me, you could be nursing Alba not just for a couple of weeks but indefinitely. I’m not trying to be helpful, I’m trying to save my daughters and granddaughters from the agony I’ve lived for over forty years. I know you find it hard to understand, but frankly, I don’t care.’

That’s when it strikes Ash in the heart and head simultaneously. This is how it’s been for Bry. Her mother’s guilt, her fear, travelling into Bry as neatly and efficiently as a needle in the arm. She has lived this every day for her whole life. He feels an overwhelming compassion for his wife; he wants to wrap her up in his arms and only let her go when she’s strong enough to emerge on her own terms.

Sara, surprised that Ash hasn’t come rearing back, arguments flying, decides to keep going. ‘It’s people like you, Ash, who don’t stop to challenge the status quo – you just swallow whatever you’re told to swallow because you want an easy life, and I understand that, I do, but what—’

But then Bry sits up straighter, puts a hand on her mum’s arm to quieten her, and says, ‘Shh, Mum, shh. Listen …’

All three fall into silence and listen as a wail, mechanical and urgent, fills the night. It’s close and getting closer. It sounds like it’s about to burst through the wall, and the kitchen is filled with an uncomfortable, eerie, flickering blue light, when suddenly the sound stops.

Ash and Bry move towards the front door, where the noise was coming from.

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