Читать книгу Clash of the Worlds - Ned Vizzini - Страница 27

Cordelia instantly knew Eleanor was right; the pale twelve-year-old groaning in the centre of Fat Jagger’s mouth wasn’t their brother any more.

Brendan turned towards Eleanor and snarled, his jaw hanging open and his dead eyes unblinking. He limped forward, drool seeping out from between his teeth. His now-leathery greyish-green skin was filled with saggy wrinkles and festering welts, as if Brendan had aged a hundred years in a matter of seconds.

“It can’t be,” Cordelia pleaded desperately. “We were so close to the house. We were almost there!”

Eleanor ran into Cordelia’s arms as they watched Brendan slouch down against the wall of Jagger’s cheek. His skin seemed to tighten across his skull; he was looking more monstrous by the second. His head lolled to the side as a guttural groan escaped from his grey lips. Seeing their normally jovial brother just sitting there, looking so empty, gutted them both – it was almost worse than seeing him die. Their brother’s eyes, which once gleamed with mischievous humour, now lolled vacantly from side to side, a shade of grey that was even more neutral than inexistence.

“Is there a cure for zombie-ism?” Cordelia asked frantically. “Holy water? Penicillin? Aspirin?”

Eleanor, having watched one too many scary movies with her older brother, shook her head dejectedly.

“The only way to stop a zombie is by destroying its brain,” she said, fighting tears.

“I’m going to go and try to talk to him,” Cordelia said, unhooking Eleanor’s arms from around her. “Maybe if we can get him to remember us, he can turn back? Maybe it’s not too late?”

Brendan, still slumped against a pair of Fat Jagger’s massive teeth, looked up as Cordelia approached.

“Hey, Bren,” Cordelia spoke softly. “It’s me, Cordelia … Are you still in there, buddy?”

Eleanor peeked out from behind a molar, as Cordelia got even closer to their undead brother.

“Brendan, come on, I know you recognise me,” Cordelia said, now just a few feet away from him. “We don’t always get along … but it’s me, your sister, Cordelia. Can you say Cordelia?”

The corners of Brendan’s mouth slowly widened and his eyes glowed with life again, in what could have only been a sign of recognition. As Brendan’s lips parted further, it was clear to Cordelia that he was trying to smile! She reached out to help him up, and his smile grew even wider.

“It’s OK, Brendan,” Cordelia spoke softly, offering her hand for support. “I knew you could fight through it!”

CRUNCH!

Brendan’s teeth clamped down on to Cordelia’s hand before she even knew what was happening.

“Ouch! He bit me!” Cordelia shrieked.