“What are you?” he managed, to gasp before I was on my feet.
Alan yelped as my blade slashed across the back of the hand that was reaching for the spear gun. He yanked his hand back and my booted foot caught him hard on the chin. He collapsed to the ground without a sound and I turned to the others.
No one moved. Terry and the two women stared at Briony in shock as Archie cowered away from me, crawling backwards on hands and feet towards the far wall. It was almost disappointing.
“What sort of man is he?” I asked the women, gesturing to Steven with a jerk of my head.
My entire body was tense with the need to kill him and I very much wanted them to tell me that he was the sort of person that I could enjoy killing.
“Just a man!” Sally said.
“He likes to inflict pain,” Millie added. “But never too much.”
Well… that was disappointing to hear.
“Yeah, he’s just a sleaze. They all are, but they’re not evil.”
Great.
I let out a sigh, hating how much effort it was taking to keep myself from driving my knife into the back of his skull. I really, very badly, needed to kill him.
“Radio’s working…” Gregg trailed off as he stepped into the room. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I said, slipping the knife back into its sheath.
I picked up the spear gun, their only real weapon it seemed and stalked from the room, gesturing for the others to follow me. I had no real worry about leaving the other group unattended. The past few minutes had proven that they were no real threat.
The only way they could have survived would have been dumb luck. Not a one of them would have been a real danger to any of my group and even all together, I could cut them down in moments.
“What now?” Gregg asked as he led the way towards the RNLI building.
“We get the answers we need and then take their boat. We have no need of anything else.”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
“Our need is more pressing. If it bothers you, you can always bring it back later.”
The RNLI building was larger on the inside than I’d expected. The doors at the far end of the building were shut and the boat that I was hoping we could use, sat at the top of the ramp just waiting to be released.
Equipment hung from the walls and filled the shelves of the racks that had been placed anywhere there was space to do so. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was a charitable organisation that relied primarily on donations and volunteers.
They performed an important service with less than ideal conditions and, as I could see from the building, with having to make the best of what they had. Fortunately, they did have an impressive radio setup.
Isaac was seated in the chair before the array of equipment. Several heavy batteries had been hooked up to it and were, I assumed, what was providing the power.
“You got it working fast.”
“Nothing to it, Clever Bastard. A bit of power and some fiddling with the wires and we were good to go. I’ve made contact, just waiting for your wee lass to come on.”
“Ryan!” Lily’s voice sounded over the speakers as though she had been summoned by the big man’s words. “Are you there?”
“I’m here,” I said, smiling as I spoke into the microphone.
“Oh God! I thought we’d lost you.”
“Why?”
“Genpact are showing us images and videos over the TV. One was a crashed helicopter and I thought…”
“Ah, yeah, that was probably us. We survived.”
Some of us did, anyway.
“We don’t have much time,” Lily said before I could say anything else. There was an urgency to her voice that I didn’t like.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a fleet or raiders headed towards the island.”
My hands clenched into fists and I leant forward, pressing them against the desktop as though to stop myself from lashing out in my rage. My children were in danger. Lily was in danger! And I was on the other side of England.
“There’s no reinforcements coming for you,” she said, voice choked with emotion. “We have a plan. I, I have a plan, but it will need all your acolytes. The army will need to stay and guard the island in case it fails.”
“What plan?”
“I can’t say.”
Her voice had sunk to almost a whisper and while I couldn’t understand the emotion that filled it, my friends seemed to. Gregg’s one remaining eye brimmed with tears and even Isaac looked away, seemingly understanding something that I did not.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“To you?”
There was a too long pause that told me all I needed to know, and then finally, “yes.”
“The children.”
“Evie will look after them.”
“Send a helicopter or a plane,” I said, anger burning my words. “Anything. I can be back there in no time.”
“No,” she said, and I could swear she was crying. “I need you to do something.”
“Anything,” I said, and meant it.
“Even if my plan works, if we win… we lose. Genpact have shown us a video. They have a nuclear missile, Ryan.”
I closed my eyes and lowered my head. It was one of those rare times when I understood what that meant. It was a threat, pure and simple. She couldn’t afford to lose but winning would bring annihilation anyway.
“Ryan.”
“Yes.”
“We need, no. I need-“
“I know.”
There were tears then, coming loud and clear through the speakers. An almost uncontrollable sobbing that she struggled to get under control. There was an unexpected tightness in my chest at hearing it.
“Y-you know w-what it means?”
“Yes.”
There would be no returning home for me. I wouldn’t see Lily or my children again, I realised that. The only way to stop the bomb was to take out Genpact and there was no one to help us. If I failed, the only people in the world that I cared about would die.
But, there was no way for me to actually win. All I could do was die trying because the woman I loved needed it. Because my children deserved a chance to live and if I could give them that chance, then I would take it.
“I love you,” I said, quietly, heart aching with emotion I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling. “But I will need to break my promise to you.”
“God! I love you too and, yes, our bargain is done. I release you from the promise you made to me.”
“Good luck,” I said, it seemed better than goodbye.
“Y-you too,” she said, and the radio fell silent.
“I’ll go with you,” Gregg said. “You know that right, mate?”
“Thank you.”
It would be pointless. There would be the new zombies in London, I was sure of that. On top of that would be the mercenaries and even just finding a way into the base. If we managed all of that, then we would need to fight our way down who knew how many levels to find Smythe and make him stop the nuke.
The likelihood of success was low, and I didn’t actually think I could do it. That was a first for me, to be sure, but there it was. I fully expected that I was going to die and if that was the case, I would make my remaining time matter.
I turned to Briony.
“You still willing to come?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll need more than just us.”
Her eyes met mine, searching, and a smile formed on her lips. “You are sure?”
I glanced at Matt who had been staring wide-eyed at Briony since she walked in.
“Yes. Turn them all.”
Matt screamed and Gregg cursed, reaching or a weapon that wasn’t there as I grabbed his arm to hold him back. He stared at me, face full of anger as Briony tore flesh from Matt’s arm.
“No more promises to break,” I said with a smile. “There’s nothing
holding me back.”
Chapter 16
“Everyone, out. Now!” Admiral Stuart yelled as I collapsed to the floor, my whole body shaking uncontrollably as I wept for what I had just done.
The worst part was that he understood exactly what I was asking. He knew what I needed and what it would mean for him and he did it anyway, without question, without hesitation. I loved him so very much and I had just asked him to die for me.
I couldn’t stop crying. Not for myself, though I too was likely going to die, but for our children and for the man I loved who was willing to die for us.
The technicians filed out of the control centre without my even noticing them. I just lay there, curled up on the floor as I wept, my weakness there for all the world to see.
A hand pressed against my back. No words were spoken, but the Admiral settled himself down beside me and just kept his hand in place, providing a comfort and a human touch that I so very badly needed.
I don’t know how long I stayed there, weeping, but soon, he began to speak. His voice was low and even, kept tightly under control as though he were fighting some strong emotion of his own.
He spoke of a wife he loved, of a child he adored and of the desperate need for something to cling to after they had died. He’d found that something when his ship had come across a boat, drifting out to sea.
On it had been the first of the twenty odd thousand people that he would come to save. It had been when he pulled them from the boat, that he realised that was what he needed. A chance to save others.
There was much more, spoken in his soft, measured, voice, but that is all I could remember. That and the comfort I found in those words. Not much, but enough for my tears to still, for my body to stop shaking.
I wiped my face with my hands, brushing aside the tears and pushed myself up. I clung to his story, to his purpose, like a woman drowning. I needed something, some reason to continue on with my plan when all I wanted to do was go back to my apartment and hold my children tight until that bomb dropped on us.
“Sorry,” I said, sniffing noisily.
“Grief and your reaction to it is one thing you never need to apologise for.”
I looked up into his slate-grey eyes, seeing the compassion there, and almost began to bawl once more.
“Will it be enough, do you think?”
God, please let it be enough. Please let it be worth the price I had just asked him to pay.
“The mercenary told us they were at Clacton-on-Sea and had a boat. We have, perhaps, a day or so before he arrives in London.” The Admiral sighed. “Will it be enough? I don’t know. You know him better than I. Will he gain their full attention?”
I thought of Ryan then, a smile coming to my face along with fresh tears that shimmered in my eyes. Could he cause enough damage and disruption for Genpact to concentrate fully on him and not on our island? The answer to that was simple.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll begin loading supplies onto the ship immediately. What will we tell the people?”
“It will need to be quick. The youngest and fittest will be chosen first, then those most capable of keeping them alive. We’ll need engineers, doctors, the usual.”
“We will be selecting those who will survive?”
“No. I already have. There’s a list on my desk. I didn’t think we’d have the distraction, but I wanted to try to save some of our people at least.”
“How many?” he asked, voice catching a little.
“Six hundred.”
A fraction of our number, but a chance, a hope that something of us would survive. With Ryan splitting Genpact's attention between the raider fleet and himself, we might just have the chance to slip a boat past them.
It would be a difficult journey. Once they landed at Oban, they would have quite a walk before they reached the Genpact bunker that Ryan had been held at. Samuel had cleared out all of the zombies and closed it up after he had looted everything of worth.
Strange then, that it would be the best place for our people to wait out what was to come. It was a slim chance at best, but the only one we had. I held no illusions that Ryan would stop the bomb or that I would survive our encounter with the raiders.
My only hope was that our children would survive and that I would find Ryan in whatever place awaited us after death.
I shook my head angrily, brushing away the tears as they formed and pushed myself to my feet. There was a time for weeping, and it was past. I needed to focus on what was to come and in a few hours, I would be setting sail.
The boats had been prepped and loaded with the equipment and tools we needed to complete our task. The soldiers, marines and acolytes were all gathering, and I had just to say a few goodbyes and then I could go.
“Which boat will you be on?” I asked, not looking at him.
“The Triumph,” he said, naming one of the two, newly renamed, destroyers.
“Then I’ll join you and the Resolute will have the short straw,” I said, managing a wan smile for him. “Thank you, Admiral, for this. All of this.”
“Nathaniel,” the Admiral replied, with a smile of his own. “You can call me Nathaniel.”
My laughter filled the room and if it was a little hysterical, well, who could judge me for that. I shook my head as my smile widened.
“I think it would be too weird using your first name. You’ll always be, the Admiral to me. But thank you for sharing that.”
The military man snapped to attention and saluted, his arm held out rigidly to the side, bending at the elbow so that his forearm and hand made a straight line, palm facing down towards his shoulder.
I returned the salute and added another smile, before turning away and walking stiff backed towards the door. My eyes would be red and puffy, my skin blotchy and streaked with tears, but I didn’t care.
My grief would be worn for all to see, for I had much to be sorrowful for. I had just said goodbye to the man I loved, the father of my children, and my best friend. As strange as he was, as emotionally stunted as he could be, I had found genuine joy with him and I could only wish it had been for longer.
The bodyguards were waiting beside the door as I opened it and they split apart, moving to either side of the corridor and forming a passage for me to walk between them. As I passed each opposite pair, their hands rose to their breasts in salute and I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
It was an honour they did for me and I was sure they knew what I had asked their leader to do, what sacrifice he was making. In their minds, it would likely be an honour, the ultimate one, to give his life for another.
That didn’t stop it hurting.
I led the way through the building and down the stairs, passing the technicians and soldiers waiting on the floor below. As I passed they each saluted, before returning to the command centre and their jobs.
There was pity on their faces and sorrow, that I had to ignore lest it set me to weeping once more. Word would be spreading, I knew that. As loyal as my people were, they loved to gossip and there was so little to gossip about these days that they couldn’t ignore the huge piece I had just given them.
Which meant I needed to get home, to speak to his family and tell them what was happening, so that they could share their grief. Cass too, for I had no doubt that Gregg would go with him. Loyal to a fault.
The cold air hit my face as I stepped outside. The soldiers on guard remained at attention as they scanned the street for danger. Not that I felt there would be any, not with two full fists of the Dead with me.
“Here now!”
I turned to the man who had called out, a face I recognised. Weathered skin and grey hair with a burly frame. He was the representative of the fishermen and spoke for those who went out each day with their nets in search of fish to fill our larders.
“Milo,” I said, by way of greeting. He had supported me when I needed it the most, throwing the weight of the fishing fleet behind me. “How are you?”
“Aye,
could be better, miss.”
I forced a smile and nodded, waiting for the explosion that was about to come. I’d been expecting it to be honest but would have rather it was in the council chamber and not on the street with people passing by.
“Truly, I am sorry, but we need those boats. We have left enough for you to be able to go in search of more, but-“
“Nae need to explain, miss. We ken the reason why. We just didnae grasp why you’ve not asked us to go with ye.”
I couldn’t help but gape as I stared at him. That was not the response I had expected. When I had ordered the boats to be put to use for my plan, I had been more than a little worried about the response of the fishermen whose boats we were using.
“We couldn’t ask you to-“
“Yer not askin, miss. We be telling ye, those are our boats and you be needing us to sail them proper.”
I took a step closer, boots sinking into the slush that had been formed from the hundreds of people going to and from the building all day. I lowered my voice, glancing around to ensure I wasn’t going to be overheard.
“We won’t be coming back,” I said, with a soft smile. “Those that sail out know this, and I’d appreciate you keeping this to yourself. This is our one hope of winning, but it will have its cost.”
The old man gave me a measured look, his dark brown eyes full of compassion as his own sorrowful smile rose on his face.
“We know that, miss.” He noted the surprise I couldn’t hide, and his smile widened, just a little. “We saw what you loaded onto them there boats and we figured it out. Wasn’t hard to guess.”
“Then you understand why you are remaining here.”
“No, miss. Them’s our boats and it will be us sailing them for you.” He held up one large hand as I opened my mouth to argue. “Nae, miss. There’s to be no debate. We voted amongst ourselves and not a one voted against this. We stand with you, now and always.”
I licked dry lips and swallowed past the damned lump that was back in my throat as tears once more shimmered in my eyes, distorting my vision. It was an incredible offer for them to make but it wasn’t one that I could allow.
Killing The Dead (Book 18): Sacrifice Page 10