Brussels, Belgium
Lord Irvine glanced at POTUS (the President of the United States) looking for his tacit agreement to begin. POTUS nodded imperceptibly, grateful that he didn’t have the responsibility for making the subsequent revelation!
The new Breton First Minister opened the file lying on the table in front of him and exercising a supreme force of personality, began his briefing:
‘Ladies and gentlemen. As you are all aware, it began snowing in the UK on the fifteenth of December and the ensuing tragedy which followed is now a matter of recorded history. It was an unmitigated human and financial disaster. Tens of millions died and millions of others were displaced. We have addressed the refugee problem and the new Breton is rising in Brittany to the south. However, it is not this highly contentious issue that we come together to discuss this morning.’
Lord Irvine glanced at the French Premier as he uttered the last sentence. He received a look of sheer disgust in return.
‘I have called you here today to discuss the situation and growing crisis arising in the old UK. You know that approximately fifty million Britons and other nationalities caught up in the snow perished. The ensuing thaw and flood exacerbated the problem, brewing a vile sludge, which has given birth to an inhuman menace - which threatens us all. Now, before I continue, let me show you a short video, which may help to explain my point.’
Professor Forbes stepped forward and switched on a DVD player. The short sixty second clip of film was devastating and left the entire audience stunned and open-mouthed in shock and disbelief.
The video revealed the two zombies imprisoned in the decontam centre outside Brussels. They were stumbling about aimlessly, and the camera focussed in on their faces.
The audience gasped in horror as the sightless, pus-encrusted visages faced the camera. Their hair was lank with bald, bloody patches, exposed naval cavities with bared and blackened teeth. The camera panned down, showing ragged clothing exposing scarred breasts on the woman and rotting flesh hanging off the male’s legs.
Neither wore shoes and both pairs of feet were bloodied, and bones protruded through the putrid skin – or what remained of it.
The film terminated and was met with complete silence.
Lord Irvine gave his audience a few seconds to gain their composure before continuing – but before he could, the French Premier interjected:
‘What is all this rubbish, Lord Irvine? Why have you presented these two ‘actors’ who have clearly been made up to resemble some kind of children’s monster in an attempt to…to...I don’t know what? What is the meaning of this ruse…this terrible joke?’
There was a rumble of agreement around the table for several seconds, which encouraged POTUS to stand up and address the meeting. After the hubbub died down, he began:
‘I can assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that this is no joke. You all know me, and I am not one for joking or wasting the time of the world’s elite political leaders. What you have just witnessed is absolutely genuine. Those two ‘things’ were filmed in a secure compound in Belgium this morning – not twenty miles from here. They were abducted from the UK yesterday and are being held for observation. Consider this hypothesis: either Lord Irvine, myself and my security services are conspiring on an unprecedented level to deceive you – and for what purpose – or we are telling you the truth. So, believe me…..what you are being shown are the complete and unadulterated facts. If you need further reassurance, please feel free to visit the compound where these creatures are housed.’
POTUS sat down and nodded to Lord Irvine who continued, his audience stilled by the bizarre statement from the President of the USA.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Professor John Forbes, world expert on this phenomena, who will attempt to explain the ……er, inexplicable. Professor.’
John Forbes had been standing by the DVD player, so moved steadily to a lectern, which was set up behind and to the right of Lord Irvine. His audience swivelled on their chairs and prepared themselves for the worst. Many were incredulous and some just stunned – but all were apprehensive and spellbound.
‘Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Professor John Forbes and I work for the CIA. I have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject in hand and, I believe, the full confidence of the President of the United States. He and Lord Irvine are fully up to speed regarding developments across the English Channel, and it is my job this morning to furnish you with the background information and prognosis for the future. I assure you that this is no trick or sleight of hand. What I have to say is real. And the clock is ticking.’
Forbes opened his private folder and delivered his brief, describing the development of the ‘zombie’ threat post snow and thaw. He explained how the combination of feline DNA, water borne bacillus and bird saliva had mixed and bred a mutant breed, which now occupied vast swathes of land bordering the coast of the UK and Ireland. He emphasised his points with explicit photography from the UK, his autopsies and film from the decontam centre.
After an hour, he closed his folder and asked for questions:
‘I’ll try to be as frank as possible. The picture I've painted is not a pretty one, but you all needed to be aware of the dangers facing the European mainland. Now, please pose your questions.’
Day 180 / Z-Day 145
Wednesday 12 June
Wales
As the world’s leaders drew their breath and contemplated the impending struggle against an implacable and relentless enemy, 'The Rook' was receiving increased distress signals from the two prisoners in Brussels.
Although she could not explain the exact nature of their anguish, she recognised that they were suffering extreme deprivation. The signals were growing in strength and she decided that it was time to take pre-emptive action. 'The Rook' reasoned, correctly, that humans were involved with her two acolytes. Therefore, to deny any knowledge of her caste passing to the enemy, she made a decision.
At midday on that Wednesday, 'The Rook' transmitted a high frequency electrical energy pulse and the two observers watching the prisoners were taken completely by surprise.
Both of the zombies’ heads exploded simultaneously, splattering gore, shattered bone fragments and pus across the entire concrete holding area.
The headless bodies slumped inertly to the floor.
‘Jesus Christ!’ exclaimed one of Forbes assistants. ‘What the fuck was that?’
‘Did we get it on film? Forbes must see this – now! Pull the DVD and e-mail the footage to UKRA.’
The second assistant to Forbes sprang up, retrieved the recording, and sent the e-mail with the relevant attachment.
Meanwhile, 'The Rook' resumed the perpetual task of monitoring her caste, her foul cyst now the size of a snooker ball, throbbing deep claret with dark blue veins running just under the surface.
The two zombie prisoners were instantly forgotten.
Day 180 / Z-Day 145
Wednesday 12 June
Brussels
Professor Forbes surveyed his audience, temporarily dumbstruck by the horrendous revelations.
‘How could this have happened?’ asked the Premier of Belgium.
‘It is all beyond anybody’s control. The combination of nauseating circumstances has created a unique situation. Nobody is to blame – unless of course, you believe that God is responsible for everything.’
The Russian leader made a suggestion:
‘As there is no conventional life remaining in the UK – I recommend that we use nuclear weapons to destroy this menace at once.’
His suggestion was greeted with indignant uproar, but he remained unbowed:
‘Why not? What is there to lose? A few pinpoint strikes and it's all over!’
Professor Forbes took up the gauntlet:
‘Sir, there are several very good reasons why a nuclear attack is not necessarily the best option.’
The Russian leader was wide-eyed and indignant – but Forbes continued:
>
‘Firstly, there are estimated to be over half a million of these creatures in the UK, equally spread, generally around the coastline – although there appear to be five main areas of assembly. We know this because of US satellite photography. The analysts are actually counting the hordes. They appear to be massing in London, Swansea, Brighton, Glasgow and Manchester.
To permanently kill one of these creatures, one must physically separate the head from the shoulders or destroy the brain in some violent way. A nuclear strike may well vaporise tens of thousands in the immediate area of the fireball, but all of the others would be unaffected. Radiation and fallout does not have any detrimental effect on the zombie. Consequently, one would need hundreds of strikes to kill them all – and then we would still fail, as some would always survive. A chemical attack is similarly unworkable – as these creatures do not possess working lungs. They DO NOT breathe! Even mustard gas or skin irritants would be ineffective. Have you seen their skin?
I think you will all agree that a biological attack is so unpredictable, that we cannot consider it. In the final analysis, we might strengthen our enemy – not destroy it!
Secondly, we have the weather. If the wind changes – and let's be clear, the prevailing winds over the UK are westerly anyway, the entire European continent comes under fallout threat from Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons of Mass Destruction!
Next, we have the small matter of Ireland – do you suggest nuking a country that is poised to engage this enemy. Are you suggesting that we wipe out Ireland altogether? The western half is zombie free – we cannot possibly condone a nuclear strike on these innocents!’
The Irish Premier shouted ‘Hear, Hear!’ and stared hard at the Russian.
Professor Forbes completed his answer:
‘Finally, we cannot be absolutely sure that there are no human survivors still hiding in the UK. These creatures are still feeding, so we know that there must be a core of survivors and a chance of their survival. Are you really suggesting that we simply ‘nuke’ these wretched people? I think not, sir!’
The audience, barring the Russian, clapped Professor Forbes, and thus the nuclear option was seemingly ruled out – for the present at least. The Russian leader was highly volatile and unpredictable – and violently paranoid, but reserved his judgement as he countered the opposition to his plan:
‘I accept the judgement of this meeting, however, if the Russian homeland is threatened, then I rule out nothing!’ The Russian leader seemed implacable and nobody challenged his view. It was pointless – the man was a law unto his own!
POTUS asked a more relevant and obvious question:
‘How do we defeat them, Professor?’
‘I've already indicated that one must destroy their brains or decapitate them. Alternatively, blowing them to pieces with artillery is a very good option. Hand to hand combat must be a last resort. The battle of attrition would surely be lost – and we do not have the resources to sufficiently protect our troops.
Just shooting them in the body will have no lasting effect. They may fall down, but will eventually get up again.’
The Prime Minister of Holland asked about their potential to invade:
‘How are they going to reach mainland Europe. Any ships carrying these creatures can surely be sunk by the allied navies.’
‘Yes, that is true. However, as I have already stated, these creatures do not have lungs. They do not rely on air and more importantly, they can safely immerse themselves in water. Consequently, any survivors of a naval sinking would merely sink to the bottom and walk along the seabed until they beached. The obvious deduction to be made is that these things have the ability and clear potential to merely walk into Europe. Now, if they are coordinated or controlled in some way, many tens of thousands may just swarm ashore in random and unpredictable locations, and attack the local population with little notice. We just don’t know where they may appear! This aspect is very difficult to defend against.’
Lord Irvine interjected at this point and suggested refreshments:
‘Please close your files whilst the stewards serve coffee. We shall resume our deliberations in fifteen minutes. This may give you time to talk with your colleagues and question Professor Forbes. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.’
He indicated to Lord Harris, one of the Triumvirate, to summon the caterers as the stunned and shocked group took fifteen minutes to catch their breaths.
Their next session would be crucial.
It was also during this break that John Forbes received the e-mail from the decontam centre, showing the startling events recorded just a few minutes before.
***
The meeting in Brussels resumed after forty minutes.
Some of the delegates were involved in a question and answer session with Forbes and the CIA, clarifying points outlined in their Top Secret files. He tried his best to answer as calmly as he could, having received and privately viewed the snatch of video e-mailed by his assistants.
Others were in deep personal discussions. The Russian, American and Chinese leaders in one corner, the Belgian, French and Dutch Premiers in another. All were profoundly shocked by the information provided by Professor Forbes.
Many could still not believe their ears and eyes.
It all seemed surreal. A dream.
More like a fucking nightmare!
***
‘Ladies and gentlemen, Professor Forbes will continue,’ announced Lord Irvine.
The zombie expert faced his audience and asked them to watch the TV screen as he keyed his computer and presented the thirty-second clip of video.
The gasps were clearly audible. Only the Russian remained unmoved.
‘What does this mean, professor?’ demanded Lord Irvine.
Forbes was visibly shaken and stuttered into his reply:
‘I…I…I I'm not certain, sir. However, I can s…speculate, based on my studies and the results of my autopsies. Each of the zombies had a small and extremely unusual growth under the skin, above the left ear. Each of these cysts had signs of electrical impulses running through them. If this is evidence of the ability of each zombie to receive communications – it means that they can be controlled. That, ladies and gentlemen, means that it follows that something or someone is monitoring these creatures. If this deduction is correct, then we can assume that the command zombie has just demonstrated sentience.’
‘And the inference is, professor?’ asked the German leader.
‘The inference is, Madam Chancellor, that we are in big, big trouble!’
Day 180 / Z-Day 145
Wednesday 12 June
Wales
'The Rook' was in conference.
‘Did you feel the loss of two of our caste?’
Her four senior lieutenants: 'The Raven'; 'The Crow'; 'The Starling'' and 'The Buzzard' silently acknowledged.
'The Rook' continued the message:
‘It was necessary. The humans had them and I suspect that they were being studied. No matter. For the future, we must concentrate our powers to determine whether further of the caste are taken. If you sense a kidnap or attempt to remove any of our kind – destroy our people immediately. Deprive the humans of any useful intelligence. Are your enhancements fully grown?’
All four acknowledged in the affirmative.
‘Test the pulse immediately. Choose your victims over a wide area. We will feel the loss. However, we must hone our skills. The crossing draws near.’
'The Rook' broke the connection.
Over the next two hours, she felt the loss of over twenty of the caste, as her senior acolytes tested their destructive skills.
All was well.
Day 180 / Z-Day 145
Wednesday 12 June
Brussels
POTUS looked serious and angry.
‘Explain yourself, professor. I'm not interested in your amateur dramatics.’
‘I apologise, Mr President,’ ventured Forbes, ‘let me qualify my stateme
nt.’
Forbes took a few seconds to gather his thoughts before explaining his analysis.
‘Sir, if these creatures are being controlled, we can assume that they have leaders. This means that they are capable of planning, deduction, organisation, reason and thought. Consequently, we can assume that they are not blindly wandering around searching for random human flesh, but they are being deliberately guided towards the enormous source of nutrition that surrounds us all – Western Europe. Ladies and gentlemen, these creatures are coming to get us – and they are organised.’
This statement created further acute anxiety amongst his audience and even the Russian reacted.
‘As I said, if the Russian homeland is threatened I will do anything within my power to prevent any breach of our borders.’
Snow! The Series [Books 1-4] Page 122
