The Undead the Second Week Compilation Edition Days 8-14

by RR Haywood

  Alone, and unaware that his team think he is with Clarence, Nick murmurs quietly in his sleep.

  His brain works to process and store the images of the previous day. It takes those memories and files them into the relevant cranial departments. As each one is examined, the image flits into Nick’s dreams. The process is fast. Each memory is sorted in terms of meaning, emotion, smell, sight, hearing and understanding. The work is done far faster than any computer could do.

  The brain uses this time to repair, to stimulate growth of cells and work to enhance the neural pathways. The muscles absorb rich oxygenated blood to repair damaged tissue. Ligaments and tendons are probed and assessed by teams of invisible micro biotic workers that swarm to do the best they can before he wakes up. And like any workers on any building site, they do the best they can with what they have been given.

  Without nutrition they can only repair so far. Without fuel, energy, carbohydrates, proteins and fats they are forced to work smarter and make what little they have last longer. Thankfully, the body was able to take plenty of water on board before it went into repair mode. What they don’t have provided for them, the workers use the vital supplies of water given to them to construct temporary measures. It isn’t perfect but it’ll do for now.

  Messages are sent to the brain, telling it that the requirement for supplies is dire. If the brain wants the body to function then it must have more supplies.

  The brain acknowledges the request and prepares a signal, getting ready to deploy it when the body wakes up from repair mode. The signal will be one of hunger, it will tell the body it is hungry which will invoke a reaction to make it find food, and thereby replenish the supplies the worker teams are so desperate for.

  Nick sleeps peacefully. Snoring, farting and murmuring. He is young and strong but even the youngest and strongest need time to heal.

  So he sleeps on. Oblivious to anything apart from the images being rushed through his mind on their way to being filed.

  Twenty Three

  The day is oppressive and gloomy but thankfully a couple of degrees cooler. Looking up at the canopy overhead, Lilly shudders from the sensation of the trees pressing in. They are surrounded by thick trunks, their leaves spreading out to form a dense canopy overhead. The ground is barren from the lack of sunlight apart from a few hardy looking bushes scattered around.

  It’s still unbearably hot and sticky but at least here there is shade. The canopy masks the smell of the wood smoke too.

  ‘No, didn’t work,’ Andrew sighs, ‘we’ll just have to hold the handle and keep the pot over the flames.’

  ‘Dad, it takes fifteen minutes to cook pasta,’ Lilly moves towards the fire burning on the ground. They made it out of the dead wood they found strewn about and quickly managed to build a decent sized blaze over which to cook their pasta. Several attempts have been made by Andrew and Norman to fashion something to hold the pan in place, all of which have failed dismally.

  The first one was made from sticks and twigs, neither of them making the connection that putting a wood made cradle over a fire wouldn’t work that well. Then they tried using stones but they just served to cut the air flow out from the fire which in turn reduced the flames to the extent they would never heat the water in the pan.

  ‘Well there really isn’t any choice,’ Andrew replies.

  ‘We can just take turns to hold the handle,’ Norman adds, ‘use some cloth or something to grip it…’

  Lilly nods, watching the two inept men convince themselves they are equipped with the necessary skills to do this kind of thing. Frowning with concentration, she stares at the flames flickering up. Wood burns so that’s straight out. The pan is metal, metal doesn't burn. No, some metal will burn but it has to be really hot.

  They need metal to make a cradle to rest the pot on. But they’re in the forest, which doesn't exactly have lots of metal lying about. Maybe a wire fence? That might do it but there haven’t been any fences for a few miles.

  Do they have any metal? She heads over to the bags, examining each of them in turn. Norman’s rucksack is larger than the others and rigid too. Feeling along the back and seams she finds something hard contained within the material. A frame used to distribute the weight of the bag evenly.

  Without thinking she opens the top of the bag to try and find a way to get to the frame, not for a second realising she is effectively rummaging through Norman’s bag. Slowly, she becomes aware of the silence in the group as all the chat stops. Three pairs of eyes turn to stare at her as Norman, Andrew and Sam all notice what she’s doing.

  ‘Sorry,’ she blurts, ‘I was looking at the frame…it’s metal…for the saucepan…’ feeling her face blushing she stands there holding the open bag, ‘I wasn’t going through your bag.’

  ‘Good idea!’ Norman bursts up, quickly taking the bag from her. ‘There’s a metal frame in the bag, well done Lilly,’ he beams and winks again, and this time she doesn't feel revolted but thankful that he isn’t offended at her going through his private belongings. Smiling back, she notices he cocks his head to one side with a weird look on his face.

  ‘Will it work?’ Andrew steps closer, lifting the bottom of the bag up to feel the stiff rods within the material.

  ‘It’s stitched in,’ Andrew reports.

  ‘Here, try this,’ Norman passes him the knife pilfered from the holiday cottage. Together the two men butcher the rucksack, slicing through the material with long gashes that makes Lilly bite her lip at the clumsy ham fisted way they do it.

  The frame is pulled out, two long metal rods held out in victory by Andrew. He grabs one at both ends and tries bending it, his weak arms struggling to hold the thing still while he exerts force.

  Going even redder in the face he grunts and strains, barely bending the bar. Giving up with a shake of his head he looks over at Norman trying the same with the other one and also failing dismally.

  ‘Stiff little buggers,’ Norman grunts, feeling a loss of pride at being unable to bend the bar in front of Lilly.

  Use your feet. Use your bloody feet. Lilly wills, reluctant to keep making suggestions that only serve to show the inadequacies of her father.

  ‘Here, you grab one end Andre and I’ll try this one…’ Together they start pushing and pulling. Uncoordinated and working more against each other, they stagger and trip round the little hollow as the thin rod refuses to be bent.

  Lilly looks down at the ground, simply staggered at how two grown men can be so incompetent. She loves her father deeply and know how intelligent and caring he is. He may not be the strongest or the biggest man but he loves his family and tries hard despite his own failings.

  A yelp lifts her head up to see Andrew rubbing his arm where the rod slipped out from his grip to whack him across the elbow.

  ‘Not going to work,’ Norman tuts, ‘what a bloody shame.’

  ‘Er…maybe you could use your feet or something,’ Lilly finally suggests, ‘er, use leverage to er gain more force?’

  A look of annoyance flashes across Norman’s face. Andrew, looking at his elbow misses it, Samantha, staring at Lilly misses it too. Lilly doesn't. She clocks the expression and gets that overwhelming feeling of being distinctly uncomfortable again.

  ‘Good idea again Lilly,’ Norman smiles, but this time the smile is forced and doesn’t reach his eyes. ‘I say Andrew, your daughter really is a switched on little thing, isn’t she.’

  Little thing? Patronising bastard. Right there, at that point, Lilly comes to the rapid conclusion that she does not like Norman. That he is slimy and weird, lecherous and emits a foul, pervy signal that sets alarms off in her head.

  Placing one foot in the middle of the bar, Norman heaves on one end, grunting and straining again as he pulls his own foot off the ground.

  ‘Stand on one end,’ Lilly instructs.

  ‘I’m sure Norman knows what he is doing,’ Andrew is quick to say at the tone from his daughter.

  ‘No,’ Norman grunts, ‘it’s fine�
��another good idea,’ sliding his foot down the pole he grips and starts to heave again.

  ‘And brace the end against a tree,’ Lilly adds in a strong voice that snaps Norman’s head up to glare at her.

  ‘Lilly, that is quite enough,’ Andrew harries back and forth.

  ‘Well it’s obvious,’ Lilly huffs, ‘brace one end, stand on it and pull the other end up…’

  ‘Lilly!’ Andrew snaps.

  ‘Or,’ Lilly continues in full flow now, ‘just build the rocks up either side of the fire and rest the unbent bars across the top to put the pan on…saves bending them.’

  Norman freezes, bent over with his face going red from the downward slant of his body and the flush of anger coupled with embarrassment. Samantha stares with an open mouth in awe at the other girl standing her ground proudly. Andrew goes into mild panic, fretting to and fro while ringing his hands.

  ‘Right,’ Norman says slowly, standing up to wipe his hands together as though removing dirt from them, ‘why don’t you show us Lilly.’

  Lilly ignores his barbed tone as she gathers the previously used rocks to build two sturdy platforms either side of the fire. Going back to the rods she walks past Norman without a glance, grabs both and heads back to make minor adjustments. Within minutes the bars are wedged between rocks, providing a stable platform for the saucepan now resting on top over the flames.

  Standing back she looks down at her work, then up at her father. His face is devoid of expression, but the atmosphere in the camp is now sliding rapidly downhill. Moving her gaze, she observes Norman and the baleful look on his face, one that is mixed with disgust and contempt at being shown up so easily.

  ‘It works,’ she shrugs and turns away, busying herself with cooking the pasta.

  ‘The water isn’t boiling,’ Norman comments acidly.

  ‘Doesn't need to be boiling,’ Lilly replies instantly, ‘Mum said the consumption method words just as well, the pasta cooks as the water heats.’

  ‘Lilly, I think you tone is rude,’ Andrew complains.

  ‘No it’s okay Andrew, she’s a growing lady and it’s only to be expected,’ Norman sneers.

  ‘What was that?’ Samantha edges closer to Lilly.

  ‘The consumption method, it means the water doesn't have to be boiling to start cooking.’

  ‘Wow, how did you know that?’

  ‘Mum told me, and then showed me the packet that it was written on,’ Lilly adds with a smile.

  ‘I er, I got some sauce from that house,’ Samantha says quietly, ‘just like, you know, some ketchup but I thought it would like, be nice for the boys instead of er, you know, plain pasta.’

  ‘That’s brill,’ Lilly grins, ‘hear that boys, you got yummy ketchup flavoured pasta for dinner.’

  ‘Are we sleeping here?’ Billy asks glancing up at the trees.

  ‘Yes Billy,’ Andrew answers, ‘just for tonight. Thought we’d camp outside for fun.’

  ‘I don’t like it,’ Billy carries on staring at the trees, ‘can’t we go home now?’

  ‘Not now Billy, we’re going to a big place with lots of other people,’ Lilly explains.

  ‘On the topic of camping,’ Norman seizes the opportunity, ‘I suggest we take watches during the night, two at a time so we keep each other awake.’

  ‘You think that’s necessary?’ Andrew asks mildly.

  ‘Oh definitely,’ Norman says in a deep voice, ‘we’ve got to stay alert…and it’s a good opportunity to get to know each other too, you know, have a chat and things.’

  ‘Hmmm, yes I can see the merits of that,’ Andrew nods amiably, ‘it would give us a chance to bond.’

  Lilly focuses on the saucepan, knowing what’s coming next. ‘Maybe,’ she cuts in first, ‘Sam and I can take the first watch then.’

  ‘Great!’ Sam grins broadly, ‘yeah Lilly and me will do it.’

  ‘Lilly and I,’ Norman corrects, ‘and no Samantha, we need one adult awake at all times.’

  ‘We’re fifteen Dad,’ Sam whines, ‘we can stay awake the same as you.’

  ‘Decision made Sam, one of us men will be awake at all times and it will be a good time for you to get to know Andrew.’

  ‘Me?’ Andrew asks.

  ‘Well yes Andrew. Sam’s my daughter so I know her very well, but I hardly know Lilly or Billy so it will be a good opportunity for us all to get to know each other.’

  ‘I can’t see Billy staying awake very long,’ Andrew chuckles.

  ‘Be that as it may, I would be honoured if you would take this time to get to know my daughter. God forbid anything should happen to me but if it did…then I would want my children to go with someone they know and are familiar with.’

  ‘Ah, yes…when you put it like that, yes that does make sense,’ Andrew nods seriously.

  Norman nods back and walks away in an effort to hide the look of victory on his face. His own feelings shifted during the last few minutes. Gone were the fantasies of a life spent with Lilly in the wooden shack. Now, after being shown up like that, he felt a strong sexual desire, to dominate and control her. She’s a wild little thing, full of ideas and she needs to be tamed.

  The first pan full of pasta is made and carefully drained out, causing Lilly to chastise herself for not bringing a second pan to use to capture the already hot water. Instead they have to re-fill with cold, add more pasta and wait for it come back to the boil.

  With ketchup mixed in giving the food a lovely tomato tang the boys get stuck in, using forks to stab at the chunks and shovel into their small mouths.

  The two men and two girls watch hungrily as the boys devour the food, licking their lips and getting sticky sauce plastered round their mouths.

  ‘Dad, you ready?’ Lilly starts draining the next pan.

  ‘I certainly am!’ Norman says with forced cheerfulness.

  ‘No girls, you go next, we men can wait a minute for the next lot,’ Andrew cuts in with a loving smile towards his capable daughter.

  ‘Oh yes of course, that’s what I meant,’ Norman adds quickly.

  Sauce is added and the girls tuck in, eating just as fast as the two boys did. The taste is amazing. Just simple pasta with tomato sauce but for hungry bellies emptied from so much walking, it is divine and finished quickly.

  ‘Look,’ Sam nods at the two boys already nodding off. Lying back on the soft undergrowth of dead leaves their eyes droop and their breathing becomes deeper.

  ‘Bless,’ Lilly replies quietly. Contentment from eating proper food spreads through her. That and standing up to Norman too. She is sensible and full of common sense, more than her father and Norman and if it means ruffling his feathers to keep the boys and Sam safe then so be it.

  Lilly cooks more pasta, setting some aside for the boys in the morning. It might be not the tastiest cold food but it will give them energy for the next day. She and Sam share another pot, then Andrew and Norman get stuck in.

  The afternoon draws to evening as the small camp relaxes into quiet chat. Sam and Lilly talk about school and life as they knew it. The men go back to business and how the recession screwed everything up. Shadows grow longer and the yawns become more frequent. Still, with the heat so high, it sucks what little energy they have out from their already exhausted bodies.

  Norman wills the sun to go down, wills those shadows to get longer and deeper. It frustrates him having to make polite small talk with this idiot, when he has something much more important on his mind. Allowing himself a glance over at Lilly, he notices the way she stretches out on the ground. The contours of her body and the obvious swelling of her chest.

  His own daughter by comparison, still looks wan and thin. Ungainly and very childlike, more like a boy than a girl. The biting anger from earlier subsides, leaving him with the returned fantasy of living in the wooden shack with Lilly. But now she isn’t demure and standing behind his rugged form, she is wild and full of passion, making love with a fiery intensity as she rakes long nails down his back.

&nb
sp; ‘You alright?’ Andrew chuckles, ‘you look a million miles away.’

  ‘Eh?’ Startled and worried in case he inadvertently said something out loud, Norman shakes his head and thinks quickly, ‘oh you know, just er…thinking about everything.’

  ‘Yes,’ Andrew yawns again, the third time in the last few minutes. Come on you old man, go to sleep.

  But he doesn't. He seems perfectly content to chat away talking about god knows what that involved god knows who. Norman smiles and nods as his mind drifts back to the fantasy. Must be this heat and the exercise making me all horny, he thinks. Soon I’ll have this belly fat burnt off and should maybe cut my hair too, shave it off so I look tougher. Exercise? Yeah, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll do some push ups and things to make my arms bigger. I’ll need the strength and energy for all the sex too.

  ‘And so I said you know, we just cannot compete with the Chinese anymore…we realised it was time to pack up but I kept going and well the rest is history…if only I had got out when I had the chance.’

  ‘Oh yes of course,’ Norman nods, catching the tail end of the long monologue.

  ‘Well, I think I’m going to drop off any minute and it’s looking very dark now…yes, I would say this is night time…who’s up for the first watch?’

  ‘You rest old chap,’ Norman says kindly, ‘your bag is heavier than mine so you’ve had more work today. You sleep first and I’ll wake you up in a couple of hours. Hear that Sam? Lilly and I will take first watch so you get some sleep.’

  ‘You sure Norman?’ Andrew asks with another yawn, ‘feel awful having the first sleep, maybe we should let the girls get some rest and we stay up eh? Carry on with our interesting business chats.’

  ‘No,’ Norman says too quickly, ‘I mean no, you look beat Andrew and we’re going to need our senses about us tomorrow. Sam looks about done in too, eh Sam? I said you look about done in.’

  ‘I’m falling asleep now,’ Sam groans. Lilly stares across the dark camp. The small flames flicker illumination at the faces of her father and Norman, contorting their features to make the eye sockets deep and hidden. Norman’s face looks slick with sweat and almost predatory.