The Hungry Dead Read Free Page A

lives.”
    â€œAin’t gonna happen to Dr. Melrose,” Jeff said. “He’s gonna turn into one of these thing we’re trying to hunt down and kill. I hope he doesn’t get to bite one of his lab guys first, before they wise up.”
    â€œWhy do you call them things when you know full well they’re human, just like us?”
    â€œBecause they’re not like us anymore. They used to be, but they’re not now. I keep that in mind so I don’t choke up when I have to shoot them. Especially the women and the kids. I hate having to kill them.”
    â€œWell, it shows that you’re a sensitive person,” Dan said respectfully. “I like that quality in you . . . or anybody. You’re not just a hard-nosed cop.”
    â€œWell, thanks, but you’re more hard-nosed than I am when you’ve got me in front of a jury.”
    They both laughed, then Dan said, “We better move on and catch up with the sheriff.”
    â€œWait a minute—I hear some noises back there in the woods.”
    â€œJust trees rustling.”
    â€œNot enough breeze. Something’s moving.”
    â€œI don’t hear anything. I’m moving on. Are you coming?”
    â€œNo, not till I check it out.”
    â€œDon’t go in there by yourself. C’mon, let’s catch up with the rest of the guys and get us some hot coffee.”
    â€œSomething is in those woods, and I’m not letting it stay alive to chomp on somebody. I’m goin’ in there.”
    â€œSuit yourself. I’d stick with you, but I’m sure you’re hearing things, Jeff. I’m sorry, but I’m cutting out.”
    Dan moved off a ways but then looked back, hoping Jeff would follow. But Jeff didn’t. “Don’t go in there alone!” Dan shouted, but when he didn’t hear any reply from Jeff, he shrugged and reluctantly headed out of the cemetery toward the rendezvous point Sheriff Harkness had previously designated.
    Â 
    Slowly working his way into the wooded area, Jeff’s eyes darted around warily, and he stopped and scanned his surroundings. At first he saw and heard nothing, and he thought maybe his buddy Dan was right in arguing that he was making a mountain out of a molehill.
    Then suddenly three zombies, two males and a female, came out from within some thick foliage. Both males were wearing shorts and T-shirts that revealed numerous tattoos covering their arms and legs. The female, in a lavender blouse and tight denim shorts, was a shapely teenage girl who probably used to be beautiful, but now her face was hideously ripped and scarred. All three were spattered with the blood and gore of people they must have attacked and devoured.
    Startled by them at first, Jeff wheeled and hastily fired, blowing a hole in the young girl’s chest. She fell, knocked back by the impact, but started to get up again.
    The two male zombies kept on coming.
    Jeff took careful aim at the female’s head and blew her away. Then he worked his lever-action and swiveled his Winchester onto the closest male zombie.
    With a loud rasping groan a fourth zombie suddenly lurched at Jeff from behind, grabbing him by the shoulders and making him drop his rifle. He tried to scramble for the dropped weapon, but now three zombies were upon him, and he had to scratch, punch, and claw at them to avoid being bitten. Pounding a hard blow into the flabby paunch of the zombie who had first grabbed him, he realized its belly was partially rotted and feared that his fist would penetrate into the decayed bowels. But instead the hateful being let out a whoosh of foul-smelling breath and crumpled to the ground, groaning and salivating.
    Jeff backed away, yanking his service revolver from its holster. He managed to squeeze off three shots that echoed loudly but went wild as he stumbled backward through the trees.
    Emerging into a weed-grown meadow, he found himself immediately in even worse trouble.