The Undead Day Nineteen

by Haywood, RR

  ‘We heard the water was infected,’ the woman holding the child says.

  ‘Paula,’ Roy says, ‘can we get some food and water into this young man and tell me if his stomach still hurts after.’

  ‘Yeah course,’ Paula says leaning out of the door to tell someone else to get a case of water from Roy’s van.

  ‘You wait there,’ Roy tells the boy and stands up to look round, ‘who broke their arm?’

  ‘Me,’ a man gasps from the other side of aisle.

  ‘That was stupid,’ Roy says bluntly.

  ‘Yeah it was, sorry,’ the man winces.

  ‘Let’s have a look then,’ Roy says with a sigh, ‘well shift towards me, I can’t see it from here can I?’

  ‘Sorry,’ the man shuffles over as the woman sitting next to him gets up to move out of the way.

  With a profound look of distaste on his face, Roy gently feels down the man’s left forearm as he winces and grunts from the pain.

  ‘Do you think it’s broken?’ I ask.

  ‘Got to be,’ Roy says, ‘must be a fracture in the forearm. I’ll get him into a sling for now and get some meds into him.’

  ‘You a medic?’ The man grunts, his face bathed in sweat as he looks up at Roy.

  ‘I’m…’

  ‘Yes he is,’ I say before Roy can answer, ‘you’ll be fine,’ I add, hoping I sound confident.

  ‘First aid kit,’ Paula says, handing it forward, ‘water is just coming.’

  Roy opens the lid on the medical box and pulls out a large bandage in a plastic cover that he rips open, ‘not a sling but we’ll do the best we can,’ he mutters as he flicks it out and starts fashioning it. ‘Okay, now this will hurt but once we get it stable you’ll feel much better,’ Roy says as though dreading the prospect of actually having to touch him. ‘Mr Howie, would you hold his arm please.’

  ‘Course,’ I sling my rifle and edge in to Roy’s side. ‘Er, this one is it?’ I ask, nodding at his left arm held across his chest. The man nods a small frantic motion of his head, ‘right, so…Doc,’ I say glancing at Roy, ‘Er…what do I do?’

  ‘Doc?’ Roy asks me with a plain look, ‘just hold his arm away from his body and I’ll do the rest.’

  Every millimetre the chap moves causes him untold pain. He clamps his jaw shut, breathing fast as I ease his arm out and let Roy get the sling under his elbow.

  ‘There,’ Roy says tying the knot at the back of the man’s neck, ‘relax…you’ve got to relax into the sling, go on…’

  ‘Trying,’ the man grunts.

  ‘Well bloody try harder,’ Roy snaps which makes me wince again but the man responds by visibly sinking his arm into the sling, ‘Well done, wasn’t so hard was it.’

  ‘Thanks,’ the man says, exhaling slowly.

  ‘Are you allergic to anything?’

  ‘Er,’ the man looks at Roy and blinks, ‘Peanuts.’

  ‘I’m so glad you told me that,’ Roy says staring blankly at the man, ‘I won’t give you the peanut pain killer then…’

  ‘Oh, oh right…er…sorry. You mean medications?’

  ‘No I mean peanuts.’

  ‘I’m not allergic to any medicines.’

  ‘Good, wait there. You’ll need to eat something before you can have any pain relief.’

  ‘Okay, Doc. Thanks.’

  Fuck me. The world is a strange place populated by very strange people.

  ‘Roy,’ Paula says from behind us, ‘this lady says she feels sick.’

  ‘Get her a bucket then,’ Roy replies.

  ‘Doc, this bloke has cut his arm.’

  ‘He’s an idiot then.’

  ‘Is he a medic?’ Someone asks.

  ‘No. I hate sick people,’ Roy says but it works. By fuck it actually works. The deadpan honesty makes everyone think he is a medic and even Paula stops mid-stride with a case of water bottles to stare open mouthed at him. ‘I also fire a bow,’ Roy tells the sick feeling woman, ‘What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘I feel sick.’

  ‘That helps. Bit more information?’

  ‘Sorry, Doc. I er…I feel faint, like light headed and…’

  ‘Okay,’ Roy says slowly, ‘Did you eat last night when we had food in the hotel?’

  ‘I…I was too scared,’ the woman says, shaking her head.

  ‘Too scared to eat? Well, that’s a new diet. Drink water, eat food and tell me if you still feel sick after. In fact, everyone listen. If you feel sick and light headed then eat some food and drink water. Do not moan about feeling sick and light headed if you have not eaten food or drank water. If you still feel sick after eating food and drinking water then you can moan. Understood? Now, which bloody idiot cut his arm?’

  ‘That was me, Doc.’

  ‘Let me see it. You haven’t got any infectious diseases have you?’

  ‘Er no…don’t think so.’

  ‘What that?’ Roy says staring down at the cut on his arm, ‘that’s a scratch.’

  ‘It hurts’ the man says defensively.

  ‘Of course it bloody hurts, you’ve scratched it. Man up.’

  ‘In the darkest days right?’ Paula whispers behind me.

  ‘I’m stunned,’ I whisper back.

  ‘Any other life threatening conditions?’ Roy calls out.

  ‘Yeah er, sorry,’ a woman lift her arm from the front seats, ‘I’m diabetic.’

  ‘Insulin dependent? Type one or two?’ Roy fires the question at her.

  ‘Type one daily,’ she nods, ‘but I’ve only got one left.’

  ‘I’ve got some, you’ll be fine. Monitor what you eat. Kyle, keep an eye on this woman in case she slips into glycaemic shock. Anyone else? No? Thank god for that,’ he says and walks down and off the bus.

  I follow behind him as he retrieves his bow from Marcy, ‘that was fucking amazing, mate.’

  ‘I hate sick people,’ he says with a shudder.

  ‘Roy?’ Paula asks, ‘why have you got insulin?’

  ‘In case I become diabetic of course,’ he says as though the answer is clearly very obvious.

  ‘Right,’ she says quickly, ‘makes complete sense. They’ve got two cases of water in there and all of our snack food. Even Nick gave his up.’

  ‘Cheers Nick,’ I call out to him.

  ‘I’m starving,’ he calls back.

  ‘We’ll get something when we can, everyone gather in quickly,’ I wait for them to come forward into a group. ‘We’re going into the local town to try and warn any survivors that the water supply is infected. We’ll take anyone that wants to go with us…’

  ‘We’ll need another bus,’ Nick says.

  ‘Okay, eyes open for another bus.’

  ‘And that one is about to conk out,’ Clarence adds.

  ‘Okay, eyes open for two buses. How we going to do it? I’m thinking we just use the loudspeaker and go slowly through the town. Unless anyone else can think of a better plan. Reggie?’ I ask.

  ‘You will invite the attention of every infected host body in that area.’

  ‘Probably. But there can’t be that many otherwise they’d have come for the hotel.’

  ‘A good point,’ he concedes, ‘I cannot, at this time, think of an alternative plan. It is simple and crude but perhaps the best because of the simplicity.’

  ‘Less to go wrong,’ Clarence says with a nod.

  ‘Dave?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Can you think of a better way to get people from their homes or warn them of a danger to the water supply?’

  ‘We could do a leaflet drop.’

  ‘…what the fuck?’

  ‘A leaflet drop, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Yes, yes we could do that but er…I don’t think we have any leaflets.’

  ‘Either house to house or from a low flying aircraft.’

  ‘Right yes, yes again a great idea but er, we don’t have leaflets or a low flying aircraft.’

  ‘You just need a normal aircraft, Mr Howie. The pi
lot flies it low.’

  ‘Ah right, yeah of course, but we don’t have an aircraft, a pilot or any leaflets.’

  ‘Radio broadcast,’ he says.

  ‘A what?’ I ask.

  ‘A radio broadcast is a good way to alert the population to a localised threat.’

  ‘We can’t do that either.’

  ‘Then no, Mr Howie. I cannot think of a better way to warn people of an issue with their water supply.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘We could print some leaflets,’ Dave says, ‘and then distribute them either house to house or from a low flying aircraft.’

  ‘Um…’

  ‘We don’t have a printing press,’ Paula says.

  ‘Then no, Miss Paula…’

  ‘Paula.’

  ‘No, Miss Paula. I cannot think of a better way…’

  ‘Paula. Just Paula.’

  ‘Oh no, no no no,’ I say quickly, ‘I’m stuck with Mr Howie so you can be Miss Paula.’

  ‘I do not wish to be called Miss Paula.’

  ‘I do not wish to be called Mr Howie but it seems to have bloody happened.’

  ‘Load up,’ Paula says, glaring at me, ‘we’re moving out.’

  ‘I always say that.’

  ‘Sorry, Mr Howie.’

  ‘S’fine, Miss Paula.’

  Twenty

  On the road again and we build speed on the motorway heading back towards the hotel as the people on the minibus drink water and eat our snack food, the thought of which makes my stomach rumble and gurgle.

  Another shitfest of a day that started off so nicely. I made love to Marcy under the stars, went to bed and cuddled up then woke up to be dissolved by a bloke who may or may not be a priest or a vicar and then it turns to shit again and to top it off my caffeine levels are plummeting.

  Back onto the junction that leads to the golf hotel but this time we don’t take the turning towards it but head the other direction towards the town that Reggie says is there. Thinking of Reggie makes me think of Neal.

  ‘Reggie, it’s Howie. You there?’

  ‘Here, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Why did it target Neal like that?’

  ‘That is a very good question and one that needs serious consideration and time to go through his journals and books.’

  ‘I’ve got this horrible feeling we’ve just fucked up massively.’

  ‘How could you have prevented such a thing?’

  ‘We should have spoken to him last night. Did he say anything to you?’

  ‘There wasn’t time, Mr Howie. Everything happened so fast.’

  ‘Still a monumental fuck up. He said about a list, what was he on about? Did he mention it to you?’

  ‘Only that he had one. I gather the list contains names of people that may be immune. Mr Howie, far be it for me to ever seek to guide you but perhaps now is the time to focus on the task in hand. We are in an area we know is hostile and one that could contain any number of new host bodies very recently turned.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah you’re right, we’ll go through it later. As soon as we’ve done this we’re running for the fort.’

  ‘I understand. What is our plan now?’

  ‘Now? We’re going to drive through the town using the loudspeaker.’

  ‘Yes of course and how do we execute that? Who is driving the vehicles? Are you forming a guard on the minibus? Is Charlie being deployed on the horse? Are you going on foot or planning to stay within the vehicles because both the Saxon and this vehicle are armoured whereas the minibus is not.’

  ‘You’ve created a monster,’ Marcy says from next to me.

  ‘Good points, Clarence? Can anyone in that bus drive it?’

  ‘I’ll find someone.’

  ‘Charlie, how fast can you get the horse out and ready?’

  ‘I’ll need about ten minutes at the most but I can ride her within seconds in an emergency, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Okay, Reginald? Can you drive Roy’s van?’

  ‘I am not a driver, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Paula?’

  ‘Boss, it’s Clarence. Kyle can drive Roy’s van.’

  ‘Have you asked him?’

  ‘Just did, he’s fine with it.’

  ‘Right, Kyle driving Roy’s van. Everyone else on foot. Charlie on the horse…Marcy, you drive the Saxon.’

  ‘I’m sitting right next to you.’

  ‘Yes I know but it’s so everyone else can hear.’

  ‘Roger roger…’

  ‘Don’t be sarcastic, Nick, if we get heavy contact you fall back to the GPMG.’

  ‘Got it.’

  ‘Marcy, you’re on the loudspeaker as we go through.’

  ‘I feel like an idiot using the radio when I’m sitting next to you…yes fine, I’ll use the loudspeaker.’

  ‘Where are you going to be?’ Paula asks.

  ‘Out on foot, in fact,’ I say, bringing the Saxon to a gradual stop, ‘we’ve got the first houses ahead. Everyone out and get ready, Marcy, you take over driving.’

  ‘Sir, yes Sir Mr Howie Sir. Er, what the hell do I say into the loudspeaker and er…how do you use it? Oh and where is it?’

  ‘Nick?’

  ‘I’ll show you,’ Nick says leaning over the back of the seat.

  ‘Charlie, we’ll hold here. Get ready on the horse.’

  ‘Doing it now, Mr Howie.’

  I go to the front of the Saxon and stare down the road to the row of five terraced cottages set back behind pretty front gardens enclosed by a low wall. The feel is still rural with rolling pasture land on the opposite side of the road. The hedgerow is thick and very green and already I can see new shoots stretching to grow out. Birdsong fills the air. Insects humming and buzzing about amidst beautifully coloured butterflies flapping frantically but still looking graceful.

  Movement to my side and I glance to see Dave standing quietly, ‘alright?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Might as well make a start,’ I say, looking behind him to the others getting into position, ‘you coming with me?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Howie.’

  ‘Righto mate.’

  We head up the road towards the first house as the air bursts apart from a static filled squeal of feedback coming from the Saxon’s loudspeaker. I wince and turn to see Marcy holding the handset and Nick leaning over to jab at things in the central console. It goes off then comes back on. Louder and higher pitched. I wince again, turning my head from the noise and seeing everyone else doing the same thing.

  ‘SORRY.’ Marcy’s voice booms from the speakers making us all flinch and take a step away and even Meredith drops low to the ground with a whine.

  ‘Too loud…’ Paula says into the radio.

  ‘YES I KNOW…HANG ON.’

  ‘Marcy, it’s too loud!’

  ‘YES HOWIE I KNOW THAT! WE’RE TRYING TO FIX IT.’

  ‘Marcy, your booming tones are startling the horse…’

  ‘I’LL BLOODY STARTLE YOU IN A MINUTE REGGIE.’

  ‘Fuck’s sake, turn it off,’ I hiss.

  ‘TRY THAT,’ Nick’s voice rolls out to echo from the mountains in distant Scotland and I wouldn’t be surprised if an Eskimo zombie in Finland just turned round.

  ‘IT’S STILL TOO LOUD,’ Marcy replies.

  ‘No shit…really?’

  ‘NOT HELPING HOWIE.’

  ‘TRY IT NOW.’

  ‘That’s it, Nick,’ I transmit, giving a thumbs up to the windscreen and seeing Marcy holding a finger up at me in response.

  ‘BETTER NOW?’ Marcy asks.

  ‘Yeah that’s fine, fuck me I think my ears are bleeding.’

  ‘THEY WILL BE IF YOU DON’T STOP MOANING…SO WHAT DO I SAY?’

  ‘I don’t bloody know! Make something up.’

  ‘Marcy, tell ‘em we’re the living army and we’ve come to rescue all the pretty ladies.’

  ‘COOKEY I AM NOT SAYING THAT…ER…I KNOW, HOW ABOUT…PLEASE COME OUT OF YOUR HOUSES. WE ARE TAKING YOU TO SOMEWHE
RE SAFE…HOW WAS THAT?’

  ‘Yeah not totally fucking frightening at all,’ I say into the radio.

  ‘YOU ARE GETTING RIGHT ON MY TITS TODAY HOWIE…’

  ‘I haven’t had coffee.’

  ‘YOU HAD A COFFEE. I SAW YOU DRINKING IT.’

  ‘That was only one.’

  ‘DO NOT BE ALARMED. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. PLEASE COME OUT IF YOU…’

  ‘You sound like a Dalek now.’

  ‘HOWIE!’

  ‘Marcy, it’s Paula. Tell them not to drink the water and to come out if they want to come with us to a safe place.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I say with a nod at the Saxon, ‘Say that.’

  ‘WELL MAYBE PAULA SHOULD DO THIS INSTEAD THEN…’

  ‘Fuck me,’ I groan and shake my head at Dave, ‘can we just get on please?’

  ‘FINE.’

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘GOOD.’

  ‘That’s great. Me and Dave are going to the first house now.’

  ‘GOOD LUCK.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘DON’T GET EATEN BY A ZOMBIE.’

  ‘Not zombies.’

  ‘SORRY CLARENCE.’

  ‘Come on,’ I start moving up the road again with Dave as the others take up positions round the bus. Clarence and Roy move further up towards us, ready to respond.

  ‘Wait up,’ Paula says, running to catch up.

  ‘DON’T DRINK THE WATER. PLEASE COME OUT IF YOU WANT TO BE TAKEN TO A SAFE PLACE. THE WATER IS INFECTED. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER…’

  ‘Actually the water itself is not infected but it may hold particles of material within which the infection is surviving as it navigates the…’

  ‘PISS OFF REGGIE…THE WATER IS INFECTED…DON’T DRINK THE BLOODY WATER…’

  ‘It’s going to be a very long day,’ Paula mutters as we go down the path to the first house. I knock on the door and the three of us stand quietly while Marcy’s amplified voice booms out. I knock again and we wait. Paula smiles at me so I smile back. Dave stares at the door. ‘Nobody home,’ Paula says, ‘next one?’

  ‘Yep.’

  We go up the path, along the road and back down the next path to knock on the door and wait.

  ‘..IS INFECTED. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. PLEASE COME OUT IF YOU…HAVE I GOT TO KEEP SAYING THIS?’

  ‘You answer her,’ I say when Paula stares at me.

  ‘She’s your girlfriend.’

  ‘She’s not my girlfriend.’

  ‘No? Did you have sex last night?’