Read Online Surviving The Evacuation (Book 5): Reunion by Frank Tayell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Frank Tayell
Tags: Zombies
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Yorkshire Moors
“Wait, you lured the undead into the Tube tunnels to destroy the government?” Nilda asked, genuinely appalled.
“What would you have done? These are the people who launched the nuclear attacks. They created the undead.”
“But you didn’t know that! All you knew was that they had culled the population with that vaccine.”
“And that wasn’t enough?”
“Don’t try and weasel your way out of it. You used the undead to kill hundreds of people. And most of them wouldn’t have had any more of an idea of what was going on than I did.”
“They were just obeying orders, that’s what you mean.”
“Don’t you dare!” she snapped, standing up. “You acted out of calculated self-interest. Nothing more. You said it yourself, you were ready to kill those people in the farm to protect yourselves.”
“Yes,” he said, his tone so meek that Nilda stopped and looked at him properly. She breathed out, and replayed what he’d told her. “So why are you telling me?”
“Because you asked. I’m not saying I’d tell anyone else. Nor am I for one moment suggesting we’ve got some kind of special bond forged in the fire of conflict. That’s just romantic nonsense. N’ah. If I’m honest, I’m being entirely selfish. Out here, these past few months, there’s been silence and polite conversation. I’ve not had anyone to talk to, not really. There was Mr Tull, but that was more like a confession. There’s Bran, but talking to him is like talking to stone. He listens, but he doesn’t tell you what he’s thinking. I needed to tell someone, and you’re here.”
“Huh!” She sat down again. “And I suppose you’ll say that you’re a different person now.”
“Nope. I’m exactly the same. Yes, if I were to do it again, I’d plan on using the undead as a weapon. But Quigley’s dead. So’s Cannock. The undead are the only threat left. I’ve always known that I was going to die, and that it wasn’t going to be a clean and pleasant death, but I was a very young man when I learned that no one’s passing is ever easy. Right at the end, it’s nothing but pain. Most people don’t understand that. They think of it only in the abstract. We’re all going to die, and if I’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that the journey is more important than ever.”
“You’re seeking redemption? That’s why you’re here with me?”
Chester laughed, though it was devoid of humour. “N’ah. I guess I’m just curious as to whether redemption’s going to find me.”
“Alright,” she said slowly, deciding that whilst he was talking she’d have an opportunity to work out her next move. “So that was the first couple of days after the evacuation. Then you lured the undead down into the Underground, killed the remains of the government in London and—”
“No, you’re getting ahead of yourself. I said that was our plan. I didn’t say that was what we did.”
“You didn’t destroy the government?”
“There was no need. As you say, that was a couple of days after the evacuation. Or as I like to think of it, a couple of days before the power went out.”
“So why did you tell me?” she asked, now more confused than ever.
“Because sometimes, intentions are as bad as deeds.”
Which, again, didn’t really explain why he was telling her.
“So what did happen next?”
“Well, the mutiny and the nuclear war, though I didn’t know it at the time. The next day I went back to the warehouse and ‘found’ the list McInery had copied out. Each of those addresses gave us a few days food for a few people. You know, thinking back on it now, it was almost fun.”
“Fun?”
“Not the skulking through the streets part, one eye out for the undead, another for a helicopter overhead, ears pricked against the sound of the approaching government. N’ah, that wasn’t much fun, but back at the station, sorting through the packs and boxes and cans, working out
Yorkshire Moors
“Wait, you lured the undead into the Tube tunnels to destroy the government?” Nilda asked, genuinely appalled.
“What would you have done? These are the people who launched the nuclear attacks. They created the undead.”
“But you didn’t know that! All you knew was that they had culled the population with that vaccine.”
“And that wasn’t enough?”
“Don’t try and weasel your way out of it. You used the undead to kill hundreds of people. And most of them wouldn’t have had any more of an idea of what was going on than I did.”
“They were just obeying orders, that’s what you mean.”
“Don’t you dare!” she snapped, standing up. “You acted out of calculated self-interest. Nothing more. You said it yourself, you were ready to kill those people in the farm to protect yourselves.”
“Yes,” he said, his tone so meek that Nilda stopped and looked at him properly. She breathed out, and replayed what he’d told her. “So why are you telling me?”
“Because you asked. I’m not saying I’d tell anyone else. Nor am I for one moment suggesting we’ve got some kind of special bond forged in the fire of conflict. That’s just romantic nonsense. N’ah. If I’m honest, I’m being entirely selfish. Out here, these past few months, there’s been silence and polite conversation. I’ve not had anyone to talk to, not really. There was Mr Tull, but that was more like a confession. There’s Bran, but talking to him is like talking to stone. He listens, but he doesn’t tell you what he’s thinking. I needed to tell someone, and you’re here.”
“Huh!” She sat down again. “And I suppose you’ll say that you’re a different person now.”
“Nope. I’m exactly the same. Yes, if I were to do it again, I’d plan on using the undead as a weapon. But Quigley’s dead. So’s Cannock. The undead are the only threat left. I’ve always known that I was going to die, and that it wasn’t going to be a clean and pleasant death, but I was a very young man when I learned that no one’s passing is ever easy. Right at the end, it’s nothing but pain. Most people don’t understand that. They think of it only in the abstract. We’re all going to die, and if I’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that the journey is more important than ever.”
“You’re seeking redemption? That’s why you’re here with me?”
Chester laughed, though it was devoid of humour. “N’ah. I guess I’m just curious as to whether redemption’s going to find me.”
“Alright,” she said slowly, deciding that whilst he was talking she’d have an opportunity to work out her next move. “So that was the first couple of days after the evacuation. Then you lured the undead down into the Underground, killed the remains of the government in London and—”
“No, you’re getting ahead of yourself. I said that was our plan. I didn’t say that was what we did.”
“You didn’t destroy the government?”
“There was no need. As you say, that was a couple of days after the evacuation. Or as I like to think of it, a couple of days before the power went out.”
“So why did you tell me?” she asked, now more confused than ever.
“Because sometimes, intentions are as bad as deeds.”
Which, again, didn’t really explain why he was telling her.
“So what did happen next?”
“Well, the mutiny and the nuclear war, though I didn’t know it at the time. The next day I went back to the warehouse and ‘found’ the list McInery had copied out. Each of those addresses gave us a few days food for a few people. You know, thinking back on it now, it was almost fun.”
“Fun?”
“Not the skulking through the streets part, one eye out for the undead, another for a helicopter overhead, ears pricked against the sound of the approaching government. N’ah, that wasn’t much fun, but back at the station, sorting through the packs and boxes and cans, working out
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