had sunk into, the whole nation was hungry for
news of something going right for a change.
Chapter 1 5: Rachel's
Night
Rachel left no
opportunity unexploited in the 'run-up' to her debut on national
television. She spoke personally to the network producers,
suggesting programmes featuring her preparation for the show,
following every step of her makeover with celebrity hairdressers,
make-up artists and stylists. Managing to get a word in somehow,
Steve put up the idea of having a feature on Old English
Monuments.
The media swung
into action, surrounding the hotel with photographers and TV
cameras. A limo arrived at one point to take Rachel and Maisie to
an upmarket salon for makeovers and on from there to a heavily
sponsored shopping trip. The excitement increased as news came in
of deals done with international media companies for rights to show
the interviews. Rachel returned to the hotel long enough to deposit
Maisie and show off her new look in front of the others, quite
beside herself at the thought of being on global TV.
At seven in the
evening, a lively and dramatic theme tune played as Rachel made her
way to The Sofa where, before sitting down, she bowed and twirled
to raucous applause from a 'live' audience of TV soap actors, news
anchors, pop singers and sports personalities.
'Rachel,' said
the show's host, 'Everyone is so thrilled to see you at last.'
'Thank you,'
she said, grinning so hard she could barely speak. 'I'm very
excited to be here.'
'Now tell us,
how do you feel about your narrow escape from the zombie-ridden
village?'
'Kilkorne? It
was always a bit of dump. Y'know, for a teenager.'
The host's
smile wavered for less than a second. 'But being overrun by zombies
might have been a more important reason to leave.'
'And the army.
They were just as keen to catch us and take us to that Breathdeep
place, where everybody dies.'
'You mean where
they developed the vaccine.'
'Maybe so but
the first time they all died, including my sister.'
'I'm so sorry
to hear that,' the interviewer said, with a sincerity born of
personal loss. 'So many people lost loved ones in the wake of the
first zombie breakout from there.'
'You'll make my
mascara run!' Rachel said, her lip trembling.
'We'll move on
in just a moment but first I must reassure our…' the interviewer
paused to make sure Rachel was paying attention, '…global audience,
that everyone who was taken to Breathdeep from Kilkorne has made a
full recovery.'
'Of course,'
Rachel said, 'It's easy to forget that everyone in the whole world
is watching.'
The interviewer
stopped and gave Rachel his most disarming smile. He was a
well-known celebrity who had risen through the testing ground of
presenting childrens' programmes, comedy stand-up, and had reached
what he considered his personal pinnacle, that of hosting chat
shows.
'I'm sure the
viewers are more interested in the part you played in the escape.
When we come back after the break, I hope you'll be able to give us
some exciting revelations.'
After several
minutes of advertising, the pair returned. Rachel was laughing at a
joke the presenter had just finished before the sound came up.
'So, Rachel,
this programme is syndicated world-wide. You'll be recognised in
the street after tonight's show. What are your feelings now?'
'Well it's
y'know, great to be on TV. I always wanted to be on TV.' Rachel
crossed her legs and clasped her hands around her knees, the bright
pink dress she had chosen shimmering with sequins in the studio
lights. Leaning forward she smiled at the billions of people she
imagined were hanging on her every word. 'It was very scary,
y'know, our escape. Like I said everyone was out to get us.'
Keen to deflect
Rachel from the previous topic, the presenter guided her towards
some of the features of the escape which had already had plenty of
coverage, thanks to Steve. 'I understand the castle played quite a
part.'
'Oh, yes, we
hid there. Twice in fact. We thought the dungeon was
news of something going right for a change.
Chapter 1 5: Rachel's
Night
Rachel left no
opportunity unexploited in the 'run-up' to her debut on national
television. She spoke personally to the network producers,
suggesting programmes featuring her preparation for the show,
following every step of her makeover with celebrity hairdressers,
make-up artists and stylists. Managing to get a word in somehow,
Steve put up the idea of having a feature on Old English
Monuments.
The media swung
into action, surrounding the hotel with photographers and TV
cameras. A limo arrived at one point to take Rachel and Maisie to
an upmarket salon for makeovers and on from there to a heavily
sponsored shopping trip. The excitement increased as news came in
of deals done with international media companies for rights to show
the interviews. Rachel returned to the hotel long enough to deposit
Maisie and show off her new look in front of the others, quite
beside herself at the thought of being on global TV.
At seven in the
evening, a lively and dramatic theme tune played as Rachel made her
way to The Sofa where, before sitting down, she bowed and twirled
to raucous applause from a 'live' audience of TV soap actors, news
anchors, pop singers and sports personalities.
'Rachel,' said
the show's host, 'Everyone is so thrilled to see you at last.'
'Thank you,'
she said, grinning so hard she could barely speak. 'I'm very
excited to be here.'
'Now tell us,
how do you feel about your narrow escape from the zombie-ridden
village?'
'Kilkorne? It
was always a bit of dump. Y'know, for a teenager.'
The host's
smile wavered for less than a second. 'But being overrun by zombies
might have been a more important reason to leave.'
'And the army.
They were just as keen to catch us and take us to that Breathdeep
place, where everybody dies.'
'You mean where
they developed the vaccine.'
'Maybe so but
the first time they all died, including my sister.'
'I'm so sorry
to hear that,' the interviewer said, with a sincerity born of
personal loss. 'So many people lost loved ones in the wake of the
first zombie breakout from there.'
'You'll make my
mascara run!' Rachel said, her lip trembling.
'We'll move on
in just a moment but first I must reassure our…' the interviewer
paused to make sure Rachel was paying attention, '…global audience,
that everyone who was taken to Breathdeep from Kilkorne has made a
full recovery.'
'Of course,'
Rachel said, 'It's easy to forget that everyone in the whole world
is watching.'
The interviewer
stopped and gave Rachel his most disarming smile. He was a
well-known celebrity who had risen through the testing ground of
presenting childrens' programmes, comedy stand-up, and had reached
what he considered his personal pinnacle, that of hosting chat
shows.
'I'm sure the
viewers are more interested in the part you played in the escape.
When we come back after the break, I hope you'll be able to give us
some exciting revelations.'
After several
minutes of advertising, the pair returned. Rachel was laughing at a
joke the presenter had just finished before the sound came up.
'So, Rachel,
this programme is syndicated world-wide. You'll be recognised in
the street after tonight's show. What are your feelings now?'
'Well it's
y'know, great to be on TV. I always wanted to be on TV.' Rachel
crossed her legs and clasped her hands around her knees, the bright
pink dress she had chosen shimmering with sequins in the studio
lights. Leaning forward she smiled at the billions of people she
imagined were hanging on her every word. 'It was very scary,
y'know, our escape. Like I said everyone was out to get us.'
Keen to deflect
Rachel from the previous topic, the presenter guided her towards
some of the features of the escape which had already had plenty of
coverage, thanks to Steve. 'I understand the castle played quite a
part.'
'Oh, yes, we
hid there. Twice in fact. We thought the dungeon was
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