by Tony Thomas
‘SPS has two stages. Stage one SPS is fatal. Time of death varies, but no patients suffering from SPS1 have recovered. In most cases, a victim will aggressively seek out and attack uninfected people until overtaken by exhaustion and collapse. The sufferer will usually die soon after collapse. SPS1 sufferers may sometimes go into a placid state, as if in hibernation, however if disturbed, they will again lash out as if in a furious rage until they collapse and die.
‘Several cases have been observed in which the newly infected gradually sicken and die without exhibiting any overt symptoms. These deaths typically look similar to either a cerebral or coronary accident.
‘Within one to five minutes of dying, an SPS victim will reanimate. This is stage two of SPS. SPS2 sufferers have greatly restricted mobility. They move slowly and appear to have only one goal, which is to consume living flesh. SPS2 sufferers have been seen to attack people and animals. They have even been reported to attack those with SPS1.
‘Survivors of attacks by victims of both SPS1 and SPS2 invariably become infected with SPS1. Those that die in attacks develop SPS2. This is the most virulent disease ever detected.
‘As previously mentioned, there are no known treatments for either stage of SPS. The prime minister has advised that SPS sufferers should be avoided at all costs. Do not approach them, or attempt to help them. Due to the current state of emergency, the police and armed forces have been authorised to use deadly force on anyone acting in a way that implies being a sufferer of SPS.
‘SPS1 sufferers can be killed in the same way as any normal person. Unfortunately, they will then develop SPS2. SPS2 sufferers appear to be already dead. The only proven way to disable them is to destroy the primary motor cortex, or M1, in the frontal lobe of the brain. The graphic on your screen shows the location of M1 relative to the head. A spinal injury to an SPS2 sufferer may immobilise them in much the same way as for nonsufferers. The only way to completely kill them is to destroy the brain.
‘The Home Office has stressed, avoid SPS sufferers at all cost. The army and police services are working to regain control of the situation. Stay put and you will be safe.’
Dan turned the TV down and said, ‘I’m not sure I believe that last part, but at least now the facts are being reported.’
11:00 AEST: Hordern Pavilion
Jeff was almost dozing in his chair when a meeting alert came up on his phone. It was a reminder of the interview he had scheduled for the next day. ‘Fucking Calendar,’ he thought as he dismissed it. He was always getting alerts in advance of meetings. One of these days he would have to change the default so it stopped doing it.
After a moment, he had a second thought. He probably should ring the candidate. He wasn’t going to be able to make the interview after all, and it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra contact in Sydney. He looked through the reminder, found the number, and called. After a couple of rings, it answered.
‘Dan Maher speaking.’
‘Hi, Dan, it’s Jeff Holland. We were supposed to meet tomorrow?’
‘Jeff? Are you in Australia? I’m surprised you even made it here under the circumstances.’
‘Well, it seems to have all happened while I was on my way here. I’m in quarantine at the Hordern Pavilion. I don’t think I’m going to be able to get to the meeting tomorrow.’
‘I doubt I could make it even if you could,’ Dan replied. ‘We have sick people roaming the streets and I’m locked into my home.’
‘You mean you’re seeing attacks here? I didn’t know it had reached Australia.’
‘Well, it might not be in the news yet, but I’ve seen attacks in the street just outside my home.’
‘Don’t take this the wrong way,’ Jeff said, choosing his words carefully, ‘I know it sounds ridiculous, but my son tells me that Fox News has started reporting that these sick people are actually zombies. Have you heard the same thing?’
‘Jeff, I’ve seen it. I saw someone shot in the chest stand back up and start walking. As crazy as it sounds this a zombie outbreak.’
‘You said you saw someone get shot? Do you know how widespread this is? We haven’t been told that there were any outbreaks in Sydney.’
‘Yeah, I’ve seen the reports. They’re not true. I swear, an army unit came to my neighbour’s house to collect her husband. They got overrun and they’re just gone. My brother-in-law was attacked as well. We know there was an outbreak at the airport too. This is much bigger than what’s being reported on the news. I just found an article about it on Wikipedia of all places!’
Jeff was taken aback. ‘Do you think we’re safe at the Hordern Pavilion? I can’t get to my hotel.’
‘I have no idea. I know it’s not safe where I am near Miranda, although my house has high fences and we’ve locked ourselves in. My brother-in-law was attacked just a couple of kilometres away in Lilli Pilli. Other than that, we haven’t got a clue. The government isn’t saying anything so far. I think you have to assume you’re not safe anywhere.’
‘That’s a lot to take in. It’s so calm here, they’re just talking about it as though it were a sickness that can be treated and that we’re here for our own safety.’
‘Jeff, it might actually be a safe place there. From what I remember, the fences are pretty solid and pretty high. As long as they’re shut you should be fine.’
‘I doubt they’re shut. They keep bringing more and more people into the centre. We’re in some sort of holding zone for quarantined passengers.’
‘In that case I would seriously consider getting out of there and finding somewhere safer. The less people you have around you, the better is my guess.’
Jeff paused to consider this advice, then said, ‘Dan, it’s been good to talk to you. I need to think about this before I do anything. I might give you a call a little later if that’s okay?’
‘Sure Jeff, no worries. Good luck!’ Dan disconnected.
11:00 AEST: F3 Freeway
When Rita started the descent into Wollongong on the Mount Ousley Road, she was a little surprised that she was not alone on the road. Since leaving Bozo they had almost been in isolation, but since she had started driving on the motorway, she had seen a few cars and even a couple of trucks. Rita wondered where the cars had come from and if there would be road blocks further on as she approached the first off-ramp at New Mount Pleasant Road.
As she approached the intersection, she saw a police car blocking the exit. The policeman was out of sight, she assumed he must have been sitting in the car. Rita drove past as the road veered left. Within a couple of moments, she was approaching the Mount Ousley Road exit—this time it was blocked with the water-filled plastic road barriers they used on road works.
The road curved around to the right. Rita slowed for the speed trap at the bottom of the mountain almost by habit. The two or three cars that she could see were not so patient, passing her as soon as she started to slow. She wondered whether a speeding ticket was worth worrying about under the circumstances and started to speed up again.
As Rita passed the University of Wollongong campus, she noticed a car rounding the corner behind her. She was surprised to see it fishtail, it must have been going way over the speed limit. Rita had taken the bend at 100 kph and her car handled as if it were on rails, even with the trailer. Within moments it flashed past. She wasn’t sure if the driver was in a panic or merely taking advantage of the unpatrolled road. Either way—she was glad it was in front of her and not behind her.
As they continued, every exit was blocked by either police cars or road barriers. There was no hint of a road block that would stop them or impede their progress. It looked as though they were being encouraged to pass through. Rita looked at her fuel gauge. She had the best part of three-quarters of a tank. Brick had been concerned that they would need to get fuel on the way, but Rita knew that had been based on taking back roads and fire trails. Driving down the highway, she would have no trouble making it all the way to Rocky Hall with the fuel she had.
Rita turned off the radio and put music on. The only way she was going to handle a five-hour drive and keep her sanity was to not think about what had happened.
11:00 AEST: Sydney
Joanne had tried the downstairs door she had left open. It was now securely locked. She walked to the side of the house and checked the gate there—it was now closed as well. Joanne had looked around the yard and decided she was safe. She sat on the ground with her back to the house. After a while, she had dozed off in the sun. Now she had suddenly snapped awake.
She looked around but couldn’t see what had woken her. She had been sucking her fingers in her sleep. The sound of gunfire had stopped. There was no moaning anymore either. For the first time she noticed there were no birds singing either. As she climbed to her feet, she heard the dog from the house behind hers barking, maybe that was what had woken her.
Joanne decided to face the music. She brushed herself off then climbed the steps to the back porch. A little embarrassed, but no less desperate, she walked to the back door and tapped on the glass. As she looked in she could see Gen sitting on the lounge watching TV. Gen’s head snapped towards her, obviously startled. She jumped up and came to the door. Joanne tried the security screen. It was locked.
Gen opened the glass door and said, ‘Joanne, you’re back. Are you okay?’ Her voice was cold.
‘I’m so sorry Gen. I don’t know why I acted like that,’ Joanne gushed. ‘I promise you, I’m back in reality now. My house is under attack and there are soldiers in there. I just want to be somewhere safe.’
Gen stood back a little. ‘Joanne, what you did was almost unforgiveable. You abused us. We let you stay downstairs where it is safe, but you ran out, you left doors unlocked and our gate open. You put us in danger. Why do you think we’d let you back in?’
Joanne took a deep breath. ‘You’re right. I understand. But I can’t go back home. There were two soldiers there. We were being attacked. I think they were overrun. At least they stopped shooting and I think I heard one of them scream.’
‘And you ran out on them as well?’
Joanne looked sheepish. ‘I know how it looks. The house was being overrun by a mob of people. The soldiers were shooting some of them down, but more kept coming. Some of the ones that were shot got back up. I’ve never seen anything like it. I couldn’t think of anything except getting away. I couldn’t go out on the street because of the crazy people. This was the only place I could think to come.’
Gen unlocked the door. ‘Joanne, I’m not sure how this is going to go, but you can come in.’
‘Thanks, Gen, I really am so sorry,’ Joanne said as she walked in. She turned and locked the screen behind her and pulled the glass door closed.
‘Okay, sure, now tell me again what happened?’ Gen asked. She flicked the lock on the glass door and led Joanne to the lounge.
Joanne sat and drew her breath. ‘When I went downstairs I calmed down and realised how insane I had been. I really was embarrassed and just decided I had to go home.’ She turned to face Gen. ‘I didn’t want to face you. I guess I panicked, I don’t know why I went on like that.’ Joanne paused before continuing. ‘I heard you coming down the stairs and just ran, I’m sorry I didn’t lock the doors and gates behind me but I knew Dan was following me.’
‘I guess I can understand that. So you went back to your house and then what happened?’
‘Well, a soldier stopped me at the door. Then the corporal let me into the house and told me he had called for help.’
‘Did he say when it was coming?’
‘No, almost as soon as he let me in a group of people started to come down the road from across the street. Another group came from the bottom of the hill. The corporal told the soldier to shoot them down.’
‘And you say that shot people got back up?’
‘Yes, I saw them, they tried shooting them in the head after that, but they still kept coming. I don’t understand.’
‘Dan took a video of people being shot in the street in front of your house. One was shot in the chest and got back up. We think they’re zombies.’
Joanne smiled sardonically, ‘Gen, I know it sounds wrong coming from me, but that sounds crazy. Zombies aren’t real.’
11:15 AEST: Sydney
‘Dan, I need to talk to you,’ Gen said, a little annoyed to find him talking to his friends on the Internet. He was in full nerd mode, running two computers and five screens, with constant activity on all of them.
Dan turned immediately, ‘Gen the British government have made an announcement. It really is zombies. They’ve even given it a name—SPS. We’re waiting to see if our news or governments respond.’
Gen nodded impatiently, ‘Great, well I thought you should know we have had a visitor while you’ve been locked in here.’
‘A what? Did they come to the front door?’
‘It’s Joanne. She came back.’
‘And you let her in? After what she said and did last time?’
‘She was very apologetic, said she had freaked out. I’m not sure I forgive her but I don’t think I can make her leave. Some of the soldiers were in her house. They got killed by zombies.’
‘SPS1 or 2?’ Dan interjected.
‘What?’
‘Sorry, Gen, the WHO has dubbed the fast moving ones SPS1 and slow-moving dead ones SPS2.’
‘Right,’ Gen paused, getting annoyed with Dan rather rapidly, ‘In any case the soldiers were overrun. Joanne jumped the fence again and is asking for our help.’
‘Is she infected?’ an accented voice came from Dan’s computer, which startled Gen.
‘Good question, Piotr,’ Dan said. ‘Gen, sorry—I’m on a conference bridge with Piotr and Ian. We’re trying to find out what we can.’
Despite being taken aback by the interruption, Gen replied, ‘I don’t think she’s infected. As far as I know she hasn’t had any contact with the zombies since her husband and that was hours ago. The question in my mind is if we can trust her after last time?’
Dan said, ‘Guys, I’ll be back shortly.’ He bent and clicked the mute button. ‘Gen, I don’t know. What do you think?’
‘I don’t see we really have a choice. It just makes me very uncomfortable.’
‘Do you want me to come and read her the riot act?’
‘I’ve already done that, she’s made me some promises. I just hope she keeps them.’
Ian’s voice suddenly blurted from the speakers, ‘Dan if you’re there you really need to hear this.’
Dan looked apologetically at Gen, she nodded to go ahead, but didn’t leave the room.
Ian’s voice, even louder said, ‘DAN! DAN! You need to hear this!’
Dan hit the mute. ‘Okay, I’m here, Ian. What’s up?’
‘Our PM just made an announcement. He says that NZ is infection free and will maintain our quarantine for the “foreseeable future”. Your PM has announced that Sydney is the only infected place in the country and that it is completely under control. All remaining inbound flights are being redirected to Brisbane.’
‘He’s gotta be kidding. We know that it’s out of control. Why would he say bullshit like that?’
‘I don’t know, mate, but it’s just been posted on the NZ Times web site. It must be on your TV as well by now. Have a look.’
Piotr spoke up, ‘Our local news has gone silent. The Internet still operates and I can see the web site Ian mentions. This is good news for New Zealand, but I worry for you, Dan.’
‘Piotr, I am worried too, and I don’t trust anything our PM says. You may remember what he said about climate change when you were here.’
Gen tapped Dan on the shoulder, ‘I’m going to go out and check the TV with Joanne. I don’t want to leave her on her own.’
Dan nodded and went back to his computers.
11:15 AEST: Hordern Pavilion
Jeff was surprised his phone rang. He thought it may have been Dan calling him back, there was no caller ID. ‘Hello?’
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br /> ‘Dad, it’s me,’ Jim whispered. ‘There’s someone in the house!’
‘What?’
‘There’s someone in the house. We can hear them up above us. They tried the basement door a little while ago but we had the bolt locking it so they couldn’t get in. What should we do?’
‘Uh, just stay calm,’ Jeff said, stalling. He didn’t feel nearly as violated as he would have felt if it was still his home, he was more worried about the safety of his son. ‘Keep as quiet as you can. It might just be someone looking for a place to hide.’
‘I don’t think so, Dad. I think they’re looters. There’s a lot of banging and noises happening.’
‘Are you sure they’re not zombies?’ Jeff asked, a little surprised that he could think that way.
‘No, we can hear them talking and laughing. I’m really scared Dad.’
Jeff thought furiously. ‘Are there any weapons downstairs with you?’
‘Mom doesn’t like guns Dad. We just have a couple of old baseball bats.’
‘Okay, the best thing to do is keep as quiet as you can. Do you think they can get the door open?’
‘I’m not sure Dad. The bolt isn’t all that big, but they only tried it once.’
‘Jim, my guess is that they are going to grab what they can get easily and then leave. Just stay quiet and you should be fine.’ Jeff thought desperately on how he could reassure his son. ‘Have you heard any more news? Are the police getting things under control?’
‘There’s nothing on the news but the emergency warning system now. Every so often they come up with a news desk, but they keep saying the same thing. Every station is saying it’s zombies and that you should stay out of sight.’
‘I just spoke to a person here who told me he had seen a zombie attack.’
‘Really? I thought you said it was safe there?’