Steven?'
Steve's jaw
felt as it had become paralysed, until the voice in his ear
reminded him that his mother would be watching the broadcast. 'Oh,
erm, because it works within only a few hours of someone being
exposed to the virus.'
'I understand
that the torch,' The PM held up a small metal cylinder, which in
fact was a theatrical prop, 'will expose a proto-zombie even before
a blood test.'
'That's
correct.'
'Thank you
Steven for that useful explanation. Combined with the vaccine, this
torch will be of the greatest assistance in persuading world
leaders to open their borders once more to UK citizens and to
release the stranglehold on the UK economy.'
The camera
refocused on the Prime Minister. 'It is early days yet but I am
hoping to enter talks with the United Nations this very week. Thank
you all for your patience and endurance.'
Even before the
end of the official broadcast, the media had initiated what became
days of end-to-end newscasts with on-the-spot reporters and
pictures from around the world, playing guessing games as to which
country was most likely to open its borders to UK citizens and
where the first planes and ships carrying supplies bound for the UK
would embark from.
'Why couldn't I
have gone with Steve to be on television?' Rachel said, expressing
her exasperation at having to remain in the hotel with everyone
else. Even Mrs Reynolds had not been permitted to accompany her
son.
'Because, like,
you haven't invented anything,' Maisie said.
'We all did
something,' Fred complained. 'I did plenty of useful stuff with the
sword, cutting through those bushes when we escaped from the
castle.'
'Yes, Maisie,'
Rachel said in a sulky voice, 'you even got our bags and stuff when
the floor collapsed.'
Maisie smiled.
'That was like pretty cool, actually.'
Since the
kidnapping, no-one was very keen to use the TV lounge anymore and
the fifty-inch screen had been relocated to the bar, which had
become the place where the fugitives gathered every day between
meal times. It did, however, serve as a constant reminder to Rachel
of her passionate desire to be 'on the other side of it'.
'It's not just
inventing the torch,' Sarah said. 'Steve did save you all by
getting you in the castle and squishing those zombies.'
'But you drove
the van right out of Kilkorne with us all in it.'
'Like through
that whole army camp!' Maisie was breathless with excitement
reliving it over again. 'Those sentry guys with guns, like trying
to catch you out.'
'I don't know
what was worse, following the army trucks up the cliff road with no
lights, hoping we wouldn't get seen…'
'Or drive off
the edge.'
'Oh, Maisie!
Don't remind me about that. I was going to say "or going through
the camp".'
'We could hear
you from behind the boxes inside the van.' Fred said. 'It was
really hard to stay quiet, especially when you were telling the
soldier about the pies.'
'I'll never
know how I managed that. I was scared half to death.'
'But you still
did it. You should be on TV, too.'
They'd lost
count of how many times they'd recounted each other's role in the
escape from their village after the second zombie breakout from
Breathdeep. The teenagers were of an age when the story never
seemed to tire.
Alex had thus
far kept out of the conversation. 'I expect we'll all get our
chance to be on TV now that the news is out,' she said. Alex had
also wanted to go with Steve, not to be on TV but just to be near
him. She had to trust the sergeant to keep him safe, after he'd
made it clear they could better maintain security with Steve on his
own.
As soon as
Steve returned from recording the broadcast with the Prime
Minister, they were given the news: Rachel's desire to be on
television was to be fulfilled that very evening. Steve would also
be interviewed in a special news programme, along with each of the
other of the escapees, including Maisie, Fred and Sarah. After
months of depressing zombie reports and the resulting economic deep
freeze the country
Steve's jaw
felt as it had become paralysed, until the voice in his ear
reminded him that his mother would be watching the broadcast. 'Oh,
erm, because it works within only a few hours of someone being
exposed to the virus.'
'I understand
that the torch,' The PM held up a small metal cylinder, which in
fact was a theatrical prop, 'will expose a proto-zombie even before
a blood test.'
'That's
correct.'
'Thank you
Steven for that useful explanation. Combined with the vaccine, this
torch will be of the greatest assistance in persuading world
leaders to open their borders once more to UK citizens and to
release the stranglehold on the UK economy.'
The camera
refocused on the Prime Minister. 'It is early days yet but I am
hoping to enter talks with the United Nations this very week. Thank
you all for your patience and endurance.'
Even before the
end of the official broadcast, the media had initiated what became
days of end-to-end newscasts with on-the-spot reporters and
pictures from around the world, playing guessing games as to which
country was most likely to open its borders to UK citizens and
where the first planes and ships carrying supplies bound for the UK
would embark from.
'Why couldn't I
have gone with Steve to be on television?' Rachel said, expressing
her exasperation at having to remain in the hotel with everyone
else. Even Mrs Reynolds had not been permitted to accompany her
son.
'Because, like,
you haven't invented anything,' Maisie said.
'We all did
something,' Fred complained. 'I did plenty of useful stuff with the
sword, cutting through those bushes when we escaped from the
castle.'
'Yes, Maisie,'
Rachel said in a sulky voice, 'you even got our bags and stuff when
the floor collapsed.'
Maisie smiled.
'That was like pretty cool, actually.'
Since the
kidnapping, no-one was very keen to use the TV lounge anymore and
the fifty-inch screen had been relocated to the bar, which had
become the place where the fugitives gathered every day between
meal times. It did, however, serve as a constant reminder to Rachel
of her passionate desire to be 'on the other side of it'.
'It's not just
inventing the torch,' Sarah said. 'Steve did save you all by
getting you in the castle and squishing those zombies.'
'But you drove
the van right out of Kilkorne with us all in it.'
'Like through
that whole army camp!' Maisie was breathless with excitement
reliving it over again. 'Those sentry guys with guns, like trying
to catch you out.'
'I don't know
what was worse, following the army trucks up the cliff road with no
lights, hoping we wouldn't get seen…'
'Or drive off
the edge.'
'Oh, Maisie!
Don't remind me about that. I was going to say "or going through
the camp".'
'We could hear
you from behind the boxes inside the van.' Fred said. 'It was
really hard to stay quiet, especially when you were telling the
soldier about the pies.'
'I'll never
know how I managed that. I was scared half to death.'
'But you still
did it. You should be on TV, too.'
They'd lost
count of how many times they'd recounted each other's role in the
escape from their village after the second zombie breakout from
Breathdeep. The teenagers were of an age when the story never
seemed to tire.
Alex had thus
far kept out of the conversation. 'I expect we'll all get our
chance to be on TV now that the news is out,' she said. Alex had
also wanted to go with Steve, not to be on TV but just to be near
him. She had to trust the sergeant to keep him safe, after he'd
made it clear they could better maintain security with Steve on his
own.
As soon as
Steve returned from recording the broadcast with the Prime
Minister, they were given the news: Rachel's desire to be on
television was to be fulfilled that very evening. Steve would also
be interviewed in a special news programme, along with each of the
other of the escapees, including Maisie, Fred and Sarah. After
months of depressing zombie reports and the resulting economic deep
freeze the country
Similar Books
