I Dream of Zombies (14 page)

“How long?”
Simon enquired.

Eric frowned.
“Next half an hour or so. There might be a spare bottle on here, but I’d prefer to tank up. If we run out in the middle of nowhere, we’re stuck.”

The soldier shook his head and held his hands up. “I don’t know. I need to contact someone,” he said, sitting down to speak into his radio.

**
*

“We need to go back,”
Simon announced.

“Back where?”
asked a female passenger, rising. “London?”

“
I’ve just been told that there has been an outbreak in this area and the army base was overrun. Some of the evacuees were carriers. They were not quarantining newcomers, like they should have been, and people just turned and started attacking others. It was mayhem. There are survivors, and the army and emergency services are dealing with that at the moment. I’ve been recommended by my commander not to go near the base, but find somewhere safe to spend the night. He will come up with a plan for us in the morning,” he explained. “It’s almost 11 p.m. now. We just need to find somewhere to stay.”

“Why not stay on the coach?” Eric suggested. “I’d
feel safer on it.”

Simon
nodded. “Right, but let’s find a petrol station.”

“How about we go back and turn off at the first rest stop? If it’s safe we can get refreshments and petrol there? The toilet on here is starting to whiff a bit!”

“Fine.”

“Do you think that’s the best plan?” asked Ellen, who had moved to sit
next to her sister.

“I guess they know best,” she replied. “
I don’t know this area at all – totally alien to me.”

“Okay.”

Tommy checked his mobile. “I’ve got no reception. You?”

Marla shook
her head. “We’re out in the sticks a bit. I figured that’s why.”

He frowned and glanced out the window. “This whole thing has me nervous.
What if the mobile network is down now? The internet went.”

“Me, too,” she replied, “but it i
s senseless worrying. We just have to hold tight.”

***

After taking the first turn-off
, the coach trundled up the road and stopped in front of the Happy Eater. “Well, that’s ironic,” remarked Tommy.

“Shut up, grumpy,” said Marla with a grin.

“Yeah, moany,” Ellen agreed, which made her sister laugh.

Simon stood up.
“Alright everyone, we are going to stop here for a while for refreshments. The lights are on and the place looks like it is open twenty-four hours.”

“Think it’s safe?” asked Tommy.

“I think so,” Simon replied. “We need petrol. And I need a coffee.”

There were murm
urs of agreement and one by one the passengers began to file off the coach.

“Can
’t we stay here?” asked Ellen.

“You’ll be fine,” said Marla. “We’re looking out for you.”

“Coming?” asked Devan with a friendly smile.

“Looks like it,” Ellen replied. “Guess a hot drink would be good.”

“First sign of trouble, everyone back to the coach,” Simon announced.

“I’m staying,” Tommy insisted. “Just in case the driver...”

The man in question looked up. “My name’s Eric, remember?”

Tommy smiled.
“Just in case Eric runs into trouble or needs help.”

“Cheers, mate,”
the guy replied with a nod. “Appreciate it.”

“We need to protect our only way out of here.”

“You could always jumpstart one of those,” Eric suggested, nodding towards the car park. The place was full of vehicles. “Looks like people just dumped their cars.”

“Probably going to the army base,” Tommy guessed. “Last stop for refreshments.”

“Guess so,” Eric replied as he drove on towards the petrol pumps.

***

Simon
walked ahead of the line of people who were relieved to be out of the confinement of the coach. The area was well lit, so they could see quite far on every side, and the car park was quiet. The soldier held the door open while everyone walked into the Happy Eater. Inside, the walls were painted a bright orange, and plastic tables and chairs were positioned in orderly rows. To the right were some yellow doors leading to the toilets. Machines containing drinks and snacks lined the left-hand wall. Straight ahead was the service desk upon which plastic cases of food ran all the way along. There were two women behind the till, chattering to themselves. They looked up as the line of strangers entered.

“Hi,” one called out. “Where are you from?”

“London,” said Marla, walking ahead. “You…?”

“Ar
ound here,” she replied. “Are you heading for the army base if you’re from London?”

“We were,” she
replied.

“But it’s exploded,” added Ellen.

The woman raised her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God!”

“
Has no one been here to tell you?” Marla asked.

“Nope, no one
has passed through here going back that way. People are always going towards the base. Some leave their cars here and get collected. Those are the folk from London though. People are still living as normal around here. The virus hasn’t spread, thank God.”

Ellen thought back to the people whom Tommy had seen on the motorway. “You’ve had no cases?”

“No,” the woman answered. “I was watching the news and stuff, and I’m not even sure if to believe it. I mean...”

“It’s real,” said one of the men off the coach. “Can I pay for this sa
ndwich and get a coffee, please? Milk, no sugar.”

“Sure,” she said, ringing it up on the till. “What type of coffee
would you like?”

“Not fussed,” he replied,
“as it comes.”

“
Claire, one filter coffee with milk,” the girl said to her colleague.

“Right away, Bella.”

“You’ll find sugar and everything over there on that counter, sir. That’s four, eighty-nine.”

“Thanks, keep the change,” he said, passing over a five-pound note.

“Cheers,” she answered, and Marla was not sure if she was being sarcastic.

“You know, we have a soldier with us, and he was just told that the army base was overrun. Some of the evacuees were carrying the virus. We don’t know anything more, but we saw helicopters. It might not be safe to stay here after we leave,” Marla to
ld the girl.

Bella sighed. “I don’t know what to think. Surely there would be an announcement?”

Ellen shrugged. “We seem to have been left in the dark on a lot of things.”

“
Maybe you should leave with us?” Marla suggested.

“All my things are
at home,” Bella replied. “I’m sure we’ll be told what’s happening in the morning. The base can’t have been overrun – there are so many soldiers there. It’s protected...”

“Don’t worry,” said Ellen. “I’m sure it’s fine,” she added,
giving her sister a look to be quiet.

Sighing, Marla grabbed a sandwich and a blueberry muffin. “
Can I get a latte?”

“I’ll
have one too, and I’ll just grab a sarnie and one of those muffins,” said Ellen, scampering along the bar. “God, these look good. Blueberries... mmm,” she said.

Marla smiled, happy
to see her sister looking more relaxed.

“I think I’ll have what you’re having and a
lemonade,” said Devan, walking over.

Marla turned to Bella
and paid while resisting the urge to grin. She glanced at the young guy out of the corner of her eye before walking over to a free table and taking a seat.

“Do you think we are safe here?” asked an elderly woman
as she passed.

Marla recognised her from the coach. “I think so,” she replied. “Sit down if you like. I can get whatever you want. I’m Marla.”

“Thanks, dear. My name is Isabel. If you could get me a sandwich, please – something vegetarian – and a cup of tea, I’d be grateful. These old legs of mine aren’t what they used to be.” She rummaged in her bag for her purse.

“Sure, and don’t worry about the money.
I’ll just be a minute.”

Ellen walked to a table with Devan and sat down. Marla noticed how they were deep in conversation. It was good that something nice was happening to her sister, she thought
; something normal – anything but this craziness of late. When it was her turn, she ordered a Breakfast Tea, and chose a cheese and pickle sandwich. After paying, she carried her purchases back to her table and sat down.

“Thank you, dearie,” said Isabel, smiling in gratitude. “I’m afraid I’m a bit stiff after that journey.”

“You were travelling alone?” asked Marla.

“Yes. My daughters were always trying to get me into an old people’s home, but I
was having none of it. ‘I’m not that old,’ I used to tell them.” She paused and laughed slightly while undoing the plastic wrapper on her sandwich with shaky fingers. Glancing up, she added, “Today I feel really old. When they evacuated my street, I felt so alone. Then I wished I was in a home.”

“Where are your daughters?”

“They live in Cardiff. A long way from London, thank goodness. I spoke to them both on the telephone and they were not being evacuated.”

“
They’ll be fine. They’re far away.”

Isabel sighed.
“It’s frightening.”

Marla nodded. There was no denying
that. It was fact. She gazed out of the window into the darkness. What lay out there? It was hard to tell. What did the future hold for them all? Where would they go? She hoped the soldier would get an answer soon. Her stomach was ravaged by an unsettling feeling that just would not go away. Turning back to her companion, she sipped her coffee, but it was so hot that it burnt the end of her tongue. She rubbed it gently against her cheek and opened her sandwich. Taking a bite of it, she laughed.

“What is it?” asked Isabel.

“I was trying to decide whether this tastes like an old tyre or cardboard,” she replied, grinning.

The old lady smiled. “Well, my cheddar could be mistaken for bendy rubber.”

Marla focused on eating her food and once her coffee cooled down, she finished it.

“What do you think will happen to the animals?”

“Ugh?”

“Our pets,” said Isabel. “A nice man told me they would be transporting the animals separately. I have a cat, you see. I gave her to the man who came to collect her.”

“I hadn’t thought
about it, to be honest. My friend, Tommy, has a dog. I guess they planned to take them to animal shelters or something until all this is over. Unless they are planning to take them to the places we’re being evacuated to, but it was all so vague. I don’t have a pet, so I didn’t really look into it.”

“I
believe the government is in over its head,” Isabel commented. “It isn’t like it was when we had Churchill. He would have known what to do. But this prime minister of ours is all talk and no trousers.”

Marla giggled. “You know, I’m inclined to agree.”

“Is this seat taken?” asked a man of a similar age to Isabel.

Marla recognised him as the one who had been sick at the start of the journey. He looked fine now as he
nodded to the empty seat between them.

“No,” Isabel replied, “You can sit there if you like.”

“I couldn’t help overhearing what you said about the government. I agree wholeheartedly. The information we’ve been given seems scrappy, at best. I’m not sure they know what they are talking about,” he said.

“I agree,” she responded, before munching on the remainder of her sandwich.

The man decided to introduce himself. “I’m Graham.”

“Marla.”

“Isabel,” said the old lady, wiping her mouth with a serviette. “I think this business is all too much for our generation.”

Graham grinned and nodded. “It’s good to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m heading to the ladies,” said Marla, standing up and feeling that she was in the way. “Back in a mo.”

***

“Just going to pay for this and get some cigarettes,” said Eric, pointing to t
he gas pump. “You need anything?”

Tommy looked up from where he was leaning against the front of the coach with his legs crossed. “Maybe some gum. Peppermint. And a chocolate bar,” he added quickly. “Not fussed
which one, but milk chocolate. Surprise me.”

“Sure,” answered Eric as he turned and strode towards the service station.

Tommy watched him open the door and walk inside. Noticing the newspapers in the plastic boxes outside the shop, curiosity overtook him and he wandered over. Opting for the first one that looked relatively intelligent, he opened the lid and took a copy out. It was days old and the first page carried news of evacuations from London. Flicking through the pages, Tommy’s mood fell. What was really happening? How would anyone find out the truth about anything with no internet or newspapers?