Read Online Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 8): August by Dave Rowlands - Free Book Online Page B

to another.”  She shrugged.  “I suppose you've gotta take love when and where you can now.”  We walked together in silence towards the dining room.  Apprentice had come so far from the judgemental, overly religious, irresponsible, hypocritical party girl that she had once been.  I said as much to her.  She turned her head slightly towards me and smiled her thanks.  A year ago she'd have hit me for that one.  Hell, she had, on more than one occasion.  She really has grown.
     
    Tiny, The Twin and Machete were already present, chatting away with The Queen, who greeted us all with a smile and waved us all to her massive table, bidding us be seated.  We did so casually enough, though this time I felt it too.  The Queen wanted something from me, I could sense it now.  Her eyes never left me, though she politely chatted with everybody at the table.  Her smiles and laughter, as always ever present, never once had any effect on her eyes.  Halfway through lunch I could take it no longer and was about to excuse myself when a messenger burst into the room.
     
    Finally, her eyes were off me.  I drank an entire glass of water, as my mouth had dried up completely, then took another mouthful of food while The Queen dealt with whatever issue the messenger had for her.  “You see, now?”  Apocalypse Girl whispered to me.  I nodded ever so slightly.  The Queen, done now with the newcomer, dismissed him with a wave.
     
    “Champion, I must ask you for another favour.”  The Queen began.  “There is a group to the south-west, about ten or so kilometres away.  Not too far, but outside the walls.  They helped us out when we were clearing the roads around that area, gave us some supplies and kept the Dead off of our backs.  I would like to set up a kind of trading and travel network with them, as well as a couple of other local groups.  I would like you, as my Champion, to deliver my proposal.  You leave tomorrow.”
     
    evening
    Apocalypse Girl was pissed off.  She had already insisted on coming along, though The Queen told her that she'd be much safer staying at the hotel.  Apprentice and Machete wasted no time in agreeing to come along, Scout also volunteered the instant she was told.  Tiny and The Twin both wanted to join us, as well, but The Queen had forbidden them.  The Master gets more than a little paranoid of large groups, it seems.
     
    Butler came to fetch us when it was time for Jester's entertainment to begin.  We walked to the square as the sun set behind us and I saw that he had set up a massive wall of screens, stretching an image over all of them.  The Queen's pretty face, wild shock of blonde hair and enchanting smile graced the entirety of the contraption, soft classical music playing as the crowd gathered.
     
    Deathwish was already there, smiling his greetings at us as we strolled past to sit between him and The Queen, Butler taking his place at her other side.  I reached an arm out around Apocalypse Girl and Apocalypse Dog curled up at our feet.  The image of The Queen vanished from the screen and we were plunged into darkness.  Her Majesty's hand found its way onto my knee in the dark easily enough, and I gently removed it, placing it on her own leg.
     
    Moments later, the show began.  A few cartoons to begin with, and clouds of smoke began to appear, almost as if by magic, as Deathwish and his buddies distributed smoke-ables for any and all that wanted any.  I could feel ripples of disapproval emanating from The Queen as I puffed away on the joint that I shared with Apocalypse Girl, ripples that magnified intensely when I offered Her Majesty a toke.  She sat there, annoyed, arms crossed, for the rest of the show.  Jester had selected a reasonably popular (and actually rather good) romantic comedy for starters, following that up with your typical mindless action flick.  The third was science-fiction, a film that I had wanted to see but hadn't gotten around to it before the