Read Online Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 1): January by Dave Rowlands - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dave Rowlands
Tags: Zombies
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Valiant, spray from the Dead-catcher, had also been cleansed by the deluge. The sheep in the back of the Ute were in bad shape, though. They had been exposed to the torrent all through our drive, and through the night with almost no food. Butcher had let them down and was coaxing them off the road to graze a while as we surveyed the situation.
The Twin stood on the roof of the Valiant, bow at the ready, as the rest of us discussed the possible ramifications of the rain. It was perfectly clear that it had been tainted somehow, we suspected that everybody who had survived long enough to do so had burned as many Dead corpses as they could, as we had at the commune, might have contributed towards it. I thought back to my childhood, when the term greenhouse effect had been bandied about in the media. Perhaps this could be considered a Dead-house effect? Rather than Climate Change, Climate Carnage? Archer suggested that it could just be a local phenomenon. Apocalypse Girl thought hard about it and decided that it was far more likely a global effect, as the first reports we had seen at the new years party had come in from Europe, followed closely by America.
The Twin whistled sharply and pointed ahead of us. On the horizon a lone figure stood, moving slowly closer with each step. As the figure drew nearer, others appeared behind it, these clearly Dead, by their shambling. They followed the figure relentlessly, though they were clearly being left behind a little further with each step the figure took.
“What are we going to do?” Apocalypse Girl asked me. I called for suggestions, Butcher immediately suggesting that we just get in the cars and drive through them all. Junior and The Kid seconded this, but The Twin told them they're mad. If this person, whoever they are, have managed to survive this long alone, then we need them. Apocalypse Girl pointed out that we had room for one more person in the Valiant and more than enough food for a while, at least. The Twin pointed out that she could put an arrow through his eye … right … now! I asked her if she was sure he was male. She said not completely, he was wearing a long overcoat, and covered from head to foot.
The figure had clearly seen us now, as he started running down the road at full speed, the shambling Dead still following. “Dead are in range now,” The Twin told us. I just told her not to waste arrows that we couldn't recover easily, and she lowered her bow. I pulled Fat Dealer's shotgun out from under the front seat of the Valiant, and moved forwards alone to greet the stranger.
“That's close enough!” I shouted when the newcomer came within a couple of metres.
“You have to help me!” Came a muffled voice. The stranger was wearing a motorcycle helmet and dressed in black leather. A gloved hand came up to flip the visor up. “Please.” It was a women's voice, urgent, yet calm. She looked over her shoulder, back at me, and said again, “You have to help...”
I told her that we were armed. She told me that was why she was asking me for help, couldn't I see the horde of shambling corpses following her? I told her to get in the middle front seat of the Valiant, turned and ordered everybody else to get in the vehicles as well. The new girl had removed her helmet as she got into the Valiant, revealing close-cropped blonde hair. I asked her where she had come from, as Apocalypse Girl gunned the motor. She laughed and asked if that mattered any more, everybody there was dead, or worse now. Junior, The Kid and The Twin piled in the back as Archer and Butcher jumped into the Ute
As the Valiant collided with the gathering mass of Dead, blood and limbs flew to be scattered by the four winds. The Dead-catcher scythed through their ranks cleaving flesh and bone with ease. At first, at least. After a while our progress
The Twin stood on the roof of the Valiant, bow at the ready, as the rest of us discussed the possible ramifications of the rain. It was perfectly clear that it had been tainted somehow, we suspected that everybody who had survived long enough to do so had burned as many Dead corpses as they could, as we had at the commune, might have contributed towards it. I thought back to my childhood, when the term greenhouse effect had been bandied about in the media. Perhaps this could be considered a Dead-house effect? Rather than Climate Change, Climate Carnage? Archer suggested that it could just be a local phenomenon. Apocalypse Girl thought hard about it and decided that it was far more likely a global effect, as the first reports we had seen at the new years party had come in from Europe, followed closely by America.
The Twin whistled sharply and pointed ahead of us. On the horizon a lone figure stood, moving slowly closer with each step. As the figure drew nearer, others appeared behind it, these clearly Dead, by their shambling. They followed the figure relentlessly, though they were clearly being left behind a little further with each step the figure took.
“What are we going to do?” Apocalypse Girl asked me. I called for suggestions, Butcher immediately suggesting that we just get in the cars and drive through them all. Junior and The Kid seconded this, but The Twin told them they're mad. If this person, whoever they are, have managed to survive this long alone, then we need them. Apocalypse Girl pointed out that we had room for one more person in the Valiant and more than enough food for a while, at least. The Twin pointed out that she could put an arrow through his eye … right … now! I asked her if she was sure he was male. She said not completely, he was wearing a long overcoat, and covered from head to foot.
The figure had clearly seen us now, as he started running down the road at full speed, the shambling Dead still following. “Dead are in range now,” The Twin told us. I just told her not to waste arrows that we couldn't recover easily, and she lowered her bow. I pulled Fat Dealer's shotgun out from under the front seat of the Valiant, and moved forwards alone to greet the stranger.
“That's close enough!” I shouted when the newcomer came within a couple of metres.
“You have to help me!” Came a muffled voice. The stranger was wearing a motorcycle helmet and dressed in black leather. A gloved hand came up to flip the visor up. “Please.” It was a women's voice, urgent, yet calm. She looked over her shoulder, back at me, and said again, “You have to help...”
I told her that we were armed. She told me that was why she was asking me for help, couldn't I see the horde of shambling corpses following her? I told her to get in the middle front seat of the Valiant, turned and ordered everybody else to get in the vehicles as well. The new girl had removed her helmet as she got into the Valiant, revealing close-cropped blonde hair. I asked her where she had come from, as Apocalypse Girl gunned the motor. She laughed and asked if that mattered any more, everybody there was dead, or worse now. Junior, The Kid and The Twin piled in the back as Archer and Butcher jumped into the Ute
As the Valiant collided with the gathering mass of Dead, blood and limbs flew to be scattered by the four winds. The Dead-catcher scythed through their ranks cleaving flesh and bone with ease. At first, at least. After a while our progress
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