Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 1): January by Dave Rowlands Page A

there was anybody else in town she shook her head.  I asked her what the commotion in the street had been, apparently some 'lunatic' had run through town claiming that the Dead were chasing him.  She didn't suffer such nonsense, she told us, as we were trying to make her see that what that supposed lunatic had said was in fact true.
     
 
     
In time she was replaced by the older copper, her husband.  He was less lonely, but far better company.  He too offered us beer, though from cans rather than out of a tap, which we gratefully accepted.  He asked us questions, even took some of us aside to interview separately.  In one such interview he asked to read my journal of events that I had witnessed since everything began.  I nodded and handed it over.  His lips moved as he read, but despite that he was done reasonably quickly.
     
 
     
“Well...”  He began.  “I can't let you guys go just yet.  I have to check up on a few things.  Someone ran through town this morning shouting about the Dead walking, was thinking about driving out that way to see for myself.”  He looked very much as if he didn't want to be dealing with this situation.  “If the Dead are walking, then sure I'll let you all go.  If not, however...”  He let the threat hang in mid-air between us.  Meanwhile we were left in the care of the younger man.
     
 
     
He asked us questions this time, about what had been happening.  He had come from Melbourne, was posted in this shithole because he had accidentally shot someone.  He refused to give any further details, but kept asking if we had heard anything from any of the larger cities.  Apocalypse Girl replied that we had come from the direction of Adelaide, which had been overrun when we left, and that we had no idea of any other city.  Archer surmised that it was probably the same in Melbourne, if not worse.
     
 
     
noon
     
Copper asked if anybody knew what was up with the weather.  The Twin told him of our suspicions that the burned corpses of the Dead were responsible.  The old lady came in with a tray upon which sat our lunch.  Roast beef sandwiches with tomato and cheese.  I hadn't realised just how much I had missed the taste of cheese.  She also mentioned that her husband had still not come back yet.  After she left, Copper told us that she would not have said anything unless she was very concerned.
     
 
     
As we finished our food we heard a loud bang from outside.  Copper looked up hurriedly, told us he would be right back, and left.  Another bang, then a third.  I realised at that moment that these were gunshots we were hearing.  The fourth, fifth and sixth shots rang out and Copper ducked back into the corridor, gun drawn.  “Looks like you guys were right after all.”  He told us as he unlocked first the girl's cell, then ours.
     
He made to leave out the main door, but I grabbed his arm.  Asking about our weapons, he pointed out the right key before rushing out to assist his partner and boss.  More shots rang out as we hurried to the evidence room.  I unlocked the door, and The Twin immediately grabbed her bow, and a handful of arrows, then bolted for the front of the building to lend her aid.  Archer and Junior followed her example, while Biker, Apocalypse Girl and I lingered a while.  We snatched up all of our supplies and weapons, as well as the two heavy machine guns and ammo crate that lay on a far shelf, covered in a decade of dust.  Apocalypse Girl and Biker took the guns and ammunition to the door as Junior ran back into the hallway.
     
 
     
“Too many of them, we're falling back.  Cop says there's a stairway up to the roof past the evidence room, sent me to grab the keys and open it up for us.”  That was good thinking, as the emergency exit of the bus could just as easily be used as an emergency entrance.  I heard a shriek of agony, clearly the landlady of the pub, that ended with a gunshot.  Junior opened up the door, sure