by Aline Riva
John had taken over the role as leader easily, even though he had been forced to stay out of town during Flint's reign, he had managed to keep track of what was happening by staying at the edge of the town, watching to see how the factories were being run, how well the crops were doing in the fields. He even knew about the farmland where the animals grazed because he had been over there and visited. People on the outskirts of town had been thankful for the protection of their property and land by the armed patrols and that was something that would continue, at least until the second, larger ring of security had been constructed to keep the dead out for miles around. This would expand the safe space within and also just outside of the town, it would give the people more room to wander safely, too – just allowing them to venture a little further.
There was a rumour that John Mundy had a secret plan to reclaim the United Kingdom, one acre at a time. Despite how hectic the reorganising and planning had been after he had taken over, hearing that remark had made him smile. He wasn't planning on conquering the world, just this little corner of it that everyone in this town called home...
Marc had spent his time resting as his arm healed. Vicki had not left his side. She had coped well with the battle, even running on to a field where men clashed and the undead were loose to save the man she loved, but now the danger was over the nightmares had returned and Christian had said it was the stress of recent events, and put her on some medication that he promised would help. Marc didn't know if it did help, he just knew that she was always better after stressful events when she had quiet days and slept a lot - and those pills seemed to stop the nightmares and the waking strangeness she sometimes got when she thought she saw something at the corner of her vision, maybe in shadow or after dusk. No, he told her as he held her, the undead would not get in to this town again...
Parsons had joined the committee put together by John, and had been spending his time working on ideas for security and planning extra housing for the future as the community expanded.
Zodiac's life had changed for the better too, he had finally been introduced to some of the local kids. At first, meeting them had been daunting, but then the young son of the head teacher had stepped closer to him and smiled.
“My Daddy said your Daddy helped to save our town, he said your Daddy is cool.”
“I want to make a lot of friends here, I want to go to school. And I'll try really hard not to bite my friends this time,” Said Zodiac with a smile.
While Zodiac was enjoying his first day at school, Greg and Cleo walked hand in hand along the sea wall watching the calm waves roll to the beach below. They had hardly been apart since he had returned from helping Christian treat the wounded. When he had returned, Cleo had been standing there in the hotel room, the doors to the balcony were open wide and the fresh air was coming in, carried from the sea and not from land as the wind seemed to be paying kindness to those who were sick of the smell of battle.
She had changed out of the blood stained shirt and had taken a shower. She had never looked more beautiful, standing there in a silken gown that clung to her curves. And Greg was hot and sweating from dragging Flint to his doom and as he met her gaze and recalled how she had made that jump despite her terrible fear of heights, he felt like a knight who had just slayed a dragon now returning to the castle to claim the love of his princess.
“I am so proud of you!” he had told her as he pulled her into his arms.
She had kissed him and then gazed at him with the same depth of love that matched his own.
“Only you could make me jump from a bridge!” she said warmly.
“I'll never ask anything of you that is so tough, ever again,” he vowed, “All I want you to do is promise you'll stay with me.”
She pulled him closer, their gaze locked as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“As if I'd ever want to be without my hero,” she replied, then they had kissed again, and not stopped.
Theirs had been a passionate reunion, broken only by Greg reluctantly leaving her the next morning to go back to the medical centre to help Christian.
While Greg was back at the medical centre, Christian had showed him some research that had been several years in the making, even the secret research he had been doing that he had saved on disc whilst at Wolfsheer.
“The answer is salt water,” he said confidently as he showed him images of bites, the edges turned black and ready for removal.
“But these bites take five days to show infection,” Greg replied as he looked from the screen in confusion.
“No,” Christian told him as hope of victory shone in his eyes, “A heavy concentration of salt in the water draws the virus up much earlier. I can't compare your case because you got attacked in salt water, but certainly not enough salt to have matured the infection any faster. But, I think I'm on to something. Also...” he switched the screen to the next page, where Greg saw a list of names and details of bites in depth and quantity, “I have a list of everyone who suffered bite wounds in the battle and I've taken blood samples from all of them. I also took one from myself and I want to take one from you.”
Greg had been leaning on the desk looking at the screen. He straightened up as Christian shut the screen off and looked at him in utter confusion.
“You had one bite and it was shallow because I cut it out successfully – my first time with no training! I had five bites almost six years ago. Some went down to the bone and I lost tissue and muscle - but it was a long time ago, Christian – there's no point taking blood from me. What do you need it for anyway?”
“I want to see how long the deactivated virus stays inside a bite victim. I want to know how long it takes for the effect to fully wear off. I think if I apply the same technique to the blood that I used to identify affected tissue in wounds, I can see who is bite virus positive and who is negative. It could be helpful. Look at Alex, for example. I cut his bites out this morning and he's barely stable. His infection was heavy and we don't know what that means for the future.”
“Well, I was heavily infected and I'm okay,” Greg replied.
“Really?” Christian asked.
Greg was totally lost on his remark.
“Yes, really! I'm fine, look at me!”
“Zodiac,” replied Christian.
Greg's first instinct was to fly into a rage at the mention of his son as if his kind were something to be avoided. Then he thought about it some more and decided not to fall out with Christian, because as much as he hated to admit it, he did see the point now.
“Not everyone can handle a child like him,” Christian added, “But the more people who survive infection, the more likely it is that babies like him will be born – into a world that doesn't understand them. I think Zodiac is a great kid, and you're an exceptionally devoted father – but not everyone exposed to the virus will be a great parent, it's a statistical fact.”
“He's the way he is because I was infected at the time I slept with Stacy,” Greg told him, ”You've said that for years.”
“But there could be more to it. You could still be carrying the remains of the virus or at least its effect. Wouldn't you like to know for sure?”
Greg gave a sigh.
“Purely to help your research, go ahead and stick a needle in my arm, Christian – but you're wasting your time! It was more than five years ago, I'm okay now!”
“And you might just thank me for this one day.”
“I doubt it,” Greg replied, “I know that virus is gone, it's been gone since you cut out the bites.”
Summer went on as a time of much change. The town of Circus was so different now the element of fear had been removed with Flint's death. The fairground was up and running quickly and even by September the warm weather showed no sign of changing even though the leaves on trees were starting to turn. The mornings offered stunning sunrises and almost clear skies and the sea breeze stayed kind and lacking chill, even two weeks before the start of October.
; By now a four bedroom house on the road that overlooked the beach was home to Vicki and Marc, who shared it with Greg and Cleo and Zodiac. The place was large and well furnished and was a gift from John, who had also given Parsons a spacious flat near the hotel, which he liked because he said it was close enough to cross the street and go to work, where he was now head of community relations and ran that aspect of town life from the hotel, which had become a meeting place to discuss progress with residents.
John had seen the state of the flats above the amusement arcade and called in a team of builders to refurbish the block, and they had done it in under a month – with the exception of Alex Casper's place, because he said he liked his old run down place the way it was... Emma didn't mind the place being a little old fashioned, she was just glad he had pulled through the zombie attack and made a fine recovery. They lived there together now.
Marc had started working as head of town security. Greg was now established as practise partner at the medical centre with Christian. Zodiac was getting on well at school – apart from two incidents since he had returned in September after the summer break and playground quarrels had led to a few minor bites. Greg had dealt with the angry parents of the bitten children and told his son off and felt weary all over again, wondering if Zodiac would ever lose that damned urge to bite like a zombie...
The morning was bright and clear with just a hint of the long summer starting to fade as the air got sharper and clouds began to mar the skies, now larger and not ready to swallow up the blue, but certainly heavy with the promise of rain to come, along with the inevitable turn of the season.
John was in the office at the fairground, where he liked to run things when he wasn't planning for the teams of workers who were reinforcing the second security ring to be built on the outskirts of town.
The circus was operational again, but now contained clowns and acrobats and high wire walkers who all used safety nets and a harness – he was determined no blood would ever be spilt in that ring again. Christian stood in the open doorway and politely knocked, John looked up from some paperwork and smiled.
“Doctor Wells, good to see you! Come in.”
Christian entered the office and took a seat, then looked at him excitedly across the desk.
“I'm making fine progress with the research. I just stopped by to tell you that I'm ready to test the salt solution... on a live test subject. This means if anyone working on the outer security perimeter is unfortunate enough to get bitten, I may be able to remove the bite immediately – which means less tissue loss and faster healing. But this is theoretical for now. Anyone who consents will have to be watched for five days and if they show signs of any remaining infection, I will have to take out more tissue, but this could be a way forward.”
“Okay,” he replied, “You explain all that plainly in a way every man working on that team will understand, and get it typed up and I'll have the information handed out.”
“If it does work, I want to educate the whole community on the breakthrough. Just because those of us sealed within the town itself are safe, it doesn't hurt to have that extra reassurance should the worst happen.”
John nodded.
“Absolutely. Good work, Christian. Are you in the Mermaid later? I'll get you a beer.”
Christian smiled at the tempting thought of a drink in the local pub.
“If I have a beer tonight I'll be out till closing time and I won't get anything done... I've got a lot of test results to run through. I've managed to isolate the possible lasting effect of the bite virus through a blood test. It's taken three months to process all the data but this is another victory. It also means my theory on early intervention with bites could be proven correct. But I'll definitely see you in the pub on Saturday.”
He rose from his seat and shook John's hand, bidding him a fond farewell, then he left the office and headed for the path that led to the main road, and by now his smile had faded. He had to return to work, and he also had some news to deliver...
When he entered the medical centre, he looked about the empty chairs. At least it was quiet today, the few patients who had come in had been seen by Greg in the morning. He went down the corridor and then paused outside the door that said Doc Fitzroy, Greg loved that name plate. He had the same nickname engraved on a silver hip flask Christian had given him in the weeks after the battle for Circus Town, it was a thank you present for all he had done on the day so many had been wounded. Christian paused. The door was a jar. He heard soft voices within, then Cleo giggled.
“You've come a long way since I first saw you dressed like a showgirl, terrified as you climbed that ladder... I can't wait till we're married. I'm the happiest man in the world and it's all down to you... let's have sex on the desk!”
She giggled again.
“Anything for you, Greg... just don't make me jump off another bridge!”
“I won't,” he replied, kissing her fondly, “Not ever again...”
Christian cleared his throat loudly as he knocked on the door, he heard a thump and some scrambling about, then papers being tidied. As he entered the room, Greg was standing beside the desk with his arm draped around Cleo's shoulder and her eyes were shining with joy and he had big smile on his face.
“We've got some good news!” Greg said, slipping behind Cleo as she laughed and wrapping his arms around her, “Sadie's mum is a registrar. She still conducts weddings. She's going to do ours... thankfully she's forgiven Zodiac for biting her son in the playground... twice... And I have a big favour to ask you.”
“You want me to be your best man? Thanks, Greg.”
“No,” Greg replied, still hugging Cleo, “I want you to surprise Marc and tell him he's going to be my best man!”
“Okay...I'll do that,” Christian replied.
Greg noticed he didn't look too happy.
“Did you think I was going to ask you? Sorry, mate but he's my oldest friend and -”
“No, it's fine.”
Christian still had a serious look about his face. Greg noticed, but still had other news to break.
“But I am telling you something first... no one else knows yet...” his eyes shone with pride as he hugged Cleo and one hand slid down to her belly, “I'm going to be a father again! Cleo's pregnant! I always wanted a brother or sister for Zodiac – maybe having a non virus kid in the family might help him calm his biting urge.”
“Greg...I need to talk to you... Oh, shit, this is a bad time to do it. I'm sorry...”
Greg's expression changed as he let go of Cleo and stood beside her, looking intently at Christian.
“What's wrong?” he asked.
Christian's heart felt heavy as he drew in a deep breath. There was no easy way to say this...
“I completed the test results on all the blood taken from the bite victims – including us. I had a single shallow bite. Every patient who had what's considered to be a minor bite tested negative. Only a few people tested positive... A positive test means the virus infection was heavy enough to start subtle changes to the DNA, the virus was preparing to strike and turn the victim into a zombie, but the surgery prevented that. But it didn't stop what you can think of as scarring on the DNA. Alex Casper is positive -”
“He was heavily bitten three months ago,” Greg replied dismissively, “It will probably clear up and go away like mine did.”
Christian looked back at him, hating to be the one to hand out this news.
“Greg, I'm sorry but it doesn't go away. You were severely bitten six years ago and the effect of the virus invading your DNA is permanent.”
Greg stared at him. He was thankful Cleo spoke up and asked what he was too shocked to say.
“What does that mean? He's okay, isn't he? Please tell me he's okay?”
Christian nodded, looking to Greg.
“You're fine, Greg. It won't ever manifest in any way personally for you. But it does mean any children you have, now or in the future, will be like Zodiac.”
He waited for a brief, agonising moment as he hated himself for wrecking their perfect happiness with such devastating news. Greg turned to Cleo and he reached for her, they looked at each other and Greg blinked away tears.
“I didn't know,” he said, “I thought I was okay.”
“And you are,” Cleo promised him, “And I'm not getting any younger and this is my only chance to have a child with you. And if that child is like Zodiac, I'm glad because it means he's not the only one. And this baby will be gifted. Clever, agile – and zombies can't see them! They will always be so much safer in this world than us...” Greg had started to smile as Cleo laughed softly, “And this means I'd better get some practise in for apologising to angry parents... other people have to deal with playground fights, we have to deal with bites. We have years of it ahead of us, but we can handle it!”
“Yes we can!” Greg agreed as joy shone through his tears, then they embraced tightly.
Christian stood there watching as their embrace lingered, then as Greg let go of Cleo, he spoke up, feeling in the way of a private moment but wanting to say something before he left.
“So this is... good news?” Christian asked cautiously.
They both smiled as Greg replied.
“Of course it is!”
Christian smiled too as relief washed over him, then he walked over to them and shook Greg's hand, then hugged him, then he kissed Cleo's cheek and congratulated them both on the pregnancy.
News travelled fast, mainly because Greg couldn't keep quiet about it. As soon as Marc found out, he took him down the Mermaid pub and the two best friends celebrated by getting drunk together. On hearing the news the next day, Parsons had smiled and nodded in a silent thanks to the mysteries of life as he looked to the sunrise as waves sparkled catching morning light. He had silently concluded that this was the answer from nature to the apocalypse : Kids like Zodiac could walk among a horde unseen. They were the new generation, a strong breed of human capable of wiping the undead from the face of the earth.