Read Carrion Virus (Book 1): Carrion City for Free Online Page B

sweat.
    ‘Nick, don’t do this,’ Janet pleaded.
    PC Galloway slammed the door shut. A small part of him wished they’d call out his name, tell him they reconsidered. The van pulled away and his foolish optimism was dashed like a ship on rocks.
    He was alone. Those things could be watching him. A thousand savage eyes, waiting to strike. In the distance, a fire crew was in the process of subduing a blazing home. At least there were some in the services who had a measure of resolve. He set off at a jog.
     
    ***
     
    ‘Tim, our shift starts soon. We better get in.’
    Magarth stood outside the DSD building, shivering. He snapped his mobile closed, sealing himself back into the madness. The avenue to Maria was gone for now.
    ‘I’m just going to finish this.’ He held up the cigarette. ‘I’ll be right with you.’
    Magarth was decked out in a thick coat. The first signs of snow had arrived. A few flakes here and there left little evidence of its presence, each melting on impact. The carpark was full. Most employees were staying in living-quarters provided at the DSD building, or, like Magarth, in B&Bs and guesthouses close to the hospital. They were told that when things quieted, those who had been working long and difficult shifts would be rotated off for rest periods. Whether this would come about was another matter. Most simply accepted there was a job to be done.
    A few faces were missing from the usual staff. Six in the last week succumbed to infection, and were held in the basement, in that tank. They were from the response teams. In his short time in Aberdeen, Magarth had worked with them all. Through simple avoidance, he escaped any need to attend the basement. He hadn’t set foot down there since his first visit. Dr. Holden informed him they now held four hundred Stage Three.
    Magarth found himself more often than not, sharing a coffee with Dr. Holden. The doctor seemed to be the only one to show a measure of genuine warmth. The old man was single-minded in his belief that a cure could be found. Magarth adopted the same belief. He had to. He knew one step into the basement, to the beasts that lurked down there, would shatter this new-found faith in science and medicine. He’d continue to avoid the place as best he could.
    The chill wind picked up, cutting through the protective layer of his jacket. He flicked the cigarette off into the darkness and made his way to the canteen. Coffee time. Fellow employees kept their eyes down. One woman looked like she had not slept in weeks. It was something that was common here. Magarth had noticed his own face was now drawn, almost gaunt. He had not had a proper meal in some days, surviving on the temporary boost a chocolate bar produced, or the greasy spoon fare presented by the canteen. His guesthouse offered breakfast, but he always managed to miss the pre-arranged times. His tongue ran absently over his teeth. Using the back of his sleeve, he gave them a quick clean. He would brush them later. He passed a table with half-eaten ready-meal lasagne. The smell was cheap and nasty, enough to make him gag. That wiped any thoughts of eating from his mind. Magarth reached the coffee pot. A white ceramic mug with a teddy bear hugging a giant heart sat on the sink. He deemed it clean enough and poured the drink, black like his mood. Three heaped teaspoons of sugar and a quick stir.
    He found a table covered in a sticky mess, a mess that may have once been curry. A heavy pile of folders slammed down on the table. Magarth jumped.
    ‘Burning the midnight oil are we, Tim?’
    Dr. Holden took a seat. In his hands sat a steaming Toy Story mug. Buzz Lightyear grinned at Magarth.
    ‘Dear God, this coffee is awful,’ said Dr. Holden, his face twisted in disgust. ‘I bet it’s nothing more than that budget stuff or the such. You would think that with all the work we’re doing we might at least be afforded some decent coffee.’ He took another sip of the bitter drink. ‘How are