Thirteen Roses Book One: Before: An Apocalyptic Zombie Saga by Michael Cairns Page B

you in something?'
    He was taking the piss. What was it with that stupid voice? 'I ain't buying no flowers.'
    'Perhaps for a lady friend? Ladies always love to be given flowers.'
    'Don't know no ladies.'
    'I see.'
    The flower seller looked down at his feet. He was a weird one, skin all messed up like he'd been burned or something. Jackson blinked and the skin was back to normal.  
    'How about one red rose then? The bitches love a red rose.'
    He balled his hands into fists and leaned over the table between the flowers. 'You taking the piss?'
    'Not at all, sir, merely meeting you in a place I thought you'd be comfortable.'
    'I ain't never gonna be comfortable round a poofter like you, get it?'
    'Absolutely, sir. I can offer you a sample. Here, take the rose for free, please.'
    Jackson looked at the flower held out to him and the scent caught his nose and trapped it. He could see Mam, he could almost hear her. With a growl he lashed out and smashed the head of the rose, sending the petals flying. He stomped away, not wanting to look the flower seller in the eye, and not sure why.  
    He got a few paces before he stopped and checked himself. He always looked people in the eye. He turned, hands shaking from being clenched so hard and approached the man. He stood where he'd left him, the empty rose stem still clutched in his hand. As Jackson approached, he raised his head and their eyes met.  
    'That was unnecessary.'
    'Screw you, offering me a rose.'
    'What is so bad about offering you a rose?'
    'What the heck? You think I'm a poofter or summink?'
    'I merely thought you might like something to give your woman when you got home. I'm sure you have one, you carry yourself like a man used to getting what he wants.'
    'Damn right. Why would I want to give her anything?'
    'Not to put too fine a point on it, to keep her sweet. Sometimes it's easier to stroke than keep clear of the claws.'
    What the hell was he talking about? He was right though, she wouldn't... he glanced at his watch and swore. They would be here in a few minutes and he was too far away. What the hell had he been thinking? And where had the bloody time gone?
    He dashed down Embankment, leaving the roses on the stall.  

Interlude

    The flower seller watched him go, satisfied with the smear of water and rose petal on the back of Jackson's hand. It didn't count as receiving, not strictly, but it would do.  
    That was lazy. But if these were the only tools they gave him, what did they expect? He could probably have tried harder, but he'd tried and that's what counted. He turned back to the stall and started to pack up. There was work still to be done.  
    He tried to keep the smile from his face, but he couldn't help cracking a grin. What a singularly unpleasant man. His list entry had made it quite clear how nasty a piece of work he was, but he was all that and more in the flesh.  
    He felt it, his old life, at times like this. It had been centuries, but he couldn't help remembering the old thrill when an opportunity arose. It was, he thought, the creative part of himself, stifled from his time in the Flights. They didn't appreciate creativity in the Dome. They appreciated numbers and results.  
    Well, he could have both. He opened his jacket and one by one placed the bunches of flowers inside, where they vanished. He whistled quietly to himself as he worked.  

Jackson Part Two

    How had he lost so much time? Bloody tourists. He shoved his way through the traffic, growling under his breath. They were meeting in the park. Him and the two of them on a bench, all cosy and out the way.  
    He was sweating, a thick sheen of it all over his dome. Bloody, sodding bollocks. He ran over the road and into the park. They wouldn't want to wait. And they wouldn't be impressed. He hadn't thought he cared that much but turns out he did.  
    He slowed as he neared the centre of the park and followed the instructions. He spotted them before they spotted him and took a moment to