“Probably going to the army base,” Tommy guessed. “Last stop for refreshments.”
“Guess so,” Eric replied as he drove on towards the petrol pumps.
***
Simon walked ahead of the line of people who were relieved to be out of the confinement of the coach. The area was well lit, so they could see quite far on every side, and the car park was quiet. The soldier held the door open while everyone walked into the Happy Eater. Inside, the walls were painted a bright orange, and plastic tables and chairs were positioned in orderly rows. To the right were some yellow doors leading to the toilets. Machines containing drinks and snacks lined the left-hand wall. Straight ahead was the service desk upon which plastic cases of food ran all the way along. There were two women behind the till, chattering to themselves. They looked up as the line of strangers entered.
“Hi,” one called out. “Where are you from?”
“London,” said Marla, walking ahead. “You…?”
“Around here,” she replied. “Are you heading for the army base if you’re from London?”
“We were,” she replied.
“But it’s exploded,” added Ellen.
The woman raised her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God!”
“Has no one been here to tell you?” Marla asked.
“Nope, no one has passed through here going back that way. People are always going towards the base. Some leave their cars here and get collected. Those are the folk from London though. People are still living as normal around here. The virus hasn’t spread, thank God.”
Ellen thought back to the people whom Tommy had seen on the motorway. “You’ve had no cases?”
“No,” the woman answered. “I was watching the news and stuff, and I’m not even sure if to believe it. I mean...”
“It’s real,” said one of the men off the coach. “Can I pay for this sandwich and get a coffee, please? Milk, no sugar.”
“Sure,” she said, ringing it up on the till. “What type of coffee would you like?”
“Not fussed,” he replied, “as it comes.”
“Claire, one filter coffee with milk,” the girl said to her colleague.
“Right away, Bella.”
“You’ll find sugar and everything over there on that counter, sir. That’s four, eighty-nine.”
“Thanks, keep the change,” he said, passing over a five-pound note.
“Cheers,” she answered, and Marla was not sure if she was being sarcastic.
“You know, we have a soldier with us, and he was just told that the army base was overrun. Some of the evacuees were carrying the virus. We don’t know anything more, but we saw helicopters. It might not be safe to stay here after we leave,” Marla told the girl.
Bella sighed. “I don’t know what to think. Surely there would be an announcement?”
Ellen shrugged. “We seem to have been left in the dark on a lot of things.”
“Maybe you should leave with us?” Marla suggested.
“All my things are at home,” Bella replied. “I’m sure we’ll be told what’s happening in the morning. The base can’t have been overrun – there are so many soldiers there. It’s protected...”
“Don’t worry,” said Ellen. “I’m sure it’s fine,” she added, giving her sister a look to be quiet.
Sighing, Marla grabbed a sandwich and a blueberry muffin. “Can I get a latte?”
“I’ll have one too, and I’ll just grab a sarnie and one of those muffins,” said Ellen, scampering along the bar. “God, these look good. Blueberries... mmm,” she said.
Marla smiled, happy to see her sister looking more relaxed.
“I think I’ll have what you’re having and a lemonade,” said Devan, walking over.
Marla turned to Bella and paid while resisting the urge to grin. She glanced at the young guy out of the corner of her eye before walking over to a free table and taking a seat.
“Do you think we are safe here?” asked an elderly woman as she passed.
Marla recognised her from the coach. “I think so,” she replied. “Sit down if you like. I can get whatever you want. I’m Marla.”
“Thanks, dear. My name is Isabel. If you could get me a sandwich, please – something vegetarian – and a cup of tea, I’d be grateful. These old legs of mine aren’t what they used to be.” She rummaged in her bag for her purse.
“Sure, and don’t worry about the money. I’ll just be a minute.”
Ellen walked to a table with Devan and sat down. Marla noticed how they were deep in conversation. It was good that something nice was happening to her sister, she thought; something normal – anything but this craziness of late. When it was her turn, she ordered a Breakfast Tea, and chose a cheese and pickle sandwich. After paying, she carried her purchases back to her table and sat down.
“Thank you, dearie,” said Isabel, smiling in gratitude. “I’m afraid I’m a bit stiff after that journey.”
“You were travelling alone?” asked Marla.
“Yes. My daughters were always trying to get me into an old people’s home, but I was having none of it. ‘I’m not that old,’ I used to tell them.” She paused and laughed slightly while undoing the plastic wrapper on her sandwich with shaky fingers. Glancing up, she added, “Today I feel really old. When they evacuated my street, I felt so alone. Then I wished I was in a home.”
“Where are your daughters?”
“They live in Cardiff. A long way from London, thank goodness. I spoke to them both on the telephone and they were not being evacuated.”
“They’ll be fine. They’re far away.”
Isabel sighed. “It’s frightening.”
Marla nodded. There was no denying that. It was fact. She gazed out of the window into the darkness. What lay out there? It was hard to tell. What did the future hold for them all? Where would they go? She hoped the soldier would get an answer soon. Her stomach was ravaged by an unsettling feeling that just would not go away. Turning back to her companion, she sipped her coffee, but it was so hot that it burnt the end of her tongue. She rubbed it gently against her cheek and opened her sandwich. Taking a bite of it, she laughed.
“What is it?” asked Isabel.
“I was trying to decide whether this tastes like an old tyre or cardboard,” she replied, grinning.
The old lady smiled. “Well, my cheddar could be mistaken for bendy rubber.”
Marla focused on eating her food and once her coffee cooled down, she finished it.
“What do you think will happen to the animals?”
“Ugh?”
“Our pets,” said Isabel. “A nice man told me they would be transporting the animals separately. I have a cat, you see. I gave her to the man who came to collect her.”
“I hadn’t thought about it, to be honest. My friend, Tommy, has a dog. I guess they planned to take them to animal shelters or something until all this is over. Unless they are planning to take them to the places we’re being evacuated to, but it was all so vague. I don’t have a pet, so I didn’t really look into it.”
“I believe the government is in over its head,” Isabel commented. “It isn’t like it was when we had Churchill. He would have known what to do. But this prime minister of ours is all talk and no trousers.”
Marla giggled. “You know, I’m inclined to agree.”
“Is this seat taken?” asked a man of a similar age to Isabel.
Marla recognised him as the one who had been sick at the start of the journey. He looked fine now as he nodded to the empty seat between them.
“No,” Isabel replied, “You can sit there if you like.”
“I couldn’t help overhearing what you said about the government. I agree wholeheartedly. The information we’ve been given seems scrappy, at best. I’m not sure they know what they are talking about,” he said.
“I agree,” she responded, before munching on the remainder of her sandwich.
The man decided to introduce himself. “I’m Graham.”
“Marla.”
“Isabel,” said the old lady, wiping her mouth with a serviette. “I think this business is all too much for our generation.”
Graham grinned and nodded. “It’s good to make your acquaintance.”
“I’m heading to the ladies,” said Marla, standing up and feeling that she was in the way. “Back in a mo.”
***
“Just going to pay for this and get some cigarettes,” said Eric, pointing to the gas pump. “You need anything?”
Tommy looked up from where he was leaning against the front of the coach with his legs crossed. “Maybe some gum. Peppermint. And a chocolate bar,” he added quickly. “Not fussed which one, but milk chocolate. Surprise me.”
“Sure,” answered Eric as he turned and strode towards the service station.
Tommy watched him open the door and walk inside. Noticing the newspapers in the plastic boxes outside the shop, curiosity overtook him and he wandered over. Opting for the first one that looked relatively intelligent, he opened the lid and took a copy out. It was days old and the first page carried news of evacuations from London. Flicking through the pages, Tommy’s mood fell. What was really happening? How would anyone find out the truth about anything with no internet or newspapers?
He wondered if the virus had reached Carlisle where his son was living. His parents were safe enough in Scotland, surely? Deep down, he doubted that anyone was safe anymore. Digging one hand into his left pocket, he took out his phone to ring his ex. No reception – that figures. Replacing it, he wandered towards the door of the shop, reading the article as he did so.
“Move it!”
Tommy glanced up and Eric knocked the newspaper out of his hands as he flew past. “Run!” he yelled. “There are two.”
“Two what?” asked Tommy and then cursed himself for asking. The freaks were stumbling across the shop floor inside, clearly on show thanks to the bright white lighting. “Fuck!” He turned and ran after Eric. As he heard the door behind him open, he took out his SIG Sauer P226, which he had removed from his rucksack before leaving the coach.
“No!” shouted Eric, skidding to a stop. “Don’t shoot! Petrol!”
Tommy froze and took out his knife instead. Turning, he sprinted after him, but then realised they were leading the freaks towards the other passengers. He halted. Eric paused and stared at him. “What are you doing?”
“We need to kill them,” said Tommy.
“You’re joking?”
“How do we get everyone back on the coach otherwise? We’re just showing these freaks the way.”
Eric nodded and glanced around. Then he remembered the steering wheel lock and ran up to the coach. He clambered on board.
“Gee, thanks for your help,” Tommy complained, grimacing. He planted his feet and waited for the onslaught. The freak at the front used to be a young guy. He was dressed in a suit or what was left of it, and his left arm was missing. Now that is going to make my life slightly easier, Tommy thought, wishing the missing limb was its damn leg. The freak lunged and Tommy swerved out of the way, trying to get a hold of the thing without it biting him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eric run past him holding some heavy looking rod of metal. A grin passed over Tommy’s lips as he stepped forward with his knife. Missed. The freak dodged his aim and groaned as it lunged to bite him.
Tommy veered out of the way, raised his arm and stabbed the creature in the side of the head. It let out an almighty wail, but it did not go down. Tommy stepped around the thing as it staggered with the knife sticking out, almost in bewilderment, but he knew these freaks had no thoughts; none that sophisticated anyway – only to hunt and eat, and smell their prey. Tommy tried to catch the end of the knife, but his hand sailed through thin air. As the two of them circled one another like drunken boxers, a metal bar smashed into the skull of the creature and it collapsed to the ground.
“Nice work,” said Tommy. “I’m impressed.”
“I used to be a butcher,” Eric replied, as if that was a worthy explanation.
Tommy turned as freak number two sauntered up to him, its hands outstretched, reaching for his neck. Stinking white liquid dribbled from the rancid rip that used to be a mouth and the bone was exposed across its forehead. Pretty, thought Tommy, as he sank his knife into the centre of it. The body hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“Surreal,” Eric commented with a nod. “Are you sure we’re not dreaming all this?”
Tommy nodded as he pulled his knife out of the bloody mess below him. He wiped it on the cleanest looking area of the younger freak’s suit. “Shall we join the others?”
Eric nodded and swallowed hard.
“Have you killed many of them?” Tommy asked.
“A few. Some of them got into my workplace… workmates got killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
Eric sighed. “Yeah, shit, it was brutal. Either us or them in the end. I figured I had to get used to it being them. We called the police when it started, but they didn’t get there quick enough. People got bit and the army took them off.”
“Do you know where?”
“No idea. They tried to tranquilise the guys who attacked us, but it didn’t work.”
“They’re not reporting that in the news anywhere.”
Eric nodded. “Nothing’s clear. Too many secrets and everyone’s scared. I think the government is creating more panic by trying to avoid it. You know, by not telling us straight.”
Tommy opened the door of the Happy Eater and they headed inside. Straight away he walked up to Marla while Eric headed for the gents, and asked, “Can I speak to you for a sec?” With a nod, she stood and followed him to the far side of the room. “Don’t look surprised, but we just killed two freaks out there,” he told her quietly.
Marla sucked the air in through her teeth. “Hell! Out there?”
“They were in the shop. One had a suit on, so he’d never worked there. The other one was wearing a uniform that seemed to fit the place.”
“Shit, there might be more.”
“But the army base is just round the corner. Helicopters are out...”
“They’re focusing on the blaze and what’s going on there.” asked Marla. “The place could be overrun by those things. What do we do? We can’t stay here.”
“Has soldier boy had a response yet?”
Marla shook her head.
“Okay, I’m grabbing something to eat.”
“You’re joking?”
“I’m starving,” Tommy replied. “Think of a plan. I’ll be back in a minute. I need a coffee too.”
“Plan?” gasped Marla, incredulous.
“In a minute,” he repeated before striding off to the service bar.
She watched him take a couple of sandwiches, a coffee and some chips. Hell, at a time like this? Wandering towards the glass, she looked out, but then realised that anyone out there would see her – a lit window in the dark. “Tommy,” she said when he returned to stand by her, “we’re sitting ducks here. This is like a big ‘come get me’ sign with these lights on. We should leave.”
He nodded.
“You agree?”
“Sure. Great idea. Hey, everyone,” he called out, “we should get back to the coach now.”
There was a murmur of voices like a wave, but then people started to get out of their seats, probably realising they had stayed longer than intended. No one wanted to be the decision maker either, thought Marla as she took a handful of Tommy’s chips. They preferred to let him take the lead. A woman pointing behind her caught Marla’s eye and she turned. Panic swamped her and an icy draft seemed to wrap itself around her out of nowhere. The glass was filled with faces; eyes stared into the shop blankly, limbs hanging lifeless. “Tommy…” she mumbled.
Marla felt his hand on her shoulder, pulling her back behind him. He flung his coffee into the corner and took out his knife before turning to look around the room. Running back to the service counter, he waved at the two girl
s working there. “Hey, how can you get out of here, besides through the front doors?”
“Why?” asked Claire, and then her face turned pale as she saw the creatures beyond the window. The lights outside seared into them. “T-there’s a door out back, behind me, t-through the kitchen and there are w-windows in the toilets, but they are small. There are people out there…”
“They used to be people,” Tommy explained. “That’s what you’ve been hearing about on the news, except it didn’t stay in London, sorry. We need to get out of here fast.”
“Everyone, come over here,” Marla announced, gesturing for the passengers to approach. “Stand here, in front of the counter, away from the glass. They sense us mainly by smell. If you get too near them you might entice them.”
“Why isn’t the army up here?” asked Ellen.
“Maybe that’s who they are – from there,” suggested a man. “From the army base and they’ve turned, just like my son.”
Everyone stared at the speaker for a second in silence, before Tommy broke it: “I’m going out the back to get the coach.”
“You’re crazy,” said Ellen.
He shrugged. “Someone’s got to get it. Might as well be me.”
The soldier moved towards him. “I’m with you.”
“Can you drive it?” Eric asked Tommy.
“Well, I can try.”
“Right, I’m coming,” Eric insisted, picking up the steel bar from his table. “I think I’m going to need this.”
“Take my gun,” offered Marla, holding it out to Tommy.
“You’re parting with this?”
“Don’t be a wise ass. You’ve only got so many bullets in yours, but I want it back!”
Tommy nodded, took the Glock and rushed behind the counter, followed by Eric and Simon. The two girls trailed behind them. “Lock the door behind us,” Tommy whispered.
“What if you need to get back inside?” asked Bella.
“I’ll knock three times quickly – you’ll know it’s me then.”
She nodded and smiled faintly. “Good luck.”
***
Out into the darkness walked Tommy, followed by Eric and the soldier. Keeping their left shoulders against the edge of the building, they crept forward, careful not to make a sound. Bringing up the rear, Simon glanced behind him as he stepped in case anything decided to sneak up on them. Ahead, off to the right, the coach sat waiting in front of the petrol station. Tommy halted and raised his gun hand slightly, causing the two other men to stop. He drew in his breath and peered ever so slowly around the edge of the building to survey the area where the entrance was. Within seconds he recoiled and rested his back against the bricks.
I Dream of Zombies Page 13
