World War Z_ An Oral History of the Zombie War ( PDFDrive )

on a bridge over the Cher River. With both connections to land severed, and the right amount of
strategic forethought, they managed to hold their position for years.
They had enough supplies for years?
Oh good lord, no. They simply waited for first snowfall, then raided the surrounding countryside.
This was, I should imagine, standard procedure for almost anyone under siege, castle or not. I’m
sure those in your strategic “Blue Zones,” at least those above the snowline, operated in much the
same manner. In that way we were fortunate that most of Europe freezes in winter. Many of the
defenders I’ve spoken to have agreed that the inevitable onset of winter, long and brutal as it was,
became a lifesaving reprieve. As long as they didn’t freeze to death, many survivors took the
opportunity of frozen Zed Heads to raid the surrounding countryside for everything they’d need
for the warmer months.
It’s not surprising how many defenders chose to remain in their strongholds even with the
opportunity to flee, be it Bouillon in Belgium or Spis in Slovakia or even back home like Beaumaris
in Wales. Before the war, the place had been nothing but a museum piece, a hollow shell of roofless
chambers and high concentric walls. The town council should be given the VC for their
accomplishments, pooling resources, organizing citizens, restoring this ruin to its former glory.
They had just a few months before the crisis engulfed their part of Britain. Even more dramatic is
the story of Conwy, both a castle and medieval wall that protected the entire town. The inhabitants
not only lived in safety and relative comfort during the stalemate years, their access to the sea
allowed Conwy to become a springboard for our forces once we began to retake our country. Have
you ever read Camelot Mine?
[I shake my head.]
You must find yourself a copy. It’s a cracking good novel, based on the author’s own experiences
as one of the defenders of Caerphilly. He began the crisis on the second floor of his flat in Ludlow,
Wales. As his supplies ran out and the first snow fell, he decided to strike out in search of more
permanent lodgings. He came upon the abandoned ruin, which had already been the sight of a
halfhearted, and ultimately fruitless, defense. He buried the bodies, smashed the frozen Zed
Heads, and set about restoring the castle on his own. He worked tirelessly, in the most brutal
winter on record. By May, Caerphilly was prepared for the summer siege, and by the following
winter, it became a haven for several hundred other survivors.
[He shows me some of his sketches.]
A masterpiece, isn’t it, second largest in the British Isles.
What’s the first?