Tar: An apocalyptic horror novella by Iain Rob Wright Read Free Book Online

the floor. The dog ate, cautious at first but then ravenous.
    Finn waited for the two druggies to get up off the steps. They stunk of foulness, and their faces were wet tissue-paper stretched over skullbone. “I’m looking for Dominic Cassell. I hear he went to a warehouse called Latif’s.”
    The injured guy rubbed at his hip and tutted. “Why’d you have to shove us, man?”
    “Because you were picking on a frightened little animal, so I thought I'd let you see how it feels. Would you like another reason?”
    “What d’you care? The world has ended.”
    “It hasn’t ended yet. Dominic , I want to find him. Speak!”
    The other druggie who hadn’t fallen quite so badly chewed his lip bloody. It cracked more as he answered. “Yeah, we know Dom. Used to hook us up 'til he tripled the price—twat. I know Latif’s too. It’s on the corner of West Highgate, near the dog’s home. The cop shop is nearby. I used to walk home from there after a night in the chokie.”
    Finn was surprised to get such useful info—and so freely. “Minty, give these guys something to eat.”
    Minty pulled a face. He was still petting the small dog which now wagged its tail. “After what they did?”
    “Rules of the street. These guys helped without me having to get physical. Give them something for their troubles.”
    “You got any gear?” said the guy with the bruised hip. His eyes suddenly lit up.
    “We have salt and vinegar crisps,” said Minty, tossing two packets at them. “Enjoy what you’ve been given.”
    Finn nodded. “I'd listen to the kid.”
    After that, the two men took the crisps gladly. To Minty they said, “Cheers, buddy. Sorry about the dog.”
    “And I’m sorry about the hip,” said Finn. “Try to be decent for whatever time you have left.”
    As they walked away, Minty started chuckling.
    “What is it?” asked Finn.
    “You’re like a crime fighter. You go round saving puppies and trapped children. Finn the Hero.”
    Finn rolled his eyes. “Don’t be away in the head. This isn’t a comic book. I’m not fighting crime, I’m getting answers. You don't want to see what happens when people don't give them.”
    Minty stopped laughing, but kept a slight smile on his face. “Just seems like all the answers are coming from the bad guys you rough up.”
    Finn was a bad guy beating up other bad guys. That didn’t make him a good guy. Good guys didn't abandon their families. Good guys didn’t kill people. Good guys didn't plant bombs.
    The little girl he pulled from the rubble of the post office thought Finn was a good guy too. She’d never known the reason she needed rescuing in the first place was because of a rigged parcel Finn had left there.
    Finn was no hero.
    “I don’t know my way around the city, kid. Do you recognize the whereabouts that fella was talking about?”
    Minty nodded. “West Highgate. Yeah, I know it. It’s not far away. We can probably walk it in an hour.”
    “Let’s walk faster and make it in less.”
    “Okay,” said Minty. “Maybe the three of us can stop and find some more food along the way.”
    Finn looked at the boy and frowned. “What are you talking about, the three of us?”
    Minty nodded at the ground between them. Keeping pace in the centre of their group was the frightened little dog. “Looks like he’s coming along,” said Minty. “Every hero needs a dog. Let's call him... Wonder Mutt.”
    Finn rolled his eyes. “Just great. If he shits, kid, you’re cleaning it up.”

6
    Ashes
    “ W here's your family ?” Finn asked as they headed out of the housing estate and towards the main roads.
    “Dead,” said Minty.
    Finn knew that would likely be the case, so what had made him even ask the question? Probably the silence of their walk. Quiet made him uncomfortable. It had been a long time since Finn had needed to make conversation with a stranger, and he struggled with it. Back home in Belfast, he had only ever associated with those he had known for