Free British Zombie Breakout: Part Three by Peter Salisbury Page A

contacted directly by email. How his email address was obtained
by the terrorists, we do not know. However, the Minister believed
he had deleted all of the emails from his account.'
    'You all think
you're so clever but you don't know everything,' the Minister said
with a sneer.
    Ignoring the
Minister's outburst, the judge said, 'How were the emails
obtained?'
    'They were
archived by the service provider and released under the Emergency
Computer Security Act.'
    'What was the
content of the emails, Agent 51?'
    'The exchange
outlines the entire plot for taking the virus. It began with
negotiation of the Minister's fee for information. Specifically
information on the location of the virus and the computer systems
protecting the Breathdeep Facility.'
    'Was the
Minister involved in the taking of hostages?'
    'He hired a
freelance communications expert who intercepted certain military
communications, which provided the whereabouts of the fugitives
from Kilkorne.'
    'So the attempt
to keep the Minister from obtaining information about the fate of
the fugitives was unsuccessful?'
    'Yes.'
    'I understand,'
the judge said, 'that a full transcript of the emails cannot be
revealed in court at this time because of certain other information
contained therein, which is covered by the Official Secrets
Act.'
    'Yes, that is
correct. I have personally seen proof that the Minister was
directly responsible for the operation in which two groups of
terrorists entered Britain, were provided with helicopters for
taking hostages and for removing the sample of virus.'
    A sly cackle
diverted attention to the dock. A look of manic self-satisfaction
covered the Minister's face. 'You'd have organised it yourself for
what I was offered.'
    The judge gave
the Minister a cold stare and replied. 'That I very much
doubt.'
    'Call this
evidence?' said the Minister, 'I call it hearsay and
tittle-tattle!'
    'Minister, only
a moment ago you confessed to these crimes.'
    'I merely
stated that you would have done it for the fee I was offered.'
    'And that isn't
a confession?'
    While the
Minister made no attempt to reply, the judge hammered on the bench.
'Court adjourned until two this afternoon, when verification of
Agent 51's evidence will be given by the head of UK Security
Services.'
    That afternoon
a figure known to world media as the most senior officer in the UK
Security Services sat in the witness box and stated categorically
that although the full content of the emails could not be revealed
in court, the substance of them was that the Minister was guilty as
charged.
    'My office
holds absolute proof that the Minister provided information to a
terrorist cell, which enabled them to take hostage two young
persons, one of whom was zombie torch inventor Steven Reynolds, to
be held in the event of their not being immediately successful in
obtaining the zombie virus from Breathdeep. I have also been
permitted to divulge to the court, that in addition to his crimes
in the UK, there were indeed further deadly consequences in a
country, the identity of which I am not able to reveal.'
    The judge took
several minutes to quiet the court sufficiently for the witness to
continue.
    'Through his
actions the Minister caused the deaths of all the terrorists who
stole the virus and a number of civilians; in total, one hundred
and thirty-eight terrorists and civilians. If the virus had been
used as a weapon, the potential consequences are incalculable.'
    Even before the
additional evidence provided by the Security Services, the judge
had already prepared his summary. In clear tones, he declared, 'By
your incompetence, negligence and connivance, you have committed
gross acts of treason against the British people and the sole
defence put forward on your behalf is one of criminal insanity. You
have pleaded guilty on a number of charges sufficient to ensure
that you will never again see the light of day.'
    'You think I
care?' It was hard to imagine a more disdainful tone.
    A wave of