Forbes cleared his throat and replied nervously with a distinct Caribbean accent.
‘Good afternoon, sir, lady, gentlemen. Yes, I can tell you all I know. Of course, some is based on fact, but much is hypothetical and is based on legend, myth and folklore. However, I understand that conditions in the UK are strange, to say the least, so perhaps it is time to start opening our minds to the …er….impossible – which may indeed be happening.’
The First Minister stifled a sigh and begged the Professor to commence his brief. He wasn’t yet remotely convinced by the possibilities presented to him.
‘Well,’ started the Professor, ‘perhaps a little about me, to explain why I am an ‘expert’ in these matters. I lived in Haiti for many years, where I was introduced to my first experiences of ‘Zombie’ behaviour. You are probably aware that Haitian folklore describes dead bodies being reanimated by magic or necromancy. Of course, hallucinatory drugs and woeful superstition play a great part in that entire voodoo culture, and it is clearly not what we are confronted with in the UK today.
The threat with which we are challenged is completely different.
We are dealing with the undead. These are ‘viral’ zombies – not voodoo zombies. Voodoo zombies show emotion, exhibit thought, feel pain, recognize fire and are aware of their surroundings. However, unlike viral zombies they do not have ‘hypersense’. Voodoo zombies can communicate, and finally and most importantly, can be controlled.
Viral zombies are the humans who died in the snow and have, in some inexplicable way, returned to some sort of living state.’
The four leaders sat wide-eyed and transfixed by every word.
‘Hypersense is the ability, for example, to operate perfectly in the dark, hear a footstep at five hundred metres or smell a living being on the wind. If the viral zombies develop any of the abilities of a voodoo zombie, then we have an extremely dangerous hybrid.
Zombies are the greatest ever threat to humanity. They are a plague, and the human race their host. Conventional warfare is useless against this menace - as is conventional thought!’
The Zombie expert paused for breath and asked a rhetorical question:
‘Are they invincible – the living dead – these flesh eating ghouls?
No, of course not – they can be stopped.
But how? I will return to that point later.
However, firstly, let me describe how the zombie is created. The plague is all derived from a virus known as ‘Solanum’ which travels through the bloodstream making its way to the brain. All bodily functions cease and the victim is rendered ‘dead’. The brain remains alive, however, and mutates into a complex and new, but different, organ. The significant difference is that the zombie has no need of oxygen. Therefore, it can operate, once regenerated, in almost any environment – including under water – which presents a horrifying threat. If these creatures cross the English Channel, the European continent and eventually the whole world will be seriously threatened.
The zombie is remorseless and relentless in its craving for living human flesh.
A conventional zombie can only pass on the Solanum via direct fluidic contact – a bite, a spit or by contact with an open wound. Within twenty-four hours, the transformation is usually complete, and another soldier joins the army of the undead.
However, this is where I must introduce a ‘curved ball’ as we Americans often say. I am a medical doctor of some experience and standing, and have, over the past two days, examined the three cadavers your troops apprehended, and have conducted comprehensive post mortems.
I have to tell you that these are not zombies as we understand them.
All three bodies had contracted a new virus – virulent and strangely powerful. The corpses all suffered what looked like animal bites and scratches, and I would say that cats - or birds - caused the damage. In two of the cases, the eyes were missing.
I found no trace of Solanum in the bloodstream or brain. I also discovered significant differences from other zombie brains I have previously examined. Yes, lady and gentlemen, this is not a new phenomenon! Not by any means. Clearly, the subject of Zombie-ism is very highly classified – as the slightest hint of this plague reaching the public domain would terrify the general population and cause worldwide panic and chaos.
Most worryingly, I found areas in the creatures’ brains that have remained peculiarly unaffected – and now possibly permit the new beings to communicate and to think.
If my findings are validated, then we have an exceptionally dangerous adversary to contend with. There was also an alien virus in the bloodstream – one we have never witnessed before, and I believe it was transmitted via feline or avian life. I've checked the DNA, and the evidence is beyond dispute…..
……..I believe that these people were partially devoured by their own pets.’
Day 162
Sunday 26th May
St Kitts, West Indies
Whilst Brady had returned to his hotel and set up another liaison with the four single ‘ladies’ at the Four Seasons, his daughter, Chloe had arrived on the island. They had probably passed within a mile of each other on the Friday evening as she travelled from the airport to her villa.
She was met by the waiting security expert, who explained in detail the arrangements put in place for her complete safety. Alarms, locks, sensors, CCTV cameras and infra-red lighting. The entire villa was surrounded by a seven-foot stone wall, topped with decorative but viciously deterrent metal spikes. No uninvited guests would be able to get in without being detected. The final piece of the jigsaw was a permanent dog handler / gate controller, who resided in a small hut at the main entrance, when she was in residence. The gates had been converted to electric control and any visitors would be carefully screened prior to admittance. There was also a private rear exit, screened from view by a privet hedge. It was tricky to find, even when one knew where it was, and Stewart believed that an emergency retreat to a garaged motor car would allow Miss De Marco a head start on any potential pursuer. The concealed exit had a four-digit security code and once locked behind an escapee would take explosives to re-open. There was no way over the top, as thick, spiky bushes fell along the exterior wall. A private road leading through thick vegetation would take the vehicle to the main road some two miles from the villa.
Although Tony Stewart considered the precautions to be somewhat unnecessary, and serious overkill for such a private location, he was not about to contradict his mildly paranoid customer. He was making a great deal of money from this lucrative contract. Perhaps she had very good reason to be so cautious.
When Chloe was satisfied that she could operate and monitor the security systems, she dismissed Stewart and prepared herself for the visit of the interior decorator. It appeared that she had made a fine job of the décor. The furnishings were expensive, yet understated and comfortable. Homely – one might call it. There were still a few minor changes to be made, and Chloe prepared a list to be filled. There was a huge south-facing swimming pool to the rear of the property covered by an electric-powered movable conservatory. This permitted the pool to be indoors in inclement weather. The sitting room had state-of-the-art TV, DVD, Blue-tooth, satellite and internet facilities that allowed Chloe constant contact with the outside world. Habitually, she had Sky News playing silently and permanently on TVs situated in every room. Chloe was convinced that UKRA would come after her mother – and by association, herself. She considered it vital to keep abreast of events in Europe.
All that remained to complete the move to St Kitts was a full and fashionable wardrobe, so she made plans to hit the shops and transfer clothing, shoes and suitable jewellery to Coconut Breeze. That would be the fun part. She made an inter-island flight reservation to Barbados and then onto Martinique, where a swathe of chic French stores awaited her presence.
He mother seemed unconcerned that Chloe had decided to travel, and was completely unaware of her security precautions. She and Susi Mac were far too busy living the high life in the
USVI.
However, they were living on borrowed time.
***
Meanwhile, Brady had endured another evening of excess with the four widowed ladies. Champagne and caviar flowed as the group hit the more exclusive nightspots. He pumped the women for information as subtly as he could and, eventually, he got what he wanted. One of his new friends had heard from her interior decorator that Ms De Marco had indeed returned to St Kitts, and was ensconced in her new villa – and had apparently decided to stay on the island for a few months.
Brady could hardly believe his ears.
Chloe was here. In St Kitts! What a stroke of luck – it could have been months before she turned up. He was ecstatic and made the immediate decision to visit the villa the next morning – Sunday.
However, for the time being, he had four randy women to entertain and by 5am, when he finally escaped their clutches, he was exhausted, but exhilarated by the thought of potential reunion with his daughter later that day.
What he wasn’t aware of was the team of CIA agents who had been closely tailing him for several weeks.
However, what the single US agent in St Kitts didn’t realise was that he, in turn, was also being observed. The security patrol employed by Tony Stewart had picked up Brady and the American, and both were being closely monitored.
The net was indeed closing in - on several people.
***
Lord Irvine was sitting through his second meeting with Professor Forbes.
The initial discussion was wholly surreal.
Zombies!
ZOMBIES!
What the hell was a zombie anyway?
He was vaguely aware of popular media – films, books etc, but for God’s sake, surely that was all fiction.
How could this be actually happening in the UK?
He knew that a considerable number of military personnel had mysteriously disappeared, but to credit an army of ghouls ‘weirdly brought to life’ with the blame was well beyond his ability to accept as fact!
For the time being, he preferred to believe that these ‘beings’ had never been dead, but had simply been infected with an horrendous plague-like disease, causing their brains to dysfunction and make them aggressive to the point of murder.
Yes, this is what he decided to believe.
He was not prepared to subscribe fully, at this point, to the ‘Zombie Philosophy’ per se – and he believed that millions of others around the globe would concur.
He turned to the American professor and sought his advice:
‘Professor; if we assume, for the sake of argument, that your speculation is true, and that there is an army of seriously ill people wandering about Britain intent on vicious murder, how do you imagine we can combat this potential calamity?’
Professor Forbes was well aware of the scepticism he always encountered on these occasions and was prepared to tolerate a degree of cynicism. The truth of the matter would surface in due course – and hopefully, it would not be too late to react.
Consequently, he allowed the First Minister some leeway. He fully appreciated the political and administrative issues he was engulfed in over the ‘Breton’ project, and suspected that the man was fast reaching overload status. He decided to take the less aggressive option:
‘Sir, I fully understand that you might have some difficulty acknowledging the threat I have outlined. Most people do. Consequently, I have prepared a file outlining the salient points regarding this subject. It is detailed and complex, but to assist your immediate understanding, I have drawn up a ‘headline’ brief which will give you most of the essential information you need to grasp the concept.
Denial is not an option, sir.
Positive action – not reaction – is the key.’
Lord Irvine shook his head.
‘I apologise professor. I just cannot comprehend what you are trying to tell me. You must appreciate this failing on my part. However, are there any immediate steps we can take to prevent this plague from spreading beyond the UK borders?’
‘Excellent point, sir. There are two immediate issues. Firstly, we need to confine the threat to the UK and Ireland. Secondly, we must embark on a course of action to utterly destroy this danger.
In short, First Minister, you are at war. We are all at war!’
Irvine put his head in his hands. He closed his eyes and offered up a silent prayer:
‘Oh dear God, have mercy on us.’
He then thanked the professor and asked him to leave the brief on his desk.
‘Are there copies for my three colleagues?’
‘Yes sir. If you need any further advice, please call on me.’
‘Thank you, Forbes. Can we assist you further?’
The professor considered his request briefly, as it involved putting the armed forces at severe risk.
‘Yes, please, sir. I need more cadavers to examine - and quickly. Can you arrange for the military to snatch up to a dozen more bodies? I am prepared to brief the team on how to deal with the specific and immediate threat – that is; how to kill the zombies they encounter.’
‘Yes, of course, Forbes. Please speak to the Air Marshal. He will arrange the mission.’
The Professor nodded his thanks and left the room, leaving the First Minister to examine the report on his desk.
He picked it up, opened the file and started to read:
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET
EYES ONLY
SURVIVING THE ZOMBIE THREAT
UK MAINLAND and IRELAND
BRIEF FOR LORD IRVINE, FIRST MINISTER
PREPARED BY PROFESSOR JOHN FORBES
COPY 1 of 5
Solanum:
The virus moves through the bloodstream of infected humans. (Animal life is unaffected). The brain is permanently altered chemically and the heart stops, causing ‘death’ in the victim. Bodily functions cease.
Note: It is my belief that, after examining the remains of three victims, that Solanum is not the virus responsible for this outbreak. The evidence suggests that feline DNA has mutated within the dead victims and caused a transmutation into the current threat. This presents significant differences to the ‘normal’ zombie behaviours.
Conventional zombies contract the virus by direct fluidic contact. It appears that our zombies have all been eaten by their pet cats post mortem. This may be the only source of the virus. The upside is that it is possible that the new virus – which I am unashamedly calling: ‘Forbesite 1’- cannot be spread from one infected zombie to a healthy human. This is not certain and we need further research to confirm the analysis.
The standard virus is not airborne or waterborne. Forbesite may be.
There is no treatment or recovery for an infected body.
Solanum zombies cannot show emotion, feel pain, recognize fire or their surroundings or can they communicate.
Solanum zombies cannot be controlled. That is, they wander randomly and relentlessly seeking live human flesh to devour. It is their only purpose for existence.
We are yet to learn what drives Forbesite zombies.
They are not dependent on oxygen – which means that they can immerse themselves in water at no risk. This presents a serious potential threat to continental Europe.
Their sight is normal – however, two of the victims I examined had their eyes eaten by the domestic felines.
Their sense of smell is excellent and I suspect the UK zombies navigate by the use of their acute hearing and sense of smell.
Solanum zombies have no physical sensations but retain a sixth sense, which aids their quest for flesh.
Their lifespan is between three and five years, they move at a slouching limp, possess the same strength as the human they inhabit, but their dexterity is only about ten percent of their ex-human host.
They will devour any living flesh they encounter and will cross continents, if necessary, to find it.
If a zombie is killed – beware – the virus can survive in the body for up to fort
y-eight hours. This may not be the case with Forbesite.
HOW DO WE KILL A ZOMBIE?
There is only one way: the brain must be obliterated – by any method. Either by extreme direct force or by decapitation.
Flames will not kill a zombie. They are unaffected by fire. However, successfully destroyed zombies may be cremated as a means of final disposal.
PRIMARY KILLING METHODS
A head shot from a pistol or rifle.
Decapitation.
Destruction by explosives – bombs or rockets.
A violent blow to the head with a hammer, axe or crowbar to expose and smash the brain.
With a Solanum zombie, it is vitally important to wear protective clothing in close combat, as fluidic materials expelled from the brain can easily infect on contact with exposed skin.
Snow! The Series [Books 1-4] Page 114
