Free After the Fall (Book 1): Outside by Stephen Cross Page B

chalet. He made the porridge for him and his daughter. Just water, no milk.
     
    The sun came out that afternoon.
    “Can I go out and play, Daddy?” asked Amy.
    Jack was sitting on the couch. He was staring out across the fields, watching the birds land and take off. Watching the sheep graze mindlessly. Watching the clouds roll and form and disappear.
    “What?”
    “Can I go out and play? With Becky?”
    Becky was from the chalet three down. She was about Annie’s age. Both her parents were alive, they had already been in the holiday park at the time of the Fall.
    “Why not get Becky to come here?”
    “She says she’s bored of always playing here.”
    “Well, I think it’s best if you just play in the chalet today.”
    He didn’t look at her. He didn’t want to see her face, but he knew it would be painted with disappointment and sadness. He knew by her dragging steps, by her sighing. By the quiet voice she used in playing with her dolls. By the way she would be staring out the kitchen window, to the street outside, where Becky and other children were playing.
     
    Peter’s heavy footsteps where hard to miss. They always stomped in the same way on the veranda; powerful workman stomps that belied his sixty-odd years.
    “Hey Jack!” Peter waved in through the glass door.
    Jack got up and opened the door.
    “Hi Peter. You want to come in?”
    Peter shook his head. “I’m not staying, just thought I’d ask you and Annie round for dinner tomorrow night.”
    Jack opened his mouth to speak, but Peter held up a hand and interrupted him.
    “Now, now, I know what you are going to stay, but this wont be a late one. I’ve been getting some good results with my rabbit traps. Don’t you fancy some fresh meat?”
    Jack was getting very tired of tinned food. The rabbit did sound enticing.
    “And Simon and Elsie are coming over,” continued Peter with his sales pitch. “I met Simon on the run yesterday, nice fella. About your age,” Peter leaned in to direct his next words to Annie, “and they have a young boy called Tom, I think he’s seven or eight.”
    Annie jumped up and ran over to the door. She grabbed Jack around the leg. “Can we go Daddy, can we please?”
    Jack looked at Annie. Jack was eternally amazed at how Annie still managed to get excited, at how she could still find joy in this world. It gave him hope.
    “Ok, sure, sounds like fun.”
    Annie let out a large whoop, “Thank you Daddy!”
    Peter smiled. “Great, that’s just great. We’ll have a fun time. Starting at six, sharp! Mary is cooking up a feast.”
    “Sure, we’ll see you then.”
    “Can’t wait,” said Annie.
    Jack closed the door. Jack’s smile turned to a sigh.

Chapter 3
     
    “Ok, Annie, let’s run through it again,” he said as he zipped up her coat. Annie rolled her eyes. Peter and Mary’s chalet was only next door, but it paid to be over cautious these days. Why take for granted that nothing would happen in the twenty foot journey from one chalet to another?
    “I know Daddy, if anything comes, I run back to the chalet, and lock myself in the bathroom. The chalet door won’t be locked.”
    “That’s right.”
    “But Daddy, there haven’t been any zombies here for weeks now.”
    “Even so, Annie, it’s best to be careful, you know that.”
    Annie nodded. Her face took on a look of seriousness. “Mummy always said that it was better to be safe than sorry. Is it the same thing?”
    Jack’s hands stopped moving. He hugged Annie. “That’s right Annie, Mummy did say that. It all means the same thing. Good girl.”
    “Ok, if Mummy says, then I’ll do it.”
    Jack couldn’t help but laugh, “You mean if it’s something Mummy said it’s ok, but not when Daddy says it?”
    He pulled back to look at Annie, a smile on his face.
    She laughed, “Mummy said she was always right.”
    “Come on,” said Jack. “Let’s get going you little terror.”
     
    They walked to Peter’s chalet quickly, Jack looking