“There’s a big fortress with huge, steel walls that keep all of the zombies out. It’s got a runway inside it. The criminals are flown there by airplane. The guards take them off the plane, give them some supplies and then send them out into the world to fend for themselves.”
“Well, I’m never going to commit a crime. I don’t want to go and live with zombies on that island.”
Bucky ruffled Lucas’ hair. “Glad to hear it. Now, get to sleep. You have school tomorrow. And please, stop talking about zombies to your class. Your mother is starting to worry.”
“Good night, Dad.”
Bucky stood and wandered across Lucas’ bedroom. The prosthetic leg beneath his body weight had become as good as the original once he’d learned to walk on it.
“Good night, Lucas.”
“Dad?”
Bucky turned to Lucas. “Yes?”
“Do you think the criminals survive on the island?”
Bucky shrugged. “Who knows?”
“Will you tell me a story about the criminals fighting the zombies one day?”
He sighed. “I don’t know any stories about criminals on the island.”
“You can make one up, I don’t mind.”
“Seriously, Lucas. What is it about zombies that you love so much?”
“I don’t know. Everyone at school talks about them. You see them on television and they look so gross.”
“Have you been watching the news channels again? What did we say about that?”
“I know, I know, but there was this one zombie and he had all this stuff coming out of his…”
“Enough, Lucas. That’s enough. You’re not old enough to watch the news channels, especially the ones that cover the virus. I don’t want to hear any more about it, okay? I’m going to block those channels so no one can watch them.”
“Oh, but Dad! All the kids at school watch them. We want to go and fight them one day.”
“You know something? Your mother blames me for all of this. Every time you mention a zombie I get an earful. And besides, you’d never be able to fight the zombies. You’d get caught in seconds.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I’d punch those zombies on the nose.”
Bucky smiled. “Alright, slugger, I believe you. But now it’s time to go to sleep. I don’t want you falling asleep in class again.”
“If I go to sleep will you keep the news channels?”
“If you don’t go to sleep I’ll punch you in the head. Goodnight, Lucas, I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Bucky made his way down the stairs and ventured into the living room where his wife sat watching the news. Bucky slumped down next to her, patting her thigh as he did so. The pain on his amputation began to flare.
“Are you okay?” she asked in a strong, Irish accent. Bucky loved the way Irish ladies spoke ever since he’d been evacuated to the emerald isle.
“Just been on it too long.”
The news played out a story regarding a possible vaccination that could be used if someone had been bitten by a zombie. The tests were still in the earliest stages according to the interviewees’ accounts, but there was at least some progress being made. Although the borders had been secured around the infected parts of the United Kingdom, there was always the possibility that one day it could be found somewhere else.
“I’m turning it over,” his wife said, reaching for the remote control.
Something caught Bucky’s eye. “No, wait. Hold it a moment.”
He smiled to himself as a broadcaster interviewed a leading doctor in the government sponsored research team. Her hair placed upward in a ponytail which sat to one side. He hadn’t caught the full broadcast, but Bucky saw how excited Doctor Lacey Hills spoke about a potential vaccination.
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