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derstand； almost hypnotised。
She dragged the heavy glass door open； went inside and let it bang shut behind her； a vibration which jarred her nerves； speeded up the thumping in her head。 Jon would e； he did not have to drive through the blocked town。 Down the A49； she could even walk down and meet him there。 Another thought； perhaps he would not believe her； think that it was some ruse on her part or else she had gone mad。 Everything up in the hills would be perfectly normal； nothing untoward ever happened up there。 You've got to believe me； Jon。 Something's happened； everybody's e out in ghastly rashes and nobody knows what they're doing。 Except me and I might go on the blink at any second。 It's the Russians！ I know it is because 。。。 a man told me it was。 Oh God； it sounded lame； a kid's fantasy。 You've got to believe me； please。 Her head was vibrating as though there were steam pistons in her brain。 A robot； controlled by 。。。 Oh Christ Alive； her vision was tunnelling again； like looking down a telescope from the wrong end； seeing just a circle with a tiny grey telephone ringed in it。 Start dialling now before it's too late！
Her forefinger was almost too thick to go in the hole。 Fumbling； missing and having to start again。 Pushing with all her psychological strength； a tremendous effort。
0。。。 5。 。。8。 。。8。 。。4。 。。It was going to take hours。 The dialling tone started up another vibration in her brain； a minute pneumatic drill boring into her so that the tunnel was being even narrower。 She could barely make out the numbers now。 8 。。。 4 。。。 One slip and you'll have to start all over again。 5 。。。 5 。。。
And then everything went black and red and the receiver was swinging on its flex like a pendulum gone berserk； banging against the pay…box。
It took Jackie Quinn some time to work out exactly where she was。 A wide main road； totally deserted； not even an abandoned vehicle。 The river below； a deep muddy current； the grass on either side brown and sun…scorched； dying。
Just walking； aimlessly； because there was nothing else to do； accepting what she saw with numbed apathy。 The fear； the pain were gone。 There was nothing left。
She still carried the plastic bags filled with mushed food because it never occurred to her to discard them； a mindless living thing in a dead world。
Scattered trees that appeared to have gone into their annual leaf…fall； but if you looked close you saw that the foliage was shrivelled and blackened instead of a golden brown tint。 Heat scorched。 But Jackie Quinn was not aware of this nor anything else。
The thumping in her head began again； more persistent and painful than before； bringing with it a glimmering of fear； the beginnings of realisation again。 Stopping； holding on to a low branch of a withered tree。 Waiting。
The pain came back； brought everything else with it。 Oh God； she hadn't managed to phone Jon； hadn't made it in time。 A sensation of helplessness； hopelessness； seeing the scorched countryside and knowing that it was not just a month of hot June weather that had done this。 It was 。 。 。 she didn't know what it was； only that suddenly the whole world had changed。
She would go on to Pauline's mother's house。 There was a phone there and she would try again。 The blackouts were being more frequent； she had to hurry。
Almost running when she saw the traffic island。 Miraculously she had continued in the right direction； not far now。
The pub； its doors closed； an atmosphere of finality about it。 The housing estates beyond； people standing about； flesh…scarred caricatures of their former selves； not understanding； not caring。 Just living； but for how long？ Death was surely the next stage； Jackie prayed that it was because to go on living like this was too awful to contemplate。
There had been a pile…up on the island； a car and a van meeting head…on； an articulated lorry ploughing the wreckage up on to the concrete； flattening it； a body in the road。 No help had arrived and it certainly would not be ing now。 Even if it did it was too late。
She broke into a run； felt her vision beginning to channel before it actually did； forced into the road again where the kerb had been built up in Sundorne Road； not a footpath； just a meaningless raised stretch of tarmac； dangerous because one could so easily fall back into the road； but it didn't matter anymore。 There would not be any traffic again； ever。
Turning left into First Terrace； sensing her power of reasoning beginning to fade。 Number One； she knew it so well。 Almost derelict； broken slates on the roof； a square hole dug out by the front door where the surveyors had attempted to investigate the subsidence cracking。 The grass lawn a foot high； withered as though it had been sprayed with paraquat； the flowering bushes in an advanced state of macabre autumnal change。 There had been no rain for months。
She saw the front gates framed in a tiny circle； dilapidated woodwork that hung heavy on the concrete； her hands closing over them even though they seemed a hundred yards away。 Pushing； dragging； almost falling headlong as they yielded to her efforts； a tinkling of metal as a rusted hinge snapped and clinked on the ground。
The throbbing was fading； that tiny circle magnifying； knowing only too well now what was happening to her。 The feeling came and went； her logic an early…morning mist evaporating in the warmth of sunlight。 So much stronger again； the waistband of her jeans straining as her body filled with unnatural physical strength。
Another couple of strides and then everything was gone。 She stood there on the short weed…covered drive not knowing where she was nor why she was here； not questioning； still holding on to the carrier bags because there was no reason to jettison them。
She breathed deeply then found a new rhythm； one that flared her nostrils into wide squat cavities； her lips pulled back to expose strong white teeth； realising that her body cried out for something but not knowing what。 Then her stomach rumbled and she knew that she needed food。 The bags dropped from her hands； spilling out their contents； but they were ignored； reaching up； pulling at foliage； sniffing it but it was brown and bitter； unpalatable。 She grunted with rage； tore at more branches； cast them aside。 And overhead a wheeling crow cawed its own anger and frustration。 It； too； was having difficulty in finding food in this burned…up land。
CHAPTER TWO
'Jesus CHRIST； what wouldn't I give for some proper food。' Sylvia Atkinson wrinkled her freckled features in disapproval as she chewed on a handful of freshly pulled bean sprouts。 'Being a health food freak isn't my idea of eating； Jon。'
'It's the difference between surviving or dying。' Jon Quinn regarded her steadily； furrowed his brow and wondered how long it would be before she went over the top； ran up that flight of steps and out into the remnants of the world they had once known。 'At the moment we have two advantages over the rest of the population of Great Britain； maybe even over