The Undead Day Twenty Read Online Free PDF Page B

her.’
    ‘We should,’ Clarence whispers back.
    ‘Idiots.’
    ‘How do you do that?’ Howie asks.
    ‘It’s in order of us…’ Paula says. ‘I mean in order of us in my head…don’t you do that?’
    ‘Er, do what?’ Howie asks.
    ‘So it starts with you,’ Paula says, tapping the first mug. ‘So…Howie, white or black, one sugar prefers milk and actually doesn’t like instant coffee but will drink warm piss if it has caffeine in it. Then me, white no sugar. Clarence, he prefers tea but goes with coffee and likes it white with one sugar, Dave black no sugar, Blowers white one sugar but will do black no sugar and he does like tea but only if we have milk and he likes his tea strong. Nick white two sugars, same with tea but he can drink both without, Cookey white two sugars but will take black without and he prefers it milky so I always put two or three portions in his. Er…Charlie, white no sugar and loves herbal tea but will do black. Blinky, black for tea and coffee, no sugar. Mo Mo is the same as Cookey and has two sugars and likes it milky. Roy no sugar with only a dash of milk. Marcy, no sugar and only dash of milk or half a portion pot and Reginald has herbal tea…so er…oh and Lilly of course, who doesn’t have sugar.’
    ‘Oh,’ Howie says simply.
    ‘Needs burning,’ Clarence whispers again. ‘I don’t know how you do that, Paula.’
    ‘Magic,’ Paula says.
    Upstairs, Lilly moves down the hallway but stops at the bathroom door on hearing movement inside. She goes to retreat in the way of good manners and the etiquette of not being caught waiting for the toilet.
    ‘Hey you,’ Marcy says, having detected movement outside with her hearing of a bat and opening the door to peer out with her toothbrush in her mouth.
    ‘Morning, Marcy,’ Lilly says politely. There are degrees of connections and even though Marcy is one of the group, Lilly hardly knows her so she retains the polite formality.
    ‘Need a wee?’ Marcy asks, not detecting or simply just ignoring any sense of formality.
    ‘I can wait,’ Lilly counters, still polite.
    ‘Pah,’ Marcy says and waves the bathroom. ‘Go on, I’ll wait out here.’
    ‘Er,’ Lilly hesitates. Marcy is in her bra and knickers and completely unbothered at standing in the hallway in such a state of undress. ‘Honestly I can…’
    ‘Go on,’ Marcy says, pulling the toothbrush out to smile with a level of natural warmth that makes Lilly feel more comfortable. She goes inside while Marcy hums and brushes her teeth.
    ‘Thank you,’ Lilly says, opening the door.
    ‘Anytime,’ Marcy goes in to rinse and spit, using a bottle of water instead of the tap. She was infected so whatever might be in the water cannot harm her but the thought of rinsing or drinking with tainted water revolts her. She glances at the door to see Lilly hesitating as though suddenly unsure of something. ‘You okay?’ Marcy asks, moving towards the girl. ‘How was last night?’
    ‘Oh fine. Yes fine. Thank you,’ Lilly says, still prim and proper.
    ‘No no no,’ Marcy draws her back into the room and closes the door, sealing them in the bathroom. ‘What’s up? You okay?’
    ‘Um,’ Lilly pauses, the mask of cold ruthlessness slips as she suddenly looks the sixteen year old girl she is.
    ‘Hey,’ Marcy pulls her in, rubbing her back. ‘It’s okay…you’re okay. Was it your first time?’
    Lilly nods. Her eyes filling with tears. She doesn’t reply but she doesn’t need to reply.
    ‘It’s okay,’ Marcy says softly, rubbing Lilly’s back. She remembers her first time with a man. It was awful and horrible and seedy and drunk. All she wanted was her mum but Lilly doesn’t have that. Lilly doesn’t have anyone now. ‘It’s okay,’ she says instead, rubbing and soothing. She pulls back to kiss Lilly’s head with an act that brings the tears flooding from Lilly’s eyes to roll down her cheeks. ‘What’s wrong? Did something happen? You can say,