The Virus by Lee, Damien (summer books txt) 📕

you want someone backing you up?”

“That fat bastard is only good for a shield. What other use does he have?”

“He can fly,” Tina muttered, her attention focused outside once again.

Frank turned towards the teenager with a scowl. “He can fly? What is he a superhero?”

“No, he can fly a plane! He told me earlier. It’s a hobby or something.”

Frank looked from the teenager back to Lisa, who gave him a smug grin.

“We can use these people.”

Frank stared at her as he considered the option, listening to the screams outside. With a snarl, he cocked the shotgun and strode out of the room. He released the locks and swung the door wide. The sudden burst of sunlight blinded him as he stepped outside, but he could still see the figures nearby. Atop the prison van stood the distraught couple, trying to maintain balance as the two zombies below slammed against the vehicle. The creature closest to him reminded Frank of a young Ronnie Corbett. He was a small, pudgy man wearing a stained waistcoat and trousers. He turned as Frank levelled the shotgun.

The blast sounded like a clap of thunder, splattering the man’s head into tiny pieces. The body fell, giving him a clearer view of the second zombie as it charged closer. Frank squeezed the trigger, reducing its head to a pulp.

“Get in, now!”

The pair jumped down and darted into the house, closely followed by Frank. He slammed the door and applied the locks once more before joining the group in the living room.

“Thank you.” Simon wheezed, his hands on his knees.

“Don’t thank me yet. I still don’t know how useful you’re gonna be. Tina says you know how to fly?”

“I do.”

“Okay, that’s one point. Do you own a plane?”

The man shook his head.

“And you’re back to zero.”

Frank hurled the empty shotgun aside and flopped into the armchair. The rest of the group sat on the couch, all except Lisa, who stood with her arms folded.

“So what’re we gonna do?” she asked.

“We’re going to have to make some kind of plan.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. But we’re going to need supplies soon. We’re also going to need to reinforce this place until we come up with a better plan.”

The group nodded in agreement.

“Now I don’t know any of you, and to be honest, I don’t give a shit about any of you.” He looked from face to face. “But now is the time to learn a bit more about each other and what skills we can bring to the group. Agreed?”

They all nodded.

“Okay, then let’s start with you, Tubs.”

“Me?” Simon asked.

“Yeah, you. What skills have you got?”

“I can fly?”

“Yeah, but what use is that if we don’t have a plane? I can’t even think where the nearest airfield is.”

“That old army base up north,” Lisa muttered.

“Will there be any planes left?”

“I doubt it.”

“Exactly.”

“What about Teesside Airport?”

“It’s too far to travel.”  Frank turned back to Simon. “So what can you do apart from flying?”

“I don’t know,” he stammered.

“Well, what are you good at?” Frank persisted. “What do you do for a living? Are you a joiner, electrician?”

“I’m a solicitor.”

Frank let out an exasperated groan while Lisa winced as if the man had just struck her.

“So you have no use at all.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I am good at some things.”

“Alright then, you’re a solicitor; so you’re a good liar. Next up we have Mrs. Tubs.” He turned towards Elaine.

“I can cook?” she said hopefully.

“Not great when we’ve got no food.”

“I can knit and sew.”

“Great. Except it isn’t winter and I don’t need a sweater.”

“I can clean.”

“Finally, you have a use!” Frank beamed, giving her an over-dramatic round of applause. He turned back to her husband. “Can you clean as well?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then your first job is to go upstairs and get rid of the Carters and that other woman.”

The pair looked at him with a horrified expression.

“Then when you’re done, you can clean the bedroom. That’s where you two will sleep tonight, so I’d do a good job if I was you.”

“We can’t sleep in there,” Simon gasped.

“And there’s me thinking I was being nice. Why the hell not?”

“Because Ronald and his wife are in there,” Elaine said. “There’ll be blood everywhere.”

“Hence the cleaning.”

“But they died in there. I can’t sleep in that room.”

“Okay then, you can either sleep there or you can sleep outside. Make a choice.” Not waiting for a response, he turned to the teenager. “What can you do?”

“I can put my legs behind my head.”

“Not something I was looking for.”

“Really? Most men love that.” She glanced over at Simon, who observed her with a curious stare.

“Hey!” Frank snapped, turning on the pair. “Those corpses aren’t gonna move themselves, at least not with their heads blown off. Get to it.”

He glared at the couple as they slowly rose from the couch. Once they left the room, he turned back to the teenager. “So what can you do?”

“I told you.”

“And I said I’m not interested. You’re half my age and very, very strange.”

“Your loss.”

“So give me a reason not to throw your arse outside.”

“I’m good with a blade. I’ve got good eyesight, good hearing. I’d be a good lookout. Oh, and I hate Roly and Poly as much as you.”

She motioned towards the door Simon and Elaine had exited. Frank snorted. He looked at Lisa, who shook her head in disbelief.

“You’ve won my vote. Why don’t you go put that good eyesight to use and find Ronald’s stash of ammo?”

The young woman nodded, disappearing into the hallway and out of sight. Frank turned to Lisa,