Harry Styles and the New York Apocalypse Read Online Free PDF Page B

guests, we’ll be expected to get involved with clearing up the plane crashes, maybe burying bodies.’ That made sense to everyone. ‘Everyone remain here, I’ll go and enquire about where we can sleep.’
     
    ***
     
    Michael liked where he was spending the night. It was the top floor apartment of an old clapboard house in a lovely area of Wethersfield. The Australian girl, Molly, had given the owners of the house their dog back and told them what information she had gathered. The very polite Englishman, Michael, was introduced, his circumstances explained and given permission to stay for the night before he moved on in the morning.
    So Molly asked him to make himself comfortable in her living area while she threw together something for him to eat.
    ‘The beer?’ he asked, cheekily.
    She laughed, ‘Oh, sorry,’ and got him a bottle. ‘So, what’s your plan, then?’
    ‘I need to get to New York. That’s where my girlfriend is.’
    ‘New York? You’re kidding? Have you any idea how far that is?’
    ‘What’s my alternative? Frankly, I’m scared shitless with what seems to be happening.’
    ‘I’m sure news will come through soon. The government must be doing something about it.’
    ‘Are you thinking I should sit tight until the situation improves? I’m a bit too edgy for that. I like to get on with things.’
    After using a match to light the gas stove, she provided him with a good-looking omelette, with side salad, then sat down next to him while he tucked in. They talked about where home was; she came from a place called Bundaberg in Queensland. She only had her mother alive, with one elder sister, and was very worried for them. Hopefully the trouble was consigned to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.
    ‘I’d show you a picture of home, but the photos are on my phone.’
    ‘Never mind,’ he teased.
    The lady of the house was calling Molly from downstairs. ‘I’ll just see.’
    Michael finished his meal, then sat back with his beer. In another time and place he would have thought he had “landed on his feet” there - lovely girl, great apartment. Yes, he now felt guilty and annoyed to have been up in Connecticut, but he really was missing his girlfriend, who was a lovely person as well as being simply gorgeous. He felt he should do the honourable thing and get back to New York as soon as possible.
    Molly reappeared, with a handful of candles. ‘They do look after me.’
    ‘So, no telly tonight. What’s it to be, playing cards by candlelight?’
    ‘If you’re lucky. What’s your full name? Michael what?’
    ‘Clavell.’
    ‘Clavell like the author?’
    ‘If you say so. What about you?’
    ‘Molly Windup.’
    Michael almost choked on his omelette. ‘Wind-up? Sorry.’
    ‘No, it’s pronounced Win-dup.’
    Michael burst out laughing, hysterically. ‘Win-dup! Sorry.’ He continued to laugh.
    Molly sat there impassively, not offended in the least. It wasn’t like it was the first time that had happened.
     
    ***
     
    Taylor Harrison found herself serving cold drinks to everyone and anyone, regardless of whether they were with the wedding or not. Her hated boss, Mrs Flynn, no longer had to worry about a few undercooked steaks, she had a full blown disaster on her hands. A power failure was unfortunate; it might warrant a few lines in the hotel trade press, but for a wedding banquet to be cancelled due to a helicopter crashing in the grounds, well, that was national news. Now, every car in the car park refused to start, stranding disgruntled guests and club members alike. To compound the misery, the General Manager was off on holiday, so she was left with his useless deputy, a man called Fassbender, who suddenly seemed to have a lot to do in his office, leaving her to face the music. The final straw was the failure of all forms of communication, making them unable to contact the emergency services. So, sandwiches were going around on platters, and the soft drinks were being