The Undead Day Twenty by RR Haywood Read Free Book Online

what?’ Howie says.
    ‘Paco Maguire,’ Maddox says, still on the ground and wanting to get up but sensing that getting to his feet right now might not be the best tactical move. ‘They said Paco Maguire got them here…with a woman called Heather…said they were attacked all night…twenty miles from here…’
    ‘Paco’s dead,’ Howie says, ‘get up…Blowers, don’t punch Maddox again.’
    ‘Roger that.’
    ‘Can I?’
    ‘No, Blinky.’
    ‘Sir.’
    ‘Where are these kids? In that van?’
    ‘Yeah,’ Maddox says, moving slowly back to his feet while holding his hands away from the pistol on his belt. ‘Can I pick my rifle up?’
    ‘Eh?’ Howie asks, ‘er yeah sure…don’t point it at anyone’
    ‘What’s going on?’ Paula asks, coming out and sniffing the air. ‘Is that bread?’
    ‘Kyle made it,’ Cookey says again.
    ‘Smells so nice. What’s going on? Maddox? Who hit you?’
    ‘I did.’
    ‘Christ, pulled the punch then,’ Paula says, blinking quickly. ‘He’s still alive. Bloody hell that bread smells nice. What is it…if anyone says bread I will be cross.’
    ‘Bread rolls,’ Cookey says.
    ‘Ooh get me one, Cookey. Howie? Want a bread roll?’ Paula says.
    ‘Yeah, yeah I’d love one cheers.’
    ‘Want jam?’ Cookey asks.
    ‘He’s brought jam?’ Paula asks. ‘What flavour?’
    ‘Dunno…Kyle?’ Cookey asks, turning round to see Kyle has gone back inside. What flavour jam is it?’ he calls out.
    ‘Blackcurrent.’
    ‘Blackcurrent,’ Cookey says.
    ‘Ooh yeah, yeah bread and jam,’ Paula says, pulling her hair back then tutting on realising she doesn’t have a hairband.
    ‘Here, Paula…’ Charlie says, sliding one from her wrist.
    ‘Thanks, Charlie…er…I can’t let it go now…’
    ‘I’ll do it, ponytail?’
    ‘Yeah please, nice and tight…thanks.’
    ‘Boss? You want jam on your roll?’ Cookey asks.
    ‘Yeah please, mate. Everyone else having jam?’
    ‘I’m having jam,’ Clarence says, walking out. ‘Blowers?’
    ‘Yeah, cheers, Cookey.’
    ‘What the fuck? I’m not making everyone’s.’
    ‘I’ll help you,’ Charlie says.
    ‘Fuck yes! Best day ever. Maddox got twatted and me and Charlie are gonna fall in love making jam rolls.’
    ‘Right so…oh yeah, Paco?’ Howie asks, finally turning back to Maddox. ‘Paula, some kids in that van said Paco got them here.’
    ‘Paco Maguire? I thought the dog killed him.’
    ‘She did,’ Clarence says.
    ‘Can’t be then,’ she says obviously.
    ‘Go and ask,’ Howie says.
    ‘Me?’
    ‘Yeah, you’re good with kids…’
    ‘You want me to ask if a dead Hollywood actor brought them here?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘The same bloke you all saw being killed by Meredith.’
    ‘Um…yes.’
    ‘Okay…fine. I’ll go and ask that then.’
    ‘And they said they were attacked twenty miles away.’
    ‘By the dead actor or someone else?’
    ‘Dunno I wasn’t there…’
    ‘Wasn’t where?’ Marcy asks, walking out to look at Maddox’s bleeding lip questioningly.
    ‘I did,’ Blowers says.
    ‘You did?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘He’s still alive.’
    ‘Didn’t hit hard.’
    ‘Lucky you,’ Marcy tells Maddox.
    ‘Want a bread roll with jam, Marcy?’ Cookey asks.
    ‘Bloody do I? Yes! Yes please, Cookey.’
    ‘Marcy, give me a hand,’ Paula says, nodding at the van.
    ‘With what?’
    ‘We’ve got to ask some kids if a dead actor got them here.’
    ‘That makes total sense,’ Marcy says.
    ‘Kids said Paco Maguire got them here,’ Howie says.
    ‘Paco? He’s dead…didn’t Meredith kill him?’ Marcy asks.
    ‘She did,’ Clarence says.
    ‘And they said they were attacked twenty miles away,’ Howie says.
    Marcy nods, nothing in this world is surprising anymore, apart from the smell of fresh bread that is. That’s surprising. And jam too. ‘Okay,’ she says simply, following Paula to the van.
    ‘Do Pea and Sam and Dave’s mum want a bread roll with jam?’ Cookey shouts from the