This Plague of Days, Season Two (The Zombie Apocalypse Serial) Read Free Page A

there so he answered a question the dentist had not asked. “If you’d stayed in London, you’d be dead. As soon as the food ran out, you’d have to go outside and then you’d be dead.”
    “And I would have had another few days with my Sheila.You took those decisions out of our hands. Always, remember, doctor. When London fell, all you were thinking of was saving your own skin. You’re a coward.”
    Sinjin-Smythe said nothing. Finally, he nodded. “I’m sorry. If there’d been more time and more options, I might have laid out your choices more clearly.”
    “Might have?”
    “Probably not. I’m a coward. That’s why I’m still alive.”
    McInerney’s eyes narrowed. “What did she say on the phone?”
    “Who?”
    “I saw you out by the rail. You were going to swim ashore and let those things take you. And I was going to let you. You had one foot up on the rail and then your phone rang. You talked a long time. Now you’re full of business and bound for America again. It was her, wasn’t it?”
    “She goes by Shiva now. It’s — ”  
    “I know what Shiva is, you idiot. Whatever you’ve got in that bag…you think you’ve got anything in there that can actually cure this madness?”
    “Maybe I can make a difference.”
    “For those little ones below?”
    “No,” Sinjin-Smythe replied. “For my little one. Shiva’s got a hostage.”
    “What’s her plan?”
    “She’s taking the Sutr-Z infection to America. She’ll attack New York first. She’ll do to it what she did to London.”
    “Why would she tell you that?”
    “Because that’s where I’m supposed to meet her.”

B UT KNOWING WILL NOT LESSEN THE SURPRISE
    T he first bedroom on the left was Ben’s room. Jack had helped Brandy paint it while Ben was away at camp. Ben had just turned twelve and complained the clown wallpaper was “babyish”. Jack and Brandy had scraped off the wallpaper and painted it bright green as a surprise. The work was a chore, but Brandy kept the pizza and champagne coming and the friends had laughed like schoolgirls.
    Ben grew into a handsome, charming and confident young man. He was Anna’s first date. However, as they moved through high school, they attended separate classes and their groups of friends didn’t mesh. Anna’s first crush fell apart. After the breakup, Anna kept her bedroom door closed all the time.  
    Jack had asked Brandy how it ended, but Brandy could only shrug. When pressed, she told Jack it was impolite to gossip about failed romances between families. “The world’s full of people to pick apart. Let’s not talk about our kids.”
    Jack had suspected that Ben had dumped Anna because, as sweet as Anna could be, she could also be a demanding princess.  
    “I wish you could see Anna now, Ben,” Jack told the empty room. The crisis had matured Anna. She didn’t act nearly so spoiled as she once had.  
    A broken thermometer lay on the floor by Ben’s empty bed. It looked like it had been stepped on. The sheets were soiled and brown.
    Jack moved down the hall and held her breath before opening the next door. Brandy’s bedroom was in as much disarray as the rest of the house. It was impossible to deduce anything from the chaos.
    Jack knew Brandy wasn’t there before she called out, but the sound of her own voice was a small comfort. “Brandy? It’s Jack! We’re getting out of here. We think we know a safe place. Come with us! Brandy…it’s me! I need you.” Hot tears slid down her cheeks.  
    The light was dimmest at the end of the hall. Jack’s heart pounded faster. The smell was strongest here and she took shallow breaths through her mouth.  
    The linen closet had been emptied, the door ripped from its hinges. The door lay on the floor and Jack had to step on it to peer into the bathroom.
    Weak daylight outlined the bathroom door, which stood slightly ajar. Jack pushed gently. It didn’t budge. She pushed harder. Nothing. Her breath wheezed fast in and out.
    Jack was