I Dream of Zombies

by Johnstone, Vickie

  “Harold, don’t be so rude,” a female said, appearing beside him. Marla guessed she was in her early fifties and she was smiling.

  “How far up are they?” Harold questioned, scratching his head.

  “About five minutes in a barge,” Tommy replied. “We were sleeping and one got through the window. Water was shallow.”

  “How long have you been here?” asked Marla.

  “About a week,” said the woman. “It has been very quiet here. We keep the boat in the middle of the water, just in case though, and go ashore during the day. We have only seen the odd wanderer.”

  “Wanderer?” asked Billy.

  “Those things,” said the lady with a shudder. “You know.”

  Marla nodded. “The water was pretty shallow where we were. The things got into the water and their heads were above it. So we’re moving down. I thought I’d warn you as I saw the light.”

  “It’s lucky we had it on. We normally have it off at night, but I must have forgotten.”

  “Do you know where we are?” asked Marla.

  Harold cut in, “You have no idea where you are going?”

  “No. We came by road and wanted somewhere to sleep, away from those things, so we got on this barge, but then we were attacked. I have no idea.”

  “The canal goes a long way up. It goes as far as Bristol. Where are you headed?”

  “The refugee centre at Rickslaw,” said Marla. “Near Pewsey, and that’s near Salisbury.”

  “Well, that’s easy. The canal goes to Pewsey, but I have never heard of Rickslaw.”

  “Do you think there really is a safe place there?” asked the woman.

  “We’re hoping,” she replied. “Do you want to come with us?”

  The lady glanced at her husband and whispered something. They spoke quietly for a few moments and then she nodded. “I think that would be a good idea. Thank you. I guess we have been lucky so far. Many haven’t.”

  Marla nodded. “Do you want to follow us?”

  “The water is deeper a little way ahead,” said Harold. “We can stop there.”

  “Great,” said Marla with a smile. “That’s good news. I’m Marla by the way, and this is Tommy and Billy.”

  “Hello,” said the woman. “I’m Peggy and this is Harold. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too,” Marla replied. “Billy, go ahead, and Harold, if you can tell us when to stop...”

  “Sure can, missy,” he answered with a nod. “’Bout five minutes ahead. But you should be fine all the way to Pewsey. They can’t swim, you see. Like dead ducks in the water. Safer here than on the roads.”

  Billy started the engine and the two barges moved down the canal. In the distance behind them there was no sign of the freaks, Tommy realised with relief. He hoped the water had confused them sufficiently to distract them from following. “Perhaps our scent is lost on water,” he said, voicing his thoughts. “They aren’t tracking us.”

  Marla stared back into the night. “You know you might be right. I can’t see them and we stopped long enough. Maybe they’re working on sound now if they can’t smell us.”

  Tommy smiled. “I guess so. Maybe we caught a break at last.”

  “I hope so,” said Marla. “At least we can all sleep in peace again once we reach deeper water.”

  Wednesday 5

  “This is the life,” said Marla breezily as she walked out on to the little deck of the narrow boat wearing shorts and a blue vest, carrying two glasses of long-life orange juice. “I even have ice cubes!”

  “Wow,” Ellen replied, “you know how to treat a girl.”

  “Well, I like to treat my sister like a princess,” Marla joked, sitting down next to her on one of the three wooden chairs.

  “Where are the boys?”

  “Playing cards again and I think Billy is winning. Peggy and Harold, and even Bob are watching. I’m not sure who they’re rooting for though.”

  Ellen laughed. “I bet Tommy is none too pleased that he’s getting beat. I noticed he’s kind of competitive, even with Barney!”

  “I know! It’s so funny, and then the boy fights back.”

  Marla giggled and dangled her feet into the cool water. The sun blazed on her skin as she leaned back and smiled, basking in the simplicity of it. “I never realised that a canal boat was so much fun.”

  “Me neither,” Ellen replied, placing her drink down and copying her sister by splashing the water with the tips of her toes. “I should check on Ruth in a minute.”

  “She’s okay, little sis, don’t worry. Relax. Peggy’s inside. She’s kind of like a surrogate grandma for the girl, so kind and nice.”

  Ellen nodded. “I really like her. Actually they’re all great. Our group is pretty cool, I think. You know, after Devan I didn’t really want to talk to anyone. I thought how can I trust anyone? But then it wasn’t even that I did or didn’t trust him; he just took advantage of me.”

  “He did. I don’t think you could have done anything differently. I had no idea he was capable of anything like that. Are you okay talking about this?”

  Ellen nodded again. “Yes. I wasn’t, but I am now. It makes it easier. I was so scared, but then you came and it was alright, yet I still can’t really think about what happened inside the train before you got there. It was terrifying. I had to walk through… them… and there were so many.”

  Marla put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m sorry I didn’t realise what he was.”

  “It isn’t your fault. It isn’t anyone’s, just his. I think there’s something in his past. He was using his brother’s name. I have a feeling something bad happened to his brother and that he was there, somehow.” She let out a sigh. “I think I was a bit naive. You can’t go around believing everyone is good. They’re not.”

  “That’s true. But then everyone deserves a chance and you gave him that. You’re not to blame at all.”

  “He thought I led him on. He wanted more than friendship, Marl, but I couldn’t give him that. I wasn’t interested.”

  “Again, not your fault.”

  “What happened last night with that creature, the thing that attacked me, I was able to keep it off and fight back, even though I was petrified. I think what happened on the train has made me stronger. I didn’t freeze like I did in that Happy Eater. I don’t know how to explain. And it’s made me think of those… things… differently. I don’t see them the same now.”

  “Well, that’s good, I think, if you feel better.”

  “I do. I don’t want to be helpless anymore, Marl. I want to be able to fight back, like you and Tommy. I don’t want to be the person who endangers my friends by being weak.”

  “You’re never weak,” said Marla, hugging her, “never. Please don’t worry so much. Just carry on being my intelligent, sweet-natured sister.”

  “I just wanted to tell you.”

  “I’m glad. Now look, just over there at those wildflowers, aren’t they beautiful?”

  Ellen smiled and nodded. “And the little mallards, I love them. They’re so colourful.”

  “I’d love to swim as well as one,” Marla remarked. “I’ve always been like a stone in the water!”

  Ellen prodded her in the ribs. “You’re so not.”

  “But birds have the best of all worlds, especially ducks. They can fly and they can swim. What more can you ask for?”

  “This is true, but I’d rather be a dolphin!”

  Marla laughed.

  “Do you know you can teach a dolphin sign language?” asked Ellen.

  “No, I don’t believe it!”

  Ellen sat up straight. “You can. I read it somewhere. I was thinking of doing something along those lines for a class project.”

  Marla giggled. “What, so you’re going to take a dolphin to school?”

  “No, silly, but…” Ellen hesitated and glanced at the riverbank to the right. She raised her hand against the sun and peered across.

>   Marla sat forward. “What is it?”

  “I thought I saw something move.”

  “Duck?”

  Ellen glanced at her. “No, something much bigger. A man.”

  “Ah, I was hoping we wouldn’t see dead-lookers this far from London. Being here I can kind of trick myself that they don’t exist.”

  Ellen leaned back in her chair. “Me, too, but it was only one and I can’t see it now. Maybe when we get to Pewsey we’ll find the virus hasn’t spread that far. Imagine… normal people.”

  Marla smiled. “I guess all we can do is hope.”

  Ellen squinted in the sun. “It’s still there – between those two trees. It’s a weird feeling being spied on by those creatures. I can’t imagine what they think or feel.”

  “That’s if they think or feel anything,” Marla replied. “I’m going in for something to eat. Hungry?”

  Ellen nodded as she glanced back towards the figure lurking in the distance.

  Thursday 6

  A sharp crack broke through Marla’s dreams and she awoke with a start, staring through the darkness. Throwing off her covers, she leapt out of the bed she shared with Ellen and the kids, and ran towards the curtain separating the bedroom area from the kitchen.

  “Hold up,” said Tommy from behind her.

  She turned.

  “You sure you want to go out there dressed like that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, accompanied by an amused smirk.

  Marla glanced down at her black vest and knickers, and scowled. She grabbed her jeans from the end of the bed and pulled them on. “Happy now?” she asked. “I am barefoot though.”

  “I can see,” he added with a smile. “Cute.”

  Nudging him, she wandered ahead.

  “What is it?” asked Billy, rubbing his head and sitting up on the kitchen sofa. He squinted at them.

  Marla shrugged. “Did you not hear that sound?”

  “No, I was away with the fairies. What was it like?”

  Tommy strode past and opened the barge door, catching sight of Peggy and Harold’s boat immediately. The lights were out and it was silent. He peered out into the dark to the right. The riverbank was clear.

  “Anything?” asked Marla.

  “All quiet,” he replied, stepping forward to peer around the door to the left. All good. Walking out, he stood on the wooden deck and did a circular check, all around and back again. Nothing. Whatever it was that made the noise he couldn’t see it.

  “I definitely heard something,” said Marla, rubbing the side of her face. “Clear as day.”

  “Or night,” added Billy with a grin. “Maybe it’s just an animal lurking around. We are out in the sticks.”

  She frowned. “I was sure it was like a bang, but it woke me up, so I can’t be totally certain what it was.”

  Tommy tucked his body back inside the boat and closed the door. “Whatever it is it’s gone now.”

  “I’m going to get my boots on and keep watch,” said Marla, switching on the kettle. “With a little help from Mr Caffeine here.” She took a mug out of the cupboard.

  “I’m with you, Marla,” Billy offered, “seeing as I’m awake now. It’s gone 3 a.m., so make me one too, can you?”

  She nodded and glanced at Tommy. “Three?”

  “Can’t a guy get some sleep around here?” he asked. “I’m going back to kip for a bit.”

  “Need your beauty sleep, eh?” Marla joked as she fixed two coffees.

  Tommy grinned to himself as he swept the curtain across and found his bed again.

  Billy pulled on a T-shirt, followed by his socks and boots. Marla poured the hot water into the mugs and stirred the contents. Placing them on the table, she took a pew next to Billy. “Good idea,” she remarked, jumping up. “Just getting my socks and DMs, and a clean vest.” Within minutes she returned in a new top of the same colour and her long hair tied back. “Now for that coffee.”

  “Do you still have those shitty dreams?” Billy enquired.

  “Oh yes. The little buggers don’t seem to want to leave me alone. You have them?”

  “Never.”

  “You’re lucky.”

  “I guess. Is all this less scary because you had those dreams?”

  Marla thought about it for a second. “No,” she said with a smile, “I’d say it was more scary. Thought I was going nuts at one point, super paranoid, cos right from the first one I knew something was wrong, mainly cos Ellen had the same dreams, and loads of other people. I just knew. I ended up ringing Tommy, scared stiff, asking him to get me loads of guns and a big jeep. Yeah, don’t laugh. I was kind of hoping it was paranoia, but then, when it all started for real, well, I dunno… Guess I had to switch something off to get a grip on it. I almost see it as my job, like when I was in the army, except these things aren’t people.”

  “Know what you mean. I keep thinking about my family and wondering if they are okay.”

  “I wanted to ask you,” Marla admitted, “but I was just waiting for you to say something, just in case.”

  “Case of what?”

  “I didn’t want to bring up bad memories by putting my foot in it.”

  “Oh.” Billy smiled. “I’m sure they’re okay. My dad – the copper – and my sister were evacuated. I know that for sure, because I spoke to them. She lives in Leeds. He was visiting her when all this shit happened in London, and he chose to stay up there. He wanted me to go too, but I made the mistake of staying. I didn’t want to get fired from my job,” he added, laughing. “I’m a train driver.”

  Marla giggled. “Figures! But, as if job security really matters now?”

  “You know! I’m not sure why I’m laughing…”

  “Because it helps,” she replied. “You either laugh or cry, I think, in tense situations.”

  “Tommy laughs a lot.”

  “Ha, he must be really tense!” Marla joked and Billy laughed. “So, you know your family are safe?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” he said, nodding, “but I’d love to be able to speak to them. Some other relatives are in the States and others in Manchester, but we’ve never been close. Me, my sis and my dad, we were just really tight.”

  “So no wife or anything?”

  He smiled. “No. I did have a girlfriend. We were living together until last year – few years we were together, but then it just fizzled out.”

  Marla nodded. “Same here. Funny how that happens.”

  “Yeah, well, I felt like crying at the time, but your advice on finding it funny is kind of preferable.”

  “You’re a funny guy,” she said, giggling.

  “How many times do you think we can say funny in one sentence?”

  Marla grinned. “Too many.”

  “You know there’s…”

  An ear-splitting bang sliced through the genial atmosphere inside the barge as if time froze for a second. Marla turned and peeked through the curtain. “There’s something out there, Billy.”

  He glanced through. “Can’t see any… ah.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure,” he replied, jumping up and switching off the light. He sat back down and they glanced out carefully. “I think I saw something move, but I don’t know what.”

  “We’re safe enough here on the water, no?”

  “Guess,” he answered, squinting. “Should we wake the others?”

  “I can’t see anything.”

  Another loud noise rumbled in the darkness.

  “That was a gunshot, yes?”

  Billy nodded as he got up and ran towards where he had placed his rifle.

  Marla jumped up and hurried towards the sleeping area, almost bumping into Tommy as he emerged through the curtain. He was gripping his shotgun and sliding his knife into his pocket.

  “Did you hear it?” she asked, brushing past him to get her Glock.

  “Yep.”

  “Who is it, Marla?” asked Ellen as she dressed Ruth. The little girl rubbed her eyes sleepily. Barney wa
s already clothed and tying the laces of his trainers. He looked frightened, but was bravely attempting to conceal it.

  “I don’t know, Ellen, but don’t worry.”

  She nodded as Marla headed back through to the other side of the barge. “See anyone?” she asked the guys who were gazing out, one on either side of the boat. They shook their heads. “But it’s definitely gunfire?”

  “Oh yeah,” mumbled Tommy. “Shit, Peggy and Harold!”

  “I’ll get them,” Marla replied.

  “No, I’ll…” he answered, but she was already out the door.

  Billy glanced at him. “She’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, but…” Tommy nodded and glanced out the window, knowing his mind would be elsewhere until she was back where he could see her.

  Marla squinted in the dark, allowing her eyes to acclimatise. Both sides of the river were quiet. Nothing stirred except the cool breeze. Seeing a light go on inside the old couple’s boat, she stepped on to it and knocked softly on the wooden door. It opened quickly to reveal Peggy.

  “Turn your light off,” said Marla straight away.

  “What was that bang?” Peggy asked.

  Marla pushed her gently inside and closed the door. “Lights out,” she warned Harold who was standing in his pyjamas. “And get dressed please.”

  He dimmed the lights immediately. “Who’s out there?”

  “I don’t know, but we heard a gunshot for sure,” said Marla. “Get dressed and come on board with us. Then we’re altogether. Bring some things and if you’ve got anything really valuable, get it, just in case… well, just in case.”

  “Right,” mumbled Peggy, looking flustered as she disappeared into the other section of the boat.

  Marla sat down on a chair and waited, listening intently, but hearing nothing unusual. Soon the couple reappeared and Harold was carrying a huge brown rucksack. “We’re good,” he said, taking hold of Peggy’s hand. She nodded.

  “Come on then,” said Marla, leading them out on to the wooden boards outside.