Saturday 18 July 2015

Juniper’s Daughter: The Final War, A novel by Nick Armbrister



Juniper’s Daughter:
The Final War,
A novel by Nick Armbrister
“Oh, the usual I suppose. There could be a few or none at all. I wish that we had more trained staff like before the war but we will have to make do. I’ll see you later Sarah. I’ll be around if you need me,” Leah said before going off on her rounds.
Sarah got on with her work, she wasn’t paid but she was given food and any clothing she needed; money was a dinosaur from before the war. Now the financial economy was a distant memory, of no use now. Sarah had worked at the aid station for nearly two years like Leah, she liked her work and helping those who needed it.
John left the flat with Lee but they both went their separate ways. John decided to spend the first couple of hours of daylight scouting out, to see if he could come by anything “of interest”.
Lee headed off to organise an arms shipment to nearby Rochdale, to the ex-war veteran. As of late their arms stock was quite low, Lee wanted to trade for warm clothing, food and any useful information concerning rival gangs. Especially the ones who traded in guns.
John ended up at Arnie’s. Arnie was a local guy who reckoned he was a hard man, this was okay in his own eyes but to others he was a funny bloke just full of himself. He had moved about over the years to cover his own back after a number of dodgy deals had fallen through. He said he was an organised criminal.
“Okay,” said John, “but what do I get to see? Not much but I’ll crash some beers.”
“I’ve got some nice designer leather combat pants from before the war. Over two hundred pairs from a warehouse in Lees village. All sizes, never been worn. Make me an offer John boy.”
John swigged his out of date Sainsbury’s beer, contemplating Arnie’s offer. Was it a dodgy deal? This guy was known for it, John stared into space for a few minutes, thinking of details and of self-gain. People don’t give a fuck about looking cool but they want something useful everyday. Could these combat pants be traded further down the line?

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