The Restless Dead: A Zombie Novel by Jenny Thomson Read Free Book Online Page B

secret message has passed between them. I think it’s weird until realisation dawns. Kenny hasn’t mentioned any family.
    “What about your family, Kenny?” I ask him gently.
    He doesn’t say anything.
    “You do have family here, don’t you?”
    He swallows. “Of course I have family.”
    “No you don’t,” Mustafa says.
    “I do.” For the first time since we met him, he seems agitated. Kenny closes his eyes. When he opens them again, tears are reflected in his glasses. Scott and Mustafa do what men always do when another man cries. They focus their attention elsewhere. “I just don’t know where.”
    “He’s a care home kid.” Mustafa just belts it out like it’s his job to reveal the facts.
    Kenny’s face reddens. “Why did you have to go and tell them?”
    “Because it’s the truth,” says Mustafa. “So don’t tell Emma what she shouldn’t do for her family. Let them go. You can come with me. From now on, my family is your family.”
    Kenny gazes down at his feet. “Count me out.”
    “Fine,” Mustafa says with finality. “You can stay here by yourself, take your chances with the dead bastards on your own.”
    Kenny eyed Mustafa wearily. “You wouldn’t just leave me?”
    “I would. You’re useless in a fight anyway.”
    “For fuck’s sake.” Scott’s outburst makes me flinch. “You two are un-fucking-believable.” It’s not like him to let loose like this or to swear.
    All eyes are on him.
    “First off, Muzz, don’t be such a pain in the backside. If Kenny wanted to tell us he was raised in a children’s home, that’d be for him to say, not you.”
    Mustafa bristles. “I’m just trying to help him. Why’s he got to get all righteous on me?”
    Scott ignored him. “Next off, we’re leaving nobody behind. Kenny can drive us to your parents’ place then we can go to Fiona’s—”
    “No way,” I shout. “We go to Fiona’s first.”
    “Like hell,” Mustafa jumps in. “My parents’ house first.”
    “Scott, that’s not fair.”
    He looks at me, nods. “She’s right. We’ll take our pal Dan's car. It’s only a few streets from here. Kenny, if you don’t want to be left alone, I suggest you drive Muzz to get his family.”
    Kenny glares at Mustafa. “He’s no getting in my car.” 
    “Come on, man,” says Mustafa. “It’s a long walk—”
    Kenny’ shoulders slump. “All right, I’ll take you.” He turns to me and Scott. “Will you two be okay on your own?”
    Scott nods and says, “Let’s meet up at Craigen Castle tomorrow. We couldn’t ask for a better hideout.”
    “Scott’s right.” Kenny tosses his useless CB aside. “That’s a good place to hold up. It’s on a hill so it’ll be easy to see if any zombies are coming.”
    Mustafa retrieves his broken phone. “We’ll bring my family with us.”
    “Then it’s settled.”
    Scott’s taken his students on field trips to see Craigen Castle, so he knows it well. Its four miles from Glasgow city centre, so we won’t have to drive far (once we get a car, that is). It’s surrounded by a defensive ring ditch, and is set well away from any houses, so there’s less chance of dead bastards happening by. Best of all, there’s only one way in and out, which makes it easier to defend.
    Once we’ve all gathered up our things: Scott and I our bat, axe, and backpacks, we trudge outside. After Kenny’s warm flat the winter chill is a shock to the system. 
    As I watch Mustafa and Kenny climb in his ancient Ford Cortina, there’s a sinking feeling in my gut because I think that I’ll never see either of them again. I wish I’d said a proper goodbye to Kenny and wished him luck.
    As snowflakes gently fall around us, Scott and I hold hands and walk to Dan's house. When we get there, Scott's body tenses.
    “It’s gone.” Dan's car is nowhere to be seen. “Either he made a fast getaway or someone stole it.”
    “Then we need to appropriate another one,” I say.
    Scott flashes me a smile.