Holocaust

  Chapter Twenty One

  Olbia, Libya

  A town between Marj and Bayda in Cyrenaica Libya; Libyans had a modern name for it. They called it Qasr Libya. There wasn’t much to it, it was small, somewhat decrepit looking with two Byzantine churches, one integrated into the Qasr.

  To the east of this was a newly constructed military compound, built against the backdrop of a hundred foot high mountainous structure. Nine foot tall wrought iron gates marked the entrance. These gates were usually shut, but today they were open with dozens of trucks, tanks and armoured vehicles streaming through the entrance.

  Tareq stood on a raised platform built in the centre of the compound watching the proceedings with wide terrified eyes. His greenish grey militia uniform clung tightly to his broad heavily muscled body and he clutched his semi automatic rifle tightly in one hand.

  He kept glancing repeatedly at his watch as if expecting it to explode from his wrist. His second in command strode his way from the left taking the steps leading up to the platform two at a time. He had a techno tablet computer in one hand with a video streaming.

  Tareq’s heart skipped a couple of beats. Something told him he wasn’t going to like what he saw.

  “We have a problem boss __” The man began grimly. Tareq rolled his eyes. ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

  He handed Tareq the tablet and his eyes grew grimmer still as he watched the events slowly unfolding on screen. It was difficult to tell where the camera was placed. The video was jerky and skewed as if the camera was being rattled about.

  A dozen military planes with weapons ready streaked towards the horde of giant and flying dragon like creatures. The planes let fly and missiles streaked away engulfing the horde in a cloud of searing flame.

  The camera panned backwards. Showing miles and miles of open dusty plains; filled with almost a hundred thousand soldiers, assisted with tanks, armoured vehicles and mortar. This was the bulk of the main Libyan army.

  They opened fire showering the enemy with cluster bombs, tank fire and heat seeking missiles. The firing continued for ten minutes before the commander gave the order for a pause. The smoke cleared slowly. The air was calm and peaceful for a few moments before __

  The giant’s struck first, clearing a path through the Libyan army like men wading through mud. They kicked, stamped and literally barged through. The army was helpless against the assault. It was over in minutes. The images on the screen shook violently for a few seconds before going dark.

  Tareq took a deep breath and faced his man. “Was that live?”

  “No sir __ it’s a recording, made almost thirty six hours ago.”

  “So that means?”

  He got no further. There was a loud explosion and a quaking rumble shook the entire compound. His eyes swung to the open gates. Thick black smoke rose into the air two miles out.

  “Boss what do you __”

  “They’re here. Let the troops get ready __ we go out to engage.”

  “Sir I don’t think we can win this.”

  “Me neither __ but we must do what we can so our women and children can get out.”

  The man nodded racing towards the gate. Tareq turned giving the men behind a quick nod. They tore towards the back gate where a great crowd was already gathering; mostly women and children. The gates were flung open releasing a tidal wave of bodies who streaked further south.

  ‘Go!’ He thought slowly. ‘We’ll hold them off as long as we can.’

  The sky turned fiery red. He gasped looking at the flying dragon like beasts streaking towards them. Their mouths opened and they blew out a searing wave of flame which engulfed the gates melting them like wax. His rifle came up and he opened fire spraying bullets in a wide arc. It was a desperate move; one he knew wasn’t going to yield any results.

  The flame came quickly. He couldn’t have ducked even if he wanted to. The pain was unbearable for a total of ten seconds before slowly tapering out into soothing blackness.

  Wole’s eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Baba Adora climbing further up, leading them up the slope. Anike and Tunrayo breathed deeply as they struggled to keep up.

  “Don’t worry __” He said turning around. “We are almost there. It won’t be long now.”

  Wole’s eyes rolled around in their sockets. He said that two hours ago. Truth be told, he was really very tired of it all. They’d stopped at a settlement outside Osogbo. The abandoned house was supposed to be their resting place. ‘Supposed’ being the operative word; they’d barely been there two days before Baba Adora insisted they move again.

  It took every ounce of willpower they possessed before they could agree to follow him. As Anike aptly put it ___ he’d saved their life once before. So wisdom demanded they acquiesced to his instructions.

  The steep slope started to even out. It was almost flat now. A cluster of homes rose in the distance. They exchanged several wary glances. Baba Adora piped up as if he could hear their thoughts.

  “The homes are abandoned. We’ll be safe here ___ for now.”

  They shivered when they heard ‘for now’. The path evened out until it was completely flat. The first house was only fifty meters away. It was a small bungalow like structure with wide sliding glass windows and red velvet curtains blocking the interior from view.

  Baba Adora walked past as if he didn’t see it. Wole and Tunrayo exchanged puzzled looks. Anike who wasn’t known to hold her peace spoke up immediately.

  “That house looks good to stay in __ why didn’t we stop there?”

  “There is an infected child in there.” He replied without breaking stride.

  “Thought you said the houses were abandoned?”

  “Yes I did __ more or less anyway.”

  Anike’s hard glare could have levelled a city block. He walked past the first, then the second but stopped at the third. Striding to the door, he tapped his staff twice on it and the locks clicked open. It swung inwards without a sound and he stepped in glancing around the dark passageway warily.

  There was a cold musty smell about the place. It hadn’t been inhabited for at least three weeks. He could bet on it.

  The others followed picking their steps gingerly. The passage led into a sitting room with a green five seater sofa set. A thick film of dust covered everything. Baba Adora took one breath and walked to the window sliding it open slowly. A cool draught of fresh air entered dispelling the musty stench to some degree.

  Wole strode to the next one and opened it up. More air came in, the room now smelt normal. Anike and Tunrayo walked in slowly.

  “We’ll be safe here for a while. You guys settle in __ there is a supermarket not too far from here. It’s abandoned, but there are one or two things we can use. I’ll go and get some supplies for us.”

  “Let me go __” Wole said.

  All eyes turned his way. “You’re joking right?” Anike asked with one eye raised.

  “No mother am not __ I could be there and back in half the time it’ll take Baba Adora to walk to the door __ no offence__” He finished flashing a smile Baba Adora’s way.

  “None taken __ but it’s still best I go. I can sense the infected so it’ll be easier for me to avoid them.”

  “Then I am going with you __”

  “As much as I would love the company __ you need to stay here and look after Tunrayo and your mother.”

  “Thought you said the houses here were abandoned?”

  “They are __ but __ we must be vigilant. The Evonso virus is everywhere now. Be back as soon as I can __”

  And with a whoosh he was gone. If Wole didn’t know better, he’d have sworn he disappeared. Anike and Tunrayo looked just as puzzled and startled as he did.

  “We best get the house in order __” He began striding deeper into the house. “__ he’ll soon be back.” They nodded and followed him slowly.