by David Whaley
The officers snapped off the twin engine propellers and shot through the strong aeroplane tyres filled with Nitrogen causing a small explosion as well as shooting through the acrylic plastic windscreen. They deemed their task as a job well done.
Natalie was intent on bringing Leon back with them knowing that it wouldn’t normally be allowed and requested John’s permission. John denied the request stating that he simply couldn’t allow it but he stressed that he greatly appreciated what Leon had done for the benefit of the world. It was this appreciation that led to a compromise.
John agreed to a cremation, taking Leon to a cemetery not too far away that they passed prior to his sacrifice.
They laid Leon onto an old stone casket dating back to 1806, placing thick stones around his body and selecting various amounts of kindling that were placed to rest against the outside edges of his body.
Natalie looked around for the freshest bouquet of flowers by the other gravestones, selecting some wilted daisies and placing them onto Leon’s chest.
He looked peaceful and his mouth even seemed to form a slight smile.
To everyone’s surprise, Devlin opted to say a few words.
He stated how he had become a changed man from meeting various different people that are trusting and trustworthy even in times of crisis. The biggest personalities that had that influence were Natalie and Leon, specifically Leon, perhaps unknowingly, having taught him the value of forgiveness and the qualities of friendship. He admitted that friendship was something he intentionally shied away from as he had always been on the move for as long as he could remember.
“Thanks to the man laid before us, I am a better person and his personality, I’m sure, has rubbed off on each of us,” Devlin concluded.
Natalie sobbed and Devlin embraced her with a second comforting hug whilst the Hertfordshire officers put pieces of paper and anything else that could easily be ignited between the kindling in a kind of weave.
Natalie refused to be the one to begin the cremation and pleaded with Devlin to do it who obliged, encouraging her to stand back.
Retrieving a lighter from his pocket he lit the four corners of the stone casket and the flames quickly engulfed the deceased. The sound of crackling and the smell of burning flesh signifying the cremation had begun. They watched on for what felt like an age but long enough to satisfy themselves that they had paid the respects he deserved.
The cars rumbled over debris and uneven roads as they headed back to Bishops Stortford police station. Every single person remained silent and they arrived at two in the morning.
Some of the survivors had already been taken to the extraction point. They were required to assist.
It was a long six hours, but eventually all the survivors had been transported and they had one final trip to collect as much food as possible to feed as many people as possible whilst they waited until eight in the evening.
John pleaded with them to get some sleep but with the impending extraction they were all far too excited and found this a difficult task to undertake. So, they waited being the most patient they had been since being rescued.
Throughout the day, Natalie didn’t eat or drink and barely said two words to anybody that tried to communicate with her. She prayed, silently, but for the first time in ages.
All of a sudden, there was a whirring sound in the distance, faint at first but growing louder. Then the source of the sound became visible in the dark sky. The helicopters were approaching, four of them.
Survivors entered three of the helicopters, a moment of panic as everyone wanted to get on first but the American Air Force staff were able to quell it before the situation became too dangerous to continue. The passengers were searched beforehand to ensure no contraband was leaving the UK that could put the country they were to enter at risk.
John had a quiet word with the pilot of the fourth helicopter and was able to have Devlin, Heather and Natalie airlifted to safety. Their destination was the United States of America. By John doing so, the trio were avoided the displeasure of being searched after the part they played for the benefit of the world but they would be deep cleaned on landing and their clothes destroyed.
All four helicopters had entered the sky once again and were making way towards the Atlantic.
Elevated at what appeared to be a relatively low altitude, and the three other choppers flying nearby like the end scene from a war film, Devlin and Natalie stared at each other, Heather sensing their next move. They shared a kiss.
Chapter 44 – Three months later
“You may now kiss the bride,” said the priest marrying the couple.
The groom lent over and lifted the veil over Natalie’s head where he planted a long kiss onto her plump lips, a hand placed in the small of her back as he did so.
The audience cheered consisting of the Hertfordshire police officers and Heather along with new friends made in the last few months, typically born American nationals.
The church was situated within the heart of Manhattan and a beautiful church it was too. The groom spared no expense to make sure it was decorated perfectly for his new bride.
Natalie was very much in love thus proving that appearances and first impressions are not everything despite what many people would say. When you spend some time with them you really get to know them, she thought.
The reception was in the hotel wedding hall in which they were staying whilst the American government found somewhere more permanent for them to live having reassured them it wouldn’t be much longer.
Natalie and her groom danced, ate, drank, socialised and complimented each other repeatedly still surprised that such two people could be drawn to each other.
The reception was coming to an end and the guests were beginning to filter out giving their best wishes to the newly weds as they left.
With the guests gone and the hotel staff in the throes of cleaning their mess, Natalie and her groom went up to their hotel room where they got into bed and he turned off the light. Natalie, however, turned the light back on; it didn’t matter whether could see each other or not. They consummated the marriage with the lights on.
The following morning Natalie awoke to find her groom getting dressed.
“Where you going?” she asked.
“I thought you might be hungry after working up an appetite last night.”
“Oh, I am.”
“I love you, Natalie,” said the groom leaning across the bed and giving her a soft kiss.
“I love you too.”
The groom left the room and walked along the hallway fumbling an item in his trouser pocket.
Leon sacrificed everything to protect the remaining countries around the globe. It was a shame he was gone but the crucifix necklace he removed from his dead body reminded him of the moments they shared. Leon was only one reason for how the groom turned out.
The groom continued along the hallway to the lift and descended to collect breakfast for himself and his new wife, Natalie.
For once, I’m not going to mess up, Devlin thought.
***
Meanwhile, the American Air Force had continued observing the UK until the decision was made that it needed to be destroyed. Operation Z:UK was coming to an end.
Over the last month, the jets continued to fly high in the sky and systemically worked on a sector at time. Each sector was hit by a blast of fire and shockwaves as each missile hit, dropped from the aircrafts, many at a time.
This action damaged all buildings that remained upright whilst the shockwave forced back each zombie all of whom were alight in a fireball of carnage. Not all of them died and the decision was that they would eventually starve to death.
Just one sector remained unlit and the six fighter jets were on their way in a predetermined formation.
As the orders had been before, they had to drop their missiles accurately and all within this sector 32 causing the expected kilotons worth of damage. This had been accomplished on the others.
Sector 32 was the sector in which their comrades had bravely given up their lives to avoid capture and transformation. With that in mind, as a tribute, the first six to land were named after them: Tank, Boom, Poet, Tiny, Duke and Handle. This was a sad tribute on a day that America got its revenge on the British plague.
The bombs were dropped in the order as planned, but also unknowingly in the order their comrades had rolled off the rooftop, followed by many further unnamed missiles.
A feeling of success and relief washed over the pilots as they headed away from the UK to return home. This British island was dead.
The burning zombies on the ground watched on as the jets faded into the distance, moaning but not in pain. It was hunger. The American Air Forces plan seemed to be working.
However, even if it does work, the United States of America had sanctioned the UK as uninhabitable for a minimum of a hundred years.
