Thirty-Seven

It doesn't take long to find the source. In the bedroom at the back of the house are a pair of bodies. They're so badly decomposed, and the stench is so awful that I can't bring myself to examine them closely. I assume they were the owners of the house. They lie together on the bed, which itself is stained dark brown with dried blood. Empty pill bottles and a knife lie scattered around them on the bedspread. It seems as though the pair must have taken their own lives when the Creatures came.

I pull the door to the bedroom shut, and open the hall window to let in some fresh air. It's horrible, of course, seeing dead bodies, but I know that I have a job to do, a living person to look after, and that I can't let myself dwell on such things. Besides, I've seen enough death now for its sting to be deadened a little. Not that it'll ever be easy to deal with, but at least now I don't run screaming like I might have two months ago.

I explore the rest of the house, moving methodically, searching out supplies that might be useful. There's food and bottles in the kitchen, blankets in the airing cupboard, clothes and books all over. But I make the best discovery as I'm passing through the kitchen again on my way out. There's a small door that I didn't notice before. I open it, and find myself confronted by a walk-in larder. It's stacked full of tins and jars and packets. There's a plastic drum full of flour and another full of rice. More food than both me and Lisa together could possibly carry.

That's why, despite the grisly find of the two bodies, I'm feeling so good as I return to the place where I left Lisa. She stands up as I approach.

"Okay?" she asks.

"Better than okay," I say. "Come and see." She follows me back to the house, where I show her the water tank and the pantry full of food.

"It's amazing," she says. "I can't believe how lucky we got. All this..." She trails off, looking at me. "There's something else isn't there? Something bad?"

I nod. "In the bedroom at the back. Two bodies." A look of alarm crosses Lisa's face, and I rush to explain. "No, it's not the Creatures; I think these two killed themselves. In fact, I'm sure of it."

Lisa shudders. "Ugh. How awful."

"I know." I squeeze her shoulder. "But think about it. They've been here a while, undisturbed. If a Creature had found them there wouldn't be any bodies left. You know that. So that means no Creatures have come out this far. That's got to be a good sign, right?"

"Right," says Lisa, though she still looks far from happy.

"With this food and the water tank, I think we could last here for a little while," I say. "There's feed for the chickens in one of the sheds, so if we could catch them we might even be able to have eggs. And there's firewood we can burn to keep warm. What do you think?"

Lisa's frowning, looking troubled. She bites her lip for a moment before she speaks. "You're right," she says carefully. "It's perfect. It's even hidden from the road. I think we'd be safe here. But..."

"Yeah?"

"But if we're going to stay here, there's something we've got to do first."