A Short Story: Caravan by Frank Sonderborg (Republic of B Chapter 2)

I decided to start publishing my Apocalypse story here on Steemit as it is about the only venue that would appreciate it. The story is a tale that grew in the telling and I have been adding bits on for a long time. So I will publish what I have. And I hope everybody that gets to read it does enjoy the chapters and please leave a comment if you can.


Republic of B by Frank Sonderborg

Chapter 2
Caravan

We traveled to Brighton via the Arab Londinium caravan trail. Skirting the toxic lands around Weybridge and Byfleet. There was rumors of a Bio-safety level 4 laboratory going by the innocent title of the "Animal and Plant Health Agency" getting looted and a vicious flesh eating plague released. Jed had also heard of other horrors roaming the roads of Byfleet, best left alone.

Making a big swing coming out of Londinium, the caravan then headed for Ripley then on down to the market town of Guildford. All the time picking up people and trade for market. All heading for the City of Gold, Sin City, Brighton, The Republic of B.

The caravan was hauling the usual collection of material and spices and of course female slaves. The brothels where doing great business. But they were also losing women as clients bought them out to be wives and mothers.

Guildford was the main caravan crossroads of the broken UK and here we picked up a group of British Asians.
The Bradford Crew they were being called.
About twelve in all. Tough as nails. And they needed to be in Guildford, as there was only one law and that was at the end of a Knife or a noose.
The Bradford boyzz were not very talkative. Mercs by the look of them. Killers for hire. Jed knew the smell.

Their leader was a guy in his Fifties.
Carried himself like he was a, "High Born."

They had a cargo of very heavy boxes. And it did not long go unnoticed.

There could be only one, very heavy valuable cargo, carried by mules in boxes.

Jed sat watching them setup their camp for the night. As the journey took them back again, through the cold Surrey hills. A big elaborate tent for the "High Born" boss man and a collection of smaller tents for the Mercs.

Jed watched and contemplated his chances of getting in and stealing some of their treasure. If the chance arose he would do it.
The Arabs ran a tight ship and seemed to have covered all the various angles. The bandits left us alone, for now. Paid off, I suppose.

Anyway, thought Jed, any starving band of free loaders would get chopped to pieces by the caravan Wreck-in team.
Incentive enough for anybody dumb enough to try and hit the caravan.

The caravan Wreck-in team, were big muscled, well fed, hard Arab boys, who protected the caravan, from an outside attack and Jed presumed from any internal pilfering.

Jed started a fire and made some soup, using the Bovril meat extract that was part of their secret treasure.

Smiled, thought, you can’t eat Gold. But he could feel the fever starting. Gold fever. He would try and snatch a bar or two. He just needed a diversion.

Judy sat silent and stared at the fire. The same process went on every night when they stopped as the caravan meandered its way through the Surrey hills towards Sin City.

“We’ll get a nice room and wash every day in the sea. Life will be good,” said Jed.

Judy was unusually silent. Ate her food and went into their tent to sleep.

The big Arab went past with two of his Wrecking team heading for the Bradford Crew. Jed followed like a shadow, passing a rowdy bunch of drunken slave traders with scrawny filthy women in cages, settling in for the night.

The Bradford camp had a big fire going with a sizable deer roasting away.

None of these Bradford boys looked like hunters. So it must have been a purchase.

Which meant loot to be snatched with a quick hand, thought Jed.

The smell drove him insane as it crackled and popped.
The Arab brushed past the sentries and stood in front of the "High Born" Boss man.

Jed heard the name Khan, being mentioned.
Jed smiled to himself, thought, this must be King Khan.

There seemed to be a bit of an argument developing between Khan and the Arab.
Jed settled in and watched for any developments. Any break in the tight armor around the tent and Jed would be in to grab some loot.

The Arab left with his entourage and the Bradford crew ate and made their arrangements for the night.

The two Muless where tied in the centre, so the boxes must be in the Boss man’s big tent.

Jed headed back to Judy. But he still could not get the stink of Gold out of his nostrils.

He awoke with a start. It’s what kept him alive in the shit hole that was Londinium.

He could feel them. Linked somehow to their killing centre.

Grey Beasts moving quietly through the freezing night. They passed silently, by his tent.

Jed slipped out and followed. He knew where they were heading.

The Arab was making a play for the Gold.

Kill them all and who’s to know.

Jed had Willows razor sharp butcher knife out and slipped through the darkness following the night killers.

A cry sounded as the Bradford sentries where surprised and overwhelmed.

Screams of pain and grunts of effort as the attack gathered pace.

Jed decided, he would never get a better chance to grab some Gold.

So he jumped one of the black covered beasts that was blocking his way.

And as he tried to struggle. Jed slit his throat.

Just another Jed day at the office.

He headed straight towards the tent.

He just needed to get to a box and grab a bar or two. Then be gone.

The fighting was going all around him. The Bradford Crew where fighting back.
Long swords and spears where being thrust. Jed presumed the attackers where the part of Wrecking team.

More used to dealing with starving bands of losers they were getting reamed.

King Khan was standing in front of the tent waving an AK47.

Jed could see his problem. In the dark all cats are black.

Khan took a spear in the chest and blasted the attacker with a few rounds. Which started a wailing and screaming in the general camp.

Jed headed for the tent.

The Khan was down. Jed thought about slicing his throat.

Make the Gold owner-less, was the thought. He knelt to the fallen Khan and raised his blade.

The Khans eyes opened and stared at him.

“I know you, I've seen you around the camp, help me,” he whispered.

Fuck thought Jed. I don’t need this. I should stick him and be gone.

Jed grabbed the Khans by his collar and pulled him into the tent.
The Boxes where so close. Just a bar or two and then be gone.
But Jed kept pulling Khan and headed to the back of the large tent.
He sliced a hole and pulled Khan through and continued on into the cold Surrey woods.

A figure rushed him in the dark. The brief moonlight outlining the dark hooded figure for a brief moment.

Enough for Jed to dodge the swinging blade and bury his knife up to the hilt into his abdomen.

Jed leaned in and whispered into the young Arabs ear. “Assalamu 'alaykum.”

The reply came from Khan on the ground. "Wa 'alaykum assalam."

Jed took the sword and headed back to the tent. Still intent on getting a share of the loot.

Two big Arabs where trying to move the Gold. But Gold is just like that old Birmingham band, “Black Sabbath,” a heavy metal and it was not cooperating.

A Bradford Merc had survived and had entered the tent.
The two Arabs turned to take him down.

More decisions for Jed. He could let life take its course and then kill who was ever left.

Or help again and know he was bound with the Khan.

It was the way he worked through his twisted logic.

So he whispered the magic words again. “Assalamu 'alaykum.” Peace be with you.

They both swung in shock at the sound from the darkness and the Bradford Merc to his credit was quick enough to hack one down.

As Jed drove the sword through Arab number two.

“Your Khan is this way,” Said Jed as he pointed at the hole in the tent.

“Come out we have you surrounded” was the command from outside.

Jed followed the Bradford Merc through the hole and headed over to where the Khan was still lying. The boy knelt and started crying “my father my father, do not die.”

“It’s just a scratch, help me up.”

Jed could see he was very angry. The tent place was lit up now with torches as the Big Arab and his official Wrecking team had finally arrived to save the day.

And take the spoils from a dead man.

The shock on his face was clear when he saw the Khan was still alive.

“Mr Khan, good, you’re alive.”

“No thanks to you, you greedy, double crossing, piece of shit.”

Jed thought this was a wee bit raw, considering they were severely out numbered.

“You get me to Brighton with my cargo, or you and your tribe will pay for your indiscretions. You have been paid a fortune but still you want more. Have I made myself clear?”

“Very clear Mr Khan. Just a misunderstanding. Bandits, Jinn, from the forest. My team will ensure full protection to Brighton.”

He gave a little wave and disappeared with his crew.

“Bandits, smoky Jinn creatures, what a slimy, slippery, fucker.” Jed said out loud to nobody in particular.

The Bradford Crew had lost eight men in the fight. There was no sign of any of the attackers. Their bodies had mysteriously disappeared.

Khan’s guards helped him off with his body armor. Jed could see where the spear had gone through. It was a bit more than a flesh wound. But not life threatening.

"Are you a believer?" Said Khan as he was being bandaged up.

Jed looked away into forest and said, “No.”

“You must believe in something.”

“I believe a man has got to do, what’s right, to stay alive.”

“And Allah.”

“I believe my God went away, a long time ago. An I aint holding my breath, for his return.”

“What is your name?”

“Jed, name is Jed.”

“Jed here is a payment for your endeavors. I will not inquire the reason for your assistance or you being here. Let us just say. It was the will of Allah.”

Jed took the bag of silver coins and headed back to Judy. Not the fortune he came after. But better than a knife in the gut.

He was still alive. Still in the game.

He was flush, and even ahead of the game. For now.

The Arab was up on his horse scattering the crowd.

Jed eased out of the way and the Arab gave a noticeably scowl as he went past.
Another enemy to add to my list.
Thought, get in the fucking line. Then Jed just smiled and headed back to Judy.