Chapter 22
The late spring sunshine poured in through the large south facing windows, motes of dust dancing in the shafts of light as they lanced through the members drawing room.
In one corner of the room two figures sat in plush leather arm chairs, swirling large goblets of brandy and talking in pushed tones.
"Well Rupert old chap, looks like things are progressing well" said the minister
"Very well indeed Bertie, with your invaluable help" responded Rupert raising his glass in salute. "The SZS is effectively finished, its charismatic leader disgraced and on the run and our anti-zombie policy under review"
The minister shifted in his seat and took a sip of his drink "Yes, about Major James. Seems like it was all too much for him. I understand clothes and a note have been found on the Albert embankment. No body has been washed up yet, but I imagine it will only be a matter of time"
His guest leaned forward in his seat "Really? Well that's even better then" responded Rupert with a smile.
"I'm intrigued, Rupert. Why destroy the man's career and reputation, essentially driving him to suicide. It wasn't strictly necessary to achieve your ends. Is there something... personal in all of this for you" asked the minister.
The businessman looked into the deep golden brown of his drink "I knew James at university. There was a girl..."
"Ah, I see. Win her from you did he?" Pressed his friend.
"Stole her more like" said Rupert bitterly "in he waltzes with his hair and his eyes, his big hands and...other attributes. I knew she was taken with him..." He paused and took a mouthful of drink, grimacing as the fiery liquid went down his throat. "It was little things at first, suggestions I try a low slung belt, false tan on my forearms, wear a big chunky watch, rub dirt into my face...Then it was the brown wavy haired wig and insisting i grow stubble, twitch my lip and roll my tongue like some kind of lunatic...but the worst was to come..." Rupert took a shaking breath and closed his eyes.
"My dear chap what did she make you do?" said the minister fascinated.
"She made me wear...the body suit" the businessman forcing the words out through clenched teeth.
His friend shifted uneasily in his chair. "A what?"
"A hideous affair with face mask, prosthetic muscles and a built in...pump"
"A pump?" Queried the minister
Rupert nodded "yes a pump..."
The minister cleared his throat "So... She left you and hooked up with him"
"Yes" said Rupert "...and six months later they were married. Didn't last of course, the cad was too much in love with the army. Heard they divorced eighteen months ago..."
The minister nodded and they both sat in silence for a time sipping their drinks. Then Rupert resumed:
"So Bertie, I think we are ready to move to phase 2 of the plan"
"Phase 2? I thought we had achieved what we wanted." Said the minister with some concern
"Not yet" said Rupert "the SZS may be out of the way but no firm decision has been made on what the alternative strategy will be. We need to show that there is no option but for Britain to have its own zombie army"
"But how are you going to do that?" Said the minister
"Leave that to me" replied Rupert enigmatically.
"Well at least you can release the people you have...changed can't you. Lots of worried relatives and all that." Pressed the minister.
"Don't worry about them Bertie. They are perfectly safe and will be returned to their loved ones when I have finished with them." Replied Rupert with a chilling smile.
The minister made to speak but changed his mind, and instead summoned the steward to refill their glasses...
James opened his eyes and looked around the unfamiliar bedroom. For a moment he was at a loss to explain where he was and how he had got there but slowly the memory of recent events seeped back into his awareness.
He and Beck had walked to what his friend described as a safe house near the Oval Cricket ground in Kennington. There James had enjoyed his first proper meal in days whilst Beck had outlined what he knew of the events surrounding James' fall from grace.
"It looks like someone has executed a well thought out plan to discredit you and the SZS. Sherman isn't sure why yet, but the motive certainly isn't terrorism related. They are well resourced with access to the zombie pathogen and the ability to monitor encrypted communications."
"Which is how they knew about his emails and calls to me and were able to send that false message luring me to the hotel?" queried James
"Exactly. In doing so they caused you to abscond, essentially making you a fugitive and neutralising your ability to influence events. Very clever really." Beck had confirmed.
"Someone within government or the military do we think?" Said James
"Possibly, or with the ability to exercise influence in those quarters."
James had nodded then looked at Beck. "So how did you know where to find me?"
"Once Sherman learned that you had escaped from custody he used the intelligence resources at his disposal to look out for a clue as to where you might be." Said Beck
"But I was really careful not to leave any electronic trace" said James "I haven't used any cash or credit cards..."
"Yes, we didn't have a clue until yesterday when you made a phone call from your mobile which Sherman was able to trace. It was then a case of plugging into the CCTV network until we picked up your trail."
James had winced at the recollection of his short conversation with Molly then had forced that from his mind and asked "Why did he send you. Why didn't he come himself"
"Too dangerous. He thinks he is being followed so he asked me to bring you in and I was happy to oblige. Nobody would suspect an old tranny like me of being in any way important"
"How wrong they are" James had said with a smile.
"Bless you dear. Now we need to start thinking about what we do next. First thing is that you need to take your clothes off"
James had looked at Beck in some alarm.
"Oh for goodness sake" exclaimed his friend "my intent is pure, for once. Besides although I do like a bit of stubble and grime, there are limits, even where you are concerned. I want your clothes not you and, once you have had a good wash, I need you to write something for me"
"Write something?" James had queried.
"Yes, a suicide note..."
Back in the present James stretched tentatively, his side was still very sore and his muscles ached. He glanced over at the clock on the bedside table. It said 8pm. He had slept for nearly 24 hours but it had not been a particularly restful slumber with the image of Molly's hurt and tearful face materialising again and again in his dreamscapes.
There was a knock at the door "Charles are you awake?" Said Beck
"Yes, come in Jonathan"
Beck walked in. "Well it's about time sleepyhead. How are you feeling?"
"Much better thanks, although I still feel battered and bruised" confessed James
"It could be much worse you could be dead which, incidentally , is what the rest of the world thinks you are" said Beck and placed a copy of the Evening Standard on the bed. James read the front cover
'Absconded Officer Feared Drowned' read the headline.
James stared at the paper.
"Was there no other way?" He said
"Not really" said Beck sympathetically. "This should take the heat off you for a time and enable us to act with more freedom"
"Whilst devastating my family" said James in a quiet tone.
Beck moved closer and put a comforting hand on James' shoulder. "For a short while, but in the long run it gives us the opportunity to right some terrible wrongs"
James nodded sadly. Beck paused then said carefully "Molly will also be devastated I am sure"
James looked up at his friend with a desperate hope "do you think so?"
Beck smiled "I am sure of it"
James cleared his throat. "So what now?"
"I want you to rest up and give those injuries an opportunity to heal" said Beck. "Now how about a very late breakfast?"
Over the next few days James recuperated in the small flat. Beck called in once a day to check on him and sometimes stayed to share a meal. In between times James read or watched the television, scanning for any news of the recent attacks but nothing new was reported.
The zombies and their victims had disappeared without a trace and the authorities were clearly flummoxed. Then four days after his arrival in the flat, breaking news on the television signalled another incident, this time in Fulham. Grainy CCTV coverage told a familiar story as a group of ten or so zombies rampaged through the area before disappearing with their unfortunate victims shortly afterwards. The images seemed to confirmed that they were again a different set of attackers from the first and second incidents.
James paced the flat impatiently until Beck arrived.
"You've heard?" said Beck
"Yes. Jonathan I am going crazy in here. I need to do something. You said we have work to do and I'm ready to do it" Replied James
Beck looked appraisingly at him "Very well. I will need to make some arrangements. Be ready to leave in a couple of hours." With that Beck was gone.
True to his word Beck was back two hours later. They left the flat and walked to the Oval Underground Station. They then took the train to Bank and changed onto the District Line heading east.
James realised the route was familiar and looked at Beck curiously "where are we going?" he said
"You'll see" said Beck with a smile.
A little while later they alighted at Upton Park station and walked northwards along Green Street in the gathering dusk. At the end of a row of shops they turned down a narrow, potholed service road, picking their way past wheely bins and abandoned shopping trolleys until they reached a large warehouse building.
By the roller shutter door stood a thick set man in black. With his flat nose and cauliflower ear he reminded James of a night club bouncer. On seeing them approach the man came forward to challenge them "Yes, can I 'elp you?" He growled.
Beck walked ahead. "Good evening Harry" he said
"Oh, it's you ma'am, boss said to expect ya, go through" and with that he pressed a button on the outside wall. The roller shutter door then sprang into life, rising slowly until an opening had been created some four feet above the ground. Beck ducked under and into the brightly lit space beyond, beckoning James to follow.
James did so and the roller shutter then slowly descended behind them.
Inside all was activity with men walking backwards and forwards carrying packing cases and other equipment. From one side a voice suddenly thundered
"Section shun!"
The men dropped what they were carrying and sprang to attention. James walked further into the space and stared at the familiar figures. There was Brains and Nude Nut and Dangleberries...in fact all of two section standing stock still waiting for further orders.
James was so shocked he simply stood gawping. Even when Kinders marched up and saluted smartly reporting: "Two section mustered for your inspection sir" James only managed to point dumbly at his former unit and shake his head.
Beck leaned in towards James and whispered "it's been a little while but I think you have to say 'carry on Sargent'"
James snapped out of his trance and relayed the order. The soldiers then crowded round their officer as he pumped each hand and beamed from ear to ear. "But I don't understand" he said turning to Beck.
Kinders answered "Well you don't think we were going to leave you to crack this mystery on your own do you boss?"
"How did you all get permission..." Started James
"The lads have all been stood down pending reassignment after the SZS was suspended while I had a bit of leave owing. If we haven't sorted it by the time we are due back we'll just go AWAL" said Kinders with a smile.
James shook his head "I don't know what to say...thank you, thank you all"
James looked at each of them in turn, then around the room.
"Looking for someone?" Said Beck with a smile
"No...no not really" said James a little downcast.
"Are you massive cockwombles going to leave me to do all the work?" called a voice from behind them.
They all turned and there was Molly, hands on hips, grinning at them from the far side of the warehouse.
James met her eyes. The look which passed between them was so intense, the moment so charged that everyone seemed to hang in suspended animation waiting for the dam of pent up emotion to burst upon them.
Then from behind Molly appeared a lady in her mid sixties "for goodness sake girl, just get the snogging over with so we can all get on"
Molly smiled "whatever you say Nan" and with that she flew across the intervening space and into James' arms. He picked her up and span her around kissing her deeply and passionately.
"Oh get a room!" Said Baz Vegas and they all laughed.
James put Molly down then held both her hands in his. At a word from Beck the rest of them moved over to the far side of the warehouse and busied themselves.
James looked into those impossibly green eyes that he loved, hardly believing that she was there in front of him. Then he frowned:
"But Molly, our last conversation. I thought..."
"Yer your bloody phone went dead before I could finish...'how could you think that I could doubt you for a minute' was what I was going to say!"
James threw back his head and laughed with relief and delight. He then placed his hands either side of her lovely head and brushed away a tear of joy that had rolled down her soft cheek. He then bent down and kissed her slowly and gently.
After what seemed like a long time someone cleared their throat beside them. They both turned to find Molly's Nan regarding them with a stern look.
"Ain't you gonna introduce us Moll" she said. Molly laughed and did so.
"This is Nan's...warehouse" explained Molly cryptically.
"Oh yes?" said James "are you in the wholesale business?" He asked
"In a manner of speaking" replied Nan. "Import, export that kind of thing"
The roller shutter door then started to clank open again and Harry stepped through.
"Ere Boss" he said
Both James and Nan answered "yes?" at he same time.
"He's talking to me" she explained, then turned to Harry "What's up?"
Harry approached them "there's an idiot of a septic tank outside, dressed like a plonker and talking like that Dick Van Dyke bloke in Marry Poppins"
Beck hurried over "oh God its Sherman in his cockney disguise. Can you humour him dear, he thinks its impenetrable."
"Yes, of course" said James somewhat bewildered.
Nan gave Harry the nod who rolled his eyes and went to fetch the visitor. He then returned with Morley who was dressed like a pearly king and sporting a ridiculous false nose.
Striding into the room the American then declared "Cor luv a duck, how's yer father, me old china" in the most appalling Cockney accent James had ever had the misfortune to hear.
"Ummmm very well, thank you" said James "are you er looking for other genuine ummm cockneys just like yourself?"
Morley then whipped his hat and false nose off with a laugh and said "No James for it is I Morley!"
James did a mock double take then exclaimed "well I never! Morley you had me completely fooled" whilst Molly looked away in a vain effort to hide her giggles.
"Sorry about that James but needs must. Its important I am not seen to be associated with this operation. You understand?"
James nodded and they walked together further into the warehouse.
"I have tried to provide you with all you will need to investigate these zombie attacks. There is a plentiful supply of the solution in liquid and ammunition form together with immersion tanks and sound systems."
James looked around and nodded.
"You also have some state of the art surveillance and monitoring equipment" continued Morley as they approached a bank of monitors, keyboards and other equipment in one corner of the large space.
Brains was sat at a desk in front of the array with a headset on and scrolling through a screen full of computer code.
James noticed a sign on the desk with the words 'freezing fog' printed on it.
"What's that private?" Asked James
Brains looked up. "Its my user name or tag sir. Means I can go on to sites incognito and gather info"
"How did you come up with that?" James queried
"Freezing 'cos I'm cool and fog 'cos I'm mysterious" shrugged Brains "I wanted to call myself 'ice mist' but that was already taken"
"Oh I see" said James and they moved on.
The tour of the facility was soon complete and Morley turned to James
"Well that's it, over to you now to see if you can figure out who's behind these attacks and what they want. I will feed any intel I get from my sources through but given that this may be an internal issue within your government I cannot be seen to be doing anything overtly."
"I understand Colonel" said James, and he did. He had been given a chance to clear his name and restore the pride of his unit as well as save the country from a mysterious threat. He was determined that he would not squander that chance...