“However, you’ll be relieved to know your hearts are fine, even though your heart rhythms become irregular during REM,” added Doctor Grice.
“Do you have any questions?” asked Owen.
Marla sighed. “I don’t know. It’s a lot to take in. I’m surprised our results are so different, but I can see why you think it’s best to focus on testing Ellen as hers are so… erm…” She paused and looked at her sister.
“Weird, you want to say?” Ellen asked.
Marla shrugged and nodded.
“I can understand your concern, but please try not to worry,” said Doctor Grice. “I know it probably sounds easier said than done, but we will try to improve this, Ellen. Marla, I believe your condition will improve on its own. If you like, we can monitor you as well, but I know it is time consuming and not that enjoyable. Ellen, I would like to run complete blood tests to ensure your lack of deep sleep is not detrimental to your health. My theory is these nightmares are temporary. I understand you have been experiencing them for a while, but I believe that inside this place, where life is calmer and there is no external threat, for want of a nicer expression, they will disappear.”
Ellen looked at her sister and then smiled at the doctor. “You really think so?”
He nodded. “I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, girls, but I’ve been doing this for many years and have had few failures.”
“That would be amazing, Marla. Doctor, thank you,” said Ellen. “I’d love to sleep normally again.”
“Even if you don’t want to carry on with the tests, Marla, when we find what works for your sister, we can treat you too.”
She smiled. “That sounds great. I just want what’s best for Ellen.”
“I’ll do my very best.”
Wednesday, 2 July
“You don’t give up, do you?” asked Marla, using her towel to wipe the sweat from her face. Ellen was correct: the man was clearly more than a little interested, but surely she couldn’t look remotely attractive whilst virtually dripping on the running machine?
“Sometimes, but not this time,” Jakob answered. “So will you come?”
Marla stepped off the apparatus and on to solid ground. He was a foot taller than her and she noticed his shoulders were broader than she’d first thought. For a second she wondered if he worked out, but then she eliminated the thought from her head. No, you are not going to find this guy attractive. That’s just plain ridiculous. She sighed and slung the towel over her shoulder. Perhaps the only way to stop him being interested would be to agree to one drink and make it clear she did not reciprocate his feelings.
“One coffee,” she answered. “Then will you stop pestering me? That’s kind of stalker behaviour, you know,” she added, unable to prevent her lips from turning upwards.
Jakob noticed and smiled. “I prefer the phrase interested party or innocent bystander, so how about tonight, seven-thirty?”
Having no plans for later, she nodded. “Fine.”
“I’ll come by your room,” he offered.
“Sure.”
Jakob smiled, turned and walked away. As Marla wiped her neck with the towel, she noticed him turn once more. The guy was attractive in a sexy scientist kind of way, she had to admit. Instructing herself to neither think nor act like a teenager, she wandered towards the bicycle.
Wednesday evening
Freshly washed, Marla slipped into fresh cotton underwear and a blood red T-shirt emblazoned with the image of an eagle. Her wardrobe choices were pretty limited to what she had brought with her on the road; not that she would have made much more of an effort otherwise. Jakob is not my type. We are just going to have a coffee and I will tell him that we can only be friends.
Stepping towards the mirror, Marla ran her comb through her hair. Next she applied black eyeliner and a smudge of reddish lipstick. Once happy with the results, she sat on her bed and slipped on her jeans and DM boots. Disturbed by a knock on the door, she stood up and peeked one last time at her reflection. What are you doing? Living, she told herself. When people are dying? Yes.
“Hi,” said Jakob when she opened the door.
For the first time he was not wearing his scientist gear. Instead he was dressed in black jeans and a matching T-shirt. Marla noticed with a hint of appreciation his well-toned physique before reminding herself of her lack of interest. “You’re on time,” she quipped, giving nothing away.
“Of course.”
Stepping into the corridor beside him, she locked the door. “So where are you taking me?” she asked.
Jakob smiled. “You know, all the posh restaurants are fully booked and it’s too chilly for a horse-drawn carriage, so I figured we could go for a stroll around the facility and head to the cafeteria, seeing as we don’t have a bar.”
“What I wouldn’t give for a beer right now,” she sighed.
“I know. I wish alcohol wasn’t banned, but hey...”
“Cafeteria it is then.”
“Do you have any preference regarding which floor?”
“Maybe one where we won’t bump into anyone we know,” Marla replied.
“I was thinking the same thing,” said Jakob, “although privacy is hard to come by here.”
“I’ve noticed. I almost feel that Big Brother is watching me.”
“You’re probably not wrong. Spies everywhere!”
“You think?”
He laughed. “No, I’m joking. I have an idea though – let’s go to level nine, where neither of us live.”
Marla nodded as they stepped inside the elevator. He pressed a button and the box quivered before moving upwards. She shifted instinctively away towards the wall, placing a larger gap between them. Jakob stared ahead, not saying a word. When the doors opened, Marla strode out first. They headed along the corridor and entered the cafeteria. She did a quick survey of the scene and to her relief there were no familiar faces.
“Let’s head over there,” Jakob suggested, pointing to a far corner where the tables had not been taken.
“Good idea.”
“Do you fancy anything other than a coffee?” he asked as Marla sat down.
“Not right now.”
“Nothing sweet?”
She just smiled and shook her head. Jakob headed off towards the food counter. As he walked, Marla took in the rear view appreciatively. As her imagination created a naked version in her head, she gave in and smiled to herself. Why not enjoy the attention? What’s the big deal? Life has been far too difficult lately, so why not have fun… or have I forgotten how?
“Penny for your thoughts?”
A cup of coffee appeared in front of her, along with two small, round pots of powdered milk and sugar. A spoon glinted at the side. “Sorry,” Marla answered. “I was miles away.”
“I wasn’t sure how you took your coffee, so I brought everything.”
“You sure did.”
“Can I ask what you were thinking about so deeply?” asked Jakob.
Marla grinned sheepishly. “You honestly want to know?”
“Why not?”
She dropped a spoonful of powdered milk into her cup and stirred it slowly with her spoon. Looking up, she noticed that Jakob was watching it turn in the liquid. Conscious of his obvious attraction to her, she placed the spoon down on the table where she turned it awkwardly. “I was wondering how much I have changed since… ah, everything went to the dogs.”
He chuckled. “I think we all wonder about that.”
“Well, I think I’ve changed more than I wish.”
“You were out there alone for a long time. I didn’t see any of that, being in here since the outbreak. I just heard about it.”
“But you’ve seen them… the dead-lookers, no?”
“Not really. I have seen them, but from a distance, not out there where you can get ambushed. You know we do have counsellors here you can speak to?”
“I do, and I spoke to one,” Marla replied, “but maybe I just don’t want to talk much abou
t it.”
“Perhaps you need to.”
She took a slow sip of her coffee while Jakob poured some sugar into his own. Once she’d counted four spoonfuls worth, she laughed.
“What’s funny?” he asked, looking lost.
“You like a lot of sugar, yet you’re a doctor.”
“Scientist! That’s different. We’re all unhealthy, you know. Work vampire hours, fuel up on coffee and we’re obsessed with the weird side of life.”
“Sounds like me now,” Marla remarked with a grin.
Jakob looked up. “So we do have something in common.”
Recognising the half lustful, half hopeful look in his eyes, she decided to change the subject to something less personal. “I think everyone is going to become more similar. But, anyway, how are you getting on with finding a cure?”
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “We’re a long way off. It’s difficult to understand it, this virus, which it is – we know that much. The infected have limited emotions and intelligence. We know they are very sensitive to daylight. It must hurt them or blind them in some way as they avoid it. I’m not sure of the reason. They cannot do complex tasks or many basic ones. All they are interested in is feeding… killing. They will try to take the quickest, shortest route to their victim, no matter what is in the way. So, say there is an electric fence, they will keep going through it again and again, no matter how many times – they won’t learn to stop and take another route, and…”
“Hey, stop for a second. How do you know this?” Marla asked, leaning forward. “Are you running tests on the dead-lookers in here?”
“Look, I’ve said too much. I forget myself… Look, you can’t repeat what I’m telling you, because people might panic.”
“Are they secure?”
“Yes, yes, they were. We were testing on them here in the past – not now,” he insisted. “We worked under strict guidelines and conditions, and most of the time the infected were tranquilised, unless we wanted to watch them doing a task. I assure you it was the only way we could learn how they act and react. How else could we learn anything?”
“I thought you were working with tissue samples?” said Marla. “You said…”
“We do now. The samples we have left.”
“I see.”
“We don’t risk ourselves.”
Marla took another sip of her coffee. “At one point we were on a barge on a canal and we were ambushed by one of the dead-lookers. It literally walked through the water to get to us.”
“Jesus!”
“We were okay. No one was injured. The thing is when we moved into deeper water, they kept coming and drowned, so what you’re saying, I’ve seen it.”
“We think many areas of the brain have shut down in these unfortunate creatures. We’re not sure if the person’s awareness is still there. We don’t even know if they realise they are alive. My theory is they don’t. The infected person is just a hollow thing, acting on instinct. I’m trying to prove it, because if we do find a cure, I don’t think it will be possible to reverse this, even though that’s what the government wants to hear. The infected are lost.”
Marla nodded. “I think so too. And it’s the only way I can get my head around killing them when I have to. They’re not really alive anymore.”
“Any idea of a cure would not be an antidote to this illness, but a vaccination against it. But it’s going to take a long time, even though…” He paused.
Marla’s eyes narrowed. “Even?”
Jakob fidgeted in his seat. “It isn’t important.”
“You can tell me, no?”
“I’d be breaking the Secrets Act if I told you.”
“Okay.”
Jakob finished his coffee. “Want to get some air? I’m thinking we should talk about something else.”
“But it’s fascinating,” Marla replied, wondering what on earth he had been about to tell her.
“Yes, it is, but I’m more interested in finding out about you. Death is everywhere and I want to know about something more positive.”
She laughed. “You think I’m positive?”
“Yep, you are to me,” he replied. “Shall we go?”
Marla nodded and stood. Jakob tucked in his chair neatly and took her hand as he led her out of the room. She did not resist and went with the flow, having decided he was both trustable and useful. The guy had already told her many things that he probably was not supposed to, and she guessed there was much more to learn. If she showed him a little interest then perhaps he would spill the bigger beans. “I hear the gardens are lovely this time of year,” she remarked.
He chuckled. “Indeed they are.”
Thursday, 3
Marla entered the cafeteria on her sister’s floor, hoping to join her for breakfast. Immediately, she caught sight of her waving enthusiastically from a table at the centre of the room and she waved back. After collecting a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee, Marla went to sit with her.
“So, do you have something to tell me?” asked Ellen, smirking.
“You’re not doing anything to hide that grin, are you?” teased Marla as she stirred her coffee.
“Come on, tell me!”
“I like my coffee in a mug.”
“Not that kind of info!” said Ellen, poking her arm. “Jakob, silly. How was your date?”
Marla bit her lip. “It wasn’t one.”
“Then what was it?”
“Coffee, so he’ll stop asking me for a date.”
“A-ha and then what happened?” Ellen pressed.
“We had coffee, talked and went for a walk in the grounds. You know, we’re not exactly spoilt for choice on things to do here. I would’ve loved to go and see Stonehenge, but I don’t think Caballero is going to organise a party bus.”
Ellen laughed. “You’ve got cabin fever?”
Marla nodded as she tucked into her cereal.
“You still haven’t told me…”
“Okay, what do you want to know?” asked Marla, putting down her spoon and folding her arms across her chest.
“Did anything happen?”
“We’re not teenagers!”
“I want to know. I am your sister and I’m looking out for your mental health. You need to have some life in your life!”
Marla sighed. “Okay, you win. You were right, he is interested in me. You are also correct that I should be living my life and having fun, like I used to. So I went on a normal, regular non-date with a guy who turned out to be quite interesting and intelligent. And nothing happened. Happy?”
Ellen leaned back in her chair with a big grin on her face. “It’s a start!”
“It’s not a start, it’s the end. We’re going to be friends, the end.”
“Does he know that?”
“Ellen, no more questions!” Marla insisted, unfolding her arms and picking up her spoon. “I’m hungry here. You’re the only one of us who is going to be dating, so you’ll have to make the most of it for both of us!”
Her sister rolled her eyes, which made Marla giggle. “And stop staring,” she added. “It’s rude.”
Ellen dipped her head. After a while she glanced up again, her expression more serious. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’m a little worried about Robert.”
“How so?” asked Marla. “Is he ill?”
“No. I’ve been seeing him nearly every day since we got here, so I’ve got to know him pretty well. To start with everything was fine, although he did ask about my dreams, but only once. Lately he’s saying some odd things.”
“Such as?”
Ellen hesitated for a second before leaning forward. “Well, first of all, he kept asking me about the book I was reading when I first spoke to him – Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky.”
“And that’s strange? I know a lot of guys don’t read, but…”
“No, silly! He got a copy out of the library and I thought it was cool he wanted to read it too, but then he kept going on a
bout the idea of doing something violent and whether your conscience would let you. He’s been talking about it a lot.”
“That doesn’t sound strange to me, Ellen. It’s flattering he wanted to read and talk about something you enjoyed.”
“I know, but it’s the way he’s talking about it. I can’t explain – you’d have to be there. Robert has asked me a few times if I think he is a good person. Please don’t laugh, but he reckons some people in here aren’t who they say they are.”
Marla stopped eating. “Okay, that is a little odd. Do you think he’s been feeling under pressure lately or maybe it’s because you’ve started dating? Has he had many relationships?”
“No idea, but I don’t think it’s that. My dreams don’t bother him. He gets it all. He keeps saying he’s okay when I ask him, but then we’ll be talking and he’ll come out with something bizarre.”
“He’s probably just stressed. The other day in the church was pretty heavy stuff. Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Ellen nodded and leaned back again. “I hope so. I do like him, Marla. He gets me.”
“I know and I’m glad. I want you to be happy.”
“Thanks. I know I’m probably worrying over nothing… Oh, thinking of something nicer, did I tell you how Ruthie is getting on with the nurse who is looking after her now?”
“No, not yet,” said Marla. “Fill me in!”
Saturday, 6
“Tommy!” shouted Marla as she spotted the man’s familiar outline walking down the corridor, accompanied by a similarly recognisable blonde, wagging tail. He turned suddenly, jerking Bob on his lead. The Labrador tried to bound forwards in excitement, but found himself pulled back again. Marla ran up to them. “Hey, boy,” she said, bending down to stroke the dog’s head. He responded with a goofy expression and a lick of her hand.
“What’s up?” asked Tommy, looking bemused.
“Just had an appointment with the administrator and I’ve been told our families are fine. They’re all safe. All of them!”
I Dream of Zombies (Book 2): Haven Page 11
