Light At The End | Book 2 | Light To Dark Read online

  Light to Dark

  Light at The End - Book 2

  Tom Benson

  Copyright

  Copyright © Tom Benson 2020

  The right of Tom Benson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

  recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Any person who performs any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to

  criminal prosecution and

  civil claims for damages.

  Original graphic by Depositphotos

  Cover design by Tom Benson

  Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  1 - Born to be Wild

  2 - Questions and Answers

  3 - Great and Small

  4 - Perceived Threats

  5 - Upbeat Updates

  6 - Planning and Preparation

  7 - Mapping and Memories

  8 - Briefing and Discussion

  9 - Responsibilities

  10 - Stunning and Deadly

  11 - Good Intentions

  12 - Signs of Life

  13 - Progression

  14 - Home and Away

  15 - Building Confidence

  16 - Operation Long Haul

  17 - A Signal Box

  18 - Dalwhinnie

  19 - A Burning Question

  About the Author

  A Word from the Author

  Also by the Author

  Dedication

  Olive - wife, soulmate and steadfast support

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to my beta readers,

  for their time, insightful comments

  and useful suggestions:

  Robert Lalonde

  Carmen I. Lopez*

  and

  Cherime MacFarlane

  *map suggested by Carmen I. Lopez

  1 - Born to be Wild

  Monday 4th July 2071 AD

  The Trossachs National Park

  Scottish Highlands

  The forest was alive with the sights and sounds of life—wildlife. Insects and birds were the prominent inhabitants, but other creatures were known to be among the natural selection of species if you knew the signs.

  At the front of the small group was Norman, the big man whose profession had once been the maintenance of forestry. “I can’t believe the speed of recovery here,” he murmured.

  “In what way?” Bill asked. “Do you mean how well the trees have flourished?”

  “No, mate,” Norman said quietly. “I recognised the slight indentation in the tree-line where we entered the forest, but there’s no path. We must be close to what would have been the main forest trail six years ago, but I can’t see any trace.”

  “Let me have a look, please.” Victoria brushed past and tripped on a concealed root. She flew headlong through the dense, overhanging foliage.

  “Hey,” Bill said, “are you okay?”

  Victoria got up onto her knees. “I’m sorry, I was a bit eager there. Norman’s quite right, and from down here you can see that there is a corridor of slightly differing undergrowth.”

  “We’ve only just entered the forest, so I think we’ll have to take it slower.” Flint, the fourth member of the group, looked around one more time before moving forward among the trees to join the others. He still kept his laser rifle in a position ready to bring up for defence.

  Victoria said, “What do you think they are?” She pointed at a prominent growth of healthy young trees slightly farther ahead.

  Bill and Flint exchanged a look, and both turned to the forester and the botanist.

  Norman stepped forward carefully and squeezed the upper leaves of a sapling. “Gents, this young silver birch is a sign that the forest is alive and healthy.” He pointed. “That one over there is beech, and from here I can see a couple of different pines.”

  “Wait a minute,” Bill said, “you said a little while ago that there was a forest trail here.”

  “There was,” Norman said, “and now I can see confirmation.” He pointed to a well-established tree a few paces away. “You see that small yellow sign about five metres up … that’s a route and growth sign, and it tells me two things. Firstly that this was at one time a forest trail and secondly that the tree is doing well because that sign ought to be quite a bit lower.”

  Victoria, being a botanist, was quicker to see Norman’s point. “Not only has the forest started to reclaim the area, but it’s also flourishing.” She pulled back some of the loose foliage and undergrowth around her. “You can see specks and patches of gravel used to reinforce the trail.”

  Flint was looking around in wonder. “I thought Harry said that the dust particles in the sky would prevent natural light and growth or whatever.”

  “Harry was quite right,” Victoria said. “Think back to when we were coming down the mountainside. From inside the glass corridor, since we first arrived at the hydro plant, we’ve seen a couple of massive holes in the darkness up above, and through them, the sky looked normal. Until now, we’ve never appreciated their true size.”

  Bill said, “We agreed that the large holes might gradually increase in size, but we’d still have the dark cloud base left by the nuclear explosions?”

  Victoria said, “Harry didn’t want to build up anyone’s hopes, but before we left this morning, he told me certain signs to look for to help with his theories.”

  The three men listened intently so as not to miss anything important. Flint was still on edge, and he occasionally looked around, his military training making him suspicious of every new smell or sound.

  “Right,” Victoria said. “You’ll all understand that by being inside the mountain for so long, all we’ve seen of the outside are the views from the glass corridor and the enclosed balcony. We’ve watched and noted that generally to the south the sky has remained darker than it should. Everything below the dark cloud is in a semi-frozen state.”

  Norman said, “Yes, it’s looked like a separate climate with lower temperature and tundra. We’ve seen that most of the area in view was a wasteland, but as I said, until we left this morning, we’ve never seen the size of the holes in the cloud.”

  Bill said, “When I ventured out to check the atmosphere a couple of weeks ago, I glanced at the sky, but the gaps appear to have got bigger rapidly.”

  “Precisely,” Victoria said. “We’ve been inside the mountain for six years. What might have been large gaps in the polluted atmosphere have been affected by two main factors; sunlight and the natural gases given off from what has survived.”

  “I really want to keep up,” Flint said, “but you guys are gonna have to break this down for me.”

  “Thanks for asking, mate.” Bill winked at him.

  Victoria smiled. “When nuclear explosions polluted the atmosphere all around the globe, there were two possibilities. The most disastrous scenario would be that the multiple explosions would create an all-encompassing black nuclear cloud.”

  Flint nodded excitedly, finally on territory he understood. “Completely wrapping the planet in radioactive particles, like foil around a bar of chocolate?”

  Bill and Norman laughed.

  Victoria smiled and nodded. “Yes, and in such a circumstance we might not have survived much longer even inside the mountain because it would have brought about a nuclear winter. Without sunshine—everyth
ing would start dying due to the dropping temperatures and lack of ultra violet light. Those low temperatures would eventually have pervaded the mountains too—including ours.”

  “Okay,” Flint said, “I think I’m on the same page now, so what was the other scenario?”

  “I’m pleased to report that the other scenario is what we seem to have now. We’ve seen that there is a huge pocket of natural light above and beyond our mountain, and this forest. Without exploration on foot, it would be difficult to assess, but I would suggest that most of the Scottish Highlands are safe.”

  “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.” Norman walked out to the edge of the tree-line and strolled back. “I’ve just looked at the general size and shape of that hole in the cloud base.” He grinned. “Judging from what Victoria has just explained, I think I know the extent of our local safe territory.”

  While the botanist smiled, Bill and Flint exchanged a glance before turning to Norman.

  “If you think of how much forestry we have across this part of Scotland, we have two holes which are gradually becoming larger, and the poisoned cloud is being kept at bay by the remaining healthy woodland.” He turned to Victoria for confirmation.

  Victoria nodded. “As I said, other than an extensive patrol on foot it will be difficult to confirm. On the way back up the mountain, if we look in every direction, we ought to see holes in the sky above any area where there is a substantial forest.”

  Norman said, “If that theory proved true, there might be pockets of survival in other parts of the world.”

  “Where do you think?” Flint was shrugging off any negativity in the hope of more good news.

  “Well,” Bill said, “Harry is still in touch with Marianne in Bolivia. If you remember the size of the Amazon rain forests, that means that parts of South America stand a good chance of recovery.”

  Norman said, “I know that Africa had a lot of greenery, but missiles hammered the continent from different directions according to Benji’s final broadcasts. That’s why we think he was lost. Is there a signal still coming from New Zealand?”

  “Yes,” Bill said. “We lost voice communication with Jacob when he set sail from Australia, but his radio signal transmits intermittently. We’ve tried to work out what the hell is allowing it to continue, but there are too many theories.”

  Victoria said, “Are we ready to venture farther into the—”

  The unmistakable howl of a wolf sounded from within the forest, and the explorers all stood still. They continued to listen and glance at each other. The birds still chirped, so there was no panic among the inhabitants of the trees, but it had been a timely warning that these four people were not the only creatures in the forest.

  “Are we all ready to go deeper?” Bill looked around the three faces.

  All three nodded. They’d survived a global catastrophe and had lived inside a mountain for six years, so the threat of wolves wasn’t about to hold them back.

  Bill pulled the laser pistol from its holster. “Okay, Norman, I’ll take the point, and you stay close behind to keep me heading in the right direction. Victoria, you follow Norman, and Flint continues as Tail-end Charlie.”

  They set off again with no more than a few paces between each of them. Norman was behind Bill but looking ahead for the telltale yellow signs on some trees—his old guide.

  Flint muttered, “What the hell ….”

  “What’s up?” Victoria said.

  “Oh, nothing,” Flint laughed. “I’m probably seeing things.”

  “Well, you’re bound to see a bird, rabbit or fox because the level of noise indicates life.”

  Flint muttered, “I didn’t think rabbits or foxes could climb trees.”

  “I’m sorry?” Victoria squinted and smiled.

  “Nothing—don’t mind me.”

  For an hour they penetrated the forest and apart from brief stops to sip water from one of their containers they kept up a steady pace. Each person was filled with a sense of wonder, excitement and barely-concealed joy. Their part of the planet had survived, and they were determined to continue with the exploration.

  Bill stopped and raised his left hand; fisted. He extended his fingers and lowered the hand, palm facing down. The signal was seen and obeyed by his companions who each stopped and squatted low but remained quiet. Bill turned, and when they met his gaze, he pointed first to his eyes with two fingers and then he indicated for the others to look ahead.

  In a clearing no farther than twenty metres away was a natural, almost circular pond. A magnificent red deer stag stood, occasionally stooping to drink before resuming his alert pose. His head turned this way and that, his nose and ears twitching to pick up the slightest sign of a threat. Around the edge of the pond were six hinds and three fawns. The fawns lapped at the water without a care. The hinds appeared to take turns at drinking and listening like their monarch.

  The four humans remained in position, transfixed by such a beautiful sight. For ten minutes, the deer drank and enjoyed the peacefulness of the clearing. Following a snort from the stag, they all trotted off among the trees to disappear like wraiths.

  When the small Auchcarn group arrived at the pond, Victoria opened her backpack and lifted out two bottles to fill with samples of the water. She capped them and held them up. “It’s almost as clear as tap water.”

  “How can that be?” Flint said. “We’re in a forest.”

  “It could be a spring,” Victoria said, “just like the one inside the mountain that feeds all our accommodation along the tunnel. Invariably, when there is massive underground activity like the minor earthquakes initiated a few years ago, new natural water sources might have been created.”

  Norman said, “I know it’s been a while since I’ve done any work in the forests around here, but we only had one or two ponds, and I don’t recall any natural springs in the midst of the woodland.”

  “Well,” Bill said, “it’s good to know that the wildlife has a source of water.”

  Victoria said, “Once we’ve analysed this back at Auchcarn, it will be handy to know if we have drinking water available while we’re out and about like today.”

  They continued along what appeared to be the old trail which was heavily overgrown. They marvelled at how nature had stepped in and reclaimed the entire forest floor.

  “That’s about five miles we’ve covered through the forest now,” Norman said.

  “Are you sure?” Bill said. “It feels like more for some reason.”

  “It was around two miles to reach the forest after we exited the mountain. Between the trees, up ahead I can see a grey area which must be a road. The nearest tarmac road would be five miles from our start point at the edge of the forest. I’m trying to remember if there might be anything significant nearby to the east when we leave this section of forest.”

  Ten minutes later they stepped out of the woodland to see the remains of a tarmac road. The four of them stood line abreast along the edge of the once smooth surface, looking in wonder at how greenery had crept up over the edges. No white paint or cat’s eyes studs showing anywhere meant it was a ‘C’ class route. In some places, the tarmac had given up the fight. Nature was taking advantage of the cracks to strive for a crossing in both directions.

  Victoria squatted to check the strength of the vegetation. “This stuff has a firm hold, guys. I’d say another couple of years without traffic along this route, and we’ll be looking at another aspect of our old world disappearing.”

  “Could it really take over in a couple of years?” Flint squatted to mimic Victoria’s tugging motion to test the strength of the roots and stems in the cracks.

  “Flint, if it can do this in six years, this road will all but disappear in the next five or six years. It will be more like the trail we’d have expected to find in the depths of the forest.”

  “Wow, that is bloody impressive.”

  Bill and Norman had walked away a short distance. They were in a serious conversation ab
out something as they walked back.

  Victoria stood. “Have you found something interesting, guys?”

  “Interesting is a good description.” Norman turned and pointed. “Can you see where there is a road junction about one hundred metres away?”

  “Yes,” Victoria and Flint chorused as they stared in the direction of a bend in the road.

  Norman seemed preoccupied as he looked around. “There’s a road sign lying on the grass verge which confirms that my guess at the distance was pretty accurate.”

  “Why, what’s the sign?” Flint said and laughed.

  “West Highland Wildlife Reserve and Sanctuary,” Norman said.

  “Oh shit,” Flint said. “What did they normally have in there?”

  “As you’ll recall, Scotland was the first place in the British Isles to abolish zoos. Up here, we were heavily into the idea of a massive reserve.”

  “What was in there, Norman?” Flint said, with less amusement in his tone.

  “Alpacas, bison, wild horses, wildcats, a few species of primates and then the more dangerous species like brown bears, wolves and a few big cats.”

  Flint looked up and down the edge of the overgrown road. “That changes my view of a walk in the forest.”

  Norman said, “We can’t be sure what survived and what didn’t. Not long before our world leaders turned the planet to rubble, the reserve also had a couple of exotic species. We’re not going to know unless we check it out.”

  “Check it out?” Victoria was suddenly as alert as Flint. “Apart from not being sure about their survival, isn’t this a natural habitat for bears, wolves and lynx?”