Dead Eyes: A Tale From The Zombie Plague by James Dwyer

contact until you’ve passed a medical exam.”
    I looked at Maggie who smiled her warm smile once again. She had been hugging and consoling me since I arrived, not waiting for any medical check. She seemed to read my intentions. “I’ve washed my hands, don’t worry.”
    “Once the medical exam has been completed,” Stone continued,  “You will be shown to a bunk and briefed on your responsibilities. Safety of the camp is now your number one priority. Do as we ask and you will be on the airlift out of here. Disobey and see what happens. I am not your boss, nor your carer. I am one of the few who has chosen to stay in the infected zone. If everything goes smoothly, I will get you out of here. That’s a promise. I am here to help you. Make it easy for me.”
    “I will,” I said.
    “How far away were you when you heard the radio message?” he asked.
    “Sector D3, the other side of Aylescombe.”
    Stone reflected on this for a moment. “Have any other survivors made it here?” I asked.
    “One or two. Not as many as there used to be.”
    “It’s getting more dangerous,” I said, “More Daisies.”
    “What?”
    “I mean the quick zombies. The ones that can sprint.”
    “Screamers,” said Maggie, her warm friendly expression disappearing as she remembered something horrible from her past.
    Stone quickly stood up and began walking toward the exit, “If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I have to go prepare for the next airlift.”
    “When is it?”
    “Two days time,” he said, “You’ve arrived too late for this transport. If you work hard, you won’t be waiting long.”
    “I will,” I said.
    He smiled and walked away, followed by the unfamiliar faces. Maggie remained behind, waiting for the others to leave. There was something about her personality and demeanour that made her incredibly easy to like. “He is a good man Captain Stone. If he wanted to escape from here, he could do so in seconds. He chooses to be inside the infected zone.
    “He may not look like much of anything but he understands what you’ve been going through. More than he’ll ever let on. It’s the others you have to look out for. The airlifts are getting less frequent. There’s been talk of the military shooting them down to contain the infection. Anyone who jeopardises someone’s escape will not be tolerated.”
    “I see,” I said.
    “They’ll kill you to save themselves,” said Maggie, “Believe it.”
     
    Before I could consider Maggie’s warning any further, the door flap opened and an extremely thin bald man carrying a sports bag slung over one shoulder entered the tent. He eyed me up and down as he approached, ignoring Maggie. “Afternoon Doctor Morgan,” said Maggie.
    The doctor dropped the bag on the floor beside me, taking some rubber gloves from his pocket and putting them on. “Let’s get this over with,” he said.
    “Still no news then?” asked Maggie.
    “No,” he said curtly, “Nothing.”
    “I’m sure they’re fine,” said Maggie.
    “You couldn’t possibly know that,” he said, “Leave us will you?”
    Maggie did as she was told. “I’ll speak to you later,” she said to me as she left.
    The doctor waited for her to leave before beginning his examination. “Undress down to your underwear.”
    “Seriously?” I asked.
    “Yes,” he said, “Be glad I’m not asking you to take off your underwear too. Not that I take much pleasure in viewing the male physical form. However in my experience, if a zombie had munched on your cock, you would be unable to hide it.”
    A little confused, I did as I was told, taking off my clothes, wincing with pain as I used my wounded hand. Morgan looked me up and down; probing at the many bruises covering my body. “How did these happen?” he asked of each one.
    I explained the many mishaps I had suffered, leaving out my passing out in Aylescombe and any mention of my blindness for now. “Any cuts or scratches, caused by the undead