Questions, Answers and Decisions

Posted on Sun Jan 18th, 2026 @ 10:21pm by René Rouen & Juliet Parrish & Father James Aldridge & Cassandra Lennox & Albert 'Bert' Smith & Bartholomew Addington & Lola ‘Myth’ McDowell & Maureen Lennox

1,962 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbour
Location: Town Hall, Thistledrift, UK
Timeline: 12.04.2012/1300 hours (December 4th, 2012/1pm

Rene sat outside the town hall on a bench waiting to be brought in before before the council. He took a deep breath and wondered what was going to happen. He was sure there were going to be questions. There always was when arriving in a new community.

"You been summoned too, Frenchy?" Bert asked as he took a seat at the other end of the bench. He had to admit it was nice to have a fresh change of clothes and a hot bath. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this clean.

René turned to look at Bert and nodded. "Oui. The Council will be questioning us and determine if they will allow us to stay."

"Nervous?" Smith asked before blowing warm air into his hands to keep them warm then stuffing them into his coat pockets.

René shrugged. It wasn’t nervousness that bothered him. "Not nervous. These are good people. They're kind and treat one another with respect. Part of me doesn't want to go. Which...is the problem. I just found out that my family may still be alive in France." He looked around the town centre.

Bert frowned, "How have you heard that?" He questioned curiously.

Rene looked in the direction of the radio. "Thistledrift's radio operator has been in regular contact with a person who could be my sister in France." He was about to say more when Samuel exited the town hall.

Samuel looked at the pair as he stepped outside the village hall and indicated that they could come in properly. In the Village hall, the council were sitting there looking relaxed. In Cassandra's eyes, this was just a formality; both men had shown their willingness to be part of the community, but not everyone had the chance yet to meet them or know their natures. "Thank you for being so prompt. We ask questions and you answer honestly. Do you understand?"

René nodded, but otherwise stayed silent. He glanced at Sam and Lola. Lola he could understand being there. Sam was a different story. It begged the question, Was he being followed.

"How did you survive this long?" Cassandra asked the pair, looking for resourcefulness, practical skills, or who they were with. She needed people who could be trusted and were independent in their own safety. You could tell a lot by how dependent or independent they are.

René answered first. "I am a proficient swordsman. I also do my best not to start trouble anywhere I go. I also haven't stayed anywhere too long. I am adept at foraging food and scrounging for necessary supplies.

"Luck to begin with." Bert started. "Then I gained skills to survive. Some taught to be me by others, some self taught." He added after clearing his throat.

Maureen smiled at the pair as she stood to ask her usual question for these situations. "Who have you lost?" Maureen asked. It was a softer way of probing trauma and past relationships, revealing emotional state and possible motivations.

Rene met Maureen's gaze. "I have been in England since just before the Fall and I have not been in communication with my family the entire time. I hope they're still alive." He glanced at Lola for a brief moment. He turned back to Maureen. "Being that I am here and my family is in France. It feels like I have lost them."

"I, erm, lost my family before the fall." Bert replied. A lump quickly formed on his throat as the image of his wife, pregnant with thier unborn child, popped into his head. He blinked his watering eyes a few times to clear them and cleared his throat once again. "Ive made and lost friends and acquaintances since all this started."

“Haven’t we all.” Cassandra commented with a sad look on her face.

Juliet looked at the newcomers. "Have you ever had to hurt someone who wasn’t infected and why?”

René met Juliet’s gaze. "I have had to defend myself from people who attacked me wanting to steal my things. I have always been able to successfully fend off such attacks with minimal injuries to my opponents arms or legs. Once...I did attack three men who had cornered a woman and her daughter. They were going to...I couldn't allow them to do what they were going to do. I struck and killed two from behind. The last one ran. I wanted to chase him down, but...he was no longer a threat. I did what I could to help the woman and her daughter, I left them what food and water I could spare and the belongings of the two dead men."

Bert looked down, ashamed of some of his actions in the past. "My last group i was with. They seemed nice at first but then, as i got deeper into it, I saw a different side. Blackmail, extortion, physical violence towards those that had something that the group wanted. I had to go along with it if I wanted to live." Bert swallowed hard. "Ive done things I dont want to ever do again."

Father James was the next to ask the two newcomers a question. "What do you think people still owe each other now?" It gave insight into their values and whether they might contribute to or undermine the community.

"Life." Smith replied simply. "We need to help each other during these difficult times not hurt or kill each other. Sharing what we have is how to survive this. Not taking or ruling people with an iron fist. Rules, of course, are important and needed but hurting others should be the first rule."

René pondered the question. It was a question with no clear answer. He knew that he would have been worse of had these people had not provided him with shelter. He had tried to repay their kindness with work. Suddenly something clicked in his brain. "Understanding." He looked about the room at all their faces. "This community is very generous and kind to outsiders. I'm grateful for that. Most places I've been don't show strangers that. I want to understand what it is about this community that allows you to show kindness to strangers."

Bartheowmew stood awkwardly. He was not normally the one who was there from security but there was no one else not on duty awake. He knew what question they asked but it was stuff in his opinion. "What can you offer this village if we let you stay?" It was direct and practical useful for communities where everyone is expected to "muck in."

René looked at the Council. "As I said before, I am adept with a sword. I can teach fencing." He glanced at Samuel, the blacksmith. "He's agreed to employ me as his apprentice should the Council accept my petition to stay."

"I'm more than happy to help wherever help is needed." Bert replied looking along the council row. "I can also teach archery as a hunting tool and also as a form of defense. Happy to learn a trade if needed."

A man was sitting in the gallery. He rose to his feet and spoke. "Both of these men showed their true character already. He looked at Bert. "This man saved Cassandra when one of the undead was about to attack her from behind." He turned to René. "This one...he saved both my children. They proved their true character when they risked their lives saving strangers."

"I make a motion to vote on whether Albert Smith and René Rouen should be allowed to become part of our community here." Juliet knew how Travis felt about René's actions. She looked about the the chamber.

Father James sighed. "Table your motion for a moment. We still need to hear what Lola and Samuel have to say."

Cassandra narrowed her eyes a little as it was declared how close she had been to getting bitten to the whole room. No one needed to know that but it seemed she was part of the community gossip again. Lola smiled a little as she gracefully rose. She was not part of the council but she had insight in the basic form. “I have nothing to offer other than what has been offered already but René was nothing but a perfect gentleman whist he stayed with me.” She declared.

Sam inclined his head at Lola as she sat back down “He wasn’t bad with arrowheads.” He approved quietly to Cassandra, who nodded. “Given time, he’ll be bette,r but neither man has struck me as a person who will bring harm or death.” He had not been wrong so far on anyone brought into the community.

Juliet turned to the other council members. "Now, may I have a second for my motion?"

Cassandra held her hand up before anyone else could, as she had seen both men in action. "You have my second." She said quietly daring anyone to argue.

Father James looked at Cassandra and Juliet. He allowed a sigh to escape. "All in favor of Mr. Smith and Mr. Rouen being granted citizenship here in Thistledrift signify by saying aye."

Juliet nodded as she spoke up. "Aye."

Cassandra looked around and tallied things before she smiled. “So it looks like you are stuck with us for a little bit.” Cassandra declared as she looked at the pair.

Bert smiled and nodded. "Thank you all for your trust. I really do appreciate it."

René's response mirrored Bert's."Merci Mademoiselle Lennox. I too appreciate your kindness and the kindness of the whole council."

"Erm, can I ask what happens now?" Bert asked curiously.

Father James looked at the two newcomers. He glanced briefly at Cassandra before looking at Bert again. "Permanent accommodations and community service assignments. You both will need to be brought up to speed on our rules of conduct. If you have a particularly unique skill that would come in handy, such as mechanic, electrician, carpenter. Those would help us greatly. There's also a few general support tasks. Guard duty, wall inspections, helping out at the pub. We don't have to sort that all out today though."

Juliet cleared her throat. "We want you to get to know us and we you. We usually have community get togethers at the pub from time to time. Especially if we've had particularly good supply runs like the one we returned from yesterday. We're having one tonight as a matter of fact."

Smith nodded his understanding. He wasn't keen on the pub idea, it took a long time to get clean from alcohol. A relapse wouldn't do anyone any favours. "I have no skills per say but I'm happy to muck in. Also handy with my bow and arrow."

Father James considered Albert's words. "Perhaps the hunting party." He glanced at Albert. "Fresh meat is always in demand."

Albert nodded his approval. "I've spent a lot of time hunting. I'm not too bad, pretty good at catching seagulls."

Father James gave a single nod of his head. "We'll try you out on the hunting party then." He turned to Cassandra. "Any additional new business the council needs to discuss?"

Cassandra had been silent thinking through things as she tried to decide if there was anything else that needs to be discussed with them all. “Nothing new.” She assured thinking of the camcorder that was stored in her office back at the house. It was personal for now, she would discuss it closer to spring once’s she got her thoughts around it sorted. “Anyone else?” She wondered.

Heads shook along the council table. Father James made a motion to adjourn this week's council meeting which Juliet quickly seconded.

END

 

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