The Parade: Apocalypse Survivors by Matt Pike

Author:Matt Pike [Pike, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21 - Sides

While the food stocks on the Parade were good for approximately 10 weeks, it was a different story with alcohol. The suburb of Norwood had more bars, pubs and bottle shops than almost anywhere in Adelaide. Even if the survivors were all heavy drinkers, it still may have taken more than 10 months to diminish the stocks.

The community dinners would stretch well into the evening as people established themselves, forgot about their problems or found an easy way to avoid the sheer lack of exterior entertainment. Not saying they were great, there was just literally nothing else to do.

Once the events of the meeting had settled down, many stayed along the Parade strip drinking and talking. We would normally stay far longer than we did on this night, but Craig was there again. Being aware he was in the area made me very alert to his presence.

It had to have been a similar situation for him, as I looked up on a few occasions to see him staring at me. Of course she was there as well, pretending not to notice me or the byplay between Craig and I.

In the end I didn’t know what to do.

When I left with Claire, Terry was in the thick of the action, with many of the refugees making their agreement with his stance known. While it was not a place to talk in depth, given eyes and ears were everywhere, it was a place to bond and let allegiances be known.

It was almost the moment everyone became aware that there were sides and, whether you wanted it known or not, you should definitely have one.

*

Terry said his goodbyes and began the short stumble back to his new tent location. I’d managed to get us all in a small area once more. Our tents lined the back wall of the undercover parking near the cinema. Not the best spot, but at least we didn’t look like we were just looking after ourselves in the lot allocation.

“Terry! You got a second?”

It was Patrick.

Terry looked at him for a moment before continuing his walk.

“A little birdy told me I might find you here,” said Patrick

“What do you want?”

“A chance to clear the air.”

Terry sighed and stopped in his tracks to allow Patrick to approach. “Well. Clear away.”

Patrick smiled. “You know, we’re not that dissimilar, you and I.”

“How exactly? You own a large real estate company and I drive trucks,” said Terry.

“Sure, there are some differences, but we’re from the same vintage. And I like to think we both have a good idea how people tick. And we’d both do anything to survive.”

Patrick reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a hip flask. From another pocket he retrieved two shot glasses. “Nightcap?”

Terry responded with a nod.

Patrick smiled, before pouring a scotch and handing it to Terry. Then a second for himself.

Terry brought the glass to his lips before hesitating and locking in a glare on Patrick.

Patrick rolled his eyes, then raised his glass at Terry and threw the drink down the back of his throat.

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