Read Online The Undead Day Nineteen by RR Haywood - Free Book Online Page B

threading through the crowd to peer down into the fort. ‘It is same,’ she snaps, glaring at Zayden, ‘why no work done?’
    ‘Been busy,’ Zayden shrugs, ‘Sierra said we’s got to eat and drink yeah? Said we’s tooled up now and in charge so’s we got to guard everyone and stay alert so’s we get food first.’
    ‘We need water up here,’ Lilly calls out, using the wall to pull herself up. ‘It’s hot. These people will be at risk of exposure and dehydration in this heat.’
    ‘Hey, Lilly,’ Zayden says, offering the pretty blond girl a big smile. ‘You’s can get some water yeah.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Lilly says, forcing herself to return the smile, ‘but everyone needs water.’
    ‘They’s get water when they work, you get me?’
    Lilly thinks quickly as she looks at Zayden. He’s fourteen, maybe fifteen at the most. Big for his age too. Broad framed with pimples pushing through the first wispy hairs on his chin.
    ‘Zayden,’ Lilly makes herself smile broadly and hold her blue eyes on his dark brown and she notices the sudden self-conscious shuffle of his feet. ‘I am sure we can get everything done and fixed up just the way Sierra wants but it’s so hot,’ she makes a point of wiping the sweat from her forehead. ‘You can’t expect people to work without water and food.’ She walks round the group of women and children sitting in front of her as Sam reaches behind her own back to grip the butt of the pistol. A movement that makes Pea tense and hold Billy close.
    ‘Tell you what,’ Lilly says, still smiling just for him, just for Zayden, ‘we’ll get everyone some water and food then we can get everything cleaned up and fixed. Is that okay?’ Womanly charms present for the first time in her young adult life. No. She did it once before with Nick in the field. You can have me if you want. Nick was different though. Nick wasn’t Zayden now looking her up and down with his eyes pausing on the swell of her breasts.
    ‘Sweet,’ Zayden says, his voice lower, rougher, hungrier, ‘s’good wiv me, Lilly.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Lilly says, making her eyes squint a bit in what she hopes is a look of genuine flirting. A dull pounding in the back of her skull. Her mouth feels so dry but she follows Lenski to the edge to look down. ‘Gosh,’ she says clearly. ‘There is a lot to do.’ She turns back, locking eyes on Sam leaning slightly forward with her hand hidden behind her back. A gentle shake of the head and Sam brings her empty hand round with a single nod as Pea breathes out the tension.
    ‘There is tap,’ Lenski says, ‘bottom of ramp. They use tap. Wash and drink.’
    Lilly catches the way Zayden stiffens at being told what to do by Lenski. His eyes hardening as his chin inclines with a retort forming on his lips.
    ‘Is it working though?’ Lilly asks, blinking heavily as she looks at Zayden and the two other boys, drawing their attention back to her. ‘I know some of them were broken last night, shall we go and check?’ She asks, her eyes lingering on Zayden.
    ‘Yeah alright,’ Zayden switches instantly, his mouth forming a smile that shows chipped and broken teeth already stained brown from lack of brushing.
    ‘We shall be right back,’ Lilly says, making her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. ‘I’ll call up, Lenski and you can start sending them down. That’s okay with you isn’t it, Zayden?’
    ‘S’good wiv me,’ Zayden says, staring at Lilly’s backside and turning to nod with a grin at the other two smirking boys.
    She feels like shit. She feels the worst she has ever felt in her life with a thirst that borders on being dangerous but if she feels like this then so must everyone else, Billy included. She walks along the edge of the crowd with Zayden and only looks back when they reach the top of the vehicle ramp. Pea and Sam staring after her looking intensely worried and Lenski stood with her arms folded as the two boys glare and show that surly