Funny that even with all the horrors going on around us today, following Catherine and seeing how gorgeous she is, takes my mind completely. I find myself wondering what delights would be revealed by undoing that long zip, and I enjoy it while I can.
We move into the main area and immediately on the left is the large Tactical Room, which has all the features of the Security Room on the ground floor. This one, however, can override the ground floor one if necessary. The Tactical Room is where operations are planned and monitored when underway and it has many other devices the Security Room doesn’t have, including an advanced multi-touch display table, which is basically a table with a computer screen as a top. On the right is a meeting room, and next to that, the Boardroom with a large oval desk in the centre, surrounded by leather executive chairs.
The floor then opens up; the left side has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the courtyard. It has quite a large informal seating area, with several grey leather sofas and coffee tables. This space is known as the lounge. There is also a smaller canteen and kitchen, with the usual kitchen appliances just off the lounge to the left. Food can be sent up from the main canteen upon request.
Opposite this area are the executive offices, some bigger than others, but all with an integrated smaller office for assistants. My office is in the far corner and is one of the bigger ones, with amazing views towards both Hyde Park and over the city beyond.
Sir Malcolm has, of course, by far the largest office, which is very tastefully decorated and has as well as his humongous desk, a glass-topped table with chairs for meetings, two brown leather Chesterfield sofas, a very large television screen and a very well-used bar area.
Emily is quite familiar with it up here. Although I don’t like to, I do sometimes have to bring her into work. More often than not, it’s on a weekend when I can’t avoid having to come in and Stacey has other plans, or sometimes we pop in on the way to or back from a day out. She doesn’t seem to mind as long as she’s entertained, and I make sure there are things here to keep her occupied. There are DVD’s, toys, colouring and such, and everyone makes a fuss of her when she visits.
“Right, who is hungry then?” Catherine says and heads towards the small canteen.
I think everyone is; putting Emily down, we all follow Catherine. The two tables in the canteen are full of food and I have to admit I am starving, which is not surprising after the ‘excitement’ of this morning. Burning adrenaline equals hunger.
“Dan and I have got a few things to sort out first, but you all carry on.”
Emily already is carrying on; she is filling a plate whilst chewing on something. I go up to her and tell her I have things to do but will be back in no time. She protests, saying she doesn’t want me to leave her, but with a little reassurance, she agrees that she will be fine staying with Stacey and Catherine.
“Are you ready, Dan?” I say while I put my backpack down, which is still over my shoulder. I place it on the other table and then quickly reach for a sandwich.
“Yes, Boss,” he replies through a mouthful of food.
We both leave them to their feast and walk across the lounge towards my office, stopping on the way to look out and see how the courtyard is fairing. The mass of Rabids is still growing but it’s hard to get a good look to see the situation at the main entrance from up here.
Entering my office, we both go straight to the windows that look out over London. A long silence ensues as we take in what we see.
“Fuck me,” is all that either of us can manage to say at the moment, and it comes from Dan. I just stand there speechless, trying to make sense of what is happening and not just what I am looking at outside the window, which seems to be my home city of London falling into chaos. I am also trying to get my head around what we have just been through and what we have seen. Can this virus or whatever it is be halted, or is it unstoppable? The longer I look at the havoc unfolding outside, the more pessimistic and helpless I feel.
Close to the building, Rabids can be seen everywhere, and many seem to be heading this way, making their way farther out into the city, but many also seem to be wandering around aimlessly.
On the opposite side of the canal which runs parallel to the back of the building, there are dozens of them, stopped by the canal. Some are trying to climb over the gate on the footbridge that crosses the water a short way down to my left, which thankfully someone has had the foresight to close and lock.
There are a few Rabids actually in the canal, whether by accident or choice I have no idea. Some of them flounder around, attempting to swim and get out, I can only presume. Others are just floating, either face up or face down in the water. Whichever way around they are floating, all are still moving from time to time; but how can they still be moving if they are face down? I just don’t get it.
Looking out across the city really makes my stomach tighten and fills me with dread. There are plumes of smoke all around, the dense black billowing enveloping the city. The sunshine is still strong, but it is now hard to make out London's landmark buildings, which normally can be
