Surviving The Evacuation (Book 8): Anglesey Read Online Free PDF Page A

words during our time in the wasteland. “Do you remember cake? Or was it the baker? Baker? Ah well, wait until you see what a cake is. Of course, that brings us back to the question of how we’ll pay for it. There’re only eight teabags in the box.” I placed one in a cup. “I don’t think we’ll trade for it. Maybe there’s some work we can do for Mrs O’Leary. Then again, what work am I qualified for?”
    The water boiled, and the kettle clicked off at the same time as the back door opened.
    “Morning, Daisy,” Sholto said. “That’s a great picture. It’s a bird, right?”
    “B’rd!” Daisy said, stabbing the brush at the paper for emphasis.
    “Where’s everyone else?” Sholto asked as I tried to work out what parts of the blob were the wings.
    “We had a row. Annette copied my journal and distributed it across the island.” I gave him the edited highlights of the confrontation.
    “You want my advice?” he asked, and continued before I could say no. “Apologise. Always apologise and swiftly move on. Life is far too short to let an argument fester.”
    “Kim said much the same thing,” I said. “Where were you?”
    “Walking,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “You’re thinking of America again?” I asked.
    “Of the people,” he said. “A house is a house the world over, but the people? Now that I’ve time, I can’t help but wonder what became of them. I don’t know if they’re still holding on, but if they are, they could be dead tomorrow. Anglesey might be the refuge they need. I was hoping Sophia Augusto might give me a ride over there, but since she’s gone south to help tow that hospital ship back, I have to wait. That’s what’s getting to me, the waiting.”
    “The Harper’s Ferry?” It was a U.S. Navy hospital ship that the Vehement had stumbled across when it was hunting Quigley’s submarine. “There’ll be American crew on board who’ll want to know what happened in the States,” I said. “I’m sure someone will organise an expedition.”
    “Yeah, me,” he said.
    “Ah. You’ve decided to go, then?”
    “I think so,” he said. “Someone has to. No, it’s not that. I have to. I have to know. I have to see it for myself. I won’t be able to rest until I do. Is there any coffee?”
    “Not much. That’s something we need to discuss, but it’ll wait until Kim gets back with Annette. In fact, that might be a good way of framing my apology.”
    I drank my tea, and he his coffee, talking around his return to America without ever explicitly mentioning it. I’d spent my life thinking I was an orphan. Having discovered I had a brother, I was reluctant to see him disappear, but wouldn’t be so selfish as to ask him to stay.
    The unfamiliar sound of an engine outside was a welcome relief from the increasingly awkward conversation. We both hurried to the front door. Petrol was scarce on Anglesey, and though there are plenty of abandoned cars, this was the first time I’d seen a vehicle actually being driven. A minibus had pulled into the drive. It looked as if there were only two occupants. George Tull and Gwen, both of whom we’d first met with Donnie, Francois, and the others on the Welsh beach before I set out to confront Quigley.
    “Is Kim here?” George called out, through the open passenger window.
    “No. Why?” I asked, taking a step nearer.
    “Where’s she gone?” George asked.
    “No idea,” I said. “Why?”
    “Shame,” George said. “I wanted to borrow her rifle. Her, too.”
    “What for?” I asked, not bothering to hide the irritation in my tone.
    Gwen stuck her head out of the window. “A group went over to Caernarfon on a supply run,” she said, speaking quickly. “They were due back this morning, but radioed in to say they were trapped. The radio went dead. We’re trying to get a rescue together.”
    “By driving around in a minibus?” Sholto asked.
    “Are you two busy?” Gwen asked, ignoring the question.
    “I’m