Merryn called a halt outside the market town of Tavistock. "Right, this is where it could get interesting. We've not surveyed this area yet from the base, but I know the town pretty well from when I was a teenager as I grew up not far from here. We need to get from here through the centre of town, then up the steep hill on the far side. At the top of that hill is an old viaduct: that's the disused railway line. We will follow that straight towards Okehampton, then dodge right at the old granite quarry onto the moor and join the army tracks heading towards the base there. The railway line is actually a cycle path these days so it should be relatively easy going give or take the odd walker.

"From hereon in we switch to silent weapons. I'll keep my rifle ready, but the rest of you are on point with a bow or crossbow. I'd rather not resort to close combat weapons if we can help it. Up to three walkers we take them out on sight. More than that we run. If we encounter hostile humans we turn around and run like hell. Do you understand?"

The team nodded and she continued. "I want to get through town to the other side before we go shopping. I know we're low on supplies, but supplies are heavy and at the moment, we can travel light and fast. Let's keep it that way until we have the luxury of time to restock.

"Normal formation everyone, you know what you're doing. Have a quick drink and a snack now if you can. We move out in five minutes."

Merryn moved over to join Andrew who was surveying the road ahead. "You okay on point Andrew?"

"Yes. I prefer it to be honest."

"I'll be right behind you."

"Yes, I know. Thank you."

"What's gnawing at you, Andrew? You've been quiet since we left the scout hut."

Andrew turned to look at her. "It's my sister's birthday today. She was my twin. I miss her."

Merryn pulled Andrew into a hug. "I know it's not the right moment, but Happy Birthday Andrew. I miss my twin brother too."

"I'd not realised we had that in common." Andrew let go of the hug and smiled sadly. "It feels like she's out there guiding our way sometimes."

"I feel the same about Piran. What was your sister called?"

"Theo. She was ill on the weekend we went on camp with Brian so she couldn't come along. Her and Eddie were best friends."

"Ah, I'd wondered why there was a connection between you two."

"I remind Eddie of Theo. It's painful for her."

"And I'm sure it's reassuring too. You're a good man Andrew, and I'm glad you're here."

"I'm glad you found us Merryn." He looked at his watch. "Should we move?"

She nodded. "You have point, Andrew. Be safe."

Merryn turned and found the rest of the troupe ready to move, all with crossbows ready except for Tom who had strung his bow and had an arrow nocked to the string. She nodded and waved them forward.

Andrew picked his way through the wreckage of the town. Once past the deserted industrial estate, the roads narrowed and the buildings closed in as they moved into a more residential area. Shops appeared as they moved into the older part of the town. Here, cars were strewn across the high street, left where people could no longer find passage and litter blew in circles as the ever-present wind soughed off the nearby moor. Merryn carried her rifle, watching Andrew's movements as she too scanned her surroundings with a practiced eye. He stopped often to listen as he moved, sticking to one side of the street but detouring around entrances to alleys or deeper doorways where a pair of grasping grey hands could be waiting to draw him into a final embrace.

At the corner of a long block of Victorian brick buildings fronted by an old bank, Andrew halted. He darted a quick look around the corner and moved back to Merryn.

"There's a park area ahead, open for about fifty metres, then there's the road you mentioned leading up the hill. But we have two walkers in the park."

"Any sign of any more?"

"No."

"Right, then let's get the others and take 'em out as efficiently as we can. Time to see what this team can do."

Merryn looked over her shoulder at her team. She held up a hand noting their focus and then dropped it, allowing them to stream past her into their positions before she herself ran across the pavement to a low wall surrounding the edge of the park.

Andrew and Eddie had gone first, moving a little further than Tom and Hope whose target was the nearer of the two walkers.

All signaled their readiness and Merryn tapped the butt of her rifle on the concrete at her feet.

As one, the two walkers swung towards the sound and advanced. Merryn watched them, motionless. Once they reached a distance of about ten metres she signaled again. An arrow and a crossbow bolt punched the left of the two zombies off its feet, and two crossbow bolts slammed into the one on the right, one sprouting from its eye, the other from its throat. Tom and Hope ran forward, Tom nocking another arrow to his bow, Hope picking up Merryn's crossbow where it had been placed ready on the wall in front of her, while Andrew and Eddie wound back the arms of their crossbows.

Hope signaled her walker was out, and a few seconds later Tom finished his off by slamming a dagger through its eye.

Andrew moved out of the park, scanned the area and came back with a thumbs up a few moments later.

Merryn let out a tense breath and relaxed. "Well done everyone. Right, let's get up that hill and out of here. There's an outdoor sports shop about two hundred meters up on the right. That's where we're heading next. Keep your weapons ready."

The group streamed up the hill away from the downed walkers, Andrew leading the way. The houses on either side of the road were packed together, terraced, and fronted right onto the road, so Andrew had stepped off the pavement to give himself a little space. The shop came into view ahead, and he dashed forward, checked the store then moved back to the group.

"Two more," he said. "In the shop. They're both in the window doing a bad impression of a window display. They've not animated yet, but as soon as we start moving past the window or trying to get in they'll kick off. That said, if they're in there I guess it's less likely anyone's been in and plundered any of the supplies in there. Catch 22 eh?"

Merryn looked around the group. "We either tackle them or move on."

"We've got this," said Tom. "Open the door, let 'em out. Give ourselves space, then we take 'em out, here in the open. If more start to moan then we get out. If not, we have time to get in there and get supplies."

Eddie and Hope nodded in agreement.

"Fair enough." Merryn looked at Andrew. "Get that door open, then get the heck out of the way, I do not want you caught in the crossfire."

"Yes ma'am," said Andrew, snapping off a smart salute.

"Andrew, if you call me ma'am again I will shoot you."

Eddie snorted and covered her mouth with one hand, and Hope grinned.

"Noted," said Andrew in a dignified tone. "Would you prefer 'boss'?"

"Just get the damn door open," muttered Merryn as Andrew turned away with a grin.

A few seconds later there was a shriek of unused hinges and Andrew sprinted down the side of the road to rejoin the others. Twin moans split the air as Andrew knelt and picked up his crossbow from where he'd laid it on the road ready for his return. The first of the two walkers staggered out into the road: the decomposing form of what looked like a middle-aged woman dressed in hiking gear stopped as two crossbow bolts slammed into its head, tumbling it to the tarmac. Tom drew back his bow and waited. A second later, the other zombie moved out into the street. This one was dressed in uniform, the colours of its t-shirt matching the shop front. Once a young man in his twenties, the former shop assistant 'Matthew - I'm here to help you' stopped as an arrow slammed into his head followed a millisecond later by a crossbow bolt. The deadhead slumped to its knees then face-planted the road.

Andrew placed his crossbow at his feet and darted into the open door of the shop. He reappeared a moment later with a thumbs up.

Merryn flicked the safety back on on her rifle, marveling at the efficiency of her team. "Eddie, Hope, take the other side of the street please, watch our exit. Tom, Andrew, let's get some food."

~

"I got you something." Andrew had dropped back from the lead for a change, allowing Tom to take point as they made their way up the steep slope to the viaduct that loomed over the town.

Eddie looked at him, then exploded in delight as he dropped a blue and white wrapper into her hand. "Kendal mint cake, dude, seriously!"

Andrew grinned at her. "I remembered you and Theo going mad for it when we went on camp. Pure sugar with a hint of mint. Nasty stuff."

Eddie sighed and linked arms with Andrew who looked surprised and then blushed furiously. "I miss her," said Eddie.

"So do I. I'm glad we can celebrate her birthday together."

"It's your birthday too. Thank you for my present." Eddie kissed him on the cheek and moved forward to join Hope, shoving her mint cake in her pocket as she went.

Merryn grinned as she passed him and muttered, "I hope for your sake you picked up a few more bars of that stuff."

"I'm not stupid Merryn, of course I did."

Merryn chuckled then changed the subject. "You did well back there Andrew."

"Thank you. But we can't relax quite yet."

"Agreed. Keep an eye out the back please."

"Yes, boss."

Merryn sighed. "I'm not sure 'boss' is any better."

"Don't worry chief, we'll figure something out."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit of a wind-up merchant?" muttered Merryn.

"Often," said Andrew. "This is why I tend to take point. People get fed up with me after a few minutes."

"This is why I tend to work on my own too," said Merryn. "I tend to prefer my own company. But you lot are different."

"We have your back Merryn. And you have ours."

Merryn nodded. "Works for me. Come on, let's get up on the viaduct and out of this walker-infested town."

~

The view from the viaduct caught them unawares. The entire sweep of the town was laid out below them in the valley and in the distance the sea glistened under clouds backlit by the lowering sun. They stood for a moment admiring the view, then Hope looked down.

"Walkers," she said pointing down to the street below where four deadheads were making their way towards the shop they'd looted from a sidestreet.

"That's not all," said Andrew. "Look."

Shambling up the street they had used to get to the shop was a single walker. But this one carried a weapon.

"Stan," whispered Tom.