by Haywood, RR
‘I really do not understand what it is you require us to do,’ Reginald huffs as we head up the now blood stained and body littered corridor, ‘I am not a detective and I do not think Charlie has a background in forensic examination either…really, Mr Howie, there is a limit to the skills you think we may have.’
‘Yep,’ I say as a way of replying. Dave and Mo go into the first room as we head up going past the now open hotel room doors, ‘they got in here somehow and we need to know. We can’t take those people to the fort or anywhere if they…’
‘Yes yes I completely understand the reasons for wishing to know,’ Reginald says, breathing hard as he walks fast, ‘but be that as it may I do not know how we are to know.’
‘Dunno,’ I say and stop outside the open door to room ten, ‘all we can do is try.’ I go in first and stare about as if expecting to see a broken window or a hole in the floor to a tunnel or a rope ladder hanging from the ceiling. But the window is intact, shut and locked from the inside. The floor has no tunnels and there is a distinct lack of rope ladders dangling from the ceiling. Charlie stands next to me, staring round slowly. Reginald walks straight to the window and pushes the pane then the frame.
‘Sealed shut, there are no other doors…really, Mr Howie…’
‘We have to figure it out,’ I say obstinately.
‘Mr Howie,’ Charlie says politely, ‘if nothing entered this room to infect them then they must have been infected either before they entered the hotel or at some point during the night. However, they did not leave the hotel nor did anyone else enter…’
‘Good Lord,’ Reginald says shaking his head, ‘the possibilities are endless. For all we know an infected person may have come to the window in the night and…’
‘They wouldn’t open the window to someone they didn’t know,’ Charlie says, interrupting him, ‘the window is intact and Meredith can smell them from a distance…Mr Howie, are we sure the chap from this room was the first one infected?’
‘No, we’re not sure of anything, only that he was the first to attack…’
‘Mr Howie,’ Dave stops at the doorway, ‘clear so far.’
‘Cheers,’ I nod at him and take a step closer to the bed, ‘four blokes from this room were infected…it may be someone else in another room infected them or…’ I trial off, sensing the futility of the task but knowing we can’t risk going anywhere without knowing how it happened.
We start checking walls, the floor, the skirting board and into the bathroom to check the walls, floor and ceiling in there. We check everything. The bed covers. The chair in the corner. The drawers to the side units and back to the windows as though we’re drawn to that section as it must be the only viable way for an infected person to get inside the room.
‘Clear, Mr Howie,’ Dave appears at the door with Mo at his side.
‘Nothing?’ I ask them both, ‘you’re sure?’
‘Yes, Mr Howie.’
‘All exits are locked?’
‘Yes, Mr Howie.’
‘No other way in other than the main door which we guarded last night.’
‘Yes, Mr Howie.’
‘Dave, any ideas?’ I ask him, ‘Mo? Anything?’
‘Nothin’, Boss,’ Mo says, ‘I could get in here easy and I checked all the places I would break in but nothing has been touched or broken.’
‘They must have brought it in with them then,’ I say and stare back round the room.
‘I checked,’ Dave says and I turn back to face him.
‘You checked everyone?’
‘Yes, Mr Howie.’
If Dave says he checked then Dave checked.
‘Fuck it,’ I mutter, ‘then how?’
‘I do not know, Mr Howie.’
‘Howie with you?’ Paula calls up the corridor.
‘In here,’ Mo replies as Paula rushes up and into the doorway.
‘Right,’ she says, taking a breath, ‘Anthony and the three in here were definitely the first.’
‘Definitely?’ I ask.
‘Well, as sure as we can be…Blowers and Nick were with you when you saw Anthony walking down, right?’
‘Yep.’
‘You saw one of them?’ Reginald asks me.
‘Yes, mate. The big bloke that got Neal.’
‘I see, and you didn’t take action?’
‘He was hiding his eyes…like rubbing them and walking like he just woke up…Nick or Blowers told him there was coffee in the kitchen and he waved so…’
‘I saw him walking in when I went in the kitchen,’ Paula says.
‘Forgive me,’ Reginald takes a step closer to us, ‘you saw the chap that killed Neal right before the actual attack took place? Is that correct? And he was walking from the direction of this room, is that correct?’
‘Yep,’ I say.
‘Think so,’ Paula says.
‘And I am given to understanding that at the precise time you saw the chap, Mr Howie,’ he says, looking intently at me, ‘that there were no other noises of concern at that precise time. Is that correct?’
‘Yep,’ I say again.
‘I see,’ he says, dropping his gaze from me to the floor as he pushes his glasses back up his nose, ‘I see…indeed. Yes…yes I see…’
‘See what?’ I ask after several seconds.
‘Hmmm, Reginald says and finally looks up to Charlie, ‘it appears Neal was targeted, would you agree?’
‘I would,’ Charlie says slowly, ‘the infected male has walked past Mr Howie and those outside and has then seen Paula in the main room but has decided to attack Neal and no others.’
‘Oh fuck,’ I say.
‘Shit,’ Paula says.
‘Of course,’ Charlie says, ‘it could be that one male would know he could not hope to defeat Mr Howie or any of our group so he chose Neal as the easiest target.’
‘A consideration,’ Reginald replies, ‘but no, he has chosen to walk that direction which is towards those most capable of defending themselves and especially David and the dog.’
‘Dave,’ Dave says.
‘Indeed,’ Reginald says. ‘The other player has a hive mind so one must assume that on becoming infected, the infection, as the other player, has gained the knowledge of the host body. Which would mean our male in this case, Anthony? Was that his name?’
‘Yes,’ Paula says, staring as mesmerised as me.
‘Anthony knew the layout of the hotel and knew where Mr Howie and our group were positioned yet the host body has been sent specifically in that direction and not only has the host body seen Mr Howie and some of the others but it has chosen to make use of subterfuge to continue towards the target, which in this case was Neal.’
‘Others were attacked though,’ Paula says, ‘eight have been killed before we could…’
‘Yes yes, but that came after,’ Reginald says, waving a hand at her, ‘Mr Howie recalls Anthony walking past the main doors and you recall Anthony entering the main room and at that point there was no other indication of an attack taking place. That also tells us that Anthony was not the only infected host body at that time. How could he be? Anthony was in the main room attacking Neal and I gather he was killed in that room. Did he leave at any point?’
‘God no,’ Paula says, ‘he was dead in seconds really…’
‘They’s weren’t no noise when we ran in,’ Mo calls out.
‘I beg your pardon?’ Reginald says, blinking hard.
‘Sorry,’ Mo says, leaning into the room, ‘I meant when me and Dave ran in with everyone…there was no noise anywhere else then.’
‘Is that correct, Dave?’ Reginald asks.
‘Yes,’ Dave replies.
‘Interesting,’ Reginald says and turns to face the bed, ‘Anthony was in this room with, I think you said, three other males, is that correct?’
‘Yep.’
‘He left this room to venture towards the most dangerous point for any infected host body where the chances of detection are the greatest and our host body has wal
ked past Mr Howie and others while at the same time, someone else was also infected and was waiting for that attack to commence before commencing their own attack.’
‘Distraction,’ Dave says.
‘Distraction!’ Reginald exclaims, clicking his fingers at Dave. ‘Indeed my friend, we have the use of distraction. Anthony is attacking the primary target and with such few numbers they cannot possibly hope to defeat us…I mean you and yours, Mr Howie…’
‘It’s us, Reggie,’ I say quietly.
‘I mean, good God! We slayed ten thousand or more yesterday. What possible hope would they have with a few score? They wouldn’t. They would be slaughtered in minutes. Why send host bodies to die without any purpose or objective. I would not do this and I do think, after yesterday, that the other player would do this either.’
‘So you think the reason was to get Neal?’ I ask.
‘Oh without doubt,’ Reginald replies, ‘I cannot, at this stage, answer your question as to how they became infected but I can give you the motive. The other player knew we had Neal with us. It saw through the eyes of the hive mind. Yes yes, you see, it saw we had Neal and that was something that concerned it enough to form a plan. Indeed a plan! A scheme! An actual plan of forethought and preparation. Gosh, it is evolving isn’t it?’
‘It is,’ Charlie says when Reginald nods at her.
‘Fuck it,’ I mutter again, ‘should have spoken to him last night.’
‘Yes I rather fear we should,’ Reginald says slowly, ‘but that is for later. Later we can seek to understand the why. Why did the other player need to take Neal from us? For now we need to consider how. How did the other player take Neal from us?’
‘It bit him,’ I say then think perhaps that wasn’t the question Reggie was asking based on the pained look I get from him and the polite one from Charlie.
‘Not how as in how the objective was achieved but how as in how the plan was executed,’ Reginald says.
‘Roger, got it,’ I say and decide to keep my mouth shut for a bit.
‘We left the town last night and brought the people here,’ Reginald says, placing his hands in front as though to emphasise the here.
‘Directional awareness?’ Charlie asks.
‘Perhaps, yes, yes I think that is most likely,’ Reginald says.
I give a blank look to Charlie and take pride in the fact I don’t actually ask what that means.
‘The collective geographical knowledge of the immediate and greater area,’ Charlie says while I blink.
‘They knew where we were?’ Paula asks.
‘Ah got it!’ I say quickly, ‘they knew where we were.’
‘Funny,’ Paula mutters, ‘I thought you were being serious now.’
‘I think so,’ Charlie says, ‘but then I would question if they knew the exact location,’ she adds, looking at Reginald.
‘No you are quite right,’ Reginald says, ‘directional awareness yes but specific factual location no.’
‘So they knew the area we were in?’ I ask.
Charlie nods, ‘say they saw us on a particular road but then did not see us exit that road or indeed, they did not see us further up that road. They would know we stopped or deviated route within two specific points.’
‘Ah,’ I say, nodding slowly.
‘Did you understand that?’ Paula mutters.
‘A bit, you?’
‘All of it actually,’ she says with a smug smile.
‘So like, they knew we were here in this area but not here in this hotel?’ I ask.
‘However,’ Reginald says, ‘one cannot discount the possibility that they simply found us…no no no,’ he says to himself with a frown. He huffs and sits on the bed to rest his chin on his hands. ‘No, I rather fear we were sought out,’ he springs back to his feet and frowns again. ‘But how? I do not know how and I do not like not knowing something. It is an affront. Yes it is. An affront. To consider oneself as more intellectually capable than I is an affront. No no no, I shall think this through. Charlotte, we must think this through.’
‘We shall,’ she says with an air of someone who knows the right things to say in this situation.
‘What do we know?’ He asks and paces down towards the bathroom door. I look at Paula then Dave and Mo wondering who he is asking.
‘Would you like me to break it down?’ Charlie asks, with the air of someone who knows the right things to say.
‘Yes,’ Reginald says, turning at the bathroom door to pace back towards me.
‘Chronologically,’ Charlie says, stepping back to let Reginald pass, ‘we left the town after defeating a number far greater than our own and the only difference to entering that town and leaving is that we had Neal and his horse with us plus the survivors. We took three vehicles and came back to this location. We checked each person as they entered and I think we can safely assume no persons were infected when they entered. At some point during this morning, Anthony from this room, along with the persons he was sharing with, became infected and commenced an attack which appears to have been done to get either to Neal or to one of the other survivors.’
‘Neal,’ Reginald says, pacing back and forth, ‘not one of the other survivors.’
‘You can be sure of this?’ Charlie asks.
‘Yes yes, the hive mind collective knowledge would have given the other player the knowledge of exactly who was left in that town and with such large numbers it could have easily taken them.’
‘Of course,’ Charlie says, ‘so we can, therefore, consider that the attack was done to take Neal. The hotel was secure. There are no points of entry other than a guarded door. The food we consumed was already here and unless they brought something in with them that carried the infection I cannot see how it was passed.’
‘Food, yes yes, interesting. The infection is a virus. A virus needs living cells to transmit. The infection cannot survive on that bed or that door or that pane of glass. Food can contain meat but the meat is dead and cannot sustain life.’
‘Bacteria grows on meat,’ Paula says.
‘An entirely different cycle of life,’ Reginald says dismissing her instantly.
‘Bacteria feed on the decomposing meat, they are not the cells within the meat,’ Charlie says ever so politely.
‘I knew that,’ Paula mutters.
‘Not the food,’ Reginald says, ‘what else has come into this hotel since we arrived? Insects? Rats? Birds? A fox…a badger…rodents…spiders…’
‘Air,’ I say helpfully.
‘The virus is not airborne, Mr Howie, otherwise everyone would be dead already.’
‘Ha,’ Paula nods at me.
‘Water,’ Mo says as me, Paula and Dave look at him, ‘sorry,’ he winces and takes a step back.
‘WATER!’ Reginald booms, ‘My God…’ he runs to the bathroom to stare at the taps, ‘the water…’ he twists the cold to let it thunder into bowl, ‘Get the dog, quickly now, get the dog up here and a bowl! Yes yes, a bowl.’
‘Mo, get Meredith,’ I say. The lad sprints off down the corridor as I move to the bathroom to stare at the water flow. ‘Looks clear,’ I say and bend down to sniff it, ‘smells alright too.’
‘Pipes, water flow…there will be a treatment centre. Yes, yes it is possible but the water cannot sustain the virus for any length of time. No no, a virus cannot pass through piped water over any great distance.’
‘Unless it was moving fast,’ Charlie says, ‘everyone had woken up, showers were on, Kyle was using water to cook, people were drinking and…’
‘Indeed, yes indeed. If the treatment centre holds tanked water ready for disbursement then the flow would have to be fast to…that is if the tanks or treatment centre were accessed instead of the piping network…’
‘The pipes are underground,’ Charlie says, firing back as quickly as Reginald throws the suggestions up, ‘to access an underground pipe is possible but not easy and would require tools.’
‘Tools yes, finer motor skills to opera
te tools is not something it has yet achieved on mass. Marcy and I were infected and could use fine motor skills as we had previously but we were not the same. Perhaps one or two yes, one or two could have fine motor skills to operate machinery or tools to access an underground water pipe but…no, I rather think the treatment centre or the holding tanks would be most likely. Indeed, yes, think it through…’
‘They wouldn’t know which pipe,’ Charlie fires back.
‘Exactly, if they knew which pipe fed this building they would know which building we were in.’
‘Got her,’ Mo calls ahead as Meredith bounds into room as overjoyed as ever at seeing Charlie and Reginald for the first time in about five minutes. She wags her tail hard, snaking round legs for a second before snapping to the side and standing fixed with her nose to the ground.
‘She can smell them,’ I say watching her closely.
‘Bowl,’ Mo hands one over to Reginald who takes it to fill from the tap then carefully places it down on the floor and stands back expectantly.
We all watch, waiting for Meredith to sniff round and find the bowl. I watch her hackles lift at what I can only assume are the smells of the infected that were in here, then she finds the bowl and sniffs it for a few second as we all watch intently almost expecting her to attack it or something. She doesn’t. She takes a drink instead and laps at the water for a bit before snuffling off into the corridor.
‘Bugger, good idea though,’ I say.
‘The idea stands, Mr Howie,’ Reginald says, ‘it has been sometime since the taps were all run. Anything in that water would now be dead. Besides, the dog is immune and perhaps she knows this. I would suggest that to entirely rule the idea out we must locate the treatment centre.’
I stop and think for a second and take in the magnitude of the idea that the infection could pass through the water supply. Something we have taken for granted since this began.
‘We should,’ Paula says quietly, heavily, ‘we need to know if it can do that…and,’ she stops to look down as if already regretting what she is about to say, ‘anyone left in this area is at risk.’
‘Okay,’ I say, ‘I mean, it’s not like we haven’t got anything else to fucking worry about is it?’