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Once it had been accepted that Carl&039;s leaving for the city was inevitable the survivors quickly forced theet away as quickly as he could and Michael and E him around A trip away from the house was essential to all of the three pairs of hands instead of two meant that theoretically Michael and Emma could collect more supplies and so defer their next excursion for a few precious days and hours longer

On a cold and wet Sundaythey returned to Penn upon Penn Farm last week The tension in the van rose quickly as they approached the e It caine shattered the fragile silence, the unwanted interest of scores of deplorable creatures nearby was aroused Too afraid tosed up by the diseased crowds that had quickly gathered all around them, Emma, Michael and Carl were forced to wait for over an hour in the back of their battered vehicle, crouching silently on the floor, hidden under blankets and coats until the bodies had drifted away

Michael had parked close to a small supermarket Once the crowds around the van had dispersed E and quietly disappeared inside While Michael and Carl began their search for alternative transport she collected as many tins of food and other non-perishable supplies as she could find and loaded them into the back of the van Each movement she made was slow and considered Every step was carefully co-ordinated so that she reht of the rest of the world

There were two large garages near to the supermarket Michael quickly found a Landrover that suited his needs and set about finding the keys fro that the tank was filled with petrol He siphoned extra fuel from other vehicles scattered around the forecourt and loaded them into the back of his new transport in er by He was sure that one or two of the bodiesbrains were not been able to distinguish between hi the the silent streets Sound still seemed to be their main stimulus

By chance Carl stuet him to the city In a dark and narrow alley between two shops he found a h his experience of riding motorbikes was liive him far more speed and manoeuvrability than any four-wheeled vehicle could He found the keys to the bike in the pocket of a leather-clad corpse nearby With trepidation (but understanding the need for protection and not having the time or inclination to look elsewhere) he then stripped the leathers froerly reht and the flesh unexpectedly dry and discoloured Not daring to start the engine, he released the brake and pushed the bike back to the supermarket where Emma and Michael waited anxiously for him

Emma climbed into the driver&039;s seat of the van as he approached, keen to get away

&039;Got this,&039; he whispered &039;Should doThe reasons for her silence were twofold Primarily she didn&039;t want to attract the attention of any body wandering nearby but, also, she didn&039;t have anything she wanted to say to Carl As the ressed she had silently become more and more incensed by his selfish intentions Not only did she think he was a fool for even thinking about going back to the city, but she also decided that he was a weak and uncaring bastard for leaving her and Michael Three was a safe number - if one of them was injured then the other two could help Left alone with Michael, she knew that they would be in serious trouble if anything happened to either of the on his own in an accident were next to nil By leaving he was putting them all at risk

&039;What do you think of this?&039; Carl whispered to Michael as he returned to the van Michael couldn&039;t even pretend to be interested in either the bike or Carl He grunted in resentful acknowledge?&039; he then asked, clearly directing his question towards Emma She nodded

&039;I&039;m ready&039;

&039;I&039;ve found a Landrover,&039; he continued &039;You start the van up and I&039;ll try and get it going If it works I&039;ll lead, if not get ready to let ain Her throat was dry and her heart had started to thump in her chest She knew that as soon as they started the first engine they would be engulfed by bodies

&039;I&039;ll follow on behind,&039; Carl said

&039;Whatever,&039; Michael ed back over to the Landrover

Once he was inside the vehicle Carl clie and waited for Michael to settle hinition and then put his thumb up to Emma She started the van and within a couple of seconds the first bodies had arrived, lurching towards the survivors from all directions Michael started the Landrover and inched forward over the high kerb and down onto the road Carl started the bike, taking three atteine burst into life after the best part of teeks of idleness The deafening roar froine seemed to attract the attention of every corpse for ed towards the scene as fast as their rotting legs would carry them

As body after relentless body collided with the sides of the Landrover, Michael put his foot down and carved a bloody path through the pitiful creatures E in his wake, and then Carl attempted to move forwards The bike was powerful - far more so than he had expected - and the unexpected force caught hiuard For a second he almost lost control He paused and steadied hi hold of the back of his jacket eround and accelerated away fro the body behind reaching out after him

A few h confidence to try and use the bike to its full potential He raced with the van and the Landrover, overtaking and then dropping back, cutting between theh the wrecks, bodies and ruins which lay in his path By the time they&039;d reached the track which led froh to surge ahead He drove across the stone bridge, unlocked the gate and waited for Eh and safely within the confines of the barricade he slaht chunky padlocks which they used to keep it secure Already there were bodies close by - perhaps the reate he saenty or thirty shadowy shapes appear from the forest and start to stu the bike, van and Landrover Although still clu detero they had wandered ai it was clear that the creatures had a purpose

Carl wheeled the bike closer to the house and knelt down and began to check it over for signs of obvious dao inside just yet Now that his decision to leave the house was certain he felt disconnected froed at the farer and he felt alone and strangely superfluous Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that E over to speak to hihtly better

&039;You okay?&039; she asked

He stood up and brushed hiht,&039; he replied &039;You?&039;

She nodded Her voice was tired and e to him more out of duty than any real desire to

&039;Look,&039; she began, &039;I know you&039;ve said that you&039;re sure about this, but have you stopped to think&039;

&039;I don&039;t want to hear this,&039; he snapped, interrupting and silencing her words

&039;You don&039;t knohat I was going to say&039;