The vegan allegiance by John Jones (philippa perry book TXT) 📕

incase the police show up, scared you might get electrocuted. Do you think I care if I get arrested? It'll send a message".

"What, vegan arrested trespassing trying to turn off electricity. What message is that?"

"I'm promoting veganism, a positive peaceful message, but if you're too scared then I want you stay away, wouldn't want you whining". He turned to the others.

"Who else is still up for tonight?" All of them except Sparkle put thier hands up.

"See, they're not scared. They're not hiding".

"I just don't want to be involved in it, in this so-called 'allegiance', which is all about you Carrot. You might as well call it the 'Carrot club'".

"Right, so just walking away are we? or maybe you're not really a commited vegan. Go back to being a meat-eater, go back to being a veggie, see if I care," he turned back again to the others.

"Ok, time to start spreading the stickers around town. That's if you've got the guts, and arn't too scared like a little mouse to promote the vegan cause". They all stood up and gathered their belongings.

"Ok, we'll reconvene tonight at ten at the meeting place. See you then". They all went their separate ways, Sparkle walking away with Vixen.

"Look Carrot, I'm all for the cause, I get it, it's just..." Carrot raised his hands and turned away, just as Elisa was approaching.

"Forget it Bonk I'm not interested. Go and eat meat if that's what you want". Carrot just looked at her as he strode past. She looked at Bonk who simply shrugged.

"Am I ever going to see you in a good mood?" Elisa asked.

Carrot turned and pointed at her accusingly, his voice raised:

"Until people stop exploiting animals for profit, stop pumping out carbon into the air, stop eating meat, then no, you won't see me in a good mood. You can show up tonight at the meeting place if you want, but if not then...whatever!" Then he turned and stormed away.

Bonk joined Elisa at her side, both of them watching as Carrot walked out of the park.

"The twelfth of never," said Bonk, "That's when he might, just might, crack a smile, but even then he'll find something to moan about. I think he enjoys it".

"Yes," Elisa said. "I think you maybe right. Anyway, so you've quit have you? You've quit this allegiance". Bonk nodded.

"Yes. Well I didn't want to follow him on his trip to prison, and besides, I can't do without omelettes".

"So you're going back to being a veggie".

"Well, erm, yes, I think I am".

"Wait till I tell Carrot," said Elisa, and they both smiled.

Elisa, Carrot, Snowy, Jizza, Vixen, Dizzy, Bubble and Sausage, all stood around as though waiting for a bus.

"Okay, it looks as if the gang is all here except for the mouse," said Carrot. They were bathed in light from the dual-carriageway that curved around the side of the town. It was 22.05pm and the sky had thrown a dark sheet over the area, moonlight blending into the yellow from the roadway lights.

A large electrified fence stretched into the distance on either side of them, hemming in the power-plant that gave the town its electricity. They were stood at a side exit, waiting for Dizzy's friend to come and let them in.

Carrot took from his pocket another sticker, one of many that had been plastered around the town. He was by a speed-camera and was tall enough to put it over the lens.

'When the lights go out, wake up a vegan, join the vegan allegiance', it said, followed by Carrot's and Vixen's mobile numbers.

"Carrot," said Vixen, "Why did you put it there? people who speed won't get a ticket now and might be encouraged to speed even more if they don't get a fine".

"They're just another government puppet ripping off the public. Any chance I get to deny them money I'm taking. Ah...here he is by the looks of things".

An approaching torchlight beyond the fence wavered until it picked them all out. Then they heard the sound of keys and the door being unlocked.

The security guard stood there and waved them through. He and Dizzy shook hands.

"Thanks for this," Dizzy said, "I owe you one. I know this is a massive risk".

"It is yes, but it's a boring job. I don't think I care if I'm sacked. It's tempting to just join you".

"Ah, this is for vegans," interjected Carrot, smiling, "Not light-weight veggies. Where do we go?"

The slight insult the security guard felt took a few seconds to subside, then he said, "Follow me". They flicked on their torches, following the one in front.

After a few minutes, that torch picked out a small brick sub-station, the security guard removing the padlock and opening the creaky door.

"Ok, just switch off everything in here, that should do it". Most of the allegiance, except Sausage and Vixen went inside. Elisa also waited outside.

It was a mini-disco of wavering lights in the confined space as they all proceeded to turn off all switches and turn down dials and levers.

In the torch and moonlight, Elisa looked at the other two, the security guard hanging back, one eye looking out, and one eye on the sub-station, and Vixen and Sausage looked at Elisa, and they suspected what was on her mind.

She stepped across to the door and closed it, sliding the lock across.

"What are you doing?" said the security guard, watching as Elisa took out her mobile phone. She dialed a few numbers and said nothing to him as she waited for an answer.

"Hello," she said, "I'd like the police please".

 

It only took a few seconds for the allegiance to realise they were trapped, and suddenly screams and banging permeated the air.

Carrot hammered with the base of his torch on the door, the torchlights lighting up panicked faces like camera-flashes within the blackness.

Screams of 'Let me out', 'What have you done?' were ignored as Vixen and Sausage decided it was time to exit. Elisa said nothing as they went to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" the security guard asked.

"If I'm about to lose my job, then you lot have got some explaining to the police to do. No-one's leaving here until they arrive".

Inside the sub-station, the panic continued, except that was, from Carrot.

He had stopped banging, had stopped shouting, and had pressed his fore-head against the door, the torch dropped, his eyes closed.

 

Deep within the recesses of his mind, over-riding the normal reaction to being trapped was the more intense belief that they were not getting out. This led to the untapped region of the brain every human has, the capacity for survival, everyone for themselves, whatever it takes. This over-whelmed his mind, the barriers of which had been taken down by his penchant for all things vegan, smoothing the path for his survival instincts.

 

He shot out his right hand to grab the back of Dizzy's head who was still shouting to be let out. He tugged him back and bit into his throat. Dizzy stumbled back, cracking his head on the concrete, and was dazed as Carrot knelt down and bit and chewed the flesh, eating the meat, oblivous to the screams around him.

 

Outside, sirens punctuated the air.

 

Carrot's face was red as he ate into the neck, Dizzy feebly struggling as the blood pooled around them, the screaming and banging continuing as Carrot fed.

The entrance the allegiance had been allowed through was now blocked by a policeman, and two of them approached the sub-station.

Dizzy was dead, and Carrot was ripping away skin when the doors opened and the others rushed out.

"Stop right there you're all under arrest!" said an officer, but that went unheard as they ran away in different directions into the grounds of the power-plant.

"They won't get away," said the other officer, as their torches picked out Carrot, unawares as he feasted on the fresh meat.

"What on earth...?"

Elisa could only stare for a few moments, then walked slowly towards him.

"Miss, don't approach him," said an officer, but she stopped at the entrance.

Carrot was drinking blood when he stopped and slowly turned his head towards her.

They made eye-contact. For a few seconds nothing was said.

"We're finished," she said, backing away.

 

 

 

 

Imprint

Publication Date: 05-06-2021

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