The Girl with All the Gifts

Parks decides to head for Stotfold, a small town on the way to the A1 Motorway that leads straight to Beacon. Two miles out of Stotfold, the survivors pass a church with a sturdy garage, doors intact. Parks and Gallagher are inspecting the church when an infected priest dashes from the shadows and attacks Gallagher. Parks shoots it in the head before it infects him. Next they check out the garage; it’s completely empty, with no sign of hungries, and they decide to spend the night there. When Parks suggests Melanie stay in the church, which has broken windows and no doors, Justineau objects. Parks asserts his authority, and Justineau threatens to leave with Melanie. Now Caldwell objects, claiming Melanie is her research property. With all parties deadlocked, Justineau draws a gun on Gallagher and tries to force her way out. Parks draws his own sidearm and offers to compromise. They tie Melanie to the wall with a string of canteens attached to act as an alarm if she moves during the night. They eat and settle in for an uneasy night’s sleep.