away.’
‘What did they say?’ asked Tina.
He shook his head. ‘The messages kept fading in and out, so I rarely managed to get a complete sentence, but from what I could gather they were reporting on the damage in their areas and asking for help. But a couple of days ago, I suddenly received a powerful transmission, claiming to be the government broadcasting from the outskirts of Bristol.’
‘Bristol?’ Alex repeated, remembering what the youth at the hospital had said.
‘It didn't last long and it said nothing about how the war started or how the country as a whole fared,’ Tim continued. ‘But it did say they planned to start distributing food after the fourteenth day of the attack. Until then they advised everyone to remain under cover to avoid fallout. Oh, and one other thing. Tim leaned back in his chair, his eyes troubled. ‘They said that at eleven o'clock tomorrow they will broadcast more information on where the food distribution points are located and the conditions under which one can obtain food, whatever that means.’
That night Alex and Tina only picked at the hot, steaming food placed in front of them. Alex hoped the radiation they had received would produce no more serious symptoms than nausea, however, while he quickly sank into an exhausted sleep, Tina’s temperature began to rise. After half an hour she vomited up her dinner and for the rest of the night she had hot and cold flushes, diarrhoea and further vomiting. At one in the morning Alex woke up and kept watch over her till the Wanes took over. At breakfast he was offered cereal and some fresh bread which had been baked over the flames of the fire the previous day. Although he had no appetite, he deliberately forced the food down, then tried to snatch a few more hours' sleep.
Tim woke Alex mid-morning and led him to a small room at the rear of the house. The radio occupied a large table in the centre of the room. Tim switched it on and tuned the dial. At eleven precisely, the static suddenly stopped and the following statement was issued: ‘This is an official broadcast by the wartime government. Great Britain has suffered a major nuclear attack. Most military installations, industrial and population centres have been hit. You are warned to remain in your homes. Large movements of people from the towns have been reported. We advise all would be refugees to turn back. Anyone committing violent acts will be shot. The government is doing its best to implement emergency measures. Food rationing centres will be established on the outskirts of cities in a few days. Country areas will have to live off their own produce until the situation improves. Food rationing will be on the basis of health and willingness to work. Fifteen hundred calories will be given to those who agree to work; non workers will receive five hundred calories. All hospitals are severely overcrowded; resources are limited and must be directed towards those thought capable of survival. The government realises the hardship these measures will create but no good will be served in this present crisis by a failure to face the present reality. We therefore implore everyone to work together to improve conditions and reduce suffering as much as possible. A further report will be broadcast at the same time, on this frequency, tomorrow, and thereafter at times to be announced.’ The voice cut out abruptly.
‘Fifteen hundred calories a day,’ said Tim shaking his head, as he turned off the set. ‘That's hardly enough to sustain a human, let alone keep him fit enough for a full day's work.’
Alex nodded grimly. ‘And if you refuse, you starve to death on five hundred calories a day. People won't take that type of treatment, they'll riot.’
‘Yes,’ Tim agreed, ‘they'll overrun the food stations, then head for the country to grab what more they can.’
The conversation had come dangerously near to what Tina had said earlier, and nothing more was said at that
‘What did they say?’ asked Tina.
He shook his head. ‘The messages kept fading in and out, so I rarely managed to get a complete sentence, but from what I could gather they were reporting on the damage in their areas and asking for help. But a couple of days ago, I suddenly received a powerful transmission, claiming to be the government broadcasting from the outskirts of Bristol.’
‘Bristol?’ Alex repeated, remembering what the youth at the hospital had said.
‘It didn't last long and it said nothing about how the war started or how the country as a whole fared,’ Tim continued. ‘But it did say they planned to start distributing food after the fourteenth day of the attack. Until then they advised everyone to remain under cover to avoid fallout. Oh, and one other thing. Tim leaned back in his chair, his eyes troubled. ‘They said that at eleven o'clock tomorrow they will broadcast more information on where the food distribution points are located and the conditions under which one can obtain food, whatever that means.’
That night Alex and Tina only picked at the hot, steaming food placed in front of them. Alex hoped the radiation they had received would produce no more serious symptoms than nausea, however, while he quickly sank into an exhausted sleep, Tina’s temperature began to rise. After half an hour she vomited up her dinner and for the rest of the night she had hot and cold flushes, diarrhoea and further vomiting. At one in the morning Alex woke up and kept watch over her till the Wanes took over. At breakfast he was offered cereal and some fresh bread which had been baked over the flames of the fire the previous day. Although he had no appetite, he deliberately forced the food down, then tried to snatch a few more hours' sleep.
Tim woke Alex mid-morning and led him to a small room at the rear of the house. The radio occupied a large table in the centre of the room. Tim switched it on and tuned the dial. At eleven precisely, the static suddenly stopped and the following statement was issued: ‘This is an official broadcast by the wartime government. Great Britain has suffered a major nuclear attack. Most military installations, industrial and population centres have been hit. You are warned to remain in your homes. Large movements of people from the towns have been reported. We advise all would be refugees to turn back. Anyone committing violent acts will be shot. The government is doing its best to implement emergency measures. Food rationing centres will be established on the outskirts of cities in a few days. Country areas will have to live off their own produce until the situation improves. Food rationing will be on the basis of health and willingness to work. Fifteen hundred calories will be given to those who agree to work; non workers will receive five hundred calories. All hospitals are severely overcrowded; resources are limited and must be directed towards those thought capable of survival. The government realises the hardship these measures will create but no good will be served in this present crisis by a failure to face the present reality. We therefore implore everyone to work together to improve conditions and reduce suffering as much as possible. A further report will be broadcast at the same time, on this frequency, tomorrow, and thereafter at times to be announced.’ The voice cut out abruptly.
‘Fifteen hundred calories a day,’ said Tim shaking his head, as he turned off the set. ‘That's hardly enough to sustain a human, let alone keep him fit enough for a full day's work.’
Alex nodded grimly. ‘And if you refuse, you starve to death on five hundred calories a day. People won't take that type of treatment, they'll riot.’
‘Yes,’ Tim agreed, ‘they'll overrun the food stations, then head for the country to grab what more they can.’
The conversation had come dangerously near to what Tina had said earlier, and nothing more was said at that
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