Surviving the Fall: How England Died by Stephen Cross

blood and human insides. She had just smashed a crowbar into two skulls. But she nodded. She was ok.
    Mac pushed the dresser out of the way and opened the door. She ran into the room, and burst into tears.
    Angie and Mac both took her and hugged her, blood and guts and all.

Chapter 8
     
    Mac nailed the final plank into place over the window. Still one more window to go, but he would be done by sundown, only an hour or so away. He picked up the pile of planks and hobbled over to it.
    Placing the plank over the last window, he began hammering.
    “Time for a break Mac,” said Ellie. She placed a cup of tea down on the table.
    “Thanks love, that’s just great. How’s Angie?”
    “She’s upstairs, sleeping.” Ellie sat down and sipped from her cup of tea. “How long do you think it will be before the army get here?
    “I don’t know, could be any time. I think we’ll hear on the radio first. Important to keep scanning the radio. I imagine they would put out some sort of broadcast once they have restored order in London.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    Mac blew gently on his tea and took a sip. “I do too.”
    They sat in silence for a few minutes. Mac still felt tired in the mind. The events of yesterday now seemed but a dream. He kept thinking, what if I just drive into town, what if everything is normal and it all just happened in my head?
    But the fire plumes kept rising. The jets kept flying. The customers stayed away. And one of the infected had been scratching and moaning by the front door earlier that morning. He had watched through a gap in the curtains until it went away, stumbling blindly back onto the road and disappearing from view. He hadn’t told the women, but had decided it was best to tighten up defences. No telling how long they would be in the pub.
    “How much food have we got?” asked Ellie.
    “Enough,” he said. “We have tins of stuff that will stay good for months. Water should be ok, as long as it keeps raining. I’ve got a water butt out back.
    “Don’t you worry, Ellie, you’ll be safe here, and I’d guess you’ll be giving birth in a few months in some military hospital somewhere.”
    “Not what I had in mind.” She laughed quietly.
    “No, life does throw the odd curveball. That’s for sure.” He remembered his son. So many years ago, but still so much pain.
    A loud click sounded, and they were in darkness. The lights had gone out.
    “Mac…’ whispered Ellie.
    He sighed. “I guess the power has gone.”
    Angie shouted from upstairs.
    “Come on, let’s go and see to Angie.”
    Angie lay in the darkness and looked up in relief when Mac and Ellie came into the room.
    “What’s happened Mac? Is it a fuse?”
    “You ok?”
    She nodded.
    “I’ll go check the fuses.” He was back a few minutes later, torch in hand.
    “Not a fuse, it looks like the power has gone.”
    Angie began to cry. Mac leaned in and wrapped his arms around her. “Hey, don’t worry. It’ll be ok, like one big camping trip.”
    “Don’t be stupid. Of course it won’t.” She found herself smiling anyway. “But thanks.”
    “Right, I’ll go and get our camping gear, candles, and I have a little stove somewhere,” said Mac. “I’ll rustle up some dinner.”
    Ellie said, “I’ll help. Tell me where things are and I’ll go get them, your leg…”
    “Don’t worry about me, I’ll-”
    “No Mac,” said Ellie. “I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it’s not so much out of concern for your leg, but more that we need you to get better. We need us all at our full strength.”
    Ellie stood up, her frame casting a large shadow in the torch light. “Things are different now.”
    Mac nodded. “Right you are…” He picked up the crowbar from beside the bed and passed it to Ellie. “Right you are.”

 
     
    Zone Lima Delta

Chapter 1
     
    Sergeant Donald Allen stared straight ahead as Second Lieutenant Dalby read the mission orders to the platoon. Allen sensed the nervousness in