Devouring The Dead (Book 2): Nemesis

by Watts, Russ

  “You can’t polish a turd,” said Harry quietly to Jackson who hid his laughter behind a well-timed cough.

  Tom continued. “Staying here is not an option. We can’t wait this out. The dead out there are not going to stop and they’re not going to leave, so we have to. Mr and Mrs Cooper, Heidi, if you want, you can come with us. I can’t promise you the ship will be there, but there’s damn all else to do other than sit around and wait to die.”

  “I’m coming with you,” said Heidi. “Sorry, Mum, but I can’t stay here any longer. Longrock was fu...really boring, even before this infection thing.”

  “Heidi, I don’t know,” began Glenda. “Daniel, what do you think?”

  “With all due respect, I need you to debate whether you’re coming with us or not on your own. Right now, we have little time left to work this out,” said Tom. “Firstly, we are going to Penzance today. We cannot wait, so the sooner we get moving, the better. Once we get there, we have to find somewhere safe to stay the night, and figure out a way to the harbour.”

  “Secondly,” said Jackson, “we have to get past those zombies out there. Do you think we could just batter our way through them, Harry? Get in the van, rev it up and plough our way through?”

  Harry shook his head. “No, they’re too thick and they’re funnelled into the driveway. We wouldn’t get more than a few meters before their number stopped us. With all those bodies in the way we’d be surrounded in minutes with no way forward or back.”

  “We could try to burn them,” said Moira. “We’ve several lighters. We could try to chuck the lighter fluid over them from up here. I’m just not sure we have the time to wait for the fire to take enough of them out. The storm put them out last night, but it’s a clear day today.”

  “Jesus Christ - burn them? Mow them down? Can you hear what you’re saying?” said Daniel. “I don’t know what you people have done to get this far, but these are God’s creatures. I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Where is the respect for the deceased? Thou shalt not kill, remember?”

  “Daniel, can you come here, please,” said Moira.

  He walked over to the window and she grabbed him, forcing his unshaven face up against the window. His breath began to fog up the glass.

  “Look at them. Look at their faces. Look at the way they walk, the way their slack mouths hang open, the way they still try to fight their way in here even without arms and legs and beating fucking hearts. These are not God’s creatures anymore. God has long since fucked us over.”

  Daniel struggled out of Moira’s grip and rubbed his neck. “Say what you like, but I won’t have it. Glenda agrees with me. I cannot permit atrocities on the scale you are talking about. This is some kind of joke, right? In his wisdom he chose to put man on this Earth and there is no greater power than that. We must...”

  “Oh, enough of this bullshit,” said Jackson. “I’m sick and tired of this religious bullshit and cod psychology. There is no higher power at work. This is nature giving us a reality check. The Plague, tsunamis, earthquakes, aids, bloody flu and E-bola outbreaks. This is just another in a long line of Mother Nature’s attempts to cull the most destructive being on the planet: man. I mean come on, I just don’t believe that this is God’s work, nor is it man’s. Some scientist created this infection in a bottle and – oops – let it out by accident? Not likely. No, something crawled out from under a rock or the jungle and got twisted, warped somehow. It’s like bird flu or swine flu or something. Something out there is carrying a disease that we have no cure for.”

  “It’s alien,” said Tom sighing. “Sorry, Jackson, but you’re not quite right. This infection that kills decent people and turns them into walking dead cannibals isn’t a message from God, nor is it manmade. It wasn’t here on Earth either. It didn’t crawl from the belly of some creature into the human food chain. No, it came from somewhere up there.” Tom raised one finger and pointed upward. “Fuck knows how, or why, but it did. This thing is alien. That’s why we have no cure for it.”

  The room fell silent.

  Jackson began to laugh. “Tom, I respect you, but you sound like a raving lunatic. You’re really talking about aliens? Are you saying we are being attacked by zombies from Mars?” Jackson slapped his palm against his head. “This is…this is just crazy”

  “I tend to agree, Tom, why would you think this is alien? Are you lying to us trying to make us feel better ‘cause if so, I don’t get it,” said Jessica.

  “It’s true,” said Christina coming down the stairs. “Tom’s not lying.”

  “You too?” said Jackson. He sat down and threw his hands up in the air. “Sheesh.”

  “You don’t have to believe me or Tom,” said Christina. “Quite frankly that’s up to you, but this infection is alien.”

  “How so?” said Harry. “Where did you get this?”

  “Ferrera,” answered Tom. “We talked to him back at the airport before he...anyway, before he left us, shall I say. He filled me and Christina in on what this thing was.”

  “This Ferrera bloke, how did he know? Who was he?” said Moira. “Can we talk to him?”

  Tom sniffed. “Nope, you can’t talk to him, he didn’t make it. He was a soldier, but he’s dead now. He had no reason to lie to us. And what he said makes sense.”

  “Maybe,” said Harry. “But if it’s alien, and I’m prepared to concede it’s possible, then why? Did something crash here? Was it an accident? Or was this thing sent here on purpose? If it was designed specifically for man, presumably with the intention of wiping us out, then you have to say it’s doing a damn good job.”

  “That doesn’t explain how it spread around the world so fast,” said Jessica. “If some kind of alien disease started in London I can see how it would spread around the country, but that doesn’t explain France or anywhere else.”

  “Oui, it’s true, Paris was hit hard by the infection. I heard of other incidents around the country in Lyon, Marseille, all over, even stories of infected coming over the border from Germany. It was some kind of viral outbreak that they couldn’t contain. This was not a disease from England. This is not like your beef with the foot and mouth, eh?” said Laurent smiling wryly. His attempt to inject a little humour to dissolve the tension only annoyed Jackson.

  “Now hang on,” interrupted Jackson, “I’ve tolerated this up to now, but I can’t take much more of this nonsense.” Jackson got up and began pacing the floor.

  “Jackson, sit down, mate. There’s no need to get angry,” said Harry.

  Jackson sat down on the sofa and folded his arms. He couldn’t summon up the energy to argue anymore. He ground his teeth and wished he could rewind the clock. He wished he had not gone into work that fateful day and had stayed home with Mary. Instead of being here now, arguing with strangers, having spent the last few weeks killing zombies, he could be with her, his wife, in Heaven. He had no death wish, but sometimes he thought Mary had gotten the best deal of the two of them.

  “We need to focus,” said Tom. “Let’s save the debating for another day. Every minute we spend here today is a minute wasted. I’ve got an idea of how to get out of here, but I need everyone on board.”

  “Okay, let’s talk about the Martians another day. Let’s hear the plan,” said Moira still keeping a cautious eye on the driveway below.

  “We need a diversion. Two or three of us can get out back into the field easily enough without being noticed. We track back around to the road and make a scene; shout, scream and get their attention. Not all, but a lot of the dead will go for it. You’ll have to be quick on your feet though. Run down the main road and lead them out of town as far as you can. There’s a petrol station a mile out of town. Make it there and hide. If you can slip inside without being seen the dead will keep running. Meantime, the rest of us will pile into the van and get out of here. We’ll then get the dead to follow us, lead them back into town. We’ll circle around and pick you up from the petrol station. Then it’s off to Penzance.”

&
nbsp; “I think it’s insane,” said Harry, “but I think it might work. I can’t see a better option. Anyone else?”

  “Do what you like,” said Daniel, “but me and my family will stay here, thank you.”

  “You don’t have to come with us,” said Harry, “but I wouldn’t stay here if I was you. Once we leave, we can’t shut the door behind us. Some of those things will get in and you won’t be safe. From what I hear you can’t go home.”

  “Dad, listen to them. Even if just for now, we need to stick together.” Heidi looked from him to her mother. Glenda was quiet and downcast, her eyes wet.

  “Fine. We’ll go along with you, for now,” Daniel replied.

  “I’ll go,” said Laurent. “I’m a fast runner. I don’t mind being the bait. I’m getting used to it anyway, eh, Tom?”

  Tom nodded at Laurent who was smirking. “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, Tom, you need to drive the van. I’ll go,” said Harry.

  “Me too,” said Rosa.

  “What? Why? You don’t need to!” exclaimed Jessica.

  “Yes I do. It’s going to take more than one or two of us to get noticed. The more the better. Besides, we’re not easily all going to fit in the van, are we?” Rosa knew that Jess was the tough one, but she wanted to make a point and do something. This was her chance.

  “Thanks, Rosa,” said Tom.

  “Us too,” said Daniel. “Me and Glenda are coming with you and Laurent.”

  “Look, Daniel, you don’t have to...”

  “Yes I do. I need you to protect my daughter and the safest way is for her to ride with you. If me and Glenda can help you get away, then try and stop us.”

  Heidi looked horrified. “Dad, come on, I’ll be fine, stay with me. There’s enough room for…”

  “Heidi, go with Tom and the others,” said Glenda. “Your father’s right. You heard Tom, we’ll be fine, you’re going to come back for us, so don’t worry. Just look after yourself, honey.” Glenda took her daughter and held her tight.

  “Okay, Laurent’s in charge,” said Tom. “Out there you listen to him, follow him and do exactly what he says. He’ll lead the way. Harry, Rosa, for God’s sake, take care out there. Everyone else, gather up your shit. We’re leaving in five minutes.”

  * * * *

  Laurent jumped down into the back garden and began scaling the low fence into the field. It was full of un-harvested wheat, and weeds had already begun to take a hold, slowly strangling the crop. Harry followed behind him and Rosa swiftly after him. They were nervous, but kept their emotions in check. They had spent weeks on the run, learning how to hide and move out in the open, avoiding making any noises and movements that would get them noticed. Rosa glanced behind her as she entered the field and saw Daniel and Glenda right behind her. She thought they might chicken out, but to their credit, they were coming. They must love their daughter a lot, she thought as she fought her way thought a thick cluster of overgrown stalks that pulled at her feet.

  Back in the house, they had gathered their belongings together and were filling up the van. Tom and Jackson sat in the front, with Christina, Caterina and Jessica in the back. The final two seats were reserved for Leonard and Moira.

  Moira was keeping a look out upstairs and as soon as Laurent and the others had drawn away most of the dead, would run down and give Tom the signal to go. Leonard was in the toilet as he was worried about going outside again. Wandering outside was not normally allowed and the nurse, Wendy, had told him off on more than once occasion.

  Moira heard the van start and saw some of the dead at the start of the driveway begin to turn away from the house. She couldn’t see Laurent or any of the others though as the road was hidden by the last few houses on the edge of town. She smiled as more and more of the zombies were drawn away from the driveway. So Laurent must have made it. She waited a minute and eventually the driveway looked clear enough.

  “Lenny, come on, time to go!” Moira raced to the bathroom and banged on the door. It swung open and she was surprised to find it empty.

  “Lenny? Lenny, where are you?” Moira called out, but the house was quiet. She began to panic. Where could he be? Was he hiding? She raced upstairs and checked in all of the rooms, behind the doors, even under the beds, but he was not in the house. She called out again, but still got no answer. There was no time to wait. She couldn’t leave the others out there. Moira ran down to the garage and jumped in the van. She clicked her seatbelt in and Tom started the engine.

  “Where’s Lenny?” asked Jackson.

  “He’s gone, I couldn’t find him anywhere. He must’ve snuck out when I was looking out the window.”

  “What? Where the bloody hell did he go?” said Christina shocked. “Oh, my God, we can’t leave him.”

  “There’s only one place he could’ve gone and that’s out the back after Laurent.” Tom put the van into gear and took off the handbrake. “If he’s lucky he kept up with them. We can’t go looking for him now. We’ll pick him up later when we get to the petrol station. Harry, do it. Everyone else, buckle up.”

  Harry pressed the automatic garage door opener and it swung upwards smoothly revealing the driveway. The others had done a good job of drawing the zombies away. There were only a few left and Tom put his foot down on the accelerator. The van charged out of the garage at speed and instantly ran over three dead boys who crunched under its wheels. Caterina cringed and kept her eyes shut as the van bumped its way down the driveway, knocking over bodies and running over any zombies in its path.

  Blood splattered the front of the van and Tom flicked the wipers on to clear it so he could see. As an old woman bounced off the bonnet, her long black hair caught and pulled off one of the wipers, leaving bloodied strands of her scalp stuck on the window. The van jumped and skidded as more bodies slipped under its wheels and Tom carried on, relentless, having long since tuned himself out to the horrors of what they had to do to survive now.

  The van bumped over the pavement at the end of the driveway and Tom braked quickly. They came to a juddering halt in the middle of the road. To their left, the road was clear. To the right, he saw the zombies, hundreds of them, loping and running down the street after Laurent, Harry, Rosa, Daniel and Glenda.

  “Right, let’s get their attention, shall we?” Tom hit the horn and kept his hand on it as he pulled the van away after them. He needed to get as many as possible to follow the van, giving time for the others to reach the petrol station and hide.

  Leonard heard the horn blaring and stopped. He had gotten lost in the field of wheat and was worried. What would Billy do if he got lost and couldn’t get home? He looked down at his pyjamas covered in dust and dirt. Carol would not like seeing him dressed like this and he began to think it hadn’t been such a good idea to follow Mr and Mrs Cooper. They had seemed like such a nice couple. He ran forward, following the sound of the horn and hoped he would find his way out of the field before the bad people found him.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jimmy prised the last nail from the door and put it in his pocket with the others. He removed the plank and carefully carried it through to the lounge, laying it down quietly behind the out of tune piano. He went back to the kitchen and put his hand on the doorknob. This was it, there was no going back. Once he opened that door, they would be exposed.

  The door creaked open and Jimmy looked at the street before him. The house across the road had indeed burned down, but the flames hadn’t reached any others nearby. The burnt out shell looked like a rotten decayed tooth in a row of otherwise perfect teeth. Jimmy pushed the door back so it was wide open. The air tasted good. The sun had barely risen so it was gloomy outside, but Jimmy felt happy. He wasn’t nervous about going outside. His mother had been caught out, unprepared, but Jimmy knew what he was doing. He needed one of them, just one of the dead, and his father would see sense. Actions speak louder than words, as his father was fond of telling him before giving him a slap on the back of the head.

  Jimmy
walked down the pathway from the front door and began whistling. Anyone listening would’ve heard a badly out of tune rendition of Crowded House’s ‘World Where you Live.’ It was the first song that popped into Jimmy’s head. He waited, listened and then, sure enough, a solitary zombie appeared. It had been crouched between two cars a little down the road, apparently eating something as it still carried the bloody entrails of something between its dead hands. The zombie looked like it used to be a woman, but its body had decayed badly and its flesh was thin and scraggly.

  Jimmy whistled again to make sure he had its attention and then ran back inside the house. Now he would go and wake his father up and show him why they had to leave. He glanced at the clock. His father was never awake before seven, he would still be sleeping. Probably sleeping it off, Jimmy thought.

  “Dad! Dad, get up!” Jimmy bounded up the stairs two at a time. He opened his parent’s bedroom door and David was on his feet. He was wearing just a pair of dirty boxer shorts and brandishing a knife.

  “What? What’s happened?” David’s eyes were sleepy yet wild with surprise. He stared at Jimmy. “What the hell’s going on, lad?”

  Jimmy was surprised that his father was so alert for such an early time of the day. “Dad, we have to go, they’re here. One of them broke the door down. Come quick!”

  Jimmy rushed out of the bedroom and David followed him downstairs into the kitchen. Jimmy stood there proudly by the front door which was wide open. “See? I told you.”

  “What the..?” David couldn’t understand how the door had been broken down. It looked fine and there were no zombies milling around the house.

  Suddenly, the dead woman that Jimmy had whistled to appeared and dropped the meat it carried in the doorway. The zombie reached out for Jimmy and David lunged at the same time. He managed to grasp the dead woman as Jimmy ducked out of the way. He hadn’t expected the zombie to actually get into their house.

  “Dad?!” Jimmy recoiled in horror, pressing himself against the wooden table as his father rolled around on the floor with the dead woman. Jimmy could see blood coming from his father’s arms where the woman had scratched him and torn at his flesh.