IMPACT (Book 1): A Post-Apocalyptic Tale by Matthew Eliot Read Free Book Online Page A

awfully dangerous,” she said, her fingers tapping on the side of her teacup. “Couldn’t we try elsewhere, first?”
    “We have, haven’t we Cathy?” asked Frank.
    It took Cathy an instant too long to reply. Sean seemed to be almost incapable of tolerating her hesitation. He shuffled around in his seat and cleared his throat. Catherine blinked and shook her head slightly before replying. “Err, yes, Ms. Brand. Yes, we have. Anywhere that was half safe. We’ve looked and found nothing.”
    “I’d rather not put my men in danger any more, sending them off to look for meds and pharmacies without even knowing what they’re going to find,” added Bill.
    “It would be great to get hold of those medicines,” said Cathy. “If the ‘wraiths had them, they might be exactly what we need to treat the local afflicted.”
    “Yes,” said Bill, pensively, “ if the medicines are there, that is.” He turned to Edward. “Are you sure you saw them, Mr. Moore?”
    “Absolutely positive,” said Moore. “Of course, I can’t guarantee they’ll still be there by the time we get to Ashford, but it’s only been a couple of days, and I imagine it’s likely the ‘wraiths will still be haunting the warehouse.”
    Bill drew a deep breath. “I’ll need to give this some thought. Plan the logistics, you know.” The others nodded. “I’ll get back to you about this tomorrow.”
    “All right then,” said Ms. Brand, standing. She started collecting the tea cups as the others rose.
    “Thank you again, Marge. The tea was fantastic,” said Moore, handing her his own cup. Ms. Brand blushed.
    “I’m sure we’re all very happy to have you here, Mr. Moore.”
    Sean nervously cleared his throat again.
    Not quite all of us , thought Paul.
    * * *
    They stood outside on the school’s doorstep and said their goodbyes.
    Sean scuttled off almost immediately with a quick, awkward wave of a hand, and disappeared into the night, his hood raised.
    One by one, they gradually all headed home, until only Catherine, Edward, and Paul were left standing there.
    “It was nice to see a new face in Church, Mr. Moore,” said Paul, his words condensing in white puffs of vapour. “There are very few willing to listen to the Word of the Lord, nowadays.”
    “Oh,” Edward was slightly embarrassed. “I’m actually agnostic, Father.” Catherine looked at him, with a faint smile. Paul knew she, too, was an agnostic – or perhaps an atheist. “We were there ‘cause Mathew wanted to pop in. His mother, you see…” Moore just let the words hang there, before moving on with a vague gesture of his hand. “We’d just arrived, and I didn’t want to leave him alone.”
    “Oh, I see,” said Paul.
    “I hope I haven’t offended you, Father.”
    “Please, call me Paul. And no – you haven’t. But do let Mathew know he’s welcome to come by any time he likes. And you too, of course.”
    “Thank you, Father. And please, both of you, call me Edward.”
    “Where are you staying?” asked Catherine.
    “Oh, we found an abandoned house, just north of the castle. Stunning view. We just set up camp there, I hope it’s OK.”
    “Absolutely,” she said. “If it was empty, that’s fine.”
    A slight, embarrassed silence fell on the three of them.
    “I’ll be off then,” said Catherine. “It was nice meeting you, Edward.” She smiled and extended a gloved hand. They shook, and Paul wondered whether Moore was aware of her attraction towards him. If he was, he didn’t show it.
    “Nice meeting you, too. All of you.”
    They each waved, and ventured off in different directions, across Bately’s deserted streets.
    As Paul walked past Angus’s house, he heard a faint wailing sound coming from behind the drawn curtains.

Chapter 10
Walscombe
    Atlantis was to be his tomb.
    Walscombe had known this the instant the news had come through about the failed attempts at diverting the meteorites’ trajectories. He had laughed when he heard that the