Chapters 26-29 Summary

In Chapter 26, the footpath ends about a mile from the village of Kingly, and the girls enter a road sunken under high banks. They arrive at a sign that says "Gateshead Lane," and turn that way. They come to a farm that appears to be abandoned, except by birds. They see many crows, and then foxes, and then corpses, and the smell of death hits them. Daisy, who has gone cold, counts seventeen human bodies that she can see, and she begins to check them, one by one, even as the birds feast on them. She thinks she identifies the corpse of Dr. Jameson, but cannot recognize any others. In the paddock, most of about 100 stock are dead, and are being eaten by rats and foxes. Daisy starts running, calling for Piper, and then she hears a bell that she recognizes...