Killing the Dead (Books 4-6)

by Murray, Richard

  Lily was laughing at some comment or joke he made and I held back my sneer. I caught another grimace from Pat and thought that perhaps there was at least one other person who shared my distrust of the newcomer.

  Julie wandered past and shot a bright smile my way and a wave before gathering the children and announcing it was time for them to sleep.

  The children noisily said their goodnights and Emma approached me with a shy smile and said “Night,” before giving me a quick hug and running up the stairs.

  “Cheer up mate.” Gregg said with his customary grin, “You look like you just found out it’s the end of the world.”

  “Huh?”

  “Nothing.” He laughed and I frowned. “Oh give up mate. She’s just being friendly.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “Ok, you don’t want to talk about it.” He said with a glance towards a laughing Lily who was standing beside Jason as they talked. “You’ve nothing to worry about.”

  “I really have no idea what you are talking about.” I told him truthfully.

  “Sure.” He said amiably. “Change of subject then. You heading out looking for our missing group mates again tomorrow?”

  “More than likely, though it will go quicker if we can use the car.” I said as my thoughts turned to the practical requirements.

  “Not much chance of that. It’s just about out of petrol. We were kind of hoping you and Cass would find another car.”

  “Great.” I said as I envisioned another long trek north, “What about across the lake. Any more shooting?”

  “Yeah it was kicking off over there all morning and then went quiet.” Gregg said, “Either they killed all the zombies or ran out of bullets or were eaten. I can guess which is most likely.”

  “Indeed.” I agreed as I imagined the undead pouring into the streets filled with panicked refugees. “It could be worth going over there too.”

  “I’d be up for that. I’m getting sick of wood gathering already.” Gregg said agreeably. “Anyway, I’m off to bed and I reckon you should too. Nothing to be gained by hanging around down here being miserable.”

  “I’m not miserable.” I said and he snorted.

  “Sure you’re not. Night mate.” He said before leaving with a wave to his sister and the others.

  I sat and watched him go before looking across at the laughing people clustered around Jason. Whatever Gregg had meant eluded me and I shook my head before rising and climbing the stairs to my own apartment. I didn’t bother saying goodnight to anyone.

  Chapter 16

  The next two days passed slowly as I went out looking for the missing group members. First with Pat and then the next day Gregg.

  We found no sign of either the missing people or the boat that we had seen on that first search.

  When I returned with Gregg, wet, cold and frustrated, Lily finally agreed that we would have to give up the search and I was more than happy to do so.

  While I had been fruitlessly searching for Leon and Jenny, several small groups had been out into the surrounding area foraging for supplies with mixed results.

  The groups supply of food would keep us going for a week or so if we rationed it, though we would soon all be feeling the full effects of a lack of a balanced and healthy diet. Already several people had been complaining about upset stomachs.

  We had a sizeable pile of blankets, quilts and clothes in all shapes and sizes and Lily seemed pleased when one of the groups brought back a nice selection of tools which included several saws and an axe.

  With the tools we would be able to gather more wood to fuel our grill and there was talk on an evening about building a fence across the small strip of land that connected our little apartment building to the mainland.

  No one had yet found any fishing equipment and the thought of all the fish swimming around in the lake as we ate our meagre rations was frustrating.

  Jason had been true to his word and set to work helping out around our new home. It seemed that he had been a builder as well as an avid outdoorsman and he was more than happy to offer suggestions on improvements that he could make to the apartments to help us survive the winter, given the right tools and materials.

  I still disliked him and it didn’t help that he was a hit with so many of the people in the group. The women especially seemed to enjoy his company as much as he enjoyed theirs and it irked me that Lily appeared to succumb to his charms.

  My mood darkened as the days wore on with no sign of my being able to fulfil that deep seated need of mine and so I avoided the company of others whenever possible.

  The gathering in the foyer for the evening meal had become a regular thing and as the days wore on I began to take my bowl of whatever simple fare Claire had prepared to eat alone in my apartment, staring out of the window at the island as I tried to find some sign that we were still being watched.

  Across the lake the town of Windermere was ominously silent and I hoped that the zombies had overrun the people there so that we could take any food and supplies they had managed to build up.

  We had been subjected to several days of miserable weather culminating in a hail storm that had ended less than an hour previously and the chill in the air told me that snow would soon be with us.

  I needed to find some time alone before then. Some time with another person, one who wouldn’t be missed. Ideally one who would be a threat to our little group so that I wouldn’t have to break my promise to Lily.

  At some point, as I stared out of the window into the darkness beyond, Lily entered the apartment. She said something or other that I didn’t catch and by the time I realised she had been speaking to me, she had gone to her room.

  A rational part of my mind was telling me that all of the careful work I had done to fit in and appear normal as well as useful to my group mates was slowly unravelling as I retreated into myself. I was sure that it wouldn’t be long before the people around me started to look at me suspiciously but I just couldn’t seem to care.

  The increasing petty arguments and rivalries that had been going on were irritating and though Candice and Rachel had been quiet, I had seen them on occasion huddled together with Matthew talking quietly.

  Jim and his religious followers kept to themselves for the most part but I knew more than one of them would look askance at Gregg or Cass and scurry away when they came close.

  For the most part, the people had accepted Lily as leader of the group and obeyed her instructions but she seemed more stressed than I had seen her since this whole thing began. She cared too much for people and wouldn’t be able to make the choices that were necessary.

  Everyone now realised that our two missing group mates were not going to return and that it was likely that the cause of their disappearance were on the island that was far too close to where we had set up home. More than one person would look nervously over at the island.

  A soft tap at the door caught my attention and banished the darker thoughts from my mind as Lily entered the room.

  “I was hoping you were still awake.” She said quietly as she crossed the distance between us.

  “Why?”

  “I couldn’t sleep.” She said with a faint smile, barely visible in the darkness.

  “That is hardly surprising and I doubt you are the only one.”

  “So it would seem.” She said as she leant against the wall opposite me. “How are you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  “That’s obviously not true. You’ve not been yourself for days now.”

  “Perhaps I am finally being myself.” I replied with a faint smile of my own.

  “No. This is not like you at all.” She insisted. “All the time I have known you, you’ve been calm and even cheerful at times. The end of the world never seemed like such a big deal for you.”

  “Now, I don’t know... it feels like you’ve given up.”

  “Given up?”

 
; “On surviving, on the group... on me.” She looked away as she finished.

  “I am caught between a promise I made and a need that I cannot fulfil while being forced into close quarters with people that I care nothing for.” I snapped, “Forgive me if I am less than pleasant company.”

  “You mean that? You don’t care for anyone here.” Lily asked sorrowfully.

  Her eyes were wide and filled with hurt and I couldn’t stop myself from answering, “Yes.”

  As soon as I said it, I wanted to take it back but my own frustrated anger at myself sealed my mouth shut. All I could do was watch as her whole body tensed and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

  “Goodnight Ryan.” Lily said as she walked away.

  I watched as her shadowed form moved across the apartment and pulled open the door. As I heard it softly close with a click I said “Damn.”

  Chapter 17

  “Wake up.” Gregg said as he shook me roughly.

  “What time is it?” I asked, groggily as I wiped at my eyes. It was still dark outside.

  “Time you realised how much you fucked up and apologised.” He laughed.

  “What?”

  “Don’t even try and tell me you aren’t the reason Lily looks like she’s been crying all night.” He said with a wide grin, “Seems to me you’re the only reason she cries these days.”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.” I lied as I threw back the covers and went in search of the bathroom.

  “Hurry up, we’ve a job to do.” Gregg called after me.

  I ignored him as I closed the bathroom door behind me and took a minute to relieve myself. While the toilet flushed I washed in the cold water at the sink and took a good look at myself in the mirror.

  Dark rings circled my eyes, a telling indication of my restless sleep. My dark hair was growing messy and was badly in need of a trim and the equally dark stubble that crossed my face was longer than I had ever had it. My hands itched to find a razor and scissors and restore my usually neat appearance.

  Since I had neither scissors nor razor to hand, I could do nothing more than sigh regretfully and ignore it as best I could.

  I pulled open the door to the bathroom and found Gregg leaning against the wall opposite.

  “What took you so long?” He asked.

  “Why are you still here?”

  “I told you, we have a job to do.”

  “What job?” I snapped, irritated at his presence.

  “Well since you pissed Lily off enough that she wants to get you as far away as possible, we are off to Windermere.” Gregg said. “So get yourself ready and let’s go before everyone wakes up.”

  “I’m ready.” I said as I tried to keep the eagerness from my voice. My hand briefly touched the knife at my belt as I contemplated the chance to use it. “Who else is coming?”

  “Me, you and Pat.”

  “Just the three of us?”

  “Yeah, Lily has everyone else working on building up the wood supplies and making a barricade across the road.”

  “Fine by me.” I said as we left the apartment.

  Few people seemed to be awake and those that were had opted to stay in their apartments until breakfast was ready, which to my dismay wasn’t yet.

  We left through the back door and crossed the frost covered grass to where Pat waited by the boat. The early morning was damned cold and I pulled my jacket tighter around me.

  “All set?” Pat asked as we reached him.

  “Aye mate, let’s get going.” Gregg said cheerfully while I stayed silent.

  “Don’t know why we have to set off so bloody early.” Pat grumbled as he led the way into the boat and Greg just glanced once at me and laughed.

  It seemed that Matthew had been instructing Pat on how to pilot the boat while I had been out searching for Leon and Jenny, so he was capable enough to get us across the lake.

  The journey wasn’t long and the only sounds we could hear were those of the engine and the cheerful banter between Pat and Gregg.

  I opted to sit halfway down the cabin and lean against the window with my hands thrust into my pockets to try and keep them warm.

  As the boat approached the Marina we had visited just a few short days ago the sun was over the horizon. Pat killed the engine and let the boats own momentum keep us moving.

  The closer we got to the docks the more sure I was that the soldiers had failed in protecting the refugees.

  When we had last visited we had seen a number of boats on the lake with men and women fishing from them. Those boats were seemingly all submerged and the shadowed forms on the docks began to raise a familiar moan as they noticed our arrival.

  “Damn.” Gregg breathed, “Get us out of here.” He instructed.

  “Looks like people ran for the boats and the zombies followed.” I said as I joined the two of them at the front of the cabin, my curiosity had been piqued.

  “Aye, capsized most of them. Poor bastards.” Gregg agreed.

  “So where to?” Pat asked, “We can’t dock here.”

  “Head north for now, follow the shore.” I said, “We may find somewhere we can land.”

  All along the shoreline of the lake the scene was the same. Utter devastation in the town itself. We passed another Marina with much the same results on show.

  Large numbers of undead were standing or wandering aimlessly until they were alerted to our presence by the sound of the boats engine. Then they would raise their ruined voices in unison, clamouring their desire for our flesh.

  What seemed to be a large park or golf course immediately followed the second Marina, few zombies were visible wandering over the open grassy areas and we all agreed that it could be a suitable place to land until we saw the Undead pouring through the broken gates from the neighbouring Marina.

  “What the hell?” Gregg said as Pat swore quietly at the sight.

  “They are following the sound of the boat and will likely continue doing so as long as they can.” I said calmly as I considered the new problem.

  “So what do we do?” Pat asked.

  “Keep going for now.” I suggested, “Nothing else we can do.”

  With much muttering and swearing Pat kept the boat moving north. In a short time we had passed the golf course and rounded a short point that jutted out into the lake to find yet more docks that ran the length of the town.

  The newest docks looked to have boats tied up that could be incredibly useful at some point in the future but for now were out of reach as the whole area swarmed with the undead. We continued on.

  When the docks finally came to an end we found three hundred metres or so of holiday homes with plenty of trees to help provide cover. Some zombies could be seen around the houses but not as many as we had found on the docks. I surmised that the majority had been drawn further into the town.

  Beyond the holiday homes was another fifty metres of open grass and then what seemed to be the perfect place to land.

  “What do you think?” Gregg asked me as he pointed at the building at the waters’ edge.

  “It works for me.” I said as I stared at the boat yard.

  Two long docks extended out over the water, one of which ended up inside the large building itself. No doubt so that boats could be piloted directly into the yard for work.

  A second building was set behind the first. Made, of some grey material I couldn’t identify from the boat it looked to be a warehouse for the boatyards materials which could well mean that it had a great many items within that we could use.

  The single road that led away from the buildings appeared to be clear of the undead and it joined the main road that led directly into the town itself. All in all, a seemingly perfect place to land.

  We had lost the zombies a distance back when they came up against a wall that surrounded the Marina, though with the sheer weight of numbers, I doubted the wall would last long.

  Pat piloted
the boat as carefully as he could towards the docks and through luck more than skill we were soon stepping out onto the timber planks that made up the dock to secure the boat.

  “First things first,” I said as calmly as I could as I fought against the rising surge of excitement. “We need to make sure this place is secure and safe. Then we can see what the town’s like.”

  “Fine by me mate.” Pat said as he left the boat. “I’ve no intention of dying today.”

  “Or any day soon.” Gregg added with a low laugh.

  I led the way along the dock towards the main building, a single storey square shape made of brick with a corrugated roof. My knife was held ready and a quick glance at my companions showed that they too had weapons out.

  Gregg had a two foot length of steel that he held like a bat, both hands clasped tightly around the lower end, with the other raised at shoulder height. Pat held a lump hammer in one hand, a shortened version of a sledgehammer that would do a great deal of damage with his prodigious strength behind the swing.

  We left the dock and crossed the gravel coated yard to the main door set into the side of the building. A tug on the door failed to open it and Pat held up his hammer questioningly.

  I shook my head at him and he lowered the hammer. Breaking through the door would make too much noise and it was safe to say that any undead inside the building would be no threat while we were outside.

  A blue painted steel shipping container was set to the side of the yard, beside some beech trees that towered over it. One of the doors hung open and we approached the darkened interior cautiously.

  Gregg darted ahead and ducked inside the container, his steel bar raised for a swing. He returned seconds later with a shake of his head which I took to mean meant it was empty.

  That left the warehouse to check. I walked slowly across to the wide steel roller doors, wary for any danger only to find it securely locked.

  “What the hell.” Gregg said, “This whole place is locked up.”

  “May as well break into it then, right?” Pat asked me and I shrugged. I was disappointed that I had nothing to kill. I left them to break into the warehouse and followed the driveway up to the main road.