the 2002 âMooresville Outbreakâ:
â¦overnight Casey turned into one of them, but was killed before she could hurt anyone else. Casey had never been touched by one of them, never bitten or clawed. But just the day before sheâd applied bandages to Kevinâs arm after heâd cut himself on the glass. People began to talk, to say that Kevin must be infected, even though he showed no signs. During the debate, Kevin ran for the door and flung himself out into the night. We waited to hear his screams, but there was only silence. 15
Certainly this account is far from conclusive, but it is just one of several that tell a similar story. One of the most famous comes from Matthew Wright, who survived an outbreak in the English Midlands:
I saw him standing there, surrounded by zombies, a terrifying smile on his face. It was clear he wasnât one of them. He still had intelligence in his eyes. But they didnât attack him. At first, they seemed to crowd around him to protect him. Then he raised his hand and pointed at us, and the zombies began to charge.
Mr Wrightâs account 16 is notable for two reasons; first because it was the first account to be corroborated by independent witnesses, but more importantly, it introduced a new possibility to the world of zombie studies. In none of the varied accounts of possible zombie Typhoid Marys is the suspected carrier killed by zombies. In fact, in several cases, including Mr Wrightâs, the zombies seem to protect and even obey the carrier.
The implications of a human mind controlling a viral zombie horde is worrisome in the extreme, and that has perhaps led some within the community to stick their heads in the sand and deny the possibility without a thorough investigation. Despite the admitted lack of concrete evidence, the only counter-argument seems to hinge on the impossibility of communication between a living human and a viral zombie. Of course, this argument overlooks the ongoing debate about the viral hive mind.
As discussed in the previous chapter, some varieties of viral zombie do not moan, and yet they still seem to move in the same direction and ârespondâ to other zombies that have identified potential prey. Whether this is the result of some kind of psychic connection or has a more tangible scientific explanation, there seems no good reason that a human carrier of the virus might not also be incorporated into this hive mind. If this were the case, the complex, individualistic human mind might easily come to dominate the narrow thinking of a zombie horde.
Previous pages: The Toronto Frenzy
Despite the huge number of zombie outbreaks in the US, Canada has been relatively untouched by the zombie menace. However in 2007, a small viral outbreak occurred in Toronto resulting in 132 deaths. During this incident, several witness identified a red-coated woman directing the zombies. Later identified as Katherine Flint, this mysterious individual appeared during two further zombie outbreaks in the United States, evading capture both times. She has quickly risen to near the top of the FBIâs Most Wanted list, and remains the strongest evidence for a living zombie master.
Of course, this is all conjecture at this point, and I donât want to overstate the case. I do want to make it clear that the possibility of such zombie masters should be considered, and all zombie hunters should be on the lookout. Should a true zombie master ever be encountered in the field, all efforts should be directed at its immediate elimination. As much as science would relish the chance to study a live specimen, the danger of human intelligence guiding a zombie outbreak is too great a risk.
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15 From the unpublished diary of Joanna Blitch, which resides in the authorâs collection.
16 Never Again: An Outbreak Survivorâs Tale , Dark Asylum Press, 2004.
Viral Hounds and Other Zombified Animals
In 1982, Sgt E. Moore of the British 77th Division
Anna Sheehan
Nonnie Frasier
Lolah Runda
Meredith Skye
Maureen Lindley
Charlaine Harris
Alexandra V
Bobbi Marolt
Joanna A. Haze
Ellis Peters