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Pearse and Conall share a worried look. Then Pearse rolls his eyes. "If B's going along, we have to go too." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.794883 | 7.1 |
"Yeah," Conall agrees. "We can't have a girl showing more balls than us." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.795736 | 7.1 |
"What a pair of modern-day knights," I laugh. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.796588 | 7.1 |
"Right," Rage says again, angry but resigned. "If you're all determined to be a pack of martyrs, let's stick in the plugs. We'll take them out when we get to the wall. Until then, it's silent mode." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.797441 | 7.1 |
I insert the ear plugs. They're wax and I carefully prod them about until they fill the space entirely, blocking out all sounds. It's not easy because of the bones sticking out of my fingers, but I manage and the world becomes an eerie, hushed place. Seconds later Rage looks round and we all give him the thumbs-up. His mouth opens and closes–he must be shouting to test the plugs–but nobody reacts except for Dan-Dan, who winces and covers his ears with his hands. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.798294 | 7.1 |
Rage checks with us again, then nods, takes firm hold of his hostage and moves forward into the open zone. The rest of us follow and take our first steps of the deadly march across no-man's-land, where we're easy prey for any snipers who might be keen to put a bullet or two through our undead brains. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.799147 | 7.1 |
I've seen the landmark brick building from a distance before, but never up close. It's massive—makes me feel like an ant. We approach from the east side. There's a smaller, newer building attached to it here, and several entrances. Most have been bricked up, but a couple are in working order, barred by sturdy steel gates. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.800853 | 7.1 |
I can't see any signs of life. I suppose, even with the zombie-repelling sirens, the residents prefer to keep a low profile, so as not to offer their brain-hungry enemies any incentive to gather and attack. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.801706 | 7.1 |
A few corpses are scattered around the wasteland. All have been shot through the head, evidence that while we might not be able to see anyone inside the power station, they must be able to see us. I feel wretchedly exposed. I have to force myself to push on at the same slow pace as the others, several meters removed from them, all on my own, with no place to shelter if the snipers open fire. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.802559 | 7.1 |
Even with the earplugs there's an unpleasant hum from the sirens. My teeth feel like they're shaking in their sockets and there's a ball of white-hot pain building at the back of my eyes. I want to be sick, but there's nothing inside my stomach to throw up. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.803412 | 7.1 |
Trying to distract myself, I wonder how the corpses we're passing made it this far. Maybe they were deaf and naturally immune to the invisible barrier of the sirens. That seems like the most logical answer until I peer more closely at one of the rotting carcasses and spot a stream of dried blood and gunk on its cheek, running from its ear. At first I'm confused. Then I realize that these zombies were so desperate that they must have pierced their own eardrums and deafened themselves in order to advance. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.804264 | 7.1 |
I stare at the pitiful corpse and fight back an almost overwhelming wave of grief. I don't know why this should hit me so hard, but for a moment I can't move. I stand, swaying, obsessed by the stain on the corpse's cheek, thinking of all that we have lost and done to ourselves as a people. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.805117 | 7.1 |
Then I force myself to look away and continue. There's no time for pity. I'll save it for later. Not that there's probably going to be a later for me. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.80597 | 7.1 |
We're almost at the power station when the buzzing from the sirens dies away. We pause and look at one another. Rage starts to remove an earplug. He eases it halfway out, waits cautiously, then slides it free. He nods to show it's okay and we all take them out. I keep mine in the palm of my hand in case they turn the sirens on again. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.806823 | 7.1 |
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Dan-Dan smiles. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.807676 | 7.1 |
"Speak for yourself," Conall mutters, rubbing his jaw. "I feel like someone's been scraping blackboards next to my head for the last twenty-four hours." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.808529 | 7.1 |
"You guys did a good job with the sirens," Rage compliments the human. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.809382 | 7.1 |
"Only the best for Dan-Dan and his chums," Dan-Dan chuckles. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.810235 | 7.1 |
"A pity you weren't so well set up on the HMS _Belfast_ ," I goad him. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.811087 | 7.1 |
He shrugs. "We weren't expecting an attack from the river, but we've learned our lesson. The sirens circle the building here." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.81194 | 7.1 |
I stare up at the towering brick wall of the power station. With my finger bones I could scale it easily–we can dig into brick as if it was mud–but I'm sure I'd be shot before I got anywhere near the top. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.812793 | 7.1 |
"What now?" I ask Rage. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.813646 | 7.1 |
"Let's wait for them to send a welcoming party." He doesn't look as edgy as the rest of us. He always was a cool customer. There's not much that shakes Rage. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.814499 | 7.1 |
Nothing happens for a few minutes. I start to edge closer to the others, feeling isolated, but Pearse spots me and goes, "Nuh-uh." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.815352 | 7.1 |
I scowl at him. "What will you do to stop me?" | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.816205 | 7.1 |
"Yell out that you're a threat to Dan-Dan," he grins wickedly. "They'll fire so many bullets into you that there'll be nothing left but ash." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.817058 | 7.1 |
"I was getting to like you," I snarl, "but I've gone right off you today." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.81791 | 7.1 |
"That's a shame," he sniffs. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.818763 | 7.1 |
A few more spine-tingling minutes pass. The hairs can't stand up on the back of my neck since I died, but even so it feels as if every one of them has stiffened to attention. I want to make a bolt for freedom. The tension is killing me, or would be if I hadn't already been killed. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.819616 | 7.1 |
Then the gate nearest us starts to swing open. They don't have a fast-release system like they had in New Kirkham, but I suppose they don't need one, given the effectiveness of the sirens. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.820469 | 7.1 |
I'm expecting the Ku Klux Klan, and quite a few Klanners do spill out, but there are also a lot of soldiers mixed in with them, which surprises me. I didn't think the army would grant its support to a pack of white supremacists. I suppose these might be rogue agents, but in that case why have they kept their uniforms? | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.821322 | 7.1 |
The Klanners and soldiers spread out and train their rifles on us. They keep their distance, hugging the wall. I can't see the faces of the hooded creeps, but the soldiers look as nervous as I feel. They don't like being out here in the open. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.822175 | 7.1 |
"Hi, guys," Dan-Dan booms. "I'm home." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.823028 | 7.1 |
Nobody responds. A few seconds later Owl Man appears, striding through the open entrance, Sakarias by his side. He's washed the dog since I last saw them. Its fur gleams, not a single bloodstain that I can see. It's panting softly and looks like a normal, huggable sheepdog. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.823881 | 7.1 |
Owl Man advances ahead of his troops, but stops well clear of us. He casts his gaze around and smiles. "What an odd-looking posse," he says, taking in our array of strange hats and heavy clothing. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.824733 | 7.1 |
"You're no fashion model yourself," Pearse throws back. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.825586 | 7.1 |
Owl Man turns his attention to our hostage. "Daniel," he nods. "I'm pleased to see you again." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.826439 | 7.1 |
"Likewise," Dan-Dan says. "I'll be even more pleased when you give them the boy, so that we can be rid of them. I hope you're not planning any nasty surprises. I don't care about their friend. I just want to get to my room, so that I can relax, summon my darlings and forget all about this ordeal." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.827292 | 7.1 |
"No need to worry," Owl Man assures him. "We have everything in hand." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.828145 | 7.1 |
"Vinyl's okay?" I shout. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.828998 | 7.1 |
"We have taken excellent care of him," Owl Man says. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.829851 | 7.1 |
"And the others? I want you to set them free too. You said you'd try. You gave me your word." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.830704 | 7.1 |
"I remember," Owl Man murmurs. "I have already broached the subject with my colleagues and they are open to negotiation. This will be a stress-free procedure. First we need to agree on a format for the swap. I'm sure you have some suggestions. I have a few ideas too. We'll discuss them out here until we're happy, then Vinyl will be fetched by our good friend Coley–maybe the rest of the New Kirkham gang too, depending on how things go–and the trade can be made." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.831557 | 7.1 |
I squint at him from behind my sunglasses. I'm always suspicious when things sound too good to be true. But Owl Man looks like he's telling the truth. Nobody's trying to sneak up behind us, and he hasn't sought to use me against the others. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.832409 | 7.1 |
"I must admit, I'm surprised to see you, Becky," he says. "After what happened in New Kirkham, I thought Dr. Oystein would urge you to stay away from me." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.833262 | 7.1 |
"He did. I ignored him." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.834115 | 7.1 |
"Ever the rebel," he chuckles. "That's what I like about you. It doesn't even bother you that your comrades are wary of the threat you pose, that they have insisted on a gap between you." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.834968 | 7.1 |
"That was my idea," I lie. "I won't let you set me against them." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.835821 | 7.1 |
"You don't need to worry," he says. "There will be no treachery here today." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.836674 | 7.1 |
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Rage says softly. Then, shocking everyone, both the living and the undead, he releases Dan-Dan, turns swiftly, makes a blade of his right hand and drives his bone-tipped fingers through the side of Conall's skull. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.837527 | 7.1 |
Conall falls without a word. I doubt he even saw the death blow coming. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.83838 | 7.1 |
Pearse screams and reaches out towards his collapsing friend. As he moves to catch Conall, Rage wraps an arm round Pearse's throat, then smashes a fist through the mesh of his beekeeping hat. Four or five quick blows, one after another, until he's punched through to the soft brain behind Pearse's face. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.839232 | 7.1 |
Pearse spasms. Rage releases him and steps away, shielding Dan-Dan from the revitalized's thrashing limbs and spurting blood. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.840085 | 7.1 |
"Careful, my lord," he says. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.840938 | 7.1 |
No more than a few seconds have passed, but it feels like the whole world has turned on its head. Nobody has had a chance to react. We're all gaping at Rage, mouths open, heads spinning. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.841791 | 7.1 |
"See?" Rage says with gloomy satisfaction, turning his gaze in my direction. "I told you you'd regret it if you came with us." Then he smiles twistedly. "Go ahead, boys," he roars at the soldiers and Klanners. "Blow the bitch away!" | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.842644 | 7.1 |
"Ignore that order!" Owl Man screeches before anyone can start shooting. He stares at Rage, bewildered, eyes even rounder than normal. "What the hell is going on?" | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.84435 | 7.1 |
"I'm switching sides," Rage says smugly. "Dan-Dan made me an offer I couldn't refuse." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.845203 | 7.1 |
"I thought you weren't interested in my riches," Dan-Dan gasps. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.846055 | 7.1 |
"Everyone has their price," Rage says. "I got interested when you started talking about a villa on a private island. I can see myself enjoying a long retirement somewhere hot and sandy, with a bevy of servants to wait on me." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.846908 | 7.1 |
"Oh, you bold, brilliant beast of a boy!" Dan-Dan whoops, clapping with delight. "If you weren't so toxic, I'd kiss you." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.847761 | 7.1 |
"You bastard," I croak, staring with horror at the corpses of Pearse and Conall. The blood has soaked into the mesh of Pearse's hat. Conall has a surprised look on his face, as if he'd just been kicked in the balls by a bull. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.848614 | 7.1 |
"How long have you been planning it?" Dan-Dan asks, beaming at Rage with awe, as if he was a movie star. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.849467 | 7.1 |
"I began thinking about it on the way back from New Kirkham," Rage says. "I couldn't do anything to help you then–there were too many Angels around–so I bided my time." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.85032 | 7.1 |
"They were our friends!" I scream. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.851173 | 7.1 |
A troubled look flickers across Rage's face. Then he shrugs. "I didn't want to kill them. I tried convincing them to let me advance by myself. If they'd heeded my advice, I could have simply set Dan-Dan free and gone in with him, no need for any aggravation. But they wanted to be heroes. You did too." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.852026 | 7.1 |
"I'll kill you," I vow hoarsely, taking a stride towards him. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.852878 | 7.1 |
"Stop right there," Dan-Dan snaps. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.853731 | 7.1 |
"Make me, fat man." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.854584 | 7.1 |
"If you insist," he giggles, and lifts a finger in the air. "When I give the signal, start shooting, boys." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.855437 | 7.1 |
"Wait, Becky," Owl Man pleads. "I was not expecting this. I had planned to return Vinyl to you, the others too, if possible. I'm as sickened as you are by this act of wanton betrayal." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.85629 | 7.1 |
"Easy, Owly," Rage mutters. "You'll hurt my feelings." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.857143 | 7.1 |
"But this is where we find ourselves," Owl Man continues as if Rage hadn't spoken. "One wrong move now and I will not be able to help you. Daniel, will you object if I set her free?" | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.857996 | 7.1 |
"Too damn right I will," he smirks. "She's going nowhere." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.858849 | 7.1 |
Owl Man sighs. "In that case, we will take you into custody. I must ask you not to move." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.859701 | 7.1 |
I feel my arms and legs stiffen. "Don't do this," I moan. "Please. I came to kill Dan-Dan. I knew I'd be killed too. I don't mind that. I've accepted my fate. But let me have a shot at him. _Please_." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.860554 | 7.1 |
It's a ridiculous argument, but for some reason Owl Man hesitates. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.861407 | 7.1 |
"I've chosen my stand," I say softly. "I probably won't get to that child-killing demon in time, but let me die knowing I did my best to make a difference." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.86226 | 7.1 |
"Oh, Becky," Owl Man whispers. "You have made such a difference already. You don't give yourself enough credit. And there is so much still that you could do. Change your mind, I implore you. This is not the time or place for you to fall." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.863113 | 7.1 |
"You're wrong," I tell him. "This is the perfect spot. I picked it. Let me have it. I hate having to beg, but I'm doing it anyway." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.863966 | 7.1 |
Owl Man looks down at Sakarias, as if the dog has all the answers. But his pet only wags its tail and barks hopefully, looking for a treat. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.864819 | 7.1 |
"Very well," Owl Man decides. "Your limbs are your own again. Do what you wish. I will not interfere. Have your moment of brave madness if you must." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.865672 | 7.1 |
"You can't be serious!" Dan-Dan howls. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.866525 | 7.1 |
Owl Man shrugs. "You will kill her anyway if I spare her." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.867377 | 7.1 |
"Yes," the Child Catcher thunders. "In my time, on my terms." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.86823 | 7.1 |
"No," Owl Man snaps. "I will not have her tortured at your hands. Let your men kill her cleanly and quickly, before she can rip into you. Otherwise I will demand her release and you and I will clash." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.869083 | 7.1 |
Dan-Dan mutters something beneath his breath, then makes a face. "Very well. Let her race against the bullets. See if I care." He stands straight and sticks out his tongue. "Come then, little girl. Come to Dan-Dan. Let's see what you're made of." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.869936 | 7.1 |
"You'd better hope they don't miss, big boy," I sneer, taking off my sunglasses and hat, setting them by my feet, leaving them behind to serve as a memorial until the wind blows them away. I square up to Dan-Dan and flex my fingers. I'm grinning. I'm about to die, but I don't care. At least I'm going in style. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.870789 | 7.1 |
"On the count of three, fellas," I call to the marksmen lined up against the wall. "No cheating. One. Two. Thr—" | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.871642 | 7.1 |
"Wait!" someone bellows, and one of the hooded creeps breaks rank and lurches towards me. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.872495 | 7.1 |
"What now?" Dan-Dan groans, rolling his eyes. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.873348 | 7.1 |
I don't know what the Klanner is playing at, but this is a sweet, unexpected distraction. I ready myself to make use of it. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.8742 | 7.1 |
"No, Becky!" the man roars. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.875053 | 7.1 |
I don't recognize his voice, which is muffled by the material of his hood, but I pause, disturbed by the fact that he knows my name. Is this one of Dr. Oystein's spies? Mr. Burke was working for him secretly in the underground bunker. Maybe this guy is part of our team and thinks he can get me off the hook. I'm sure he can't, but figure I might as well give him a few seconds to make his pitch. He's put his life on the line, blowing his cover like this, so he deserves a chance to have his say. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.875906 | 7.1 |
The Klanner comes to a halt a few steps short of me and stares, eyes wide behind the slits in his hood. He's panting hard. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.876759 | 7.1 |
"What's up, wacko?" I snicker. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.877612 | 7.1 |
"Ignore this lunatic," Dan-Dan shouts. "Shoot the pair of them." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.878465 | 7.1 |
"No," the man yells. "You can't do this. Lower your weapons." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.879318 | 7.1 |
Nobody obeys his order. Quite a few people laugh at him. But nobody fires either. They're all as curious as I am. Also, Dan-Dan still has his finger in the air. He doesn't really want them to shoot. He's only winding me up. | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.880171 | 7.1 |
The Klanner curses, then says, "All right, don't lower them, you sons of bitches, but don't shoot either." | Zom-B Clans - Darren Shan | 0.881023 | 7.1 |