Read Online Phil and the Ghost of Camp Ch-Yo-Ca by John Luke Robertson - Free Book Online Page B

door, but you can tell something’s wrong.

    Does John Luke start rambling about a disturbing encounter from his childhood? What does this have to do with the fire? (There’s a connection   —promise.) Go here .
    Does John Luke tell you he knows how the fire started? (Finally, a chance to learn the truth.) Go here .
    Does John Luke confess to something you can hardly believe? (This is going to be good!) Go here .

28 MINUTES LATER

    YOU HEAD BACK HOME ON FOOT. This situation is desperate! But when you finally get there, your front door’s broken down. Miss Kay is nowhere to be found.
    It’s happening too fast. The nightmare is too real.
    Cue the music from your favorite suspenseful movie. ’Cause this is how the world ends.
    John Luke   —or whatever was left of him as the allibeaver venom took hold of his system   —apparently knew he needed help and drove toward the first place he could think of: home.
    By the time he got there, the transformation was complete, and he instantly infected his whole family.
    They, in turn, infected their entire neighborhood.
    Before you were even back from the camp, West Monroe was mostly gone.
    And that’s how it starts.
    Once you realize that you’re alone in this town and everyone else has turned into allibeavers, you take up the defense, loading John Luke’s Jeep with guns, ammunition, and food.
    You start hearing reports on the radio. People all over the state are beginning to realize that something weird is happening. Something is on the attack, but no one yet understands what it is. Strange, conflicting reports communicate only partial truths.
    You try over and over to call the family members who are still human, as far as you know. Finally you get a message on your answering machine from Alan.
    “They’re gone, Dad! Something’s happening! I don’t know   —I’m the last one who hasn’t changed. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a beard. I’m not sure. But they’re trying to break into the house. They’re coming   —you guys gotta get out of there fast! They’re   —”
    The line goes dead.
    You know what that means.
    You’ve seen zombie movies and end-of-the-world movies.
    But you’ve also seen Jason Bourne movies.
    In this case, you’re Jason Bourne, and the rest of the world is full of zombies. Or . . . well, allibeavers.
    There’s no time to grieve. You have to act.
    You have to take care of yourself.
    You have to stay clear of trouble.
    It’s time to head for the safest place you can think of in the event of an allibeaver outbreak.
    You make a phone call and get his voice mail.
    “Mac, this is Phil. I’m driving to your place. Keep an eye on the news. Be careful. Stay away from anything that resembles an alligator. Or a beaver. I’ll explain everything when I get there.”
    You start driving to the Owens’ house.
    Divide, Colorado, is a long ways away from Louisiana. And hopefully from the allibeavers.
    But you know you’ll be secure there.
    Mac’s one of the original Duck Commanders.
    You all gotta stick together when the end of the world comes.
    THE END
    Start over.
    Read “The Shadows That Follow Us: A Note from John Luke Robertson.”

ALFRED HITCHCOCK’S THE DUCKS

    JOHN LUKE IS STILL GROGGY as you both stand at the doorway, preparing to exit the cabin. You told him about the ducks, but he doesn’t understand the magnitude of what awaits you two outside. You give him a nod.
    â€œOkay. Here we go.”
    The door opens. You put an arm around John Luke and guide him outside.
    There are more ducks now than there were only minutes ago. And it’s not just mallards, either. There are all kinds. Even some that you’ve never seen around here.
    Some that don’t belong here at all.
    There’s a white-cheeked pintail. A king eider. A blue-winged teal. A surf scoter.
    The ducks are covering the camp. They’re on the ground and in the trees.
    In the trees?
    They’re on the benches outside and all over the