by Watts, Russ
“I guess they didn’t expect to find many still alive. They said avoid major conurbations and cities due to excessive resistance and the unrestrained outbreak of the infection. Any attempts to leave the UK other than on official certified rescue ships will result in death. The UN ordered all infected countries to be quarantined immediately and indefinitely. The message said rumours of an outbreak in the US are unconfirmed at this stage. The British government will not confirm any rumours surrounding the death and reanimation of the UN Security Council leader Darren Collins. We repeat, head immediately to your nearest extrapolation point. Naval ships will be in those ports on October first and fifteenth. After this point, Britain, along with many of its allies, will be restricted areas and any attempt to leave will be met with lethal force.”
Heidi’s mind was reeling from all the new information. Her hands were gripping the side of the sofa and she felt cold. A shiver ran over her and she felt queasy.
“What’s the date today? It’s...”
“...October thirteenth,” said Tom. He leant forward and took her hand. “Heidi, we are going to try to get out of here and meet that ship. We tried to get to Southampton for the first but it was impossible. There were too many of them. We couldn’t even get close to the city. The dead were everywhere.” Tom looked over and saw Daniel and Glenda cradled in each other’s arms fast asleep. “Talk to your parents in the morning. Come with us. In two days we could be out of here.”
Heidi looked at Tom and felt worried, but reassured at the same time. He saved them earlier when she and her parents would surely have died. Should she trust him now? Should she trust all of them?
Heidi nodded. “I can’t believe what is happening. I...I need to get some rest. Thank you, Tom. Thank you for coming back for us earlier.” She squeezed his hand and was grateful for the darkness covering up her blushes.
Looking dazed, Heidi walked over to her parents and curled up beside her father. She lifted the blanket and crept in close to his warmth, something she had not done since she was a toddler.
“Let’s all turn in,” said Tom. “We’ll need clear heads in the morning.”
Jackson and Laurent went upstairs and Tom paused at the foot of the stairs. He put his arm on Harry’s shoulder. “You know we have to leave in the morning, right?”
“I know. Those things out there aren’t going to leave. I’d hoped we could stay here for another day, but it’s not going to work. They’ll get in eventually, they always do.”
“We’re going to have to find someplace else to stay until the ship comes. I don’t want to go to Penzance too early. It’s highly populated and could be dangerous. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Southampton. We nearly didn’t get away from there in time.”
Harry nodded. “Let’s get some sleep. Let the storm pass, see what’s what in the morning. We’ll have to find a way out of here then.”
They went upstairs and the house was silent. Moira sat up and peered through the curtains again. Under the moon, rain and wind, the zombies were still there, hundreds of them. She lay down, clutching her book, hoping she would be able to sleep tonight and not suffer the usual nightmares. Reality was scary enough without her terrible dreams of what horror lay in store for them the next morning.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jessica opened her eyes and realised it was still dark. She didn’t know what had awoken her. The house was silent and the gale force winds outside seemed to have calmed down. She rolled over underneath the bedcovers and felt a warm spot where Rosa should be.
“Rosa?” Jessica sat upright quickly, fearful that something had happened.
“I’m here.”
Jessica saw Rosa sitting on a chair by the window. She wore a white t-shirt, one they had found yesterday. It was too big for her, but comfortable to sleep in. Her legs and feet were bare and Jessica guessed what she was doing. It wasn’t unusual for Rosa to wake in the middle of the night.
“I couldn’t sleep. They’re still out there, you know? They’re not going this time.”
“Rosa, come back to bed. You’re not going to solve anything staring out the window at them.” Jessica flung the covers back and felt the cool night air fall over her like a light blanket.
Rosa left the chair and clambered back into bed. Jessica gave her a kiss and took her hands. They were cold and Jessica wondered how long Rosa had been sitting there. Her feet felt like ice blocks.
“You’ve got to try to get some sleep. You’ll be exhausted tomorrow if you don’t.”
“I miss them, Jess, I miss my family. I miss normal life. I miss so many things I just can’t switch my brain off. As soon as I fall asleep, I start dreaming about random things: music and bands I used to like, my dog, my mum, my desk at work and the horrible chair I used to sit on. I miss the kids who used to come into the bank and give me a pound to put in their bank accounts to save for a comic. I miss the bakery I used to walk to on the way home and the smell of it. I can smell it now. I used to love getting fresh bread on the way home. I miss Eastenders, going out and getting pissed. I miss my own clothes.”
“When I was a kid, probably seven or eight,” said Jessica, rubbing some warmth back into Rosa’s hands, “I saw Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. I used to dream of living on chocolate. Didn’t matter what sort, I loved it all: dark, white, mint, anything. I even used to like those crappy cheap Easter eggs that tasted like shit, the ones that seemed as if they’d never been anywhere near a chocolate factory. Now I hate it. I would love a meal that didn’t involve a chocolate bar, but something green and fresh that had actually grown instead of manufactured, processed and sealed up to preserve it. Mind you, I suppose we’d all be starving right now if man hadn’t made so much processed crap and stuck it in a metal can.
“Rosa, there’s a lot more to not miss, than miss. Understand? It’s no good keeping on thinking about all the good things that are gone. Remember the fake plastic smiles you would get every time you walked into some snobby shop or the post office or any place that wanted your money? Remember how boring shopping actually was? Remember all that chart music that was so bland and false and utterly pointless that you couldn’t wait for it to end? Remember the soulless towns and vacuous shopping centres, overcrowded trains, expensive bills, fake friendliness that you encountered almost every day when somebody wanted something from you. Remember how much of a waste of time it all was?”
“I suppose so, but I can’t forget the past and I don’t want to forget my family.”
“You don’t have to, Rosa, but you do have to move on. You can’t live in constant fear, or wallow in nostalgia. Look at what we’ve got now. There’s a chance we could be out of here in two days. You’ve got a roof over your head, which is a lot more than anyone else in this godforsaken country right now. And you’ve got me.”
Jessica kissed Rosa again and they embraced. Rosa had warmed up and she rubbed her feet up and down Jessica’s smooth legs. Rosa sat up, pushing the duvet off.
“You’re not getting up again, are you?” asked Jessica.
Rosa looked at Jessica and smiled. She pulled the large t-shirt over her head and threw it on the floor. Jessica could see Rosa’s small breasts and erect nipples. She wanted her so badly.
Rosa lay down and Jessica began kissing her neck. She traced her tongue down to Rosa’s chest and slid over her.
“I love you, Jess,” said Rosa.
“I love you too. Now shush,” said Jessica as she continued kissing Rosa.
Rosa propped herself up and looked down as Jessica slid between her legs and continued stroking her, kissing her body, her waist and her thighs. Later, only when they were both tired, exhausted from love-making, would they sleep restfully.
* * * *
Lazarus slept little that stormy night. He poured over the notes that Tim had made for him. Lazarus had thought the world was at death’s door. There was no stopping the infection that was for sure. It had toppled governments and dictators far more quickly than any ele
ctions or coups ever had. Could it be that there were more survivors than he thought? It made sense in a way. Those at sea, away from land and the spread of infection would be safe. If they stayed away from the land, then they would live for as long as they could eat and drink. If they kept away from Lazarus and the Mount, then there would be no problem. But what if they did not? How did the navy plan to fight back? What if they commandeered his men? What if they wanted to use the Mount as a base? It was in an excellent strategic position, as it had been for centuries. That was exactly why Lazarus had claimed it, just as Henry Pomeroy had claimed it in the fifteenth century. It was surrounded by water which the dead could not cross. Sure, sometimes they got washed up on shore, but they couldn’t swim or even drift with any kind of aim.
The Mount was close to the mainland, but far enough away so that the dead could not reach them. Even if anyone tried to attack them, they were well defended. Any attacking force would have to climb the steep granite hill to the castle and his men were armed. They had axes, swords, and knives, and they would use them.
Lazarus did not love his father, but he loved the stories he told him, of Pomeroy in particular. He had held the Mount for weeks on end against thousands of Edward the Fourth’s troops. Literally thousands of soldiers had tried to usurp Henry and gain the Mount, to draw him out. They had laid siege to him and his band of men and he had held out for nearly six months. The odds were against him, but the Mount was special. It held a special power, a strong force that willed men on to defend it. This land, this small yet important granite outcrop of Britain had stood since long before man could even begin to understand its value. It withstood earthquakes, tsunamis, and wars. Lazarus intended to make sure it stood for many more years, with him as its ruler.
If the navy thought they could take it from him they would be forced to think again. They could not fight the infection. How can you kill something that cannot be killed? You can chop off the arm or the leg of a zombie and it will keep coming. Chop its head off and it will still bite you. No, the navy were misguided. They still thought they were in command. Lazarus was in charge of this piece of England.
He tried sleeping, but woke constantly. He fidgeted and tossed and turned until, unable to waste any more time, he got up. The storm had blown itself out and he opened the window from which Keisha had so gracefully ‘fallen’ last night. The sea was calm and the autumn sun was illuminating the Cornish coast, blinking off rooftops and shooing away the last dark rain clouds. Morning was rapidly approaching. The only sound Lazarus could hear was the lapping of the ocean on the rocks below.
He would wake the others and send a group onto the mainland. If they were to defend themselves, they would need all the ammunition and weapons they could find. If there was to be any kind of siege they would need plenty of food. The navy might try to force them off the Mount. Thankfully, with a fresh spring on the island, water was not an issue he had to deal with. With so many mouths to feed though, he wanted to build up stocks as much as possible. The vegetables and crops they grew were not enough to feed nearly thirty men forever.
There was another issue to act upon too. If the men knew the navy were just around the corner, waiting in their armoured ships to whisk them away, they might want to leave. It would be ridiculous, of course, but they needed telling what to do. If they were allowed to think for themselves, they would all go their own way. They would die out there for that old notion of king and country. What was the point in getting yourself killed over a king who was already dead and a country that was dying? It was better that they stay here and defend the Mount, defend Lazarus. They could build a new empire. They respected him. The men knew he was superior and could ensure their safety. If they left, would they be safe?
Lazarus dressed and decided he would go down and see first what, if anything, Ed had managed to find out overnight. It was imperative that he nipped this in the bud now. He had been foolish last night. He should have made Tim stay on the radio. Lazarus couldn’t afford too many people finding out about this new development. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage. Tim was going on the scouting party and the mainland was a dangerous place. Accidents happened all the time. With millions of zombies wandering the land freely, who knew what might happen.
Lazarus put his long black coat on and opened the bedroom door. Walker was asleep in the chair outside, a sheathed sword by his side. The door clicked shut and Walker jumped to his feet.
“Lazarus. Morning, sir. You’re up early today. Anything I can do for you?” Walker rubbed his face awake.
“Yes, go down and check on Norm will you. He’s been helping himself to the entertainment lately. He thinks we don’t know about it. Teach him what’s what, will you?”
“Yes sir. Anything else?”
“Yes, I’m sending a scouting party over this morning. When you’re finished with Norm, get it arranged, will you. I want them ready to go at 0700. Get Tim, Honok and Shane and bring them to the back door. I want to speak to them before they go.”
They walked down the grand stairway together saying nothing. Walker continued on down to the cells whilst Lazarus went outside and made his way down the hill to the houses. Each one was quiet, but in a couple of hours, they would be a hive of activity. You had to earn your keep on the Mount and Lazarus made sure they all worked hard. There was plenty of hard labour to be done in repairing the buildings and preparing the land for sowing more seeds and grains. Some of the men would be put on watch, patrolling the castle and the grounds, ensuring there were no uninvited visitors, especially ones with sharp teeth and deadly infections.
Lazarus approached the stone house and opened the door. He didn’t knock or wait for an invitation. This was his kingdom and he could walk straight into wherever he pleased, whenever he pleased.
Ed jumped up, shocked at the intrusion. Lazarus was pleased to see Ed looked tired. His usual grin was absent and he had dark bags under his eyes. He pulled off a headset and placed it on the desk in front of him by the radio set.
“Ed.”
“Sir.”
“Report?”
“Yes, I, er, did hear something. Here are the notes I made, mate, I mean sir.”
Ed held out a couple of pieces of paper and Lazarus took them without letting his eyes leave Ed. “Tell me what you heard.”
“Well, Tim told me about the British guy, McCulloch. He’s definitely the bloke in charge. HMS Daring he’s on. They’re somewhere out there off the south coast, but he didn’t give specifics. He was talking to the American Captain Samson. McCulloch said they were running low on provisions but had enough for about another week. He said they keep trying to contact command HQ but are getting no response. He thinks they’re all dead. He said they’re going to try to dock in a couple of days and make one last attempt to see if anyone is alive on the mainland. McCulloch said they’ve been sending out an automated message telling any survivors to head to some extraction points. Get this sir, they’re heading for Penzance.”
Lazarus’s eyes bore down into Ed. In the small house his tall figure seemed even larger than he actually was and Ed felt nervous as the imposing Lazarus stood over him. “I wonder what they’re actually going to do when they get here, Ed. The Daring is a destroyer so it’s not designed for rescue missions, nor is it going to be able to dock at Penzance. The harbour isn’t big enough to cope with it. No, I would think they’re going to come in close and then send out a smaller boat to see what’s going on. It’s probably just a reconnaissance mission to check the lay of the land, so to speak.
“Ed, we must be cautious. This is a time of war you understand. If the navy is looking for survivors this long after the infection wiped out Britain, then they must be desperate. They need men, supplies, and ammunition. They’re looking to salvage and steal, not help us. Ed, we are going to have to make sure they don’t see us or find our location.”
“I suppose so, sir,” agreed Ed frowning. “I thought that they would help us though, wouldn’t they? Tim told me all
about it. He said he was looking forward to being rescued, that we’d be able to get off this bloody island. They might know of somewhere safe to go, somewhere...”
“Ed.” Lazarus took a step closer and Ed thought he was going to strike him. “Ed, you’re not stupid, but you don’t need to think about this. You shouldn’t be listening to Tim either. He’s got a big mouth. I’ll be making sure he doesn’t go gossiping again. You know what happens when people start rumours, don’t you?
“Why would we need to escape the Mount? This isn’t a prison, it’s a sanctuary. If there was somewhere else safe to go, the British navy would be there already wouldn’t they? This just proves the point that there is nowhere to go. I imagine the people on that ship are demoralised and desperate – and that makes them dangerous. No Ed, they’re not here to help, they’re here for us. They want what we have: this place, this castle, the Mount. This is safe. Do you see the infected here? Do you not get a square meal every night? Do I not provide you with women?”
Ed nodded. He thought Lazarus might not be completely right, but there was no way he was going to disagree and end up like Ricardo. He made a mistake and ended up dead. Ed knew Tim was in for it. He had been sloppy and talked out of turn. Ed had no intention of being put in the same pot as Tim. “There was something else too, sir. The past five hours there’s been no contact at all. I think they signed off for the night. Before they did, Samson said they were heading for provisions and would be in contact again with McCulloch. Samson said they had something of interest that McCulloch would want to see, something that might help in winning the war.”
“Did he suggest what?”
“Not really, sir. He just said it was something the USS Wasp had picked up in Texas. He said they were carrying out tests and would know more soon.”
