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trouble there.”
    “I know. I’ll deal with that later. How long have we got if there’s four of us using it?” Callan appeared outside the camper, talking through the entrance. He glanced their way and headed towards them. Dylan thought of Johnny, and the pity they had all had for him. “I don’t want anybody else to know yet.”
    Klaus considered the answer. “Don’t worry about it. That’s my problem.”
    “How do we do this then?”
    Callan had almost reached them. “I’ll get the serum. If you’re adamant you don’t want the others to know, then we need to find a quiet spot. I only need a moment.”
    “Let’s go.”
     
     
     

SIX
     
     
    A string of zombies pushed in around their vehicle. Others lurched towards Phil and Tommy’s car. “What the fuck are they doing?” Jacob hissed, sticking the shift into reverse. He could see it all turning pear-shaped in a matter of seconds. Tommy was bent over the wheel trying to get the vehicle restarted. Had he said something about a dodgy starter motor? Beside him, Phil made silent screams.
    What did he do? He had a rifle with half a dozen rounds. He could shoot some of them, but the bullets would quickly run out. Did they have any weapons? Only the ax, and he didn’t fancy taking them on with that yet.
    Forward was the only way. The idiots had driven too close to him. They could fight for themselves. Jacob stuck the gearstick into drive and gunned the accelerator, but the car didn’t respond. He tried again, and this time the engine roared, propelling them forward. “Hold on.” Rebecca grabbed for the door handle and the center console.
    He drove up onto the curb, clipping a pole that held up the awning of a store. It collapsed, part of the roof crashing down behind them onto the zombies. The noise was deafening. He pulled the vehicle back towards the center of the street, clipping several more zombies, causing them to fall under the car with a series of thumps.
    From the corner of his eye, he saw more coming from a BWS liquor store, a shambling line of the most gruesome zombies. Their skin had withered to the point that it almost looked like transparent paper; the flesh on their faces had lost chunks, revealing dark holes. They walked with broken feet and bent legs; several had lost their arms; one had lost them both. But they all had teeth and could adequately inflict a bite, which would end with their death.
    Jacob lined up half a dozen more and drove hard when engine cut out, the power fleeing under his foot. “Shit! SHIT!” He pumped the pedal furiously. They rolled to a stop as zombies reached them, clapping on the windows.
    “Grab the ax.” Rebecca swivelled towards the back seat and yanked the weapon out.
    The mirror told him the other car was overcome, like a beehive engulfed by drones. They had two doors open, zombies fighting to get at the fresh meat.
    Fists beat against their vehicle. Jacob knew he had to forget about the others and worry about himself and Rebecca.
    She screamed at them, furious. “Get away!” If it came down to it, she would take a few out, he was sure.
    But zombies covered Rebecca’s side of the car. Jacob twisted again, looking for another way. They were everywhere at the rear, fighting for position against the paint. Only three scrambled along his side and he figured that was their best shot. “Follow me.”
    He snatched the ax from her and unclipped the door, pushing rearwards with his backside facing them. Their hands groped at his shoulders and neck. Jacob swung an elbow and felt the hard point connect with a jaw. Bone cracked and one of them fell away. He spun, bringing the ax up into position, and swung in a tight arc to suit their proximity. The blade cut into the throat, jetting blood onto his shirt, sending the second one down like a falling curtain. The third zombie crawled for him, but Rebecca wasn’t yet out of the vehicle, as though she was tied to the seat by some invisible force. Jacob leaned in,