BATTLEFIELD [2]

Purna studied the diagram carefully. 'Explain the layout of these circular areas to me,' she said.

'They're very simple,' said Kevin. 'Cells on four levels around the outside and a large central area in the middle where inmates congregate during the day. Right in the middle of each central area, like the hub of a wheel, is a security tower, maybe ten meters high. The tower has a door at the bottom, opening onto steps which lead up to a panoramic viewing area.'

'Are there individual windows?' Purna asked.

Kevin nodded and narrowed his eyes, visualizing it. 'Eight in all, I think.'

'And can they be opened?'

'I don't know. I guess.' He smirked again. 'I've never been up there. I'm an observee not an observer.'

'I'm guessing these areas will be crawling with the infected?' said Logan.

Kevin nodded almost gleefully. 'Oh, absolutely swarming with them.'

'What do you think our chances are of getting through?' asked Xian Mei.

'Honestly? I'd say the chances of us all making it through are slim. We'd have to run very fast and shoot very accurately. And even then, some of us would probably be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.'

'Yet you're still prepared to come with us,' said Purna suspiciously.

Kevin looked at her without blinking. 'Yes.'

'Why?'

''Cos he crazy,' muttered the black man.

Kevin looked pained. 'Thank you, Clarence, for that pithy character assassination.' He turned the full force of his gaze on Purna. 'Because I honestly think you're our only chance of survival, minimal though that may be. And because I'd rather go down fighting than sit here and rot.'

Purna stared at him and Kevin stared back. It was as if they were trying to see into each other's souls. Finally, she said, 'I'm not sure I believe you.'

'But you'll still allow me to tag along?'

She shrugged. 'If you really want to. But you're not getting a gun.'

He seemed to accept her pronouncement with equanimity. 'In that case, may I ask one small favor?'

'Depends on what it is.'

'If any of you see me getting into … difficulties with my fellow inmates out there, please put me out of my misery. Being eaten alive by those things, or even worse, turning into one of them –' He shuddered. 'Well, it would be so undignified.'