“I agree. We should look after her; she reminds me of my gran. Except my gran didn’t swear as much.”
They said no more as they enjoyed their ten minute rest. Nearby, Dave checked his watch every thirty seconds, keeping exact time of how long the group had left. He wore a constant look of irritation on his jowly face. The three prisoners stuck close to him; the trio of men seeming to move as one. Dash was constantly cracking crude jokes and laughing, while Jan wore an endless expression of disapproval. The third prisoner, Renee, stood completely still, watching all around him with a look of quiet interest.
That guy’s a mystery.
“Okay,” Dave said, checking his watch one last time. “Time to get moving. I think if we carry on in this direction it’ll only be a matter of time before we come out somewhere.”
“And then what?” Pauline asked. “What if there are more of those things?”
“We’ll remain in the treeline and check stuff out before we make any decisions. We can send a scout if need be.”
A scout, Nick thought to himself. Guy thinks he’s a field general or something.
There were no arguments, so everyone got moving. This time, however, instead of moving on ahead, Nick stayed back amongst the group; mainly so he could keep an eye on Margaret. The old lady had recently witnessed her friend being ripped apart and deserved their compassion, but right now she wasn’t getting it from the likes of Dave. Nick would have to make sure she was looked after.
***
Another half-hour went by before the woods thinned out. The dim sunlight started to slash the horizon, instead of just coming down through the tree canopy. The group slowed down as it became clear that the woods were coming to an end.
Dave hurried to the front of the group and put his hand up to stop them all. “We have to be careful,” he said. “We don’t know what lies up ahead. It’s quiet, so I don’t think it’s a motorway or anything, but it could still be dangerous.”
“We should send one person up ahead to check it out,” Jan suggested.
“Good idea,” said Dave. “Nick! Go see what we’re dealing with.”
Nick was surprised to hear his name. “Me?”
“Yeah, what’s the problem? Just stay low and keep out of sight.”
“And why don’t you do it?”
Dave huffed and pinched a roll of fat on his belly. “Because I’m not as light on my feet as you are.”
Nick sighed. He didn’t have a problem with going – it made sense. What he had a problem with was Dave thinking he had any right to give him orders.
Still, someone needs to do it. It might as well be me.
“Fine,” he said, already moving towards the clearing. “Everyone wait here.”
The ground ahead was free of the roots and undergrowth that had made their progress so laborious over the last few hours. It was a relief not having to step so carefully. He crouched down low as he headed towards the clearing, squinting to make out what was lurking beyond the distant treeline. As he crept, he concentrated on what he could hear as well as well as what he could see, but, aside from the various bird calls and wind-rustling bushes, there was total silence. He could only consider that as being positive; the last thing he wanted to hear was the bloodthirsty screech of an infected person.
It’s almost like an alarm they have. They see prey and go off like a siren.
Beyond the treeline was something large and grey – something manmade. As Nick crept closer, it became clear what he was looking at.
Well, I’ll be damned.
The car park on the edge of the woods was vast and empty. Its several hundred white-lined parking spaces were vacant; the whole area a barren field of weathered concrete. At the near end was a long, single-story building backing up against the base of a steep hill.