Read Online Zombies: More Recent Dead by Paula Guran - Free Book Online

actually said, “When did this happen?”
    The voice came back on, “Stop there. I think you’re in the wrong section. Sixty-seven starts with ‘recently.’ See if you can find the spot again.”
    The man turned the page, “I have it.”
    The voice said, “Begin when ready.”
    The man reached for his glass, but realized it was empty. He went ahead and started. “Recently, Tobias Baker, cofounder of Dead World Records Incorporated, was granted an unprecedented clearance for a manned expedition into Gray Zone Four, one of two uncleared areas deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Contact with radio and GPS were lost on the second day of the expedition. Aerial searches did not reveal the location of the expedition nor evidence to their whereabouts. Three days after the expedition was scheduled to end, Border Patrol claims seven men began approaching the gates from inside Zone Four. It wasn’t until they were within ten feet and had not identified themselves that they were identified as zombies. The guards opened fire. The Border Patrol claims the zombies placed one severed head each on the ground by the gate. The seven zombies then returned to the woods despite taking heavy fire. Cameras at the gate malfunctioned before this alleged event and sources asked to remain unnamed.
    “Upon inspection, the seven heads proved to be zombified and active. Officials were called in. The heads were deactivated using surgical lasers. They were then placed in secure cases using robots.
    “It has been confirmed that six of the heads belonged to the members of the ill-fated D. W. R. expedition including Tobias Baker. The seventh head, which was considerably more decayed and missing all its teeth, has not.
    “An unconfirmed rumor on Internet America claims the head is that of Tiny Jones. DNA samples are unavailable and the R. U. S. agency involved has not commented.
    “Hollister Z, cofounder of Dead World Records Incorporated, has been unavailable for comment.
    “The following is an unconfirmed voice-mail recording that surfaced on Internet America two days before the heads were found. Be warned that this recording contains graphic details of decapitation and dismemberment. It is quite disturbing.”
    The man stopped and looked up at a picture of a decayed, severed head in a thick plastic case.
    The voice said, “Begin with section sixty-eight when you are ready.”
    “I think I need a break. I’m out of water,” the man said as he stared at the screen.
    There was a long pause. He was about to repeat his request when there was a click in his headphones and a drawn out hiss of an open mic. He waited a little longer and then thought he heard distant whispers in the background. He listened as he looked at the severed head on the screen in front of him. Then a voice came on and said, “When it is time, we will get you.”
    The screen went blank and the room was completely dark.
    “What?” the man asked with a rush of fear.
    The voice repeated, “We will break for about ten minutes. When it is time, we will come get you.”
    After another couple seconds, his eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room.
    The man removed his headphones and walked toward the door in the dark.

Iphigenia in Aulis
    Mike Carey
    Her name is Melanie. It means “the black girl,” from an ancient Greek word, but her skin is mostly very fair so she thinks maybe it’s not such a good name for her. Miss Justineau assigns names from a big list: new children get the top name on the boys’ list or the top name on the girls’ list, and that, Miss Justineau says, is that.
    Melanie is ten years old, and she has skin like a princess in a fairy tale: skin as white as snow. So she knows that when she grows up she’ll be beautiful, with princes falling over themselves to climb her tower and rescue her.
    Assuming, of course, that she has a tower.
    In the meantime, she has the cell, the corridor, the classroom and the shower room.
    The cell is small and square. It has a